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Monthly Archives: April 2013

It is all about the hope

06 Apr

It is all about the hope

Ephesians 1:17-19     that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

The apostle Paul had been called by Christ to spread the gospel to the Gentiles. The Gentiles were simply those nations that were not of Jewish descent. The Jews had lived as God’s promised people throughout history, and those outside their culture came to understand that. But Paul was teaching that Christ, the Son of their God, was now available to everyone. He was teaching that Christ had died on a Cross to pay for everyone’s sins, and to make Himself, by the grace of His Father, available to everyone. Those that feared the Jewish God, could now be accepted, welcomed,  and free to worship Him. They got it; they got what Paul was preaching, and their hearts were stirred by God in their pursuit of Him. 18a the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.

The false teacher throughout the day taught of special sects, only the privileged or selected could gain access to God. Christ paid the price for all; none are special, but all are special that step forward with a humble heart to answer that call that God places on it. If you have felt that tug on your heart, and denied it for any reason, you will pay for your mistake eternally. God chose you, he is pursuing you, and how you respond has eternal consequence. If you respond  with a humble repentant heart, your life will never be the same. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

The gift of the Holy Spirit is Christ living inside of you. The Spirit is the one who brings understanding to the things of God. He begins to open your eyes and mind to the scriptures that seemingly had no meaning before. The light goes on above your head with “ah-ha” moments in what He shows to you. He begins to show you how he has been at work all around you; you just never noticed before. He puts Godly influences in your life to speak words of wisdom to you as messengers of God. He orchestrates coincidences that are better described as, God orchestrated circumstances. All of these place the hope of eternity with Him in you. 18b that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. This eternal hope is what is needed in a world far from God. This hope of your eternal blessing and life guaranteed with Him will allow you to handle your short time here. There is nothing you cannot face that the hope that lies within you cannot overcome as a child of His.

 
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Posted by on April 6, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Hard Bottom

05 Apr

Hard Bottom

2 Corinthians 12:9-10   But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (ESV)

Yesterday I spent some time in an online course in Hermeneutics, which is how to study the Bible. I also spent some time reading a great book by David Platt, who’s heart lies in discipleship and evangelism. It became evident how these two intertwined; the heart of a disciple and the provision of God in His Word for all they need. All throughout the Bible are the evidences of how God miraculously provided for His people in relation to their faith; especially when that faith is rooted in His Word. We must’t respond or rely on emotion, but on the promises written in His Word for our benefit. Satan lies in our questioning God’s Word; “did God really mean?” Platt made a great point to beware of teachers that use that phrase, for that phrase was when man fell into sin in the garden of Eden at the beginning of time.

Paul was speaking of how He had been given great revelations; of how he could easily rest on them and preach a good word rooted in his pride. Of how God had allowed a thorn in his flesh to keep him humble; Satan meant it for evil and God meant it for good. Paul came to realize that in all his problems, he could glorify God. In everything he faced it could draw him closer to the One who was extended him grace through it. When we are struggling with anything, Satan comes in and attempt to plant doubt. He tries to weaken our faith; he is the ultimate deceiver, and if we let him we will take our eyes of God and the promises in His Word. But if we go to God in his Word and prayer, we gain strength and provision to fight the enemy. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Platt also wrote about one of my favorite chapters in the Bible; John 15. This chapter is where we are taught about abiding; a state of being IN Christ. In this chapter we are told of the relationship we should seek with our Savior, of a life focused on that relationship. Outside of the qualifications of a disciple found in John 15 is a scary place to be. But being found in that abiding relationship is the answer to all you need to accomplish the life and work He has planned for you. John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If you try to rest on the religiosity that comes on Sundays alone, you are not abiding or living your life as a disciple. The troubles you face, you face alone in your power, not the grace of God. Humble your heart and seek Him daily. Seek to grow into what He has given you with the power to be as a disciple of His. In that is found everything you need; for even when you are at your weakest point, your strength lies in Him.

 
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Posted by on April 5, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Spiritual cleansing

04 Apr

Spiritual cleansing

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

I am really trying to draw near to God right now. In a whole hearted pursuit, denial of self, seeking an intimacy to be able to hear God’s voice speaking to me. I have a big load on my back that He has placed there, and I do not want to rely on my own abilities for the solutions to it. I understand what He brings me to, he will deliver me through. I know that he uses prayer, his Word, and his servants to speak to me, and I do not want to miss any of those opportunities. I am trying to cleanse myself from all the dirt walking in this world stains me with. Every day comes more distractions, more grime to clog your mind, placed there by the enemy to keep your eyes off Christ. It is good to take a spiritual bath, a cleansing if you will from time to time. When was the last time you did all you could to live for God?

Walking in the light that John describes is that intimacy with God. The fellowship is gained both with God and other believers, all that is strengthening to us. John had begun this passage speaking to the hypocrisy of his day, of how people would say one thing and yet live another. The lofty claims, and the sin filled lives. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. God’s light represents his knowledge and purity; it was a reflection of the Old Testament teachings of that representation of God as light. You cannot claim this intimacy and live for this world. If your life revolves around decisions based on your next venture, your next purchase, your self worth in the eyes of others; you are not walking in the light with God. You are lying to yourself.

The closer you walk with God the more the revelation of your sin becomes evident to you. Light dis-spells darkness, and His light will reveal what you try to hide from others. The closer you become to Christ, the more you feel the weight of your sin, and the more you are led to repentance before Him. This continual repentant heart is a heart that realizes the magnitude of God’s grace in sacrificing His Son. This heart is moved closer to God in thanksgiving for that sacrifices. John 12:46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. These are the keys to living a abiding life in Christ. When you seek God and not the things of this world, He will draw you closer, and your answers to that pursuit will allow you to gain that fellowship that John describes. It can all start today, for you are not guaranteed tomorrow.

 
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Posted by on April 4, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Nooowww I get it.

03 Apr

Nooowww I get it.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Christ was telling his disciples of the days to come, of his death, of their betrayal, of Him leaving them to return to heaven. In all of this they became afraid, for they did not understand the meaning of all of this. But wrapped up in all of this was a promise; a promise of the Holy Spirit that was coming to be with them. They did not even understand how great that gift was, but the Spirit was about to open their minds and understanding to the things of God, and the things that Christ had been telling them. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. It all would soon make sense when their minds were opened to the things of God.

Do you remember a time in your life that the Bible did not make sense to you? Do you have friends that are lost that don’t understand the Bible; that claim it was just a book written by men? Now that you have repented of your sin and accepted Christ as your savior, you now desire to read your Bible, and the same pages bring understanding into your heart. That is the Holy Spirit living inside you revealing the scriptures to you as in John 14:26 above. 1 Corinthians 2:10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. The apostle Paul teaches much about this in 1 Corinthians 2:1-15. You must understand that the Spirit is God living inside you; a member of the Holy Trinity coming to dwell with you; you are a temple of the Holy Spirit. An understanding of that brings about a new revelation of how you go about your day when you realize you are in God’s presence all day.

God can do great works in the salvation of a lost soul when the humble heart desires Him by opening His word and seeking Him. He can reveal himself to the previously blind in the pages of his Holy book that the lost soul had read before. He can save a soul from the pit of hell when one truly, humbly, seeks Him there. But, with a hardened heart the Bible will all make no sense; it will be a seemingly book of no meaning to that person. 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. In this book is found the peace in life that the world cannot understand or take away. In this book are found the words and promises of God that bring about hope for eternity, and peace for the day, with the understanding He is in control of all of it.

 
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Posted by on April 3, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Paddle, paddle, paddle…….

02 Apr

Paddle, paddle, paddle…….

Philippians 1:12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,

My best friend told me in ministry one of the hardest things to do, is to know what not to say. When I gave my testimony a few weeks back I understood what he meant. I struggle with it in this ministry; I know God is allowing these trials in my life, but I struggle with how much to reveal. In my pride I am a contained person; even those closest to me do not know the level of my struggles, I do not wish to reveal them for they have their own burdens. Only God truly knows what I hide behind smiles. I am trying to draw near to God right now for discernment, clarity, and wisdom for these paths I am on. Those big things in life that affect more than just you; they affect those around you. The things that keep you awake, and occupy your mind during the day. Only God knows the level of struggles, and only God can get help you get through them.

I want to have the apostle Paul’s attitude; he understood every single thing in his life flowed through God’s hands and it could be used to draw glory to God. Paul wrote Philippians from prison, and in prison God was glorified. 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. God was using Paul in prison to reach into the Roman military and royal courts. To his fellow brethren on the outside, he was inspiring. They heard of how he was preaching in prison, and that was what had landed him there to begin with. His faith was so strong he feared no man. His life, strength, and focus is found in Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Paul knew that God had his feet where He wanted him for that day. He was to remain there and preach the gospel wherever he was for that day. Paul was in the center of God’s Will for him.

I can just about guarantee that most of you are struggling in some way too. It is seemingly becoming a mark of a Christian to be struggling now. There comes with that an understanding that you are not of this world, and of how this world is headed downstream away from God. You must be constantly fighting against this world to swim upstream to keep your eyes and heart on Him. The enemy will provide you all the comforts of this world to keep your eyes off God. Living in this world and the ways of it, are much easier than living for the promises after it; but in this life determines the rewards, or punishment of it, for eternity.

 
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Posted by on April 2, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Your turn

01 Apr

Your turn

Titus 2:11-14     For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

I am pressed today in a tight work timetable. I have been reading and studying in Titus this morning, stopping at this passage – how to live a life as a disciple. I simply cannot hammer out a few words on such an important passage as this. Do you see the gospel presented; the deity of the presenter; the reasons for, and the expectations of? How are you to live your life as a Christian, or yet as a disciple you ask. The how and why of your expectations are found here. I urge you to spend time here yourself, to pray for God to open your eyes, mind, and heart to the truths found here. My goal is always to provoke you into the Word of God on your own. Here lies the passage of how to pattern your life after Christ; a great place to park and let God reveal His truths to you.

What does He say to you?

 
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Posted by on April 1, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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