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Tag Archives: 1 corinthians 1

We all have our ‘legion’ he has freed us from

30 Jul

We all have our ‘legion’ he has freed us from

Mark 5:18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

In Mark 5 we are told of the maniac demon possessed madman who Christ healed. He was possessed by a legion of demons (perhaps as many as 6000). His story of woe was one of torment by Satan’s demons and incredible strength. But the day Christ arrived everything changed. The man approached Christ and the demon’s knew Christ and begged for His mercy. They entered a herd of pigs, ran off a cliff and into the sea. An incredible thing to witness for many that did see it happen. They feared Christ and asked Him to leave.

The one who was delivered begged to go with Christ. This is the only one of Christ’s miracles where He told the recipient to go tell others what had happened to him. 19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” In my study materials the title is, “How a Madman became a Missionary”. The man went into a area of ten cities (Decapolis) and began to share the miracle of change that Christ had performed in Him. He shared his testimony.

Your testimony may not be of a deliverance from demons, but Christ has done His miraculous work in you, and changed your life from the inside out also.  1 Corinthians 1:6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you. Christ has produced a change, and that change should be evident in your every day life. You should articulate it in your words and your actions as a testament to His miracle in you. What you have experienced before and after in your life He allowed in your life. It all can be used in your testimony to encourage others of the miracle He can perform in their lives also. You too are a miracle living in God’s mercy and grace today. Spread the good news of His work for you to encourage someone today.

 
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Posted by on July 30, 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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Know it all

28 Jan
Good morning everyone. I was up earlier due to the storm, and I have had some great time in 1 Corinthians this morning. These scriptures really leaped of the page at me, and Matthew Henry had some powerful commentaries that I seemed stuck in for quite some time to. If you really want a better understanding of your bible, try picking up some quality commentaries sometime such as Matthew Henry, John Darby, and I love John MacArthur. They really have a great gift of helping to shed light on the Word. Much of today’s verses deal with pride, and as I have revealed before, I am a prideful man that God has been chipping away at for some time now. “Pride is the root of all sin” as Pastor Dean said one sermon. We have to humble ourselves to gain the glory of the Gospel and all our God has for us. Without it we can do nothing.

On another note, I hope that your New Years resolution has went well. Yesterday I watched more of the news than I wanted to trying to catch the weather to find out about this storm. It just turned my stomach, and I ended up muting it and keeping changing channels just in time to catch the weather. I think this is going to be a long term thing for me.

I have also secured a domain name, and web blog under construction to continue what you have helped spur me onto doing in writing these devotions every day. I am shooting for a launch Feb. 1.

Know it all?

1 Corinthians 1:17-18        For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

We think we know it all. Paul was preaching a simple message that neither the Jews or the Greeks could understand. The Jews were expecting a great king, and the Greeks rested on their intellect and could not accept the simplicity of the Gospel. They both thought they knew it all, and missed the eternal blessing. Matthew Henry said, “It is just with God to leave those to themselves who pour out such proud contempt on divine wisdom and grace.” Paul could have come with eloquent preaching with the wisdom he had gained in his upbringing, but he knew he would be glorified and not Christ. He realized he was nothing without Christ.

Once God grabs a hold of your heart, and you let Christ in, things change. The bible begins to make sense for you have the Holy Spirit residing in you, guiding your understanding of the scriptures. You will not understand the bible until you accept Him. The Light is given to us to be able to comprehend the great mysteries that were before us. We do begin to realize that it is the power of God that is at work in us. This becomes even more humbling, and even draws us closer to Him. You can have all these things, but you can have none of these things if you think you can do it on your own wisdom, without Christ you can do nothing.

 
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Posted by on January 28, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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