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Tag Archives: apostle paul

Not any angel

07 Jul

Not any angel

Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight– 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

The Apostle Paul was speaking to the Colossians, a city who was divided deeply on who they worshiped. In chapter 1 he has been setting the stage for Christ’s preeminence; simply stated First & Foremost.  17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Paul begins to speak here of the ministry of Christ’s reconciliation, or righting us to God through His death on the Cross. The Colossians believed in many angels, and they did not believe in Christ incarnate.

Do you believe that He was truly God, and truly man? 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. You must get this right, there is no middle ground here. Christ was not any angel, Christ was God in the flesh walking here as a man, suffered physical death, was raised from the dead to walk the earth again to many witnesses, and ascended to heaven to be with His Father until He returns again to reclaim those who believe. He did all of this for you, so that you can spend eternity in paradise and not Hell for not believing in Him.

When you are moved from darkness to light, you begin to see these things. You see Christ as the Savior of your soul, and the only Way unto heaven. Make your days now as a child of Light ones that count in service to Him. Do not let the temporary pleasures of this world drag your vision away from the One whom paid the highest price for you. He left paradise to come and die a death of pain words cannot describe with the sin of the world on His back, all so you could join Him in Heaven forever.

 
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Posted by on July 7, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Don’t take your eyes off the prize

06 Jul

Don’t take your eyes off the prize

2 Timothy 2:1-4  You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

The Apostle Paul was encouraging his protege’ Timothy for his service to the Lord. Timothy had been with Paul and he was growing into his own ministry. He had been learning from the best on how to have a sole purpose in life; to share the Good News that Christ has come to save the world. Paul had no other focus than to preach Christ at all costs, and many times the costs were extreme. But his faith never wavered and his focus remained. Timothy had been a witness to these events and knew well what he was getting himself into as a disciple of Christ. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

When you embark on the journey of a growing relationship with your Lord, you will face obstacles of many kinds that will either draw you closer, or draw you away from Christ. Every event in your life can have that effect. It can be blessings, or it can be turmoil; but either way where does your focus remain? 4a No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life. Satan could fill your day with overflowing blessings and your attention could be drawn from your purpose. Satan could fill your day with turmoil and your attention could be drawn away. Never let your eyes or your hearts attention be moved away from the One who has designed or allowed every event that happens in your life. Give thanks for where He has you today, and grow closer to Him as a result of where you are today. 4b that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

 
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Posted by on July 6, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Let’s talk God

02 Jul

Let’s talk God

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 was thinking this morning while I was praying about a ‘little thing’; and of how lucky I was on ‘big things’. I have even found myself praying over service calls more this past week due to the extreme heat and even some nightmare calls. Yes, I do pray over air conditioners for God to help me have the ability to fix them, and to provide comfort to those in need. I ask God for guidance in so many areas of my daily walk seeking His Will.

So many times we only go to God with our pleas and not our gratitude. Does God go, “I wonder what they want this time” when you pray? Is that the only time you go to Him in prayer? He knows what you want before you ask it, but think of the joy He has when you don’t ask for, but pray a prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude. He gave you the very breath of life, and the breath to pray. 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. There is much in that verse, for wherever we are in our lives, God has designed or allowed it. All of it can be used to draw you closer to Him, and to glorify Him as a result of where you are today.

17 pray without ceasing. Does this mean to stop your car, to bow your head at work, or to do nothing else but meditate? No; the Apostle Paul is trying to convey to be persistent and consistent in your prayer. A person who is abiding in Christ will be a person who is not afraid to pray at any time about any thing. The closer your relationship grows to God, the more you will be drawn to talk to Him. You will gain a respect and an ability to open the lines of communication with the One whom created you. How will you ever get to know anybody better if you don’t first talk to them? Start today by giving thanks for the breath He gave you today.

 
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Posted by on July 2, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Yes I can……No you can’t.

24 Jun

Yes I can……No you can’t.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

The Apostle Paul was really laying it out here; laying down the foundation of what really mattered to the Corinthians. Christ had paid the ultimate price for them (John 15:13), and we must understand that He buried our sins eternally with His death reconciling us to God. (Romans 6:1-14). 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. If we truly grasp the understanding of self sacrifice for our betterment, there should be a tug to honor that sacrifice that was bestowed upon us. Are you living a life honoring that sacrifice He paid for you? Have you even repented of your sins and accepted that sacrifice He paid for you?

I know we all have our list of reasons why not, and many revolved around our present condition. We feel as though we must ‘get right’ before we come to God. If I was to start my ‘to do’ list of sins I have committed and wanted to change, you would still be reading them next week. You can’t fix yourself by yourself. Satan through pride will try to convince you that you must before, or even that you can do it on your own, but you will fail until you start with Christ. Psalm 10:17 Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear. Come to Jesus just as you are and cast all your burdens on Him. He will take you in, forgive your sin, and reconcile your life to God. I pray that your transformed life is moved to a place of honoring God and the sacrifice Christ paid on the cross for you and I.

 
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Posted by on June 24, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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That close……

10 Jun

That close……

Romans 10:8-11 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

The Apostle Paul had a heart for the Jews and their Salvation. He longed for them to see the err of their ways and to realize that their Christ had come to save the world. That they need not try to earn their righteousness by their works, but confess and believe and accept what He has done for them. Christ can be found living inside you, not only in Heaven sitting at the right hand of the Father; He is attainable NOW. Luke 17:20-21  Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” God has placed that desire inside you for better things; for good and not evil.

When you confess your sin, repent of your sin asking for Christ’s forgiveness, and accept Him as Lord of your life, you are Justified in God’s eyes and saved from eternal punishment of denying what Christ did for you at Calvary. The pride and denial are the walls that will surround you in Hell in eternal punishment if you deny The Gospel of Grace. It is impossible to earn your way into heaven, but possible to humbly accept the free gift of Grace. The Jews were spending daily time with God, but they thought it was earning them righteousness, and they were mad at Paul for preaching Free Grace to all people. We are all the same in God’s eyes and His invitation is extended to everyone. Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. Those tugs you feel in your heart sometimes is God letting you know that you cannot do life without Him. He is that close, within you, if you answer His call.

 
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Posted by on June 10, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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On Track

17 May

On Track

2 Timothy 2:3-4   You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

If we are not to become side-tracked, then are we able to say we are focused? If we are focused we should have a sole purpose, a goal we are trying to attain. If we are focused on that goal, anything that doesn’t pertain or help us accomplish that goal is a deterrent and side tracks us from stepping closer. The apostle Paul writes much in analogies of the focus of our Christian life using many metaphors. The verse above is the relationship of a soldier to his commander and the focus it demands. So much of our Christian life is warfare and our enemy provides all the distractions here to draw our focus away from Christ.

Our focus could be a measurement of our faith. Our faith is the hope of things unseen, and the enemy desires to draw our focus away with things we can see, and even feel we can attain. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Paul was spending much time encouraging Timothy in his faith, for Paul knew he was surrounded by those who could deter, or side track him from his faith and purpose. 2 Timothy 3:10-11 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra–what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. The ability to remain focused, the ability to have great faith, is gained through time spent with God in His Word and prayer. These daily times of preparation allow you to remain focused, to strengthen your faith, and to remain on track with the sole purpose you have for the day. Your sole purpose for the day is wherever Christ has you at that time; to represent Him and reflect Him to those surrounding you. That is where you show the great faith that you possess in your Risen Savior and your ability to share Christ with others.

 
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Posted by on May 17, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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The Fog

28 Feb

This morning I was watching the weather and all the talk of the dense fog, and how it would burn off in a couple of hours with the coming sun. I could not help but think of how those statements were parallel with what we read in the Bible. Our time here is temporary, and we do not know when we will fade as the morning fog, but we are guaranteed a pathway into the next life through the Son, into eternal paradise. Are you ready?

 

The Fog

James 4:14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Today you will arise, go throughout your day for probably close to 16 hours, called to the duties of the day. You will follow the order of things, you will tackle the obstacles that arise, and in your mind you hope to overcome all that is set before you today. But what if today was your last? What if today, your life faded as the fog of this morning in just a few hours? How would today be different? Are you ready to face eternity in either Heaven or Hell?

Proverbs 27:1  Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.  We simply have no idea of when our time here is up. The tragedies of life have struck, and will strike, many of us that forever change us. But they must direct us to life’s futility, and the importance of our limited time, and our preparation for the life thereafter. We are assured of few things, but death of our flesh, and the assurance of a pathway of our souls into eternal paradise are guaranteed. Christ has provided the Way through the security of Salvation to not worry about what tomorrow or today might bring. The apostle Paul saw his time here, and even his death, all as an opportunity to glorify Christ. Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. How could today be different for you?

 
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Posted by on February 28, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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On a curve or a scale?

30 Jan

A great morning with God. I was actually researching another verse when this verse grabbed me, and I felt God speaking to me here. I know I have, and I think we all do to some degree, get confident about ourselves because we think in some way “well at least I am not doing that.” Then when we were watching the news, and all the mayhem that goes with it, we feel better about ourselves. Satan is instilling those thoughts. We are told that if we break one of The Commandments, we have broken them all. Uh ho,,,,,,,that puts us all in big trouble. I loved Pastor Jack’s story yesterday that culminated in him hearing God speak directly to him about another sins “Jack, that guys sins were just more visible.” Very convicting, and very true for all of us. But continue to press on to growing your relationship with Christ, and don’t let your enemy steal your security and peace that you possess through the Atonement of the Cross.

On a curve or a scale?

Romans 3:23,24     for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Undeniably you inherently have, and will continue to sin. Romans is the apostle Paul’s pinnacle book, full of deep theology, and even verse 23 goes back to Genesis and the beginning of sin in the garden of Eden. It is so hard for some to realize our depravity, and that we all are sinners by birth, We cannot live thinking that because of our good deeds, or lack of bad deeds, that God judges on a curve.We feel as though we are above the drudgery of society, we will make the scale, for we are not really that bad.

He is a God of perfection, and demands such. Their are no imperfections in heaven, no scale, no “you just made it.” We cannot ever obtain perfection, and realistically would never make His scale if there was one. Only through the washing of Christ’s  blood, the ultimate sacrifice that was given for us, are we justified in attaining paradise for eternity through Christ alone. The free gift that we must humble ourselves to accept as the only Way, grasping our depravity and Romans 5:1 says “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” You can have this too, it is free, and it lasts an eternity.

 
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Posted by on January 30, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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What do you live for? 01/26/12

26 Jan

Good morning everybody. I was praying earlier this morning and felt God speaking to me about this verse. I could have wrote a book expounding on this verse I think. With all Paul had suffered, he understood it was all for Christ glory, He was tired and in prison, and he knew that heaven was not far away and longed for it. But he also knew God was using him while he remained here. He edified the Philippian church, and kept his eyes on Christ. He never wavered, he never lost the focus of his life – to share the love and Christ and bring Him glory. I pray the next trial you endure, your faith is strengthened as Paul, and not weakened as your enemy thinks it will. Press on, for the glory of God.

What do you live for?

Philippians 1:21    For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

A one sentence summary of the apostle Paul. Nothing else in his life mattered but Christ. He describes his life as ‘is Christ’, abiding in Christ, centering on Christ; all other matters simply did not matter. He had come from a leader of religion, in the persecution and death of Christians, to a  death to himself and slave to Christ’s Glory. He was persecuted all his remaining days, but never wavered on his focus or faith. Can you say the same thing about your faith when the going gets rough?

If anyone told you that being a Christian would be easy, they lied. Christ told the apostles in Matthew 10:22 “You will be hated by all for My names sake.” When Christ and that eternal security dwell inside you, people notice that something makes you different. Some are drawn towards you, others rebel against you. Tough times will come as a result of following Christ. But percever in your faith, look for those you can reach as a result of what you are facing. For God has allowed what you are facing to strengthen you, and encourage others. Don’t let the world drag you down, for what you have will be lifted up.

 
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Posted by on January 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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The First One Minute Ministry – 01/01/12

25 Jan

I have to tell you this verse was given to me last night at 11:30 by my son. I had the idea of what I was going to send out this morning, but when he came in and read me this, I knew that was it. I knew that I must not “pass on” another devotional, but write something original as I sometimes do. But then Satan stepped in, and the distractions came, and I have found myself still battling them this morning…but I press on. The idea here is a simple One Minute Ministry.

Find The Good

Philippians 4:8    Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.

Where is your focus? Is it in the news story about the mayhem you just saw on TV? Is it all the gloom and doom being thrust into our conscious by the media everywhere you turn? The idea of our New Years resolution is to clear our minds for 30 days, and to make room for God from all the static this world creates.

The Apostle Paul was trying to encourage the Philippians in their walk as Christians. He knew their surroundings had an impact on their lives just as we. Even 2000 years ago, the similarities are striking. But the question is do we let our worldly focus be pulled to earthly things, or keeping our eyes on things above? If we once realize that we are not of this world, and our lives here only a speck of sand in eternity, the worldly things should not get a grasp on our focus.

The simplicity of the beginning of this verse is what we all have learned as a child- find the good in everything. Do you look for those silver linings in the clouds, or do you find yourself looking for the rain?  My prayer for you today is to take time to give thanks, and to see the good in what is around you,  tuning into God’s blessings, and tuning out the worlds woes.

 
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Posted by on January 25, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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