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Christianity is not a spectator sport

Christianity is not a spectator sport

Luke 24:46-47   Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

You can’t sit under Dr. Ed Gravely and not see the gospel in wherever he might be teaching from at that time. Of how it is woven into the entire Bible, and the way we are to share it. We are starting a study of Acts, which I label a book of action. The book of Acts is a book full of the reassurances of our risen Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit He has enabled believers with. We have Christ residing in us; and the evidences of Him are everywhere in the book of Acts. The  book of Acts and the gospel of Luke go hand in hand and written by the same author; the great physician Luke.

Are you living a life of action in relation to what you believe? Are you professing Christ, but yet living in sin? Are you claiming heaven, but yet never sharing your faith? Are you ashamed or fearful of sharing that faith you proclaim? There are many direct warnings of denying Christ, but do you share Christ? An assurance of Salvation is the desire from deep within for those who are lost without Christ. From that desire comes a heart that lives for God and desires to share a hope that eternally saves. Hebrews 6:10 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. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. We are by no means saved by works, but we are called to and judged by them. Can you imagine standing before God saved; yet telling Him you never shared or did anything?

You always hear of peoples death bed requests, or their dying words. Sometimes a summary of life’s lessons, and a word to live by for those left behind. A ‘charge’ if you will. Christ’s last words came from a man that had RISEN from the dead, and returned to edify and charge those He was leaving behind to do His remaining work. He not only charged them with the work, He in-dwelt a part of Himself with them to help them. His call to them was to spread His name throughout the world so that the world may be saved. His parting words were known as The Great Commission. Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. You too are called to action. Christianity is not a spectator sport.

 
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Posted by on September 6, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Can you hear?

I am reading through the book of Acts with my boys at night. We read this scripture last night and talked about how awesome it must have been. This morning as I was waking up to my prayer was for God to give me a scripture this morning. I put on my glasses to watch the TV where we have Reflections on for awaking to every morning. It is a program that spools pictures of God’s beauty with scriptures inset. It was only a couple seconds later this verse was posted on the screen. I knew that was a word directly from God.

I found Reflections as a result of my New Years resolution to stop watching the news. We sleep with the TV on, and usually go to sleep and awake with the news. There could not be anything worse to put in your head last and first things of the day. I swear I am sleeping better. Go to sleep, and awake with God. I hope it will make a difference in your days too.

 

 

Can you hear?

Acts 2:17     And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.

I am not brave enough to touch on the relation here to the “last days”, nor to touch on prophesy and visions. What I do wish to convey is our alertness to these things. Peter was preaching at the day of Pentecost where the Holy Spirit was given, and 3000 were saved that day. He was quoting from the prophet Joel (2:28-32) in the Old Testament. There are many views on this prophesy being fulfilled completely at the day of Pentecost, and also only partially fulfilled with the remaining upon the second coming of Christ. This is a fascinating scripture to study. Where my question lies, is our awareness to these “signs and wonders” from God.

How much time do you devote to seeking out Him in prayer and His Word? More directly, how much time have you left over for Him? Your devotion to Him, is directly related to hearing from Him. When we dull our senses with all the static this world provides, we simply cannot get through the distractions to hear the still small voice of God. Elijah desperately wanted to hear Gods voice, and after an angel appeared, these were his instructions to him. “ He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake;  and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it…” (1Kings 11-13). God is not in, nor can be heard in the chaos. He is in the silence of your time alone with Him.

 
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Posted by on February 7, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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