Image with me that you are friends with someone who is an absolute war hero and he is telling you his story of how he earned that title. He starts off by setting up the story in some far away land that no one knew the country was even in and as he is preparing for battle, no one believed that his fighting would even make a difference.
He was a stringy, weaker fellow, at least physically. In fact, he was the smallest one on the mission and he barely passed the fitness test to be on the elite team of soldiers. So they go into this uncharted land and engage battle with a rebel group of natives there. A surprise to everyone, the rebels were surprisingly strong and overtook most of the army. So much so that most of the soldiers were injured, and the soldier telling the story actually defeated the rebels single- handedly and saved all of his fellow soldiers while he was at it.
How would you regard this man, as a friend sure, but would you now not see him as something a little more? Jesus died so that the world would have a chance to come to the Father. He and He alone died on the cross for our sins and saved us from the eternal damnation of that sin. Yes, Jesus does call us friend. Yet, when we go to Him, we should realize that He is the Mighty and Majestic King who's Blood never loses its Power! He is our friend, yes! But He is also Lord!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Not Just on Sunday Morning
So, you are at church on a given Sunday morning, attending service, and you are happily moving your body as your soul rejoices the the five songs played by the worship band that morning. From the strike of the first chord until the holding out of the last note, your spirit simply is fully locked on to the Love of God and the Desire to Worship Him!
Therefore, you attend the evening service at your respective church, and you experience God in a mighty way through the songs played that night as well. At the end of that Sunday, you feel as that music that glorified God and inspired you to sing along has truly changed your attitude on life and following the Life of Christ.
Yet, when you get into your car, on comes whatever is on the radio. And along with that, on comes whatever the song is glorifying, because everything glorifies something! And, because of the pure sound of the music, you feel the inspiration to start moving your body again.
On Sunday morning however, your body, spirit, and the songs glorified God. In your car, however, they glorified whatever the song was. I encourage you all, examine what is taken into your spirits throughout the week, whether that be music or television or whatever, for those things do matter and do show what you truly worship!
Therefore, you attend the evening service at your respective church, and you experience God in a mighty way through the songs played that night as well. At the end of that Sunday, you feel as that music that glorified God and inspired you to sing along has truly changed your attitude on life and following the Life of Christ.
Yet, when you get into your car, on comes whatever is on the radio. And along with that, on comes whatever the song is glorifying, because everything glorifies something! And, because of the pure sound of the music, you feel the inspiration to start moving your body again.
On Sunday morning however, your body, spirit, and the songs glorified God. In your car, however, they glorified whatever the song was. I encourage you all, examine what is taken into your spirits throughout the week, whether that be music or television or whatever, for those things do matter and do show what you truly worship!
Monday, March 26, 2012
Communication
My mother and I have been more than just mother and son, but friends for years! We laugh and joke, etc. We would both agree that our communication is at a great mutual state.
However, just because my mother birthed me, I would not expect or even ask my mother to read my thoughts as we communicate. I do not just go up to her and look and expect her to respond to whatever I am thinking at whatever given time. Even if she could read my every thought so I would not have to say anything to communicate, out of want and respect for mutual communication, I would still use my words.
God is more than just a king but Jesus also calls me friend! I tell him all about my day, and I strive to improve my communication towards Him for I get what I give. However, just because God created all of us, our entire species, I do not just go about my day and expect God to read my heart and mind. He does, true, but out of want and respect for mutual communication, I pray.
Prayer is our communication with God. God speaks back to us through His Word, others, and other means seen fit in His eyes. But prayer is absolutely necessary in our longing for communication with the Almighty God! He always listens!
However, just because my mother birthed me, I would not expect or even ask my mother to read my thoughts as we communicate. I do not just go up to her and look and expect her to respond to whatever I am thinking at whatever given time. Even if she could read my every thought so I would not have to say anything to communicate, out of want and respect for mutual communication, I would still use my words.
God is more than just a king but Jesus also calls me friend! I tell him all about my day, and I strive to improve my communication towards Him for I get what I give. However, just because God created all of us, our entire species, I do not just go about my day and expect God to read my heart and mind. He does, true, but out of want and respect for mutual communication, I pray.
Prayer is our communication with God. God speaks back to us through His Word, others, and other means seen fit in His eyes. But prayer is absolutely necessary in our longing for communication with the Almighty God! He always listens!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Go Forth
Matthew 28,19b “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
In this verse Jesus is saying go and make disciples. As brilliantly illustrated by a pastor here in Spartanburg, you could probably bring a second in to read this verse and they make get tripped up on what exactly a disciple is, but that can tell you what the word "go" means!
Making disciples does not happen by sitting down in your room at your house waiting for someone to knock on your door so you can share Jesus with them. It does not mean that you hesitate before you engage in things that do not please God with those that you call "friends." No, it means that you are to look for opportunities to make disciples, teaching others to obey everything that Jesus has commanded you. Teaching others to OBEY! To go and to Teach are both verbs that in this sense requires one to seek the opportunities to do so! So, GO forth and make disciples, TEACHING them to obey all that Jesus has commanded you! LOOK for the opportunities!
In this verse Jesus is saying go and make disciples. As brilliantly illustrated by a pastor here in Spartanburg, you could probably bring a second in to read this verse and they make get tripped up on what exactly a disciple is, but that can tell you what the word "go" means!
Making disciples does not happen by sitting down in your room at your house waiting for someone to knock on your door so you can share Jesus with them. It does not mean that you hesitate before you engage in things that do not please God with those that you call "friends." No, it means that you are to look for opportunities to make disciples, teaching others to obey everything that Jesus has commanded you. Teaching others to OBEY! To go and to Teach are both verbs that in this sense requires one to seek the opportunities to do so! So, GO forth and make disciples, TEACHING them to obey all that Jesus has commanded you! LOOK for the opportunities!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Not to Worry
Philippians 4.6- Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
In the previous post, we looked at how doing the right thing, whether physically or spiritually, does not always feel good or exciting as we are doing that work. Yes, the result are always in a positive direction, however the path does not always feel that way.
However, I want to bring your attention to the scripture stated above, to be anxious, or worried specifically about the future, for nothing. For even though the things that God has called us to do may not be in our comfort zone, which most of the time it is not, or even though we feel as we may not be able to do it, or that we are in it alone, the Word of the True and Living God tells us not to be anxious, but to may make our request known to God.
Remember that God is ALWAYS with you, no matter where you go. When He sends you out of your comfort zone, He is still right there beside you! Do not be afraid of the tasks that Lord has set before you, because He is always there as well!
In the previous post, we looked at how doing the right thing, whether physically or spiritually, does not always feel good or exciting as we are doing that work. Yes, the result are always in a positive direction, however the path does not always feel that way.
However, I want to bring your attention to the scripture stated above, to be anxious, or worried specifically about the future, for nothing. For even though the things that God has called us to do may not be in our comfort zone, which most of the time it is not, or even though we feel as we may not be able to do it, or that we are in it alone, the Word of the True and Living God tells us not to be anxious, but to may make our request known to God.
Remember that God is ALWAYS with you, no matter where you go. When He sends you out of your comfort zone, He is still right there beside you! Do not be afraid of the tasks that Lord has set before you, because He is always there as well!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Doesn't Always Feel Good
Do your remember when you first were taken to the Doctor's Office to receive your influenza shot? Do you remember as you were put in the car and told that everything was going to be just fine and you were even excited to get to go to the "Doctor's Office?"
Yet when the doctor sat you down and got out the needle, everything became clear in your mind. This person that you didn't even know was going to stick a needle with a sharp point into your skin and give you this shot. Perhaps you were debonair as you sat, but most of us became somewhat afraid at that thought.
So you braced yourself and took the shot, and for some, it did not feel good. Although it was by no means the worst pain in the world, for some it did sting and hurt a little. However, your parents knew that this shot did much more good than it did harm as it protected your body against influenza, even though it did so by exposing your body to it.
The point is, not all things that are good for you seem good to you, whether that be with body or spirit. For example, running five miles isn't the best feeling in the world for most. However it is great for the body. When it comes to serving Christ whole heatedly, you may be mocked, or have to step out of your personal comfort zone, but it is for the good of drawing you closer to Christ and in the sanctification, that is becoming more like Christ! In that case, every bit of the discomfort is worth it!
Yet when the doctor sat you down and got out the needle, everything became clear in your mind. This person that you didn't even know was going to stick a needle with a sharp point into your skin and give you this shot. Perhaps you were debonair as you sat, but most of us became somewhat afraid at that thought.
So you braced yourself and took the shot, and for some, it did not feel good. Although it was by no means the worst pain in the world, for some it did sting and hurt a little. However, your parents knew that this shot did much more good than it did harm as it protected your body against influenza, even though it did so by exposing your body to it.
The point is, not all things that are good for you seem good to you, whether that be with body or spirit. For example, running five miles isn't the best feeling in the world for most. However it is great for the body. When it comes to serving Christ whole heatedly, you may be mocked, or have to step out of your personal comfort zone, but it is for the good of drawing you closer to Christ and in the sanctification, that is becoming more like Christ! In that case, every bit of the discomfort is worth it!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
The Opportunity
Let us go on a quick journey. Imagine that you are jogging down the road that you live on during a warm, perfectly breezy summer morning. You have already ran three miles and are on the last leg until you return back to your home.
All of a sudden, you look down at the path ahead of you and on the gravel what do you see, nothing else than one hundred dollars just lying on the ground with a note attached stating, "to whoever finds this: this is yours to keep. This bill keeps on multiplying. You shall never be in need anymore. You are saved from the falling economy of this world."
So, after you return home, you pay your tithing, and you all of your bills, for the one hundred dollars kept multiplying and you immediately went to blessing other people. You did not let that precious opportunity pass to share the wealth of that hundred bucks to bless others.
You may be reading this saying, if I had one hundred dollars that multiplied continually, I would surely use it to do just that. Well, you have something much more. You have the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which has the power to save those from the falling of this world! If you were the one who was running, you probably would not hesitate to pick up that bill. So tell yourself, do you hesitate at the opportunity to share the Word of God?
All of a sudden, you look down at the path ahead of you and on the gravel what do you see, nothing else than one hundred dollars just lying on the ground with a note attached stating, "to whoever finds this: this is yours to keep. This bill keeps on multiplying. You shall never be in need anymore. You are saved from the falling economy of this world."
So, after you return home, you pay your tithing, and you all of your bills, for the one hundred dollars kept multiplying and you immediately went to blessing other people. You did not let that precious opportunity pass to share the wealth of that hundred bucks to bless others.
You may be reading this saying, if I had one hundred dollars that multiplied continually, I would surely use it to do just that. Well, you have something much more. You have the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which has the power to save those from the falling of this world! If you were the one who was running, you probably would not hesitate to pick up that bill. So tell yourself, do you hesitate at the opportunity to share the Word of God?
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