Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Blessed is the One.
Matt.21:1-14
On Sunday we celebrated Palm Sunday where Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people cut down palm branches and lay them down in the street and cried out Hosanna.
Hosanna = Save Now.
But what is interesting next is that Jesus went in and cleaned out the temple. He then declared that His house shall be called a house of prayer.
Oh how we need to clean out our lives and churches of the things that do not really belong there.
Heb.12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
And allow our lives to become more involved in prayer and to have our churches be known as a place of prayer. If we will do this then what happened in verse 14 will happen to us. (vs. 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.) The blind and lame were healed! God will not only bring physical healing but also healing to those who are blind to Jesus. Those crying out Hosanna will receive salvation. Those who were lame or who have been hurt by life will be restored back to wholeness.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
On Sunday we celebrated Palm Sunday where Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people cut down palm branches and lay them down in the street and cried out Hosanna.
Hosanna = Save Now.
But what is interesting next is that Jesus went in and cleaned out the temple. He then declared that His house shall be called a house of prayer.
Oh how we need to clean out our lives and churches of the things that do not really belong there.
Heb.12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
And allow our lives to become more involved in prayer and to have our churches be known as a place of prayer. If we will do this then what happened in verse 14 will happen to us. (vs. 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.) The blind and lame were healed! God will not only bring physical healing but also healing to those who are blind to Jesus. Those crying out Hosanna will receive salvation. Those who were lame or who have been hurt by life will be restored back to wholeness.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Friday, March 26, 2010
I want to be like you
1Cor.4:16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. (ESV)
I was reminded of this verse the other day. I had gone to our office (the extra bedroom) and was doing some study and prayer. That is when our daughter wanted us to take her to her bedroom so she could read her bible. I really didn’t think much of it at the time, she likes to spend time in her room and she will read her bible as well. It was later in the day that she told me she was doing that because she wanted to be like me.
I was reminded that we all need to have someone or people in our lives that we can look to and imitate their spiritual practices. I thought of my Pastor and how much I have learned from watching and listening to him. What an impact he has had on my life. And then I think of others who have shaped my life when I imitated their practices. I was reminded of how others have told me that we have made an impact in their lives as well.
This is really what is all about. We are not perfect people, but we are to try to progress through life by imitating other Christians that have had an impact on our lives.
1Cor.11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (ESV)
And we are all to be imitators of Christ; He is our prime example of how to live our lives.
I was reminded of this verse the other day. I had gone to our office (the extra bedroom) and was doing some study and prayer. That is when our daughter wanted us to take her to her bedroom so she could read her bible. I really didn’t think much of it at the time, she likes to spend time in her room and she will read her bible as well. It was later in the day that she told me she was doing that because she wanted to be like me.
I was reminded that we all need to have someone or people in our lives that we can look to and imitate their spiritual practices. I thought of my Pastor and how much I have learned from watching and listening to him. What an impact he has had on my life. And then I think of others who have shaped my life when I imitated their practices. I was reminded of how others have told me that we have made an impact in their lives as well.
This is really what is all about. We are not perfect people, but we are to try to progress through life by imitating other Christians that have had an impact on our lives.
1Cor.11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (ESV)
And we are all to be imitators of Christ; He is our prime example of how to live our lives.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Where do you attend church?
We live in an ever-changing world and how the gospel message is presented is far different than it was say 20 years ago. I remember when I was working at ORU we had a student worker who was majoring in theology and his desire was to have an Internet ministry. I though he was crazy, but who would of known that he had the foresight to see that the gospel was going to be made available in different ways in the years to come. I don’t know what ever happened to that student, but I have to say, he was right.
When I was young, I remember the neighborhood quiet on Sundays as everyone was attending church somewhere. These days, as we are leaving for church, we see our neighbors in their robes fetching their Sunday papers. Co-workers tell me about the latest sermon they caught online from a pastor in another state. Some friends of ours find themselves in front of the television on Sunday morning to watch a sermon from yet another state. And yet another friend gathers his family around the table holding a study in their home. Times are a changin'.
So I begin to wonder where everyone is attending church. Is it in a "brick and mortar" building, home, online, or not at all? Then I found this article where the question was raised in a recent poll done by Pew Forum and published in the Pentecostal Evangel on March 14th, “Where Americans Attend Church”.
Church building 60%
Nowhere 28%
Home 7%
Other building 2%
School 1%
Park/campground 1%
Restaurant 1%
Hotel 1%
Other outdoor venue 1%
I would say that if your church or ministry were not offering some type of teaching on the Internet, that you are missing an opportunity to get the gospel message out. These numbers represent America not the world and there are 35% of Americans that attend church either nowhere or at home. Who knows about the rest of the world that has Internet access? Times have changed and people are searching in new ways. Want to know how to make a great apple pie? Want to know the right way to install a new shower head? Many people now turn to the internet to answer these questions. The internet can answer just about every question, whether the answer is right or wrong. I want to be giving the right answer when someone is searching for God.
When I was young, I remember the neighborhood quiet on Sundays as everyone was attending church somewhere. These days, as we are leaving for church, we see our neighbors in their robes fetching their Sunday papers. Co-workers tell me about the latest sermon they caught online from a pastor in another state. Some friends of ours find themselves in front of the television on Sunday morning to watch a sermon from yet another state. And yet another friend gathers his family around the table holding a study in their home. Times are a changin'.
So I begin to wonder where everyone is attending church. Is it in a "brick and mortar" building, home, online, or not at all? Then I found this article where the question was raised in a recent poll done by Pew Forum and published in the Pentecostal Evangel on March 14th, “Where Americans Attend Church”.
Church building 60%
Nowhere 28%
Home 7%
Other building 2%
School 1%
Park/campground 1%
Restaurant 1%
Hotel 1%
Other outdoor venue 1%
I would say that if your church or ministry were not offering some type of teaching on the Internet, that you are missing an opportunity to get the gospel message out. These numbers represent America not the world and there are 35% of Americans that attend church either nowhere or at home. Who knows about the rest of the world that has Internet access? Times have changed and people are searching in new ways. Want to know how to make a great apple pie? Want to know the right way to install a new shower head? Many people now turn to the internet to answer these questions. The internet can answer just about every question, whether the answer is right or wrong. I want to be giving the right answer when someone is searching for God.
Photo Courtesy - Canadafirst
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Friday, March 19, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
If it's important to you, it's important to Him.
I have been reading a book called “Did You Think To Pray?” by R.T. Kendall. I highly recommend any of his books. Prayer is so important in our lives. You have heard the saying that prayer changes things and we need a consistent prayer life.
Isa.37:14-15 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD.
A lot of times we pray when we have a problem and that is normal. Here King Hezekiah had a problem and he does something here that we should take notice of. He spread the problem out before the Lord. In other words, he told God about the problem and told God that He was the only one who could do anything about it. That is just what the Bible tells us to do.
1Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Everyone of our cares, we should cast upon the Jesus. It doesn’t matter if its big or small. Jesus cares about all of our problems. If it is important to us, it is important to Jesus. Let us all learn to take everything to the Lord in prayer and cast all of our cares upon the Lord.
Phil. 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
http://www.speakinggraceonline.com/
Isa.37:14-15 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD.
A lot of times we pray when we have a problem and that is normal. Here King Hezekiah had a problem and he does something here that we should take notice of. He spread the problem out before the Lord. In other words, he told God about the problem and told God that He was the only one who could do anything about it. That is just what the Bible tells us to do.
1Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Everyone of our cares, we should cast upon the Jesus. It doesn’t matter if its big or small. Jesus cares about all of our problems. If it is important to us, it is important to Jesus. Let us all learn to take everything to the Lord in prayer and cast all of our cares upon the Lord.
Phil. 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
http://www.speakinggraceonline.com/
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Recognize, Refuse and Resist
Spiritual warfare is real. We all have a very real adversary and we all, from time to time, come under attack from the enemy. As I was thinking about spiritual warfare, I was reminded of the three Rs that we can put to practice in our lives.
Recognize, Refuse and Resist
Recognize the devil… that is when an evil thought comes. These are thoughts that you know God did not put there. The devil uses our minds to attack us. Satan uses our thoughts to fill us with worry, doubt, resentment, anger, etc. The bible reminds is in Colossians 3:2 (NIV) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Refuse, that means do not entertain the thought. Refuse to give the evil thought any attention. Believers are told to "take every thought captive" that doesn't conform to Christ's standards. We must evaluate every one of our actions, desires, and impulses, and bring everything under the control of Jesus.
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Resist, if the devil keeps coming back resist him. We have the authority and the ability to do that.
Matthew 16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Recognize, Refuse and Resist
Recognize the devil… that is when an evil thought comes. These are thoughts that you know God did not put there. The devil uses our minds to attack us. Satan uses our thoughts to fill us with worry, doubt, resentment, anger, etc. The bible reminds is in Colossians 3:2 (NIV) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Refuse, that means do not entertain the thought. Refuse to give the evil thought any attention. Believers are told to "take every thought captive" that doesn't conform to Christ's standards. We must evaluate every one of our actions, desires, and impulses, and bring everything under the control of Jesus.
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Resist, if the devil keeps coming back resist him. We have the authority and the ability to do that.
Matthew 16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Don't keep it a secret!
Mark 6:14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him."
Mark 6:32-34 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Mark 7:24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.
From these passages we see that Jesus’ name had become well known, that people recognized Him and His disciples and He couldn’t keep His presence a secret. We do so much as churches or ministries to advertise and promote what we are doing, but here are the questions we have to ask ourselves: Is the name of Jesus well known with what we are doing? Is what we are doing bringing honor and glory to the name of Jesus? Does the community around us recognize we are disciples of Jesus? Is His presence a secret in our lives or services? Do people know His presence is there without us having to tell anyone?
I am all for telling people about Jesus. That is what we are suppose to do,but can His presence be seen in our lives and what we are doing for the Kingdom? You know the old saying, "practice what you preach". Does my life portray the portrait of Jesus that I paint with my words? Without telling someone who I am or what I do; will they see Jesus in me? When I am not behind the pulpit or gathered with other ministers or believers, am I the same person? If I am living a life in pursuit of Christ, just like in the verses above, I should not be able to keep it a secret. Even in the mundane tasks of life, my witness should bring honor and glory to Jesus.
Don't keep it a secret!
Mark 6:32-34 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Mark 7:24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.
From these passages we see that Jesus’ name had become well known, that people recognized Him and His disciples and He couldn’t keep His presence a secret. We do so much as churches or ministries to advertise and promote what we are doing, but here are the questions we have to ask ourselves: Is the name of Jesus well known with what we are doing? Is what we are doing bringing honor and glory to the name of Jesus? Does the community around us recognize we are disciples of Jesus? Is His presence a secret in our lives or services? Do people know His presence is there without us having to tell anyone?
I am all for telling people about Jesus. That is what we are suppose to do,but can His presence be seen in our lives and what we are doing for the Kingdom? You know the old saying, "practice what you preach". Does my life portray the portrait of Jesus that I paint with my words? Without telling someone who I am or what I do; will they see Jesus in me? When I am not behind the pulpit or gathered with other ministers or believers, am I the same person? If I am living a life in pursuit of Christ, just like in the verses above, I should not be able to keep it a secret. Even in the mundane tasks of life, my witness should bring honor and glory to Jesus.
Don't keep it a secret!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
In a hurry?
What did Jesus do? This is just a thought about Jesus. I don’t know what amazes you the most when you read the gospel accounts about Jesus. Maybe it is the healings, the teachings, maybe it is the miracle of the loaves and fishes or walking on water or perhaps raising Lazarus from the dead. All of those are wonderful and certainly qualities of our Lord. I think the thing that amazes me the most is no matter where Jesus was at or what He was doing, Jesus always had time for everyone. It seems like He was never in a hurry.
We live is such a fast paced society, where stress is the norm and everyone is in a hurry. We don’t have time for anyone or anything. We are busy doing something,but Jesus was always followed around; people pressing upon Him and always needing something, but Jesus was never in a hurry and always had time for everyone. To me that is amazing. How are we able to be Jesus to someone if we are always in a hurry? Often we are so focused on where we are going and what we need to do, that we don't even notice the people around us. People who may be hurting, who may need to see Jesus in us. I just have to stop and look at myself and consider my purpose as I go through life, becasue we never know who God is placing in our path. Someone who may need to see Jesus in me.
We live is such a fast paced society, where stress is the norm and everyone is in a hurry. We don’t have time for anyone or anything. We are busy doing something,but Jesus was always followed around; people pressing upon Him and always needing something, but Jesus was never in a hurry and always had time for everyone. To me that is amazing. How are we able to be Jesus to someone if we are always in a hurry? Often we are so focused on where we are going and what we need to do, that we don't even notice the people around us. People who may be hurting, who may need to see Jesus in us. I just have to stop and look at myself and consider my purpose as I go through life, becasue we never know who God is placing in our path. Someone who may need to see Jesus in me.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Revelation pt.4
We have been talking about revelation from God. We all need fresh revelation from God and when we get revelation from God it promotes certain things in our lives. We have talked about how revelation will promote a deeper relationship with God also it will provoke us to action as well; it will promote the validity of God’s word. And the next thing that revelation will do for us. It will promote the Strengthening of the church.
1Cor.14:26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
God wants to show us things to build us up to make us stronger. God’s revelation will make us stronger. The church is not going over. The gates of hell will not prevail over us, but we will prevail over the gates of hell. The Lord is coming for a strong church, a victorious church an overcoming church. That is receiving the revelation of God experiencing His glory.
http://www.speakinggraceonline.com/
1Cor.14:26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
God wants to show us things to build us up to make us stronger. God’s revelation will make us stronger. The church is not going over. The gates of hell will not prevail over us, but we will prevail over the gates of hell. The Lord is coming for a strong church, a victorious church an overcoming church. That is receiving the revelation of God experiencing His glory.
http://www.speakinggraceonline.com/
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