Just sharing.

[beensetfree]

“Sing, O barren.”

Isaiah 54:1

Though we have brought forth some fruit unto Christ, and have a joyful hope that we are “plants of his own right hand planting,” yet there are times when we feel very barren. Prayer is lifeless, love is cold, faith is weak, each grace in the garden of our heart languishes and droops. We are like flowers in the hot sun, requiring the refreshing shower. In such a condition what are we to do? The text is addressed to us in just such a state. “Sing, O barren, break forth and cry aloud.”

But what can I sing about? I cannot talk about the present, and even the past looks full of barrenness. Ah! I can sing of Jesus Christ. I can talk of visits which the Redeemer has aforetimes paid to me; or if not of these, I can magnify the great love wherewith he loved his people when he came from the heights of heaven for their redemption. I will go to the cross again. Come, my soul, heavy laden thou wast once, and thou didst lose thy burden there. Go to Calvary again.

Perhaps that very cross which gave thee life may give thee fruitfulness. What is my barrenness? It is the platform for his fruit-creating power. What is my desolation? It is the black setting for the sapphire of his everlasting love. I will go in poverty, I will go in helplessness, I will go in all my shame and backsliding, I will tell him that I am still his child, and in confidence in his faithful heart, even I, the barren one, will sing and cry aloud.

Sing, believer, for it will cheer thine own heart, and the hearts of other desolate ones. Sing on, for now that thou art really ashamed of being barren, thou wilt be fruitful soon; now that God makes thee loath to be without fruit he will soon cover thee with clusters. The experience of our barrenness is painful, but the Lord's visitations are delightful. A sense of our own poverty drives us to Christ, and that is where we need to be, for in him is our fruit found.

 

[beensetfree]

How Believers Can Blaspheme God



Is it possible that believers can blaspheme God? The answer might surprise you.
Old Testament
The Adoration of the Golden Calf by Nicolas Poussin.
There were serious penalties for blaspheming the name of God in ancient Israel. The law of God said that “Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death” (Lev 24:11), but there are other ways to blaspheme God and His holy Name, and that’s by bringing shame to the name of Christ by not living by the words of Christ.

Ancient Israel was originally called to be kings and priests, and to be a light to the pagan nations of the world. When the nations around Israel saw how Israel was blessed and living in safety and security, the nations would see Who is the One, true God, but Israel’s obedience usually didn’t last for long. Their prosperity brought their decline. They trusted in their abundance and not in the Lord, so they fell into idolatry, at one point, even falling so far as to offer child sacrifices in the fire, so God instructed Ezekiel to tell Israel, “Thus says the Lord God: In this also your fathers blasphemed me, by dealing treacherously with me” (Ezk 20:27b).

They blasphemed God’s good name by their treachery of God. They substituted things made with hands, like stone, wood, or other carved images for the true God, the very Creator of these things. That means they began to worship the creation instead of the Creator. The Apostle Paul said of those in his day that “they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever” (Rom 1:25). That’s blaspheming the One, true God.

Conduct and Blaspheme
Years ago a couple who had been living together and in sexual immorality. They felt guilty about it and sought counsel of whether this was sin or not. Then, they openly rejected the counsel they had been given. The marriage counselor was a Christian and said that the Bible says that there should be no sex outside of or before marriage. Sex was designed for the marital relationship and not between friends or acquaintances, or even those you’re engaged too. Apparently, they only wanted him to condone their choice, but he wouldn’t budge from the Word of God. It wasn’t long before their non-Christian neighbors began to slander the church or the name of Christ because they could see that this couple lived no differently than others they knew who were not Christian.

They reasoned, if that’s Christianity, they want no part of it. When David committed adultery and murder through conspiracy, Nathan confronted him about these sins, so “David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die” (2 Sam 12:13-14; NASB). David had brought shame to the throne, to the nation, and to the God he served. His conduct gave “occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme” God’s name.

Works and Blaspheme
The Apostle Paul knew well enough about blaspheming God’s name by a person’s conduct, and so he wrote that “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” (Rom 2:24). Ouch! That hurts. They were not only requiring circumcision and observance of the law, but they were even “breaking the law” (Rom 2:23). There were actually written reports about the Jews doing this and these reports were contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They had a plan of salvation rather than looking to the Man of Salvation. These Jews were blaspheming God and His free gift of grace (Eph 2:8-9) by trying to add works to it. They attempted to save themselves by works, or law-keeping (Rom 2:17-24), and required others to do it too. By the way, it’s impossible to keep the law perfectly, but I think that’s the point. It shows we cannot save ourselves by works and so we must run to God for His mercy and grace. And that’s just what He wants! On the Day of Judgment, many will discover just how worthless their works are (Matt 7:21-23).

Unforgivable Sin
There are other articles that address the so-called “unforgivable sin,” and deal better with this issue than I can right here and now, but most have read Mark 3:22-30 where Jesus, in speaking to the scribes, said that “all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” (Mark 3:28-29). Why did Jesus tell this to the scribes? Because “they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit” (Mark 3:30). The scribes must have known better since they did much of the work in copying the Old Testament.

Scribes were in one of the most important and sacred of duties that could be given, and that’s being given the responsibility of recording the very words of God. This means they knew the Scriptures better than most, and Jesus clearly fulfilled dozens of Old Testament prophecies about Him. The scribes had seen Jesus’ miracles, and yet they accused Him of using satanic powers. They were blaspheming the Holy Spirit by accusing Jesus’ working miracles by Satan when it was actually the Holy Spirit’s work.

Conclusion
The Bible is full of historical figures who blasphemed God by their behavior and their lives ended badly. The Apostle Paul wrote of those who rejected the grace of God, and “By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme” (1 Tim 1:19-20). James saw blaspheming God’s name and being partial to the rich and discriminating against the poor. He wrote, “But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well” (James 2:6-8). Anything that looks like sin to the world may not actually be sin, but if we abstain from every appearance of evil (1 Thess 5:22), the world will have less reason to disdain the name of Christ by whom we identify. We will therefore not blaspheme God by our lives but rather bless God by our lives. And in turn, perhaps, bless others and draw them to Christ.

 

[beensetfree]

Never pay back evil for evil And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25 NIV __________________ Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8,9 KJV __________________ If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you. Proverbs 25:21,22 RSV __________________ Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Romans 12:17-19 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

[beensetfree]

“All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.”

Numbers 6:4

Nazarites had taken, among other vows, one which debarred them from the use of wine. In order that they might not violate the obligation, they were forbidden to drink the vinegar of wine or strong liquors, and to make the rule still more clear, they were not to touch the unfermented juice of grapes, nor even to eat the fruit either fresh or dried. In order, altogether, to secure the integrity of the vow, they were not even allowed anything that had to do with the vine; they were, in fact, to avoid the appearance of evil.

Surely this is a lesson to the Lord's separated ones, teaching them to come away from sin in every form, to avoid not merely its grosser shapes, but even its spirit and similitude. Strict walking is much despised in these days, but rest assured, dear reader, it is both the safest and the happiest. He who yields a point or two to the world is in fearful peril; he who eats the grapes of Sodom will soon drink the wine of Gomorrah. A little crevice in the sea-bank in Holland lets in the sea, and the gap speedily swells till a province is drowned.

Worldly conformity, in any degree, is a snare to the soul, and makes it more and more liable to presumptuous sins. Moreover, as the Nazarite who drank grape juice could not be quite sure whether it might not have endured a degree of fermentation, and consequently could not be clear in heart that his vow was intact, so the yielding, temporizing Christian cannot wear a conscience void of offense, but must feel that the inward monitor is in doubt of him. Things doubtful we need not doubt about; they are wrong to us. Things tempting we must not dally with, but flee from them with speed. Better be sneered at as a Puritan than be despised as a hypocrite. Careful walking may involve much self-denial, but it has pleasures of its own which are more than a sufficient recompense.

 

[beensetfree]

With Gentleness And Respect



The Bible teaches us that we must answer people with gentleness and respect with regards to the hope that is in us.

No Partiality
One wise old pastor said, “We are not better than others…only better off,” and he’s right. There was no good reason God had to save us. The Bible says that none are good, and to cover every exception, “No, not even one” (Rom 3:10-12). Everyone has fallen infinitely short of God’s glory (Rom 3:23), so there was nothing special in us that caused God to set His love on us. Even ancient Israel wasn’t chosen because they were the greatest and most powerful nations of the earth. Indeed, they were the least of the nations, and God called them while they were still helplessly bound in slavery.

They could not escape the bondage of Egypt any more than Lazarus could have raised himself from the dead, so clearly, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are” (1 Cor 1:27-28). God did this “so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Cor 1:29), and none of us have any bragging rights at all, “For God shows no partiality” (Rom 2:11). All we can boast about is our Savior!

Godly Responses
When we answer in the same manner and tone that we’re spoken too, we’re only fueling the fire, but when we respond with love, kindness, and gentleness, we show how Christ would respond, who “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Pet 2:23). Read how the Apostle Peter thinks we should respond. He writes that “even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame” (1 Pet 3:14-16).

When reviled, we do not revile back. We don’t give them what they deserve…we give them what they need; gentleness and respect. I have friends and acquaintances who are agnostic and atheists, and yet I have respect for them and their freedom to choose to believe what they want to believe. It’s wrong to cram religion down people’s throats. Jesus certainly never pushed Himself on anyone. He always invited them to come to Him or to follow Him. No one that I know of has ever been debated or argued into heaven; on the contrary, it likely does more harm than good.

Gentleness and Respect
The Apostle Paul doesn’t want Timothy to be shy in correcting those in the church who need it, but wrote that “the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim 2:24-25). This was to be done in the hope that “they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (2 Tim 2:26). You can respect someone’s belief but not be gentle, or you can be gentle but not respect someone’s beliefs, so it’s essential to have both gentleness and respect.

Even when someone “is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted” (Gal 6:1). It’s dangerous to look at others and see them struggle and think, “Well, at least I don’t do that,” or “At least I’m not that bad.” That’s why Paul warned, “Keep watch on yourself,” because we may also “be tempted” to do the same thing…or even worse. Believe me, I speak from experience. We cannot expect someone to respect our beliefs when we don’t respect theirs, and we cannot expect gentleness from others when we are not ourselves gentle with them. Even if our beliefs are not respected or others treat us badly due to our faith in Christ, we are still admonished to respond with gentleness and respect.

Conclusion
We are commanded to treat everyone honorably and with gentleness and respect, so this means we “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Rom 12:17-18), so we turn it all over to God (Rom 12:19), as to “not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21). We know that God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4), for God has declared, “I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live” (Ezk 18:32).

“God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17). If Jesus came not to condemn the world, who are we to condemn? Judgment starts in the house of God (1 Pet 4:17). God will judge the unbelievers. We are only told to respond with love (John 13:34-35). Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28), and of course we do that with gentleness and respect.

 

[beensetfree]

Be faithful, work hard! Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men. Proverbs 22:29 NIV __________________ He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough. A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. Proverbs 28:19,20 KJV __________________ He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits has no sense. The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor. A slothful man will not catch his prey, but the diligent man will get precious wealth. In the path of righteousness is life, but the way of error leads to death. Proverbs 12:11,24,27,28 RSV __________________ His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Matthew 13:12, 25:23,29 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

[beensetfree]

“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed.”

Jeremiah 17:14

“I have seen his ways, and will heal him.”

Isaiah 57:18

It is the sole prerogative of God to remove spiritual disease. Natural disease may be instrumentally healed by men, but even then the honor is to be given to God who gives virtue unto medicine, and bestows power unto the human frame to cast off disease. As for spiritual sicknesses, these remain with the great Physician alone; he claims it as his prerogative, “I kill and I make alive, I wound and I heal;” and one of the Lord's choice titles is Jehovah-Rophi, the Lord that heals thee. “I will heal thee of thy wounds,” is a promise which could not come from the lip of man, but only from the mouth of the eternal God.

On this account the psalmist cried unto the Lord, “O Lord, heal me, for my bones are sore vexed,” and again, “Heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.” For this, also, the godly praise the name of the Lord, saying, “He healeth all our diseases.” He who made man can restore man; he who was at first the creator of our nature can new create it. What a transcendent comfort it is that in the person of Jesus “dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily!” My soul, whatever thy disease may be, this great Physician can heal thee. If he be God, there can be no limit to his power.

Come then with the blind eye of darkened understanding, come with the limping foot of wasted energy, come with the maimed hand of weak faith, the fever of an angry temper, or the ague of shivering despondency, come just as thou art, for he who is God can certainly restore thee of thy plague. None shall restrain the healing virtue which proceeds from Jesus our Lord. Legions of devils have been made to own the power of the beloved Physician, and never once has he been baffled. All his patients have been cured in the past and shall be in the future, and thou shalt be one among them, my friend, if thou wilt but rest thyself in him this night.

 

[beensetfree]

How Can I Recognize My Spiritual Gift(s)?



Every believer has at least one gift, probably more, so how do you recognize the gifts of the Spirit in your life?
Receiving Gifts
The Bible has much to say about spiritual gifts and their purpose. The Apostle Peter wrote, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Pet 4:10-11). That means “each has received a gift,” but it’s not for self-gratification or to be seen by others, but “to serve one another.” Regardless of where you read about spiritual gifts in the Bible, the underlying theme is that we should always use those gifts to minister to or edify others in the body of Christ. So how is it that we can recognize our spiritual gifts? How do we know if we have more than one?

Recognizing Spiritual Gifts
Gifts of the Spirit are not to be confused with the fruits of the Spirit, which are “joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23a), and even those are produced by abiding in the Vine, Jesus Christ (John 15:1-8). Without Him, we cannot bear any godly fruit at all (John 15:5), so just as we cannot produce godly fruit on our own, we can’t pray down the gifts of the Spirit into our lives. The Apostle Paul wrote that “God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose” (1 Cor 12:18). It is His choice, not ours.

And there’s no reason to covet someone else’s gift because “there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone” (1 Cor 12:6), so obviously God “apportions to each one individually as he wills” (1 Cor 12:11b). This much we know; God gives spiritual gifts to everyone in the church, and God decides which gifts are given to believers. God wants you to know your spiritual gifts so that you can benefit others, as “each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Cor 12:7), but one way to find out what your spiritual gift is, would be to find a place to serve and see if your gift fits your service, whatever that is.

Using Gifts
The Apostle Paul wrote that since we have “gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness” (Rom 12:6-8). Sometimes it’s obvious that someone has the gift of teaching, some are better at administration, some at discernment, some in giving, and others who show hospitality or mercy. I would ask people what they think I’m gifted in or ask them what they think I’m good at good at. We might have blind spots and not even know what we’ve been gifted in, so ask! If you feel holy pleasure in doing what you’re doing, and you’re good at it, you might have found your niche in the church. That is putting the gift of the Spirit to work for the good of the church.
Here is a summary of some of the spiritual gifts as listed in the Bible, although there may be more than these:


Administration (1 Corinthians 12)

Discernment (1 Corinthians 12)
Evangelism, Exhortation & Pastor (Romans12; Ephesians 4)
Giving (Romans 12)
Helps & Service (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12)
Hospitality (1 Peter 4:9-10)
Leadership (Romans 12)
Mercy (Romans 12)
Teaching (Romans 12)

A Diversity of Gifts
Take a look at what you do best and use that talent to serve the Lord and everyone else. If you don’t use it, you might lose it, or at least the ability to use this gift, because one man rightly said, “Showing up is 90% of serving.” I’ve spent time taking written tests to determine my “spiritual gifts” and something I noticed is that no matter who developed the test or where I took the test, the results slightly differed. I did discover that the spiritual gifts that God gives are for us to grow and develop as a whole, so here are three questions you might want to ask yourself: What pleases God, what is the desire of my heart, and what is the most prominent or obvious spiritual gift(s) I’ve been given? Is it in administration; does it deal with discernment; does it include service and teaching? There really is no magic formula or definitive test that can tell us exactly what all of our spiritual gifts are. The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts as He determines (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). He will equip us with whatever gift or gifts we need to accomplish the task He has called us to.

Identifying Gifts
Identifying our spiritual gifts can be accomplished in various ways. Spiritual gift tests or inventories, while not to be fully relied upon, can definitely help us understand where our gifting might be. Confirmation from others also gives light to our spiritual giftedness. Other people who see us serving the Lord can often identify a spiritual gift in use that we might take for granted or we might not even realize we have it. Prayer is essential. The one person who knows exactly how we are spiritually gifted is the Giftgiver Himself…the Holy Spirit, so we can ask God to show us how we’re gifted in order to help the church function.

Conclusion
If we use our gifts for the good of others, but ignore other areas to serve in, we’re missing the point. Having the gift of administration does not excuse us from helping others in the church. Having the gift of teaching doesn’t mean you can’t wash the dishes in the fellowship hall. Gifts are primarily for the church, while fruits are evidence of the church, so I hope you can find your spiritual gift(s) and use them for the church; building one another up in the faith. The gifts of the Spirit are needed now more than ever, but a gift is only good if you open it up, see what it is, and then use it!

 

[beensetfree]

The LORD is a refuge Faithful is He Who called you! _______________ The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:9,10 NIV _______________ Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Psalm 89:33,34 KJV _______________ The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 2 Peter 3:9-12 NASB _______________ Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

[beensetfree]

''What think ye of Christ?”

Matthew 22:42

The great test of your soul's health is, What think you of Christ? Is he to you “fairer than the children of men” — “the chief among ten thousand” — the “altogether lovely”? Wherever Christ is thus esteemed, all the faculties of the spiritual man exercise themselves with energy. I will judge of your piety by this barometer: does Christ stand high or low with you?

If you have thought little of Christ, if you have been content to live without his presence, if you have cared little for his honour, if you have been neglectful of his laws, then I know that your soul is sick — God grant that it may not be sick unto death! But if the first thought of your spirit has been, how can I honour Jesus? If the daily desire of your soul has been, “O that I knew where I might find him!” I tell you that you may have a thousand infirmities, and even scarcely know whether you are a child of God at all, and yet I am persuaded, beyond a doubt, that you are safe, since Jesus is great in your esteem.

I care not for thy rags, what thinkest thou of his royal apparel? I care not for thy wounds, though they bleed in torrents, what thinkest thou of his wounds? are they like glittering rubies in thine esteem? I think none the less of thee, though thou liest like Lazarus on the dunghill, and the dogs do lick thee — I judge thee not by thy poverty: what thinkest thou of the King in his beauty? Has he a glorious high throne in thy heart? Wouldest thou set him higher if thou couldest? Wouldest thou be willing to die if thou couldest but add another trumpet to the strain which proclaims his praise?

Ah! then it is well with thee. Whatever thou mayest think of thyself, if Christ be great to thee, thou shalt be with him ere long.

“Though all the world my choice deride,
Yet Jesus shall my portion be;
For I am pleased with none beside,
The fairest of the fair is he”

 

[beensetfree]

5 Great Ways To Change Your New Year



Have you made New Year’s resolutions before? Have you kept them? Here are resolutions that may last more than a month.
Mind over Mattress

One of the keys to changing your new year is to get up a little bit earlier in the mornings so you don’t have to rush around and forget to do certain things. One morning I was in such a rush, I forgot to shave, and read my Bible (more important). I determined to change that, so I set my alarm clock 10 minutes earlier. It gives me a bit of a cushion to get my day started off right. I’m not sure who said it, but its like, “mind over mattress.” When I moved back my alarm clock, I found wasn’t rushing around in the morning. I could actually take my time, but I also had more time to pray and read my Bible before the day started. For me, it’s “Bible before breakfast.” I’ve noticed that if I don’t start my day off with time in His Word and prayer, then God’s obviously not a priority for me that day.

I am actually showing God that my own routine takes precedence over Him. It’s like saying, “I’m in a hurry God, and You’ll have to wait.” I certainly cannot honor God when I don’t even give him the first portion of my day. The father of the Methodist church, John Wesley, rose up every morning at four o’clock spending one hour on his face before God. I really believe if every Christian woke up at least 10 minutes earlier and devoted at least five minutes for prayer and five minutes for Bible reading, they would not only grow spiritually, but they would be better prepared for whatever the day brings. Interestingly, sometimes the very verses I had read in the morning fit perfectly with the circumstances at work.

Memorizing Scripture
One reason to memorize Scripture is to resist the temptation to sin. The psalmist wrote, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). Notice he stored up God’s Word so that he might not sin. Perhaps what he is saying is that when he is tempted, he can recall a Scripture and that helps to keep him from sinning. That’s why memorizing at least one Bible verse a week will equip you to resist the pulls of the flesh and the Devil. Try this: Write out one Bible verse per week and put it on a 3 by 5 index card where you can see it every day of the week.

One verse a week is very easy, but by memorizing one verse a week, you can memorize 52 Bible verses in a year. Bible verses such as 1 John 1:9 which says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Some of my favorite memory verses are 2 Corinthians 5:21, John 10:28-29, Hebrews 9:27, Romans 5:1 and several others. One advantage of memorizing Scripture is you can share the gospel without needing a Bible.


Prayer Journals
I have a lot of prayer requests and so I had to simplify and organize them, so I bought a 5 subject, wide-ruled notebook that I write down prayer requests. I put down the date so that I can look back to see how God has faithfully answer certain prayer requests. It quickly turns into a prayer/praise journal. You can organize it like this:
Person’s Name Praying For
Their Prayer Request
Date Requested
Date Answered (when it comes)

Daily Witnessing
I went to Moody Theological Seminary, so naturally I learned about D. L. Moody, and one of the things I admire about him the most was his faithfulness in obeying the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20). D. L. Moody was a relentless witness because he loved people. After he was saved, he would go out and seek young men to come and attend Sunday school, and he always encouraged them to do the very same thing. He also inspired many a young man to be faithful witnesses for Christ, and despite the rejection, scorn, sometimes facing hateful, angry words. Yes, there are times when I have failed, but I keep hundreds of Bible tracts with me at all times so that I am continually leaving Bible tracks everywhere I go, and handing them to people I don’t even know. After his death, D. L. Moody left such an impact that the Chicago Bible Institute was renamed the Moody Bible Institute and the Chicago Avenue Church was renamed the Moody Church. And why not? He built it with his relentless pursuit of the lost.

Prayer and the Word
This may sound easier than it actually is because many Christians do just what I did for years. I climbed into bed each night and prayed sleepy-time, bed-time prayers, but I frequently fell asleep before I ever finished them. Then, I started a routine of reading my Bible and then praying to God just before bedtime. It’s fine to pray in bed, but it doesn’t work for me. The routine of reading the Bible and praying just before bed are the bookends to my day. I start the day with prayer and Bible reading and I end the day with Bible reading and prayer. I can assure you that this is going to make your life a lot richer in many ways. When I start out the day with prayer and Bible reading, I’m more prepared for the unexpected.

When I fail to do this, I seem to fail at other things during the day too, so I begin each and every day with prayer and Bible reading, and I end it in the same way. What you’ll discover is that you go to bed with so much more peace of mind. I begin by reading and meditating on the Word of God, and then praying for others, and finally for myself, including asking for God’s forgiveness. If you do these things, you’ll discover that God “gives to his beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:2c).

Conclusion
Resolve to make this year a more productive year by disciplining your body and mind to take in the Word of God and to consistently pray for others. If you spend more time reading the Word of God and praying, you’ll not only take in the Word, but you’ll take the Word with you. Get into the Word and the Word gets into you. Examine the Word and the Word examines you. Go through the Word of God and the Word of God will go through you. Not only will you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ, it will pay immediate benefits, but also benefits into eternity.

 

[beensetfree]

The hand of the diligent makes him rich. The hand of the diligent maketh rich. Proverbs 10:4 KJV __________________ All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23 NIV __________________ The soul of the sluggard craves, and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle, but he who gathers little by little will increase it. Proverbs 13:4,11 RSV __________________ The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty. Proverbs 21:5 NASB __________________ He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty. Proverbs 28:19 NASB __________________ We proclaim Jesus, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:28-29 NIV __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

[beensetfree]

“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light.”

John 1:7

As he is in the light! Can we ever attain to this? Shall we ever be able to walk as clearly in the light as he is whom we call “Our Father,” of whom it is written, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all?” Certainly, this is the model which it set before us, for the Saviour himself said, “Be ye perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect;” and although we may feel that we can never rival the perfection of God, yet we are to seek after it, and never to be satisfied until we attain to it.

The youthful artist, as he grasps his early pencil, can hardly hope to equal Raphael or Michael Angelo, but still, if he did not have a noble beau ideal before his mind, he would only attain to something very mean and ordinary. But what is meant by the expression that the Christian is to walk in light as God is in the light? We conceive it to import likeness, but not degree. We are as truly in the light, we are as heartily in the light, we are as sincerely in the light, as honestly in the light, though we cannot be there in the same measure.

I cannot dwell in the sun, it is too bright a place for my residence, but I can walk in the light of the sun; and so, though I cannot attain to that perfection of purity and truth which belongs to the Lord of hosts by nature as the infinitely good, yet I can set the Lord always before me, and strive, by the help of the indwelling Spirit, after conformity to his image. That famous old commentator, John Trapp, says, “We may be in the light as God is in the light for quality, but not for equality.” We are to have the same light, and are as truly to have it and walk in it as God does, though, as for equality with God in his holiness and purity, that must be left until we cross the Jordan and enter into the perfection of the Most High. Mark that the blessings of sacred fellowship and perfect cleansing are bound up with walking in the light.

 

[beensetfree]

Blessed are the pure in heart Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8 KJV __________________ "Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right. He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife or lie with a woman during her period. He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign LORD. Ezekiel 18:5,6,9 NIV __________________ To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are corrupted. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their deeds; they are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good deed. Titus 1:15,16 RSV __________________ With the pure thou wil show thyself pure. Psalm 18:26 KJV __________________ Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul [2]to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD And righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psalm 24:3-5 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

[beensetfree]

“Trust in him at all times.”

Psalm 62:8

Faith is as much the rule of temporal as of spiritual life; we ought to have faith in God for our earthly affairs as well as for our heavenly business. It is only as we learn to trust in God for the supply of all our daily need that we shall live above the world. We are not to be idle, that would show we did not trust in God, who worketh hitherto, but in the devil, who is the father of idleness. We are not to be imprudent or rash; that were to trust chance, and not the living God, who is a God of economy and order. Acting in all prudence and uprightness, we are to rely simply and entirely upon the Lord at all times.

Let me commend to you a life of trust in God in temporal things. Trusting in God, you will not be compelled to mourn because you have used sinful means to grow rich. Serve God with integrity, and if you achieve no success, at least no sin will lie upon your conscience. Trusting God, you will not be guilty of self-contradiction. He who trusts in craft, sails this way to-day, and that way the next, like a vessel tossed about by the fickle wind; but he that trusteth in the Lord is like a vessel propelled by steam, she cuts through the waves, defies the wind, and makes one bright silvery straightforward track to her destined haven.

Be you a man with living principles within; never bow to the varying customs of worldly wisdom. Walk in your path of integrity with steadfast steps, and show that you are invincibly strong in the strength which confidence in God alone can confer. Thus you will be delivered from anxious care, you will not be troubled with evil tidings, your heart will be fixed, trusting in the Lord. How pleasant to float along the stream of providence! There is no more blessed way of living than a life of dependence upon a covenant-keeping God. We have no care, for he careth for us; we have no troubles, because we cast our burdens upon the Lord.

 

[beensetfree]

Things We Cannot Compromise On



There are some things we believe that are worth putting your stakes down for, and the essentials are certainly those things to contend for.
No Compromise
The old expression, “Putting your stakes in the ground,” comes from a time when people made claims on land. They’d put a stake in the ground, signifying property ownership, and that stake was there to stay, so there’s nothing wrong with putting stakes in the ground over certain beliefs. We can drive our stakes in the ground on particular moral values and principles like murder or theft, so there are some things from which we shouldn’t budge. Things like loving our neighbor as ourselves. This is how people will know who Jesus’ disciples are (John 13:34-35). Some things are non-negotiable, like the fact that we are saved only by the grace of God. We are saved and it is totally without merit, so there are truths that we must not negotiate over or compromise with.

Ephesians 2:8-9
The Apostle Paul wrote that it was “by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). Works are not our friend if we are trying to justify ourselves before God. That’s simply filthy rags to Him (Isaiah 64:6). It must be the righteousness of Christ or nothing. Jesus + nothing equal salvation, and nothing is not a little “something.” Of course a person who is not saved by works will still do works which God has laid out before them (Eph 2:10). God would not lay them before us if He didn’t intend for us to walk in them. Jesus also gave us imperative commands (Matt 25:35-36; 28:18-20). That said, it is by grace alone by Christ alone that we are saved (Acts 4:12). That’s a bedrock truth of the Christian faith, Jesus Himself is the Chief Cornerstone.

Essentials of the Faith
I believe that Jesus was literally conceived and born of a virgin named Mary (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-33).
I also believe that Jesus lived a sinless life of perfection. The Apostle Peter wrote that “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth” (1 Pet 2:22). The Apostle John wrote, “You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin” (1 John. 3:5). Jesus’ perfection is imputed on our behalf since we can never achieve our own righteousness. The Apostle Paul said that it was “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21). Jesus knew no sin; but we are all well acquainted with it.
I believe that salvation is in none other than through the name, person, work, and grace of Jesus Christ (John 3:16, 14:6; Rom.5:8). There is no plan of salvation. There is only the Man of Salvation.

I believe that all 66 books of the Bible are the “only” inspired Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16), and that they are the self-revelation of God, but God is most revealed through Jesus Christ. Jesus asked, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’” (John 14:9)?
I believe that God is the Creator of all things, is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present, and is fully in control to do as He wills, sovereign over all things (1 Sam 2:6-9; Psalm 24:1, 139:1-4; Jer. 32:17; Eph. 3:20).
I believe that all of humanity has fallen short of God’s glory and is in need of salvation; hence the reason Jesus came to the earth (Rom 3:23, 6:23; Rom. 5:8; John 14:6), giving His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).


The Apostle Paul wanted the church at Corinth to remember the essential of the “gospel I preached to you” (1 Cor 15:1). What was so important about the gospel? He said “I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures”(1 Cor 15:3-4). These essentials are Jesus’ sinless life, His death on the cross, dying for our sins, and that He was buried but on the third day was raised to life. Jesus didn’t die! His physical body died. He is God and God cannot die, so Jesus’ body was raised on the third day.

I believe that God is One and yet Three Persons in the Trinity: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, I believe that each Person of this Trinity is fully God and co-equally God in all ways (Isaiah 9:6; John 1:2, 4:24; Acts 5:3; Rom 1:7; 1 Cor 8:6, 6:44; Heb 9:14.
I believe that those who die without salvation go to a literal place called Hell (Luke 16:23.26; Mark 9:48).
I believe that those who belong to Christ have already inherited eternal life but will come into its fulfillment when Jesus returns, or after they die. Those who have trusted in Christ will dwell in a literal place (Isaiah 65; Zech 14), and that the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven and onto the earth (Rev 21:1-4). And it is Jesus alone Who gives life eternal life, and even if they die, He promises, they will live again (John11:25-26).

I believe that Jesus will return to gather His people together and bring them into the eternal kingdom, but there will also be a resurrection of the dead and Christ will judge the world at His return (Dan 12:1-3; 1 Cor 15:21-23; Rev 20:12-15). Some will awake “to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Dan 12:2b).
I believe in the water baptism of believers in Christ (Acts 2:38-41; Acts 22:16). All believers are commanded to be baptized.

Conclusion
These essentials cannot be watered down nor can they be mixed with other beliefs. These are non-negotiable, but as for me, I thank God that holiness is not the way to Jesus but rather Jesus is the way to holiness; otherwise I would be worried. Once you are saved, don’t lose heart, for you will sin again, but you will find that you will sin less over time, however, never being sinless…but that’s okay. We are not better people; just people better off.

 

[beensetfree]

The faithful abound with blessings A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live. Proverbs 15:27 NIV __________________ A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. Proverbs 11:1 KJV __________________ He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil, he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him, his water will be sure. Isaiah 33:15,16 RSV __________________ A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 28:20 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

[beensetfree]

“Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.”

John 4:48

A craving after marvels was a symptom of the sickly state of men's minds in our Lord's day; they refused solid nourishment, and pined after mere wonder. The gospel which they so greatly needed they would not have; the miracles which Jesus did not always choose to give they eagerly demanded. Many nowadays must see signs and wonders, or they will not believe. Some have said in their heart, “I must feel deep horror of soul, or I never will believe in Jesus.” But what if you never should feel it, as probably you never may? Will you go to hell out of spite against God, because he will not treat you like another?

One has said to himself, “If I had a dream, or if I could feel a sudden shock of I know not what, then I would believe.” Thus you undeserving mortals dream that my Lord is to be dictated to by you! You are beggars at his gate, asking for mercy, and you must needs draw up rules and regulations as to how he shall give that mercy. Think you that he will submit to this? My Master is of a generous spirit, but he has a right royal heart, he spurns all dictation, and maintains his sovereignty of action. Why, dear reader, if such be your case, do you crave for signs and wonders?

Is not the gospel its own sign and wonder? Is not this a miracle of miracles, that “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish”? Surely that precious word, “Whosoever will, let him come and take the water of life freely” and that solemn promise, “Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out,” are better than signs and wonders! A truthful Saviour ought to be believed. He is truth itself. Why will you ask proof of the veracity of One who cannot lie? The devils themselves declared him to be the Son of God; will you mistrust him?

 

[beensetfree]

Practicing the Presence


How do I live in God's presence? How do I detect his unseen hand on my shoulder and his inaudible voice in my ear? A sheep grows familiar with the voice of the shepherd. How can you and I grow familiar with the voice of God? Here are a few ideas:

Give God your waking thoughts. Before you face the day, face the Father. Before you step out of bed, step into his presence. I have a friend who makes it a habit to roll out of his bed onto his knees and begin his day in prayer. Personally, I don't get that far. With my head still on the pillow and my eyes still closed, I offer God the first seconds of my day. The prayer is not lengthy and far from formal. Depending on how much sleep I got, it may not even be intelligible. Often it's nothing more than "Thank you for a night's rest. I belong to you today."

Give God your waiting thoughts. Spend time with him in silence. The mature married couple has learned the treasure of shared silence; they don't need to fill the air with constant chatter. Just being together is sufficient. Try being silent with God. "Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10 niv). Awareness of God is a fruit of stillness before God.

Give God your whispering thoughts. Through the centuries Christians have learned the value of brief sentence prayers, prayers that can be whispered anywhere, in any setting.

Imagine considering every moment as a potential time of communion with God. By giving God your whispering thoughts, the common becomes uncommon. Simple phrases such as "Thank you, Father," "Be sovereign in this hour, O Lord," "You are my resting place, Jesus" can turn a commute into a pilgrimage. You needn't leave your office or kneel in your kitchen. Just pray where you are. Let the kitchen become a cathedral or the classroom a chapel. Give God your whispering thoughts.

And last, give God your waning thoughts. At the end of the day, let your mind settle on him. Conclude the day as you began it: talking to God. Thank him for the good parts. Question him about the hard parts. Seek his mercy. Seek his strength. And as you close your eyes, take assurance in the promise: "He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep" (Ps. 121:4 niv). If you fall asleep as you pray, don't worry. What better place to doze off than in the arms of your Father.

 

[beensetfree]

Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6 KJV __________________ A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22 NIV __________________ Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the LORD always. Surely there is a future, And your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:17,18 NASB __________________ Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, "I will never fail you nor forsake you." Hence we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:5,6 RSV __________________ We proclaim Jesus, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:28-29 NIV __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.