Nov.19, 2013 God is still willing to speak to us. Nik Ripken wrote of several times where God spoke to people with specific commands. It is just like it was in the book of Acts after Pentecost. God spoke to Ananias in a vision with Specific instruction on where to go, who to speak to and what to say and do. Acts 9:10-11. The Angel of the Lord spoke to Phillip in much the same way. Acts 8:26. In Acts 10:3 Cornelius was spoken to by an angel. The angel of the Lord spoke to Peter while he was in prison. Acts 12:7-8. Acts 13:2 the Holy Spirit speaks to the church. Paul understood that the Lord had spoke to him through a vision and he went to Macedonia. Acts 16:10. Even in the Revelation our Lord instructs each of His churches to hear what the Holy Spirit says to them. God is alive and He still speaks to His people! Are we willing to be still and know God and hear His voice?

Worship 2

/07/12 Yesterday I shared with you the first time worship is mentioned in the Bible, Gen.22:5. In the first appearance of worship you find Abe worshipping and God providing a lamb. Abe named the place the Lord sees or provides – Jehovah –Jireh. You can’t miss the connection in the NT. The first appearance of the word ‘worship’ in the New Testament is found in Matthew 2:2 when the wise men travel from the east to worship the “King of the Jews”. The wise men worship the Lamb of God who came to take away the one thing that hinders our worship – sin! The elements of their worship were the same as those found in Abraham. They feared God, the rightful king, more than Herod. They offered precious gifts and they obeyed God. We refer to these men as the wise men and speak of them each year at Christmas. Wise men like Abraham in the Old Testament or like these wise men in the New Testament are men who fear the Lord, offer Him their all, and does what He says. That is true worship. Worship that does not contain these three elements is not worship that God approves of. No matter what kind of music you prefer or how often you sing, worship that pleases God must be centered on God. Wise men will worship the Lord! Are you wise? Can you give demonstrable evidence that you fear the Lord? Could you produce examples of your willingness to give your all? When was the last time that you heard from God and obeyed? If you want to be wise – worship the Lord! Prayer: Father, today I bow before You in awe and adoration. I want to worship you by way of the cross. You sent Your Son to die for my sins so that I may have access to You. I praise Your Holy name. In. Jesus name, amen.

Worship

12/06/12 O, come and let us worship Christ the Lord. This is the time of year when so much is going on and we seem so busy that we can hardly find time to worship. But the reason for the season is to worship Christ the Lord. When you hear the word ‘worship’ what do you think about? Many probably think about music and praise choruses. While music can be an expression of worship, worship must begin in the heart. Since worship is the most important thing we do it would be to our great advantage to find out what worship is and what kind of worship God approves of. The first time the word worship is mentioned in the Bible is Genesis 22:5. Abraham is called upon to offer his most precious possession – Isaac, his son, the promised seed. Abraham travels for three days to arrive at the place God had told him to go. Upon arrival Abraham tells his men that he and Isaac will go and worship then return. Just when Abraham is about to offer his son God stops him and says, “now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” From this passage we learn that worship involves three elements: 1.) fearing the Lord 22:12, 2.) willing to give our all, even the most precious, 22:12, and 3.) A lifestyle of obedience 22:18. Fearing the Lord means a reverent trust in God and what He says. It means that when we fear the Lord we need not fear anything else. Fearing the Lord brings wisdom, peace, understanding and a host of things that will enhance our lives as we walk with the Lord and He provides us with the means to bless others as well. Fear of the Lord was a way of expressing faith in God. The worship that Abraham expressed is the same kind we must express. Abraham was willing to give his all as part of his worship. It is easy for us to understand that we must give up our Ishmael’s because they are works of the flesh and in the long run will harm us and will not bring much glory to God. But our Isaac’s are a different story. They are blessings from God. They are the good and best things in life. They are blessings that have come from God. They are answered prayers. Our Isaac’s are those things and people that are most dear to us. But even the blessings can and sometime do take the place of God and become an idol. That is why worship will lead to a lifestyle of obedience. Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Genesis 18:19 For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” Abraham knew God through obedience. If Abraham had not feared the Lord, he would not have offered his best, and he would never have obeyed. But because Abraham’s first priority was worship those three elements of worship were present. This is really what life is about. It is knowing God and being known by God. The bottom line is that you cannot worship what you don’t know. This may be the major reason why so many can come to church and participate, yet go unchanged and unmoved. Knowing God is meant to thrill the soul and excite the heart. What could be more exhilarating than knowing the one true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 10:14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. John 10:27-28 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. Prayer: Father, today O bow before you in holy awe and adoration. I offer myself to you. You are my God. In Jesus name, amen.

God with us!

12/04/12 Hebrews 13:5 (NLT) 5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you. The above verse is tremendous and it’s packed with truth. The reason we don’t have to be fond of money is because God is with us and He will do what money cannot do, satisfy the soul. ‘Fail’ means to relax, to loosen, not to uphold, to let sink. God will not fail you because He will not loosen or relax His hold on you. Our Lord Jesus said, John 10:29-30 (NKJV) 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. 30 I and My Father are one. Those who belong to God are safe and secure because the Almighty God holds them in His hand! ‘Abandon’ means to leave or forsake someone in a state of defeat or helplessness. God will never let you down! But I said that this verse is packed with truth. There is more here than the English language reveals. In the original Greek language there are five negatives in this one verse! In English a double negative is a positive: “Do not not go,” means to go. We don’t write this way because it isn’t proper or good English. But it is beautiful Greek! In this language more than one negative is meant to strengthen and emphasize the negative. The Greek literally says, “I will never, never fail you or loosen my hold on you. I will never, never, never leave you helpless or let you down.” It is God Himself who has said this and He has put it on record. When you think of God and who He is this is indeed a most precious promise. He is none other than the Creator, the Almighty, and the One who sent His Son to redeem us to Himself. No wonder Paul could write, Romans 8:31 (NKJV) …If God is for us, who can be against us? When you realize this truth fear will be replaced with peace and joy. So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:6 (NKJV) Prayer: Father, how awesome You are! There is none like You. May we take this truth to heart and live with a keen awareness that you are with us. In Jesus name, amen.

The Gospel (part 3)

11/30/12 When the gospel is believed that person becomes a new creature in Christ. They have been reconciled to God and given the ministry of reconciliation. Listen to what the Bible says from 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (NKJV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. Over the last couple of days I have written that it is only through the gospel that we can live by faith and please God. And through the gospel people brought into God’s family. God, by way of the gospel saves us provides a way for us to please Him, and by means of the gospel we receive the ministry of reconciliation. Our ‘job title’ is ambassador. Our ‘job description’ is to reconcile people to God. By living the gospel our works and words should be as though God was pleading through us. My personal conviction is that you cannot be pleasing to God if you are not in some way imploring people be reconciled to God. One of the greatest preachers who ever lived, Charles H. Spurgeon, said, “Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor.” So whether you keep the nursery, or walk the neighbor’s dog, or rake your grandmothers’ yard, or lead a Bible study, or pray for your pastor, whatever you do, you must keep the gospel as the main thing because it is! Do you live in a manner that it is as if Christ was living through you? Prayer: Father, we are to glorify You even in the little things of life. (1Cor.10:31) Help me to live the gospel because witrh the gospel You are well pleased! . In Jesus name amen.

The Gospel (part 2)

11/29/12 Philippians 2:6-7, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. God entered the world in human flesh to reconcile sinners to Himself. Through the shed blood of Christ our sin debt is paid, we are made right with God and we become part of His family. Even when we pray, because of what Jesus Christ has done, we can say, “our Father who is in heaven.” When we think about all the blessing our Lord has given us, family is usually at the top of the list. This is what the gospel is all about. God loved the world (John 3:16) and sent His Son to bring us to God. (1Pet.3:18) The gospel is what brings unity to church families. When groups meet together, if they are not gospel-centered, they are nothing more than a social gathering. The group without gospel-centeredness is nothing more than individuals meeting hoping they can get some felt need met. And as result the Lord Jesus is no longer the focal point. In fact He is replaced by something or somebody else. (By the way this is the essence of idolatry.) And without the gospel there can be no genuine love for one another. (Rom.12:9) Just as your biological family must have love for each other in order to live and flourish, your church family must have it even more so. Every meeting must be gospel-centered. This is the true meaning of Christmas. Christ came into the world to save sinners. People of all walks of life are brought together because Christ came as a man, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, and rose from the dead on the third day. When we begin to grasp these truths and live them our church family will truly be a family that Our Father is pleased with. Prayer: Father, because of the Lord Jesus I am forgiven and can forgive others. I can love because Christ first loved me and I can love others. Help me to live a gospel-centered life. I Jesu name amen.

The Gospel

11/28/12 The gospel is not only a message we share we lost people. The gospel is for us. In its simplest form the gospel is God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. Through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ God is making all things new. This applies to individuals who repent and believe as well as all of creation that will one day be made new. . Through the gospel we are empowered to tell the gospel and live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. You should never get over the gospel! It is truly the power for salvation. Listen to what Paul wrote to the church at Rome .Romans 1:16-17 (NKJV) 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." Notice that the gospel is the power of God and through the gospel we have the power to live by faith. (A life of faith is the only way to please God.) The gospel is Christ-centered and the gospel is what Jesus Christ did for us. It seems that many believers are attempting to live the Christian life apart from the gospel. This is why many are worn out and tired and few seem to have authentic joy because they are trying to do what only Christ can do. Jesus came to give His life and in doing so He gives life to all who repent and believe. The work God has called us to do is empowered by means of the gospel. 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NKJV) 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace (underserved favor) toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. God was working in and through Paul to carry out His mission and purpose. Paul was blessed and God was glorified. It must be the same with you. The life that God demands we live can only be lived by grace. And grace comes by means of the gospel. When you live a life through the gospel you are living a Jesus-centered life. And that kind of life is what pleases God. Prayer: Father, thank you for sending your Son to die for my sin. Thank you that He rose from the dead and now lives at Your right hand interceding for me. Forgive me for attempting to do what you have already done for me. In Jesus name, amen.