HE loves you!
Matthew was a tax collector
Hated by most,
Yet he was chose as a disciple
By the Lord of Host.
Zacchaeus cheated
Many in his day,
But Jesus dined with him
When He passed his way.
Women were on a level
Far below man,
Yet inside a woman
His life on earth began.
And Samaritans
Were despised by the Jews,
But to a woman Samaritan
Jesus gave the Good News.
Cheaters, adulteresses
Sinful and unclean,
These were the people
With whom Jesus was seen.
Saul persecuted Christians
Until that day,
Jesus blocked his path
Along the way.
He touched his heart
And Paul came to be,
A wonderful example
For you and for me.
David was a murderer
Yet look how he was blessed,
God loved him far more
Than most of the rest.
Moses also
Murderer too,
Check out Mary Magdalene
Me and you.
Look at the examples
Shown above,
No earthly sin
Can hinder His love.
For He takes earthly sin
And throws it aside,
He looks deep in the heart
To see what's inside.
He looks in that place
Where no man can go,
Where the depth of His love
Begins to flow.
So when we see someone
Who is a sinner by far,
Remember this list
And where they now are.
Remember the sins
Listed above,
Remember He alone
Measures their love.
And before we hate
And judge the rest,
Look at those God chose
As some of the best.
Cathy Henrie
[Shared by Sis. Bensi]
April 16, 2009
April 15, 2009
There Remains Yet the Youngest
There Remains Yet the Youngest
"So he asked Jesse, 'Are these all the sons you have?' 'There is still the youngest,' Jesse answered, 'but he is tending the sheep.' Samuel said, 'Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.' Then the LORD said, 'Rise, and anoint him; he is the one.'" 1 Samuel 16:11-12
God had dethroned Saul as king of Israel because of his disobedience and rejection of God. God tells Samuel to go to the house of Jesse, and from his sons He will find the "man after God's own heart" who is to be anointed the new king of Israel.
Seven of Jesse's sons appear before Samuel, but none is God's choice. Then Samuel asks, "Are these all the sons you have?" To which Jesse answers, "There remains yet the youngest." "And where do we find him?" "Out in the field tending the sheep."
It was David, a young man with a shepherd's heart. He has been trained in all the tender and sensitive ways of caring for the sheep. God says to Samuel, "Rise, and anoint him: he is the one." How blessed to have the mind of the Lord and be led by Him.
What was wrong with the other sons? One in particular illustrates God's heart. Eliab came before Samuel, a strong, strapping, handsome man who certainly would have been the choice of most. But Samuel said he was not the one. Then God tells Samuel His clarifying thought: "Look not on his countenance or on the height of his stature, because I have refused him; for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
God ignores what man glories in. David was looked upon as insignificant, unworthy, too young, and unqualified, but he was God's chosen one. "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, saith the LORD" (Isaiah 55:8).
Look who God had chosen before: Abraham, from an idolatrous family and nation. Isaac, not Ishmael, Abraham's first-born son. Jacob, not Esau, the first-born of Isaac. Moses, a shepherd on the backside of the desert. Israel, not Egypt, the Babylonians, or the Greeks (each representing commendable strength, wisdom, and culture).
WHY? So that all men might know that power belongs to the Lord, that his ways are past finding out, and that he does all things according to the counsel of his own will.
The story is told of a young cerebral palsy victim at a junior high school camp, who was the brunt of others' jokes and the object of their laughter. Billy moved with an uncoordinated body. He spoke in slow, stammering words from a contorted mouth. The others would mimic Billy's stammering speech. "It's... over... there... Billy." The fury reached its highest point when Billy was told that he was to give the cabin devotions. Billy dragged himself to the front amid giggles that were everywhere. It took him almost five minutes to say seven words: "JESUS... LOVES... ME... AND... I... LOVE... JESUS!" There was dead silence, and then tears streamed down the faces of the kids. A revival broke out all over the camp.
God had used a "cerebral palsy kid" to do what the testimonies of sports figures could not do. He chose an afflicted, outcast, distorted, and stammering boy to break the hearts of the haughty. "God said unto Samuel, Rise, anoint him: for this is the one." DARE TO BELIEVE!
Ed Powell
"So he asked Jesse, 'Are these all the sons you have?' 'There is still the youngest,' Jesse answered, 'but he is tending the sheep.' Samuel said, 'Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.' Then the LORD said, 'Rise, and anoint him; he is the one.'" 1 Samuel 16:11-12
God had dethroned Saul as king of Israel because of his disobedience and rejection of God. God tells Samuel to go to the house of Jesse, and from his sons He will find the "man after God's own heart" who is to be anointed the new king of Israel.
Seven of Jesse's sons appear before Samuel, but none is God's choice. Then Samuel asks, "Are these all the sons you have?" To which Jesse answers, "There remains yet the youngest." "And where do we find him?" "Out in the field tending the sheep."
It was David, a young man with a shepherd's heart. He has been trained in all the tender and sensitive ways of caring for the sheep. God says to Samuel, "Rise, and anoint him: he is the one." How blessed to have the mind of the Lord and be led by Him.
What was wrong with the other sons? One in particular illustrates God's heart. Eliab came before Samuel, a strong, strapping, handsome man who certainly would have been the choice of most. But Samuel said he was not the one. Then God tells Samuel His clarifying thought: "Look not on his countenance or on the height of his stature, because I have refused him; for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
God ignores what man glories in. David was looked upon as insignificant, unworthy, too young, and unqualified, but he was God's chosen one. "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, saith the LORD" (Isaiah 55:8).
Look who God had chosen before: Abraham, from an idolatrous family and nation. Isaac, not Ishmael, Abraham's first-born son. Jacob, not Esau, the first-born of Isaac. Moses, a shepherd on the backside of the desert. Israel, not Egypt, the Babylonians, or the Greeks (each representing commendable strength, wisdom, and culture).
WHY? So that all men might know that power belongs to the Lord, that his ways are past finding out, and that he does all things according to the counsel of his own will.
The story is told of a young cerebral palsy victim at a junior high school camp, who was the brunt of others' jokes and the object of their laughter. Billy moved with an uncoordinated body. He spoke in slow, stammering words from a contorted mouth. The others would mimic Billy's stammering speech. "It's... over... there... Billy." The fury reached its highest point when Billy was told that he was to give the cabin devotions. Billy dragged himself to the front amid giggles that were everywhere. It took him almost five minutes to say seven words: "JESUS... LOVES... ME... AND... I... LOVE... JESUS!" There was dead silence, and then tears streamed down the faces of the kids. A revival broke out all over the camp.
God had used a "cerebral palsy kid" to do what the testimonies of sports figures could not do. He chose an afflicted, outcast, distorted, and stammering boy to break the hearts of the haughty. "God said unto Samuel, Rise, anoint him: for this is the one." DARE TO BELIEVE!
Ed Powell
April 14, 2009
THE 'U'
THE 'U'
Before U were thought of or time had begun,
God even stuck U in the name of His Son.
And each time U pray, you'll see it's true,
You can't spell out JesUs and not include U.
You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name.
For U, He was born; that's why He came.
And His great love for U is the reason He died.
It even takes U to spell crUcified.
Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand,
He rose from the dead with U in His plan.
The stones split away, the gold trumpet blew,
And even the word resUrrection is spelled with a U.
When JesUs left earth during His upward ascension,
He felt there was one thing He just had to mention,
"Go into the world and tell them it's true,
That I love them all -- Just like I love U."
There are so many people just like U.
Don't they have a right to know JesUs too?
It all depends now on what U will do;
He'd like them to know, but it all starts with U!
[Shared by Jack M. Gangadhar]
Before U were thought of or time had begun,
God even stuck U in the name of His Son.
And each time U pray, you'll see it's true,
You can't spell out JesUs and not include U.
You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name.
For U, He was born; that's why He came.
And His great love for U is the reason He died.
It even takes U to spell crUcified.
Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand,
He rose from the dead with U in His plan.
The stones split away, the gold trumpet blew,
And even the word resUrrection is spelled with a U.
When JesUs left earth during His upward ascension,
He felt there was one thing He just had to mention,
"Go into the world and tell them it's true,
That I love them all -- Just like I love U."
There are so many people just like U.
Don't they have a right to know JesUs too?
It all depends now on what U will do;
He'd like them to know, but it all starts with U!
[Shared by Jack M. Gangadhar]
April 13, 2009
Professor and a Student: A VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATION
Professor and a Student: A VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATION
An atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his class on the problem Science has with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his new Christian students to stand and…
Professor:
You are a Christian, aren't you, son?
Student:
Yes, Sir.
Professor:
So, you believe in GOD?
Student:
Absolutely, Sir.
Professor:
Is GOD good?
Student:
Sure.
Professor:
Is GOD all-powerful?
Student:
Yes.
Professor:
My Brother died of Cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?
(Student was silent.)
Professor:
You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is GOD good?
Student:
Yes.
Professor:
Is Satan good?
Student:
No.
Professor:
Where does Satan come from?
Student:
From… GOD.
Professor:
That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student:
Yes.
Professor:
Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And GOD did make everything. Correct?
Student:
Yes.
Professor:
So who created evil?
(Student did not answer.)
Professor:
Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?
Student:
Yes, Sir…
Professor:
So, who created them?
(Student had no answer.)
Professor:
Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son… Have you ever seen GOD?
Student:
No, Sir.
Professor:
Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?
Student:
No, Sir.
Professor:
Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?
Student:
No, Sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor:
Yet you still believe in HIM?
Student:
Yes.
Professor:
According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student:
Nothing. I only have my faith.
Professor:
Yes, faith. And that is the problem science has.
Student:
Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
Professor:
Yes.
Student:
And is there such a thing as Cold?
Professor:
Yes.
Student:
No, Sir. There isn't.
(The lecture theatre became very quiet with this turn of events.)
Student:
Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called “cold”. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)
Student:
What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Professor:
Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?
Student:
You're wrong again, Sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light… But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called “darkness”, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it is, were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?
Professor:
So what is the point you are making, young man?
Student:
Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.
Professor:
Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student:
Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a Monkey?
Professor:
If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.
Student:
Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, Sir?
(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going.)
Student:
Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, Sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?
(The class was in uproar.)
Student:
Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?
(The class broke out into laughter.)
Student:
Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it?
No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, Sir. With all due respect, Sir, how do we then trust your lectures, Sir?
(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable.)
Professor:
I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.
Student:
That is it Sir… exactly! The link between Man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.
That student was Albert Einstein.
NB:
I believe you have enjoyed the conversation… and if so… you'll probably want your friends / colleagues to enjoy the same… Won't you? Forward them to increase their FAITH.
[Shared by Sis. Mercy Rebecca]
An atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his class on the problem Science has with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his new Christian students to stand and…
Professor:You are a Christian, aren't you, son?
Student:
Yes, Sir.
Professor:
So, you believe in GOD?
Student:
Absolutely, Sir.
Professor:
Is GOD good?
Student:
Sure.
Professor:
Is GOD all-powerful?
Student:
Yes.
Professor:
My Brother died of Cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?
(Student was silent.)
Professor:
You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is GOD good?
Student:
Yes.
Professor:
Is Satan good?
Student:
No.
Professor:
Where does Satan come from?
Student:
From… GOD.
Professor:
That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student:
Yes.
Professor:
Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And GOD did make everything. Correct?
Student:
Yes.
Professor:
So who created evil?
(Student did not answer.)
Professor:
Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?
Student:
Yes, Sir…
Professor:
So, who created them?
(Student had no answer.)
Professor:
Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son… Have you ever seen GOD?
Student:
No, Sir.
Professor:
Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?
Student:
No, Sir.
Professor:
Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?
Student:
No, Sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor:
Yet you still believe in HIM?
Student:
Yes.
Professor:
According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student:
Nothing. I only have my faith.
Professor:
Yes, faith. And that is the problem science has.
Student:
Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
Professor:
Yes.
Student:
And is there such a thing as Cold?
Professor:
Yes.
Student:
No, Sir. There isn't.
(The lecture theatre became very quiet with this turn of events.)
Student:
Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called “cold”. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)
Student:
What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Professor:
Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?
Student:
You're wrong again, Sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light… But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called “darkness”, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it is, were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?
Professor:
So what is the point you are making, young man?
Student:
Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.
Professor:
Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student:
Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a Monkey?
Professor:
If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.
Student:
Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, Sir?
(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going.)
Student:
Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, Sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?
(The class was in uproar.)
Student:
Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?
(The class broke out into laughter.)
Student:
Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it?
No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, Sir. With all due respect, Sir, how do we then trust your lectures, Sir?
(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable.)
Professor:
I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.
Student:
That is it Sir… exactly! The link between Man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.
That student was Albert Einstein.NB:
I believe you have enjoyed the conversation… and if so… you'll probably want your friends / colleagues to enjoy the same… Won't you? Forward them to increase their FAITH.
[Shared by Sis. Mercy Rebecca]
April 12, 2009
Wounded, but Healed
Wounded, but Healed
Psalm 147:3 - He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. (NIV)
Last year, I had surgery on my neck, due to a disc pressing on my spinal cord. For numerous reasons, I was not looking forward to it. I was scared of surgery -- not because I thought something would happen, but just the fact of the unknown. How would I feel afterward? How long would it take to recover? I had things to do. This would be a crimp in my plans.
I do not consider myself vain, and did not really think about the wound or subsequent scar. I was told it would be on one of the lines of my neck and would not be that noticeable. Considering the work that needed to be done, it is a small scar that is healing and becoming less noticeable.
When I first took off my bandages, though, I was disappointed at how red the wound looked. It was more raised up than I had thought it would be. For a long time, I wore a small bandage over it. I was uncomfortable with the fact that people would notice and then I'd have to explain what had happened -- as if the bandage itself wasn't noticeable!
The Bible doesn't mention a lot about scars. It mentions wounds quite a bit. I think of the wounds that Jesus suffered at the hands of His accusers: the whipping and beating that He took on our behalf; the long, painful walk that He took bearing our cross; and His hanging on the cross where He was wounded even more deeply. The scarlet blood that flowed from His wounds is blood that washed away our sins.
Jesus, when wounded on the cross, had a deep feeling of being forsaken. Yet, His chief concern was not His earthly body. He died knowing that His wounding would bring healing and the opportunity for all who trust Him to have a restored relationship with God.
Isaiah 53:4-5 - Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. (NLT)
Prayer: God, You know us better than we know ourselves. You know the wounds we have and have tried to hide. You know the wounds we may have inflicted on others. Thank You for Your devotion to us through Jesus. Thank You for the freedom we can have through You. Thank You for the scars that can help us lead others to You. Amen.
Karen Lynema
Psalm 147:3 - He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. (NIV)
Last year, I had surgery on my neck, due to a disc pressing on my spinal cord. For numerous reasons, I was not looking forward to it. I was scared of surgery -- not because I thought something would happen, but just the fact of the unknown. How would I feel afterward? How long would it take to recover? I had things to do. This would be a crimp in my plans.
I do not consider myself vain, and did not really think about the wound or subsequent scar. I was told it would be on one of the lines of my neck and would not be that noticeable. Considering the work that needed to be done, it is a small scar that is healing and becoming less noticeable.
When I first took off my bandages, though, I was disappointed at how red the wound looked. It was more raised up than I had thought it would be. For a long time, I wore a small bandage over it. I was uncomfortable with the fact that people would notice and then I'd have to explain what had happened -- as if the bandage itself wasn't noticeable!
The Bible doesn't mention a lot about scars. It mentions wounds quite a bit. I think of the wounds that Jesus suffered at the hands of His accusers: the whipping and beating that He took on our behalf; the long, painful walk that He took bearing our cross; and His hanging on the cross where He was wounded even more deeply. The scarlet blood that flowed from His wounds is blood that washed away our sins.
Jesus, when wounded on the cross, had a deep feeling of being forsaken. Yet, His chief concern was not His earthly body. He died knowing that His wounding would bring healing and the opportunity for all who trust Him to have a restored relationship with God.
Isaiah 53:4-5 - Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. (NLT)
Prayer: God, You know us better than we know ourselves. You know the wounds we have and have tried to hide. You know the wounds we may have inflicted on others. Thank You for Your devotion to us through Jesus. Thank You for the freedom we can have through You. Thank You for the scars that can help us lead others to You. Amen.
Karen Lynema
April 11, 2009
True Humility Leads To Giving Thanks in All Things
True Humility Leads To Giving Thanks in All Things
“I will remove from your midst your proud, exulting ones and you will never again be haughty on my holy mountain. But I will leave among you a humble, lowly people and they will take refuge in the name of the Lord.” (Zephaniah 3:11, 12)
The Lord has promised to remove the proud from the midst of the church and leave only the humble ones therein. This is why He works in us to humble us, so that He may not have to remove us altogether.
Many were humble when they first came into the church. At that time they realized that they deserved nothing but hell fire and were grateful that their sins were forgiven and that they could have a place in the church. But as time has gone on, they have lost that humble spirit and have desired honour and recognition from the brothers and sisters. Why has this happened? There can be only one reason. Such believers have not been sensitive to hear the Spirit’s voice. When we become deaf to the Spirit speaking to us to humble ourselves, then God has to humble us in various ways Himself. If after many attempts, God is unable to succeed in humbling a person’s pride, then He removes that person from the church altogether.
Philippians 2: describes some of the characteristics of a genuinely humble man. He is one who is working out his own salvation constantly and has finished with all grumbling and disputing (Phil 2:14) Grumbling and disputing are caused by discontentment with one’s appointed lot in life. Pride and discontentment always go together.
In 1 Cor. 10:6-11 we find that the Israelites grumbled. God is displeased with those who grumble and complain. In Numbers 11:1-9 we read that they grumbled because the food was not upto their taste. They got the same manna every day for forty years. The manna was nourishing for the body but it always tasted the same. Do you think God could have changed the taste of the manna every day, if He so desired? Certainly. He could have given them over 14, 600 different varieties of manna during their 14,600 day sojourn in the wilderness. But He did not do so. Why? Moses told them the reason later on: God humbled you and fed you with manna so that He might know what was in your heart. (Duet. 8:2, 3)
It is the same today. God has to deliver us from an inordinate love for food that makes us complain about it. The Bible calls those who worship their appetites as enemies of the cross (Phil. 3:18, 19). One reason why Jesus suggested fasting (Matt. 6:16) could be to deliver us from being enslaved to our taste buds and our bellies. When children complain about their mother’s about their food, remember it is serious. It must never be taken lightly. They are getting into fellowship with “the destroyer” (1 Cor. 10:10). When we are discontent with our salary, or our house, or our husband / wife (wishing we had married someone else) what does such an attitude indicate? It shows that we are proud in our hearts and have come into fellowship with Satan.
A healthy corrective to such an evil attitude is to give thanks for everything. The Bible clearly states “this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus” (1 Thes. 5:18). We must learn to give thanks for everyone in the body of Christ (Col. 3:15). Develop the habit of giving thanks for your fellow believers in your local church. It is easy to be thankful for brethren who live in faraway lands whom we see only once in a while. But God tests our hearts by our attitude towards the ones whom we see every week in our local church. Our very best and closest fellowship should be with those in our local church and not with those from other lands and places.
If you are proud and conceited you will find that you cannot appreciate your local fellow believers as much as those believers from other places. Thus you can evaluate your own heart’s condition. God is the one who has chosen the brothers and sisters in your local church. If you cannot love them and value them and live in glorious fellowship with them, you will be deceiving yourself if you think that you love God and are in fellowship with Him (1 John 4:20).
God has appointed all things and all people for “our sakes” so that our “inner man may be renewed daily” increasingly into the likeness of Christ (2 Cor. 4:15, 16). All things have been planned to “work together for our good” (Romans 8:28). So there is absolutely no room for complaints or murmuring or grumbling in the life of a true disciple of Jesus.
Zac Poonen
www.cfcindia.com
“I will remove from your midst your proud, exulting ones and you will never again be haughty on my holy mountain. But I will leave among you a humble, lowly people and they will take refuge in the name of the Lord.” (Zephaniah 3:11, 12)
The Lord has promised to remove the proud from the midst of the church and leave only the humble ones therein. This is why He works in us to humble us, so that He may not have to remove us altogether.
Many were humble when they first came into the church. At that time they realized that they deserved nothing but hell fire and were grateful that their sins were forgiven and that they could have a place in the church. But as time has gone on, they have lost that humble spirit and have desired honour and recognition from the brothers and sisters. Why has this happened? There can be only one reason. Such believers have not been sensitive to hear the Spirit’s voice. When we become deaf to the Spirit speaking to us to humble ourselves, then God has to humble us in various ways Himself. If after many attempts, God is unable to succeed in humbling a person’s pride, then He removes that person from the church altogether.
Philippians 2: describes some of the characteristics of a genuinely humble man. He is one who is working out his own salvation constantly and has finished with all grumbling and disputing (Phil 2:14) Grumbling and disputing are caused by discontentment with one’s appointed lot in life. Pride and discontentment always go together.
In 1 Cor. 10:6-11 we find that the Israelites grumbled. God is displeased with those who grumble and complain. In Numbers 11:1-9 we read that they grumbled because the food was not upto their taste. They got the same manna every day for forty years. The manna was nourishing for the body but it always tasted the same. Do you think God could have changed the taste of the manna every day, if He so desired? Certainly. He could have given them over 14, 600 different varieties of manna during their 14,600 day sojourn in the wilderness. But He did not do so. Why? Moses told them the reason later on: God humbled you and fed you with manna so that He might know what was in your heart. (Duet. 8:2, 3)
It is the same today. God has to deliver us from an inordinate love for food that makes us complain about it. The Bible calls those who worship their appetites as enemies of the cross (Phil. 3:18, 19). One reason why Jesus suggested fasting (Matt. 6:16) could be to deliver us from being enslaved to our taste buds and our bellies. When children complain about their mother’s about their food, remember it is serious. It must never be taken lightly. They are getting into fellowship with “the destroyer” (1 Cor. 10:10). When we are discontent with our salary, or our house, or our husband / wife (wishing we had married someone else) what does such an attitude indicate? It shows that we are proud in our hearts and have come into fellowship with Satan.
A healthy corrective to such an evil attitude is to give thanks for everything. The Bible clearly states “this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus” (1 Thes. 5:18). We must learn to give thanks for everyone in the body of Christ (Col. 3:15). Develop the habit of giving thanks for your fellow believers in your local church. It is easy to be thankful for brethren who live in faraway lands whom we see only once in a while. But God tests our hearts by our attitude towards the ones whom we see every week in our local church. Our very best and closest fellowship should be with those in our local church and not with those from other lands and places.
If you are proud and conceited you will find that you cannot appreciate your local fellow believers as much as those believers from other places. Thus you can evaluate your own heart’s condition. God is the one who has chosen the brothers and sisters in your local church. If you cannot love them and value them and live in glorious fellowship with them, you will be deceiving yourself if you think that you love God and are in fellowship with Him (1 John 4:20).
God has appointed all things and all people for “our sakes” so that our “inner man may be renewed daily” increasingly into the likeness of Christ (2 Cor. 4:15, 16). All things have been planned to “work together for our good” (Romans 8:28). So there is absolutely no room for complaints or murmuring or grumbling in the life of a true disciple of Jesus.
Zac Poonen
www.cfcindia.com
April 10, 2009
Carry Us to Completion
Carry Us to Completion
A great tragedy within the Christian faith is that many who believe they are on their way to Heaven will one day find they are sadly mistaken. They have been misled into believing that Church membership, being "good", or working extra hard will ensure Salvation; but on the day of judgment they will be cast aside. This tragedy must be fought by speaking the truth about Salvation. We must teach of the need to trust in the saving grace offered through the sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. We must teach that faith in Jesus Christ - the Lord and Savior clearly presented in God's Word - is the ONLY way!
A second tragedy is that many who have truly trusted in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, and desire to love Him and serve Him with all their heart, will live their days full of doubt and fear. They are on their way to Heaven but doubt when they don't feel "good enough" to deserve such a gift, and they fear a Holy God who couldn't possibly save one so unworthy. As they draw closer to the Light, their failures are revealed and they become discouraged or try to "work" harder to please God and gain His acceptance. We must also fight this tragedy by speaking the truth about Salvation.
The glorious truth is that none of us are good enough! "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Without God's grace, no one can ever hope to hit the mark of His perfect glory.
We don't enter Heaven based on what we've done; rather, we are accepted based on whom we've placed our faith; "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith" (Ephesians 2:8). At the moment of Salvation, we become an eternal Child of God; "You are not your own; you were bought at a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We were purchased with His blood and have become a "new creation: the old has gone, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). But a new creation does not continue down the same path.
We are "born again" when the Spirit of God transforms our heart; and as a new creation, we will learn to crawl, then walk, and one day run! We may stumble, but God promises we will continue to grow; for it's His plan that ALL His children become "conformed to the likeness of His Son" (Romans 8:29)... and being conformed is a lifetime process!
Philippians 1:6
"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
God has given us His Holy Spirit and "sealed {us} for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30). Let's be confident in God's promise. We must continue to draw closer and give Him more of our heart, but we must also remember that we are His and He WILL finish the work He began. Our Heavenly Father has saved us AND promised to carry us to completion.
Steve Troxel
A great tragedy within the Christian faith is that many who believe they are on their way to Heaven will one day find they are sadly mistaken. They have been misled into believing that Church membership, being "good", or working extra hard will ensure Salvation; but on the day of judgment they will be cast aside. This tragedy must be fought by speaking the truth about Salvation. We must teach of the need to trust in the saving grace offered through the sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. We must teach that faith in Jesus Christ - the Lord and Savior clearly presented in God's Word - is the ONLY way!
A second tragedy is that many who have truly trusted in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, and desire to love Him and serve Him with all their heart, will live their days full of doubt and fear. They are on their way to Heaven but doubt when they don't feel "good enough" to deserve such a gift, and they fear a Holy God who couldn't possibly save one so unworthy. As they draw closer to the Light, their failures are revealed and they become discouraged or try to "work" harder to please God and gain His acceptance. We must also fight this tragedy by speaking the truth about Salvation.
The glorious truth is that none of us are good enough! "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Without God's grace, no one can ever hope to hit the mark of His perfect glory.
We don't enter Heaven based on what we've done; rather, we are accepted based on whom we've placed our faith; "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith" (Ephesians 2:8). At the moment of Salvation, we become an eternal Child of God; "You are not your own; you were bought at a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We were purchased with His blood and have become a "new creation: the old has gone, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). But a new creation does not continue down the same path.
We are "born again" when the Spirit of God transforms our heart; and as a new creation, we will learn to crawl, then walk, and one day run! We may stumble, but God promises we will continue to grow; for it's His plan that ALL His children become "conformed to the likeness of His Son" (Romans 8:29)... and being conformed is a lifetime process!
Philippians 1:6
"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
God has given us His Holy Spirit and "sealed {us} for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30). Let's be confident in God's promise. We must continue to draw closer and give Him more of our heart, but we must also remember that we are His and He WILL finish the work He began. Our Heavenly Father has saved us AND promised to carry us to completion.
Steve Troxel
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
