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Archive for August, 2011

1 Timothy 6:9-12

31 Aug

1 Timothy 6:9-12 – 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of
evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

The Bible and especially the New Testament doesn’t read like an American get rich book.  I read them growing up.  I was encouraged by more people to read them vs. the Bible, but ultimately I chose to read them at that time instead of the Bible.  I knew what those books were telling me.  Since I wasn’t reading the
Bible and I couldn’t tell you what it was saying at all.

I’ve read both of them now.  It’s not a matter of taste where the truth lies in the words.

After studying the Bible, I know who the author is of it and I know who the author is of those get rich books.

You don’t even have to have money to love it.  There are people that chase after it or things that pertain to it their whole lives and many never get it.  Doesn’t matter, because that is where their hearts were.

Verse 9 talks about the temptation of foolish and harmful desires.  Those things plunge men into ruin and destroy lives.  I’ve seen some walk on a tight wire teetering much of their lives.  Most everyone in this country has.  The bad thing is no one who is trapped into it ever thinks its them, until they have hit rock bottom or pulled themselves out of it and into a new life with the Lord.

Verses 11 & 12 are the answer to 9 & 10.

Flee from the things of the world.  Flee from the temptation.  Flee from the destruction.

I know it’s tough.  It’s all that is taught by the world today.  The fallen flesh desires the very things that most are chasing after.  Success by the world’s standards is based off the material possessions and positions attained.  Not everyone thinks that way, but the world as a whole does and it is stronger than ever.

Most of us today live in the top 1 percent of luxury and wealth when you figure the beginning of man until the present. There were Kings that didn’t have access to what the average man takes for granted today.  Yet most of us are only worried about what we don’t have and what more we could have.  We desire it in the name of achievement and motivation.

God wants that same achievement and motivation from us to go towards His Kingdom and in our commitment and love to Him.

I want you to be RICH.  Rich in your desire and relationship with the Lord.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration, Reflections

 

The Scale Of Good Works Doesn’t Compute To Salvation

30 Aug

Galatians 2:16- 16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

I have been listening to Dave Hunt lately and he often mentions that good works outweighing the bad ones doesn’t work.  You can’t kill one person today and save two more tomorrow and be ahead of the curve.  Think about that.  Just trying to weigh the balance of one’s life and hope that it tips in the right direction.

It makes no sense at all.  Not to mention who is going to make that measuring determination?

We are not saved by our works or anything that we can do.  The only way we are saved is by what He has done.

Ephesians 2:8-9- 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

This is a real easy formula.  We are all sinners.  Therefore we don’t have to debate on rather someone is qualified in needing their sins forgiven.

Romans 3:23-24 –  23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

On the flip side, people take it too far.  Many treat their salvation like a get out of jail free card.  Faith without works is dead.

James 2:26 – 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

James 2:17 – 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Also there is the follow up to Ephesians above in verse 10.

Ephesians 2:10 –10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We’re not saved by the work we do for the Lord.  That is the free gift and only attainable by accepting His grace and forgiveness by making Him Lord.  However, we if we love our Lord, we need to work for our King.  We were created in Christ Jesus to do good works.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration, Motivation, Salvation

 

What Is God’s Will?

29 Aug

John 6:40 – 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

God doesn’t want anyone to perish.

2 Peter 3:9 – 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God doesn’t want anyone to perish.  I repeated that on purpose.  God doesn’t want people to reject Him.  However, when they did the punishment is death.  He loved us so much He paid the price Himself.

But, we must accept that free gift by accepting Him as Lord.

Cancer is a bunch of cells doing their own little thing.  Man when outside the will of God is a cancer.  Cancer destroys as we know.  We can’t embrace cancer.  God can’t embrace cancer.  It’s either cured or it destroys and then dies.  He supplied the cure.

John 3:16-18 – 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only
Son.

You have to choose to accept the healing.  Don’t wait another day to choose Jesus as Lord.

 
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Posted in Salvation

 

Psalm 72

28 Aug

Psalm 72 – 1 Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.
2 He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.
3 The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4 He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy;
   he will crush the oppressor.

5 He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.
6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.
7 In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.

8 He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
9 The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him;
the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts.
11 All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.

12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.

15 Long may he live!  May gold from Sheba be given him.  May people ever pray for him 
and bless him all day long.
16 Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway.
Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field.
17 May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun.   All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.
18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
19 Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
            Amen and Amen.
20 This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.

The name of Jesus will endure forever!

 
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Posted in Inspiration, Reflections

 

Man Is Supposed To Help Hold Other Men Accountable

26 Aug

Genesis 9:6  – 6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made man.

God gave the authority to Man to uphold the law when it comes to murder.  We don’t do that hardly ever anymore.  Is this a good thing?

Our prisons are full of people the system can’t let out.  We’re supporting them to do nothing.  Man justifies not using the death penalty by certain people saying, “Who says we have the right to take another life?”

God’s Word says man needs to hold man accountable.  Why, because we are made in His image.  Adam and Eve were supposed to help rule this world.  Of course they got tricked by Satan in the form of the serpent and the sinful curse took over.

If man used God’s Word to rule the world, we all would be fine.

I’m not talking about a peoples skewed interpretations for their own desires or gain, I’m talking following God’s Word on what it says.  Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.  Love your neighbor as yourself.  If you do those two things, you don’t get murder, stealing, greed, or hatred.  If you love the Lord, then you also don’t have the other sins that he says are wrong in His Word.

Now because of the fall, man is all messed up spiritually.  Look around you if you want to know what the consequences are.  We bury our heads in the sand when we see a problem or try to justify it.

There is day coming soon when chaos is going to erupt.  God is going to call home the Church and then
those who didn’t want God will get a chance to try and run this world without Him.  The last half of the Tribulation will be so bad that some people will seek death and have a hard time finding it.

However, just about when there seems to be no hope, Jesus returns.

Matthew 21:21-22 – 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

Revelation 19:11-16- 11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

When the Lord rules and reigns for a thousand years, it will be run by the Word of God.  As above states in Revelation 19:13 and in John 1:1,14.  Jesus is the Word of God.

 
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Posted in Bible Prophecy, End Time Prophecies, Inspiration, Motivation, Reflections

 

He Calls Us Friends If…..

25 Aug

John 15:14-15- 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Are we friends of Jesus?

Who are our friends?

Friends are people you have a relationship with.  You can have a distant relationship with a friend if at one time you were close and hung out together.  However, how close are those relationships when you don’t have that opportunity to converse or be together as you go along?

Many people have this kind of relationship with the Lord.  They got close for awhile but then they slip away.  The reason people slip away from their friendship with the Lord is usually chasing after things that are adverse to Him.  They are things of the world that have nothing to do with our Lord.

It is so easy to slip back into old habitats that take you away from the Lord.  We must do the things that keep us close.  We need to take the time.  Close relationships take the extra time and effort.

Jesus says you are my friends if you do what I command.

We are created for a loving relationship with the Lord.  We were not created to be selfish little Gods destined to chase after our own little selfish pleasures and lifestyle.  The Bible makes that quite clear and you won’t get very far in the New Testament without a reminder or warning.

Matthew 12:46-50 – 46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Strong words from Jesus but they were to make a point, not to be disrespectful.

The family of Jesus and the friend of Jesus is the one who does the will of the Father.  Also those
who do what He commands, because the Son and the Father are one.

Actions speak louder than words.  It works that way for us all.  If a spouse tells us they love us all the time and then go out and cheat, the love isn’t very sincere.  However, if that spouse shows constant love to the other and says nothing, it is much more sincere.  Of course I encourage everyone to both say and show their spouse that they love them.

Jesus is our friend and we need to treat Him like a real one.  Not a fictional character we’ve been told about.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration, Motivation

 

What Are The Treasures Of Heaven? – Part 2

24 Aug

This part could have also been named, “Does Jesus bring up rewards much and therefore should we find it important?”

Matthew 5:12 – 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 10:41-42- 41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s
reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”

Matthew 6:1-6 – 1 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.  2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

When someone tells someone to be careful and not jump in the fire, people take that person seriously.
When someone tells someone to not jump off a 100 foot cliff, once again they take that person seriously.  However when Christians try to tell each other we need to be in the Word of God and we need to work for our Lord, they don’t want to hear it or take it seriously.

We’re warned that these things on this earth will pass away.  Don’t put all your time and efforts into it.  We’re also told by someone we can trust that great is your reward, just love Me, and serve Me, not yourself.

So what are the treasures and rewards?  They’re beyond our imagination.  However, by faith we work towards them.  God loves when we put our faith and trust in Him.  Do you trust Him?

So what attitude do we need to have?  What do we need to do?

2 Corinthians 4:18 – 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

It’s forever.  Forever is so long and that this life will seem like a distant memory that many cherish so much.

Isaiah 65:17 – 17 “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

Our King has some encouraging words for us that we best be taking seriously.

Revelation 22:12 – “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.

He’s closer now than ever.

Revelation 22:20 – 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, End Time Prophecies, Inspiration, Motivation, Opinion

 

What Are The Treasures Of Heaven? – Part 1

23 Aug

Someone recently asked me to give them an example of a treasure I am storing in Heaven.

Here’s the deal.  This is not a cop out.  I think Paul says it best.

1 Corinthians 2:9 – 9 However, as it is written:
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”

Do you know what the greatest thing is that you would ever enjoy?  Do you know what would be the best reward you could ever receive?  Can you imagine something being enjoyed 100 times more than the greatest thing you have enjoyed on this earth?

God made us.  We have gone through a fall.  We’re in malfunction mode with our minds and bodies.
The only thing that resembles how were supposed to be is when we are in tuned with the Holy Spirit and the things of God.

Yet even in a fallen state, we still know when we are enjoying something and when were not.  However, we don’t always know what were going to enjoy many times until were experiencing it.

There is someone that knows you from top to bottom.  He knows your likes and your dislikes even more than you know them yourself.

You see you enjoy things because that’s how you are programmed.  It’s not a fluke.  When we smell a fragrance we like it is enjoyable.  Why?  Because God made us that way.  He knows what will make you happy and He knows what will make you sad.

When the Lord is going to give a reward, trust me, you’re going to really enjoy the reward.  On the flip side, when people aren’t getting any, it will be a somber and sad time.  Unlike getting an award for an activity on this earth, many times you have to be one of the best.  To be rewarded by the Lord you just have to love Him and work hard for Him.

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 – 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

You see there is saved and then there is rewards.  Is it important?

Matthew 16:27 – 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 

If Jesus mentions rewards all the time Himself then rest assured, it’s important.

Tomorrow we will go over some of those verses.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration, Motivation, Opinion

 

The Lord Will Reign And His Temple Established

22 Aug

Micah 1:1-5 – 1 In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.

2 Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob.  He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

3 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

4 Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.

5 All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.

This will happen after Armageddon.  Justice will take place for those who still remain on this earth.  Our Lord will sit on the throne.  The Jews will have their Messiah and King just as promised and they will accept Him this time.

What about the Church?  I believe the church gets raptured before the tribulation, has the Wedding
Supper of the Lamb and comes back with Him at Armageddon.  As heirs we get a chance to help our Lord
when He rules and reigns during the millennium.  Our citizenship will be in heaven and I believe we will be able to help on this earth.  We’ll have a new body that will allow us to do this, that will be like His glorious body.

Philippians 3:20-21 – 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Romans 8:17 –17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

2Timothy 2:11-12 –11 Here is a trustworthy saying:  If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him.  If we disown him, he will also disown us;

I can’t think of anything much more exciting than being able to help our King in His glory in those days.
Notice it says “also reign” with him, not “and reign.”  We need to do our best to serve our Lord.  It appears that participation in helping the Lord reign may be part of the rewards, which goes beyond saved by grace.

We need to serve our Lord always.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, End Time Prophecies, Inspiration, Motivation, Rapture

 

Quote – Augustine

21 Aug

The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home.
Augustine

 

Philippians 3:20 – 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

As believers we are not of this world.  Our citizenship is in heaven.

The Word of God is our love letter from our Creator.  It brings life.

1 Peter 1:23 – 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Think yourself as a plant and the Word of God and both the water and nourishment to help you grow.
Look around you and see others.

We need to feed ourselves the living water on a regular basis.  Otherwise we dry up and wither.

 
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Posted in Quotes, Reflections

 
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