Genesis 39: 10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
Purity is something that has decreased at an alarming rate in the day in which we live! Just about everyone in our schools laughs at the idea of purity, and abstinence until marriage. The leaders of our land scoff and jeer at the idea that a "littl affair" is not an "ok" thing. The general public mocks and sneers and jests about impurity telling their 'dirty jokes' in the presence of anyone who will listen. However, God is not pleased with impurity, and He WILL have the final word about it. Joseph is one of the great examples in the Bible of purity, and it would do us all good to get the attitude of Joseph "it ain't gonna happen" (excuse the grammar).
Paths to purity.
1. Fear God. (a fear of consequences may not be all that's needed but it helps)
2. Follow God. (following His footsteps leads in the way of holiness)
3. Fellowship with God. (learning the sweetness of God helps to dispell the "need" for lust and sinfull thoughts)
4. Firmly say "no" (a harsh, affirmative answer goes a long way in quelling many lustful situations)
5. Find somewhere else to be (this could be a strike against Joseph, he was there, seemingly alone, with a woman who had consistenly been alluring him)
6. Flee youtful lusts (sometimes this is the only course of action, get out as fast as you can)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
This is the Day.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
This is a challenge to our minds. Throughout the Word of God, Christians are challenged in the area of their mind. Men, especially, have great difficulty in this area. Areas such as lust, pornography, hatred, and anger so easily affect the mind of a person and allow him/her to dwell on these things. However, a Christian has the power to overcome these things by turning to Jesus, and allowing Him to cleanse the mind and take over the processes of our minds.
Jesus Mind.
1. Service (He strove to serve) John 13:4-15 (16)
2. Submission (He always kept the Father in the spotlight) Luke 2:39
3. Surrender (He did the will of the Fathery, not His own will) Luke 22:41-42
4. His Servants (the people who followed Him were taken care of) John 17
5. Salvation (His focus was always on the Cross, and on souls) John 1:29; 3:14-19
This is a challenge to our minds. Throughout the Word of God, Christians are challenged in the area of their mind. Men, especially, have great difficulty in this area. Areas such as lust, pornography, hatred, and anger so easily affect the mind of a person and allow him/her to dwell on these things. However, a Christian has the power to overcome these things by turning to Jesus, and allowing Him to cleanse the mind and take over the processes of our minds.
Jesus Mind.
1. Service (He strove to serve) John 13:4-15 (16)
2. Submission (He always kept the Father in the spotlight) Luke 2:39
3. Surrender (He did the will of the Fathery, not His own will) Luke 22:41-42
4. His Servants (the people who followed Him were taken care of) John 17
5. Salvation (His focus was always on the Cross, and on souls) John 1:29; 3:14-19
Saturday, March 28, 2009
This is the day.
Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.What is the Gospel of Christ?
We are told by Paul that it is the death, burial and ressurection of Christ. As a Christian to focus on these three aspects is a glorious enterprise. Jesus Christ loved ME enough to die for me. Jesus was buried for me, but, praise God, Jesus ROSE from that Grave and because of that I can be saved. So many religions rely on the leadership of a dead man, but I serve a risen Savior. Praise God!!
We are told by Paul that it is the death, burial and ressurection of Christ. As a Christian to focus on these three aspects is a glorious enterprise. Jesus Christ loved ME enough to die for me. Jesus was buried for me, but, praise God, Jesus ROSE from that Grave and because of that I can be saved. So many religions rely on the leadership of a dead man, but I serve a risen Savior. Praise God!!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
This is the Day.
In order to be a Christian, you have to believe what the Bible says is literal. Accepting only what you want to accept of the Bible is the reason that the world has so many problems. You need to accept the Word of God as the final authority in your life. Not that Christians are always able to live up to every word, but that's where the forgiveness of God comes in, he will forgive us and still accept us. Hey, to me God is as real as anything or anyone!
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 The same was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The reason that God is not real to so many people, is that they won't accept Him at His Word. People accept the theory of evolution, at the word of two or three men. The principle of gravity because they can see it. Religious thought at the prompting of the writings of one man. Weight loss solutions upon the details given by a book. Financial advice based on the renderings of often crooked people. Health solutions on research that can and does prove faulty almost as often as it is proven correct. People even accepted that a compay had made an "unsinkable" boat, Titanic vs. Iceburg (iceburg TKO). They even accept that there could be life on other planets, which is totally unsubstansiated. Yet, when the Creator of the universe, the Fashioner of mankind, the only true God, gives them a plan for living that will work, writes a love letter containing 66 books to mankind, sends a Savior to die for there sin, and makes accepting Him something that is not hard to do. Men reject this with all the ferver of a Norway lemming migration. Man scoffs and says this will never work. He throws up his hands in an attitude of mockery, and says, "that's imposible." Why can mankind accept so may false programs, so many unproven "facts," run headlong into so many schemes, and yet think that somehow God is trying to trick him. Its because he/she doesn't really want to believe that the life he/she is living might actually be wrong, might not be the best way, and might actually be contributing to his/her destruction. Still, "let's try this new pill (that ends up being recalled because it has deadly side effects)," but "don't try to tell me that God loves me, because that just can't be." Well, the choice is yours, that's the way God works, but there is a better way!
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 The same was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The reason that God is not real to so many people, is that they won't accept Him at His Word. People accept the theory of evolution, at the word of two or three men. The principle of gravity because they can see it. Religious thought at the prompting of the writings of one man. Weight loss solutions upon the details given by a book. Financial advice based on the renderings of often crooked people. Health solutions on research that can and does prove faulty almost as often as it is proven correct. People even accepted that a compay had made an "unsinkable" boat, Titanic vs. Iceburg (iceburg TKO). They even accept that there could be life on other planets, which is totally unsubstansiated. Yet, when the Creator of the universe, the Fashioner of mankind, the only true God, gives them a plan for living that will work, writes a love letter containing 66 books to mankind, sends a Savior to die for there sin, and makes accepting Him something that is not hard to do. Men reject this with all the ferver of a Norway lemming migration. Man scoffs and says this will never work. He throws up his hands in an attitude of mockery, and says, "that's imposible." Why can mankind accept so may false programs, so many unproven "facts," run headlong into so many schemes, and yet think that somehow God is trying to trick him. Its because he/she doesn't really want to believe that the life he/she is living might actually be wrong, might not be the best way, and might actually be contributing to his/her destruction. Still, "let's try this new pill (that ends up being recalled because it has deadly side effects)," but "don't try to tell me that God loves me, because that just can't be." Well, the choice is yours, that's the way God works, but there is a better way!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
This is the day.
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
What have you sown? Has your life been dedicated completely to you? Have you always enjoyed a large ammount of sin in your life? Why would you expect to not reap the same type of things that you have sown? God says you will reap, not only will you reap something when you've sown, but you will also reap what you have sown. Have you sown sin, you will reap sin. The biggest let down of all, is that what is reaped, is not always reaped by the person who sowed it. David's sin, for instance, was reaped largely by his children. Jezebel's sin was reaped by an entire nation. Satan's sin, as well as Adam's and Eve's, has been, and will continue to be, reaped by generations, and droves of people. Why would you be different? Hey, God is not mocked. What will you reap?
What do most people sow?
I. Sin [look at the wickedness of the world today]
II. Sorrow [look at the results of sin on people today]
III. Self-will [the thrust of the world today is "me"] joy=jesus,others, and you.
What do most people reap?
I. More Sin [one ungodly act leads to another {lust/adultery} {hate/murder}]
II. More Sorrow [the deeper the hole one digs, the harder it is to get out]
III. Suicide [when "i" run out, then there is nothing left]
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
What have you sown? Has your life been dedicated completely to you? Have you always enjoyed a large ammount of sin in your life? Why would you expect to not reap the same type of things that you have sown? God says you will reap, not only will you reap something when you've sown, but you will also reap what you have sown. Have you sown sin, you will reap sin. The biggest let down of all, is that what is reaped, is not always reaped by the person who sowed it. David's sin, for instance, was reaped largely by his children. Jezebel's sin was reaped by an entire nation. Satan's sin, as well as Adam's and Eve's, has been, and will continue to be, reaped by generations, and droves of people. Why would you be different? Hey, God is not mocked. What will you reap?
What do most people sow?
I. Sin [look at the wickedness of the world today]
II. Sorrow [look at the results of sin on people today]
III. Self-will [the thrust of the world today is "me"] joy=jesus,others, and you.
What do most people reap?
I. More Sin [one ungodly act leads to another {lust/adultery} {hate/murder}]
II. More Sorrow [the deeper the hole one digs, the harder it is to get out]
III. Suicide [when "i" run out, then there is nothing left]
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
This is the day.
Esther 7:10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
Do you have someone that you consider to be your enemy? Have you been preparing a fine "execution" for him/her? Do you constantly think of revenge on the one whom you dislike? The story of Haman is one of great sadness, and one of simple stupidity. Haman had been given great honor by the king, and had been exalted to the place where the servants of the king would always bow to him. Yet there was one man who would not bow, Mordecai, and Haman decided he had to kill Mordecai, and not only Mordecai but also all of his people which were the Jews. Is there a hatred in your heart that makes you not be able to get along with someone? Does that hatred pour over into a despising of their whole family? One suggestion, don't build a gallows. Your hatred will not be overlooked by God! God says to love, and pray for those we have a grudge against. He also says that only by pride comes contention. The probability is that your pride is making you have enemies, not something they are doing. May God help us to break our pride, and forgive our "enemies," for that is the only way we will ever experience revival in our land.
Do you have someone that you consider to be your enemy? Have you been preparing a fine "execution" for him/her? Do you constantly think of revenge on the one whom you dislike? The story of Haman is one of great sadness, and one of simple stupidity. Haman had been given great honor by the king, and had been exalted to the place where the servants of the king would always bow to him. Yet there was one man who would not bow, Mordecai, and Haman decided he had to kill Mordecai, and not only Mordecai but also all of his people which were the Jews. Is there a hatred in your heart that makes you not be able to get along with someone? Does that hatred pour over into a despising of their whole family? One suggestion, don't build a gallows. Your hatred will not be overlooked by God! God says to love, and pray for those we have a grudge against. He also says that only by pride comes contention. The probability is that your pride is making you have enemies, not something they are doing. May God help us to break our pride, and forgive our "enemies," for that is the only way we will ever experience revival in our land.
This is the day.
Job 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
My focus today is on the phrase, "Gird up now thy loins like a man;". One of the most lax things in Christianity today is manhood. There is a lack of true men of God. Most of our teenage guys don't want to step up to the plate and hit home-runs. We need MEN who will preach the word, who will witness, and who will stand up on their two feet, and fight the good fight of faith. What are turning out mostly today are sissies, guys who fall back from a fight, and who will not stand up to Satan and the world. Why are so many young ladies thinking that they have to stand up and take over ministries? Why do so many young women think they have to go on the mission field by themselves, and even take the role of preaching. Its because young boys don't want to grow up and take the responsibility of being men.
Psalm 12:1 Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
My focus today is on the phrase, "Gird up now thy loins like a man;". One of the most lax things in Christianity today is manhood. There is a lack of true men of God. Most of our teenage guys don't want to step up to the plate and hit home-runs. We need MEN who will preach the word, who will witness, and who will stand up on their two feet, and fight the good fight of faith. What are turning out mostly today are sissies, guys who fall back from a fight, and who will not stand up to Satan and the world. Why are so many young ladies thinking that they have to stand up and take over ministries? Why do so many young women think they have to go on the mission field by themselves, and even take the role of preaching. Its because young boys don't want to grow up and take the responsibility of being men.
Psalm 12:1 Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
Friday, March 20, 2009
This is the Day.
Job 5:19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.
21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
God will deliver you. Hey, if you are cast down, if you are having a lot of problems, AND if you are a Christian, God will deliver. He has promised to not let you starve to death, though not to always provide steaks! He has promised to save you from the harm of battle, though not to keep you out of battles. He has promised to hide you from slander, of course, if you are really serving Him people WILL talk. He has promised to relieve you from the fears of destruction, and to let you be able to laugh at famine and destruction. Even beasts will be at peace with you, and the stones will be in league with you. Hey, if God is on your side, "there shall no evil touch you."
20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.
21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
God will deliver you. Hey, if you are cast down, if you are having a lot of problems, AND if you are a Christian, God will deliver. He has promised to not let you starve to death, though not to always provide steaks! He has promised to save you from the harm of battle, though not to keep you out of battles. He has promised to hide you from slander, of course, if you are really serving Him people WILL talk. He has promised to relieve you from the fears of destruction, and to let you be able to laugh at famine and destruction. Even beasts will be at peace with you, and the stones will be in league with you. Hey, if God is on your side, "there shall no evil touch you."
Thursday, March 19, 2009
This is the day.
Pslam 116:6 The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.
Thank God! He does preserve the simple. It is amazing how simple we can sometimes be. The way we act, and the things we do and say, are sometimes so ineptly simple that even human beings laugh at us. Just imagine what God must think when we do or say something so stupid. Yet He preserves us! Just when we are the lowest, His tender touch reaches down and lifts us up! How marvelous a God we have! How wonderful that He would "humble himself to behold His creation." How unimaginable that the hand in which the oceans were measured would be the same that would wipe away the tears from the "simple" saints eyes. What a GREAT GOD!!!
Thank God! He does preserve the simple. It is amazing how simple we can sometimes be. The way we act, and the things we do and say, are sometimes so ineptly simple that even human beings laugh at us. Just imagine what God must think when we do or say something so stupid. Yet He preserves us! Just when we are the lowest, His tender touch reaches down and lifts us up! How marvelous a God we have! How wonderful that He would "humble himself to behold His creation." How unimaginable that the hand in which the oceans were measured would be the same that would wipe away the tears from the "simple" saints eyes. What a GREAT GOD!!!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
This is the day.
Ezra 9:14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
This is the prayer of God's people toward God in the days of Ezra the priest. The people had been busily engaged in rebuilding the Temple of God at Jerusalem, and in the course of trying to get right with God, had been told to separate from those who were not Jews. What a great thing for God's children to do! If only Christians today would realize that the realtionships that they have with the world are wrong!! These Jews were so afraid of God being angry that many of them "put away" even the wives and children that they had that were not Jews. How sad that we "Christians" today will not walk away from the world and will not fear God enough to separate ourselves from the world. When our "friends" become more important than church, or important enough to us to lead us into a compromising situation, that may or may not be sin, in which we have to either bend or break a standard, then is when God is not pleased and He WILL punish the offender. Why can't we give up the attitude that "we should all get along," and realize that, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James 4:4. Let's quit committing spiritual adultery, and mak God our "first love," and the most important part of our lives.
This is the prayer of God's people toward God in the days of Ezra the priest. The people had been busily engaged in rebuilding the Temple of God at Jerusalem, and in the course of trying to get right with God, had been told to separate from those who were not Jews. What a great thing for God's children to do! If only Christians today would realize that the realtionships that they have with the world are wrong!! These Jews were so afraid of God being angry that many of them "put away" even the wives and children that they had that were not Jews. How sad that we "Christians" today will not walk away from the world and will not fear God enough to separate ourselves from the world. When our "friends" become more important than church, or important enough to us to lead us into a compromising situation, that may or may not be sin, in which we have to either bend or break a standard, then is when God is not pleased and He WILL punish the offender. Why can't we give up the attitude that "we should all get along," and realize that, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James 4:4. Let's quit committing spiritual adultery, and mak God our "first love," and the most important part of our lives.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
This is the day.
Psalm 50:12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
What a statement! This is not a man talking, but this is the God of the universe. What a great group Christians could be if we would realize a couple of important things about God. First, He is huge! We always seem to think of God as some panty-waisted butler, that we call on to do us a service when we "think we need Him," but we need to realize that He is so infinite the universe cannot contain Him, yet so wonderful that He will listen to people-that to Him are smaller than an atom is in comparison to jupiter-but not only listen but answer as well. Secondly, We need to realize that He does not, and will never, need us. The folly of young men, especially preachers, is to think that God needs us to become a "C.H. Spurgeon, etc.," and the deception of old men is the thought that God has been using them so long that He will simply not be able to get along without them. Here in this Psalm God tells us what we are. We are nothing, and until we ALL realize that Christianity will continue to lag in its effort to help the world.
What a statement! This is not a man talking, but this is the God of the universe. What a great group Christians could be if we would realize a couple of important things about God. First, He is huge! We always seem to think of God as some panty-waisted butler, that we call on to do us a service when we "think we need Him," but we need to realize that He is so infinite the universe cannot contain Him, yet so wonderful that He will listen to people-that to Him are smaller than an atom is in comparison to jupiter-but not only listen but answer as well. Secondly, We need to realize that He does not, and will never, need us. The folly of young men, especially preachers, is to think that God needs us to become a "C.H. Spurgeon, etc.," and the deception of old men is the thought that God has been using them so long that He will simply not be able to get along without them. Here in this Psalm God tells us what we are. We are nothing, and until we ALL realize that Christianity will continue to lag in its effort to help the world.
Monday, March 16, 2009
This is the day.
Psalm 103:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
What is the key to having a great relationship with the Lord? The Psalmist David was "a man after God's own heart." What we see from David's life was an attitude of praise. Look at the Psalms! These wonderful passages are full of the praise of the name of God. I have found in my own life, and by watching others that if you will begin to praise the Lord, you will get closer to Him. Raise your hands when you pray by yourself, say "Lord you are wonderful", maybe simply whisper "Lord I love you." begin to develop an intimate relationship with God. If you and your wife/girlfriend did not tell each other you loved each other, and did not praise the actions, and the looks and ways of each other your relationship would not last. You will also never have a close relationship with God until you learn to praise Him.
What is the key to having a great relationship with the Lord? The Psalmist David was "a man after God's own heart." What we see from David's life was an attitude of praise. Look at the Psalms! These wonderful passages are full of the praise of the name of God. I have found in my own life, and by watching others that if you will begin to praise the Lord, you will get closer to Him. Raise your hands when you pray by yourself, say "Lord you are wonderful", maybe simply whisper "Lord I love you." begin to develop an intimate relationship with God. If you and your wife/girlfriend did not tell each other you loved each other, and did not praise the actions, and the looks and ways of each other your relationship would not last. You will also never have a close relationship with God until you learn to praise Him.
Friday, March 13, 2009
This is the day.
Psalm 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
24:4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Do we want to get near to God? I think of ascending into the hill of the Lord, and cannot help but reflect on Moses. Think about how God told him to remove his shoes because the place he was standing was holy ground. What do you and I need to get rid of in order to experience the very presence of God? The Bible says we have to have clean hands, this is not a command to wash our hands every time we do anything (think of the Pharisees), but it is a command to be honest and fair in the way we deal with people. A pure heart even goes deeper in this than just the idea of the hands, this means we don't even consider being dishonest in our dealing. The third aspect is even harder for us (especially men), not being proud or lifted up, thinking that I am someone or something. Finally, the things we say are as important as the rest in being able to approach the presence of God. God is Holy. He wants us to live holy lives as well. How will you and I be able to approach God? We must follow His word. Psalm 37:5
24:4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Do we want to get near to God? I think of ascending into the hill of the Lord, and cannot help but reflect on Moses. Think about how God told him to remove his shoes because the place he was standing was holy ground. What do you and I need to get rid of in order to experience the very presence of God? The Bible says we have to have clean hands, this is not a command to wash our hands every time we do anything (think of the Pharisees), but it is a command to be honest and fair in the way we deal with people. A pure heart even goes deeper in this than just the idea of the hands, this means we don't even consider being dishonest in our dealing. The third aspect is even harder for us (especially men), not being proud or lifted up, thinking that I am someone or something. Finally, the things we say are as important as the rest in being able to approach the presence of God. God is Holy. He wants us to live holy lives as well. How will you and I be able to approach God? We must follow His word. Psalm 37:5
Thursday, March 12, 2009
This is the day.
Psalm 25:4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
Which path does God have for me? The Psalmist ask God to show him which way to go. Too often we turn to other things for direction. We turn to men, even godly men, when we should be turning to God. God tells us to call and He will answer. How great the difference between God and man. Many times we pick up the phone and call someone, only to get a busy signal, or an answering machine. Yet whenever anyone calls on God, He always answers. Let us be glad we don't have a god like Baal, I Kings 18:27 "...Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked." Hallelujah MY GOD is the God that never travels (He is everywhere), He is never too busy talking to someone else (He hears everything), He doesn't have to pursue anything (He speaks and it happens), and He never falls asleep (He is eternal and has never been tired. So when I ask MY God for something I know He hears me every time. Is He your God? Romans 10:9-13
Which path does God have for me? The Psalmist ask God to show him which way to go. Too often we turn to other things for direction. We turn to men, even godly men, when we should be turning to God. God tells us to call and He will answer. How great the difference between God and man. Many times we pick up the phone and call someone, only to get a busy signal, or an answering machine. Yet whenever anyone calls on God, He always answers. Let us be glad we don't have a god like Baal, I Kings 18:27 "...Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked." Hallelujah MY GOD is the God that never travels (He is everywhere), He is never too busy talking to someone else (He hears everything), He doesn't have to pursue anything (He speaks and it happens), and He never falls asleep (He is eternal and has never been tired. So when I ask MY God for something I know He hears me every time. Is He your God? Romans 10:9-13
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
This is the Day
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
What a GREAT statement! Often Christians have no real problem talking the talk. We usually know just the right words for each crowd with which we interact. However, the measure of the person is not what he/she says, it is how he/she thinks, and feels, and acts that counts. Many false religions can "talk the talk", but walking the walk is different. What do you and I really think about, and meditate on? Is our thinking and meditation on God and His attributes, on the Bible and its authority, or are we meditating on the things that do not please God, the things of Satan and the world? We, as Christians, need to want to be acceptable to God.
What a GREAT statement! Often Christians have no real problem talking the talk. We usually know just the right words for each crowd with which we interact. However, the measure of the person is not what he/she says, it is how he/she thinks, and feels, and acts that counts. Many false religions can "talk the talk", but walking the walk is different. What do you and I really think about, and meditate on? Is our thinking and meditation on God and His attributes, on the Bible and its authority, or are we meditating on the things that do not please God, the things of Satan and the world? We, as Christians, need to want to be acceptable to God.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
This is the day.
This is the day which the Lord hath made. What will you and I do with this day? What will we do with March 10, 2009. We can simply lay around and not read our Bibles, and not pray, and not seek God's face, or we can say with the Psalmist "with my whole heart have I sought thee."
The choise is up to you and me. I was thinking about Lot's wife. She turned into a pillar of salt. The Christian is supposed to be salt to the world. Are you and I going to let her testimony be our testimony? Is the only salt that our Christian lives will produce going to be in our obituary? Oh, that we would get on fire for God, and serve Him with everything that we have.
The choise is up to you and me. I was thinking about Lot's wife. She turned into a pillar of salt. The Christian is supposed to be salt to the world. Are you and I going to let her testimony be our testimony? Is the only salt that our Christian lives will produce going to be in our obituary? Oh, that we would get on fire for God, and serve Him with everything that we have.
Almost Persuaded
Acts Chapter 26
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
"Almost thou persuadest me..." King Agrippa's words may be the most used phrase toward accepting Christianity that has ever surfaced. Many people see the need for salvation, see the need for reformation, or simply see that they must change in order to live a "good" life, but are not ready to accept God's formula for their change.
The testimony of Paul was one of great change in his life. He had been a murderous Pharisee who hated the very mention of the name of Jesus Christ, and had been changed so drastically that he boldly proclaimed the name of Jesus, to the point that now he was in bonds and would soon be executed for his ferverent preaching of Jesus.
Agrippa sat there and listened to the words that could have changed his life forever, yet he was not fully persuaded that he wanted to make this change. There is no remedy for sin other than the blood of Jesus Christ, and there is no pardon from sin out side of His Perfect Sacrifice. "I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am..." This is my prayer also, don't be almost persuaded, but altogether persuaded as I am.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
"Almost thou persuadest me..." King Agrippa's words may be the most used phrase toward accepting Christianity that has ever surfaced. Many people see the need for salvation, see the need for reformation, or simply see that they must change in order to live a "good" life, but are not ready to accept God's formula for their change.
The testimony of Paul was one of great change in his life. He had been a murderous Pharisee who hated the very mention of the name of Jesus Christ, and had been changed so drastically that he boldly proclaimed the name of Jesus, to the point that now he was in bonds and would soon be executed for his ferverent preaching of Jesus.
Agrippa sat there and listened to the words that could have changed his life forever, yet he was not fully persuaded that he wanted to make this change. There is no remedy for sin other than the blood of Jesus Christ, and there is no pardon from sin out side of His Perfect Sacrifice. "I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am..." This is my prayer also, don't be almost persuaded, but altogether persuaded as I am.
Monday, March 9, 2009
First post
Jehovah is salvation- english translation- Joshua. Thank God for His marvelous provision. There is no greater knowledge than the knowledge that God has redeemed the soul of a sinner. For those who may be interested Grace Baptist Church has just finished two weeks of revival. God greatly blessed and things went great. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow. The family is doing great. Caleb, Tina and Sarah are all fine, and my parents are really well, too.
I am going to try to make this site a devotional site producing a devotional on each weekday (somedays may get two on the same day if I miss a day), and even bring some outlines into the picture. These things may not be profound, but hopefully they will encourage others as much as they have encouraged me.
I am going to try to make this site a devotional site producing a devotional on each weekday (somedays may get two on the same day if I miss a day), and even bring some outlines into the picture. These things may not be profound, but hopefully they will encourage others as much as they have encouraged me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)