tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62260852024-02-20T08:10:34.796-07:00ReflectionsReflections on God's Word and the ministry He has given us...Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comBlogger555125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-70259405303743067012010-07-22T10:01:00.001-07:002010-07-22T10:03:09.007-07:00<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff0000;"><strong>God cannot be eliminated from any blog. He is everywhere. He is ruler of all things.</strong></span>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-71264619884588706212009-09-24T10:40:00.000-07:002009-09-24T10:41:03.454-07:00Ephesians 1:19-20 ( NLT ) <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. <span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br /> <br /><br />God is greater than even we can imagine. When I come home at night and look up at the stars, realizing that our incredible God made them, it’s mind boggling. When I look back at my life and see how He took things that I thought were tragedies and turned them into miracles, it is almost beyond comprehension.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Take the time to remember Who He is and what He has done in your life. Look around at this incredible creation He has placed us in and linger in the awe of that moment. Contemplate the power it took to create a world, the love that it took to give His only Son, and the power it took to raise Jesus from the dead! He is a Mighty God! Nothing we bring to Him in prayer is too hard for Him to deal with. 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mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="">WORD<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Empathy…<span style="color:black;">understanding and entering into another's feelings (Princeton dictionary online)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color:black;">This is something</span> that we all need to keep in mind as we meet people every day that do not know the Lord or may be very young Christians.<span style=""> </span>We need to remember that we were once just like them…without the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in our lives.<span style=""> </span>Grace fits into that concept, doesn’t it?<span style=""> </span>It was by grace we were saved.<span style=""> </span>Remembering where we came from helps us have patience to lead others to where we are.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /><br /><b><!-- Bible -->Colossians 1:21-22 ( NASB ) </b><a name="24"></a><br />And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, <i>engaged</i> in evil deeds, <a name="25"></a><br />yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— </p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br>Pray for those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior.<span style=""> </span>Seek God to find out how you can be instrumental in introducing someone to Jesus.</p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-15720404048412924412009-08-12T19:10:00.000-07:002009-08-12T19:13:08.636-07:00<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CJohn%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml/> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CJohn%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CJohn%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> 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mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >A friend shared with me yesterday that the theme for the Rex Allen Days parade is “Cowboy Thru it all.”<span style=""> </span>As I thought about that, my mind went to the phrase “Cowboy up.”<span style=""> </span>Maybe you’ve heard it before.<span style=""> </span>The most common meaning that I have heard applied to this phrase is also found at urbandictionary.com:<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style=";font-family:";" >“When things are getting tough you have to get back up, dust yourself off and keep trying.“<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >In Biblical terms that’s persevere.<span style=""> </span>Hebrews 10:23 says, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style=";font-family:";" >“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. <a name="26"></a><sup>24</sup>Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. <a name="27"></a><sup>25</sup>And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. “<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >Then down in verses 35 and 36 he says, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style=";font-family:";" >“<a name="37"></a><sup>35</sup>So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! <a name="38"></a><sup>36</sup>Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >There is so much information today: news, people vying for our time and attention, things which would distract us and sometimes discourage us from sharing Jesus with others.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >Someone might say, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >“Well I talked to that person already about Jesus and they just don’t want anything to do with Him.”<span style=""> </span>…..Cowboy up.<span style=""> </span>Try again.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >“I’ve asked God about what I should do for Him and He hasn’t really made it very clear to me.”<span style=""> </span>…. Cowboy up.<span style=""> </span>Ask again.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >“I know God wants me to quit smoking (plug in your habit He wants to gain control of) and I just can’t do it”<span style=""> </span>….Cowboy up!<span style=""> </span>Trust Him for the strength.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >Do you want people to know who Jesus is?<span style=""> </span>Maybe it’s time for you to “Cowboy up!”<span style=""> </span>Let them see Jesus in you…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >
<br /><b>Philippians 3:14 ( NASB ) </b><a name="15"></a>
<br />…press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-20309368001024232082009-08-08T12:09:00.003-07:002009-08-08T12:12:52.383-07:00<span style="font-family:verdana;">God is working in our community. He is at work in The SPRING Student Center, in the lives of the teens and the staff that work with them. The "seeds" that are planted will grow and will produce fruit, which in turn will produce more "seeds". <br /><br />Ignore the things that Satan would put in your path to deter you from doing God’s will. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Ignore the fact that there are thirty churches in our town. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">There is only One Body of Christ and we each are members of that Body.<br /></span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><em>I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.</em></strong> 1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><em>But we have the mind of Christ.</em></strong> 1 Corinthians 2:16b (ESV)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><em>So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.</em></strong> Romans 14:19 (ESV)</span><a name="21"></a></li></ul>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-39770668912150339782008-08-19T09:54:00.000-07:002008-08-19T09:58:03.232-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">BELIEF</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Earlier, I mentioned that the Lord had convicted me of the sin of gluttony.<span style=""> </span>After I confessed that and turned it over to Him, I decided that I shouldn’t eat anything that day.<span style=""> </span>Not because I owed Him anything, but because I knew I needed to exhibit control.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="26"></a><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. <a name="27"></a><sup>27</sup>No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><st2:bcv_smarttag w:st="on">1 Corinthians 9:26-27</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag w:st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">I also knew that only God could help me do that.<span style=""> </span>I trusted Him, had faith in Him that He would do that.<span style=""> </span>Twenty-four hours later, I can tell you that I never once thought about eating or experienced any hunger at all.<span style=""> </span>Now that’s a God –thing!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Belief, faith, trust, conviction, principle, confidence, certainty…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Take your pick; they’re all very close in meaning.<span style=""> </span>However, in reality it is what you put your faith, belief or trust in that matters.<span style=""> </span>How dependable is your source of trust?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="11"></a><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><st2:bcv_smarttag w:st="on">1 Corinthians 1:9</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag w:st="on">NASB</st2:translation_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">A verse jumped out at me in my reading this morning…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="13"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup>13</sup>And Mordecai told <span style="">them</span> to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. <a name="14"></a><sup>14</sup>For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for <span style="">such</span> a time as this?” </i></b><span style=""> </span>Esther 4:13-14 NKJV<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Mordecai trusted that God would deliver His people.<span style=""> </span>Esther had a choice, as do you and I.<span style=""> </span>We can choose to be an instrument of God, submissive and obedient to Him, or we can choose our own way.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="5"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup>5</sup> Trust in the Lord with all your heart, <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> And lean not on your own understanding;<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="6"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">6</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> In all your ways acknowledge Him,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> And He shall direct your paths.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><st2:bcv_smarttag w:st="on">Proverbs 3:5-6</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag w:st="on">N<st2:translation_smarttag w:st="on">KJV</st2:translation_smarttag></st2:translation_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-31378722387870066782008-08-07T09:09:00.002-07:002008-08-07T09:19:54.208-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">CHOICE</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Here we are…another day…and more choices to be made.<span style=""> </span>Will we choose God’s way or our own?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">When Gideon went to battle against Midian, he took 32,000 men to fight.<span style=""> </span>God wanted to receive the glory, so he had Gideon cut the forces down to 300 men to make it obvious Who had won the battle. <i style=""><span style=""> </span>(Judges 7)</i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">When Joshua led the people against the city of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Jericho</st1:place></st1:City>, he chose God’s plan which sounded rather bizarre (a bunch of people marching around the walls of the city for several days and then shouting!) but God was glorified through their obedience and the victory over the fortified city. <i style="">(Joshua 6)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">When God led the Israelites out of <st1:country-region st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>, he led them right up to the edge of the <st1:place st="on">Red Sea</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>How were they going to get out of that one!<span style=""> </span>God said, “Watch” and he parted the waters to allow the millions of people to cross safely.<span style=""> </span>Even if you want to believe it was the “Reed” Sea, God still caused the entire army of Pharaoh that was chasing the Israelites to perish.<i style=""> (Exodus 14)</i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Which way will you choose today, God’s way or your own?<span style=""> </span>God will be glorified.<span style=""> </span>Make sure you’re part of the bunch giving Him the glory and diligently seek to do His will.<span style=""> </span>He has promised: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">That if we diligently seek Him, we will find Him. <i style="">(Proverbs 8:17) <o:p></o:p></i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">We are more than conquerors through Christ<i style=""> (Romans 8:37)<o:p></o:p></i></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">He will never leave us<i style=""> (Matthew 28:20)<o:p></o:p></i></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-64322885743376285802008-08-05T18:56:00.001-07:002008-08-05T19:00:21.433-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">SEEK</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">I may visit Second Chronicles chapter twenty more than a few times this month.<span style=""> </span>The day that I figured out that was the passage I was supposed to preach on last week, I had read it two times in different versions.<span style=""> </span>Later that day, I was told that some friends had discussed the passage on their way back to Willcox and another friend brought up the fact that they had read it.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">I believe there may be special significance and relevance to the time we live in AND the town we live in.<span style=""> </span>Last night, two women came into the SPRING wanting to know how they could volunteer to help.<span style=""> </span>During our conversation it came up how they had never lived in a town (or a time) that spiritual warfare was so elevated.<span style=""> </span>At the same time, we discovered that we all felt God was working among His people and that revival was just around the corner.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">When King Jehoshaphat and his people faced a problem with an attacking army they came from all over the country…they united to find out what God wanted them to do…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="5"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup>4</sup>So people from all the towns of <st1:country-region st="on">Judah</st1:country-region> came to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:City> to seek the LORD’s help. </i></b>2 Chronicles 20:4 NLT<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">In our day, in our town, I believe the Lord is calling His people from all the different churches to come together to seek Him, to seek His will and to seek His help.<span style=""> </span>He tells us of a similar situation earlier in Second Chronicles and confirms that He will respond positively when certain conditions are met…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="16"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup>14</sup>Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.</i></b> 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><u><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">WHO<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">My people</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> – The people who belong to God…the people that God created.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Called by my name</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> – Those who are called, or call themselves, Christians (John 14:6)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><u><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">WHAT<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Humble</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> – to be out of the limelight so that God may shine…to give Him all the glory, honor and praise.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Pray</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> – talk to God…acknowledging His greatness and our weakness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Seek my face </span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">– when you are so close that you look into each other’s eyes…nothing withheld…complete honesty.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Turn from wicked ways</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> – anything that is displeasing to God…anything that takes a priority over the things of God…anything that gets between you and God<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><u><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">THEN<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">God will</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <b style="">hear</b> our cries for help<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">God will forgive</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> our sin<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">God will</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <b style="">restore</b> our land (to peace, to God’s control rather than being dominated by evil)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-57628610714297642972008-08-05T18:54:00.001-07:002008-08-05T18:56:19.262-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">FRUSTRATING</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Yesterday I brought the message at a local church and spoke from Second Chronicles, chapter 20.<span style=""> </span>King Jehoshaphat had a big army coming toward him and he asked God what to do, rather than taking matters into his own hands.<span style=""> </span>God brought victory because the King and his people sought his help.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Immediately after service, someone who liked the worship music that we used came up and said they wanted to reach the twenty-something crowd and would like to have that kind of music on a Sunday night to “draw” them.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Jesus said, I will draw all men unto myself (John 12:32).<span style=""> </span>He has power.<span style=""> </span>We do not.<span style=""> </span>Apart from Him, we can do nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">What then is our responsibility?<span style=""> </span>As we see the need, we MUST seek God’s way to fulfill the need.<span style=""> </span>Reaching younger folks is probably going to take involving younger folks in the PLANNING phase, not just hoping they are mysteriously “drawn” by sounds of drums and guitars.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">As with anything, if we don’t feel a part of something, we feel outside of it and consequently do not participate.<span style=""> </span>Young people must be involved in important roles in the church during their twenties and thirties if the church is to survive after the older generations are gone.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Oh yeah, so why did I call this Word “Frustrating”?<span style=""> </span>Because it was brought out in God’s Word yesterday that King Jehoshaphat turned to God for deliverance.<span style=""> </span>He had the people fast and then he led them in prayer.<span style=""> </span>We all need to understand that the bible isn’t just a collection of cute little stories for encouragement, but that they are living words that are just as applicable today as they were thousands of years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">How are we going to reach the twenty-something’s?<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <ol style="margin-top: 0in;" start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Seek God.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Pray for His answer <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">WAIT for His reply.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></li></ol> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Once it is clear what God wants and how He wants to accomplish something, then and only then should we move forward.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-35109218502096452602008-07-24T11:48:00.001-07:002008-07-24T11:53:39.111-07:00<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">CHANGED</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK1"><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Have you ever watched a movie or heard someone say something that really moved you?<span style=""> </span>You may even vow that you will be a “changed” person because of what you heard or saw.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Perhaps it was a documentary on hunger throughout the world with pictures of starving, dying children.<span style=""> </span>You decide that you will eat less and send money to help them.<span style=""> </span>The truth of the matter is that the feeling will fade and you will gradually go back to the way things were before.<span style=""> </span>It’s not that you don’t care but simply that change is difficult.<span style=""> </span>Real change for the better is just about impossible!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">I’ll give you a personal example.<span style=""> </span>I had let myself get overweight.<span style=""> </span>At first, it was just a few pounds but it gradually became more and more until I found myself over 80 pounds heavier than I should have been.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">I tried diets, exercise and nothing seemed to work.<span style=""> </span>Stay with me because here is the real deal, the secret to the whole thing…<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The Lord convicted me that if I was to be a witness for Him, an example of Christianity, then I should be displaying the Fruit of the Spirit as found in Galatians…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="24"></a><b style=""><i style="">But the fruit of the Spirit</i></b></span></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> is love,</span></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> joy,</span></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> peace, patience,</span></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> kindness,</span></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> goodness, faith,</span></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <a name="25"></a><sup>23</sup>gentleness,</span></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> self-control.</span></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> Against such things there is no law.</span></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> Galatians 5:22-23 HCSB<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Naturally I said, “Well Lord, maybe it’s genetic!”<span style=""> </span>I figured He knew better than I did and besides, what difference would it make to give it a whirl.<span style=""> </span>Why would it be different this time?<span style=""> </span>Because it was part of the fruit of HIS SPIRIT, not mine.<span style=""> </span>He was the power.<span style=""> </span>All I needed to do was yield and let Him do His thing.<span style=""> </span>Now, nine months later I weigh eighty-three pounds less than I did.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Change comes only as a result of allowing God to work in us.<span style=""> </span>If we surrender every area in our life to Him (one at a time perhaps </span></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="">J</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> ) then He will shape us and mold us into the people that we ought to be.<span style=""> </span>We can’t do anything without Jesus (John 15:5).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><a name="4"></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">At the Worship Conference we were at in Glorieta, NM last week, Pastor Wayne Barber, the preacher, put it like this (I’m condensing the story)…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">We are a coat.<span style=""> </span>You know, like a coat you’d buy at a store to wear.<span style=""> </span>Without us inside the coat just hangs there and looks good.<span style=""> </span>It can’t wave, it can’t talk, it can’t move.<span style=""> </span>However, when we purchase the coat and put it on, it moves with us.<span style=""> </span>We cause it to wave at people.<span style=""> </span>We give life to the coat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Similarly, Jesus purchased us with His blood (1 Corinthians 6:20).<span style=""> </span>His Spirit lives in us (1 Corinthians 6:19).<span style=""> </span>For in him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).<span style=""> </span>Through Christ, we can do anything (Philippians 4:13).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Clothe yourself in the righteousness of Christ…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p> <span style=""></span><span style=""></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-14114290780674661932008-07-17T14:10:00.000-07:002008-07-17T14:11:49.118-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">MORNING</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Here at the Glorieta conference center nestled in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on"><st1:city st="on">New Mexico</st1:City></st1:State></st1:place> mountains, we have worship every morning at 7:30 a.m.<span style=""> </span>It’s called “5.3 Worship.”<span style=""> </span>The text for the name comes from Psalms five and verse three…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="3"></a><b style=""><i style="">Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NLT</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The main point is, to start your day off by speaking with the Lord.<span style=""> </span>He is the source of strength, peace, love and life itself.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">When you look to the Lord as being the authority over you and each day freshly commit yourself or more appropriately, yield yourself to Him, you have an entirely different perspective on life.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">No longer are you in charge of all the problems that come your way because you have turned them over to God.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">No longer are you working hard to please everyone around you…you are allowing God to love them through you.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The last part of the verse speaks of taking our requests or our needs before God.<span style=""> </span>The key is the last part of that sentence.<span style=""> </span>We are to <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span>WAIT EXPECTANTLY<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Waiting for God’s timing can sometimes be frustrating because we always want things done NOW.<span style=""> </span>We simply have to keep in mind that He knows everything that was, is and is to come.<span style=""> </span>He sees the big picture whereas we see now and can only speculate about the future.<span style=""> </span>But he does not say simply “wait.”<span style=""> </span>He says “wait expectantly.”<span style=""> </span>In other words, wait for God’s timing, but expect Him to answer you in a way that will benefit your life.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Start your day off right by becoming a 5.3 worshipper.<span style=""> </span>That doesn’t mean you have to set aside an hour every morning.<span style=""> </span>You can accomplish that by speaking to Him in the moment before you get out of bed.<span style=""> </span>You can accomplish that by singing a song of praise to Him in the car on the way to work.<span style=""> </span>There are many ways to become a 5.3 worshipper.<span style=""> </span>Be creative.<span style=""> </span>Try different ways to make Him your first thought in the morning.<span style=""> </span>I know you’ll be pleased.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:city st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:City><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-83624788893530974442008-07-16T14:39:00.000-07:002008-07-16T14:41:03.351-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">BISCUITS</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK1"><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Ok, it’s an odd title for a devotion, I know.<span style=""> </span>However, it comes from the message this morning by our Conference Pastor, Rev. Wayne Barber.<span style=""> </span>He was speaking about the Christian life being intertwined with Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The text for his message came from Paul’s letter to the churches in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Galatia</st1:place></st1:country-region>:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="20"></a><b style=""><i style="">I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the <span style="">life</span> which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.</i></b> Galatians 2:20 NKJV<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">He gave an illustration about how Christ lives in us really works.<span style=""> </span>He took us to Paul’s letter to the church in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:City> first…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="6"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup>5</sup>For if we have become united with <span style="">Him</span> in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be <span style="">in the likeness</span> of His resurrection,</i></b> Romans 6:5 NASB<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">There are a couple of words in the Greek for united.<span style=""> </span>He used a baking illustration to illustrate the difference.<span style=""> </span>If one is making biscuits, all the ingredients are put into a bowl.<span style=""> </span>If you want to add more of a certain ingredient to the mixing bowl, you can.<span style=""> </span>If you are skillful, you can remove some of the ingredients as well.<span style=""> </span>That illustrates one meaning of united in the Greek…you can add or subtract to the whole, but it is still the whole.<span style=""> </span>That is one of the Greek words but not the one in <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Romans 6:5</st2:bcv_smarttag>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The word used in <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Romans 6:5</st2:bcv_smarttag> has the meaning of inseparable.<span style=""> </span>In other words, after you take those ingredients and put them in the oven to bake them, the product that comes out is it.<span style=""> </span>You can’t take salt out.<span style=""> </span>You can’t add flour.<span style=""> </span>They are united. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">We are biscuits for Christ.<span style=""> </span>We are united, inseparably with Him when we invite Him into our lives.<span style=""> </span>Pretty cool, huh?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">How does that apply to our every day life?<span style=""> </span>He is ALWAYS with us.<span style=""> </span>He alone has the power, wisdom, righteousness and holiness to name a few things, to make our lives work.<span style=""> </span>Being yielded to Him is our task.<span style=""> </span>Think about it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <span style=""></span><span style=""></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-87694461107226851272008-07-14T12:22:00.001-07:002008-07-14T12:34:40.684-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">FOLLOW</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK1"><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">I read a great article this morning in Worship Leader magazine by a young man named Glenn Packiam.<span style=""> </span>The article was called “Follow the Leader.”<span style=""> </span>He pointed out that the most incredible leader that ever lived on this earth, Jesus Christ, didn’t have marketing strategies, news conferences or a “look-at-what-I-can-do” attitude when he built his team of workers.<span style=""> </span>He simply said, “Follow me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="21"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup>18</sup>Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. <a name="22"></a><sup>19</sup>And He said<sup>*</sup> to them, “<span style="color: red;">Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men</span>.” <a name="23"></a><sup>20</sup>Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.</i></b> Matthew 4:18-20 NASB<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Their response was immediate and complete.<span style=""> </span>They left what they had considered important and followed the One who was all-important.<span style=""> </span>They didn’t ask Jesus, “How shall we eat” or “Where will we live,” they simply followed the Son of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">As I sit here writing this, a family rode by on bicycles. <span style=""> </span>The Dad looked toward me and said, “Mornin’.”<span style=""> </span>His son who was riding next to him thought he was talking to him and said, “More?”<span style=""> </span>In that moment, it was as if all he lived for was to please his dad as he clung to every word he said.<span style=""> </span>He didn’t want to miss one word, one opportunity to please his father.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Isn’t that the way it should be with our heavenly Father and us?<span style=""> </span>We too, need not ask “How shall we eat” or “Where will we live” but instead, listen to every word He says to us through His Holy scripture, the Bible, and then spend our lives trying to please Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">To you and to me, the Son of God says, “Follow me.”<span style=""> </span>To His Church He says, “Follow me.”<span style=""> </span>Don’t worry about each other and who has more power or the more glamorous positions…just <b style="">FOLLOW ME.<span style=""> </span></b>Don’t worry about who you think is doing it “right.”<span style=""> </span>You simply do what you believe God is telling you to do.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Remember when Peter inquired of Jesus as to what was going to happen to His disciple John…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><b style=""><i style="">Jesus replied,<span style="color: red;"> “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me</span>.”</i></b> John 21:22 NLT<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <span style=""></span><span style=""></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-34198995068183044222008-07-09T07:42:00.000-07:002008-07-09T07:51:11.524-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">HOPELESS</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK1"><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The other day I was talking with a teen who had given up all hope.<span style=""> </span>By that, I mean he believed that life as he envisioned it was just not going to happen.<span style=""> </span>He wasn’t going to be happy at home.<span style=""> </span>He wasn’t going to have a normal job, make money and live a productive life.<span style=""> </span>He had given up those hopes.<span style=""> </span>His hope now was to be arrested and thrown into prison so that he would have some “normalcy” in his life.<span style=""> </span>In his mind, he would have three meals a day, people to talk with and somebody to care about him, even though they were correctional officers!<o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">All of us, even the Apostle Paul, give up hope at one time or another.<span style=""> </span>When Paul was on a ship sailing for <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:City>, a storm came up that endangered the ship and all those aboard…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="20"></a><b style=""><i style="">When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.</i></b> <span style=""> </span>Acts 27:20 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Notice it says “we.”<span style=""> </span>Paul had given up hope as well just as the teen I was talking to the other day had.<span style=""> </span>None of us is immune to that type of thinking.<span style=""> </span>However, when you know Jesus as your Savior He will make some provision for your hope to be restored. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">We only need to look to the Word of God for those reminders, those promises:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">It tells us in <st2:bcv_smarttag w:st="on">Deuteronomy 31:6</st2:bcv_smarttag> (also <st2:bcv_smarttag w:st="on">Hebrews 13:5</st2:bcv_smarttag>) that He will never leave us nor forsake us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">In <st2:bcv_smarttag w:st="on">Jeremiah 29:11</st2:bcv_smarttag>, the Lord tells us that he has<a name="11"></a> plans to prosper us and not to harm us.<span style=""> </span>He has plans for your life that will give you hope and a future. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">We simply need to listen to Him, to God, as He attempts to communicate with us.<span style=""> </span>The main way He communicates with us is His Word (the Bible), but He has other methods too!<span style=""> </span>Through our coming to Him in prayer, He may speak in a voice that only we can hear.<span style=""> </span>He may send the answer through a friend.<span style=""> </span>Paul’s answer came in the form of a message from an angel and he shared the message of that angel with the men on his ship…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="22"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup>22</sup>But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. <a name="23"></a><sup>23</sup>Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me <a name="24"></a><sup>24</sup>and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ <a name="25"></a><sup>25</sup>So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.</i></b> Acts 27:22-25 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Giving up may be the easy thing to do.<span style=""> </span>It doesn’t require faith in God to lose all hope.<span style=""> </span>I guarantee, no GOD guarantees, that if you look to Him for your hope, to save you from your circumstance, He WILL save you.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The first step is a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.<span style=""> </span>Admit you need help, that you have fallen short of God’s perfection for your life (sinned – <st2:bcv_smarttag w:st="on"><st2:bcv_smarttag w:st="on">Romans 3:23</st2:bcv_smarttag>, 6:23</st2:bcv_smarttag>) and ask Jesus to help you turn that around.<span style=""> </span>Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Things are not hopeless.<span style=""> </span>Life is not hopeless.<span style=""> </span>Place your hope in the God of all Creation, the LORD who made heaven and earth and all that is contained therein.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">He is worthy of your trust…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="10"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup>9</sup>Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. <sup>10</sup>He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,</i></b> 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 NIV<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place></span></b></span></span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-48546924170674343352008-07-08T08:31:00.002-07:002008-07-08T08:36:53.734-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">UNFAILING</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">We can often be disappointed by other people.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes it is a loved one, a mother or father, a sister or brother or perhaps just a friend.<span style=""> </span>We expect them to act as though they love us but our expectations may be based on a false definition of love.<span style=""> </span>We want people to love us with an unfailing love, a perfect love.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Is it reasonable to expect unfailing love from someone?<span style=""> </span>Here’s what God’s word says on the subject…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="6"></a><span style=""> </span><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="color: black;"> </span></sup><span style="color: black;">Many a man claims to have unfailing love,</span> <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 78.75pt; text-indent: -42.75pt;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"> but a faithful man who can find?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Proverbs 20:6</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">While man’s love is often imperfect (women’s too by the way!), God’s love can be trusted…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="color: black;">8</span></sup><span style="color: black;"> <span style="">It is</span> better to trust in the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span> <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"> Than to put confidence in man.</span></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="9"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;">9</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"> <span style="">It is</span> better to trust in the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"> Than to put confidence in princes.</span></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></i></b><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Psalms 118:8-9</span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">N<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">KJV</st2:translation_smarttag></st2:translation_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">God’s love never fails…………………..1 Corinthians 13:8<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">God is love…………………………………….1 <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">John 4:8</st2:bcv_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Therefore, God’s love is unfailing!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Let’s look at how realistic our interpretation of what love should be is.<span style=""> </span>We generally want someone to love us no matter what we do, even when we’re selfish and mean to them.<span style=""> </span>We want them to always give us what we want (not necessarily what is best for us).<span style=""> </span>We want to be the center of their attention.<span style=""> </span>We want!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Now let’s look at God’s definition found in <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">1 Corinthians 13:4-8</st2:bcv_smarttag>a, 13 <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="4"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;">4</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;">Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. </span></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <a name="5"></a><sup><span style="color: black;">5</span></sup><span style="color: black;">It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. </span> <sup><span style="color: black;">6</span></sup><span style="color: black;">Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. </span> <a name="7"></a><sup><span style="color: black;">7</span></sup><span style="color: black;">It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.<span style=""> </span><sup>8</sup>Love never fails.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="13"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></sup></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;">13</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;">And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">DESIRE TO HEAR (READ) A FRESH WORD FROM GOD ABOUT HIS LOVE...<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="8"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="color: black;">8 </span></sup><span style="color: black;">Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,</span> <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 78.75pt; text-indent: -42.75pt;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"> for I have put my trust in you.</span></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 78.75pt; text-indent: -42.75pt;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"> Show me the way I should go,</span></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 78.75pt; text-indent: -42.75pt;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"> for to you I lift up my soul.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Psalms 143:8</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">THANK HIM FOR HIS UNFAILING LOVE…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="32"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="color: black;">31 </span></sup><span style="color: black;">Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love</span> <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 78.75pt; text-indent: -42.75pt;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"> and his wonderful deeds for men.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Psalms 107:31</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Remember, whereas men can disappoint you, God never will.<span style=""> </span>You may not always get your way, but God in His infinite wisdom and out of His unfailing love for you, will always give you what is best for your life as you seek to follow Him…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="30"></a><sup>28</sup>And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> Romans 8:28 NLT<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">You can trust in His unfailing love.<span style=""> </span>You can trust the God of all creation.<span style=""> </span>Seek His will for your life.<span style=""> </span>Seek His help in all things…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-80042288736117190672008-07-07T11:39:00.001-07:002008-07-07T11:42:30.150-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">HOPE</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">I hope I get a good grade in Math.<span style=""> </span>I hope my boyfriend (or girlfriend) likes my outfit.<span style=""> </span>I hope that the person that got hurt is going to be ok.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">We all hope for certain things.<span style=""> </span>But what is our hope based on?<span style=""> </span>Is it in fate, karma or some mystical sounding word?<span style=""> </span>Can we affect the outcome of our hope?<span style=""> </span>Can our hope be based on something real?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Some of you may remember the story of Daniel’s friends that were thrown into the fiery furnace.<span style=""> </span>Their hope was in the LORD.<span style=""> </span>Here is their reply to the King regarding their forthcoming punishment…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><b style=""><i style="">Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. <sup>17</sup>If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty</i></b>. Daniel 3:16-17 NLT<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Was their hope in vain?<span style=""> </span>See for yourself…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;">“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Daniel 3:25</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">N<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">KJV</st2:translation_smarttag></st2:translation_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The three men walked out of the furnace unharmed!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Is your hope in yourself and your abilities or in the GOD of all Creation?<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">King David put his hope and trust in GOD.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a name="1"></a><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></sup></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">1 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="2"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">2 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">in you I trust, O my God.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> Do not let me be put to shame,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> nor let my enemies triumph over me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="3"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">3 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">No one whose hope is in you<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> will ever be put to shame,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> but they will be put to shame<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> who are treacherous without excuse.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="4"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">4 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Show me your ways, O LORD,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> teach me your paths;<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="5"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">5 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">guide me in your truth and teach me,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> for you are God my Savior,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> and my hope is in you all day long.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Psalms 25:1-5</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a name="17"></a><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">17 <b style=""><i style=""> </i></b></span></sup><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> despite all its great strength it cannot save.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a name="18"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">18 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a name="19"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">19 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">to deliver them from death<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> and keep them alive in famine.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a name="20"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">20 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">We wait in hope for the LORD;<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> he is our help and our shield.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a name="21"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">21 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">In him our hearts rejoice,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> for we trust in his holy name.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a name="22"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">22 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> even as we put our hope in you.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="">Psalms 33:17-22</span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style=""> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">5 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> my hope comes from him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="6"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">6 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">He alone is my rock and my salvation;<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="7"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">7 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">My salvation and my honor depend on God;<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> he is my mighty rock, my refuge.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="8"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">8 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Trust in him at all times, O people;<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> pour out your hearts to him,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> for God is our refuge. <span style="">Selah</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Psalms 62:5-8</span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">5 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> and in his word I put my hope.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Psalms 130:5</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The Prophet Isaiah put it in these words…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><a name="28"></a><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">28 <b style=""><i style=""> </i></b></span></sup><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Do you not know? <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> Have you not heard?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> The LORD is the everlasting God,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> the Creator of the ends of the earth.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> He will not grow tired or weary,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> and his understanding no one can fathom.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="29"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">29 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">He gives strength to the weary<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> and increases the power of the weak.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="30"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">30 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Even youths grow tired and weary,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> and young men stumble and fall;<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="31"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">31 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">but those who hope in the LORD<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> will renew their strength.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> They will soar on wings like eagles;<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> they will run and not grow weary,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> they will walk and not be faint.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Isaiah 40:28-31</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Jeremiah, another Prophet of the LORD proclaims…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="11"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">11</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Jeremiah 29:11</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">For those of us who know Christ as Savior and the reason for our hope, this passage is meaningful…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="23"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">23</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. <a name="24"></a><sup>24</sup>And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. <a name="25"></a><sup>25</sup>Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Hebrews 10:23-25</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-71545227425978907752008-07-04T09:22:00.006-07:002008-07-04T09:31:35.648-07:00<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >LIBERTY</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" >Today we celebrate liberty and freedom.<span style=""> </span>Those words mean different things to different people.<span style=""> </span>Here is how those concepts are defined in God’s view…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" > The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" > Because the LORD has anointed me<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" > To bring good news to the afflicted;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" > He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" > To proclaim liberty to captives<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" > And freedom to prisoners; <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Isaiah 61:1</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NASB</st2:translation_smarttag> <a name="2"></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" >For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. <a name="7"></a><sup>6</sup>He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">1 Timothy 2:5-6</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NLT</st2:translation_smarttag> <a name="6"></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" >But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. <a name="5"></a><sup>5</sup>God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Galatians 4:4-5</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NLT</st2:translation_smarttag> <a name="4"></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" >He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Ephesians 1:7</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NLT</st2:translation_smarttag> <a name="10"></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" ><br />Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord <i>is,</i> there <i>is</i> liberty. <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">2 Corinthians 3:17</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">N<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">KJV</st2:translation_smarttag></st2:translation_smarttag> <a name="17"></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a name="1"></a></span><span style=";font-size:85%;color:black;" >Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="">Galatians 5:1</span></st2:bcv_smarttag></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" > <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">N<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">KJV</st2:translation_smarttag></st2:translation_smarttag><span style="color:black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;color:black;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;color:black;" >For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Galatians 5:13</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NLT</st2:translation_smarttag> <a name="14"></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a name="45"></a></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" > I will walk in freedom,for I have devoted myself to your commandments. <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Psalms 119:45</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NLT</st2:translation_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><span style=";color:red;" >If you love Me, keep My commandments.</span></b></span><span style=";font-size:85%;" > <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">John 14:15</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">N<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">KJV</st2:translation_smarttag></st2:translation_smarttag> <a name="15"></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:85%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style=""><span style=";color:red;" >SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:placetype> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:placename></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-8040572208933338192008-07-03T07:53:00.001-07:002008-07-03T09:14:10.366-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">CHOICES</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Life is filled with choices.<span style=""> </span>We will all make some bad ones, but how can we increase the odds of making right choices, right decisions, more often?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="3"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup>1</sup> Oh, the joys of those who do not <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> follow the advice of the wicked,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> or stand around with sinners,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> or join in with mockers.<span style=""> </span></span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Psalms 1:1</st2:bcv_smarttag> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NLT</st2:translation_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">See, it isn’t just your mom and dad saying it!<span style=""> </span>God said it first through the Psalmist, King David.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="4"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">2</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> But they delight in the law of the LORD,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> meditating on it day and night.<span style=""> </span></span></i></b><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Psalms 1:2</span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NLT</st2:translation_smarttag><b style=""><i style=""><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">While we today are not under the law (no one can keep all 613 commandments) because of the grace of Jesus and His sacrificial death on the cross at <st1:place st="on">Calvary</st1:place> on our behalf, we <u>are</u> to study His Word, the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15) and consider how it applies to our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="5"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">3</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> They are like trees planted along the riverbank,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> bearing fruit each season.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> Their leaves never wither,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> and they prosper in all they do.<span style=""> </span></span></i></b><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Psalms 1:3</span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NLT</st2:translation_smarttag><b style=""><i style=""><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Jesus often referred to the results that our lives produced as “fruit.”<span style=""> </span>If we are doing good things, hanging out with good friends and obeying the authorities over us we will produce good “fruit.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><br /><a name="17"></a><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Matthew 7:17 NKJV<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The good news is that when we choose to depend on Him (Jesus) and let Him help us…we will produce good “fruit” and everyone around us will notice.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><b style=""><i style=""><span style="color: red;">“I am the vine, you <span style="">are</span> the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.</span></i></b><span style="color: black;"> </span>John 15:5-6 NKJV<span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;">Obviously, if choosing to hang out with good friends, studying and meditating on God’s Word and bearing good fruit brings a lasting joy and blessings to our lives, the opposite choice must produce depression, gloom and at the very least, short-lived “joy.”<span style=""> </span>Here’s the rest of <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Psalms 1</st2:bcv_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">4</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> But not the wicked!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="7"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">5</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> They will be condemned at the time of judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> Sinners will have no place among the godly.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="8"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">6</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> For the LORD watches over the path of the godly,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;" align="center"><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Psalms 1:4-6</span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NLT</st2:translation_smarttag><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">In the words of Jesus from verse six in John chapter fifteen, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><sup><span style="color: black;">6</span></sup><span style="color: red;">If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw <span style="">them</span> into the fire, and they are burned.</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a name="6"></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The choice is ours to make.<span style=""> </span>The stakes are high.<span style=""> </span>Think about it…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-18834687795482928922008-07-02T09:01:00.001-07:002008-07-02T09:07:54.498-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">DIFFERENT</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">There is a marked difference between how God thinks we should act (as He puts forth in His Word, the Bible) and how the rest of society believes we should act.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The title of an article intrigued me the other day, so I opened it to see what the author had said.<span style=""> </span>The title of the article was “How to find inner peace amidst outer chaos.” <span style=""> </span>Dr. Mercola, who puts out a newsletter on health related issues, wrote it.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The phrases following “The WORLD” were part of Dr. Mercola’s answer to how we are to find inner peace.<span style=""> </span>Immediately following are Bible verses addressing the same issue.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The WORLD</span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">: Learning that saying “no” to others is saying “yes” to yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><u>The BIBLE</u>: <a name="3"></a><span style=""> </span><b style=""><i style="">Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. <a name="4"></a><sup>4</sup>Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. </i></b>Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The WORLD</span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">: Trusting your instincts -- they won’t steer you wrong. Realize, too, that if you’re too distracted you may not be able to recognize these inner cues.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The BIBLE</span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">: <a name="5"></a><sup> </sup><b style=""><i style="">Trust in the LORD with all your heart <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> and lean not on your own understanding;<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a name="6"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">6 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">in all your ways acknowledge him,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> and he will make your paths straight.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a name="7"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">7 </span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Do not be wise in your own eyes;<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> fear the LORD and shun evil.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Proverbs 3:5-7</span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">As you can see, there is a marked difference in ideologies.<span style=""> </span>Here is God’s answer to how to experience inner peace…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Get to know God and His Son Jesus…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><b><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style=""> </span></span></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;">Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.</span></i></b><b><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style=""> </span></span><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;">2 Peter 1:2</span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag>)</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Have faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><a name="1"></a><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="">Romans 5:1</span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style=""> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag>)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Let Him be your Lord…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><a name="15"></a><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="">Colossians 3:15</span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style=""> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span>Rejoice!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! <sup>5</sup>Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. <sup>6</sup>Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. <sup>7</sup>And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</span></i></b><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> </span></b><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Philippians 4:4-7</span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-24430897700816855402008-07-01T08:39:00.001-07:002008-07-01T08:41:41.092-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ANSWERS</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK1"><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">I saw a statistic not too long ago that stated, 86% of all people pray (yes, teenagers too!).<span style=""> </span>They may not know to whom they are praying, but they are looking for help; they are looking for answers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The problem is, so many of us think we have to hear a booming voice from heaven that gives us the answer to our prayer.<span style=""> </span>Let’s look at an example from God’s Word about how he answered the prayer of King Hezekiah…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><span style=""> </span><a name="15"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup>15</sup>And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: “O LORD, God of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. <a name="16"></a><sup>16</sup>Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.</i></b><span style=""> </span>2 Kings 19:15-16 (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The answer didn’t come to him in a booming voice or even in a little voice inside his head (or heart).<span style=""> </span>It came through the prophet Isaiah…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><b style=""><i style=""><span style=""> </span><a name="20"></a><sup>20</sup>Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the LORD, the God of <st1:country-region st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of <st1:place st="on">Assyria</st1:place>. <a name="21"></a><sup>21</sup>This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him…</i></b> 2 Kings 19:20-21a (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Isaiah is now a book in the Bible.<span style=""> </span>God’s words that were spoken through him were written down.<span style=""> </span>The words that God spoke through Moses, Jeremiah, Matthew, Luke and all the other authors in the Bible were written down so that we could find answers in God’s Word.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">How about this prayer…”Lord, I don’t know what to do.”<span style=""> </span>Could these be possible answers?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Love each other <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><a name="7"></a><sup>7</sup>Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.</span></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">1 John 4:7</st2:bcv_smarttag> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Help others<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.<span style=""> </span></span></i></b></span></span><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">James 1:27</span></span></span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">b (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">21</span></sup></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Jesus answered, <span style="color: red;">“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”</span></span></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <span style=""> </span><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Matthew 19:21</st2:bcv_smarttag> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag>)<span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Or how about this prayer…“God, I’m so mad at my friend, I don’t know what to do”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Could these verses be an answer from God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="14"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="color: red;">14</span></sup><span style="color: red;">For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. <sup>15</sup>But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.</span></i></b> Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;"><br /></span></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">21</span></sup></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><a name="22"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">22</span></sup></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Jesus said to him,<span style="color: red;"> “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. </span></span></i></b></span></span><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Matthew 18:21-22</span></span></span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">N<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">KJV</st2:translation_smarttag></st2:translation_smarttag>)<b style=""><i style=""><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The point is God has answers to our concerns.<span style=""> </span>He also has promises concerning what we can expect from Him…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="8"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup>8</sup>The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”</i></b> Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><a name="29"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">29</span></sup></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.</span></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Deuteronomy 4:29</st2:bcv_smarttag> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The answers to our question, concerns and prayers to God can be found in His Word.<span style=""> </span>We simply have to take the time to look!<span style=""> </span>(If you’re interested in speed, get a software version of the Bible and use the search feature!!!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-6443548050071598402008-06-30T09:15:00.001-07:002008-06-30T09:18:25.985-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">RETURN</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Sometimes we look at calamity as being entirely evil…death, wars, accidents and things like these.<span style=""> </span>In the book of Second Kings, we read about the Israelites being captured and deported from their land… <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">5</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Samaria</st1:City></st1:place> and laid siege to it for three years. <a name="6"></a><sup>6</sup>In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured <st1:city st="on">Samaria</st1:City> and deported the Israelites to <st1:place st="on">Assyria</st1:place>. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Habor</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">River</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> and in the towns of the Medes. </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">2 Kings 17:5-6</st2:bcv_smarttag> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">What a horrible thing to happen.<span style=""> </span>It surely must have been from the devil, right?<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Hear the Word of the Lord…there is an accounting for sin, yes even the sin of an entire nation.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><b style=""><i style=""><span style=""> </span><a name="7"></a><sup>7</sup>All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of <st1:country-region st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> from under the power of Pharaoh king of <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place>. They worshiped other gods <a name="8"></a><sup>8</sup>and followed the practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> had introduced.</i></b> 2 Kings 17:7-8 (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Was this punishment undeserved?<span style=""> </span>Perhaps the people didn’t know!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><b style=""><i style=""><span style=""> </span><a name="13"></a><sup>13</sup>The LORD warned <st1:country-region st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Judah</st1:place></st1:country-region> through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”</i></b> <span style=""> </span>2 Kings 17:13 (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">What about us in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>?<span style=""> </span>Have we been warned?<span style=""> </span>Has God sent His servants to warn us?<span style=""> </span>What about the preachers and teachers that proclaim the message of God’s Holy Word…are we listening to them?<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Does this scenario sound familiar?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><b style=""><i style=""><span style=""> </span><a name="29"></a><sup><span style="color: black;">29</span></sup><span style="color: black;">Nevertheless, each national group made its own gods in the several towns where they settled, and set them up in the shrines the people of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Samaria</st1:place></st1:City> had made at the high places. </span> <a name="30"></a><sup><span style="color: black;">30</span></sup><span style="color: black;">The men from Babylon made Succoth Benoth, the men from Cuthah made Nergal, and the men from Hamath made Ashima; </span> <a name="31"></a><sup><span style="color: black;">31</span></sup><span style="color: black;">the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. </span> <a name="32"></a><sup><span style="color: black;">32</span></sup><span style="color: black;">They worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed all sorts of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. </span> <a name="33"></a><sup><span style="color: black;">33</span></sup><span style="color: black;">They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.</span></i></b><span style=""> </span>2 Kings 17:29-33 (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Now when he says, “they worshiped the Lord,” he is saying, “They went through the motions.”<span style=""> </span>Listen to the next verse…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><b style=""><i style=""><span style=""> </span><a name="34"></a><sup>34</sup>To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the LORD nor adhere to the decrees and ordinances, the laws and commands that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>.</i></b> 2 Kings 17:34 (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Does that scene sound familiar?<span style=""> </span>Here in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place> today do we not have a similar situation?<span style=""> </span>Do we not have more and more people that are just “going through the motion” but worshiping something else like position in their particular social circle or “church”, career advancement, new cars, new houses, or just plain old money?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Do we not have people from other countries living here that worship Allah, Jah, Amlak, Brahman, Vishnu, Artemis, and a myriad of other gods?<span style=""> </span>Yet it is becoming more and more “taboo” and considered “narrow-minded” to worship the One True God who Created us.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Do we not see more and more of our children being sacrificed to the gods of selfishness, addiction and apathy?<span style=""> </span>Should we not expect God to punish us as He did the Israelites?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Here are the first three of the Ten Commandments…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">6</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>, out of the land of slavery. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">7</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">“You shall have no other gods before me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">8</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. <a name="9"></a><sup>9</sup>You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, <a name="10"></a><sup>10</sup>but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Deuteronomy 5:6-10</st2:bcv_smarttag> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">We must pray for our nation.<span style=""> </span>We must pray for a return to God, the only God, through His Son and the Way that He prescribed…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">9</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Romans 10:9</st2:bcv_smarttag> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NIV</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="12"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup>12</sup>Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”</i></b> <span style=""> </span>Acts 4:12 (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-79870167903819337172008-06-29T12:44:00.002-07:002008-06-29T12:46:53.110-07:00<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;" >TIMING</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >God’s ways are not our ways.<span style=""> </span>His timing does not necessarily match up with our idea of appropriate timing.<span style=""> </span>We usually want it NOW.<span style=""> </span>God may say, “Wait.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >We are often driven by emotions and feelings to do certain things at certain times.<span style=""> </span>God, however, sees the whole picture.<span style=""> </span>He sees every possible thing that could happen if we go down a certain path at a certain time and He knows which one is the best one for us to take.<span style=""> </span>He makes all things beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >Often He will use other people to help us with this type of decision.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes we listen and sometimes we don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >The Apostle Paul was advised not to go into the amphitheater in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ephesus</st1:place></st1:city> when his traveling companions were dragged in by an angry mob…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" ><br /><a name="30"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup>30</sup>Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. <a name="31"></a><sup>31</sup>Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater. </i></b><span style=""> </span>Acts 19:30-31 (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >Paul listened to their advice.<span style=""> </span>Had he gone in to the amphitheater, his life may have been ended prematurely and he might not have had the opportunity to continue to share the message of Jesus Christ with others.<span style=""> </span>He would not have been able to share his testimony and the gospel with <span style=""> </span>the council in <st1:city st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>,<span style=""> </span>King Agrippa and his wife, Festus the governor, the people in <st1:country-region st="on">Malta</st1:country-region>, the sailors on the ship that transported him to <st1:city st="on">Rome</st1:city> or the Jews in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >He listened to God speaking through others and was able to preach Jesus as the Messiah for many more years.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >We all need to listen to the counsel of other Christians when it comes to the proper timing of things in our lives.<span style=""> </span>God often uses others to speak with us.<span style=""> </span>Of course, the first thing to do is seek God’s wisdom and advice through his word, but be prepared to have him answer you by speaking through circumstances and the godly people that you surround yourself with.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;color:red;" >SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:placetype> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:placename></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-41341965346702714602008-06-28T08:03:00.001-07:002008-06-28T08:08:46.669-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">SHARE</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">We are an impatient people.<span style=""> </span>We’d all rather have “it” now than have to wait.<span style=""> </span>Patience is something that not many of us come by when it comes to getting something really exciting.<span style=""> </span>Maybe it’s that new car or latest electronic gizmo…it’s just so hard to wait.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Then there’s what it takes to get those things we really want.<span style=""> </span>You know, like money and time.<span style=""> </span>If we want that new car, we have to work to save money, plan, figure out which car would work best for us, struggle through the sales pitch, wade through the bargaining process trying to get the best price…It can sometimes be unpleasant.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">HOWEVER, the best things <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">are worth waiting for…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">are worth working for…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">are worth suffering for…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Well, what about living forever in a place that has no problems, no money is required, no complaining or crying and only joyful singing can be heard…Wouldn’t that be worth experiencing a little difficulty?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="17"></a><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. <a name="18"></a><sup>17</sup>And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="20"></a><b style=""><i style=""><sup><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">18</span></sup></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. </span></i></b><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Romans 8:16-18</span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NLT</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">In order to provide us with such a wonderful heavenly reward, Jesus Christ suffered much.<span style=""> </span>He experienced rejection by the very people he came to help.<span style=""> </span>He experienced being beaten with heavy whips and even being nailed to a cross where he was left to die.<span style=""> </span>Now that’s suffering!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Fortunately, the power of God raised him after three days and he is now in heaven preparing a place for us…for all those who will believe in him and accept his sacrificial death on their behalf.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Why then would we expect to have no problems on earth?<span style=""> </span>The scripture above says, “if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”<span style=""> </span>If we are living our lives for him we will be mocked, ridiculed and suffer because of our beliefs.<span style=""> </span>That’s OK, because He is more than able to bring us through all of that and into glory someday to be with him forever.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="9"></a><b style=""><i style="">We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. <a name="10"></a><sup>9</sup>We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. <a name="11"></a><sup>10</sup>Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.</i></b> 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-9013693499760822992008-06-22T10:21:00.001-07:002008-06-22T10:30:45.895-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">DOUBTING</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK1"><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">I was talking last night with one of the kids.<span style=""> </span>I think I mentioned that we were going to have a time of prayer and praise today at the SPRING.<span style=""> </span>Anyway, this particular kid’s response was “I don’t want to burst your religion stuff, but I don’t really believe in God.”<span style=""> </span>Well after asking a few questions this person said, “Well I guess I do believe there’s a God but I don’t really believe everything the Bible says.”<span style=""> </span>After a few more questions, it simply became apparent that these were simply excuses not to deal with the Lord’s call on her life.<span style=""> </span>She was running away and her “doubting” was simply her means of escape.<o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Have you ever talked to someone who didn’t believe in God?<span style=""> </span>Who had doubts about His Word?<span style=""> </span>How do you deal with those questions?<span style=""> </span>Perhaps by asking other questions...<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Where did this world and everything in it come from anyway?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><b style=""><i style="">In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 3in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Genesis 1:1</span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NASB</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">We may be able to take someone's life but can we cause life to come into existence?<span style=""> </span>Can we create life out of nothing but the dust of the earth?<span style=""> </span>Who on earth created the process of conception and birth?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="8"></a><b style=""><i style="">Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.</i></b> Genesis 2:7 (NASB)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><a name="40"></a><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">‘See now that I, I am He, <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> And there is no god besides Me;<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> It is I who put to death and give life.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> I have wounded and it is I who heal,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> And there is no one who can deliver from My hand. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Deuteronomy 32:39</span></st2:bcv_smarttag></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NASB</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">How many perfect people do you know; Perfectly Holy, perfectly pure, immovable and unchangeable?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> “There is no one holy like the LORD, <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> Indeed, there is no one besides You,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> Nor is there any rock like our God.</span></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">1 Samuel 2:2</span></st2:bcv_smarttag></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NASB</st2:translation_smarttag>)<a name="3"></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><a name="26"></a>He said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and <span style="">showing</span> lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart, <span style=""> </span></span></i></b></span></span><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">1 Kings 8:23</span></span></span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> ( <st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NASB</st2:translation_smarttag> )<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The Bible has been around for a long time.<span style=""> </span>It is a compilation of 66 books written by over 40 different authors inspired by God.<span style=""> </span>There are no contradictions and no errors in the original manuscripts.<span style=""> </span>Nobody has ever disproved anything in the Bible.<span style=""> </span>Archaeology has in fact supported and substantiated many things in the Bible.<span style=""> </span>God’s Word is true.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="18"></a><b style=""><i style="">All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. <a name="19"></a><sup>17</sup>God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.</i></b> 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The Bible says in <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Psalms 14:1</st2:bcv_smarttag>a, <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The key to believing in God is faith…believing what He says in His Word…that He is God, that sin has spoiled our relationship with Him and that we must have faith that He has our best interest at heart…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="7"></a><b style=""><i style="">And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.</i></b> Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Seek Him today.<span style=""> </span>Trust Him today.<span style=""> </span>You have a lot more to gain (eternal life, purpose for living, etc.) than you have to lose (your doubts, living for self only, etc.).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><a name="17"></a><b style=""><i style=""><span style="color: red;">“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.</span></i><span style="color: red;"> </span></b>John 3:16 (NASB)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;</span></i></b></span></span><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Romans 10:9</st2:bcv_smarttag> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NASB</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p> <span style=""></span><span style=""></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226085.post-58975389173027059142008-06-19T11:55:00.001-07:002008-06-19T12:32:45.280-07:00<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">WISDOM</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Every day that we are alive presents new challenges and opportunities.<span style=""> </span>We have available to us so much knowledge, through books, media and the internet.<span style=""> </span>Is it knowledge that gives us the ability to deal with these daily challenges or is it something else, like wisdom?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The Encarta Dictionary online defines wisdom as “the ability to make sensible decisions and judgments based on personal knowledge and experience.”<span style=""> </span>It expands that definition further by adding, “accumulated knowledge of life or of a sphere of activity that has been gained through experience.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">So, it would seem that wisdom takes knowledge and refines it through experiences gained throughout a lifetime.<span style=""> </span>Thus, we have come to think of older people as being wiser (though not always true) because they have had the opportunity for more experience in their years of living.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">To carry that thought to an even further extreme, God would have more experience than any of us could because He has always existed…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><br /><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">“I am the Alpha and the Omega,”</span></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"> says the Lord God, </span></i></b><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">“who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span>Revelation 1:8 (NASB)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">It would make sense then that the wisdom of God would be the wisdom that we should all be seeking after.<span style=""> </span>The Bible says that…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="11"></a><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> A good understanding have all those who do <span style="">His commandments;</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> His praise endures forever.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Psalms 111:10</st2:bcv_smarttag> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NASB</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">James tells us that we can have that wisdom of God.<span style=""> </span>It is available to us for the asking…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><br /><b style=""><i style=""><sup>5</sup>But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. <a name="8"></a><sup>6</sup>But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. <a name="9"></a><sup>7</sup>For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, <a name="10"></a><sup>8</sup><span style="">being</span> a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. </i></b><span style=""> </span>James 1:5-8 (NASB)<br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--><a name="19"></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">The book of Proverbs tells us that we will be blessed when we find wisdom…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="14"></a><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> How blessed is the man who finds wisdom <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> And the man who gains understanding.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">Proverbs 3:13</st2:bcv_smarttag> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NASB</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 42.75pt; text-indent: -42.75pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">James tells us how different the wisdom from God is from the wisdom from man…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="15"></a><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. <a name="16"></a><sup>14</sup>But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and <span style="">so</span> lie against the truth. <a name="17"></a><sup>15</sup>This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. <a name="18"></a><sup>16</sup>For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. <sup>17</sup>But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. <a name="20"></a><sup>18</sup>And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> <span style=""> </span><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on">James 3:13-18</st2:bcv_smarttag> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NASB</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Working with so many people that do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior, I have often wondered how to show them the miraculous, saving love that Jesus has to offer.<span style=""> </span>I know that it is largely grounded upon how others see us and how we act toward them.<span style=""> </span>The key is found in utilizing God’s wisdom.<span style=""> </span>Listen to how Paul puts it in his letter to the church in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Colossae</st1:place></st1:City>…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><a name="6"></a><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. <a name="7"></a><sup>6</sup>Let your speech always be with grace, <span style="">as though</span> seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.<span style=""> </span></span></i></b><st2:bcv_smarttag st="on"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Colossians 4:5-6</span></st2:bcv_smarttag><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"> (<st2:translation_smarttag st="on">NASB</st2:translation_smarttag>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Using God’s Word, His Wisdom and His Love by means of His Holy Spirit, which indwells us, we will succeed in whatever task He puts before us.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: red;">SEEK FIRST THE <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">KINGDOM</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:placename st="on">GOD</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Pastor Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06908642713142787071noreply@blogger.com