Wednesday, November 30, 2005

THE MARK

It has been said that the greatest indictment of a church is not that it is falling short of the mark but that is not striving for the mark. And some ask, "what mark?"

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

OBEDIENCE TO GOD

Obedience to God is His hearign aid.

Saturday, November 26, 2005

CHILDREN

For parents to expect obedience from their children, they must set an example of their obedience to their Parent -- their Heavenly father. Just as our children must do things they dislike, parents should demonstrate that they are willing to do for their Father some things that they may not like doing. Christian parents who are only doing for God the things they like cannot expect their children to do otherwise.How often do your children see you doing your homework -- studying your Bible?If we find it necessary to shout at our children to get their attention, we should ask ourselves if our Heavenly Father has the same problem. Allowing us to experience trials is one way He shouts.Christ said we must be as little children to enter the kingdom of God. That is to say, we are to have the unquestioning faith of a child. It does not mean we are to be retarded in our spiritual growth. We are to become holy as God is holy.The reason so many young people are not able to find themselves is because they are looking for the wrong person. And they are looking in the wrong place. If they first find the Lord, He will then show them who they are, what they are, their potential as His children, and why God created them in the first place. In trying to find themselves they are looking for someone who is lost, and when they have found themselves, it will have proven to be a dead end.If faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God -- and without faith it is impossible to please God -- it must follow that it is impossible to please God if we are not listening to Him. Is not one of the greatest difficulties we have with our children that they do not listen to us?If we have difficulty giving both God and our children quality time, why not combine some of both? Shouldn't we be training our children to spend quality time listening to God? Shouldn't it be a joint venture?If we excuse our failure to spend quality time with God because of the needs of a child, how do we justify having another one?Why do we make commitments to children, friends, and activities, but tell God we will spend more time with Him just as soon as we get caught up?

Friday, November 25, 2005

CARNALITY

When we constantly give priority to the temporal over the eternal, the material over the spiritual, and time with the world over time with our Lord, we are establishing habits that, the longer they are practiced, the harder they will be to break. In time, they will be unbreakable -- and fatal!

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

THE FALL

The fall of man mandated their be a fall guy -- the Creator of the universe - Jesus Christ!

BLESSINGS

When God first blesses us in a new way, we may be full of praise and thanksgiving. If we are not careful, we will come to think of what we have received as something we had deserved and take it for granted. It may then be necessary for God to take it away for a time until we get recalibrated

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

the truth

The enemy of the truth is a half-truth.

BEGGING

There are times that God must foreclose on those things that we have bought into beyond what He has afforded us to pay for. Walking along the brink of bankruptcy on a presumed faith that results in begging for financial support is not stepping out in God's faith. It is ambition. If God ordains something to be done, He may not provide the means up front, but He will never be late in supplying it. God's provision does not require begging. If we find it necessary to beg, we have gotten ahead of God. Having to beg is the evidence that we have stepped out in presumption -- not faith.

SELF-JUSTIFICATION

Self-justification is a free pass to Hell.
But through the blood of Jesus we take the overpass.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

SPEAKING IN TONGUES

In a denominational church, speaking about speakning in tongues is equivalent to speaking in tongues.

ATTITUDE

Since it is our thoughts that decide our attitude, control of our thoughts is vital to enjoying the abundant life that Christ came to bring us. No matter how difficult controlling our thoughts may seem, our peace of mind depends on it.The abundant life is the Christ-centered attitude. It is not based on our circumstances.

Sunday, November 06, 2005

OBEDIENCE TO GOD

Salvation may be thought of as an eternal life insurance policy.
But it is not a paid up policy!
So if we do not keep up the payments, it will lapse.
And the coin of the realm is "obedience."

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

A COMFORT ZONE

An unfortunate number of Christians have come to think that their comfort one is their destination in flolllowing Christ. But it is, at best, merely a rest stop. And to dwell there is to no longer following Him.

THE HELPER

JOHN 14:16-18 KNJ16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever,17 "even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.18 "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
JOHN 16:7 NKJ7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
JOHN 15:26 NKJ26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.


However, it is incumbent upon us to be open to doing what He directs us to do.We must take the first step. Step out in faith so to speak.
If we are merely doing what we choose, we are on our own.
It is often stated that "God helps those that who help themselves". Although this encourages initiative, it also suggests we do not need the Helper.
When it is with His help that we accomplish His work, we must give Him the credit.
Pentecost is where we place our help wanted ad. And the Helper is on the way!