August312012
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“Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” -Romans 16:19-20
Often times we reach points in our lives where we know we are doing well with God and that we know He is proud of us. That can be one of the most dangerous spots for a Christian because that is the doorway to complacency. When we get comfortable with God, we let him slip away, or so it seems; in reality we are the ones walking away. It is like the tide in the ocean. You spend your time enjoying yourself in the water, but when you finally look back at the shore you notice that you’ve drifted several feet away. When you stop attentively focusing on God, the devil will use the opportunity to slowly cause you to drift. We have to be so careful not to become comfortable. None of us are perfect and we can always dive deeper in the Father’s love. That is what we should always strive for. Obedience is good, but it has to be accompanied with attentiveness. We have to be wise about the things we we do and consider if they are edifying or not. 1 Corinthians 10:23 calls us out when it says, “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is beneficial.” We have to be wise and pick what is good, keeping ourselves far way sin and blame. Pray for wisdom and discernment in order to make these choices. Remeber, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Don’t fall victim because you find yourself sitting too comfortably. Seek the Lord and He will destroy the devil before you.
-J
(8/31/12)
7AM
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VESSELS IS TONIGHT!!!!
“Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” -Romans 15:2
We are called to be there for each other in support and love, as the concept of behind one body reminds us. What affects one member of the community impacts us all. 1 Corinthians 12:19-26 speaks of the church of God being one body and how no part is greater in importance than the others. Verse 12:26 says, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it, if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” Therefore, Paul calls us not to cast aside the weak but to build them up. The United States is all about individualism, and “every man for himself,” but the race to salvation is run much differently than most expect. Instead of trying to get there first while cutting down people in our way, the objective is to get there with the most team members. There is an African Proverb that says, “Alone you can go faster, but together we can go farther.” The world is trying to take each one of us out, picking us off with snares and temptations. When we join together, we conseal the weak and give them a chance to grow. A zebra’s stripes, as odd as it may seem, are a camouflage mechanism that confuse predators. When a predator comes, the zebras ban together making it impossible for the predator to tell where one zebra ends and the other one begins, and therefore, it can’t pick out the weak. We must come together and help our brother’s against evil. We should walk with them, stregthening their faith until they have enough to pay it forward. “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity amoung yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and father of our Lord, Jeus Christ” (Rom. 15: 5-6).
-J
(8/31/12)
August302012
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“For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgement seat. It is written, ’ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’ ‘” -Romans 14:9-11
In the end, we all have to face judgement and we all will understand the vast glory of God, We spend so much time judging eachother rather than loving one another. When the time comes, God will judge each person justly, something we will never be able to do. We don’t need to waste our limited time here on earth with criticism and condemnation. We must love each other and spread the light of Jesus before the end comes, because all will confess to God but not all will be able to enter his kingdom. I imagine the sight of the final horn, when every knee bows because they will lack the strength to stand before Jesus’ majesty. I don’t take this verse as God forcing everyone to bow and confess but that we won’t be able to help it. The glory will be so amazing that our legs might give way and his majesty will be so undeniable that there will be no other way but to confess that he is Lord. Jesus died for all, but after experiencing the magnificence of his return, many will not be able to go with him. That is why we are called not to judge our brothers but to love. We can help turn that moment of the end from a horrible realization to a wonderful celebration. Speak words of love and confess to God while time remains to spread and recieve salvation.
-J
(8/30/12)
August292012
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“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves.” -Romans 13:1-2
Rebellion is a dark matter and against the Lord’s desires. God wants us to respect the laws of man when they are just and according to his terms. Laws are in place for the safety and well-being of society. In our nation, the laws were founded on the phrase “in God we trust.” Disrespecting the laws is an act of rebellion against the Lord who implamented them through us. Authority also includes teachers and bosses, which many of us spend too much time talking badly about. We are set on “sticking it to the man,” but God is telling us to change our mindset. He has set that employer or educator in that place for a reason, so who are we to question their authority? Our respect for those above us shows the world a direct reflection of our respect for the Lord. It serves as a sort of testimony for those around you, but, sadly, the spirit of rebellion remains active in many of us. When a speaker asks us not to leave before the program is finished, and then there is a mass exodus before the end, that is rebellion, not to mention, disrespectful. In a situation like that, you are telling the authority figure that they are not worth your time. Jesus would never get up and leave on us, so why do we do that to the ones he told us to love and respect? Be an example for all above you with respect and submission as servants of God. If the word ‘submisson’ leaves a bad taste in your mouth, reevaluate your character because it is a trait that the Lord asks of us. You don’t have to be a rebel to stand out. Sometimes the opposite can achieve the same amount of attention, except in a positive light.
-J
(8/29/12)
August282012
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“Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
The world is an enticing place, calling is to follow the crowd wherever they go. Fashion tells us what to wear; radio tells us what to hear, tv tells us what to watch. They are filling us with their own patterns, but the Lord has set us apart, so why should we continue to blend in? When we are transformed by the Lord, we are bound to to stand out. 2 Corinthians says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Once we have salvation, we can’t continue to live our average worldly lives. The things that this world does is not for us . We live against the grain and that includes a life of sacrifice. Sometimes we have to surrender certain activities and friends in order to maintain a righteous life, causing ridicule upon us. John 15:19 says, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Just remember that their hate is temporary; Jesus’ love is eternal. When you are walking with God you will be able to discern his will and live in his “good, pleasing, & perfect” plan that he has for your life. Though you might be a stranger to those around you, you remain ever loved by the father who will carry you through.
-J
(8/28/12)
August272012
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“So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.” -Romans 11:5-6
Many people believe that salvation is based off of the things you do but that is not true. Salvation is by grace alone. We do not earn salvation; we do not deserve salvation; we’re only allowed to have it because of grace. God was merciful on us when He gave His son for us as a way to escape spiritual death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Salvation wouldn’t be a gift of mercy if we deserved it, and grace would not be grace if we could work for it. Therefore, deeds and works are not enough to get us into heaven. You can’t just be a good person and gain salvation; however, that doesn’t mean you’re allowed to be a terrible person, especially when you do have Jesus. We aren’t saved because we do good, we do good because we are saved. It is because Jesus loved us first that we should love those around us, and when we do deeds, we should do them with His love. 1 Corinthians tells us, “If I give all I posses to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but I have not love, I gain nothing.” Without love, our deeds mean nothing, and without grace, there is no salvation. Our God can’t be bride for an entry into His kingdom; He want’s our hearts and our love, and he deserves so much more. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” (Romans 11:36).
-J
(8/27/12)
August262012
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“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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” -Romans 10:9-10
Salvation is simple, as Paul explains, containing two steps: believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth. However, there are many people trying to live one step without the other. There are 4 different types of people described by these two verses. The first is the nonbeliever: the one who doesn’t believe and, therefore, doesn’t confess. This is the unsaved who hasn’t had an experience with Jesus and the freedom He gives. The second is the false believer: the one who doesn’t believe but ‘confesses’ that they do. It’s an interesting concept but more common than expected. This is the person who grew up in a Christian home, always went to church but never really had an encounter with Jesus, surrendering their life. These are the ones who act as if faith is hereditary, but Matthew 7:21 tells us “Not everyone who says to me [Jesus] ‘Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven.” Faith is a choice that each one of us has to consciously make, which leads us to the third type of person: the shy believer. This one believes in their heart but doesn’t confess with their mouths. We recieve confirmation when we say something out loud (a concept behind therapy), but normally we keep shameful things to ourselves. In that logic, why keep Jesus a secret? Mark 4:21 asks, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it in it’s stand?” Jesus is the Light of the world which we have no right to hide. We must be like Paul in Romans 1:16 saying, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” We must be full believers because salvation is internal and external. ”For whatever is in your heart determines what you say” (Matthew 12:34). If your heart is full of Jesus, it’s easy declaring that He is our Lord and savior. So, which person are you?
-J
(8/26/12)
August252012
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“I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit—I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel.” -Romans 9:1-4a
Would you take the place of someone you loved if they were condemned to death? Would you jump infront of a bullet for them so that they may live? Paul is saying here that he would give up his eternal life if that would save his people. That’s a big deal. Many of us are living snobby faith where we think we are some sort of VIP with access to heaven’s special treatment. We think we deserve the best here on heaven and ridicule those who live anything less. It’s easy to judge and condemn a stranger, but what makes us deserve heaven more than the next person. We definitely didn’t earn it. God was merciful to us (verse 16), and gave us simple insructions: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15 ESV). That includes the person you judge everyday and that includes your best friend who doesn’t know Jesus. Not sharing the gospel is like finding the cure to a terminal disease and keeping it to yourself. Take a look around; how many of these familiar faces will you not see in eternity? Salvation is about love. Would you give up your heaven blessing to save the people around you? Unfortunately, redemption doesn’t work that way but Paul was trying to make us understand how important it is to speak up. When the end comes, it will be too late to say anything else. So, who are you going to bring to eternity? Whose future are you going save? Share the cure.
-J
(8/25/12)
August242012
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“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” -Romans 8:1
Many of us live in shame and guilt of things we may have done in the past. Jesus died to give us freedom of our sins, but even when we confress we still tend to hang on to the things we have done. We doubt our forgiveness and end up repeating the same prayer over and over. Here’s the thing though, once you genuinely ask for forgiveness, it is given and your sin is gone. In Hebrews 8:12 God says, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Our shame remains because we remember what we did but we are lifted from condemnation because Jesus’ blood makes God forget. We are free even if the devil tries to tell us that we’re not. He will try to convince you that you are still guilty and therefore shouldn’t even bother trying to live a righteous life. The best thing is to use that memory and lingering shame to keep you from revisiting your past. Don’t live life as one condemned, but take your lifted death sentence as a reminder to never commit that sin again. Let the memory serve as a reference point for how far you have come. Don’t be afraid to join a congregation because you think that no one has ever done the evils that you have done. A church is a group of broken people, not perfect people. All need the healing and freedom that Jesus provides. Micah 7:19 reminds us that, “Once again you [God] will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean.” Be encouraged because, if you have salvation, you have been taken off of death row and your former record has been completely erased.
-J
(8/24/12)
August232012
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“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do— this I keep on doing.” -Romans 7:18-19
We all struggle with sin, even when we know better. Have you ever had the urge to change how you were behaving but couldn’t? That desire for a 180 degree life turn-around is our battle with our sin nature. As previously stated, “We are creature of habit” and sin is part of our habits because of sin nature. It is not an instinct in us to do the right thing because what is right isn’t always comfortable. When we choose to sin, we get that moment of gratification. Sin feels good, but then its pleasing effects wear off and all you’re left with is your awareness, translating into guilt. We are not animals to live life by instinct; we have the ability to make educated choices once we become aware of right and wrong. Paul tells us that doing right ins’t easy and after we are saved, we may find ourselves doing the things we hate. Those are the times that we say that we’re far from God. By these verses, Paul isn’t giving us permission to remain the way we are, but rather embrace change and salvation much more wholeheartedly. If you find yourself far from the Lord, place your sins at his feet and your life in his hands; come running back as fast as possible. God sent Jesus to rescue use from what we have become and is waiting patiently for our return tp his side.
-J
(8/23/12)
