Reading in Deuteronomy all the various laws, marriage violations, uncleanness in camp, miscellaneous laws…one thing you keep seeing is a reminder. God reminds the Israelites not to forget where they came from.
Deuteronomy 24:17 “Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there.”
The memory of their own poverty and oppression in Egypt was to prompt them to leave generous gleanings (grapes and grain not harvested) for the poor sojourner, the widow, and the fatherless.
So how does this verse affect you and me? How should I view this verse in the light of my own life?
First we are to remember we were bought with a price. Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” This should bring us to our knees, knowing Christ paid the price for our sin. We cannot ever forget we were once lost and now we are saved…amazing grace…in fact…When John Newton the writer of Amazing Grace became a Christian, he printed verse 22 in large letters and hung it over his mantelpiece, where he would be constantly reminded of it.
Secondly we cannot forsake our civic duty to care for those who are less fortunate. We must take care of the widow and the fatherless. We must take care of the alien…the alien? What about the illegal alien? Do we have an obligation to care for them as well…According to the Bible we have an obligation to care for them as well. It doesn’t matter what side of the political fence you sit on, the fact is God wants us to care for them. In caring for them we are showing Christ loves them…and we are remembering our own redemption.
So there you have it…do not forget where you came from and let the love of Christ shine in you for others to see. It is easy to do, forgetting, it is easy to become complacent and comfortable. But in our comfort let always be mindful of the ones who everyday struggle for a bowl of rice, a dry place to sleep…or security to just sleep. Let us never forget we too are aliens…that this is not our home. One day we will have to go home and give an account of our visit…
-ps
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
Purpose…
We are all looking for and wanting to know our purpose. If you don’t believe me look how Rick Warren book “Purpose Driven Life” touched millions of people. We all want to know what our purpose is. We all want to know why I am here?
2 Corinthians 5:15 says…
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
First we see Christ died for all…he didn’t die for some, but all. This is important to remember…Christ died for all. In the same chapter we see how God was “reconciling the world to himself in Christ, v.19.” God want to save the world, through His Son. This is clearly taught throughout Scripture…all have the opportunity to accept or deny the message of Christ.
Second, we no longer live for ourselves, but we are to live for Christ…We no longer live for ourselves, but for Christ!
Galatians 2:20 Says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me…
The purpose of life is found in the person of Christ. It is only when we no longer live for ourselves, will we find and understand our purpose. The first chapter of Rick Warren’s book simply says, “It’s not about you.” It’s not about us…it is about Christ…we find our purpose in Him and Him alone.
Purpose is important for all of us. It drives us and keeps us moving when life gets us down. I think of all the times I have fallen in life and felt like giving up, purpose has helped me back to my feet. I preach and I have to admit I struggle to be in front of people. It is something for me that is not natural. I can talk one on one, or to a small group in a teaching environment. But preaching is another story. I preached my first sermon, I stood at parade rest. Arms locked behind my back, scared to death. The two years I preached at Northside Baptist, I bet you can still find my finger prints on the pulpit from gripping it so hard. I get nervous and I beat myself up if I think I failed. The point is I could have pursued a different career path, an easier path. But I can’t…I have a purpose; I have been called to preach. My purpose is in Christ, it isn’t about me. I get up there and try my best…because of Christ.
All of us have a purpose in Christ…we are to find our worth in Him. No matter where I work or live, I live and work for Christ. Christ is everything!
-ps
2 Corinthians 5:15 says…
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
First we see Christ died for all…he didn’t die for some, but all. This is important to remember…Christ died for all. In the same chapter we see how God was “reconciling the world to himself in Christ, v.19.” God want to save the world, through His Son. This is clearly taught throughout Scripture…all have the opportunity to accept or deny the message of Christ.
Second, we no longer live for ourselves, but we are to live for Christ…We no longer live for ourselves, but for Christ!
Galatians 2:20 Says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me…
The purpose of life is found in the person of Christ. It is only when we no longer live for ourselves, will we find and understand our purpose. The first chapter of Rick Warren’s book simply says, “It’s not about you.” It’s not about us…it is about Christ…we find our purpose in Him and Him alone.
Purpose is important for all of us. It drives us and keeps us moving when life gets us down. I think of all the times I have fallen in life and felt like giving up, purpose has helped me back to my feet. I preach and I have to admit I struggle to be in front of people. It is something for me that is not natural. I can talk one on one, or to a small group in a teaching environment. But preaching is another story. I preached my first sermon, I stood at parade rest. Arms locked behind my back, scared to death. The two years I preached at Northside Baptist, I bet you can still find my finger prints on the pulpit from gripping it so hard. I get nervous and I beat myself up if I think I failed. The point is I could have pursued a different career path, an easier path. But I can’t…I have a purpose; I have been called to preach. My purpose is in Christ, it isn’t about me. I get up there and try my best…because of Christ.
All of us have a purpose in Christ…we are to find our worth in Him. No matter where I work or live, I live and work for Christ. Christ is everything!
-ps
Saturday, March 10, 2007
There is No Other God…
Deuteronomy is an awesome book…it is one of my favorites. It’s like listening to a pep talk…Moses is reminding the people of Israel all they have learned. You’re going to go solo, please remember...
In Deuteronomy 4:32-39 Moses reminds the people about God. He reminds with verses like this…
For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. 33 Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? 34 Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
He is reminding them that nothing like this has ever happened…God has never done this before. No other god has done this, because they don’t exist. God, the one true God, does exist and look what He has done!
35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him.
God wanted them to know Him…to know there is no other God. You see many time we are told, Christians are too “dogmatic”. Christians claim there is no other way to heaven. How can we have such arrogance? God said there is no other besides him. When we see Jesus in the gospel of John saying, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Jesus is plainly saying there is no one else. No one else is looking out for you...no one cares...becuase there is nobody else.
The world will tell there are many gods, or many paths. But in the Bible says, “There is no other besides Him…and Jesus says there is no other way to Him but through Jesus. Listen to these other two verse out of Deuteronomy…
35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him.
39 know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other
John 14:7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Throughout history God has clearly displayed Himself. He has revealed Himself in history…then He revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. He intervened into human history and walked among us. He lived and died for us! When I think about all of this I am overwhelmed! The Lord is amazing…to further think He actively intervenes into our own lives. I can barely take it in…The Lord is great.
So take time and just worship the one true God…go and worship Christ the Lord…
-ps
Keep reading your Bibles....the link is on the side menu.
In Deuteronomy 4:32-39 Moses reminds the people about God. He reminds with verses like this…
For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. 33 Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? 34 Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
He is reminding them that nothing like this has ever happened…God has never done this before. No other god has done this, because they don’t exist. God, the one true God, does exist and look what He has done!
35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him.
God wanted them to know Him…to know there is no other God. You see many time we are told, Christians are too “dogmatic”. Christians claim there is no other way to heaven. How can we have such arrogance? God said there is no other besides him. When we see Jesus in the gospel of John saying, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Jesus is plainly saying there is no one else. No one else is looking out for you...no one cares...becuase there is nobody else.
The world will tell there are many gods, or many paths. But in the Bible says, “There is no other besides Him…and Jesus says there is no other way to Him but through Jesus. Listen to these other two verse out of Deuteronomy…
35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him.
39 know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other
John 14:7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Throughout history God has clearly displayed Himself. He has revealed Himself in history…then He revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. He intervened into human history and walked among us. He lived and died for us! When I think about all of this I am overwhelmed! The Lord is amazing…to further think He actively intervenes into our own lives. I can barely take it in…The Lord is great.
So take time and just worship the one true God…go and worship Christ the Lord…
-ps
Keep reading your Bibles....the link is on the side menu.
Friday, March 9, 2007
What’s Your Name…
Here I am shaking the hand of Dr. Frank Page the President of the Southern Baptist Convention; I introduced myself and didn’t say my name. He is looking me in the eyes and asks, “What is your name”. My first thought was I told you my name…then it hit me and all I could say was uhh…Steve. So there you have it, in all my years I don’t recall ever forgetting to say my name.
I enjoyed getting to sit and listen to the “big picture” of our SBC. I got to listen to Dr. Page’s twice and I was greatly impressed. He is a gifted speaker, without a doubt. But what I admired the most was his desire to reach people for Christ. He was also greatly concerned but hopeful about the future of the SBC. I still don’t understand all the inner workings of the SBC, because most of this is very new to me. But I do understand politics and I do understand what it means to be a team player. I believe Frank Page is a team player, someone who genuinely cares about people. In caring he is honest in his opinions about the future direction. He understands the dire need for changes in the way SBC churches do business, because there is so much at stake. What is at stake, an entire generation of 18-29 year olds who are writing us off…we are on the brink of losing an entire generation for Christ.
I am encouraged by what I have heard and what I have seen over the last few days. I know over the next few years the SBC is going to face some very serious challenges. I think many in my generation have a great desire to return to the Bible more than the traditions of our past. We have a desire to be moved by the spirit in our generation. To follow where God is leading us now…in this time and in this place. I believe it will look different than the past…but it has too. My prayer is we will not push to brink of breaking the frame work that so many before us have worked to build. It is a house where we can pull together to reach a greater world at large, all for the name of Christ.
-ps
I enjoyed getting to sit and listen to the “big picture” of our SBC. I got to listen to Dr. Page’s twice and I was greatly impressed. He is a gifted speaker, without a doubt. But what I admired the most was his desire to reach people for Christ. He was also greatly concerned but hopeful about the future of the SBC. I still don’t understand all the inner workings of the SBC, because most of this is very new to me. But I do understand politics and I do understand what it means to be a team player. I believe Frank Page is a team player, someone who genuinely cares about people. In caring he is honest in his opinions about the future direction. He understands the dire need for changes in the way SBC churches do business, because there is so much at stake. What is at stake, an entire generation of 18-29 year olds who are writing us off…we are on the brink of losing an entire generation for Christ.
I am encouraged by what I have heard and what I have seen over the last few days. I know over the next few years the SBC is going to face some very serious challenges. I think many in my generation have a great desire to return to the Bible more than the traditions of our past. We have a desire to be moved by the spirit in our generation. To follow where God is leading us now…in this time and in this place. I believe it will look different than the past…but it has too. My prayer is we will not push to brink of breaking the frame work that so many before us have worked to build. It is a house where we can pull together to reach a greater world at large, all for the name of Christ.
-ps
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Sinners Prayer...
Being of the Baptist tradition I have always been taught accepting Christ is as easy as A-B-C...
Admit your a sinner and need forgiveness...
Believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Died for your sins...
Commit your life to Christ...
But isn't there a lot more? David Gushee ask the same question in his article Jesus and the Sinners Prayer...its a good read. I would be interested in what you think so leave a comment.
-ps
Admit your a sinner and need forgiveness...
Believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Died for your sins...
Commit your life to Christ...
But isn't there a lot more? David Gushee ask the same question in his article Jesus and the Sinners Prayer...its a good read. I would be interested in what you think so leave a comment.
-ps
Monday, March 5, 2007
Does Character Count?
How would you define character?
According the dictionary character is defined as such:
the set of qualities that make somebody or something distinctive, especially somebody’s qualities of mind and feeling…
Now does God care about character? Of course He does…
Let’s take a look at prayer and character and how they interact…
Colossians 3:1-17 reads…
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Paul echoes this same type language throughout the New Testament. So the thought becomes...how does prayer play into these verses...
Prayer governs character, and character makes conduct…
Conduct is what we do; character is what we are. Conduct is the outward life. Character is the life unseen, hidden within, yet evidenced by what is seen…Character is the state of the heart, conduct its outward expression…
In Christ teaching we see Christ more concern with the inward character, than with outward conduct…
Paul’s Epistles…He is insistent on the holiness of the heart…the righteousness of life…we read one of many tonight…it is the condition of the heart…
The Christian faith is in the business of taking people devoid of spiritual character, an unholy life…and changes them…changes their hearts and their life. It is through prayer this is done…
The office of prayer is to change the character and conduct of men…it has to work from the inside out…
We struggle in life with conduct…many times we treat the symptoms by not the disease…see the disease is a sick heart…ravaged by sin…
Prayer produces cleanliness of heart and purity of life…Unrighteous conduct is born out of praylessness; the two go hand and hand. Prayer and sinning cannot keep company with each other.
If you want to understand how to live the life God has called us to…it starts and ends with prayer…prayer reflects our conduct thus reflects our character…bad living means bad praying and in the end no praying at all.
Here it is plainly stated, unholy conduct is a bar to successful praying, in order to have full access to God in prayer, there must be total abandonment of conscious and premeditated sin.
We are enjoined to pray, “lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting…we have a privilege of calling upon God…our conduct has to reflect this privilege…we cannot divorce praying from conduct.
How are we going to have full access to God if we are living in sin…this is why it’s so important to be in prayer…it is vital to our lives as Christians…
Why is character so important…The most effective preaching, is not that which is heard from the pulpit, but that which is proclaimed quietly, humbly, and consistently; which exhibits its excellence in the home, and in the community.
Don’t get me wrong we are going to sin and fall short…and God loves the repent heart…but repentance means turning away from our sin…old things must pass away, all things must become new…
While life condition by prayer, prayer is also condition of righteous living…Prayer is what sets us on the path of living fruitful lives, prayer set our minds and hearts on things above, it puts to death the old nature…it is the new self, the heart is renewed. From this position we can live as God’s chosen people holy, clothed with compassion, gentle and patient, forgiving…loving
We can have peace of Christ; live in unity….and always…
17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
So again does character count….yes! Godly character starts and ends with prayer!
-ps
*Taken from E.M. Bounds "The Necessity of Prayer"
According the dictionary character is defined as such:
the set of qualities that make somebody or something distinctive, especially somebody’s qualities of mind and feeling…
Now does God care about character? Of course He does…
Let’s take a look at prayer and character and how they interact…
Colossians 3:1-17 reads…
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Paul echoes this same type language throughout the New Testament. So the thought becomes...how does prayer play into these verses...
Prayer governs character, and character makes conduct…
Conduct is what we do; character is what we are. Conduct is the outward life. Character is the life unseen, hidden within, yet evidenced by what is seen…Character is the state of the heart, conduct its outward expression…
In Christ teaching we see Christ more concern with the inward character, than with outward conduct…
Paul’s Epistles…He is insistent on the holiness of the heart…the righteousness of life…we read one of many tonight…it is the condition of the heart…
The Christian faith is in the business of taking people devoid of spiritual character, an unholy life…and changes them…changes their hearts and their life. It is through prayer this is done…
The office of prayer is to change the character and conduct of men…it has to work from the inside out…
We struggle in life with conduct…many times we treat the symptoms by not the disease…see the disease is a sick heart…ravaged by sin…
Prayer produces cleanliness of heart and purity of life…Unrighteous conduct is born out of praylessness; the two go hand and hand. Prayer and sinning cannot keep company with each other.
If you want to understand how to live the life God has called us to…it starts and ends with prayer…prayer reflects our conduct thus reflects our character…bad living means bad praying and in the end no praying at all.
Here it is plainly stated, unholy conduct is a bar to successful praying, in order to have full access to God in prayer, there must be total abandonment of conscious and premeditated sin.
We are enjoined to pray, “lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting…we have a privilege of calling upon God…our conduct has to reflect this privilege…we cannot divorce praying from conduct.
How are we going to have full access to God if we are living in sin…this is why it’s so important to be in prayer…it is vital to our lives as Christians…
Why is character so important…The most effective preaching, is not that which is heard from the pulpit, but that which is proclaimed quietly, humbly, and consistently; which exhibits its excellence in the home, and in the community.
Don’t get me wrong we are going to sin and fall short…and God loves the repent heart…but repentance means turning away from our sin…old things must pass away, all things must become new…
While life condition by prayer, prayer is also condition of righteous living…Prayer is what sets us on the path of living fruitful lives, prayer set our minds and hearts on things above, it puts to death the old nature…it is the new self, the heart is renewed. From this position we can live as God’s chosen people holy, clothed with compassion, gentle and patient, forgiving…loving
We can have peace of Christ; live in unity….and always…
17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
So again does character count….yes! Godly character starts and ends with prayer!
-ps
*Taken from E.M. Bounds "The Necessity of Prayer"
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Good Tired…
Ever had a “good tired?” Well today was a good day. I had regular church service this morning. Afterwards I did a drive by delivery of my family and raced to Loma Rica Baptist church to be part of an ordination of Pastor Dave. First of all, Pastor Dave has a link on this blog called “Pastor Dave Lets His Hair Down”. He is not known for being your dye in the wool Southern Baptist preacher…don’t get me wrong, theologically he is as sound as one can be. But he is not known for his suits and ties…if he is wearing a tie; it has a joke on it. So today I didn’t ware a tie and coat for that reason. Well Dave walks out of his church today wearing a suit and tie! He looked great!,
Today was a celebration and it was good to see his church family extend their love towards him. He is a man whose heart is set on God and it is a privilege to call him brother. Brother Bob (“empty hands” blog…) sang like no one can. He is my vote for American Idol, hands down.
Afterwards I ran back to Rocklin to preach tonight. So I made it home and it was a great day and I’m really tired…it’s a good tired though. I promise to post something deeper tomorrow.
-ps
Today was a celebration and it was good to see his church family extend their love towards him. He is a man whose heart is set on God and it is a privilege to call him brother. Brother Bob (“empty hands” blog…) sang like no one can. He is my vote for American Idol, hands down.
Afterwards I ran back to Rocklin to preach tonight. So I made it home and it was a great day and I’m really tired…it’s a good tired though. I promise to post something deeper tomorrow.
-ps
Friday, March 2, 2007
What Matters…
I have been reading for days on the Baptist blogs and I know some of you come here for the message I share from everyday life and the Bible. I have to confess I’m not a theologian. I love to read and studying the lofty ideas presented by our rich faith. I’m amazed by how deep you can explore the riches of scriptures. But I often wonder if we haven’t lost the main point…what matters. In Acts 4 Peter and John are brought before the elders and the teachers of the law. The high priest was there along with all the “big” guns, the who’s who…they asked Peter and John “By what power or what name did you do this?” (They had been used to heal a lame beggar at the temple)
Peter filled with the Holy Spirit…”it is by the of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is
The stone you builders rejected,
Which has become the cornerstone.
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved…
When the they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:10-13 (TNIV)
Did you catch the last line…these men had been with Jesus. There was something about Peter and John, they had the look of the master. They had walked close with Jesus everyday…filled with the Holy Spirit they we starting to act and sound like Jesus. The religious leaders were astonished, not by their theological expertise or of their Biblical exegesis of passages supporting the healing of a lame beggar. They were astonished by the courage…the courage of knowing and proclaiming the risen Jesus.
We can have the same courage about Jesus…in fact I bet if you were to think about all the times you knew God intervened in your life…you would start to realize how He has been walking with you for a long time. In fact He had you in mind when He created the entire universe. I know “such thoughts are too lofty for me to understand” lamented the Psalmist. Paul prayed for the Ephesians church this way…
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 4:16-19
Peter and John were rooted and established in Christ…it gave them boldness and confidence—knowing the love that surpasses knowledge, allowed them to boldly proclaim Jesus Christ. We need to do the same…because it is what matters, because:
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved…
-ps
Are you reading your Bibles?
Peter filled with the Holy Spirit…”it is by the of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is
The stone you builders rejected,
Which has become the cornerstone.
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved…
When the they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:10-13 (TNIV)
Did you catch the last line…these men had been with Jesus. There was something about Peter and John, they had the look of the master. They had walked close with Jesus everyday…filled with the Holy Spirit they we starting to act and sound like Jesus. The religious leaders were astonished, not by their theological expertise or of their Biblical exegesis of passages supporting the healing of a lame beggar. They were astonished by the courage…the courage of knowing and proclaiming the risen Jesus.
We can have the same courage about Jesus…in fact I bet if you were to think about all the times you knew God intervened in your life…you would start to realize how He has been walking with you for a long time. In fact He had you in mind when He created the entire universe. I know “such thoughts are too lofty for me to understand” lamented the Psalmist. Paul prayed for the Ephesians church this way…
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 4:16-19
Peter and John were rooted and established in Christ…it gave them boldness and confidence—knowing the love that surpasses knowledge, allowed them to boldly proclaim Jesus Christ. We need to do the same…because it is what matters, because:
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved…
-ps
Are you reading your Bibles?
Quiet Time...
I came across this "Advice for Quiet Time" on joethorn.net, great advice. Tell me what you think. I like the easy prayer outline "ACTS"...
-ps
-ps
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Socks and Life…
You know life can be a great teacher. My middle son Jake is a great kid. He comes home from school and takes off his shoes and everyone knows he’s home. It’s not by the visual site of him, or even the rapid deployment and raid of the cabinets and refrigerator. It is the whiff of an odor, several days ago Jakes shoes got wet and he has been wearing them this way. Well as you can now visualize and smell. The stench is amazing. My wife locked onto the smell like a prize hound and promptly tracked Jake down. She instantly demanded Jake to remove his socks and wash his feet. To which Jake gave one of the most profound statements I have ever heard. After his statement (which I holding back for dramatic effect) caused me to momentarily consider the current condition of our nations educational system. His statement to my wife was, “well you only wash the outside of my socks, that is why they smell”. He said this with a straight face, it left us speechless…It took a minute or so for him to realize he had said something profoundly stupid, fodder for the rest of his life.
How many times have we said something to regret for the rest of our lives. Once it is released it cannot be erased, there isn't a rewind button, we are in constant “live” mode. Apply this to our Christian walk. Many times Christians can say things that have an impact on people lives that last “forever”. Jake only has to live with his comments as long as I’m alive. But what we say to others while representing Christ echo into eternity. I hope this scares you, because it terrifies me. The old Sunday school saying holds true…you are the closest thing to a Bible some will ever see. As Christians we need to be mindful of what we say and were we say it. People are always listening and watching how you live your life. Live your life as such, right thinking matched with right living. People will see what we say long before they hear what we say.
-ps
How many times have we said something to regret for the rest of our lives. Once it is released it cannot be erased, there isn't a rewind button, we are in constant “live” mode. Apply this to our Christian walk. Many times Christians can say things that have an impact on people lives that last “forever”. Jake only has to live with his comments as long as I’m alive. But what we say to others while representing Christ echo into eternity. I hope this scares you, because it terrifies me. The old Sunday school saying holds true…you are the closest thing to a Bible some will ever see. As Christians we need to be mindful of what we say and were we say it. People are always listening and watching how you live your life. Live your life as such, right thinking matched with right living. People will see what we say long before they hear what we say.
-ps
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