Psalm 41
Verse 1-3 "Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble. The Lord protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies. The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health."
It has been said that you reward the conduct that you want to see duplicated, it sounds like God values kindness to to poor more than rubbing elbows with the mighty. Look at the rewards he promises in response to our kindness and compassion to the poor:
He will rescue you when you are in trouble.
He will protect you and keep you alive.
He will give you prosperity.
He will rescue you from your enemies.
He will nurse you when you are sick and restore you to health
Monday, February 28, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
All For The Glory of God
1 Corinthians 10
Verse 32-11:1 "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. 33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. 11:1 And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ."
Paul said that we should do all things for the glory of God and that we should not offend Jew, Gentile or the Church. But that we should try to please everyone so that many will be saved. When Paul said please everyone I don't believe he was talking about meeting the personal convictions of all people, but he was talking about the cultural standards of the Jew, the Gentile and the Church.
Our goal is to influence as many people as possible for the sake of the Gospel and for the sake of their souls. So what does that mean, it means that I should respect the cultural standards of all people. If I immediately offend them because of something that has no eternal value, like customs or food then I will not be able to reach them with the Gospel. Maturity means being able to do what is best for others not just for your self. The bottom line is not my preference but the souls of men.
Verse 32-11:1 "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. 33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. 11:1 And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ."
Paul said that we should do all things for the glory of God and that we should not offend Jew, Gentile or the Church. But that we should try to please everyone so that many will be saved. When Paul said please everyone I don't believe he was talking about meeting the personal convictions of all people, but he was talking about the cultural standards of the Jew, the Gentile and the Church.
Our goal is to influence as many people as possible for the sake of the Gospel and for the sake of their souls. So what does that mean, it means that I should respect the cultural standards of all people. If I immediately offend them because of something that has no eternal value, like customs or food then I will not be able to reach them with the Gospel. Maturity means being able to do what is best for others not just for your self. The bottom line is not my preference but the souls of men.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Only Jesus
Leviticus 13
Verse 46 "As long as the serious disease lasts, they will be ceremonially unclean. They must live in isolation in their place outside the camp."
Just as the unclean person in the old testament had to live in isolation so sin separates and isolates us from the ones we love. Sin always brings death and death always separates. It doesn't matter what kind of sin; lies, gossip, bitterness, un-forgiveness, offense or addiction. Sin isolates, separates and destroys life.
Only through the cleansing power of Jesus Christ can our lives be restored to wholeness. As the song says, "what can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus, what can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus." Only Jesus Christ has the power to declare us clean, only Jesus has the power to restore our lives to wholeness, only Jesus can tear down the walls that separate us from one another and from God. Only Jesus!!
Verse 46 "As long as the serious disease lasts, they will be ceremonially unclean. They must live in isolation in their place outside the camp."
Just as the unclean person in the old testament had to live in isolation so sin separates and isolates us from the ones we love. Sin always brings death and death always separates. It doesn't matter what kind of sin; lies, gossip, bitterness, un-forgiveness, offense or addiction. Sin isolates, separates and destroys life.
Only through the cleansing power of Jesus Christ can our lives be restored to wholeness. As the song says, "what can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus, what can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus." Only Jesus Christ has the power to declare us clean, only Jesus has the power to restore our lives to wholeness, only Jesus can tear down the walls that separate us from one another and from God. Only Jesus!!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Go Team
Exodus 17
Verse 10-13 "So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle."
Victory is a team effort, it takes everyone doing their part to Win the battle and defeat the enemy. It is easy to read this story and think that Moses was the hero or even the key to the victory, but if you step back and take an honest look at the big picture you see that it took the team to win. First you have Joshua leading the battle and then you have the armies of Israel that are following his lead. Next we see Moses on the mountain with the staff of God, but his arms grow tired and Arron and Hur come along side him to hold up his hands and the staff of God. If you remove one of those elements from the battle you have defeat.
It takes every part of the body of Christ to win the war for the souls of men. The leaders must lead and the Soldiers must fight, it take everyone from the pastor to the janitor for the Church to be what the Church is to be. What is the Church, the Church is the Hope of the World, because the Church is the living, breathing manifestation of the Son of God. The Church is the instrument of righteousness through which God has chosen to declare and minister the gospel of his Son, Jesus Christ. So what are you waiting for, take your place in the body of Christ and let's win souls, make disciples and destroy the works of the devil. The world needs you and God is counting on you! Go Team!!
Verse 10-13 "So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle."
Victory is a team effort, it takes everyone doing their part to Win the battle and defeat the enemy. It is easy to read this story and think that Moses was the hero or even the key to the victory, but if you step back and take an honest look at the big picture you see that it took the team to win. First you have Joshua leading the battle and then you have the armies of Israel that are following his lead. Next we see Moses on the mountain with the staff of God, but his arms grow tired and Arron and Hur come along side him to hold up his hands and the staff of God. If you remove one of those elements from the battle you have defeat.
It takes every part of the body of Christ to win the war for the souls of men. The leaders must lead and the Soldiers must fight, it take everyone from the pastor to the janitor for the Church to be what the Church is to be. What is the Church, the Church is the Hope of the World, because the Church is the living, breathing manifestation of the Son of God. The Church is the instrument of righteousness through which God has chosen to declare and minister the gospel of his Son, Jesus Christ. So what are you waiting for, take your place in the body of Christ and let's win souls, make disciples and destroy the works of the devil. The world needs you and God is counting on you! Go Team!!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Stay Calm
Exodus 14:14 "The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
Just stay calm, easier said then done, right. You have never had the whole Egyptian army chasing you down, but the weight of debt has come against you like an army. Fear has gripped you and there have been times in your life when it felt like all hell had broken lose against your life and what does God say, stay calm.
Why in the world would he want me to stay calm, well believe it or not it has nothing to do with your nerves and everything to do with your faith. When you remain calm in adversity, your are able to open the door of faith and invite God into your difficulty. But panic breeds fear and fear shuts the door of supernatural intervention. A calm spirit produces a courageous heart but panic causes you to run away from what God wants you to overcome.
Many people because of panic spend their lives running from the same thing over and over again, their lives are a never ending merry go round, full of ups and downs, always moving but never going anywhere. So what is the spiritual remedy, stay calm.The Lord will fight for you, but he can not fight for you if you keep running from the battle. Stay calm, stay in faith and watch God show out in your life. Get off the merry go round and start moving forward into the promises of God for your life
Just stay calm, easier said then done, right. You have never had the whole Egyptian army chasing you down, but the weight of debt has come against you like an army. Fear has gripped you and there have been times in your life when it felt like all hell had broken lose against your life and what does God say, stay calm.
Why in the world would he want me to stay calm, well believe it or not it has nothing to do with your nerves and everything to do with your faith. When you remain calm in adversity, your are able to open the door of faith and invite God into your difficulty. But panic breeds fear and fear shuts the door of supernatural intervention. A calm spirit produces a courageous heart but panic causes you to run away from what God wants you to overcome.
Many people because of panic spend their lives running from the same thing over and over again, their lives are a never ending merry go round, full of ups and downs, always moving but never going anywhere. So what is the spiritual remedy, stay calm.The Lord will fight for you, but he can not fight for you if you keep running from the battle. Stay calm, stay in faith and watch God show out in your life. Get off the merry go round and start moving forward into the promises of God for your life
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