It has been a while since I have been able to blog. An accident in Colorado has left me with a problem of sitting down at my computer. The Lord is healing me in His time, and I praise Him that there are times like these for me when He allows something to 'slow' me down to almost a stop in order to listen to Him.
Last night in our Bible Study we were in John 5. As we worked our way through John 5 we came to a few verses that really have been on my heart for years. In John 5:39-42 Jesus says these words to the religious leaders "You diligentley study the Scriptures because you thinnk that by them you possess eternal life. These are the scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept praise from men, but I know you, I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts."
To me this is a careful warning, and a safeguard to each of us. It is also a reminder to us all that it does not matter how much scripture we know, but its how much scripture we show. We have all probably thought higher of ourselves at some point or another because we can quote, recite, or remember more of the scripture than others. I know men who can quote scripture from the front to the back of the Bible almost word for word, but don't live it. I know many who are seeking the Lord in the scriptures and apply themselves to commentaries, the Greek and the Hebrew, but never change. You see, we have probably all been there.
Recently I have been 'Un-Friended' by several people, and viewed their attacks on others, in whom this scripture is about. They are quick to call people Blasphemer's, False Teachers, Hypocrites, Liars and so forth, as they quote scripture after scripture in their defense of what they believe.
The Word says what it says. We can know all the scriptures, but "Not have the love of God in our hearts." What is the scripture for then? To shape and mold our hearts into people who love our God with all of our heart and to also love our neighbors as He loves us. There are many people who differ on election, predestination, and choice. Unfortunately the battle will probably go on until Christ returns (And then we will all know). Be careful my friends to not get caught up in your intelligence and forget the love of God and for our neighbors. Our lives should be seen by others as the scripture, and not religious people who merely quote the scripture. I will confess "I have been dogamtic and forceful in what I believe the scriptures say, but the older I get I realize that we all can listen, learn, live and love as He has loved us. This is the scriputre~
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
We're all Missionaries, or we aren't Christians~
It is unfortunate today when I think of the many who profess to be in Christ, be Christians, and who claim to be covered by the blood, and see 'No' Christ in them. Everyone wants to say that they have been called, but only a few fulfill the call.
What really is the purpose of being 'called' by Jesus? Many think it so that they can obtian eternal life in Heaven with Jesus. Many think it eliminates them from being judged in the end for the sins they still haven't dealt with, or justify. Those who are truly called, and surrender their lives to Jesus are now those in whom testify not only by mouth, but through their actions, that Jesus really is who He is.
Let us look back at God chosing Israel and the purpose of His election. It isn't as difficult as most make it, but really is simple, "So that the rest of the people groups in the world could see the Love, mercy, grace and power in the 'One' true living God." So, these pepole were our first 'Missionaries.' Why did God use David to slay Goliath against all odd's? So that the Phillistines woudl see that there is one true God, and turn to Him. The list goes on and on. Let us not for get the Apsotles and their giving of their lives in total surrender to Jesus. They are our example's that Jesus is to be the Lord of our lives.
One 'cannot' be a Christian without being a missionary. Some go over seas, and to the outer parts of the earth. For many, our 'Mission Field' is our homes, our neighborhoods, our community, our work enviroments, our recreational activities, and so forth. We are to be living out Christ in us, so that others may come to know Him.
Jesus did not stay in one place did He? Paul and the others went out, and they preached and lived the 'Good News.' We need to change our attitudes folks. We need to understand that 'If' Christ is in us then we will be serving, loving and giving back everyday of our lives, and not just going to a church service, or Bible Study.
Alot of you will not agree with what I just wrote, but line it up with scripture. The problem isn't about what we think, but who we were called to be. We are to be a light to the lost and dying world around us. We are to serve the world around us. We are to love the world around us. We have to admit there has to be more than what we are living for. There has to be more than our self centered worship, emotions, and attitudes. We were all called to be missionaries. To die to self, to die to the world, and to live for Christ. This is how the world will change when we accept that we haven't been thinking right about our calling~
What really is the purpose of being 'called' by Jesus? Many think it so that they can obtian eternal life in Heaven with Jesus. Many think it eliminates them from being judged in the end for the sins they still haven't dealt with, or justify. Those who are truly called, and surrender their lives to Jesus are now those in whom testify not only by mouth, but through their actions, that Jesus really is who He is.
Let us look back at God chosing Israel and the purpose of His election. It isn't as difficult as most make it, but really is simple, "So that the rest of the people groups in the world could see the Love, mercy, grace and power in the 'One' true living God." So, these pepole were our first 'Missionaries.' Why did God use David to slay Goliath against all odd's? So that the Phillistines woudl see that there is one true God, and turn to Him. The list goes on and on. Let us not for get the Apsotles and their giving of their lives in total surrender to Jesus. They are our example's that Jesus is to be the Lord of our lives.
One 'cannot' be a Christian without being a missionary. Some go over seas, and to the outer parts of the earth. For many, our 'Mission Field' is our homes, our neighborhoods, our community, our work enviroments, our recreational activities, and so forth. We are to be living out Christ in us, so that others may come to know Him.
Jesus did not stay in one place did He? Paul and the others went out, and they preached and lived the 'Good News.' We need to change our attitudes folks. We need to understand that 'If' Christ is in us then we will be serving, loving and giving back everyday of our lives, and not just going to a church service, or Bible Study.
Alot of you will not agree with what I just wrote, but line it up with scripture. The problem isn't about what we think, but who we were called to be. We are to be a light to the lost and dying world around us. We are to serve the world around us. We are to love the world around us. We have to admit there has to be more than what we are living for. There has to be more than our self centered worship, emotions, and attitudes. We were all called to be missionaries. To die to self, to die to the world, and to live for Christ. This is how the world will change when we accept that we haven't been thinking right about our calling~
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Glory 'In' Christ/Ambition
This morning was truly awesome. Before my Thursday morning Bible Study I had a meeting with a genetleman who said "I want to get with Judy and you for coffee, or something as soon as I can. I have been missing you both and thinking about you." This isn't just an oridinary man, but a man who I truly loved and discipled for about a year. He ended up leaving the ministry, owing me money, and filled with bitterness. I had not spoken to him since then, but everytime I passed his house I would pray for him. Today, Judy and I saw God's glory. I could tell that something had happened to this elderly gentleman. He was radiant and beaming. As he began to talk he immediately reached in his front shirt pocket and said "I want to settle this first....Here is the money that I have owed you." As soon as that business was taken care of he was off to the races. He was on fire for Jesus, and also glad to reunite with Judy and I. He shared that he was not ready to face or hear what I had to say, but that all we had shared and taught him had been his foundation up to this point. It was a glorious day of reconcilliation, love, mercy and grace.
I could not wait to get next door to the minstry and see what God was going to show me in His Word. Check this out... we were in Romans 15 beginning with verse 14 from the previous week. When we reached verse 17 it brought a smile to my face "Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God." Amazing isn't it? Paul goes on in verse 18-20 with these words "I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done--by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, i have fully procalimed the gospel of Christ. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation." What an example to us all! Paul was finishing strong. Paul made it his ambition to share the 'Whole' gospel to all. He knew a Jesus that I wish everyone of could know, and we can.
What about us? What do we glory in? What we have done, or what He is doing through us? Let us make it our ambition to procalim the gospel in its fullness this year. This dear man who sat across from Judy and I heard the whole gospel and then left, only to come back and say "I heard all that you had to say, and this is why I am where I am today." None of this is for my glory, because He alone is worthy of all the glory~
I could not wait to get next door to the minstry and see what God was going to show me in His Word. Check this out... we were in Romans 15 beginning with verse 14 from the previous week. When we reached verse 17 it brought a smile to my face "Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God." Amazing isn't it? Paul goes on in verse 18-20 with these words "I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done--by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, i have fully procalimed the gospel of Christ. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation." What an example to us all! Paul was finishing strong. Paul made it his ambition to share the 'Whole' gospel to all. He knew a Jesus that I wish everyone of could know, and we can.
What about us? What do we glory in? What we have done, or what He is doing through us? Let us make it our ambition to procalim the gospel in its fullness this year. This dear man who sat across from Judy and I heard the whole gospel and then left, only to come back and say "I heard all that you had to say, and this is why I am where I am today." None of this is for my glory, because He alone is worthy of all the glory~
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
We are 'All' Teachers~
I woke up about two am this morning with a massive headache. The kind that brings you to your knees and you pray hard for it to leave. My body begins to ache and nausea steps in to make things worse. Sound bad? Well, it is, and it isn't. Some of the most awesome times I have speaking to the Lord and hearing from Him come during these times. By faith I know the headache will go away when He allows it to, and I endure knowing that the reward of hearing from Him far out ways anything that comes against me.
The frist thing He talked with me about is our walk with Jesus. In 1 John 2:6 it says these words "Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." Then He placed this scripture Galatians 5:25 on my heart "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." The result of this scripture came to this "Our greatest struggle this year will be caused by gauging our spirituality and walk with others instead of the cross. Of course, we would all rather gauge our spirituality and walk by others walks and opinions, but this will only lead us to compromise and failure.
The last thing He showed me was James 3:1, "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." Many of you will at this time start backing up by saying "I am not a Pastor or Teacher, so I am exempt from this passage. A matter of fact many will even 'Avoid' becoming one because this scritpure might scare you. Many of you will say "Brother Pete, you might be taking this out of context, or maybe a little to far." No, I take each verse on its own, tie it into my life and aske the Lord to show me in my life what He desires for me to know inorder to be a 'True' disciple of His.
We are 'ALL' teachers. If we are a husband, wife, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, mentor, teacher, pastor, friend, parent, grandparent, or a professing Christian, then we are all 'teaching' someone each and everyday! We all are teaching people about life and our realtionship with Jesus. If we do not "Walk as Jesus did" (1 John 2:6) or "Keep in step with the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25), then we are teaching others that you don't have to be in order to be a true follower of Jesus. Are we getting the picture yet. The bar is raised for allof us now who claim to be 'Christians.' If we show anger, they will show anger. If we strive for thing sof this world, then they will strive for things of this world. If we cuss, they will cuss. If we hate, they will hate. If we lie, they will lie. Sadly, we olay a huge impact on the future 'Relationship' others will have with Jesus. I would never have an adulterous affair on my wife, and that is exactly what the prophets of old, and scripture talks about when we love the world more than Jesus. When we teach people it is 'Okay' to have Jesus and the world (no matter how hard we attempt to justify). I love how Jesus brother James puts it in James 4:4 "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." DOn;t we all attempt to side-step this with others and ourselves. We attempt to justify what is good and what is evil. If we teach others that its okay to possess and do 'secular' things, then we have opened the door to their destruction, and all that the world possess. We have taught them to be 'enemies' of God.
Yo may not like, or even agree with any, or all that I have shared. You may only agree with parts of what I have shared. Please do yourselves one favor. Read the scriptures that I have shared. Look around at all of the people you are in contact with, and who you have realtionships with, and ask yourself one big question "What am I teaching them?" Leaonard Ravenhill's tombstone read this "Is what you are living for worht what Christ died for." Let us teach~
The frist thing He talked with me about is our walk with Jesus. In 1 John 2:6 it says these words "Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." Then He placed this scripture Galatians 5:25 on my heart "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." The result of this scripture came to this "Our greatest struggle this year will be caused by gauging our spirituality and walk with others instead of the cross. Of course, we would all rather gauge our spirituality and walk by others walks and opinions, but this will only lead us to compromise and failure.
The last thing He showed me was James 3:1, "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." Many of you will at this time start backing up by saying "I am not a Pastor or Teacher, so I am exempt from this passage. A matter of fact many will even 'Avoid' becoming one because this scritpure might scare you. Many of you will say "Brother Pete, you might be taking this out of context, or maybe a little to far." No, I take each verse on its own, tie it into my life and aske the Lord to show me in my life what He desires for me to know inorder to be a 'True' disciple of His.
We are 'ALL' teachers. If we are a husband, wife, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, mentor, teacher, pastor, friend, parent, grandparent, or a professing Christian, then we are all 'teaching' someone each and everyday! We all are teaching people about life and our realtionship with Jesus. If we do not "Walk as Jesus did" (1 John 2:6) or "Keep in step with the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25), then we are teaching others that you don't have to be in order to be a true follower of Jesus. Are we getting the picture yet. The bar is raised for allof us now who claim to be 'Christians.' If we show anger, they will show anger. If we strive for thing sof this world, then they will strive for things of this world. If we cuss, they will cuss. If we hate, they will hate. If we lie, they will lie. Sadly, we olay a huge impact on the future 'Relationship' others will have with Jesus. I would never have an adulterous affair on my wife, and that is exactly what the prophets of old, and scripture talks about when we love the world more than Jesus. When we teach people it is 'Okay' to have Jesus and the world (no matter how hard we attempt to justify). I love how Jesus brother James puts it in James 4:4 "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." DOn;t we all attempt to side-step this with others and ourselves. We attempt to justify what is good and what is evil. If we teach others that its okay to possess and do 'secular' things, then we have opened the door to their destruction, and all that the world possess. We have taught them to be 'enemies' of God.
Yo may not like, or even agree with any, or all that I have shared. You may only agree with parts of what I have shared. Please do yourselves one favor. Read the scriptures that I have shared. Look around at all of the people you are in contact with, and who you have realtionships with, and ask yourself one big question "What am I teaching them?" Leaonard Ravenhill's tombstone read this "Is what you are living for worht what Christ died for." Let us teach~
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Priorities will Dictate your New Year~
Every year we get the text's, email's, Facebook Post's and even phone calls, wishing everyone a 'Happy New Year.' Laying in bed this morning before the alarm would go off at 5:00 am, I pondered and chatted with the Lord. Scripture kept filling my head and thoughts began to flow on what would be the absolute best way to wish someone this upcoming New Year. I reality we should all be prayig that we will all have 'Blessed' New Years.
Then I thought to myself "What would be my top priority this year?" Immediately the thought came to me "To be more like Christ this year than last, and love as He loves." My mind quickly thought back to past years and remembered 'Resolutions' made such as "I will go on a diet and even get in shape." "I will be a better person this year than last." "I will give more this year rather than the last", and so forth. Needless to say "They were merely resolutions and not committments."
The scripture that changed my whole life is 2 Cor. 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old is gone and the new has come." That is exactly the scripture that the Lord kept running through my mind this morning. This is my priority for this year. To be 'New' in Him. To be 'New' to others. To be 'New' in everything I do.
You know, the Word of God does not promise us what we want. It does not promise success or happiness, but trials, persecution, pain and suffering to those who truly will follow Him. The reward is great though. From every failure I have gained wisdom. From every trial I have learned to love and have compassion. From all of the persecution it has brought me closer to Him. From all of the suffering I have gained everything.
What is your priorities for this year? To be found 'In' Him should be the beginning and the end of this new year~
Then I thought to myself "What would be my top priority this year?" Immediately the thought came to me "To be more like Christ this year than last, and love as He loves." My mind quickly thought back to past years and remembered 'Resolutions' made such as "I will go on a diet and even get in shape." "I will be a better person this year than last." "I will give more this year rather than the last", and so forth. Needless to say "They were merely resolutions and not committments."
The scripture that changed my whole life is 2 Cor. 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old is gone and the new has come." That is exactly the scripture that the Lord kept running through my mind this morning. This is my priority for this year. To be 'New' in Him. To be 'New' to others. To be 'New' in everything I do.
You know, the Word of God does not promise us what we want. It does not promise success or happiness, but trials, persecution, pain and suffering to those who truly will follow Him. The reward is great though. From every failure I have gained wisdom. From every trial I have learned to love and have compassion. From all of the persecution it has brought me closer to Him. From all of the suffering I have gained everything.
What is your priorities for this year? To be found 'In' Him should be the beginning and the end of this new year~
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)