A few days ago, I mentioned the often useless phrase; “so-and-so loves the Lord.” But what does it really mean to Love the Lord. OK, you say, “well you must be born again.” I’ll buy that, but is that a sufficient definition? It seems that our Lord felt that didn’t quite fit the definition.
Revelation 2:1 - 4 (NKJV) 1“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. (emphasis added)
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Uncategorized
Healthy churches are not byproducts of programs but instead are products of relationships found with God and within the church family. Please don’t misunderstand me and assume that I am anti-programs, I however must say that nobody should have time for programs if they don’t have time to read the bible.
We look to and fro searching for what God has for us individually; we turn to man-made programs, spiritual leaders and advisers but never or rarely open the very living word of God. Your church is only as healthy as the people whom are apart of the church body as a whole. If we want to turn our churches and the world upside down we must start by turning our lives upside down.
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There is no doubt that today, January 20th is an extraordinary day as the first black man takes the oath of office as the President of the United States. For many of us who didn’t vote for President Obama, today may be a bit of a bitter pill and for some worse. With his pro-abortion position, his ambiguity over homosexuality, black liberation theology, his apparent lack of understanding concerning militant Islam and terrorism, and his socialist world view, etc., there is plenty to be concerned about. But thankfully we serve a God who is not only in control of the affairs of men, but it is He, who ultimately appoints rulers (Dan 9:23; Rom 13:1), and uses the affairs of men in His continuing redemptive plan, of which we are as believers are to be engaged in. When we take a long look at the nation of Israel and God’s dealing with His people there can no doubt as to this fact. As we personalize our times, there is no better to look at than Job.
Job 24:1 (NKJV) 1 “Since times are not hidden from the Almighty, Why do those who know Him see not His days?
Job 33:13 (NKJV) 13 Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.
As I reflect upon the words found here in Job, I am taken back a minute. Here is a man who underwent a testing that could hardly be considered fair or easy and yet his reflection upon the sovereignty of God is rock solid. I am also convinced that hidden in his responses here and throughout the book of Job, he also had a firm confidence in the goodness of God. While we might not see the whole picture or understand what is happening, the events of life and nations are not hid from God. What we can take solace in, is the fact that our times fit perfectly the plan of God and He can use what ever circumstances we find ourselves in to bring us into conformity to Christ (Romans 8:28-29).
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Culture, Uncategorized
Romans 10:9 - 13(NKJV) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
“Did you know that Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life?” This is a question often asked of people as we share our faith in Christ. The idea here is that we think that people will respond to Christ if we paint Him as a loving God who wishes to have a relation with us. It is certainly true that God loves mankind (John 3:16) and is longsuffering not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), but this is only part of the picture. We share what we think is the Gospel message wrapped up in the presupposition that what the lost need to hear, is that their problem is that they are missing out on a cool relationship with God. We just want to be “seeker friendly.” We end up with a cozy and comfortable Jesus that anyone could cuddle up to, but the lost are still unaware of their real need and the real reason why Christ went to the cross (Romans 3:10-23). But the real danger is that many think they are Christians as a result of this kind of evangelism that is devoid of any kind of true Biblical repentance (Luke 13:3 cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:9).
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Doctrine of Salvation, Theology 101
Repentence