I know your deeds. Behold I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
Revelation 3:8 NASB
The only one that can stop you from walking in the calling of God upon your life is you! When God has called you to something, no one else can close the door upon your opportunity to fulfill that call. It is only through your unfaithfulness; your refusal to obey, that the opportunity can go lost. Do not fear man, what he may say, or do to you. Walk in what God has called you to. He is the one who has opened the door!
Showing posts with label encouragement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label encouragement. Show all posts
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Monday, January 12, 2015
Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church.
The Church triumphant has been under attack since it's inception some 2,000 years ago. Nations and rulers have tried to destroy the Church through persecution, they have tried to legislate it out of existence, and have had a measure of success by merging it with the state.
The union of church and state has probably done more harm to the cause of Christ than any other device satan has come up with. By this union, governments have controlled what the church believes, and what it practices. By legislating Christianity, nations have been declared "Christian" deceiving their members into thinking they are true Christians when in fact they are not.
No human government on this earth has the God given ability to determine what constitutes true faith and practice. God alone, through His word has set forth the standard for Christian practice. No one has the right or ability to come between a man's conscience and his God.
Jesus tells us that He will build His Church upon the rock of our confession of faith, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). The Bible tells us that there is one body, one Spirit, and we were called in one hope of our calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is over all, through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4-6). Jude tells us to contend earnestly for the faith that was once delivered (Jude 1:3). That is the true faith, the one delivered down through the Apostles and Prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20).
This is the foundation that the true follower of Christ Jesus is built upon. Every one who names the name Of Jesus in a true and living faith is being built up into a spiritual dwelling place for God (Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4-5)
Trials and tribulations will come as we are told in the word of God (1 Peter 4:12-14; Rev 1:9; Matt 5:10-12). We are to rejoice in this, and stand fast, as Jesus tells us, "He who endures to the end will be saved" (Matt 24:13). We have the precious promise of Christ that He will be with us to the end of the age (Matt 28:18-20).
The Church has always prospered under adversity. It has triumphed in what seemed it's darkest hour. This is when a line is drawn so to speak, and those who cling to Christ with a ruthless trust are separated from those who are merely nominal. When things get a little tough, they are out of there. This is when the people of God shine the brightest, filled with the glorious presence of the Holy Spirit.
Do not grow weary or give up as you see things get tough in these last days.
It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
2 Timothy 2:11-13 NASB
The union of church and state has probably done more harm to the cause of Christ than any other device satan has come up with. By this union, governments have controlled what the church believes, and what it practices. By legislating Christianity, nations have been declared "Christian" deceiving their members into thinking they are true Christians when in fact they are not.
No human government on this earth has the God given ability to determine what constitutes true faith and practice. God alone, through His word has set forth the standard for Christian practice. No one has the right or ability to come between a man's conscience and his God.
Jesus tells us that He will build His Church upon the rock of our confession of faith, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). The Bible tells us that there is one body, one Spirit, and we were called in one hope of our calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is over all, through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4-6). Jude tells us to contend earnestly for the faith that was once delivered (Jude 1:3). That is the true faith, the one delivered down through the Apostles and Prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20).
This is the foundation that the true follower of Christ Jesus is built upon. Every one who names the name Of Jesus in a true and living faith is being built up into a spiritual dwelling place for God (Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4-5)
Trials and tribulations will come as we are told in the word of God (1 Peter 4:12-14; Rev 1:9; Matt 5:10-12). We are to rejoice in this, and stand fast, as Jesus tells us, "He who endures to the end will be saved" (Matt 24:13). We have the precious promise of Christ that He will be with us to the end of the age (Matt 28:18-20).
The Church has always prospered under adversity. It has triumphed in what seemed it's darkest hour. This is when a line is drawn so to speak, and those who cling to Christ with a ruthless trust are separated from those who are merely nominal. When things get a little tough, they are out of there. This is when the people of God shine the brightest, filled with the glorious presence of the Holy Spirit.
Do not grow weary or give up as you see things get tough in these last days.
It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
2 Timothy 2:11-13 NASB
Thursday, January 8, 2015
The Church, Training Ground or Hospital?
Many people today have the idea that the church is a hospital for the spiritually ill. Now I understand that there are some individuals who are weak in the faith, or those who struggle in their Christian walk, and these should receive help. It is scriptural (Gal 6:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:14).
It is also true that an unbeliever may come into the assembly, but the presence of God should be so noticeable to them that they are either truly saved, or feel uncomfortable enough in their sin, to not play church for the rest of their lives (1 Cor 14:24-25; Acts 5:11-14).
In acts 5:11-14, great fear fell upon the people after the deaths of Annanias and Sapphira. Notice how unbelievers did not associate themselves with the church. The presence of God was there, and a casual individual did not want to go in and hang around and yet have no desire to repent and serve Christ. Yet we see that people were indeed being saved and added to the Church.
The difference is this. The Church of Acts was going out and winning the lost, then bringing them in and making disciples. Today, we want them to come in, and we hope that in time something will click and they will get saved. Sadly, we see people spend their entire lives in church trying to overcome multitudes of sins and habits, needing to be led through all manners of issues affecting their homes and relationships, all because they are not getting saved. The church is seen as a divine hospital for the patching up of sinners, and for the most part, that is all that is happening, a lot of patches, but very few transformed lives.
Once again, I understand the need for compassion, and the call on our lives as Christians to reach out to help the weak and needy, but we are going about it wrong for the most part.
We are told in the book of Ephesians that the assembly of believers, the Church, is where we come to be equipped for works of service (Ephesians 4:11-12). The Church is comprised of true believers, who have been born into the kingdom of God. The epistles are written to Saints, ones who are separated unto the service of God. These are holy people, not unrepentant sinners.
It is true that Jesus tells us that there will be tares sown along side the wheat. A tare looks like wheat, but does not bear "fruit". In the world there will be individuals who may pass as Christians, but in reality they are not. Many of them fill our churches ever week (Matt 13:24-30, 36-43). We must do what we can to make sure that any unbeliever who would be in one of our churches would come to a saving knowledge of Christ, but this is not the purpose of our gathering together as believers!
As I said, the Church is the gathering of redeemed people, the Bride of Christ! We are to be equipped to go out and do the works of service that God has called us to. Paul tells us that we are to grow up into maturity, no longer being tossed back and forth like children, carried away by false doctrines (Ephesians 4:13-14).
The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to press on to maturity (Hebrews 6:1). Many of us can relate to the fact that we ought to be teachers, but are in need of being taught the basics after years of Christianity (Hebrews 5:12-14). I believe that much of this comes from a hospital mentality; the church exists to fix us and patch us up. Sadly many never seem to get beyond the patching up stage.
We are called to go into all the world and make disciples, and the Church is where the training, and praying, and encouragement, happens. This is where many of the missionaries of old received their callings (Acts 13:1-3). Men were made strong in the presence of the Holy Spirit, in the midst of the gathering of the Saints of God. We are called to encourage one another on to good deeds, as we assemble together (Hebrews 10:24-25).
We are in a war of a spiritual nature, and need all the training and edification that we can get. We cannot remain infants, and expect to be effective in our service to Christ our King. We are to be advancing the Kingdom of God in the face of a wicked world dominated by satan, and all his devices. We must be strong, we must be filled with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We must grow to a mature man, complete in Christ.
If you are struggling, find true deliverance in Christ Jesus, and press on to maturity. Don't settle for a life of struggle and bondage. The Christian life is one of victory. We are more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37). Go on to maturity, and do your part to fulfill the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Come to church and be encouraged to go out to the battle field!
It is also true that an unbeliever may come into the assembly, but the presence of God should be so noticeable to them that they are either truly saved, or feel uncomfortable enough in their sin, to not play church for the rest of their lives (1 Cor 14:24-25; Acts 5:11-14).
In acts 5:11-14, great fear fell upon the people after the deaths of Annanias and Sapphira. Notice how unbelievers did not associate themselves with the church. The presence of God was there, and a casual individual did not want to go in and hang around and yet have no desire to repent and serve Christ. Yet we see that people were indeed being saved and added to the Church.
The difference is this. The Church of Acts was going out and winning the lost, then bringing them in and making disciples. Today, we want them to come in, and we hope that in time something will click and they will get saved. Sadly, we see people spend their entire lives in church trying to overcome multitudes of sins and habits, needing to be led through all manners of issues affecting their homes and relationships, all because they are not getting saved. The church is seen as a divine hospital for the patching up of sinners, and for the most part, that is all that is happening, a lot of patches, but very few transformed lives.
Once again, I understand the need for compassion, and the call on our lives as Christians to reach out to help the weak and needy, but we are going about it wrong for the most part.
We are told in the book of Ephesians that the assembly of believers, the Church, is where we come to be equipped for works of service (Ephesians 4:11-12). The Church is comprised of true believers, who have been born into the kingdom of God. The epistles are written to Saints, ones who are separated unto the service of God. These are holy people, not unrepentant sinners.
It is true that Jesus tells us that there will be tares sown along side the wheat. A tare looks like wheat, but does not bear "fruit". In the world there will be individuals who may pass as Christians, but in reality they are not. Many of them fill our churches ever week (Matt 13:24-30, 36-43). We must do what we can to make sure that any unbeliever who would be in one of our churches would come to a saving knowledge of Christ, but this is not the purpose of our gathering together as believers!
As I said, the Church is the gathering of redeemed people, the Bride of Christ! We are to be equipped to go out and do the works of service that God has called us to. Paul tells us that we are to grow up into maturity, no longer being tossed back and forth like children, carried away by false doctrines (Ephesians 4:13-14).
The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to press on to maturity (Hebrews 6:1). Many of us can relate to the fact that we ought to be teachers, but are in need of being taught the basics after years of Christianity (Hebrews 5:12-14). I believe that much of this comes from a hospital mentality; the church exists to fix us and patch us up. Sadly many never seem to get beyond the patching up stage.
We are called to go into all the world and make disciples, and the Church is where the training, and praying, and encouragement, happens. This is where many of the missionaries of old received their callings (Acts 13:1-3). Men were made strong in the presence of the Holy Spirit, in the midst of the gathering of the Saints of God. We are called to encourage one another on to good deeds, as we assemble together (Hebrews 10:24-25).
We are in a war of a spiritual nature, and need all the training and edification that we can get. We cannot remain infants, and expect to be effective in our service to Christ our King. We are to be advancing the Kingdom of God in the face of a wicked world dominated by satan, and all his devices. We must be strong, we must be filled with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We must grow to a mature man, complete in Christ.
If you are struggling, find true deliverance in Christ Jesus, and press on to maturity. Don't settle for a life of struggle and bondage. The Christian life is one of victory. We are more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37). Go on to maturity, and do your part to fulfill the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Come to church and be encouraged to go out to the battle field!
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
A Word of Encouragement.
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,
so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:11-12 NASB
As this year draws to a close, and we face the dawning of a new year, I would like to encourage you to hold fast your commitment to Christ Jesus.
Many of you desire to know God in a deeper way, and I would encourage you, like Paul, to pursue Him with a renewed passion (Philippians 3:7-17). As the above passage in Hebrews states, it takes diligence, faith, and patience (perseverance). At times it can seem so easy to just give in, as the world seeks to gain our attention with all of it's attractions.
Hold fast your confidence firm until the end (Hebrews 10:23, 35-36). Serving Jesus is far better than anything that this world can offer us. Knowing Him intimately is the greatest reward that one can find. Don't lose it!
The scriptures tell us to not grow weary in well doing, for in the end we will reap the reward of eternal life (Galatians 6:8-9). This is eternity, face to face with our Savior.
So in the coming days and months, be diligent. It takes effort, commitment. But through faith we overcome and gain the victory (1 John 5:4).
so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:11-12 NASB
As this year draws to a close, and we face the dawning of a new year, I would like to encourage you to hold fast your commitment to Christ Jesus.
Many of you desire to know God in a deeper way, and I would encourage you, like Paul, to pursue Him with a renewed passion (Philippians 3:7-17). As the above passage in Hebrews states, it takes diligence, faith, and patience (perseverance). At times it can seem so easy to just give in, as the world seeks to gain our attention with all of it's attractions.
Hold fast your confidence firm until the end (Hebrews 10:23, 35-36). Serving Jesus is far better than anything that this world can offer us. Knowing Him intimately is the greatest reward that one can find. Don't lose it!
The scriptures tell us to not grow weary in well doing, for in the end we will reap the reward of eternal life (Galatians 6:8-9). This is eternity, face to face with our Savior.
So in the coming days and months, be diligent. It takes effort, commitment. But through faith we overcome and gain the victory (1 John 5:4).
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