We need to get back to the way God intended our lives to be lived, and our witness shared!
http://contendforfaith.blogspot.com/
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Sunday, May 5, 2013
An Interview With Leonard Ravenhill.
Here is a link to an interview with Leonard Ravenhill. It is convicting, as well as inspiring. We need to see revival as he describes it, once again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwtiw7UTj4o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwtiw7UTj4o
Grieving the Spirit.
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30 NASB
As Christians, we are called to maturity. We are not to be like children, falling for everything that we hear, but we are to grow up in all aspects of our lives, into Christ, who is our head (Eph 4:14,15). We are to live our lives according to the truth, the truth that is revealed to us in the word of God. It is one thing to know and study the truth, but unless we allow it to shape and mold our lives, unless we become Christlike in our behavior, it is useless knowledge.
It is the job of the Holy Spirit to take the truth and reveal it to us. The Holy Spirit will take the word of God and illuminate it to our hearts and minds so that we can understand it and know how we need to apply it to our lives. It is His job to sanctify us, or to make us holy, set apart in every aspect of our lives. To be holy, is to be separated from sin, selfishness, and all the ungodly ways of this world, and be devoted to the service of God. The Holy Spirit will convict us, promt us, lead and guide us, and empower us, to the end that Christ is formed in us.
Those who follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, exhibit lives filled with the fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, are all marks of the Spirit filled life (Galatians 5:22,23).
Paul exhorted the Believers in Ephesus to put off the old man, the corrupt way of life that they once lived, and to put on the new man who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness, and holiness of the truth (Eph 4:22-24). This involves a renewal of mind, a looking at life through the lens of scripture with a determined willingness to obey God in everything at all times. We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit, or we will grieve Him. The Spirit is filled with sorrow when we go against Him. It grieves Him when we are dishonest with one another. He is grieved by anger, theft, vain and foolish conversation, bitterness, wrath, clamor, and slander (vss. 25-31). All of these sinful behaviors are the fruit of yielding to our fleshly, selfish desires. These are the results of failing to follow the Spirit, and this grieves Him. A loss of the fear of the Lord, a lack of respect for Him and His presence grieves the Spirit. This only shows that we are living for ourselves, and not for Him.
To grieve the Spirit is to lose communion with Him. It is to lose that peace that comes from a right standing with God. It is to lose the inner witness that the Holy Spirit bears with our spirit. If persisted in, it leads to spiritual death (Gal 5:21, 6:8).
The only remedy is found at the cross of Christ. True confession of sin, confession to God, and confession to those we have offended, and a honest repentance, are needed. When sin is dealt with, and dug out from the root, when the blood of Christ has been applied by faith, we will once again enjoy the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Ephesians 4:30 NASB
As Christians, we are called to maturity. We are not to be like children, falling for everything that we hear, but we are to grow up in all aspects of our lives, into Christ, who is our head (Eph 4:14,15). We are to live our lives according to the truth, the truth that is revealed to us in the word of God. It is one thing to know and study the truth, but unless we allow it to shape and mold our lives, unless we become Christlike in our behavior, it is useless knowledge.
It is the job of the Holy Spirit to take the truth and reveal it to us. The Holy Spirit will take the word of God and illuminate it to our hearts and minds so that we can understand it and know how we need to apply it to our lives. It is His job to sanctify us, or to make us holy, set apart in every aspect of our lives. To be holy, is to be separated from sin, selfishness, and all the ungodly ways of this world, and be devoted to the service of God. The Holy Spirit will convict us, promt us, lead and guide us, and empower us, to the end that Christ is formed in us.
Those who follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, exhibit lives filled with the fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, are all marks of the Spirit filled life (Galatians 5:22,23).
Paul exhorted the Believers in Ephesus to put off the old man, the corrupt way of life that they once lived, and to put on the new man who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness, and holiness of the truth (Eph 4:22-24). This involves a renewal of mind, a looking at life through the lens of scripture with a determined willingness to obey God in everything at all times. We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit, or we will grieve Him. The Spirit is filled with sorrow when we go against Him. It grieves Him when we are dishonest with one another. He is grieved by anger, theft, vain and foolish conversation, bitterness, wrath, clamor, and slander (vss. 25-31). All of these sinful behaviors are the fruit of yielding to our fleshly, selfish desires. These are the results of failing to follow the Spirit, and this grieves Him. A loss of the fear of the Lord, a lack of respect for Him and His presence grieves the Spirit. This only shows that we are living for ourselves, and not for Him.
To grieve the Spirit is to lose communion with Him. It is to lose that peace that comes from a right standing with God. It is to lose the inner witness that the Holy Spirit bears with our spirit. If persisted in, it leads to spiritual death (Gal 5:21, 6:8).
The only remedy is found at the cross of Christ. True confession of sin, confession to God, and confession to those we have offended, and a honest repentance, are needed. When sin is dealt with, and dug out from the root, when the blood of Christ has been applied by faith, we will once again enjoy the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
A Lesson From A Late Spring.
We have had an unusually long winter. It is heading towards the end of April and we are still getting snow. The ground is covered, and everything is a mess.
The other day I looked out the window at work and saw it snowing again. At first I was annoyed, but then I paused and prayed "What are you trying to say, God?".
I thought about it for a minute and sensed God was showing me that He has been longing to pour out His Spirit upon His people, but they are unwilling to receive Him. Just as this is the time for rain, and things to green up and grow, but it has been too cold, likewise the Church has in a great measure grown to cold to receive the rain of the Holy Spirit. Many like things the way they are. They do not want change. Others hold on to sin, and do not want to feel conviction.
The remedy is repentance! The rain will only come and fall upon the ground that has been plowed up. The sleet and snow will only turn to rain as the temperature warms up. Likewise the Holy Spirit will only shower upon those whose hearts are warmed up to receive Him. We must lay aside our complacency, selfishness, and sin, and return to Christ once again. He stands ready to restore and revive. He longs to fill us with His presence. It is spring, the time for new life to begin!
The other day I looked out the window at work and saw it snowing again. At first I was annoyed, but then I paused and prayed "What are you trying to say, God?".
I thought about it for a minute and sensed God was showing me that He has been longing to pour out His Spirit upon His people, but they are unwilling to receive Him. Just as this is the time for rain, and things to green up and grow, but it has been too cold, likewise the Church has in a great measure grown to cold to receive the rain of the Holy Spirit. Many like things the way they are. They do not want change. Others hold on to sin, and do not want to feel conviction.
The remedy is repentance! The rain will only come and fall upon the ground that has been plowed up. The sleet and snow will only turn to rain as the temperature warms up. Likewise the Holy Spirit will only shower upon those whose hearts are warmed up to receive Him. We must lay aside our complacency, selfishness, and sin, and return to Christ once again. He stands ready to restore and revive. He longs to fill us with His presence. It is spring, the time for new life to begin!
Monday, March 18, 2013
The Narrow Way.
Jesus makes a sobering statement in Mattthew 7:13,14
" Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
"For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
Hear what Jesus is saying! The broad way to destruction is full of people! The narrow way to life is only found by a few!
We live in an age where salvation is "easy". Just say this prayer, come as you are, you do not need to give up anything, God loves you just as you are. People are looking for a Jesus who will give them a wonderful life. They want a Jesus who will make them happy without making them holy.
The Jesus of the Bible demands a total commitment of all we are. He demands we deny ourselves, and take up our cross, not just once but DAILY, as we follow Him. There is no coming into the kingdom without a thorough repentance. Repentance was the cry of John the Baptist, of Jesus, Paul, Peter. They did not say "Repeat this prayer after me, while every head is bowed, and every eye is closed" They called for repentance, a turning from sin and self, and by faith, surrendering to Christ as Lord.
There are few who make this commitment. Most want heaven, but have no real desire to live a life sold out to Christ, a life lived for His will, His glory, His kingdom. Most are content to look back at a moment when they said a prayer, exercised some faith, but never exchanged self for Christ. They were never truly regenerated, born again, and made into a new creation.
What road are you on? Are you satisfied to live a life of sin, never getting victory over temptation, never really changed from how you have always lived? You might have "accepted Christ" but where is the fruit? Or have you been transformed, truly set free, living for the will of God?
What road are you on?
" Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
"For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
Hear what Jesus is saying! The broad way to destruction is full of people! The narrow way to life is only found by a few!
We live in an age where salvation is "easy". Just say this prayer, come as you are, you do not need to give up anything, God loves you just as you are. People are looking for a Jesus who will give them a wonderful life. They want a Jesus who will make them happy without making them holy.
The Jesus of the Bible demands a total commitment of all we are. He demands we deny ourselves, and take up our cross, not just once but DAILY, as we follow Him. There is no coming into the kingdom without a thorough repentance. Repentance was the cry of John the Baptist, of Jesus, Paul, Peter. They did not say "Repeat this prayer after me, while every head is bowed, and every eye is closed" They called for repentance, a turning from sin and self, and by faith, surrendering to Christ as Lord.
There are few who make this commitment. Most want heaven, but have no real desire to live a life sold out to Christ, a life lived for His will, His glory, His kingdom. Most are content to look back at a moment when they said a prayer, exercised some faith, but never exchanged self for Christ. They were never truly regenerated, born again, and made into a new creation.
What road are you on? Are you satisfied to live a life of sin, never getting victory over temptation, never really changed from how you have always lived? You might have "accepted Christ" but where is the fruit? Or have you been transformed, truly set free, living for the will of God?
What road are you on?
Faith
 |
| Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. |
Are you weak? Are you doubting? Are you dry spiritually? Get out your Bible, get on your knees, and come to the source.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
God, the Source of Revival.
Drip down, O heavens, from
above,
and let the clouds pour
down righteousness;
Let the earth open up and
salvation bear fruit,
And righteousness spring up
with it.
I, the LORD, have created it.
Isaiah 45:8 NASB
above,
and let the clouds pour
down righteousness;
Let the earth open up and
salvation bear fruit,
And righteousness spring up
with it.
I, the LORD, have created it.
Isaiah 45:8 NASB
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