(Video) Lisa Bevere - The "Lioness Arising" In You! - Part 2

The Full Circle Ladies speak with Lisa Bevere about her book, "Lioness Arising". A lot of women are afraid of their strength. We need to remember that we, as women, get our strength from God. Is there an inner lioness inside of you just waiting to bust out?

To Be Born Anew! (Part 2)

Hi everyone! Welcome back to Part 2 of this series entitled, "To Be Born Anew!" I know that it has been a few weeks since Part 1, so perhaps a brief review is called for here.

In Part 1, we opened our discussion of what is means to be "born again." Of course, when we use this term we are speaking about Christians; either those who are (born again) and those who are not. In my last post, we discussed the necessity, and the nature of the new birth. In this, Part 2 of our series, I would like to conclude it by talking about the evidence of the new birth, the basis for the new birth, and the rejection of the new birth.

Why don't we start with the evidence of the new birth (John 3:6-8)? We can see evidence of this new birth in a couple of ways. First, evidence is seen by the effect of the spirit. We should expect that what the Spirit produces is spirit (i.e., spiritual)- 1 John 3:14. Second, evidence can be seen by the fruit of the Spirit. Paul describes the fruit (evidence) of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23.

The fruit of the Spirit comes not only from being born of the Spirit, but walking in the Spirit, as well (Galatians 5:16,25). Keep in mind that where the fruit does not appear, either there was never any rebirth, or one is walking after the flesh, not the Spirit! (Galatians 5:17)

Now, let's talk about the basis for the new birth (John 3:14-18). First, there is the sacrifice of Christ. Jesus compares his eventual crucifixion to Moses' lifting up of the serpent (John 3:14; Numbers 21:4-9). In regards to Jesus' sacrifice, this was so that people would be saved from perishing by believing in Jesus (John 3:15). Without redemption from sin, regeneration would be meaningless; the new birth provides both! (Acts 22:16; Titus 3:5)

A second basis is the love of God. God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son so that those who believe might have everlasting life (i.e., enter the kingdom of God!) John 3:16. God doesn't want anyone to perish or be condemned, but to be saved! (John 3:16b-17) God's love for man is what makes Christ's sacrifice and the new birth possible (1 John 4:9-10)

Third, there is the faith of man. Those who believe in Jesus will not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:15-16). They will not be condemned, unlike those who do not believe (John 3:18). The new birth requires faith in Jesus; without faith, being born of water is meaningless, and born of the Spirit impossible (Mark 16:16; John 8:24; Acts 8:36-37).

Christ's sacrifice and God's love, in cooperation with man's faith, makes the new birth possible. Yet many remain condemned for lack of faith in Jesus. Why?

Jesus himself offers one reason for the rejection of the new birth (John 3:19-21). Many of those who reject the new birth do so because they love the darkness more than the light. Remember, light (Jesus) came into the world (John 3:19a; John 1:5,9; John 8:12. There are those who love the darkness instead, because of their evil deeds (John 3:19b). Their love for things of the world cause them to reject the light of Jesus (Luke 16:14).

Then, there are those who do not want to be exposed by the light. They know that coming to Jesus will expose their evil deeds (John 3:20; Ephesians 5:13). But, those that are willing to obey (does the truth), do not fear the light (John 3:21). Unwilling to give up their evil deeds, they are unwilling to submit to the new birth which acknowledges one's sinfulness and requires repentence (Acts 2:36-38).

In closing, allow me to share the following with you. During his conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus reveals much about being born again (John 3). He discusses:

a. the necessity of the new birth (one cannot be a Christian unless he is "born again."
b. the nature of the new birth (a birth involving both water and the Spirit (i.e., baptism).
c. the evidence of the new birth (observable by its effects, i.e., the fruit of the Spirit).
d. the basis of the new birth (Christ's sacrifice, God's love, man's faith).
e. the rejection of the new birth (why many refuse to submit to it).

What about you? Have you been born again? Have you been:

-Born of water and the Spirit (i.e., a washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit?)
-Born through the Word of God (i.e., by responding to the gospel message?)
-Responding to God's love and Christ's sacrifice by expressing your faith in baptism?

Scripture: Mark 16:16; John 3:7

Prayer:

Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. -Psalm 51

May God bless you always,

Damalis

When Life Has You Down...Let God Pick You Up! (Part 3)

Welcome, and thank you for joining me in Part 3 of this series titled, "When Life Has You Down...Let God Pick You Up!" If you recall, we began this discussion (Part 1) learning what we need to do in order to get ourselves back on track after something happens to knock us into the pits! Subsequently, in the second installment (Part 2), we learned about some things we can do to strengthen our walk with God. This is important because we have a very strong enemy who would like nothing better than to keep us in a weak, and saddened state with God. We need to be serious and committed in order to fight back!

Today, in the conclusion of this series, we will talk about the importance of "seeing the work of God." After all, one of the greatest incentives to walking in continuous victory is to be able to see the Lord at work all around us!

I would like to present three thoughts to this. They are:

a. The Grace We Now Enjoy
b. The Grief We Must Endure
c. The Glory We Will Experience

First, let's look at "The Grace We Now Enjoy." While we journey through difficult days, while we fight the devil day by day, while we face those times when we are burdened with worries and cares, always remember that God's grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9). Notice that he did not say that He would lift every load. He did not say that He would flatten every hill. He did not say that He would smooth out every rough spot. However, He did say that He would change you in the middle of your difficulty so that you could be successful in your walk with Him. There is grace for every trial, every mile, and for everything we face as we go throught life. Thank God for matchless, marvelous, priceless, and boundless grace!

Secondly, let's look at "The Grief We Must Endure." 1 Peter 5:10 makes it clear that there will be difficulties along the road of life from time to time. That is the reality of it! The word "suffer" bears this out for us. Jesus himself said it would be so (John 16:33). Even Job knew that there would be difficult times in our lives (Job 14:1). Remember, God only had one Son Who did not sin, but He has no sons that do not suffer!

Keep in mind that even when life is a veil of tears for us, we have the Lord's promise of His presence (Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20); His provision (Philippians 4:19); His power (Matthew 28:18); and His Promotion (John 14:1-3). So, let's run the race of life with patience, always looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith! Why? Because He has already run the race and He knows the way!

Finally, let's look at "The Glory We Will Experience." 1 Peter 5:10 tells us that when the suffering days are over, there are glory days ahead! Notice what the Lord says here: He will make us perfect, establish us, strengthen us, and settle us. When will this take place? When we leave this world, we are going to a land where the things which trouble us now are not allowed to enter (Revelation 21:27). A place where the trials of the way and the tears of the way are all wiped away forever (Revelation 21:4). A place where trials and burdens are replaced with glory and peace (Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17). A place where the devil cannot follow and where the Lord is the light. Yes, we are going to a place where troubles and trials can no longer afflict the children of God. I look forward to that day!

In conclusion, is your life in the pits? If so, there is a way out! I'd like you to ask yourself the following questions. Please give them your sincere thought and consideration. "Am I surrendering to God?"; "Am I sending my worries to God?"; Am I strengthening my walk with God?"; "Am I seeing the work of God?" If you answered "no" to any of these questions, may I suggest something? Why not come to God today and get that area of your life straightened out? There is peace in Jesus. There is power in Jesus. You CAN get your life out of the pits today if you will do it God's way!

Prayer:

Father, I pray for all those in need, for all of my friends and my family. I pray for your strength to see us all through, when life is the hardest and when times are good. Amen

God bless you,

Darlene

Basic Beliefs To Grow On: An Introduction

While witnessing for Christ on the streets of a city in California, evangelist H.A. Ironside and his associates were often interrupted by questions from the crowd. "There are hundreds of religions in this country, and the followers of each sect think they're right. How can poor plain people like us find out what really is the truth?"

Ironside and his friends would answer something like this: "Did I hear you say there are hundreds of religions? That's strange; I've heard of only two. True, I find many shades of difference in the opinions of those comprising the two great schools. But after all, there are but two. The one covers all who expect salvation by doing; the other, all who have been saved by something done."

Salvation is not an end in itself; rather, salvation is the first step of an exciting, challenging journey. When we accept Christ’s forgiveness and repent of our sin, we open the door to that relationship with God that He has created us for. Just because we’ve taken that first step, however, doesn’t mean the rest of the journey will be easy. The Bible never promises an easy, happy life for those who follow God. It DOES promise that God will be with us along the way and that He will provide for every need:

Deuteronomy 31:8 – The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
2 Corinthians 9:8 – And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Philippians 4:19 – And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
2 Peter 1:3 – His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him…

Together, during the next several weeks, we will discuss the basic beliefs of Christianity, which will both help you understand the "heart" of Christianity, and provide information necessary for healthy growth as a new Christian. Therefore, I whole-heartedly encourage you to read/review the passages mentioned in each posting during this series.

Like a mighty oak tree, we as believing Christians need to have a good solid foundation on which to grow. This doesn't just occur by accident or coincidence. There are certain principles, or foundational truths, that the Bible gives us to help us along in our walk. We won’t be able to prevent storms that shake us, but by building a strong foundation for our faith with these basic truths, we WILL be able to make it through the storms and grow from those experiences. (See Luke 6.46-49, “The Wise and Foolish Builders”) If we can understand and apply these principles, our journey with God will be off on a good start!

These truths are more than just theory: what we believe dramatically impacts how we live. When we believe lies, we live in defeat and wonder why our walk with God isn’t working. In fact, most spiritual problems and many psychological problems in our life are the result of lies we believe.

An incorrect view of God or belief about how He views us is detrimental to our faith and will negatively impact our walk with Him. In contrast, those with healthy spiritual and emotional lives are usually that way because they are living in the light of the truth given us in God’s Word.

During our series we will discuss four foundational truths about Christianity. Next time our topic will be the first truth: Our Identity. Until then, may God bless you!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. Amen

May God bless you,

Becky Lynn

(Video) The True Meaning Of Thanksgiving

The true meaning of Thanksgiving. Pass it on, and may God bless you!

Wishing You A Blessed Thanksgiving!

Just a reminder!

Beginning Thursday, November 24th, our ministry will be taking a few days off in observance of the Thanksgiving (U.S.) holiday. The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry will return on Monday, November, 28th!

Our blog (including archived posts) will still be available to you over the weekend. On behalf of our ministry, we wish all of you a blessed holiday! -The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry Team

(Thanksgiving Video) Thank Him!

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, sometimes it seems that the preparation for the day takes over the real meaning for celebrating it. As we sit around a table filled with food, family, and friends, let's stop and take a moment and thank Him. "For He is good, and His lovingkindness endures forever." (1 Chronicles 16:34)

He Did So with Thanksgiving!

Dear friends, I would like to let you, the faithful followers of the CHBM blog, know that our ministry will be taking a few days off beginning this Thursday, November 24th in observance of the Thanksgiving (U.S.) holiday. Our blog will return on Monday, November 28th.

We would also like to take this opportunity to extend our warmest holiday greetings to you and wish you a blessed holiday with family and friends. We thank God for you, and the blessing of your fellowship and good works in His name! ~Eve

The first American Thanksgiving didn't occur in 1621 when a group of Pilgrims shared a feast with a group of friendly Indians. The first recorded thanksgiving took place in Virginia more than 11 years earlier, and it wasn't a feast. The winter of 1610 at Jamestown had reduced a group of 409 settlers to 60. The survivors prayed for help, without knowing when or how it might come. When help arrived, in the form of a ship filled with food and supplies from England, a prayer meeting was held to give thanks to God. -Today in the Word, July, 1990, p. 22

As Paul wrote Philippians he was imprisoned in chains in Rome (Philippians 1:13). He could have spent his time in self-pity and complaint, but he didn't. Instead, he spent his time encouraging others: "Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice" (Philipians 4:4). You and I may not be physically bound, but most of us wear "chain" of varying sizes and lengths. This "chain" might be:

1. Failing health or a serious medical problem;
2. An unhappy marriage or children who break our hearts;
3. Job-related stresses;
4. Financial struggles
So, how could the apostle Paul be happy in his chains? How can we be happy in ours?

Philippians 1:3-11 tells us to look at the past with thanksgiving to God (Philippians 1:3-5). Paul was able to be happy in chains because, when he looked at the past, he did so with thanksgiving. Paul had probably been associated with the church at Philippi for 10 years, and he only had fond memories of that association (Philippians 1:3-4). The double use of the "all" make these verses amazing. Paul looked for the good in all things, even though he had suffered mistreatment in Philippi (1 Thessalonians 2:2). Perhaps, when he looked back on the unpleasant events he saw the good that came from them (Romans 8:28).

Philippians 1:6-8 tells us to look at the present with confidence in God. As Paul thought about the Christians in Philippi, he was flooded with emotions: "Love" was one of these emotions (Philippians 1:7-8). Paul longs for them with all of his heart. Paul loved them with the love that characterized the Lord. As Paul remembered his brothers and sisters in Christ, he was also filled with "confidence" (Philippians 1:6). Paul was happy in chains because he was able to look at the present with confidence in God.

Paul also tells us to look to the future with prayer to God. Regarding what was ahead, he did not ignore the realities of life, he knew that the Philippians would continue to face challenges, as would he (Philippians 1:9-11). Paul prayed that they would grow in love (agaph) and that it would abound; that they would always seek the best of another. Paul prayed that they would grow in knowledge, particularly spiritual knowledge where study is the key. He prayed that they would grow in the ability to discern between right and wrong. This is closely connected to knowledge. It means perception and understanding.

Paul prayed that they would grow in Christian character, "sincere and void of offence." Sincere means "judged by the sunlight" (Latin = without wax). Paul prayed that they would grow in living fruitful lives ("fruits of righteousness"); in other words, to bear the fruit of good works. To face the future with confidence we must live closer to the Lord each day and glorify Him in all things and prayer is a main component in this. There is no better advice for those who are "in chains" than to take their eyes off themselves and fasten them on the Lord!

In conclusion, what will your reaction be to the "chains of life"? We can look at the past with misgiving or thanksgiving. We can look at the present with cowardice or confidence. We can look at the future with apprehension or prayer. We can rely on our strength, or we can rely on the strength of the Lord. Which will be true of you?

Prayer: (Psalm 100)

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness:
come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD he is God:
it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good;
his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations.

May God always bless you,

~Eve

Growth In God Never Stops!

In The Last Days Newsletter, Leonard Ravenhill tells about a group of tourists visiting a picturesque village who walked by an old man sitting beside a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one tourist asked, "Were any great men born in this village?" The old man replied, "Nope, only babies." A trifling question brought a profound answer. There are no instant heroes--whether in this world or in the kingdom of God. Growth takes time, and as I Timothy 3:6 and 5:22 point out, even spiritual leadership must be earned.

It's a tragedy both on the physical level and the spiritual level for one to fail to grow or neglect to grow. When we were children, most of us had the fear that we would never grow up to adulthood. We could hardly wait to get there! Yet, we were were sympathetic toward those who for one reason or another did not fully develop physically or mentally.

It is absolutely necessary that we follow a program that will make spiritual maturity possible. This is true for many reasons. First, an immature, or baby Christian can't do the work of a mature Christian. Even as a growing boy would be terribly frustrated if he thought that he would never be able to do the work of a man, the baby Christian would be upset if he did not hope of someday being able to do the work of a full-grown Christian. Growth is absolutely essential if we would do the work God would have us to do, and which in our heart we want to do.

Next, let's face it, a baby Christian can't understand the deep things of God. Often parents will say to a child, "You are not old enough to understand." The writer of the book of Hebrews grieved over the spiritual immaturity of those to whom he was writing. He declared that their lack of growth made it impossible for them to understand the things he was trying to communicate to them.

He rebuked them because, at a time when they should have had the capacity to be teachers, they needed to be taught themselves. Instead of being able to eat the strong meat of the Word of God, they were infants on a milk diet (Hebrews 5:11-14).

Additionally, a baby Christian who does not grow cannot escape discontentment and unhappiness. Many of the conflicts that plague the fellowship of the church are the direct results of the distressed unhappiness of those who are still in the spiritual nursery when they ought to be mature, or old enough to vote in the spiritual realm. Paul declared that one of the problems that disrupted the fellowship of the church at Corinth was the immaturity of many of the members (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).

Lastly, a baby Christian will receive only a baby's reward. Did it ever occur to you that if you never grow and develop so as to become an effective servant of the Lord, you will not receive greater responsibility and greater rewards? As training and preparation prepare one for a better income, so growth, training, and experience make possible a greater responsibility here and a greater reward in heaven for the children of God.

So what do you think? Are you a baby Christian? If so, you don't have to stay that way. Maybe you're an "adolescent" who is in the process of growing toward spiritual maturity? Perhaps you are rejoicing in the privilege of being spiritually mature and effective in the service of the Lord? In this case, don't just sit there resting on your laurels! You can continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Growth in God never stops!

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:18

Let's pray:

I thank You, Father, for Your grace which was given to me by Christ Jesus, that I will continue to be enriched in everything by You, in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in me, so that I come short in no gift; eagerly waiting for the revelation of my Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm me to the end, that I will be blameless in the day of my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen (1 Corinthians 1:4-8)

God bless you,

Faith

(Video) Elaine Hamilton - Embracing the Mess

Elaine Hamilton, author of Church on the Couch, thinks the first step toward creating real community among the women in your church is telling the truth. But authenticity isn't always easy...

Saturday Scripture Gold with Bibi: A Solemn Agreement With God

Eternal covenant, Hebrews 13:20 : The redemptive covenant before time began, between the Father and the Son. By this covenant we have eternal redemption, an eternal peace from the 'God of peace', through the death and resurrection of the Son.

Did you know that the word "covenant" occurs 319 times in the New King James Bible? If we break the word "covenant" down to its most basic form, it is an agreement formed between two parties. This agreement also involves promises on the part of each to one another. If you are familiar with the Bible, than you know that the idea of a covenant between a holy God and His people is one of the central themes throughout.

Hello, and welcome to Saturday Scripture Gold! When you think of the word covenant, what comes to mind? Do you think of some type of obligation, agreement, or bond that is in effect for a specific length of time? Let's face it, it can be pretty confusing!

If we look at it from a biblical sense, a covenant implies much more than a contract, or simple agreement, between two parties. As an example, Erdman's Dictionary of the Bible defines "convenant" like this: A convenant is "a solemn agreement between two or more parties, made binding by some sort of oath." It is also a fact that most contracts have an end date, but a covenant is thought of as a permanent arrangement. Another glaring difference is that a contract generally involves only one part of a person, such as a skill, while a covenant involves the person's total being!

Let's talk about how the word "covenant" is used in the Old Testament. Looking into the meaning of this important idea, we can turn to this definition by the Holman Illustrated Bible: "The technical language used when covenants were made was 'to cut a covenant' (karat berit). This terminology referred to ritual sacrifices that accompanied civenant making.

Often animals sacrificed would be cut in two. In some covenant rituals part of the animal would be eaten by the covenanting parties and part burned in honor of their god. Sometimes the parties would walk symbolically between the pieces of the animal. In any case, the shedding of blood in such rituals signified the solemnity of the covenant, each party vowing not to break the covenant on pain and death."

This explains the strange custom of two people passing through the cut bodies of slain animals after making an agreement (Jeremiah 34:18-20). Some ancient Hittite and Assyrian texts describe ceremonies where people would walk between severed halves of animals as they made covenants. This also served as a graphic reminder of what would happen if the parties failed to keep their part of the covenant. A ritual or ceremony like this always accompanied the making of a covenant in the Old Testament.

Sometimes those entering into a covenant shared a holy meal, just like Laban and Jacob did when they made their covenant (Genesis 31:54). Abraham and his male descendants were commanded to be circumcised as a "sign of covenant" between them and God (Genesis 17:10-11). And don't forget that Moses sprinkled the blood of animals on the altar and upon the people who entered into covenant with God at Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:3-8).

In closing our message this week, the Old Testament contains many examples of covenants between people who related to each other as equals. I direct you to the covenants between:

1. Abraham and Abimelech (Genesis 21:27, 32)
2. Issac and Abimelech (Genesis 26:26-31)
3. Jacob and Laban (Genesis 31:43-54)
4. David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:3)
5. David and Abner (2 Samuel 3:12-13)
6. David and the elders of Israel (2 Samuel 5:3)
7. Solomon and King Hiram of Tyre (1 Kings 5:12)
8. King Asa of Judah, his people, and God (2 Chronicles 15:9-15)
Even marriage is understood to be a covenant (Malachi 2:14)!

The remarkable thing about God's covenant with His people is that God is holy, all-knowing, and all powerful; but he put aside his superiority to enter into a covenant with weak and sinful men!

Prayer:

Lord, be Thou my constant Guide,
Lead me all the way,
Till I reach Thy home at last,
Nevermore to stray. Amen

Have a blessed week!

Bibi

Are You Experiencing All that Christ Has to Offer?

A wise man will hear and increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels. -Song of Solomon

In the epistles of Paul, we customarily find him telling his readers what he prayed for on their behalf. So it is in his epistle to the Colossians, though he had not met many of them personally, he had heard of their faith and love (Colossians 1:3-8). Which, in turn, prompted him to pray unceasingly for them.

For what did he pray? The answer is found in Colossians 1:9-14. And by closely studying this passage we can learn not only what Paul desired for the Colossians but also what God would desire for ALL Christians, including us today!

As we examine this prayer of Paul, let's do so with this in mind: This is what God desires of us as well! First, God desires that we be FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL IN ALL WISDOM AND SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING (Colossians 1:9).

Notice some key words in this verse:
1. "FILLED"
a. Not just a small measure
b. But satiated, with a full measure
It is not God's desire that we try to "just get by with as little as necessary."
2. "THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL"
a. This is what God desires us to be filled with
b. The Greek word for "knowledge" in this passage is EPIGNOSIS
1) Knowledge which is the result of practical and personal
experience
2) I.e., not just academic or intellectual knowledge
c. Thus, our knowledge of God's will is to be something we have come by through practice and application in our lives
3. "IN ALL WISDOM AND SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING"
a. To possess a knowledge of God's will in ALL WISDOM requires
prayer (James 1:5)
b. To possess a knowledge of God's will with SPIRITUAL
UNDERSTANDING requires reading the word (Ephesians 3:3-5).
-- Therefore, prayer and Bible study are essential elements for
the Christian!

Why is being filled with such knowledge so important? Because God's people have always been destroyed by a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). It is essential to our renewal in becoming like Christ (Colossians 3:8-10). Is this prayer being answered in OUR lives? Are we doing anything to assure that it is?

Next, you will notice from Paul's prayer that it is evidently God's desire that we have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him (Colossians 10-14).

This is the objective of being filled with the knowledge of God's will.
1. To conduct ourselves in a manner WORTHY of the Lord (Ephesians 4:1)
a. The Lord we serve, and the calling we have received, is certainly a "worthy" one!
b. Our conduct should be one to honor Christ, not shame Him!
2. To conduct ourselves in a manner FULLY PLEASING HIM
a. There is conduct which displeases Christ (Luke 6:46).
b. But conduct coming from one who is first FILLED with the
knowledge of God's will is more like to FULLY please Him!
(note the play on words)

Conduct worthy of the Lord , fully pleasing him, is one way which we are:
1. "being fruitful in every good work" (verse 10)
a. Not just "one", but "every" good work (cf. Timothy 2:14; 3:1
b. For this we have been "created in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:10)
c. Why? So that God may be glorified (Matthew 5:16)
d. What sort of good works (cf. Matthew 25:37-40; James 1:27)
We should ask ourselves, "Are we being fruitful?"

2. "increasing in the knowledge of God" (verse 10)
a. We need to grow in the knowledge of God HIMSELF, not just His will (c.f. Jeremiah 9:23-24)
b. How can one truly know God? One can truly know HIM:
1) Through CREATION (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1-18-20)
2) Through inspired REVELATION (e.g., the Psalms and the Prophets)
3) But especially through JESUS (John 14:7-9; Colossians 2:9)
We should ask, "Are we daily increasing in the knowledge of God?"

3."strengthened in all might, according to his glorious power" (verse 11)
a. It is God's desire that we be strong in our our daily living for Him (2 Timothy 1:7-8)
b. There is "glorious power" available to the Christian, of which Paul often wrote, such as:
1) He experienced it in his own life (Philippians 4:3)
2) He wanted others to know about it (Ephesians 1:15-20)
3) He identified it with the working of the Spirit in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16)
4) He describes its greatness in Ephesians 3:20
c. What is the purpose of such power? Notice (in your Bible text):
1) "for all PATIENCE and LONGSUFFERING with JOY" (is this not the "fruit" the SPIRIT is supposed to produce? (c.f. Galatians 5:22-23)
2) I.e., so that even as we experience trials in this life, we may do so with joyful perserverence!
We should ask ourselves, "Are we experiencing this strength which God gives to those who do His will?"

4. "give thanks to the Father" (verses 12-14)
a. Christians should always have the "attitude of gratitude" (Thessalonians 5:18)
b. In our text, Paul mentions several REASONS TO BE THANKFUL. These are:
1) God has "qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light" (c.f. 1 Peter 1:3-5)
2) God has "delivered us from the power of darkness" (c.f. Ephesians 2:1-5)
3) God has "translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love"
a) In Whom we have "redemption through His blood"
b) In Whom we have "the forgiveness of sins" (c.f. Revelations 1:5-6)
We should ask, "Are we ever giving thanks to the Father for these wonderful blessings?"

In conclusion, here are some things to think about this message.
1. Such was the prayer of Paul for the Colossians; what can we learn from it? We can learn:
a) What God desires of us as well!
b) What kind of conduct that is necessary to be fully pleasing to the Lord!
2. May this prayer of Paul be one:
a) That we ask for OURSELVES
b) That we ask for OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS
c) And, that we desire for ALL!
3. Have you been "QUALIFIED" to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints?
a) Has God "DELIVERED" you from the power of darkness?
b) Has He "TRANSLATED" you into the kingdom of His Son?
Friends, let me leave you with these final words. Through his obedient faith (Hebrews 5:9) and baptism into Christ (John 3:5; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38) on your part, God is willing to do so to you today!

God bless you!

Vivianne

(Video) Pastor Melissa Scott - Women Speaking in the Church - Husbands, Wives, and Silence (Part 1)

Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from the Los Angeles University Cathedral. This is one of five brief excerpts drawn from her full, one-hour plus message on this subject.

Investigating the scriptures in Greek, the language Paul wrote his epistles in, she reveals what Paul really said to the Corinthian church about women - actually wives - and others keeping silent.

The High Cost of Low Living

When Benjamin Franklin was seven years old, a visitor gave him some small change. Later, seeing another boy playing with a whistle, young Benjamin gave the boy all his money for it. He played the whistle all over the house, enjoying it until he discovered that he had given four times as much as the whistle was worth. Instantly, the whistle lost its charm.

As he grew older, Franklin generalized this principle. When he saw a man neglecting his family or business for political popularity, or a miser giving up friendship for the sake of accumulating wealth, he would say, "He pays too much for his whistle."

The above story has an excellent lesson in it: Too often we pay too great a price for something that looks so good and promises so much. Fish are hooked because they are attracted to something that looks like food and would make a good meal only to become food themselves. Do not be fooled, the world offers you whistles that are not worth the price. In Judges 16:20-31, we are given the tragic end of a man who "paid too much for his whistle." Samson lost his power, his position and his testimony because he valued the sin in his life more than he valued the God of his life.

Today, I'd like for us to take a closer look at the life of this man and see where he failed and how we can avoid the same kind of trouble in our lives. It may be that you are living below your means spiritually. If so, we will see the problems this causes and the solutions God offers.

Let's begin by taking a look at the potential of Samson's life. He was extraordinary in his advent, or arrival (Judges 13:2-7, 24-25). The birth of Samson was announced by a visit from the Lord, Himself. Just for the record, the child of God has had a miraculous "new" birth (1 Peter 1:23; John 3:3, 7; 1 John 3:1-3).

He was also extraordinary in his accomplishments. Samson is remembered as the strong man of the Bible. But besides this well-known fact, he should also be rememberbed for:

1. His Energies - He killed a lion (Judges 14:5-6); and performed many great feats of strength (Judges 15:4-7; 16:3).

2. His Enemies - Samson was always battling the Philistines, to prevent them from capturing control of Israel. He killed 30 Philistines one time (Judges 14:19). Another time he killed 1,000 with the jawbone of a donkey (Judges 15:13-17).

3. His Evidences - Samson proved he was a man of God by the power of the Spirit that rested on him (Judges 13:25; 14:19; 15:14). He enjoyed miracles from the hand of God (Judges 15:18-19). He was a servant of the Lord's for many years (Judges 15:20).

Similarly, the child of God lives an extraordinary life. Redeemed from sin by the grace of God, indwelt by the Spirit of God, privileged to hold and read the Word of God and able to fellowship with God through prayer. Our lives are marked by many victories and many advantages.

Things which we do so often that we have come to take them for granted, such as prayer, service to the Lord, witnessing, getting to be a blessing, etc, all prove that we are different and that we have a God given potential to achieve great things through Him! We just move from victory to victory as His children (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Yes, Samson did have an extraordinary life. However, as great as Samson's strength and potential was, he was a man faced with many spiritual problems. These spiritual weaknesses overrode his physical power to make him the weakest strongman in the history of the world.

He faced powerful adversaries (Judges 14:1-7). Samson may have battled the Philistines for over 20 years, but his greatest enemy was Samson! His own flesh and his fleshly appetites proved to be his undoing. Instead of surrendering body, soul and spirit to the will of the Lord, he allowed his flesh to control his life and he paid a high price. Here's an interesting thought. You and I can fuss about the devil, or about this enemy or that enemy, but the greatest enemy we all face is ourselves! As one man said, "We have met the enemy and he is us!"

It's true, but every problem we face with temptation and sin in our lives, does not come from an external source, it originates from within (James 1:14-15). That is a hard thing to swallow, but it is still true! It isn't the devil out to get you, it is you out to get yourself! Dear readers, I hate to tell you this, but your flesh is never going to get any better (Ephesians 4:22). However, we are not to give in to it (sin and temptation), we are to fight it every moment of every day (1 Corinthians 9:27).

He faced powerful attractions (Judges 14:8-10). Samson was a Nazarite (Judges 13:7; Numbers 6:1-8). His was to be a life dedicated totally to the Lord. Yet, he lived for himself, taking his vows for granted. He was deceitful, he was lustful, he was proud and arrogant. It would seem that Samson had a bent toward evil within him. Of course, that could describe any of us, right? The Old Testament uses three words to describe our sins (Psalm 32:1-2; 5).

1. There is the word sins, which refers to our shortcomings in the sight of God. It means "to miss the mark".

2. Then there is the word transgressions. This word means "to step over a boundary". It refers to intentionally breaking the Laws and commandments of the Lord.

3. Another word is iniquity. This word means "bent or crooked". It refers to the bent within the human nature toward evil! There is a natural tendency within each of us to seek the lowest levels of life. (Genesis 49:4) Like water always seeks the lowest level, man acting according to his flesh will always seek the lowest levels of living!

He faced powerful addictions (Judges 16:1-2; 4-2). Samson, by the end of his career, seems to be living a total lifestyle of sin. He has reached a place where he treats his testimony like a trinket and his reputation like rubbish (Judges 16:1-18)! Think about this. Your testimony is the most valuable thing you possess in this world! Guard it with your life. If you ever allow your testimony to become tarnished, you will never be able to restore it to where it was in the eyes of those who saw you fail! God will forgive the repentant saint, but men will remember it to their dying day!

Finally, there is the product of Samson's life. Because of his sinfulness and his failure to control his fleshly desires and impulses, Samson paid a terrific price. What was the price? For one thing, there were the losses in his life. As a result of his sins (i.e., Delilah), he suffered some pretty significant losses.

1. He lost his vision (Judges 16:21). Samson lost his physical sight, or became blind. When a child of God lives his or her life under the control of the flesh, they too will lose their eyesight. They might keep their physical vision, but they will lose their spiritual vision. They will lose their vision of the Lord, His Word His house, lost souls, holy living etc.

2. He lost his vitality (Judges 16:20-21). Samson lost his physical strength when he disclosed the secret of that strength. For the believer in our day, the danger of losing one's spiritual power is great. Imagine not being able to get a hold of the Lord for your needs or the needs of others. Imagine not having the peace of God. Imagine being bound down by sin so that you cannot worship, cannot experience God, cannot enjoy Him, His Word or His people. Low living carries with it the high price of sapping your spiritual strength and leaving you weak before the Lord!

3. He lost his victory (Judges 16:21). Samson is made to do the work of grinding corn. This was women's work and was given to him to humiliate him and is an indication of how weak he had become! Can you see the great man of God grinding corn for the Philistines? He has lost his power and he has lost his victory. He is a pitiful spectacle! Nothing is anymore sad than a believer who is out of fellowship with the Lord Jesus! They lack joy and peace. They are no happy. They are defeated, discouraged and demoralized. Sin will literally grind you to powder!

For all of the pain this man experienced, there are some great lessons that we can take away from the life of Samson. These lessons can be listed as:

1. A lesson about ridicule. Samson was ridiculed by the enemies of God! If we must endure persecution and ridicule, let us do so only for the cause of Jesus and not because of foolish and sinful living (1 Peter 4:12-17; Matthew 5:11-12.) Remember, don't give Satan the pleasure of mocking a child of God!

2. A lesson about repentance. Before he died, Samson made things right with the Lord. However, he did it when it was too late to salvage much of anything for the glory of God. You and I need not make the same mistake! If we recognize the presence of evil in our lives, the time to deal with it is now (1 John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13, before we are forced to pay the ultimate price for our sins. Repentance can take place at any time!

3. A lesson about restoration. Samson received his power back from the Lord. Whatever we may lose to sin, in a spiritual sense, the Lord can and will restore if we will repent. However, we need to know that we will never gain back everything we lose in the eyes of men! But, thank God, He can cleanse us and He can use us for His glory once more (i.e., Simon Peter).

In closing, friends, please don't pay the high cost of low living! If things in your life are not where they need to be, you can come before the Lord and find the help and forgiveness you need. Just like the Prodigal Son found a loving, forgiving father back home, you will find a heavenly Father Who loves you and is ready to forgive you and restore you to the place you ought to be!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, you have power over life and death. You know even things that are uncertain and obscure, and our very thoughts and feelings are not hidden from you. Cleanse me from my secret faults, and I have done wrong and you saw it. You know how weak I am, both in soul and in body. Give me strength, O Lord, in my frailty and sustain me in my sufferings. Grant me a prudent judgement, dear Lord, and let me always be mindful of your blessings. Let me retain until the end your grace that has protected me till now. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Lindsay

(Video) Lisa Bevere - The "Lioness Arising" In You! - Part 1

The Full Circle Ladies speak with Lisa Bevere about her book, "Lioness Arising". A lot of women are afraid of their strength. We need to remember that we, as women, get our strength from God. Is there an inner lioness inside of you just waiting to bust out?

To Be Born Anew! (Part 1)

Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over our nation's deserts. All vultures see is rotting meat, because that is what they look for. They thrive on that diet. But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of desert plants. The vultures live on what was. They live on the past. They fill themselves with what is dead and gone. But hummingbirds live on what is. They seek new life. They fill themselves with freshness and life. Each bird finds what it is looking for. We all do.
-Steve Goodier, Quote Magazine, in Reader's Digest, May, 1990

A commonly used phrase is "born again Christian". It is used often in the context of distinguishing between Christians who are "born again" and those not. Of course, this is really an incorrect distinction, for all true Christians have been "born again." But what does it mean to be "born again"? The Bible uses the expression "born again" only a few times, they are:
a. Jesus in His conversation with Nicodemus (John 3:3, 5, 7)
b. Peter in his first epistle (1 Peter 1:3, 23)
Although the idea of being "born" of God is used many times (e.g., John 1:13; 1 John 5:1)

In His discussion with Nicodemus, Jesus reveals much about being "born again." With His comments as the basis of our study, let's examine what the Bible reveals about "The New Birth". After we are introduced to Nicodemus (cf. also John 7:50; 19:39), we observe Jesus emphasizing the necessity of the new birth (1-3)

The new birth is necessary to see the kingdom of God. Unless one is born again, he cannot see (enter) the kingdom (cf. John 1:3, 5, 7). What is the kingdom of God? In brief, it is:
a. The rule and reign of God in the person of Christ - cf. Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:36; Revelation 1:4
b. A spiritual kingdom not of this world - cf. John 18:36; Luke 17:20-21)
c. A kingdom made up of faithful subjects (i.e., the church) cf. Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:6, 9
d. A kingdom both present and future (cf. Matthew 13:41-43; 1 Colossians 15:24-26)
In short, do you wish to be in the kingdom now and hereafter? If so, you must be born again!

The new birth is necessary to be saved. To be in the kingdom is to be saved from the powers of darkness (cf. Colossians 1:13). Salvation requires a rebirth, a regeneration (cf. Titus 3:5). Do you wish to be saved from your sins? You must be born again!

After Jesus’ discussion about being “born again” Nicodemus feels very confused. He assumes Jesus is talking about a physical birth. So, Jesus explains the nature of the new birth (4-5).
The nature of the new birth involves both water and spirit. Note carefully: it is one birth involving two elements (water and the Spirit), not two births (born of water and born of the Spirit). Once again, the new birth is but one birth (born of water and the Spirit).

Let’s Compare Paul's description (cf. Titus 3:5) of the new birth. It is:
a. A washing of regeneration (water)
b. And renewing of the Holy Spirit (Spirit)
You can see that this is an obvious reference to baptism. The new birth occurs when one is baptized, for in that simple act of faith they are born not only of the water out of which they arise, but also born of the Spirit (regenerated) by the working of God at that moment (cf. Colossians 2:12-13).

Naturally, the new birth involves the word of God. One is born again by the Word (1 Peter 1:23). By the Word, we are talking about:
a. The incorruptible Word that is preached (cf. 1 Peter 1:25)
b. The instrument through which the Spirit convicts the sinner (cf. John 16:7; Ephesians 6:17).
c. Which includes the command to be baptized (cf. Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16).
Jesus sanctifies and cleanses His church by the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26).
a. The "washing of water" is another allusion to baptism (Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
b. Yet baptism must be administered in conjunction with the Word of God to be of benefit. The new birth involves several elements (water, Spirit, Word of God), all coming together when one responds to the gospel in baptism (e.g., Act 2:37-39).

While there is evidence that one is born of water as they rise from the watery grave of baptism, the evidence of their being born of the Spirit comes later. And that’s where we will continue our discussion of the “new birth” next time in Part 2. Until then, please review the material that was presented today, study the scriptural references, and, most importantly, continue to pray to God!

Scripture: Acts 5:20; Romans 6:4; Ezra 9:9; Titus 3:5; Colossians 3:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Peter 1:3; Psalm 119:107; Isaiah 15:10; John 3:3

Prayer:

Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. -Psalm 51

May God bless you always,

Damalis

Wisdom From the Holy Spirit

A college professor once said of a particularly poor student, "The trouble with him is that he does not know that he does not know." That is true ignorance. It is real wisdom to know when we do not know. -Reverend H. Pleune, Christian Observer

Why is it that someone who is obviously much less intelligent is able to do more than someone who is more intelligent? The subject of this message-the gift of wisdom-is the answer. This wisdom comes from the Holy Spirit.

First, let's consider the meaning of wisdom. It is to be understood in relation to knowledge. Knowledge is information, and wisdom is the right use of that information. Knowledge has no use unless it it applied. Remember, wisdom is the application of knowledge.

Secondly, it (wisdom) is to be understood in relation to some basic concepts. These concepts are:

-Wisdom never creates confusion, envy, or strife, but always creates harmony and peace. Wisdom, as a gift of the Spirit, is to create unity in the church.

-Wisdom is always used in a cheerful way. Paul says in Galatians 5:25 that joy is a fruit of the Spirit. A gloomy attitude is not in keeping with the gift of wisdom.

-Wisdom denotes quality and not activity. Anyone can be active, whether he or she is indwelt by the Holy Spirit or not. Only a gift of the Spirit is a source of wisdom that results in quality.

-Wisdom shapes character. It epitomizes a pious, or godly manner and finds expression in the knowledge of the Word.

-Wisdom consists of the thoughts of God embodied in Christ. These characteristics are for the enlightenment of the soul. This is the business of believers who have the gift of wisdom.

Lastly, wisdom as a gift of the Spirit is different from that of the flesh. Humans possess a wisdom apart from the gift of the Spirit. But true spiritual wisdom is from God. Several passages of Scripture confirm this fact. They are: 1 Corinthians 1:20; 2:5-6;3:19; 2 Corinthians 1:12; James 3:15.

Now, let's consider how this gift relates to life (Acts 6:10). We see that:

-Wisdom is given to believers for defense. Those who follow Jesus are subject to hostility (Matthew 10:17-20; Acts 4:1-22; 6:8-15). When they are confronted, they need help in making a defense. This is the use of the gift of wisdom.

-Wisdom is given to believers for answers to unbelievers (1 Peter 3:15). One of the greatest challenges Christians face is witnessing to unbelievers. It is impossible to do this in many situations without the gift of the Holy Spirit.

-Wisdom is given to believers for problem situations (James 1:5). The use of this gift dissolves tension in groups. It clarifies objectives and shortens processes.

-Wisdom is given to believers for practical conduct. Ephesians is an excellent Scripture reference for this fact. The first three chapters are dedicated to doctrine and the last three to the application of it.

In conclusion, the wisdom they we have discussed in this message today is always mediated through the Holy Spirit. He not only enables one to stand for oneself, but also to convey understanding to others as it relates to salvation. The Holy Spirit gives believers the ability to effectively apply this wisdom to their own lives and to others (Romans 16:19; 1 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 5:15-17; James 3:13).

Prayer:

Great is the wisdom of the Lord!
God Almighty, Your Wisdom includes
An understanding of what is fair,
What is logical, what is true,
What is right and what is lasting.
It mirrors Your pure intellect!
I entreat You to grant me such Wisdom,
That my labours may reflect Your insight.
Your Wisdom expands in Your creations,
Displaying complexity and multiplicity.
Your Wisdom is an eternity ahead of man.
May Your wisdom flourish forever!
Amen

May God bless you,

Kelly

Saturday Scripture Gold with Bibi: Who Was Moses?

Moses

Moses was the child of a slave, yet the son of a Princess:
He was born in a hut, but reared in a Palace:
He inherited extreme poverty yet enjoyed immense wealth:
Educated for a court, he did his greatest work in a desert:
He was the mightiest of warriors, yet the meekest of men:
Moses possessed the wisdom of this world, yet had the faith of a little child:
His funeral was not attended by a single human creature: but the Creator Himself was present:
His death created no great stir on earth, but occasioned a great commotion in Heaven.
(Exodus 2:10; Numbers 12:3,7; Deuteronomy 34:5-7; Jude 9)

Hello, and welcome to Saturday Scripture Gold!
What comes to your mind when you think of the Story of Moses? Is it the Ten Commandments, the Law, the Red Sea..? This Bible study will give you an overview of the life story of Moses. Let me add here that this is not meant to be an in-depth Bible study, by any means. However, it should present a good foundation of basic facts to motivate you into further study of the Word! If you are ready, let's take a look at...

The Life of Moses: A Look at His Life

-Moses – meaning ‘I drew him out of the water’.(Exodus 2:10)
-After Joseph, there was no communication from God for 400 years and then came Moses.
-Similarly, After Malachi, there was 400 years silence. Then Jesus came.
-Moses was a type of Christ. He delivered Israel from the slavery of Egypt, Christ delivered Mankind from slavery of Sin.
-Moses was the first to "perform" miracles.
-He was the first mediator between God and men, and in that sense, he was Prophet.
-In his childhood, he received teaching about his people and Isralite roots from his mother. (Exodus 2:7-10, Exodus 2:11, Acts 7:23, Hebrews 11:24)
-He received the best training in Egypt’s palace. He retained a mastery of all.
-Thereafter, he spent 40 years in the wilderness! (Exodus 16:35)
-God had prepared him for dealing both with Pharaoh in his palace, and with the Israelites in the wilderness.
-Moses represents the Law. He made one mistake and that cost him not to enter the Promised Land. (Numbers 20:9-12) In essence, it reminds us that we cannot make it to the Promised Land exclusively by the Law!
-He led 2 million people in the wilderness, who often grumbled against him and God. If you would like to understand how Jesus intercedes between God and us, in spite of our iniquities, we should understand how Moses interceded for the Israelites. (Exodus 32:31-32, Exodus 33:12-16)
-On the mountain of Transformation, Jesus was with Elijah and Moses. Moses presents the law, and Elijah represents the prophets, so Jesus was in perfect harmony with the law and the prophets. (Matthew 17:3-5, Luke 9:29)

Moses as Unique, Chosen Person:

-His Time was Unique;
-His Teaching was Unique;
-His Tests were Unique and;
-His Treasures were Unique.

Moses as Type of Christ:

-Divinely chosen
-Rejected by his people (Exodus 2:13-14)
-Turned to Gentiles (Exodus 2:15)
-Married to Gentile bride (Exodus 2:21)
-Returned to his people and accepted
-Delivered his people from the slavery of Egypt
-Led his people to the Promised Land

God’s Testimony for Moses: (Deut 34:10-12)

-No prophet like him in Israel
-He knew the Lord face to face! (Exodus 33:11)
-Life of Faith (Hebrew 11:24-28)

I hope you have enjoyed this brief look into the life of Moses. I invite you to join me again next time as we explore the glorious treasures found only in the Bible. Until then, may God be with you!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, As a new week stretches before me,
I look with wonder into the deep well of emotions
You have given Your children.
I pray that I may withdraw enough compassion
to heal anotherʼs broken heart;
enough peace to quell anotherʼs fear;
enough joy to celebrate anotherʼs victory;
enough strength to share anotherʼs burdens,
and enough faith to light a candle in anotherʼs darkness.
Thank You for the assurance You have been given us
that our well will never run dry. Amen
-special thanks to Bibleseo

Have a blessed week!

Bibi

(Video) Missing Half Of What God Has To Say

If power is just held by males in the Evangelical church, we are missing out on half of what God has to say! In this clip, Rose Madrid-Swetman talks about her experiences as a female pastor.

We Were Baptized Into Christ!

“I doubt, indeed, whether we have any warrant for saying that a man can possibly be converted without being consecrated to God. More consecrated he doubtless can be, and will be as his grace increases; but if he was not consecrated to God in the very day that he was converted and born again, I do not know what conversion means.” -Bishop Ryle, quoted in J. Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness, p. 38

Many New Testament passages speak of salvation by faith, and I believe every one of them exactly as they are written (John 3:16). The question that comes to one's mind about this "salvation by faith" is probably, "How are men saved by faith?" Think of John 3:16 as the starting point, not the answer to the question of salvation. For one thing, believers have the right to become children of God (John 1:11-12).

The word "right" means authority, right, liberty, ability (See: Barclay M. Newman, Jr., A Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament). The same word is used in other passages (John 19:10; Acts 5:4; Luke 7:8). Sometimes believers reject this right (Acts 6:7; Romans 16:25-27). Since men are saved by faith, we need to find out when it occurs.

First, let's look at The Great Commission in Mark 16:16. There are five views of this verse:1. Catholic: "He who believes not and is baptized shall be saved".
2. Atheist: "He who believes and is baptized shall not be saved."
3. Universalist: "He who believes not and is not baptized shall be saved."
4. Baptist: "He who believes and is not baptized shall be saved."
5. Bible: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved."
Clearly, the conditions for salvation are named: faith and baptism. The condition for damnation is also named: disbelief (cf. John 3:18). Baptism is the act which faith obeys!

Next, we'll look at the First Gospel Sermon After the Cross (Acts 2:14-41). When did these people receive the "remission of sins"? Did they receive them:
1. When Peter begain preaching (Acts 2:14f)?
2. When they were "pricked in their hearts"? (Acts 2:37)?
3. When they cried out, "What shall we do?" (Acts 2:37)?
4. When Peter told them to "repent and be baptized" (Acts 2:38)?
5. When they obeyed the commands (Acts 2:40-41)?
There is an inseparable connection between baptism in water and the remission of sins. This passage makes the remission of sins depend on baptism just as much, and in the same sense, as it depends on repentence. Therefore, if repentence is essential to salvation, then so is baptism.

Finally, I refer you to a few more passages from the Bible on the subject of "Salvation by Faith". In Acts 8:26-40, we see the conversion of the Ethiopian Nobleman. Here is a believer about to exercise his right to become a child of God! In 1 Peter 3:18-22, you can read about Noah's salvation and ours. He was saved by grace, faith, obedience, water, and so are we! (Genesis 6:8; Genesis 6:22; Hebrews 5:8,9; Hebrews 11:7; Ephesians 2:8; Acts 16:31; 1 Peter 3:20,21).

There are a few additional things to keep in mind about this subject. One is: baptism is always before salvation (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:4; 1 Peter 3:21). Another is: salvation is attributed to many things. These include: belief (Acts 16:31); confession (1 John 4:2); God (2 Timothy 1:8,9); grace (Ephesians 2:8); gospel (Romans 1:1); hope (Romans 8:24); repentance (Acts 11:18); the Holy Spirit (Titus 3); blood (Romans 5:9); works (James 2:24); Jesus (Matthew 1:21); baptism (1 Peter 3:21). Now, I ask you, can one of these items exclude the rest?

In closing, the message you should walk away with today should be, "We are the children of God because we were baptized into Christ!" (Galatians 3:26,27)

Prayer:

May the grace of Christ our Savior,
And the Father's boundless love,
With the Holy Spirit's favor,
Rest upon us from above.

Thus may we abide in union
With each other and the Lord,
And possess, in sweet communion,
Joys which earth cannot afford.
Amen.

May God always bless you,

Lea

(Video) Sheila Walsh: Facing the Impossible (Words of LIFE)

Sheila Walsh discusses the question, "What does the Bible teach about seemingly impossible situations?" Find out why God calls us as He sees us, not as we see ourselves, when we trust Him and His word.

When Life Has You Down...Let God Pick You Up! (Part 2)

Welcome back to "When Life Has You Down...Let God Pick You Up!" (Part 2). It's so nice that you came back to join me again this week! We know that our lives ebb and flow like the ocean tides. And it is during those low periods in our lives that we really need Our Lord and Savior to help put everything back together.

Last week, in Part 1, we turned to 1 Peter 5: 5-10 to begin our discussion on what we need to do to get ourselves back on track. First, we learned that we need to "surrender our will" to God. In other words, we need to "humble" ourselves by submitting to His will.

We saw that if we can learn the way of humility, then the Lord will lift us up in His own way. Isn't that great? I know that being in a submissive position to anyone would be very awkward for most of us to even want to attempt. However, we are not submitting to just "anyone". We are submitting to God! We live in a day when men are all seeking their own way, but the child of God who wants to please the Lord will learn to allow God to have the place or preeminence in his life (Colossians 1:18).

We also learned that we are to assume the place of slavery. Not slavery in the traditional sense, but slavery as in "wearing the apron" of a slave for Christ. In other words, I have no will but His will. I have no plan but His plan. I have no desire but His desire. Only then can we accept the plan of the sovereign.

Because, if we can learn the way of humility, then the Lord will lift us up in His own way. As long as we seek to promote ourselves, we will never amount to much for the glory of God. However, when we turn loose of our lives and willingly place ourselves under the Lord, He will use us for His glory!

Finally, we learned that we should send our worries to God. When the worries of life press us down, we do not have to bear them alone! He tells us to give Him everything. We're not so much as to keep even the smallest part of a burden to ourselves. We are told to give it all up to Jesus!

Today, in Part 2, we will continue our discussion about pulling ourselves out of a deep descent by first learning how to "Strengthen Our Walk With God" 1 Peter 5:8-9. In verses 8-9 we are told that we need to be "sober and vigilant". This means that we need to get serious about some things, especially where the devil is concerned.

Who do you think wants to get your life in the pits anyway? Who do you think is actively interested in seeing you miserable? Who do you think is working against you every day of your life? Yet, as we strengthen our walk with the Lord, we see the path to victory over the devil!

In these verses, we are urged to be serious about the Devil's reality. Jesus believes in him, the Bible believes in him, God believes in him, therefore he must be real! He is called the "adversary" which meanss "an opponent, an enemy". In fact, "the devil" means "slanderer; or false accuser". The sooner we come to realize the truth of Satan's reality, the sooner we will see the need to strengthen our walks with God.

Secondly, we must be serious about the Devil's ferocity. The devil is compared to a "roaring lion" in this verse (1 Peter 5:8). Why a lion? If you think about it, there are some similarities between the devil and lions, such as:

1) Lions are forceful. They are 14 to 21 times stronger than a man! Satan is far stronger than we are as well.
2) Lions are ferocious. They should be treated with fear and respect because of who they are. God's children would do well to learn to respect the Devil. Not to necessarily fear him, but he does have power that is far superior to our own natural abilities.
3) Lions are fearful. A mature lion's roar can be heard up to 5 miles away. The reason they roar is to create fear in the hearts of those who hear them. This is just what the devil does too! He roars to create fear in the hearts of God's children. Why? Because fear paralyzes faith! If he can get you to listen to his roar, he can paralyze your faith and attack your life!

The last item I would like to touch on this week, in strengthening our walk with God, is that we need to be serious about the Devil's susceptibility. Dear friends, the good news about the devil is that he can be defeated by the child of God!

The secret to overcoming him and changing his roar into a meow is to "resist" him! This means to "stand up against" the devil. Be steadfast in your faith, knowing that the Lord has already defeated the devil and that victory for the child of God is found in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:9).

Learn the truth that if you will resist him, he will flee from you (James 4:7). Learn that true victory comes to those who will walk in "faith" (1 John 5:4). Get to the place where you have doubts as to the truth of 1 John 5:4. Get to the place that requires that every child of God grow in the Lord and that we strengthen our walk with Him daily through prayer and the study of His word!

Now, I have to apologize to you at this point. It appears that we will have to continue this discussion next week. I was hoping to conclude our study this week, but there is still one more item to cover and I would like to do it right.

When we return next time, I will wrap this discussion up by talking about how "seeing the work of God" can also help us work our way out of life's low points. I urge you go back over today's discussion, along with last week's. There is a lot of material to review, but it will all come together for you next week in Part 3. Until then, have a blessed week!

Prayer:

Father, I pray for all those in need, for all of my friends and my family. I pray for your strength to see us all through, when life is the hardest and when times are good. Amen

God bless you,

Darlene

Dear Jesus, I Have A Problem With Sin...

Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman told of a distinguished minister, Dr. Howard, from Australia who preached very strongly on the subject of sin. After the service, one of the church officers came to counsel with him in the study. “Dr. Howard,” he said, “we don’t want you to talk as openly as you do about man’s guilt and corruption, because if our boys and girls hear you discussing that subject they will more easily become sinners. Call it a mistake if you will, but do not speak so plainly about sin.

The minister took down a small bottle and showing it to the visitor said, “You see that label? It says strychnine—and underneath in bold, red letters the word ‘Poison!’ Do you know, man, what you are asking me to do? You are suggesting that I change the label. Suppose I do, and paste over it the words, ‘Essence of Peppermint’; don’t you see what might happen? Someone would use it, not knowing the danger involved, and would certainly die. So it is, too, with the matter of sin. The milder you make your label, the more dangerous you make your poison!”

There are many reasons why Man needs a savior. I would like to discuss a few of them here today. I whole-heartedly believe that Man needs a savior because:
1) Man has a sin problem,
2) Man cannot set his own terms of pardon, and
3) Man needs someone who can mediate before God on behalf of man.
It is important for us to confront the problem of sin, the reason we can’t remedy this situation, and what it was that Jesus did to remedy this situation for us. The aim of this discussion, is to help each person (you) understand the role of the savior in God’s plan for man’s salvation.

To begin, I encourage you to turn to Romans 7:24, 25. Paul is discussing the situation in which man finds himself when confronted with his own sin. This is a situation where the body is in conflict with the spirit. On the one hand, the body is subject to temptation that leads to sin. On the other hand, the spirit wants to obey God’s law. But the presence of sin prevents God’s law from being fully obeyed. What is the remedy for this situation? It is Jesus Christ, the Savior of man–the Deliverer.

Now, let's get back to the original question, "Why do we need a savior?" As was mentioned earlier, Man has a sin problem. Okay, that's pretty clear, right? But what is sin? The word literally means “to miss.” In 1 John 3:4, we read that, “Sin is the transgression of the Law.” Simply put, when we sin, we sin against God.

In Genesis 39:9, Joseph thinks about “sin against God.” In Psalm 51:4, we find “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” God reveals himself to us so that we will NOT sin against him. (See also: Exodus 20:20; John 1:29)

Naturally, a good question to ask here would be, "Where did sin first start?" The Bible tells us that Satan is the father of all lies and of all sin (John 8:44; 1 John 3:8). Man first sinned in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1ff*). God first promised to deal with the problem of sin in Genesis 3:15. So, what are the consequences of sin? (See: Romans 1:32; Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:8)

Throughout all of this, keep in mind that Man cannot set his own terms of righteousness. Can the one who offends tell the one who is offended what he is going to do to be forgiven? We cannot devise a righteousness of our own (Matthew 5:20; Romans 9:30-32; Romans 10:2, 3; Philippians 3:9; Titus 3:5)

There is only one who can help us, and that is Jesus. Jesus came to provide a plan of righteousness for us (Romans 5:17-21; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 1:11) Therefore, we must accept the terms of God’s righteousness that are through the gospel. Here are some verses that emphasize this:

1)Romans 1:16, 17–We learn the terms for righteousness through the gospel.
2) 2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2–It is our responsibility to be reconciled to God–to accept the terms of God’s righteousness for us.
3) Ephesians 4:24–we put on righteousness when we put on the new man.
4) Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3-11–We put on the new man when we are baptized into Christ.

So what should we learn from what we have discussed today? It should be very clear that Man needs a savior that can mediate before God on behalf of man. We need:
-One who can bridge the gap between God and man (Isaiah 59:2; John 1:1, 14)
-One who can represent the justice of God to man–Jesus does this (Luke 13:3-5; Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 25:31-46)
-One who can represent the frailties of man to God, and Jesus does this (Matthew 4:1ff*; Hebrews 2:18; Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 1:1,2)
-One who can approach God (Matt. 17:1ff*; Mark 9:2ff; Acts 2:33-36; John 14:9-11; Hebrews 1:1-3)
-One who can bear the sins of man (Isaiah 53:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24
-One who can offer the sacrifice for sin that man could never offer (Hebrews 9:26; Hebrews 10:1ff*)
-One who can offer a salvation to man that satisfies God’s justice (Romans 3:25,26)
And where will this One come from? Acts 2:33-36 tells us that, Christ is responsible for sending the Holy Spirit!

(*Note: ff. = verses following)

In closing, during this discussion, we looked at the need for a savior. And, in addition to our definite need for a savior, we have seen that:
1) Man is in sin.
2) Man cannot set his own terms of righteousness.
3) Only the Savior can mediate between God and man.
Yes, sin is big problem for us. However, Jesus did not leave us without help. All we have to do is ask for it!

Let's pray:

Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Have a blessed day!

Debbie

Guess What..? God's Wrath Is Alive and Doing Well!

It is clear that when we think of the word "wrath" as applicable to God, it must be divested of everything that is like human passion, and especially the passion of revenge. It is one of the most obvious rules of interpretation that we are not to apply to God passions and feelings which, among us, have their origin in evil. [God's wrath] is the opposition of the divine character against sin; and the determination of the divine mind to express that opposition in a proper way, by excluding the offender from the favors which He bestows on the righteous.

We admire the character of a father who is opposed to disorder, vice, and disobedience in his family, and who expresses his opposition in a proper way. We admire the character of a ruler who is opposed to all crime in the community, and who expresses those feelings in the law. Why shall we not be equally pleased with God, who is opposed to all crime in all parts of the universe, and who determines to express His opposition in the proper way for the sake of preserving order and promoting peace? -Albert Barnes

The Scriptures speak of the coming day of God's wrath. They speak of revealing the righteous judgment of God (Romans 2:4-6), and a day of judgment of the ungodly (2 Peter 3:7) in which the fullness of God's righteous indignation is made known. The Scriptures also speak of how God's wrath has already come. They speak of how it has been revealed from heaven (Romans 1:18a) against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (Romans 1:18b), in which a foretaste of God's righteous indignation is manifested. But why does God manifest this "foretaste" of His wrath? How does He express His righteous indignation even now, long before the day of judgment? Perhaps taking a look at (Romans 1:18-32) might provide the answers we are looking for.

Why does God manifest his wrath, or make it plainly visible to man? One reason is because man stifles God's revealed truth by suppressing the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18), and rejecting what is true. Man also justifies what is ungodly and unrighteous, and spurns what God has revealed (Romans 1:19-20). The Bible tells us that there are things about God that are manifest in man himself, such as: man's intelligence and personality, implying the same of his Creator; and man's sense of moral obligation, implying a righteous Creator. This tells us that there are things about God that are manifest in creation around him (Psalm 19:1-2).

Additionally, there are invisible attributes of God, seen and understood by things that are visible (e.g., design and order of the universe imply eternal power and Deity). When man fails to listen to the beauty and design of the universe that declares "God exists!", God is angry! God also expresses his rightful indignation because man is ungrateful and foolish. For instance, not being thankful to God (Romans 1:21a).

Even when they knew Him they failed to glorify Him as God. They became futile in their thoughts and foolish in their hearts (Romans 1:21b-23). Thus they suffered the consequence of not glorifying God. Ungratefulness and foolishness lead man to idolatry (the worship of creation instead of the Creator), such as: making God into their own image, and making God into the image of other animate objects.

But don't think for a moment that this was exclusive to ancient times! Modern man has his own idols. In today's world we see secular humanism (worshipping self), covetousness (worshipping money) Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5. When man ceases to be thankful to God, and esteems created things over Him, then God is angry! Scripture tells us that the wrath of God on the last day will involve a fiery end (2 Peter 3:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). It might appear that God's wrath being revealed today is more subtle, but terrible nonetheless!

We have just seen some reasons WHY God manifests his wrath. So then, HOW does God manifest His wrath? One way is, He "gives man up" to moral uncleanness! God "gave them up" (Romans 1:24a). There was no fire from heaven striking those foolish people down, they were simply left to their own desires. They were left to (moral) uncleanness (Romans 1:24b); in the lusts of their hearts (wherever their wicked hearts led them (Mark 7:21-23). They dishonored their bodies among themselves (in what way, see below). Why? Because they exchanged the truth of God for the lie (Romans 1:25). They worshipped and served that which is created rather than He who is the Creator and worthy to be blessed forever!

Another way God manifests His wrath is He "gives man up" to vile passions! Again, God "gave them up" (Romans 1:26a). There was no lightning from heaven striking anyone down, He just simply left man to his vile passions, such as using bodies designed for procreation in ways that do not. In other words, men and women perverting the natural use of their sex by unnatural acts (Romans 1:26-27).

God also manifests his wrath when He "gives man up" to debased minds and unrighteousness! Yet again, God "gave them over" (Romans 1:28). Since they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do things not fitting. The result of being "given up" (of being filled with all unrighteousness) Romans 1:29-31 includes:
a. Wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness;
b. Envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness;
c. Whisperers, backbiters, haters of God;
d. Violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, and
e. Undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful.
They know the righteous judgment of God; that such things are deserving of death (Romans 1:32). Yet they still do it, and they approve those who do it!

In conclusion, God's wrath is manifested today by simply allowing man to go his own way. In other words, to follow the desires of his heart, and to follow the passions of his lusts, stumbling in blind ignorance to increasing degrees of depravity (Ephesians 4:17-19). God's mercy is manifested today for those willing to turn back to Him, willing to acknowledge His revelation, and willing to be thankful to Him!

Prayer:

Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
-Psalms 51: 9-12

God bless you,

Cheryl

Follow the Course to Repentance!

Moreover, true repentance never exists except in conjunction with faith, while on the other hand, wherever there is true faith, there is also real repentance. The two are but different aspects of the same turning--a turning away from sin in the direction of God...The two cannot be separated; they are simply complementary parts of the same process. -L Berkhoff, Systematic Theology, p. 487.

Luke 13:1-5 continues on about "an innumerable multitude of people" that had gathered to hear Jesus speak. What a sight it must have been to see people pressing forward to hear the Word; to take a chance on inconvenience and danger rather than miss an opportunity for their souls. Incredibly, the more the Pharisees strove to drive the people from Christ, the more flocking there was to him!

The prevailing belief among Jesus’ audience was that calamity was caused by the sinfulness of those affected. Jesus denies this and gives warning about His audience’s need to repent. Why? Because a far greater calamity awaited those who refused to repent. The Bible is clear on the necessity of repentance (Luke 13:3; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30-31).

Most of us are familiar with the often asked question that we need to answer, "How to repent?" This is how we’ll spend our time today, making sure we understand how to repent. Repentance is, from beginning to end, a mental process. It is, literally, a change of mind. “To change one’s mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins,” Thayer. Repentance, however, will show. There will be fruits, amendments, restitutions that will testify to this change of mind.

So, how do we repent? First you need to come to a realization that your course leads to destruction. This is what Jesus was seeking to get across in Luke 13:3-5. There is a source of conduct outside of man (Jeremiah 10:23). Breaking that code of conduct is called sin and it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23).

Paul stressed the judgment to the Athenians, Acts 17:30-31. Then there are the Jews on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:3); Simon of Samaria (Acts 8:18-24); and even a mention of Godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Next, you should enquire as to the correct course. What shall we do? (Acts 2:37). What wilt thou have me to do? (Acts 9:6). For some it’s a matter of remembering a course already learned (Revelation 2:5). We can certainly stress the need for Bible study here. Psalm 119:11; Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Peter 3:18; Matthew 5:6).

Additionally, we should resolve to follow that course. Why? Because this is the point where repentance comes in. It is the change of mind that causes change of direction (Romans 6:17-18; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Just look at Saul of Tarsus (Acts 8:3; Acts 22:4; Acts 26:9; Galatians 2:20). Yes, we should follow that course to the death (Revelation 2:10).

I stress that the act of repentance is a mental act. We must recognize that the effects of repentance are often physical. So, when we study how to repent we must show how one may see repentance. This leads us to our final example. In addition to everything that has been mentioned, we must bring forth fruits (Matthew 3:8; James 2:18); pay restitution to others (Luke 19:8-9). After all, a thief cannot repent AND keep the stolen goods. A slanderer cannot repent AND fail to correct the lie. A kidnapper cannot repent AND keep the stolen child. An adulterer cannot take a wife, repent AND keep the wife God has not authorized.

To repent, means walking in the light. No repentance ever took place with just mere words. For one to have repented their direction must have changes 1 John 1:7-9; John 8:31; Hebrews 5:8-9; Revelation 2:10). There is definite labor involved (Philippians 4:3).

In closing, I will try to break this all down into basic terms.

How To Repent:

1. Know the course you’re on leads to death.

2. Learn the course you should be on.

3. Resolve to follow the course.

4. Follow the course.

Prayer:

God, my good and loving Lord, I acknowledge all the sins which I have committed every day in my life, whether in thought, word or deed. I ask for forgiveness from the depths of my heart for offending You and others and repent of my old ways. Help me by Your grace to change, to sin no more and to walk in the way of righteousness and to praise and glorify Your Name, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Tawny