Grace for your spirit December 10, 2012

Grace for your spirit

These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords, and King of kings,and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.  Revelation 17:14

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, and King and Lord of His kingdom.  In His position, He attracts many enemies.  The book of Revelation is literally a book about Jesus and His enemies.  Satan wants His kingdom sending, sin, false prophets, and false governments, to name a few.  Which side will we choose?  Jesus is King over all kings, and Lord over all lords,  May we be with Him, called, chosen and faithful,  When the war is over, only those on His side will taste victory

Grace for your spirit December 11, 2012

Grace for your spirit

Jesus answered, "Don't you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you for such a long time?  Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.  How can you say show us the Father?  

John 14:9

The night before Jesus went to the cross, some of His disciples revealed that they didn't really know Him.  Jesus wondered how He could be around them so long and yet they had missed the point that Jesus was God in the flesh. When we come to truly know Him, we will love Him, serve Him, share Him.  Our opportunity to effectively love, serve, and share, fail when we don't ever truly know Him.  How long do we have to be around Him before we come to truly know Him?  That will directly depend on how much we are really paying attention.  Let's get into the Word, find Him, and know Him.  Then the serving and sharing will follow.

Grace for your spirit December 7, 2012

Grace for your spirit

My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.  Hosea 4:6

These people were in trouble, but they didn't know it.  The knowledge and wisdom from God was available to them, but they didn't know it.  Hunger, thirst, poverty, and captivity was in their future, but they didn't know it.  When they got hunger, thirsty, poor, and captured, they cried out for the Lord.  Too bad they weren't concerned earlier and most of their troubles could have been avoided.  In Matthew's beatitudes, he pronounced a blessing on those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness".  When are restaurants are full, but our Bible classes are empty, we need to take heed.  We need the vision of God to prepare for tomorrow.

Grace; for your spirit December 6, 2012

Grace for your spirit

Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly.  Romans 12:6

Perhaps you've heard the expression, "use it or lose it".  It is certainly true.  If we don't use the skills we have been blessed with, we will certainly lose the ability to use them.  Here, God informs us that all Christians have been given gifts of grace, and we are encouraged to exercise them.  The one talent man, who didn't use his talent, lost it when the master came to see how he was doing.  Every Christian begins with a bag full of gifts to aid their ministry.  There are gifts of grace, gifts of the spirit, and the practical God given talents we possess.  If we keep that bag closed, someday we will open it and find it completely empty.  We will have to stand before God someday and explain how we used His gifts.

Grace for your spirit December 5, 2012

Grace for your spirit

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.  Revelation 1:3

We may be familiar with the Beatitudes in Matthew.  Those pronouncement of blessings can guide us through difficult times as we enter His kingdom.  Did you know there are seven such beatitudes in Revelation that will give us victory in Jesus?  1:3 Blessed-read, hear, and heed.  14:13 Blessed-Die in the Lord.  16:15 Blessed-Stays awake and keeps his garments.  19:9 Blessed-Invited to the wedding supper of Lamb.  20:6 Blessed-Part of the 1st resurrection.  22:7 Blessed-Keep the words of the book.  22:14 Blessed-Wash robes, and have right to the tree of life.  The tree of life is found in heaven.  This is the clear path to get us there.  These are pronouncements of blessing to all who follow that path.  May we all be Blessed and meet at the Tree of Life.

Grace for your spirit December 4, 2012

Grace for your spirit

And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, and to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Acts 2:42

This is a description of the church in its very first days.  The gospel of Jesus had been preached and 3,000 were baptized that very first day.  They were believers, and their faith moved them to obey the teachings of the apostles.  Believing was their first step, but belonging would be just as important for them to remain faithful.  The continual fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer gave them a community to grow in.  We strive to preach the gospel today that will produce the same response, leading lost souls to Christ.  Let's never forget that giving everyone a sense of belonging will be just as important today as the first day.  We may not be a great teacher, but everyone can participate in the belonging process.

Grace for your spirit December 3, 2012

Grace for your spirit

Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor. "Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised;  perhaps the Lord will work for us, for the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few."  I Samuel 14:6

As usual, King Saul of Israel found himself out manned and out gunned by his arch rivals, the Philistines.  Saul was frozen in fear and indecisiveness, so his son Jonathan decided to give the leading to the Lord.  Jonathan and the young man gave the battle to the Lord.  Two against thousands.  The Lord turned the battle for Israel, and gave them a great victory that day.  God is always happy to rise up and give those who trust in Him a victory.  God truly enjoys fighting many with a few, because then He will get the glory for the victory.  Let's not be dismayed when we are outnumbered.  God does His best work when we are down and almost out.