Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" Genesis 3:1
When the serpent came to Eve in the Garden of Eden to tempt her, did Eve have any options. Was she completely outclassed by the devil, and unable to do anything but fall into his temptation? If we think that is true for her, we may think it is true for us too. God tells us in His word to flee from the devil and resist the devil in time of temptation. Eve did not flee from the temptation. She did not fight for the truth that God had instructed her, and as a result she fell into temptation. We need to be ready to flee from temptation all the time. We need to be prepared to fight for the truth we have from God at every turn. When we cannot flee or fight, we will most certainly fall. Let’s take our Bibles and running shoes with us today, and every day.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Grace for your spirit June 27, 2008
At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us. Nehemiah 4:20
In order to get the wall of Jerusalem rebuilt, Nehemiah taught his workers to be multi-taskers. They worked with one hand, and held their weapons with the other. Their spears were at their side and the trumpeters near by. When the enemy approached, the trumpet sounded, and they gathered together with the Lord. The key to their success was preparedness and the awareness that their fight would be futile without the Lord’s presence and help. All of us have a great job to do, and enemies that wish to prevent the work from being done. If we will give our effort to the Lord, be diligent in our work, and be careful watchmen, He will give us a great victory too.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
In order to get the wall of Jerusalem rebuilt, Nehemiah taught his workers to be multi-taskers. They worked with one hand, and held their weapons with the other. Their spears were at their side and the trumpeters near by. When the enemy approached, the trumpet sounded, and they gathered together with the Lord. The key to their success was preparedness and the awareness that their fight would be futile without the Lord’s presence and help. All of us have a great job to do, and enemies that wish to prevent the work from being done. If we will give our effort to the Lord, be diligent in our work, and be careful watchmen, He will give us a great victory too.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Grace for your spirit June 26, 2008
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation. I Peter 2:1-2
When we are born again into the kingdom of God, our happiness should be pleasing our Lord, not stepping on others. We should desire to grow in our salvation and be more like Christ every day. If our happiness still depends on putting others down, and poisoning their lives, have we been truly born again? If stepping on others is our key to happiness, can we ever achieve it? Malice, deceit, envy, and slander are tools of the devil. They are instruments that bring about misery in the lives of enemies. Remember, when we poison the lives of others, we poison our lives as well. Let’s put those things aside, and drink the pure milk of the word.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
When we are born again into the kingdom of God, our happiness should be pleasing our Lord, not stepping on others. We should desire to grow in our salvation and be more like Christ every day. If our happiness still depends on putting others down, and poisoning their lives, have we been truly born again? If stepping on others is our key to happiness, can we ever achieve it? Malice, deceit, envy, and slander are tools of the devil. They are instruments that bring about misery in the lives of enemies. Remember, when we poison the lives of others, we poison our lives as well. Let’s put those things aside, and drink the pure milk of the word.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Grace for your spirit June 25, 2008
This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone." I Peter 2:7
In the past, when buildings were erected, the cornerstone was the first stone set. All the building developed for that point. Today in the building trades, with the new technology and computer design, the cornerstone is mostly an afterthought of tradition and ceremony. What an interesting comparison to our Christian world. God presented Jesus to be the chief cornerstone of the church and the kingdom. Everything was set to be built on Him, and it was. As the generations have passed, our churches have become more intelligent and sophisticated, and now in many churches Jesus is a ceremonial afterthought, and tradition. Be careful. The Bible says we will either build on the Rock, or stumble over it. Which will it be for us?
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
In the past, when buildings were erected, the cornerstone was the first stone set. All the building developed for that point. Today in the building trades, with the new technology and computer design, the cornerstone is mostly an afterthought of tradition and ceremony. What an interesting comparison to our Christian world. God presented Jesus to be the chief cornerstone of the church and the kingdom. Everything was set to be built on Him, and it was. As the generations have passed, our churches have become more intelligent and sophisticated, and now in many churches Jesus is a ceremonial afterthought, and tradition. Be careful. The Bible says we will either build on the Rock, or stumble over it. Which will it be for us?
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Grace for your spirit June 24, 2008
So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over. Matt 27:17-18
Even Pilate recognized the problems between Jesus and His people. The masses were following Jesus instead of their religious leaders. Jesus seemed to have the words of life. Jesus offered the people new hope and new joy. If they didn’t get rid Him, their based of support would soon be gone. Besides, Jesus lived the perfect life, claimed to be the Son of God, and threatened to change everything they counted as holy. It was a family problem that could not be solved without surrender. Most of the time, envy prevents surrender. Most families are torn apart by jealousy, and envy that turns to hatred. Everyone else can see it. Can we see it can happen to us as well?
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
Even Pilate recognized the problems between Jesus and His people. The masses were following Jesus instead of their religious leaders. Jesus seemed to have the words of life. Jesus offered the people new hope and new joy. If they didn’t get rid Him, their based of support would soon be gone. Besides, Jesus lived the perfect life, claimed to be the Son of God, and threatened to change everything they counted as holy. It was a family problem that could not be solved without surrender. Most of the time, envy prevents surrender. Most families are torn apart by jealousy, and envy that turns to hatred. Everyone else can see it. Can we see it can happen to us as well?
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
Monday, June 23, 2008
Grace for your spirit June 23, 2008
All you beasts of the field, all you beasts in the forest, come to eat. His watchmen are blind, all of them know nothing. All of them are mute dogs unable to bark, Dreamers lying down, who love to slumber; Isaiah 56:9-10
God’s children in Judah, had a big problem. The forces of evil in the world were gathering about them to devour them. The prophets and priests that were appointed to be watchmen for them were failing in their duties. Isaiah called them blind, ignorant, dogs that couldn’t bark, and sleeping dreamers. Not exactly the qualities that we look for in a watchmen. Isaiah proclaimed that they might as well invite the beasts to come and devour them, because of they were so unprepared. How do our enemies see us? Are we unprepared? Are our watchmen like the watchmen of Judah? Are we inviting spiritual disaster with naïve living? Let’s follow good watchmen and listen to their warnings.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
God’s children in Judah, had a big problem. The forces of evil in the world were gathering about them to devour them. The prophets and priests that were appointed to be watchmen for them were failing in their duties. Isaiah called them blind, ignorant, dogs that couldn’t bark, and sleeping dreamers. Not exactly the qualities that we look for in a watchmen. Isaiah proclaimed that they might as well invite the beasts to come and devour them, because of they were so unprepared. How do our enemies see us? Are we unprepared? Are our watchmen like the watchmen of Judah? Are we inviting spiritual disaster with naïve living? Let’s follow good watchmen and listen to their warnings.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
Friday, June 20, 2008
Grace for your spirit June 20, 2008
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; I Peter 2:9
Peter’s epistle is a manual of how to overcome persecution and live faithfully for Jesus is a troubled world. Here he proclaims that the best defense is a good offense. Go and proclaim Christ who called you out of darkness and into light. What qualification does the Christian have for this mission? Christians have become the chosen race, the royal priesthood, the holy nation, and the people who really belong to God. In the Old Covenant, it was the Jews, Israel, and the Levites. In Christ, Christians fill those roles in His kingdom. All disciples are equipped to fulfill this mission. Go ye.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
Peter’s epistle is a manual of how to overcome persecution and live faithfully for Jesus is a troubled world. Here he proclaims that the best defense is a good offense. Go and proclaim Christ who called you out of darkness and into light. What qualification does the Christian have for this mission? Christians have become the chosen race, the royal priesthood, the holy nation, and the people who really belong to God. In the Old Covenant, it was the Jews, Israel, and the Levites. In Christ, Christians fill those roles in His kingdom. All disciples are equipped to fulfill this mission. Go ye.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
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