Grace for your spirit May 29, 2009

Grace for your spirit

For the heart of this people has become dull. With their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return and I would heal them. Matt 13:15

This is the reason for all the sin, rebellion, and lack of healing throughout the ages. It is the reason the Jews rejected the Law, the Prophets, and the Christ. It is the reason the church has been rejected from the first century until now. God has always reached out to his creation and tried to give us earthly blessings and eternal life. What has He received in return? Dull hearts, closed ears, closed eyes, and hard hearts. We need to find an opening in the eyes, ears, and hearts of the lost. The devil keeps creating “dead zones” to block reception of God’s Word. We must keep trying to create a connection to spread His good news. Let’s ask someone again today, “Can you hear me now?”

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Grace for your spirit May 28, 2009

Grace for your spirit

And although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:32

Many religious people brag that they know the Word of God, and they know the consequences of breaking the Word, but it is only an academic exercise. The Word is not practiced in their lives. They believe they are above that condemnation, and even give hearty approval to all those practicing evil. The Bible calls for Christians to put aside the old man of sin, and live as a new man. The new man in Christ does not participate in deeds of darkness, but instead exposes those deeds. How about us? Do we just know the Word, or do we know it, put it into practice, and help others to the same? James tells us that anyone who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

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Grace for your spirit May 27, 2009

Grace for your spirit

Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household." And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. Mk 6:4-5

When God’s people did not honor Him as their Father, it limited the good He could do for them. When Jesus was not honored as Lord, it limited the good He could perform for His people. Honor is the glue that holds all relationships together. If we want the best out of our relationship with God, Jesus, our family, our church, and our world, try honor first. There is no relationship between friends or enemies that cannot be healed and improved with honor. Every command and every promise can be reached when the way is paved with honor.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Grace for your spirit May25, 2009

Grace for your spirit

Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness II Corinthians 12:8-9

The Apostle Paul had thorn in the flesh. A messenger of Satan sent to buffet him. Paul really wanted to get rid of this encumbrance so he prayed, prayed and prayed for it to leave, but it would not. What would be our advice to Paul? You need more faith, you need to work a little harder, you need to go to church more often? Here was God’s answer. I will give you the grace to live with this thorn and I will give you power to perfect your ministry even with this weakness. The victory for Paul would not be instantaneous. God would give him his victory in his service. What thorn in the flesh do we have today? If God is not going to remove it, let Him use it to give us power to overcome and enjoy victory.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Grace for your spirit May 22, 2009

Grace for your spirit

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

Are we trying to live a good enough life to merit salvation?  Are we trying to work our way into heaven?  Do we always feel like we are falling short of what we ought to be?  If we are trying to be a Christian by our own effort, we have missed the point and will always fall short.  Righteousness, salvation, and a home in heaven are gifts of God.  If we could try harder and be what God wanted, then there would have been no need for Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.  Let’s accept the gift of salvation through faith, and let’s quit beating our head against the wall.  The good life and the good works are a result of receiving His gifts, not a way to get them. 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Grace for your spirit May 21, 2009

                                    Grace for your spirit

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.  Judges 21:25

The kingdom of God is not a democracy where we all get a vote.  The kingdom is not a dictatorship where one man gets to push everyone around.  The Kingdom of God is a Theocracy.  God is the king and only authority.  We cannot just do what is right in our own eyes, we must do what is right in His eyes.  The book of Judges is a chronicle of one disaster after another.  God’s people were constantly in turmoil due to their bad decisions and tendencies to follow idols.  That much is still the same today.  When we do what is right in our own eyes, we will make bad decision, follow idols, and live in turmoil.   Let’s put God on the throne of our lives and let the king rule.  His way is always the right way, and the best way.

 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

Grace for your spirit May20, 2009

Grace for your spirit

Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt.  I Samuel 15:2

All the way on the trip from Egypt to the Promised Land, the armies of Amalek were in the way of God’s plans.  Just out of Egypt, and at the door of the promise land, Amalek fought against God’s people.  God chose King Saul 400 years later to punish that nation and completely destroy them.  Agag, King of the Amalekites thought surely he could talk his way out of this one, but he was wrong.  When we set ourselves against the purposes of God, there will be judgment.  If that has been our direction in life, we need to repent and pray before judgment comes our way.  Once we stand in judgment before the Lord, we won’t be able to talk our way out.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23