Saturday, January 9, 2010

PROTECTING OUR PURITY

PROTECTING OUR PURITY

In Northern Europe and Asia lives a little animal called the Ermine, known for it’s snow-white fur in winter. The Ermine instinctively protects its white coat against anything that would soil it.

Fur hunters take advantage of this unusual trait. They don't set a snare to catch the Ermine, but instead they find its home, usually a cleft in a rock or a hollow in an old tree, then they smear the entrance and interior with mud.

Afterward, the hunters set their dogs loose to find and chase the Ermine. The frightened animal flees toward home, but will not enter in because of the filth. Rather than soil his white coat, he is trapped by the dogs and captured while preserving his purity.


For the Ermine, purity is more precious than life.

Would that we were more like Ermine. Would to God we would see purity so precious that we would do anything to keep ourselves “unspotted from the world” as the Bible says.

It isn’t easy. Nothing stays clean unless you work to keep it clean. The world hounds us with peer pressure, job expectations, and cultural bandwagons. Satan tries to trap us by bringing filth right into our own homes via television, internet, and ungodly music. We must work at preserving purity or we will lose it.

Being pure in heart and mind is not only healthy for us, but it will be worth it when we meet our pure and perfect Savior face to face. We want to be willing to say that His bride has kept herself unspotted and unblemished by sin, faithful to the Bridegroom.

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)

Think on these things…and keep remember to keep the SON in your eyes!

FAITH

How’s Your Faith ?
" . . .According to your faith be it unto you."--Matthew 9:29
The Bible speaks of a "measure of faith" and also of a "proportion of faith." These tremendous words were spoken by Jesus to two blind men. They were greatly rewarded by their faith because their eyes were opened.
Notice Jesus did NOT say, according to your "fate" or according to your "fortune"; nor did He say, according to your "fame," "friends" or "feelings," but "According to your faith . . ."

This seems to indicate that there are various degrees of faith. Let’s consider several verses that help us to understand this truth.


1. In the Bible, we read the statement, "How is it that ye have no faith?" (Mark 4:40). Jesus asked His disciples in the boat when they feared that they would perish. Sadly there are many defeated Christians living without power and victory who have no faith.
2. In Matthew 8:26 Jesus said, "O ye of little faith." This again is the account of the disciples in the ship. Some have a small sum of faith , but not enough to help them through tough times.
3. The Bible also speaks of WEAK FAITH. "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye . . ." (Rom. 14:1). Here the Apostle Paul is referring to an immature Christian who has not been made strong yet. He or she is spoken of as being one who is weak in the faith.
4. In the book of James we read of DEAD FAITH- "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead" (James 2:17). There is proof when there is faith. James admonished us to show faith by works.
5. The Bible speaks again of another kind of faith; VAIN FAITH.. " . . .and your faith is also vain" (I Cor. 15:14). The word "vain" means empty or of no avail. This means faith is wasted and useless if not based on what is real and worthy.
6. Jesus spoke to a Gentile woman and said she had GREAT FAITH. "I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel" (Luke 7:9). In several places Jesus spoke of those who had great faith. What a compliment!
7.The Bible says that Barnabas was FULL OF FAITH: "For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith" (Acts 11:24). He was a tremendous example and pattern for all believers. 8. The Bible tells us to have STEADFAST FAITH. " . . .beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ" (Col. 2:5). There is great peace and contentment in being settled in the promises of God.
9. James speaks also of being RICH IN FAITH: "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith?" (James 2:5). Faith is more valuable than money.
10. Peter wrote, " . . .to them that have obtained like PRECIOUS FAITH. . ." (II Pet. 1:1), referring to salvation that makes us partakers of the grace of God. The word "precious" is used in relation to something that is scarce and very valuable.

11. Then the Bible speaks finally of " HOLY FAITH." " . . .building up yourselves on your most holy faith . . ." (Jude 20). What a wonderful way to refer to the faith “once delivered” (Jude 3)



In all of these Bible phrases, we see evidence of degrees of faith. The question then is…how’s YOUR faith?



Think on these things, and keep the SON in your eyes!

THE FORGETFULNESS OF GOD

THE FORGETFULNESS OF GOD




Sin stalks and subdues souls with guilt and regret, shame and remorse rule and ruin millions by the hour causing conflict and confusion in the hearts of the Christian and the unconverted, as soul after soul suffers in silence.



But it doesn’t have to be this way!

We read and hear about the holiness, of God, the love of God and the mercy of God…but how about the forgetfulness of God? Thank God our sins, via the cross of Calvary, are FORGIVEN & FORGOTTEN FOREVER.



The prophet Jeremiah says in chapter 31 verse 34 “ …I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”


God’s forgetfulness is not like ours…His is not a matter of inabilty but of infallibilty! The forgetfulness of God is not a matter of weakness but WONDERFULNESS!



Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was reminded one day of a vicious deed that someone had done to her years before. But she acted as if she had never even heard of the incident. "Don’t you remember it?" her friend asked. "No," reply, "I distinctly remember forgetting it."

It’s not that God is unable or CAN NOT remember, but that He DOES not. He alone is able to chose what to remember or forget. No sins are omitted and no strings are attached. God’s forgiveness is not dependent on the worthineSs of the offender-but the wonderfulness of the offended! Instead of looking at our achievements––He looks to His own affection.



(1John 1:7) “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth (verb tense- “keeps cleansing”) us from ALL sin. Vs. 9 “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”




As the songwriter said; “My sin O the bliss of this glorious thought – My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, Praise the Lord O my soul”



Think on these things, and keep the SON in your eyes!

How's Your Hearing?

Hearing God Speak

Can you hear God speak? Yes, you can—if you know where to listen! Where you say? Well the Bible tells us a few places we can.

First of all, I. You Can Hear Him Speak In Creation.
Psalm 19:1 tells us “The heavens declare(Speak) the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.”

We can clearly see and hear God in the works of His creation. It speaks of His glory, his power, and His love. Both verses were written by David, a man who spent much time outdoors in his work as a shepherd. He was in tune with nature, and being so he was in tune with God. Sitting underneath a starlit sky at night doing his work, it was quite clear to him that his surrounding were the handiwork of God. If we will take time to explore, and to experience his creation, it has his fingerprints all over it!

II. You Can Hear Him Speak In His Conversations.
2 Peter 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
The Bible is a record of God's conversations with men in the past, and his words still speak to us today. It is just as relevant and real as when it was first given to men of old.
2 Tim 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
The Bible is God revealing himself to us speaking with (not just to) mankind ! If God is not speaking to us, it is because we are not spending time in his word.

III. You Can Hear Him Speak Through Circumstances.
It would be a good and wise thing to ask God what he is trying to say to us when we experience pain, sickness, loss.
C.S. Lewis said “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world”


IV. You Can Hear Him Speak At Church.
God can speak to us in many places because God is everywhere , but the primary place in which he meets with his people, and speaks to them is in His house !
It is His ordained plan and place to communicate to His children.

Speaking of Pastors and Church leaders the Bible says in Hebrews 13:7 “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have SPOKEN unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”

We can hear God speak through the teaching, the music, the prayers, the Spirit, the preaching and the invitation.



And last, but certainly not least,
V. You Can Hear Him Speak At The Cross.
If we had been at the cross on the day that Christ was crucified, we would have heard God speak. Though we weren’t, what He said is recorded in His word for us to read and listen to today..
From the cross Jesus spoke words of forgiveness even to the very ones who drove the nails into Him.
God spoke words of salvation to the whole world when Jesus uttered from the cross “It is finished!” and He still speaks to us today the same truths….are you listening?



Think on these things and keep the Son in your eyes!

Evidence that You are Filled

Evidence that You are Filled with the Holy Spirit

Eph 5:18 “…. be filled with the Spirit” A young Italian boy knocked on the door of an artist's studio in Rome. When it was opened, he said, "Please Madam, would you give me the master's brush?" The famous painter had died, and the young boy, with a desire to be an artist, wished to paint with the master's brush.

The lady placed the brush in his hand, saying, "This is the brush, try it my boy!" The boy made a supreme effort, but soon found out that he could paint no better with this brush, than he could with his own. The lady then looked at the boy and said, "Remember child, you cannot paint like the great master, unless you have the master's spirit!"

God the Holy Spirit is not an INFLUENCE, or an IDEA, but an INDIVIDUAL! He is just as much God as God the Son and God the Father.

All Christians are INDWELT by the Spirit (Romans 8:9) “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” , but NOT all Christians are INFILLED with the spirit!

It is a matter of surrender and submission.

What is the evidence that you ARE filled with God’s Spirit? Following the command to be filled with the Spirit, we find a list of spiritual attributes that counteract fleshly, selfish living. By displaying these traits, saints show that the Spirit is in control of their lives. Here they are:

1. Verse 19 says we should be “Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” Joyful, not mournful music, characterizes Christianity. When we are filled with and by the Spirit, the heart is filled with merry and melodious music.

2. Notice the next verse: (Eph. 5:20), “Giving thanks always unto God” a spirit filled Christian is not grumpy and griping. We should have an attitude of gratitude!

3. And again the next verse: (Eph. 5:21). “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” The world is filled with rebellion against all authority. The flesh is anti- authority, but a Spirit-filled person will respect authority “in the fear of God.” The next two verses deal with husbands and wives submitting to each other in love.

We must be Spirit-filled Christians to live like this. We must walk by faith in constant dependence on the Spirit of God!

Think on these things, and keep the SON in your eyes!

Wisdom For the New Year

Wisdom For the New Year



THE END IS NEAR!! As we come to the close of 2009 the millennium gains momentum and what was future fantasy is now familiar fact. On this, the last day of the year, let us reflect and remember our need of wisdom.

Widom is defined as “the right use of knowledge” The Bible says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7). If you want a happy new year, “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” (Proverbs 3:13).

A word of caution, there is the wisdom of the world and then there is the wisdom of God. James 3:13-16 tells us that the wisdom of this world is full of hatred and hypocrisy.

Contrariwise, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17).

God’s wisdom is guilt-free, rewarding and is God’s way of bringing us step by step through every phase of our life. God’s wisdom will help us in every age and stage of our life. This is the wisdom that we need and would do well to seek.

1. The wisdom of God is better than the MIND of man.

Read 1Corinthians 1:20- 30 and 2:4-5 God is the only one who can get us out of the social, economic and spiritual problems that plague us.

Gods wisdom is better than all the world’s philosophies and th eonly answer to lifes questions.

Christ is wisdom, (I Corinthians 1:30, Colossians 2:3) therefore: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…”



2. The wisdom of God is better than the MIGHT of man.

The prophet said to the king, “…Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). Man’s wisdom without God is not only lousy, it’s lethal! The Bible says, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8). Man’s reasoning is “mental candy” that creates mental cavities.

The Bible teaches: “Wisdom is better than weapons of war…” (Ecclesiastes 9:18). “He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly” (Proverbs 2:7).

3. The wisdom of God is MINE and YOURS for the asking.

Wisdom is a gift. “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6). The best example of this is given in the life of young Solomon. (II Chronicles 1:7-10 & I Kings 4: 29,30).

Have you listeend and learned from the lessons of life this past year? Do you not want the wisdom of God to guide you in the next with this knowledge in tow?

Then join me in claiming: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). God bless you in the new year as you think on these things and keep the SON in your eyes!