TEXT: 1Timothy 3:
15. QUALIFICATIONS OF A PASTOR
One day I was discussing with someone the qualifications of a Pastor and she got rather mad at my calm quotations from the Bible and she yelled,” HUMAN BEING, HUMAN BEING!” Well of course God never called an animal to be a Pastor but at the same time, God never said that being a human was a qualification either. Being the head of the church is a huge responsibility and even qualified men can make mistakes because of our sin nature. This is why God makes it clear exactly the type of person He wants for a Pastor:
Did you see any indication that the head of a church could be a woman? No, in fact everything was clearly aimed at a man. Do you have a problem with this? Well, don’t get mad at me, get mad at God, He is the one who said it. Although I highly recommend that you don’t question the Almighty.
V. 1-7
16. QUALIFICATIONS OF A DEACON
Deacons are men in the church who help the Pastor since the Pastor cannot and should not do it all. The qualifications for a deacon are very similar to the qualifications of a Pastor because they have a very similar role.
A. Respectful to God and others in honor
B. Married and not divorced (currently or ever)
C. Not a Drinker
D. Stable Mind
E. Well Behaved (a clean conscience)
F. Hospitable (Kind and Helping to Others)
G. Not Greedy for Money, Power, or things other people have, Etc
H. A man who has good control of his household, his home, the family that lives with him.
V. 8-13
HOW WE SHOULD ACT IN CHURCH: 14-16.
quinta-feira, 25 de setembro de 2008
terça-feira, 23 de setembro de 2008
2008 Guidelines for having a New Testament Church (Part 2)
6. THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST
Only a man physically or spiritually blind could not see what the purpose of Christ was. He made it so clear and again it is made clear in here in Timothy that He came to save us from sin. What was the purpose if you could get to Heaven any other way?
V.11
7. KEEP THE FAITH AND DONT QUESTION IT
For a church to have a good conscience knowing they are in the will of God, they must keep the Faith of Jesus Christ and don’t question it. However many churches in today’s world question the Faith and the Bible. The critics of the Faith remind me of the greatest Bible critic of all… Satan who’s first recorded words in the Bible was,” Did God really say that?” Sound familiar to you? Sounds just like what many Bible critics say today in churches that claim to be Christian.
TEXT 1 Timothy 2
8. PRAY FOR EVERYONE
It is easy for church people to pray for other church people, or should I say, other church people that they like, but that is not what God say’s. We should pray for everyone.
V.1
9. RESPECT AUTHORITY
Politics in Church is a dangerous thing and even though we have a right to vote from out Spirit and not our wallets, we have an obligation that no matter who I the president, we should pray for them and support them however we can. The same goes to anyone in authority over you. They will give an account to God to how well of a job they did or did not do. You will answer to God to whether you respected them or not. God finds this behavior good and acceptable. The pastor, husband, president, etc will make, mistakes but the church, wives, and Americans must respect them anyway.
V.2-3
10. GOD WANTS TO SAVE EVERYONE
You can argue all you want that are verses in the Bible that give unclear evidence that seems to indicate otherwise, but you cannot deny that God says over and over again that he wants all mankind to be saved and to believe in him. A church must preach that God loves everyone and wants everyone to accept Christ as their Savior. Getting into the discussion of (If God knows everything, then doesn’t he choose who accepts Jesus or not is a stupid argument that does not promote anything positive. Jesus died for all, period.
V. 3-7
11. ALL MUST BE DONE THROUGH JESUS
There is one God and if we hope to accomplish anything for Him in our churches and in our lives, it must be done through Jesus. Jesus intercedes on our behalf to a Holy God in every way possible. This is why a Church that inches away from the Gospel will be empowered by Satan to keep growing, but not by God.
V.5
12. MEN OF PRAYER AND NOT PRIDE
A church is only as strong as its men. Now you may disagree and of course there are many other factors that make a church strong but think about it. If men of God, are not praying, leading, worshiping, and watching over the church, how successful would it be? Men of God in church need to be men of prayer who will pray anywhere, anytime about anything and are not too proud to raise their hands up to God in prayer and or worship. If the men in the church are fighters, argumentative, prideful and stubborn, the church cannot grow.
V.8
13. WOMEN OF MODESTY
Women are powerful figures in society, the home, and church, and God does not tell women how to behave and dress because he does not love or respect them, it is because God knows the power a women can have over a man and over a church. A woman can destroy both. Scientifically, men are more sexually attracted by sight than women. This is the way God made a man; therefore a woman must help out a brother in Christ in how she carries herself. Many women instead find it fun to look alluring in church. Men’s eyes find skin like a dog can find a bone. A woman must keep herself covered and no showing too much leg, shoulders, and anything in between. Not only are these areas reserved for the viewing and touching pleasure of her husband, but it is not respectful to God to do something you know makes a brother week. These verses did not say that a woman cannot do her hair nice or wear jewelry but the context of this verse indicates doing so in a seductive manner. Why is it that you can drive down the street and point out a prostitute immediately? It is easy because how she dresses, does her makeup, her hair, the type of jewelry she wears and the skin she shows. Pride makes us all think we should be able to do what we want but to knowingly do something that will cause a fellow Christian to stumble or fall is a sin on our part.
v. 9-10
14. WOMEN OF PURPOSE
God loves his daughters so much that he has given the such power and purpose in the church and the home but only when done correctly. Women have built in instincts and abilities with children and other women that men do not have in the church and home. However with Godly abilities in a woman also comes sinful tendencies. A woman’s sinful tendencies are different from men’s. Men tend to not communicate like they should where women tend to speak too much and too boldly. Now combine this with the fact that women psychologically need security and men psychologically need respect and you have a problem. When a woman speaks to boldly to man, no matter how he responds, on the inside he does not feel respect. Then in return he will do or say something which does not make the woman feel secure, and Satan’s plan works perfectly. A woman who can not submissively respect her Pastor won’t submissively respect her husband and a woman who will not wont submissively respect her husband won’t submissively respect her Pastor.
The most Godly women in the Bible and in history did not speak much or loud, but when they did speak, it was powerful and things happened! Women can best honor God with a submissive and quiet heart than with a mega phone and battering ram. So what can women do in church? Well, everything but to preach or teach men. This means she can teach and preach to children, and other women. So women cannot be Pastors? Keep reading…..Paul says more about it under inspiration from God.
V. 11-13
Only a man physically or spiritually blind could not see what the purpose of Christ was. He made it so clear and again it is made clear in here in Timothy that He came to save us from sin. What was the purpose if you could get to Heaven any other way?
V.11
7. KEEP THE FAITH AND DONT QUESTION IT
For a church to have a good conscience knowing they are in the will of God, they must keep the Faith of Jesus Christ and don’t question it. However many churches in today’s world question the Faith and the Bible. The critics of the Faith remind me of the greatest Bible critic of all… Satan who’s first recorded words in the Bible was,” Did God really say that?” Sound familiar to you? Sounds just like what many Bible critics say today in churches that claim to be Christian.
TEXT 1 Timothy 2
8. PRAY FOR EVERYONE
It is easy for church people to pray for other church people, or should I say, other church people that they like, but that is not what God say’s. We should pray for everyone.
V.1
9. RESPECT AUTHORITY
Politics in Church is a dangerous thing and even though we have a right to vote from out Spirit and not our wallets, we have an obligation that no matter who I the president, we should pray for them and support them however we can. The same goes to anyone in authority over you. They will give an account to God to how well of a job they did or did not do. You will answer to God to whether you respected them or not. God finds this behavior good and acceptable. The pastor, husband, president, etc will make, mistakes but the church, wives, and Americans must respect them anyway.
V.2-3
10. GOD WANTS TO SAVE EVERYONE
You can argue all you want that are verses in the Bible that give unclear evidence that seems to indicate otherwise, but you cannot deny that God says over and over again that he wants all mankind to be saved and to believe in him. A church must preach that God loves everyone and wants everyone to accept Christ as their Savior. Getting into the discussion of (If God knows everything, then doesn’t he choose who accepts Jesus or not is a stupid argument that does not promote anything positive. Jesus died for all, period.
V. 3-7
11. ALL MUST BE DONE THROUGH JESUS
There is one God and if we hope to accomplish anything for Him in our churches and in our lives, it must be done through Jesus. Jesus intercedes on our behalf to a Holy God in every way possible. This is why a Church that inches away from the Gospel will be empowered by Satan to keep growing, but not by God.
V.5
12. MEN OF PRAYER AND NOT PRIDE
A church is only as strong as its men. Now you may disagree and of course there are many other factors that make a church strong but think about it. If men of God, are not praying, leading, worshiping, and watching over the church, how successful would it be? Men of God in church need to be men of prayer who will pray anywhere, anytime about anything and are not too proud to raise their hands up to God in prayer and or worship. If the men in the church are fighters, argumentative, prideful and stubborn, the church cannot grow.
V.8
13. WOMEN OF MODESTY
Women are powerful figures in society, the home, and church, and God does not tell women how to behave and dress because he does not love or respect them, it is because God knows the power a women can have over a man and over a church. A woman can destroy both. Scientifically, men are more sexually attracted by sight than women. This is the way God made a man; therefore a woman must help out a brother in Christ in how she carries herself. Many women instead find it fun to look alluring in church. Men’s eyes find skin like a dog can find a bone. A woman must keep herself covered and no showing too much leg, shoulders, and anything in between. Not only are these areas reserved for the viewing and touching pleasure of her husband, but it is not respectful to God to do something you know makes a brother week. These verses did not say that a woman cannot do her hair nice or wear jewelry but the context of this verse indicates doing so in a seductive manner. Why is it that you can drive down the street and point out a prostitute immediately? It is easy because how she dresses, does her makeup, her hair, the type of jewelry she wears and the skin she shows. Pride makes us all think we should be able to do what we want but to knowingly do something that will cause a fellow Christian to stumble or fall is a sin on our part.
v. 9-10
14. WOMEN OF PURPOSE
God loves his daughters so much that he has given the such power and purpose in the church and the home but only when done correctly. Women have built in instincts and abilities with children and other women that men do not have in the church and home. However with Godly abilities in a woman also comes sinful tendencies. A woman’s sinful tendencies are different from men’s. Men tend to not communicate like they should where women tend to speak too much and too boldly. Now combine this with the fact that women psychologically need security and men psychologically need respect and you have a problem. When a woman speaks to boldly to man, no matter how he responds, on the inside he does not feel respect. Then in return he will do or say something which does not make the woman feel secure, and Satan’s plan works perfectly. A woman who can not submissively respect her Pastor won’t submissively respect her husband and a woman who will not wont submissively respect her husband won’t submissively respect her Pastor.
The most Godly women in the Bible and in history did not speak much or loud, but when they did speak, it was powerful and things happened! Women can best honor God with a submissive and quiet heart than with a mega phone and battering ram. So what can women do in church? Well, everything but to preach or teach men. This means she can teach and preach to children, and other women. So women cannot be Pastors? Keep reading…..Paul says more about it under inspiration from God.
V. 11-13
segunda-feira, 22 de setembro de 2008
2008 Guidelines for having a New Testament Church (part 1)
Introduction:
I Matthew Grayson Scott being of sound mine and spirit do hereby approve these guidelines for all churches to follow for I am a wise man and have an opinion better than everyone else’s. Furthermore, I believe that I am the authority on what is right and wrong and only use the name (Bible) in hopes that it will give some validity to what I say and that young or unaware Christians will be fooled by my beautiful and positive words. I may mention a verse in the Bible given from a translation that is as watered down as a day old glass of ice tea but again it will only be for the sake of giving you the false security that I am actually speaking doctrinal truth. So please follow these guidelines, it will likely bring many people to your church, but I cannot promise it will keep them there.
Hopefully, you are laughing right now. If not, and if the above paragraph did not strike you as wrong, you should be very concerned because you are easy pray for false teachers and false doctrines. Even though the paragraph you just read was comical in nature, it has a scary truth. There are people who believe, teach and run a church in this way. This is a very real problem in the church as we know it today. This article is actually about guidelines for having a NT Church in the year 2008 but we will go to the only source for truth that we have “God’s Word” and not our ideas, opinions, personal conviction, feelings, experience, etc. The things that you may read might bother, anger, sadden and I hope, convict you but just remember to read the Scripture and know that you are not hearing my thoughts, but God’s! I would hope that if there is an area of your life that you need to change or maybe a belief you need to change, that you will let God’s Word be the sword it is and to shape you into the Christian you should be.
Timothy: A young man on a mission
We will look at Paul’s guidelines he gives to Timothy on how a church should be. Paul visited and wrote many letters to Churches but not he is training young Timothy to go and do the same thing. Timothy could be comparable to an evangelist in today’s time however Timothy would get much more actively involved with church leadership in making sure things were done as God would have them to be done. I am not yet 30 years old and see myself as a young man, so I feel a connection with Timothy and I was blessed to read this book of the Bible because I felt like God told Paul what to tell me. Really it is true of any Christian male or female of any age. We all must know how Church should be. As you study these passages, don’t forget that even though a church service may be an organized gathering of believers, the church itself is not about a building, a denomination, or anything else but people.
I will give the text, number the guidelines found in the text, and write the verse where you will find the guideline. This way you can get in your Bible and read it yourself. Hey, there’s an idea!
Text: 1Timothy 1:3-11
1. FALSE DOCTRINE:
You should hear no other doctrine in Church besides that which is straight from the Word of God. V.3
2. FAIRY TALES, FALSE TEACHINS, LEGALISTIC RAMBLINGS:
Liberal fairytales and warm fuzzy false teachings along with legalistic ramblings should not be something you hear in Church. Sadly it seems there is a tendency for a church to go to either extreme as if simply following God is not enough. The “Emergent Church” movement that claims to be bringing the NT church into the 21st century seems to lean too liberal slowly fading out the Gospel and quickly eliminating the purpose of the Church (Discipleing Believers). On the other hand “Fundamentalist” Churches lean towards legalism where the pastor barks out personal convictions from the pulpit like a rabid dog and the faithful church members seem more like Pharisees instead of humble slaves to our King Jesus. Fundamental churches are dying out because the power of God is not on them, and liberal churches grow like weeds (weeds is a good word for them) because they make people feel good and don’t preach the convicting Word of God. Both the death of legalistic churches and the growth of liberal ones is not Gods plan. We must meet in the middle with a true NT church as given to us here in Timothy.
V.4
3. LOVE:
We must examine our hearts and see if our motivation for what we do or say in church is from love and no other motivation. We must be able to do it with a clear conscience knowing that we love God and others as well as live what we say knowing that our faith in God is what we act out of. If we truly are repentant of our sins, love Jesus, and believe in Jesus Christ for our salvation, we will understand that it is our love for Christ that makes us serve, trust, and obey Him. In the same way, we only say and do things to others because of love. The motivation for everything we do in church is love. If it cannot be done with love (IT CANNOT BE DONE)!
V.5
4. LEGALISM:
Legalistic ramblings are useless except they do a great job of wasting everyone’s time. The OT laws have a purpose, but not after someone has accepted Christ.
V. 6-7
5. OLD TESTAMENT LAWS:
OT laws are a great way to show someone who does not have Jesus that they are a lawbreaker and that living a sinless life to earn Heaven is impossible. The law is designed to bring people to the Gospel of Christ!
V. 8- 11
I Matthew Grayson Scott being of sound mine and spirit do hereby approve these guidelines for all churches to follow for I am a wise man and have an opinion better than everyone else’s. Furthermore, I believe that I am the authority on what is right and wrong and only use the name (Bible) in hopes that it will give some validity to what I say and that young or unaware Christians will be fooled by my beautiful and positive words. I may mention a verse in the Bible given from a translation that is as watered down as a day old glass of ice tea but again it will only be for the sake of giving you the false security that I am actually speaking doctrinal truth. So please follow these guidelines, it will likely bring many people to your church, but I cannot promise it will keep them there.
Hopefully, you are laughing right now. If not, and if the above paragraph did not strike you as wrong, you should be very concerned because you are easy pray for false teachers and false doctrines. Even though the paragraph you just read was comical in nature, it has a scary truth. There are people who believe, teach and run a church in this way. This is a very real problem in the church as we know it today. This article is actually about guidelines for having a NT Church in the year 2008 but we will go to the only source for truth that we have “God’s Word” and not our ideas, opinions, personal conviction, feelings, experience, etc. The things that you may read might bother, anger, sadden and I hope, convict you but just remember to read the Scripture and know that you are not hearing my thoughts, but God’s! I would hope that if there is an area of your life that you need to change or maybe a belief you need to change, that you will let God’s Word be the sword it is and to shape you into the Christian you should be.
Timothy: A young man on a mission
We will look at Paul’s guidelines he gives to Timothy on how a church should be. Paul visited and wrote many letters to Churches but not he is training young Timothy to go and do the same thing. Timothy could be comparable to an evangelist in today’s time however Timothy would get much more actively involved with church leadership in making sure things were done as God would have them to be done. I am not yet 30 years old and see myself as a young man, so I feel a connection with Timothy and I was blessed to read this book of the Bible because I felt like God told Paul what to tell me. Really it is true of any Christian male or female of any age. We all must know how Church should be. As you study these passages, don’t forget that even though a church service may be an organized gathering of believers, the church itself is not about a building, a denomination, or anything else but people.
I will give the text, number the guidelines found in the text, and write the verse where you will find the guideline. This way you can get in your Bible and read it yourself. Hey, there’s an idea!
Text: 1Timothy 1:3-11
1. FALSE DOCTRINE:
You should hear no other doctrine in Church besides that which is straight from the Word of God. V.3
2. FAIRY TALES, FALSE TEACHINS, LEGALISTIC RAMBLINGS:
Liberal fairytales and warm fuzzy false teachings along with legalistic ramblings should not be something you hear in Church. Sadly it seems there is a tendency for a church to go to either extreme as if simply following God is not enough. The “Emergent Church” movement that claims to be bringing the NT church into the 21st century seems to lean too liberal slowly fading out the Gospel and quickly eliminating the purpose of the Church (Discipleing Believers). On the other hand “Fundamentalist” Churches lean towards legalism where the pastor barks out personal convictions from the pulpit like a rabid dog and the faithful church members seem more like Pharisees instead of humble slaves to our King Jesus. Fundamental churches are dying out because the power of God is not on them, and liberal churches grow like weeds (weeds is a good word for them) because they make people feel good and don’t preach the convicting Word of God. Both the death of legalistic churches and the growth of liberal ones is not Gods plan. We must meet in the middle with a true NT church as given to us here in Timothy.
V.4
3. LOVE:
We must examine our hearts and see if our motivation for what we do or say in church is from love and no other motivation. We must be able to do it with a clear conscience knowing that we love God and others as well as live what we say knowing that our faith in God is what we act out of. If we truly are repentant of our sins, love Jesus, and believe in Jesus Christ for our salvation, we will understand that it is our love for Christ that makes us serve, trust, and obey Him. In the same way, we only say and do things to others because of love. The motivation for everything we do in church is love. If it cannot be done with love (IT CANNOT BE DONE)!
V.5
4. LEGALISM:
Legalistic ramblings are useless except they do a great job of wasting everyone’s time. The OT laws have a purpose, but not after someone has accepted Christ.
V. 6-7
5. OLD TESTAMENT LAWS:
OT laws are a great way to show someone who does not have Jesus that they are a lawbreaker and that living a sinless life to earn Heaven is impossible. The law is designed to bring people to the Gospel of Christ!
V. 8- 11
quarta-feira, 17 de setembro de 2008
STILL HERE
Distance by thousands of miles long
Separated by waters billions of gallons strong
Culture differences stand in our way
We cannot be together day after day
People try to destroy us as a team
Stress threatens to rip our love at the seam
Satan plants seeds of anxiety and doubt
Time won't wait but time runs out
Busy schedules can make memories fade
Daily trials could intimidate what we've made
There are days that we are gripped by fear
Yet through it all...... STILL HERE
I love you Gisley and I am never going anywhere!
Separated by waters billions of gallons strong
Culture differences stand in our way
We cannot be together day after day
People try to destroy us as a team
Stress threatens to rip our love at the seam
Satan plants seeds of anxiety and doubt
Time won't wait but time runs out
Busy schedules can make memories fade
Daily trials could intimidate what we've made
There are days that we are gripped by fear
Yet through it all...... STILL HERE
I love you Gisley and I am never going anywhere!
quinta-feira, 11 de setembro de 2008
POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!!!
We are in a society driven by the pursuit of power! Everyone wants more power, and what do people who have great power want?... MORE POWER!
When we have power, we can get what we want, do what we want. say what we want, think what we want. There is no limits! Sounds nice huh?
Well indeed everything I just said has a definite sinful sound to it, but hold on just a second. Is it wrong for Christians to have power?
It depends on where our power comes from and what we do with it. Obviously our power should come from God, but just because Christians may have recieved power from God, does not mean they will use it in a godly way. Sampson is a great example of this truth and also the truth of what happens when you use Gods power in a manner inconsistent with label (God's Word).
Let's look into Power from Psalms 125:
1 Those who trust in the LORDAre like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
(POWER TO STAND STRONG)
Sure mankind has the ability to slowely blast through a mountain with explosives and take the rocks out truckload by truckload but to move an entire mountain in this way is a task that no man will ever even attempt. Even if it were possible to move all the rocks from a mountain, you really did not move the mountain, just destroyed it and laid it's remains in one place. There fore, to move a mountain in it's entirity is impossile for anyone but God because he has the power. A Christian (who trusts Jesus) cannot be moved by any man or anything. I believe this idead of (trusting Jesus) goes further than simply for your Salvation, but also in day to day decisions and tasks. Do you trust Jesus with your life and all that is in it?
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.
(THE POWER OF PROTECTION)
God surrounds us like mountains so that nothing can harm us that he does not allow. This means that nothing bad can happen to you without God's permission. Because of this, we should not be afraid or worry if we trust God, and if we do trust Him, then why dont we act like it?
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not restOn the land allotted to the righteous, Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.
(THE POWER OF INVINCIBILTY)
Evil cannot ruin our plans, hopes and dreams if we are living in God's will and trusting in Him. If evil were allowed to taint our plans, we might turn to evil in order to get what we think we want or need. You can also revers this verse around that if a Christian reaches out to ungodly methods to get what they want God will not protect the details of your life that you give to Satan.
4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,And to those who are upright in their hearts.
(POWER OF BLESSINGS)
This is a pretty simple concept that is echoed throughout scriptures. If you live a godly life, you will have God's favour on your life. God promises that if we find our happiness in Him, He will give us what our hearts desires after changing our desires into Holy things.
5 As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways,The LORD shall lead them away With the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel!
(THE WARNING)
If you turn away from God and turn toward sinful ways, he will let you go. God will not force you to love and serve Him and He will not take away your right to suffer the consequences for your actions.
God has the power, and He is willing to give it to us and use his limitless and mightly power for our benefit! Are we living a life worthy of it?
The Bible says that Christians are to be the light of the world, showing brightly the love of Christ. You can try to turn on a light all you want but unless it is plugged in, nothing will happen. Why wont the light come on and why aren't many Christians recieving the power from God? Hello, you have to plug in to the source of the power! You have to plug a light into the power source before it has a chance to shine. Getttin plugged in to God power begins with accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior but to keep that connection of power strong, you must stay connected to God by prayer and reading God's word!
When we have power, we can get what we want, do what we want. say what we want, think what we want. There is no limits! Sounds nice huh?
Well indeed everything I just said has a definite sinful sound to it, but hold on just a second. Is it wrong for Christians to have power?
It depends on where our power comes from and what we do with it. Obviously our power should come from God, but just because Christians may have recieved power from God, does not mean they will use it in a godly way. Sampson is a great example of this truth and also the truth of what happens when you use Gods power in a manner inconsistent with label (God's Word).
Let's look into Power from Psalms 125:
1 Those who trust in the LORDAre like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
(POWER TO STAND STRONG)
Sure mankind has the ability to slowely blast through a mountain with explosives and take the rocks out truckload by truckload but to move an entire mountain in this way is a task that no man will ever even attempt. Even if it were possible to move all the rocks from a mountain, you really did not move the mountain, just destroyed it and laid it's remains in one place. There fore, to move a mountain in it's entirity is impossile for anyone but God because he has the power. A Christian (who trusts Jesus) cannot be moved by any man or anything. I believe this idead of (trusting Jesus) goes further than simply for your Salvation, but also in day to day decisions and tasks. Do you trust Jesus with your life and all that is in it?
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.
(THE POWER OF PROTECTION)
God surrounds us like mountains so that nothing can harm us that he does not allow. This means that nothing bad can happen to you without God's permission. Because of this, we should not be afraid or worry if we trust God, and if we do trust Him, then why dont we act like it?
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not restOn the land allotted to the righteous, Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.
(THE POWER OF INVINCIBILTY)
Evil cannot ruin our plans, hopes and dreams if we are living in God's will and trusting in Him. If evil were allowed to taint our plans, we might turn to evil in order to get what we think we want or need. You can also revers this verse around that if a Christian reaches out to ungodly methods to get what they want God will not protect the details of your life that you give to Satan.
4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,And to those who are upright in their hearts.
(POWER OF BLESSINGS)
This is a pretty simple concept that is echoed throughout scriptures. If you live a godly life, you will have God's favour on your life. God promises that if we find our happiness in Him, He will give us what our hearts desires after changing our desires into Holy things.
5 As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways,The LORD shall lead them away With the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel!
(THE WARNING)
If you turn away from God and turn toward sinful ways, he will let you go. God will not force you to love and serve Him and He will not take away your right to suffer the consequences for your actions.
God has the power, and He is willing to give it to us and use his limitless and mightly power for our benefit! Are we living a life worthy of it?
The Bible says that Christians are to be the light of the world, showing brightly the love of Christ. You can try to turn on a light all you want but unless it is plugged in, nothing will happen. Why wont the light come on and why aren't many Christians recieving the power from God? Hello, you have to plug in to the source of the power! You have to plug a light into the power source before it has a chance to shine. Getttin plugged in to God power begins with accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior but to keep that connection of power strong, you must stay connected to God by prayer and reading God's word!
sexta-feira, 5 de setembro de 2008
DOES THE BIBLE SAY YOU CANNOT CUSS OR TALK DIRTY?
I get this question alot but never from somone with a clean mouth. A Chrisitan who asks this question has in my experience, always been somone you does used bad language and is trying to justify it. The Bible speaks volumes about how we should speak and obviously condems cursing and sweating as being sinful. My point in ministry has always been to encourage people to look into their hear. It does not matter if you cuss or if your mouth is clean, the heart is what matters.
Luke 6:45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
If your heart is soft, dedicated to God and loving to others, filthy or harsh words wont come out of your mouth.
Colossians3:5-7
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
Angy speech, hateful speech, mocking of God, and all filthy language is not the nature of a believer.
16-17
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
23
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
Everything you do is for the Lord.
Would you talk to Jesus with fowl language? Would Jesus talk to you that way? Did Paul, Peter, Job, Abraham, or any people of faith in the Bible talk with bad language to God?
Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Titus 2:7-8
in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
Luke 6:45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
If your heart is soft, dedicated to God and loving to others, filthy or harsh words wont come out of your mouth.
Colossians3:5-7
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
Angy speech, hateful speech, mocking of God, and all filthy language is not the nature of a believer.
16-17
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
23
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
Everything you do is for the Lord.
Would you talk to Jesus with fowl language? Would Jesus talk to you that way? Did Paul, Peter, Job, Abraham, or any people of faith in the Bible talk with bad language to God?
Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Titus 2:7-8
in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
quinta-feira, 4 de setembro de 2008
YOU BETTA CHECK YO SELF!!!!!!
Ok, I aplogize for resulting to a eubonic phrase to get your attention for this blog but it is quite appropriate. Many Christians live their life in a way they think is pleasing to God, but in all actuality, they need to do some serious searching of their heart. It does not matter what Godly things you do or say and it does not matter how good your actions may look to other people if you are not doing it with the right heart. Now there is not enough time for a blog to show you all that that Bible has to say about the heart. I have written a blog in the past called "the forgotten heart" on this topic so if you would like me to send it to you, just let me know but here are a few verses to consider.
1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
1 Corinthians 10:31
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Colossians 3:17 and 23
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
It does not matter how well you preach, teach, sing, serve, dress, talk, act, give and on and on and on if you are not doing it from your heart motivated by the love you have for God. Example: A great preacher or singer, comes in to church wearing the nicest suit and tie and preaches a sermon or sings in a way that totally wow's all who listen and all who see, however God is not impressed not one bit! Lets see what Paul had to say to the church at Colossi about this topic in Colossians 2.
6-10
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
We are righteous and satisfy a Holy God when we are in Jesus, not when we do things that look good to men. Paul warns that traditional (churchy) rules and ideas are deceitful and empty. Ideas we have gained through years of church about how we should dress, and what we should do, mean absolutely nothing if we are not doing it because in our hearts we want to with a desire to give our best to God. If we do anything that looks good just to please humans, God is not impressed and in fact dissapointed.
13-14
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
Our sins separated us from God and we had a daunting task or trying to earn salvation by good works (requirements that were against us). Trying to earn Salvation is against us because it is impossible to earn Heaven. Jesus removed all that and nailed it to the cross (our sins and our responsibilty to pay for them). I did not say all this to say that you should do whatever we want in life, but make sure your heart is right and your relationship is right with God and that you are not seeking to impress people with how righteous you think you look or sound.
16-23
So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
No one should judge your heart by what you wear to church. Now of course you should desire to give God your best but only you and God know if you are really doing that. Some people think they are humble when their humble acts are just to please people and not God. When we do these things we get prideful and forget that Jesus is the Head of our bodies and our lives as Christians. We are saved by Grace, so why live like we are under the Old Testamant law?
Now for those Christians you are all excited thinking that they should not care at all what other think... God never said that. We do have a responsibilty to please God yet God also tells us to make sure he things we wear, do and say, do not offend others.
1 Corinthians 8:9
But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
Galatians 5:13
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
1 Peter 2:16
as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
Ultimately, we need to be honest with God and ourselves and ask what our motivation is for the things we do. The things we wear, and the things we say.
1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
1 Corinthians 10:31
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Colossians 3:17 and 23
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
It does not matter how well you preach, teach, sing, serve, dress, talk, act, give and on and on and on if you are not doing it from your heart motivated by the love you have for God. Example: A great preacher or singer, comes in to church wearing the nicest suit and tie and preaches a sermon or sings in a way that totally wow's all who listen and all who see, however God is not impressed not one bit! Lets see what Paul had to say to the church at Colossi about this topic in Colossians 2.
6-10
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
We are righteous and satisfy a Holy God when we are in Jesus, not when we do things that look good to men. Paul warns that traditional (churchy) rules and ideas are deceitful and empty. Ideas we have gained through years of church about how we should dress, and what we should do, mean absolutely nothing if we are not doing it because in our hearts we want to with a desire to give our best to God. If we do anything that looks good just to please humans, God is not impressed and in fact dissapointed.
13-14
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
Our sins separated us from God and we had a daunting task or trying to earn salvation by good works (requirements that were against us). Trying to earn Salvation is against us because it is impossible to earn Heaven. Jesus removed all that and nailed it to the cross (our sins and our responsibilty to pay for them). I did not say all this to say that you should do whatever we want in life, but make sure your heart is right and your relationship is right with God and that you are not seeking to impress people with how righteous you think you look or sound.
16-23
So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
No one should judge your heart by what you wear to church. Now of course you should desire to give God your best but only you and God know if you are really doing that. Some people think they are humble when their humble acts are just to please people and not God. When we do these things we get prideful and forget that Jesus is the Head of our bodies and our lives as Christians. We are saved by Grace, so why live like we are under the Old Testamant law?
Now for those Christians you are all excited thinking that they should not care at all what other think... God never said that. We do have a responsibilty to please God yet God also tells us to make sure he things we wear, do and say, do not offend others.
1 Corinthians 8:9
But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
Galatians 5:13
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
1 Peter 2:16
as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
Ultimately, we need to be honest with God and ourselves and ask what our motivation is for the things we do. The things we wear, and the things we say.
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