Thursday, October 10, 2013
Being a minister
Scripture: 1 Tim 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
Observation: I never cared much for the term "reverend". I have not seen much to revere about men or women, including myself. However, I really like the term "minister". It means a servant, which is what we all should be.
Application: Serve the Lord, Serve others, and enjoy the blessings!
Prayer: Father, help me to be your servant. Humble, and love like you!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Do we all have different faith?
Scripture: Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Observation: Romans 12:3 says that we are all dealt a measure of faith. Are we all dealt the same measure of faith, or a different measure of faith? It seems "fair" that we should all have the same measure of faith. Like a parent giving out allowance to their children, we should all get the same thing right? Why did he get more than I did? Verses 4-8 answer our question, they say that we all serve different purposes, and that we all have different gifting and abilities. But God gives us what we need, according to our his purposes and our benefit. He gives us what we need, not necessarily what we want. For example, if a father had two adult children. One was a lawyer and the other an artist. The father was his end of life and wanted to give his children some of his possessions. He had a law library and a set of classic paint brushes. Would it be right to divide up the law library and paint brushes evenly between his two children? Our would it be better to give the law library to the lawyer and the paint brushes to the artist?
Application: Our gifting are not better or worse than someone elses gifting, but they are different. Rather than falling into the sin of envy, we should embrace and nurture our God given abilities and use them for the benefit of the God who loves us and created us unique.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the way you made me. I know that I am perfect because of you. Give me joy in using your gifts for your purposes. Help me not to envy others. Amen
Observation: Romans 12:3 says that we are all dealt a measure of faith. Are we all dealt the same measure of faith, or a different measure of faith? It seems "fair" that we should all have the same measure of faith. Like a parent giving out allowance to their children, we should all get the same thing right? Why did he get more than I did? Verses 4-8 answer our question, they say that we all serve different purposes, and that we all have different gifting and abilities. But God gives us what we need, according to our his purposes and our benefit. He gives us what we need, not necessarily what we want. For example, if a father had two adult children. One was a lawyer and the other an artist. The father was his end of life and wanted to give his children some of his possessions. He had a law library and a set of classic paint brushes. Would it be right to divide up the law library and paint brushes evenly between his two children? Our would it be better to give the law library to the lawyer and the paint brushes to the artist?
Application: Our gifting are not better or worse than someone elses gifting, but they are different. Rather than falling into the sin of envy, we should embrace and nurture our God given abilities and use them for the benefit of the God who loves us and created us unique.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the way you made me. I know that I am perfect because of you. Give me joy in using your gifts for your purposes. Help me not to envy others. Amen
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Just because we dont believe something, it doesn't make it not true!
Scripture: Romans 3: 3-4 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Observation: If you tell me you are a FBI special agent, and I say "I don't believe it". If you really were a FBI special agent, the person's disbelief doesn't change that fact. In the same way, people in our society seem to think that if they don't believe in God that it makes them not real.
Application: God is God, whether you believe what that he is or not! Nowadays people are taught moral relativism in school, that we somehow each have our own little world that is just as we believe it is. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are some things that are true, whether you believe them or not!
Prayer: Thank you Jesus for your truth. You are truth. Help us to understand your truth without error. Let us know you intimately. Amen.
Observation: If you tell me you are a FBI special agent, and I say "I don't believe it". If you really were a FBI special agent, the person's disbelief doesn't change that fact. In the same way, people in our society seem to think that if they don't believe in God that it makes them not real.
Application: God is God, whether you believe what that he is or not! Nowadays people are taught moral relativism in school, that we somehow each have our own little world that is just as we believe it is. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are some things that are true, whether you believe them or not!
Prayer: Thank you Jesus for your truth. You are truth. Help us to understand your truth without error. Let us know you intimately. Amen.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Our sin is destroyed!
Scripture: Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin
Observation: We often think of our own sins, or other peoples sins, but have you ever thought about everyone in the whole world... past, present, and future's sin? Imagine the body of sin, all of our sins, together. What an amazing thing. Then imagine all of them being destroyed at one time in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In the same way that God told Saul to destroy the Amalekites, every living creature, are our sins to be destroyed completely, totally and without exception (1 Samuel 15:1-3).
Application: We, however, tend to be like Saul, and don't believe fully that our sins are really destroyed. Saul didn't destroy all of the Amelekites like he was commanded to, and millions died throughout the ages as a result. Millions continue to die in their sins today, because they don't believe that their sins are destroyed in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Thank you Jesus that you died for our sins, so that we can have new life in you. Let us trust fully in your death, burial, and resurrection, and let us live in new life in you. Let us tell everyone we meet of this good news that you have destroyed sin forever and that we can live free in you!
Observation: We often think of our own sins, or other peoples sins, but have you ever thought about everyone in the whole world... past, present, and future's sin? Imagine the body of sin, all of our sins, together. What an amazing thing. Then imagine all of them being destroyed at one time in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In the same way that God told Saul to destroy the Amalekites, every living creature, are our sins to be destroyed completely, totally and without exception (1 Samuel 15:1-3).
Application: We, however, tend to be like Saul, and don't believe fully that our sins are really destroyed. Saul didn't destroy all of the Amelekites like he was commanded to, and millions died throughout the ages as a result. Millions continue to die in their sins today, because they don't believe that their sins are destroyed in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Thank you Jesus that you died for our sins, so that we can have new life in you. Let us trust fully in your death, burial, and resurrection, and let us live in new life in you. Let us tell everyone we meet of this good news that you have destroyed sin forever and that we can live free in you!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Justification by Faith
Scripture: Romans 3:9-31
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:17 And the way of peace have they not known:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Observation: The Apostle Paul here makes the point that he has been leading up to for three chapters, that we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone ... both the Jew and the Gentile the same. This is a pillar in the understanding of Christianity, and Paul takes great care, as he was trained as a lawyer, laying out the tenets of this important statement of our faith. Paul first established that we all have sinned, and that we cannot be justified by ourselves or by the law. Then he concludes that we must only be justified by faith in Jesus Christ and in there doing, we have made the law a reality.
Application: Jesus paid for our sins with his life. God himself allowed himself to die a horrible death to become the payment for our wrongdoings, past present and future. However, we are created in God's image and we, like God, make our own choices. We can choose to accept what God did for us, or we can chose to ignore or not believe it. And so, it is when we choose to believe it, faith in Jesus, that we are then made right with God and our ransom is paid. This is Christianity, that God loved us, and paid our ransom with his own life.
Prayer: Thank you father that you are our God. Thank you that you love us. Thank you that you gave your life for ours. Let us know acknowledge and put our trust in you alone. Amen.
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:17 And the way of peace have they not known:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Observation: The Apostle Paul here makes the point that he has been leading up to for three chapters, that we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone ... both the Jew and the Gentile the same. This is a pillar in the understanding of Christianity, and Paul takes great care, as he was trained as a lawyer, laying out the tenets of this important statement of our faith. Paul first established that we all have sinned, and that we cannot be justified by ourselves or by the law. Then he concludes that we must only be justified by faith in Jesus Christ and in there doing, we have made the law a reality.
Application: Jesus paid for our sins with his life. God himself allowed himself to die a horrible death to become the payment for our wrongdoings, past present and future. However, we are created in God's image and we, like God, make our own choices. We can choose to accept what God did for us, or we can chose to ignore or not believe it. And so, it is when we choose to believe it, faith in Jesus, that we are then made right with God and our ransom is paid. This is Christianity, that God loved us, and paid our ransom with his own life.
Prayer: Thank you father that you are our God. Thank you that you love us. Thank you that you gave your life for ours. Let us know acknowledge and put our trust in you alone. Amen.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Does my Sin glorify God?
Scripture: Romans 3:1-8 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 3For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
5But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) 6God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? 7For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 8And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
Observation: Romans 3:1-8 is a little hard to understand at first. I had to get my kids to help me understand it. They seem to understand the simple things that tend to confound the rest of us. In verse 3, Paul is articulating a very simple truth. I like to say it this way: "Just because you don't believe something, doesn't make it not true". In verses 4-7, Paul is saying another simple truth. He is saying that if we do some wrong stuff, and since Jesus died on the Cross for your sin, then your sin actually makes God's payment for your sin more real... not less real. It is one of God's backwards principles. The more you sin, the more God is glorified. If you are getting any brilliant ideas at this point, verse 8 shuts them down. Just because God payed for our sin, does not mean that we should go sin more. It just doesn't work that way. Just because your car can go in reverse, doesn't mean you should drive it across the country backwards.
Application: I don't know about you, but it makes me feel good to know that in God's plan, my mess-ups actually glorify God. Although I would never try to mess up, because I love God, I know that I do mess up from time to time. Jesus has me covered. It is Ok. And he has you covered too!
Prayer: Father thank you for your divine plan that covers our sins. Thank you for Jesus who died for our sins, past, present, and future. Thank you for your love that makes us right with you. Amen
4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
5But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) 6God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? 7For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 8And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
Observation: Romans 3:1-8 is a little hard to understand at first. I had to get my kids to help me understand it. They seem to understand the simple things that tend to confound the rest of us. In verse 3, Paul is articulating a very simple truth. I like to say it this way: "Just because you don't believe something, doesn't make it not true". In verses 4-7, Paul is saying another simple truth. He is saying that if we do some wrong stuff, and since Jesus died on the Cross for your sin, then your sin actually makes God's payment for your sin more real... not less real. It is one of God's backwards principles. The more you sin, the more God is glorified. If you are getting any brilliant ideas at this point, verse 8 shuts them down. Just because God payed for our sin, does not mean that we should go sin more. It just doesn't work that way. Just because your car can go in reverse, doesn't mean you should drive it across the country backwards.
Application: I don't know about you, but it makes me feel good to know that in God's plan, my mess-ups actually glorify God. Although I would never try to mess up, because I love God, I know that I do mess up from time to time. Jesus has me covered. It is Ok. And he has you covered too!
Prayer: Father thank you for your divine plan that covers our sins. Thank you for Jesus who died for our sins, past, present, and future. Thank you for your love that makes us right with you. Amen
List of Sins?
Scripture: Romans 1:18 - 2:3
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
2:1Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Observation: The last half of the first chapter of Romans is often used as a "List of Sin". That is, some say this is a list of things that are wrong to do. The clear reference to homosexuality is perhaps the most controversial. However, as I look at the context of this verse, I see that the "Who" that Paul is talking about is in verse 18. Paul is talking about those who "Hold the Truth in Unrighteousness" At the end of his "List" Paul makes it clear again in chapter 2 verse 1 that his is addressing hippocrites, this who judge others doing the same things they judge others for.
Application: Many have used this "List" as a list of Do's and Don'ts, and applied it to those who don't know God. That is not the context that the list was given in. If this list would be applied in context, it would be applied to believers who are judging others... and the application would be for those believers to not do the things that they are condemning others for. Later in Chapter 2, Paul is explicit in God's condemnation of the judgmental. However, he does not excuse the sinners, but he does seem to apply a greater condemnation for the judgmental.
So, how should this affect our lives? Should believers condem the sins of non-believers? Should non believers say that their sins are not wrong? No, and No... But rather, believer should minister the love of God and let the Holy Spirit do the judging. However, neither should we call wrong right. It seems to be a fine line the believer is called to walk down, a line between judging and calling wrong right.
Prayer: Father help us to live right before, not out of fear of condemnation, but out of love for you! Let your hearts be filled with the love of God, and the Love of others.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
2:1Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Observation: The last half of the first chapter of Romans is often used as a "List of Sin". That is, some say this is a list of things that are wrong to do. The clear reference to homosexuality is perhaps the most controversial. However, as I look at the context of this verse, I see that the "Who" that Paul is talking about is in verse 18. Paul is talking about those who "Hold the Truth in Unrighteousness" At the end of his "List" Paul makes it clear again in chapter 2 verse 1 that his is addressing hippocrites, this who judge others doing the same things they judge others for.
Application: Many have used this "List" as a list of Do's and Don'ts, and applied it to those who don't know God. That is not the context that the list was given in. If this list would be applied in context, it would be applied to believers who are judging others... and the application would be for those believers to not do the things that they are condemning others for. Later in Chapter 2, Paul is explicit in God's condemnation of the judgmental. However, he does not excuse the sinners, but he does seem to apply a greater condemnation for the judgmental.
So, how should this affect our lives? Should believers condem the sins of non-believers? Should non believers say that their sins are not wrong? No, and No... But rather, believer should minister the love of God and let the Holy Spirit do the judging. However, neither should we call wrong right. It seems to be a fine line the believer is called to walk down, a line between judging and calling wrong right.
Prayer: Father help us to live right before, not out of fear of condemnation, but out of love for you! Let your hearts be filled with the love of God, and the Love of others.
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