The Great Commission was Jesus last instructions to His disciples. I believe this is one of the most confused of all Jesus commands. I personally take this command as making disciples of all nations, which doesn't mean to go make sure everyone in the world is saved, but to me means, making others like the twelve He had picked to start His church.
Having the gospel preached to you and being a disciple are two vastly different things. Being a disciple, means to follow the disciplines put forth by Jesus Himself.
I think so many people have taken this passage and used it to go to every nation, having crusades, and alter calls to get people "saved", while overlooking the true meaning of the passage, to make disciples of all nations.
I think of the old parable, give a man a fish he will be fed for the day, teach a man to fish he will never go hungry, Jesus told Peter follow me and I will make your fishers of men.
I believe the Great Commission is for us to teach them to be like Jesus not just getting saved.
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Monday, May 26, 2014
Remembering Dad
I want to wish all the Veterans a Happy Memorial Day.
On Memorial Day we think of the loved ones we are waiting to be reunited with when our Lord returns.
Today my Dad would have been 79, I always think of him on Memorial day weekend as that is when they play John Wayne's war movies, and since he and John Wayne shared the same birthday Dad always celebrated "their birthdays", this year it was Green Berets. It is always a bittersweet time as I think of him and then think of how I miss him, but I can rejoice knowing that I will be with him again.
This is one of the hardest things for us to deal with. So many people struggle with this, if you have lost a loved one, the devil will fill your minds with the question, were they saved, will I see them again. As believers we know that once we are saved, our sins are forgiven and we will see our loved ones again when Jesus Christ returns. But it is also a place where satan creeps in with his questions. Just know that the closer we get to God the more the devil comes against us. Do not let him fill your minds with these questions.
Remember it is through faith and the grace of God that we are saved, not by our works, so rest in knowing that all your loved ones had to do to be saved, even with their last thought is ask for Christ to forgive them of their sins, and believe in their hearts that He is their Lord and Savior.
So on this Memorial day remember the good times you had, and the ones you will have, also remember the soldiers and their families, and the sacrifice Christ gave for us.
Matthew 11:26-29
26And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
On Memorial Day we think of the loved ones we are waiting to be reunited with when our Lord returns.
Today my Dad would have been 79, I always think of him on Memorial day weekend as that is when they play John Wayne's war movies, and since he and John Wayne shared the same birthday Dad always celebrated "their birthdays", this year it was Green Berets. It is always a bittersweet time as I think of him and then think of how I miss him, but I can rejoice knowing that I will be with him again.
This is one of the hardest things for us to deal with. So many people struggle with this, if you have lost a loved one, the devil will fill your minds with the question, were they saved, will I see them again. As believers we know that once we are saved, our sins are forgiven and we will see our loved ones again when Jesus Christ returns. But it is also a place where satan creeps in with his questions. Just know that the closer we get to God the more the devil comes against us. Do not let him fill your minds with these questions.
Remember it is through faith and the grace of God that we are saved, not by our works, so rest in knowing that all your loved ones had to do to be saved, even with their last thought is ask for Christ to forgive them of their sins, and believe in their hearts that He is their Lord and Savior.
So on this Memorial day remember the good times you had, and the ones you will have, also remember the soldiers and their families, and the sacrifice Christ gave for us.
Matthew 11:26-29
26And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Only God can makes things unclean
This is a passage that confuses many people, most of the time when I see this passage it has to do with drinking wine or beer, or eating food such as pork, or catfish, or any other un-scaled fish.
Peter was told by the spirit, to not think of anything that God made as unclean, but many religions still stick to a strict practice of not eating or drinking certain things. Paul points out that we sh...ould not do anything purposely if we find it would offend one of our brothers or sisters.
I will give an example, say you have a friend that has a problem with alcohol, even though you don't have a problem with it, you have them over for dinner and serve wine or beer , this to me is what Paul is talking about.
Trust me I do think we have taken this to a different level when it comes to our political correctness, we have to realize Paul is speaking of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
If you can, with faith, eat or drink something, and have nothing between you and God, than eat or drink, if you have doubt, abstain from what you question.
Romans 14:20-23
20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Peter was told by the spirit, to not think of anything that God made as unclean, but many religions still stick to a strict practice of not eating or drinking certain things. Paul points out that we sh...ould not do anything purposely if we find it would offend one of our brothers or sisters.
I will give an example, say you have a friend that has a problem with alcohol, even though you don't have a problem with it, you have them over for dinner and serve wine or beer , this to me is what Paul is talking about.
Trust me I do think we have taken this to a different level when it comes to our political correctness, we have to realize Paul is speaking of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
If you can, with faith, eat or drink something, and have nothing between you and God, than eat or drink, if you have doubt, abstain from what you question.
Romans 14:20-23
20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Monday, May 19, 2014
Grafted in by faith!
Romans can be a difficult book of the bible to read, as Paul was such an eloquent writer, but when you slow down and read with the aid of the Holy Spirit, things start to come to the forefront.
This is my fourth or fifth time reading it slowly one chapter a day and I am seeing things that were intended for our edification.
In this passage Paul is speaking to the gentiles, or non-Jewish people; you and me. It is through the Jewish people that Christ was sent to the world but they did not receive him. Through their disobedience we were pointed towards Christ, through our obedience in believing He was who He said, they were blessed.
This passage makes think of how we are all needed in the body of Christ, those who believe and understand, and those who are seeking and are yet to fully understand that Christ came to die for our sins.
Romans 11:25-31
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.”
28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
This is my fourth or fifth time reading it slowly one chapter a day and I am seeing things that were intended for our edification.
In this passage Paul is speaking to the gentiles, or non-Jewish people; you and me. It is through the Jewish people that Christ was sent to the world but they did not receive him. Through their disobedience we were pointed towards Christ, through our obedience in believing He was who He said, they were blessed.
This passage makes think of how we are all needed in the body of Christ, those who believe and understand, and those who are seeking and are yet to fully understand that Christ came to die for our sins.
Romans 11:25-31
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.”
28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Stumbling block or place of rest?
I love how Paul states things in this verse of Romans. He makes it as plain as can be why the Jewish people did not attain righteousness, through scriptures from the old testament prophets.
They were trying to obtain it through their own actions, and in the process missed the one person that could bring them salvation.
The sad thing is today many people are still missing it, by making Christ the stumbling block, instead of the rock they should rest on.
Romans 9:30-33 NKJV
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
They were trying to obtain it through their own actions, and in the process missed the one person that could bring them salvation.
The sad thing is today many people are still missing it, by making Christ the stumbling block, instead of the rock they should rest on.
Romans 9:30-33 NKJV
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Hope
We as believers know what we hope for and what we believe. Our hope and faith lies in Christ as our savior, that he lived, died, and rose back to life, sending the Holy Spirit to live within us.
The part in this passage that stands out to me is verse 28 as I have heard so many people talk about God sending tragedy and trials into our life to test us.
I can not see a loving God sending us trials, however I do know, and am assured by this passage, that He works all things together for the good of those who love Him, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:24-28
24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
The part in this passage that stands out to me is verse 28 as I have heard so many people talk about God sending tragedy and trials into our life to test us.
I can not see a loving God sending us trials, however I do know, and am assured by this passage, that He works all things together for the good of those who love Him, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:24-28
24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
"Yes God"
Over the last few weeks we have been looking at people in the bible whose lives were forever changed by a call from God. This week we will look at the life of Noah one of the earliest to have his life so radically changed by a word from God.
I have read this story several times, but a recent movie "Evan Almighty", where a newly elected senator, is asked by God to build an ark, made me look at it in a completely different way.
You see, we don't truly see the implications and ridicule that Noah went through during his day, by spending all his time building an ark. But when it is shown through a story of someone doing what society sees as crazy, we all start to understand.
When Noah started building the ark, there had never been a single raindrop, so for him to be building an ark to escape a flood, he had to be seen as crazy. But like the character in the modern day story, Noah didn't waiver but obeyed God and continued building the ark, just as he had been told to do.
Is there anything in your life that you feel you have been called to do, that others would see as a radical gesture, or even go as far as calling you crazy? Tough question isn't it.
How many of you would build the ark? How many of you have something that you have been called to do, but the pressures of the world keep you from following God's will? When God's calls your name, how will you respond? "Noah", " Yes God"! Genesis 6:13-22 13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 15 And this is how you shall make it: The length of the arkshall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.17 And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.18 But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. 21 And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them.” 22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.
I have read this story several times, but a recent movie "Evan Almighty", where a newly elected senator, is asked by God to build an ark, made me look at it in a completely different way.
You see, we don't truly see the implications and ridicule that Noah went through during his day, by spending all his time building an ark. But when it is shown through a story of someone doing what society sees as crazy, we all start to understand.
When Noah started building the ark, there had never been a single raindrop, so for him to be building an ark to escape a flood, he had to be seen as crazy. But like the character in the modern day story, Noah didn't waiver but obeyed God and continued building the ark, just as he had been told to do.
Is there anything in your life that you feel you have been called to do, that others would see as a radical gesture, or even go as far as calling you crazy? Tough question isn't it.
How many of you would build the ark? How many of you have something that you have been called to do, but the pressures of the world keep you from following God's will? When God's calls your name, how will you respond? "Noah", " Yes God"! Genesis 6:13-22 13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 15 And this is how you shall make it: The length of the arkshall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.17 And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.18 But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. 21 And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them.” 22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.
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