Gaining Salvation?

The other day I was thinking about salvation, and how hard some people make it. The thought came to me of how simple God made it for us to receive salvation.

I pictured myself on the day of judgement, standing before God.

God “Do you believe in my Son Jesus?”

Me “Yes.”

God “Do you believe He died for your sins?”

Me “ Yes!”

Luke 23:39-43

39Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

40But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

43And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Quite simple when you think about it. Why do you think God made salvation so simple? I believe it is because He knew that we wouldn't be able to live our lives in complete obedience to the laws that He had sent down.

How many of you think you haven't gained salvation because of things you have done wrong? I know that was a trick question, because we can't gain salvation, it is a gift given to us. On another note, how many think they have lost their salvation because of something they have done? If it were up to us to gain, or lose salvation, we would all have to start working on our cool down plans. But seriously, how many of you feel lost because of mistakes you have made?

I know one of the things I was worried about, because of the denomination in which I was raised, was backsliding and failing after I had been saved. I accepted Christ as my Savor in March of ninety-one, but thought I had lost my salvation because of the things I had done after I was saved, in fact that was one of the reasons I had waited, as I thought you only get one chance and I didn't want to mess it up. I know many people that think they have to clean up their act before coming to God for forgiveness. It is like waiting until you are healed to go to the doctor. That isn't how God looks at it, He wants our brokenness. It is when we realize that we can't do it on our own, that we can truly be open to accepting what God has for us.

John 14:5-7

5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

I am not saying accepting Christ gives us a license to sin, far from it, but we will fail, and we will mess up, and continue to make some of the same mistakes. We will give in to the same temptations we had before accepting Christ into our lives.

I will explain it the way Brother Flora explained it to me in March of ninety-one, paraphrased slightly for modern context. Accepting Christ is like going to court with Perry Mason as your counsel, only instead of just representing you, like Perry Mason, Christ not only pleads your case, but takes your place on the stand, and accepts your judgement and penalty.

When God looks at us on the day of judgement, He doesn't see the us that we see, He sees the us that confessed Christ as our Savior. I am so glad that God isn't the god of just payment as our society demands, as none of us would be saved, no not one, as we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:21-26

21But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

It is our faith in God's word, and what He has done for us that assures us of our salvation.

Stay tuned as we will go deeper on this subject next week.

 

New Year, a New Focus!

As we start a new year, many people have put their focus on resolutions that they know they will never keep. I too have set a few goals for myself, and a few of them, I know I will probably squander, as I only have so much time, but lofty thoughts of grand accomplishments.

One of the goals I have set, that will be the first on my list, as to keep my focus on accomplishing it, is to be more focused on God's word. The first book that I have started studying is the book of Romans, and it is a bit ironic, as most of the book of Romans is about change, which is what most people are after with resolutions. I know when most people think of Romans and change, they think of the passage from Romans 12.

Romans 12:1,2

1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

But this passage is the very starting point of the book of Romans, as first we must have faith that a change can be made in us, before we go about making that change.

Romans 1:16,17

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

How many weight loss programs did you hear advertised this past week? How many different gyms had discounts for memberships over the holidays? How many emails did you receive from self help gurus, promising to change your life if you would just sign up for their three month course?

Why because unless we are lifted up, and believe we can do something, we usually give up before accomplishing our task. Around the end of the year the airways are flooded with every motivator know to man. But where do we find true motivation, in the one who made us, God our creator. When we put our trust in what He has done in us, and have faith that the work He began in us will be carried out, we find it easy to find our focus.

So quit looking to outside motivators, while seeking to accomplish your goals for this new year, but be not ashamed of the Gospel, and look to the righteousness of God that is revealed in us, from faith to faith, as “The just shall live by faith.”

Religion: Product of God, or tool of satan? Part 4

Over the past few weeks we have researched different scripture about religion, and the traditions, and rituals that man has put into place. While reading I found the following passage that, to me, sums it all up.

Zechariah 7:3-8
 ³ They were to ask this question of the prophets and the priests at the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: “Should we continue to mourn and fast each summer on the anniversary of the Temple’s destruction, as we have done for so many years?”
⁴ The Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me this message in reply: ⁵ “Say to all your people and your priests, ‘During these seventy years of exile, when you fasted and mourned in the summer and in early autumn, was it really for me that you were fasting? ⁶ And even now in your holy festivals, aren’t you eating and drinking just to please yourselves? ⁷ Isn’t this the same message the Lord proclaimed through the prophets in years past when Jerusalem and the towns of Judah were bustling with people, and the Negev and the foothills of Judah were well populated?’”
⁸ Then this message came to Zechariah from the Lord: ⁹ “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. ¹⁰ Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.

It is not all about observing rituals, festivals, and traditions, but it is all about loving one another. When we truly love one another, foods, drinks, appearances, clothing, rituals, and observances won't get in the way. 

I don't believe we should become chameleons and cater to the cultures and traditions where we reside, but I do however believe we shouldn't let them get in the way of having fellowship with our fellow man. It is our job as Christians to share the good news, not the traditions, rituals, and rules, that push so many away from asking God into their lives.

There is only way to God, through His Son Jesus Christ, and He made it so simple even man, with our dense ways of thinking, can get it right.

So to wrap up this lengthy lesson, and to answer the question, "Religion: Product of God, or tool of satan?" I believe the answer is Religion: Product of man, used by satan, to lead people away from God.

It's not about who or what we know, but about the One who knows us!

Over the last few weeks my wife and I have entered talent contests, and applied for positions that, when taken at face value, we are not qualified to hold, which is what brought up this topic.

You see if you look at any of us under the world's value system, most positions people hold today would be out of their reach, but when we look at the same positions under God's system, we are all qualified to do His will, through Christ.

You see God doesn't call us according to our worldly abilities, but He works through our spiritual gifts, that He has given us. If we continue to live our lives according to our plans, and the things that we feel we are, or aren't qualified to do, we will miss out on the wonderful plans God has for our lives.

This week while filling out that resume, or preparing for that audition, don't compare yourself to others but look at who God has called you to be.

Exodus 3:10-12

10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”

11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”

12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

The Parable of the Sower

Luke 8: 4-15

4 And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.”When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”

10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the restit is given in parables, that

‘Seeing they may not see,
And hearing they may not understand.’

11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones thatfell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

I have always read this parable and understood it as four different kinds of people. While reading through it recently, I understood it as four very distinct, and different phases, of the same persons life, mainly mine.

In the beginning I was the soil on the wayside, not really caring to hear God's Word, as I couldn't see what was in it for me, besides I was only interested in having a good time.

I was also the stony ground when I did finally take the time to listen, but not having conviction in my faith allowed it to fall away.

I then was the seed among the thorns. I didn't stand up to the weeds, and the cares of the world silenced the Word. The sad part of this phase of life is, it is the final phase of the soil being matured, and is the most difficult phase to be in as the world tries to overpower the born again believer. 

Thankfully God never left me through all those times in my life and worked the soil of my heart to make me the man of God I am today. I am still working on full production to reach the hundredfold, but at least now I am producing.

When you think of the parable this way, it lets you know, that even though you might be in any of the first phases, God is still there working on your heart.

Shake off the dust

Reading through the book of Acts today, I was reminded what Jesus told His disciples to do when they came in to a town or household that didn't receive them.
 
It got me thinking of how we spread the gospel today. Do we continue to try to reach people that won't or are unwilling to receive what we are teaching, or do we shake the dust from our feet and move on as Jesus disciples, and Paul, Barnabas, and the early church did?
 
This  is a tough subject to understand, as we are told to go make disciples of all nations, and to spread the gospel, but at what point do we stop preaching the word to someone? 
 
At what point do we shake the dust from our feet? I wish I had the answer as none of us want to give up on anyone, as God didn't give up on us, but we can only bring the message and be teachers, at some point we have to shake the dust from our feet and put our energy into spreading the word to those that will receive it.
 
Acts 13: 46-52 NLT
⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For the Lord gave us this command when he said,

‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
    to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’”

⁴⁸ When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. ⁴⁹ So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region.

⁵⁰ Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. ⁵¹ So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium. ⁵² And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
 
Matthew 10:13-15 NLT
¹³ If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing. ¹⁴ If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. ¹⁵ I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.
 
Mark 6:10,11 NLT
¹⁰ “Wherever you go,” he said, “stay in the same house until you leave town. ¹¹ But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”
 
Luke 10:10-12 NLT
¹⁰ But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!’ ¹² I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day.
 
 

What is the meaning of life?

Rather odd question to pose don't you think, but out of the hundred or so people that this email goes out to, and the several hundred that will read it on the blog or Facebook, most will have a different answer.

This is probably one of the most difficult writings I have written to date. I am sure I know the answer for myself, but am unsure how to help others find theirs, if one can be shown by a fellow man. Hopefully this will peak some interest and get you searching on your own.

You see some will find meaning in their possessions. Others will find it in their accomplishments. Sadly enough many will not have an answer at all. Even more sad are those that don't care to seek the meaning, but are content to live whatever life they are told they should live.

The more I read and re-read scripture, the more I find that the little things of the world, such as pleasing everyone, and making sure I am accepted by man, have little or no meaning to me. I am strengthened by the inner peace of knowing God is pleased with me, and nothing man can do will change that.

Reading the following passage, you see even Solomon, in all his wisdom, found himself questioning the meaning of life. His only true peace came when he realized it was in God, that he could find true meaning.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-25 NLT

I said to myself, “Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless. 2 So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?”3 After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.

4 I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. 7 I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. 8 I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire!

9 So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me.10 Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. 11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.

12 So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king?). 13 I thought, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness. 14 For the wise can see where they are going, but fools walk in the dark.” Yet I saw that the wise and the foolish share the same fate. 15 Both will die. So I said to myself, “Since I will end up the same as the fool, what’s the value of all my wisdom? This is all so meaningless!” 16 For the wise and the foolish both die. The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool. In the days to come, both will be forgotten.

17 So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

18 I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned.19 And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless! 20 So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world.

21 Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy. 22 So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? 23 Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.

24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? 

What is the Great Commission?

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.

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;

   ^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. 

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.

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.

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.”

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.

"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.

To do or not to do?

I find myself in Paul's dilemma as well. Those things that I know to do, I don't do, and those that I shouldn't do I do.

I know it is not quite what Paul faced but I have been praying to God to wake me from my sleep early, at around 5:30 each morning. He does His part by waking me up, but my flesh likes to lay in bed until I have to get up. I also know that TV is something that takes up entirely too much of my time, stopping me from doing those productive things, I know I should be doing.

What in your life is keeping you from doing what you know you should do, and what are those things that you shouldn't do that you are doing?

Romans 7:13-20
13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

What is faith?

What is faith? Is it something we must work for? Is it something that is given freely?

According to the passage below Abraham's faith is what set him apart from those who didn't believe. Faith is something that we all have been given, the only works on our end is to believe, as Abraham believed, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:1-8
1What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?  2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.  3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”  4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,  6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

All have sinned!

Just like Paul is stating in the passage below, we were all sinners, the only thing that separates us from our sin, is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the washing of those sins through His blood.

So no matter what any of us do if we don't believe in the one who was sent, and the one who sent Him, through faith, then all we do is of no account.

But through our faith in Christ we are seen as be...loved and righteous in the sight God, as seen through the blood of Christ.

Romans 3:21-26
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Really God, this is how You want to use me?

Acts 9:10-19 NKJV

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”

And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. 

Think about it for a minute, God spoke to Annanias in his sleep, and told him to go give sight back to a man, that just days earlier gave the orders to stone Stephen!

 

What do you think would be going though your mind?

 

Sometimes it seems where we are, is not where we think we should be, I can assure you Annanias was thinking just that, that he was not where he should be, when he was standing face to face with, in essence the Adolf Hitler of his day.

 

I know it is bold to speak with such language but when you look at it, Saul, who would become Paul, was set to eradicate all who called on the name of Jesus Christ, that is until his life changing encounter with the Lord.

 

Now looking at it like this, imagine you are Annanias and God told you to go restore the sight of this man; that's a real head scratcher isn't it.

 

Many of you may feel the same way, as you aren't where you think you can serve God best, but that unpleasant customer, or the person that is mean and rude to you at work, just may be the next Paul, or Peter, God is just asking you to restore their sight!

Faith; Standing on the promises of God!

As we continue to read through Hebrews many profound statements stand out.

Today in chapter 11 the first verse says it all in one short sentence, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

In our world today, if you can't touch it, see it, taste it, or feel it, and you still stand on that belief, people call you crazy or a dreamer. But you can still judge s...omething by the results it has produced in the past. When we look at our faith, and God's word, which our faith is based on, we can see over and over again how He has done what He had promised.

Now this is something that our world will stand on and respond to, as a man's word is still His bond. If a friend or a business partner tells you something, and then doesn't follow through you start to disbelieve what they say. But if over a period of time, and many promises followed through, you will stand up for that person.

This is what our faith is based on, the promise that Jesus is who He says He is, God does what He said would do, and has done, and we, as His children, are heirs to this promise.

Hebrews 11:1-7 NKJV
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

His payment is sufficient!

I know it seems like we have been stuck on one subject these last few days, but it is an important subject.

While we continue to read through Hebrews we are reminded how the old covenant was a shadow of things to come, and that no matter how many sacrifices were made, our sins were still there to relive each time the sacrifices were made.

Hebrews 10:1-10
1The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.
3 But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. 4 For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God,
“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.
    But you have given me a body to offer.
6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings
    or other offerings for sin.
7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—
    as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”
8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

Some religions and denominations, still live under this practice, and try, through their own actions, to do works for their sins.

In my opinion, and the way I read what is in Hebrews 10, this is nothing more than a door way for the devil to use the things we have done against us, by reminding us of what we have done wrong.

In the following passage the Word is showing us that the sacrifice Jesus made for us is sufficient, and God is not waiting with his hand out for more payment for our sins, nothing you or I do can chance that.

Hebrews:10:15-18
15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,
16 “This is the new covenant I will make
    with my people on that day, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds.”
17 Then he says,
“I will never again remember
    their sins and lawless deeds.”
18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

I see it this way if God has forgotten our sins and will remember them no more, than why do we?