Philippians 1:3-11 NLT
(3) Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.
(4) Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,
(5) for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.
(6) And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
(7) So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.
(8) God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.
(9) I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.
(10) For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return.
(11) May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
Paul wrote this to the Philippians while in prison but it struck me this morning this is the prayer every parent longs to pray over their children. Did you notice the first thing he says is that when he prays for them it is with joy? Implying this is not always the case, which speaks of those who are not doing the will of God. You see Paul considers himself a spiritual father figure to all he has brought the gospel to and who have accepted Christ Jesus as savior. While the hope is that each group will be a source of joy to him because of their servant attitudes towards the things of Christ, that is not always the case. Just like a parent with several children, not all align themselves with the commandments of Christ and though he loves them all sometimes a rebuke is needed instead of a blessing – something that is difficult for us parents to understand. Not all of his prayers (for his children) are easy to pray and so it is as a parent. Paul talks about being spiritual partners with the Philippians as they work with him and each other to spread the Good News of the gospel and he speaks of the maturing the Lord is doing on the inside of each one of them because he recognizes it as the same thing the Lord has done for him. As a parent is proud of their children when they are pleasing to the Lord, so is Paul of the Philippians and because of their partnership the experiences Paul has he gladly shares with them so that they may grow in faith as well, aligning not only himself with God's will but those he birthed to Christ Jesus as well. The bottom line is that regardless of Paul's praise or rebuke his hope is that all his children would choose to live pure blameless lives before Christ Jesus until the day of the Lord's return and Paul wraps it up by pointing their hopes not in him, as a matter of fact Paul prepares them for his passing, but to the worthy ambition of giving glory and praise to God with their very lives.
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Thursday, February 2, 2017
A New Day Dawning
2 Thessalonians 2:1-6 NLT
(1) Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet Him.
(2) Don't be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don't believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.
(3) Don't be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed--the one who brings destruction.
(4) He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.
(5) Don't you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you?
(6) And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes.
Do not fear for our Father in heaven knows the business of man and the tricks of the enemy are not hidden from Him. As we watch lawlessness rise up in this Christian nation we who hope in the Lord God Jehovah know that these things must happen before Jesus returns. To those who think His returning will happen while everything is going great, blue skies, and sunshine you are sorely mistaken. In fact those who have prepared and keep their lamps burning for the Bridegroom will know His coming is near because of the darkness that surrounds that time. Look at verse three again. “Don't be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction.”
Lord, thank you for the hope you give and the strength that is beyond my means. Please help me to be ever watchful for the signs of your return. Help me not to lose myself in matters of this world but be ever mindful of your presence. May I be an empty vessel to be used for your purpose so that my life may be poured out for your glory, not my own. Be near family and friends and help me to encourage them in times such as these. In Jesus' name, amen.
(1) Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet Him.
(2) Don't be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don't believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.
(3) Don't be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed--the one who brings destruction.
(4) He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.
(5) Don't you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you?
(6) And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes.
Do not fear for our Father in heaven knows the business of man and the tricks of the enemy are not hidden from Him. As we watch lawlessness rise up in this Christian nation we who hope in the Lord God Jehovah know that these things must happen before Jesus returns. To those who think His returning will happen while everything is going great, blue skies, and sunshine you are sorely mistaken. In fact those who have prepared and keep their lamps burning for the Bridegroom will know His coming is near because of the darkness that surrounds that time. Look at verse three again. “Don't be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction.”
Lord, thank you for the hope you give and the strength that is beyond my means. Please help me to be ever watchful for the signs of your return. Help me not to lose myself in matters of this world but be ever mindful of your presence. May I be an empty vessel to be used for your purpose so that my life may be poured out for your glory, not my own. Be near family and friends and help me to encourage them in times such as these. In Jesus' name, amen.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Test yourselves to see if you know Christ
John 1:1-14 NLT
(1) In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(2) He existed in the beginning with God.
(3) God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him.
(4) The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.
(5) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
(6) God sent a man, John the Baptist,
(7) to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.
(8) John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.
(9) The One who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
(10) He came into the very world He created, but the world didn't recognize Him.
(11) He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him.
(12) But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.
(13) They are reborn--not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
(14) So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.
How do we know if we really have relationship with God's Son? Ask yourselves this question, “Am I a good person?” Simply put if your answer is “yes” then you have not known Him. If you are good then you have no need for a savior, still our hearts cry out for one. Why is it Marvel movies make over one billion dollars each? Whether we know it or not our hearts recognize the need for a hero but society tells us to pull ourselves up by our boot straps and earn that position and title, make people take notice but all along we leave behind the truth that tells us we need Jesus (BTW that's the Holy Spirit of God). So have you become a “good person”? Working to do what's right, still quietly falling short of where a true hero stands? Have you eliminated your need for a savior? John 1:12 But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.”
Lord, even if it means that we come face to face with our own shortcoming please show your children their need for Jesus, still do not crush us but let us find hope in your Son. Let us be reminded daily that though our righteousness is as dirty rags Jesus, the one who knew no sin, covers us and if we only believe in Him we shall be saved. Forgive me Father for trying to make it on my own and teach me your ways, lead me and guide me all the days of my life so that I may be called yours. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
(1) In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(2) He existed in the beginning with God.
(3) God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him.
(4) The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.
(5) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
(6) God sent a man, John the Baptist,
(7) to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.
(8) John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.
(9) The One who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
(10) He came into the very world He created, but the world didn't recognize Him.
(11) He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him.
(12) But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.
(13) They are reborn--not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
(14) So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.
How do we know if we really have relationship with God's Son? Ask yourselves this question, “Am I a good person?” Simply put if your answer is “yes” then you have not known Him. If you are good then you have no need for a savior, still our hearts cry out for one. Why is it Marvel movies make over one billion dollars each? Whether we know it or not our hearts recognize the need for a hero but society tells us to pull ourselves up by our boot straps and earn that position and title, make people take notice but all along we leave behind the truth that tells us we need Jesus (BTW that's the Holy Spirit of God). So have you become a “good person”? Working to do what's right, still quietly falling short of where a true hero stands? Have you eliminated your need for a savior? John 1:12 But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.”
Lord, even if it means that we come face to face with our own shortcoming please show your children their need for Jesus, still do not crush us but let us find hope in your Son. Let us be reminded daily that though our righteousness is as dirty rags Jesus, the one who knew no sin, covers us and if we only believe in Him we shall be saved. Forgive me Father for trying to make it on my own and teach me your ways, lead me and guide me all the days of my life so that I may be called yours. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
You travel this road not alone
To all those tired and weary, to those who follow God without regard for man's thoughts, it is to you I say these things. Take not the judgment of man upon your shoulders for God Himself will judge, nor take thought of their schemes for God alone is your hiding place. The more they persecute you the more your spirit recognizes God's presence, the more you feel alone the more you realize that you never can be. Take heart for even Jesus' friends thought they were alone in the world after His Crucifixion but look at this story and see if there are not parts familiar with your own. God will not leave you, even when you do not recognize Him, He is there.
Luke 24:13-34 GNB
(13) On that same day two of Jesus' followers were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,
(14) and they were talking to each other about all the things that had happened.
(15) As they talked and discussed, Jesus himself drew near and walked along with them;
(16) they saw him, but somehow did not recognize him.
(17) Jesus said to them, "What are you talking about to each other, as you walk along?" They stood still, with sad faces.
(18) One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that have been happening there these last few days?"
(19) "What things?" he asked. "The things that happened to Jesus of Nazareth," they answered. "This man was a prophet and was considered by God and by all the people to be powerful in everything he said and did.
(20) Our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and he was crucified.
(21) And we had hoped that he would be the one who was going to set Israel free! Besides all that, this is now the third day since it happened.
(22) Some of the women of our group surprised us; they went at dawn to the tomb,
(23) but could not find his body. They came back saying they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he is alive.
(24) Some of our group went to the tomb and found it exactly as the women had said, but they did not see him."
(25) Then Jesus said to them, "How foolish you are, how slow you are to believe everything the prophets said!
(26) Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then to enter his glory?"
(27) And Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets.
(28) As they came near the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther;
(29) but they held him back, saying, "Stay with us; the day is almost over and it is getting dark." So he went in to stay with them.
(30) He sat down to eat with them, took the bread, and said the blessing; then he broke the bread and gave it to them.
(31) Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight.
(32) They said to each other, "Wasn't it like a fire burning in us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"
(33) They got up at once and went back to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven disciples gathered together with the others
(34) and saying, "The Lord is risen indeed! He has appeared to Simon!"
Even when you know you are guilty or partly to blame there is hope, look again at verse 20 “OUR chief priests and rulers handed him over...” and though some have faith you just can't see it, verse 23 “THEY came back saying they had seen a vision of angels...” But Jesus Himself comforts us even if while rebuking us for doubting what we have been told by the scriptures, verse 25 “How foolish you are, how slow you are to believe everything the prophets said!”. Then it happens the Holy Spirit reveals unto you that you really are not alone, verse 31 “THEN their eyes were opened and they recognized him...”. At that moment your heart fills once again with hope and you can't wait to tell someone!
Luke 24:13-34 GNB
(13) On that same day two of Jesus' followers were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,
(14) and they were talking to each other about all the things that had happened.
(15) As they talked and discussed, Jesus himself drew near and walked along with them;
(16) they saw him, but somehow did not recognize him.
(17) Jesus said to them, "What are you talking about to each other, as you walk along?" They stood still, with sad faces.
(18) One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that have been happening there these last few days?"
(19) "What things?" he asked. "The things that happened to Jesus of Nazareth," they answered. "This man was a prophet and was considered by God and by all the people to be powerful in everything he said and did.
(20) Our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and he was crucified.
(21) And we had hoped that he would be the one who was going to set Israel free! Besides all that, this is now the third day since it happened.
(22) Some of the women of our group surprised us; they went at dawn to the tomb,
(23) but could not find his body. They came back saying they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he is alive.
(24) Some of our group went to the tomb and found it exactly as the women had said, but they did not see him."
(25) Then Jesus said to them, "How foolish you are, how slow you are to believe everything the prophets said!
(26) Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then to enter his glory?"
(27) And Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets.
(28) As they came near the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther;
(29) but they held him back, saying, "Stay with us; the day is almost over and it is getting dark." So he went in to stay with them.
(30) He sat down to eat with them, took the bread, and said the blessing; then he broke the bread and gave it to them.
(31) Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight.
(32) They said to each other, "Wasn't it like a fire burning in us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"
(33) They got up at once and went back to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven disciples gathered together with the others
(34) and saying, "The Lord is risen indeed! He has appeared to Simon!"
Even when you know you are guilty or partly to blame there is hope, look again at verse 20 “OUR chief priests and rulers handed him over...” and though some have faith you just can't see it, verse 23 “THEY came back saying they had seen a vision of angels...” But Jesus Himself comforts us even if while rebuking us for doubting what we have been told by the scriptures, verse 25 “How foolish you are, how slow you are to believe everything the prophets said!”. Then it happens the Holy Spirit reveals unto you that you really are not alone, verse 31 “THEN their eyes were opened and they recognized him...”. At that moment your heart fills once again with hope and you can't wait to tell someone!
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