22Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Pure heart definition: (of a person) without malice, treachery, or evil intent; honest; sincere; guileless.
Have you felt malice towards anyone? Then you have murdered in your heart. Have you lusted towards anyone other than your spouse? Then you have committed adultery in your heart.
Rather than have a heart attack over sin, repent over your heart disease, pray about your heart condition and the Lord will perform heart surgery and restore its spiritual condition. He is the greatest heart surgeon in the world! After He has performed surgery and you do your daily physical therapy no one on this earth will recognize you from your old self.
Be honest, sincere and guileless, Do you need heart surgery?
Blessings, David
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
2 Timothy 2 What can I do for the Lord?
20A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use. 21So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.
Vessels in Pauls day were used for many purposes. They didn't have plumbing as we have, so vessels were used.
Isn't it interesting you are considered a vessel of honor? When we come to Christ Jesus, He cleanses us, we become sanctified.
Sanctified: set apart as or declare holy; consecrate.
You were set apart as or declared holy, useful to the Master (Jesus) and prepared for every good work.
You may ask, what can I do for the Lord?
Start with reading your bible and understanding the scriptures.
Take a Spiritual Gifts assessment here:
http://gifts.churchgrowth.org/cgi-cg/gifts.cgi?intro=1
Pray and ask God to use you, then listen to your heart and follow His prompting.
It may or may not be in an area of your spiritual gifts (strengths) remembering He uses the weak to confound the wise.
1 Corinthians 1:27 Berean Literal Bible
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world that He might shame the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world that He might shame the strong;
Blessings, David
Vessels in Pauls day were used for many purposes. They didn't have plumbing as we have, so vessels were used.
Isn't it interesting you are considered a vessel of honor? When we come to Christ Jesus, He cleanses us, we become sanctified.
Sanctified: set apart as or declare holy; consecrate.
You were set apart as or declared holy, useful to the Master (Jesus) and prepared for every good work.
You may ask, what can I do for the Lord?
Start with reading your bible and understanding the scriptures.
Take a Spiritual Gifts assessment here:
http://gifts.churchgrowth.org/cgi-cg/gifts.cgi?intro=1
Pray and ask God to use you, then listen to your heart and follow His prompting.
It may or may not be in an area of your spiritual gifts (strengths) remembering He uses the weak to confound the wise.
1 Corinthians 1:27 Berean Literal Bible
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world that He might shame the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world that He might shame the strong;
Blessings, David
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
We Are Family Matthew 12:46-50
Blood is thicker then water. Family comes first. Isn't that what we've always been told? Then why is Jesus seemingly "dissing" His family here? Maybe it's because He knew their intentions. Jesus's brothers did not believe their brother was the Messiah until after He rose from the grave. Jesus was arguing with the Pharisees. They probably thought "He's off His rocker, He's going to get us all kicked out of the Synagogue." They may have thought "Mom can talk some sense into Him."
No one has special preference with Jesus. Not even His mother. We are all equal. Yet, each of us is the most important person in the world to Jesus. How can that be? Because of His vast love. Jesus loves each of us as if we are the only one yet He loves each of us the same. He doesn't love us any more than He loves His blood family yet He doesn't love us any less. We are all His family because of His blood.
Matthew 12:46-50
The True Family of Jesus
46 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, His mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to Him. 47 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and Your brothers are outside, and they want to speak to You.”
48 Jesus asked, “Who is My mother? Who are My brothers?” 49 Then He pointed to His disciples and said, “Look, these are My mother and brothers. 50 Anyone who does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother!”
Blessings, Cecilia
2 Timothy 2 You are His, sin no more!
19Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
When Paul had written this letter, great buildings were build with a seal, a cornerstone bearing an inscription of the builder, date and name. Likewise when Gods church in Jesus Christ was built, Jesus became the cornerstone.
1 Peter 2: Berean Literal Bible
6 Therefore it is contained in Scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen precious cornerstone; and the one believing on Him, shall not be put to shame." 7 To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."
“The Lord knows those who are His,”
1 Corinthians 8:3 But whoever loves God is known by God.
Like a child that loves his or her parents. Don't the parents love their own child? There may be exceptions to this law of nature but know this, God does not lie and Jesus said when we believe and accept Him we become the adopted children of God.
Galatians 3:26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,
Ephesians 1:5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--
Yes, The Lord knows you are His, and loves you!
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
YOU must turn from sin! Jesus told the prostitute: John 8:11 "No one, Lord," she answered. "Neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Now go and sin no more."
You are His, sin no more!
Blessings, David
When Paul had written this letter, great buildings were build with a seal, a cornerstone bearing an inscription of the builder, date and name. Likewise when Gods church in Jesus Christ was built, Jesus became the cornerstone.
1 Peter 2: Berean Literal Bible
6 Therefore it is contained in Scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen precious cornerstone; and the one believing on Him, shall not be put to shame." 7 To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."
“The Lord knows those who are His,”
1 Corinthians 8:3 But whoever loves God is known by God.
Like a child that loves his or her parents. Don't the parents love their own child? There may be exceptions to this law of nature but know this, God does not lie and Jesus said when we believe and accept Him we become the adopted children of God.
Galatians 3:26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,
Ephesians 1:5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--
Yes, The Lord knows you are His, and loves you!
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
YOU must turn from sin! Jesus told the prostitute: John 8:11 "No one, Lord," she answered. "Neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Now go and sin no more."
You are His, sin no more!
Blessings, David
Monday, April 17, 2017
Jesus is a friend of sinners!
One of the hardest things about ministry for some, is remembering what
ministry is all about, saving lost souls and encouraging the saints. I love
the way sinners flocked to Jesus in the gospels as shown in, *Mark 2:16...
“Why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 When Jesus
heard this, He said to them,“Those who are healthy have no need of a
physician, but [only] those who are sick; I did not come to call the
righteous, but sinners [who recognize their sin and humbly seek
forgiveness].”* They obviously felt comfortable with the Lord. They felt
loved and accepted by Him as they were. They were attracted to His
teachings. And Jesus was obviously glad to be with them. It is time for the
church to remember its true mission. It is time for the saints of God to
turn from a materialistic life, share their faith and restore focus on the
value God places upon people. There are a lot of people who stay away from
God because they figure they are just not good enough for Him. Some of the
most dedicated, sincere followers of Jesus came from some of the worst
backgrounds, I know I did. Jesus knew that the best way to call a sinner
back to God is to spend time with them and by accepting one man, He could
gain access to many, because sinners know lots of other sinners! Jesus is a
friend of sinners, but he is not a friend of sin. We come as sinners to
Jesus for healing, and then He calls us to leave that sin behind. The real
measure of effective ministry is transformed lives and godly fruitful
disciples.
ministry is all about, saving lost souls and encouraging the saints. I love
the way sinners flocked to Jesus in the gospels as shown in, *Mark 2:16...
“Why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 When Jesus
heard this, He said to them,“Those who are healthy have no need of a
physician, but [only] those who are sick; I did not come to call the
righteous, but sinners [who recognize their sin and humbly seek
forgiveness].”* They obviously felt comfortable with the Lord. They felt
loved and accepted by Him as they were. They were attracted to His
teachings. And Jesus was obviously glad to be with them. It is time for the
church to remember its true mission. It is time for the saints of God to
turn from a materialistic life, share their faith and restore focus on the
value God places upon people. There are a lot of people who stay away from
God because they figure they are just not good enough for Him. Some of the
most dedicated, sincere followers of Jesus came from some of the worst
backgrounds, I know I did. Jesus knew that the best way to call a sinner
back to God is to spend time with them and by accepting one man, He could
gain access to many, because sinners know lots of other sinners! Jesus is a
friend of sinners, but he is not a friend of sin. We come as sinners to
Jesus for healing, and then He calls us to leave that sin behind. The real
measure of effective ministry is transformed lives and godly fruitful
disciples.
Douglas
What If. Matthew 12:41-45 NLT
You've heard the Gospel, you've been convicted of what needs to change in your life. You know what you need to do to be saved yet you refuse to take that step of faith and surrender. Maybe you don't want to give up that thing you enjoy in your life that you know is sin. Maybe you don't want to put God first. Maybe you're afraid of what others will think. Or you're just not into that "religious stuff. "
What if you don't wake up tomorrow. What if tonight is your last chance. Where would you go? Would you regret not taking a stand? Without Jesus in your heart, you're just an empty house.
Matthew 12:41-45 NLT
41 “The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent. 42 The queen of Sheba will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.
When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. 45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.”
Blessings, Cecilia
2 Timothy 2 What will history say about you?
The Lord's Approved Workman
14Remind the believers of these things, charging them before God to avoid quarreling over words; this is in no way profitable, and leads its listeners to ruin.
15Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
16But avoid irreverent and empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness, 17and the talk of such men will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have deviated from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already occurred, and they undermine the faith of some.
"Accurately handles the word of truth." This is important for a pastor, preacher or any of us in the faith of Jesus Christ. A pastor that is accurate in one area but way off in another is not accurately handling the word of truth. A quote from David Guzik says,
"I eat the meat and spit out the bones." The bones would eventually get caught and choke you!
In 1 Timothy 1:20 Paul had already turned Hymenaeus over to Satan and this is the only place in the bible that Philetus is mentioned. They earned their place in history for deviating from the truth and undermining the faith of some.
But if you believe and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you by Grace have a place in history also, as your name was written in the Lambs Book of Life!
Don't be a Hymenaeus or a Philetus unless you want to be handed over to Satan!
Avoid quarreling over words and irreverent and empty chatter, present yourself approved to God, be an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
What will history say about you?
Blessings, David
14Remind the believers of these things, charging them before God to avoid quarreling over words; this is in no way profitable, and leads its listeners to ruin.
15Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
16But avoid irreverent and empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness, 17and the talk of such men will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have deviated from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already occurred, and they undermine the faith of some.
"Accurately handles the word of truth." This is important for a pastor, preacher or any of us in the faith of Jesus Christ. A pastor that is accurate in one area but way off in another is not accurately handling the word of truth. A quote from David Guzik says,
"I eat the meat and spit out the bones." The bones would eventually get caught and choke you!
In 1 Timothy 1:20 Paul had already turned Hymenaeus over to Satan and this is the only place in the bible that Philetus is mentioned. They earned their place in history for deviating from the truth and undermining the faith of some.
But if you believe and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you by Grace have a place in history also, as your name was written in the Lambs Book of Life!
Don't be a Hymenaeus or a Philetus unless you want to be handed over to Satan!
Avoid quarreling over words and irreverent and empty chatter, present yourself approved to God, be an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
What will history say about you?
Blessings, David
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