1. Who and what are we to seek first in our lives?
Bible verse(s)_________________________
2. What are the 2 greatest commands?
Bible verse(s)_________________________
3. To come to Jesus, what must we do with the cross?
Bible verse(s)_________________________
4. As a Christian, whom do I belong to?
Bible verse(s)__________________________
5. To love Jesus, who are we to love less?
Bible verse(s)__________________________
6. What does it mean to be crucified with Christ?
Bible verse(s)__________________________
7. What should we consider everything else in comparison to knowing Christ Jesus?
Bible verse(s)__________________________
8. Write the top 5 things of importance in your life.
9. What does it mean to you to put God (Jesus and His Church) first in your life?
10. What price should we be willing to pay so that Jesus would be first in our lives?
Bible verse(s)___________________________
Showing posts with label by Doug Berry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label by Doug Berry. Show all posts
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Every 4 Years
What happens every 4 years? Some ideas from the internet and life.
Ø Of course Leap Year.
Ø The Olympics are held.
Ø The World Cup of Soccer/Football is held.
Ø The United States elects a President.
Ø The internet says you should change all the hoses on your car every 4 years.
Ø Legend says that there is a town, Brigadoon, Scotland that appears for 1 day every 100 years (I double checked on the internet – I thought it was every 4 years!).
Ø General Motors, that makes Chevrolet, will make a new hybrid car every 3 months for the next 4 years.
What are you going to do and become in Christ over the next 4 years? Will you allow God to use you and grow you so that you are becoming the mature and complete child of God that your Father God and Brother Jesus want you to be? They love you and invite you to grow! The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will help you every step of the way!
Ø Of course Leap Year.
Ø The Olympics are held.
Ø The World Cup of Soccer/Football is held.
Ø The United States elects a President.
Ø The internet says you should change all the hoses on your car every 4 years.
Ø Legend says that there is a town, Brigadoon, Scotland that appears for 1 day every 100 years (I double checked on the internet – I thought it was every 4 years!).
Ø General Motors, that makes Chevrolet, will make a new hybrid car every 3 months for the next 4 years.
What are you going to do and become in Christ over the next 4 years? Will you allow God to use you and grow you so that you are becoming the mature and complete child of God that your Father God and Brother Jesus want you to be? They love you and invite you to grow! The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will help you every step of the way!
Who Is God? Answers from last week Test of Faith
1. God has always been and He lives in Heaven. Genesis 24:7; Rev.1:8; 22:13
2. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:1,2; John 1:1-3
3. 6 days. Genesis 1:31
4. God loves everyone. John 3:16
5. We are separated from God. Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 6:9
6. Jesus dieing on the cross and being raised to life. Romans 6; Galatians 3:26-29
7. God wants all to be saved. 1 Timothy 2:3,4
8. Prayers of the righteous. 1 Peter 3:12; James 5:16
Prayers of those seeking God. Acts 10:1-6
9. God is not physical and is everyone at once. Joshua 2:11
10. Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:26; John 1:1-5
2. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:1,2; John 1:1-3
3. 6 days. Genesis 1:31
4. God loves everyone. John 3:16
5. We are separated from God. Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 6:9
6. Jesus dieing on the cross and being raised to life. Romans 6; Galatians 3:26-29
7. God wants all to be saved. 1 Timothy 2:3,4
8. Prayers of the righteous. 1 Peter 3:12; James 5:16
Prayers of those seeking God. Acts 10:1-6
9. God is not physical and is everyone at once. Joshua 2:11
10. Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:26; John 1:1-5
Steps for Deeper Spiritual Growth!
1. Faith Partner - James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. One of the things that is important for us to do to continue to grow spiritually and at a deeper level is to have at least one other person involved in our spiritual lives that we can trust them with our deepest struggles and having them pray for us. I need to confess my sins to them and have them pray for me. That person needs to confess their sins to me and I need to pray for them! This is a powerful tool for our continue spiritual growth! I would recommend that you get together at least once a week with this person to confess and pray together.
2. Meditation; Alone Time - Matthew 14:22-23 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. We need alone time with God, His Word and in prayer. Not just 10 or 15 minutes here or there, but some quality time where we just get alone with God without interruptions or cell phones. You will find that this is a very uplifting, encouraging time that will draw you closer to God.
3. Fasting - Matt 4:1,2 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Matt 6:17-18 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting , but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Mark 2:19-20 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.
Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Acts 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
Fasting is not eating for a period of time. Jesus fasted for 40 days. Often people in the Bible fasted for 1 to 3 days at a time. Jesus fasted to prepare himself to have the spiritual strength to face Satan. Jesus tells that when He is left to go back to Heaven, we would need to fast. When we fast we are to do it not to show off our faith, but rather to grow in our faith with God. Notice that fasting and praying in the New Testament was always including prayer. So when you fast, start slow and be careful of your health. On days of fasting, drink plenty of water. When you get hungry go to the Bible and read it for encouragement and pray to God for strength. Fasting drives us to knees as we realize how much we need God in our daily lives!
2. Meditation; Alone Time - Matthew 14:22-23 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. We need alone time with God, His Word and in prayer. Not just 10 or 15 minutes here or there, but some quality time where we just get alone with God without interruptions or cell phones. You will find that this is a very uplifting, encouraging time that will draw you closer to God.
3. Fasting - Matt 4:1,2 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Matt 6:17-18 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting , but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Mark 2:19-20 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.
Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Acts 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
Fasting is not eating for a period of time. Jesus fasted for 40 days. Often people in the Bible fasted for 1 to 3 days at a time. Jesus fasted to prepare himself to have the spiritual strength to face Satan. Jesus tells that when He is left to go back to Heaven, we would need to fast. When we fast we are to do it not to show off our faith, but rather to grow in our faith with God. Notice that fasting and praying in the New Testament was always including prayer. So when you fast, start slow and be careful of your health. On days of fasting, drink plenty of water. When you get hungry go to the Bible and read it for encouragement and pray to God for strength. Fasting drives us to knees as we realize how much we need God in our daily lives!
TESTS OF FAITH
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2 Corinthians 2:9 The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test?
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
God tells us to test our faith to make sure we are right with Him. We are to test to make sure we are following God’s will for our lives; to see if we are obedient; to see if we are in the faith and that Christ is in us; and to see if we will stand up to the test and trials of life so that we can receive eternal life. So in the next few weeks, I will be putting a test in the this newsletter for you to personally take to see if you are passing the test to live this life in faith and walk right with God and to be sure that you are prepared for eternity.
No one is going to grade you on these tests, but take them for your own growth and development. I will give rewards for good marks of 8-10 correct. Correct Answers will be given in the next newsletter. If you can give a Bible Verse(s) for your correct answers, I will double the reward!
2 Corinthians 2:9 The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test?
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
God tells us to test our faith to make sure we are right with Him. We are to test to make sure we are following God’s will for our lives; to see if we are obedient; to see if we are in the faith and that Christ is in us; and to see if we will stand up to the test and trials of life so that we can receive eternal life. So in the next few weeks, I will be putting a test in the this newsletter for you to personally take to see if you are passing the test to live this life in faith and walk right with God and to be sure that you are prepared for eternity.
No one is going to grade you on these tests, but take them for your own growth and development. I will give rewards for good marks of 8-10 correct. Correct Answers will be given in the next newsletter. If you can give a Bible Verse(s) for your correct answers, I will double the reward!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Basic Steps for Spiritual Growth
These steps follow getting our life right with God, either by coming to Him through faith and baptism or by coming back to Him as discussed on the lesson that follows this one in this blog. Or it can be seen as a daily plan for the faithful child of God that is trusting their lives daily to Jesus!
1. Remember how we came to God, through the Word of God and faith. Romans 10:17 “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” We need to have a DAILY reading and studying plan of the Word of God in our lives. It is very important to allow God to speak to us through the Bible to guide us in our daily lives. Without allowing God to talk to us every day, we will gradually grow away from Him.
2. Remember how much God wants us to talk to Him through prayer.
Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it , and it will be yours. This page could be filled with scriptures of God asking us to come to Him prayer. Let us remember that we can talk to God about ANYTHING in our lives at ANY time of the day or night. When we in faith trust in His promises, we will receive all of our life’s needs that we lay before God.
3. Remember how God designed His Church, His Family, His Body for us.
Acts 2:47 And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body. When we are baptized into Christ, God puts us into His Church, which is His family and body! Romans 8:15-17 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Jesus Christ died on the cross so we would be in His family! So we would be God’s children and brothers and sisters to Jesus! God wants us close and near to Him! Eph 1:22-23 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. We can only be full and complete in Jesus when we are living with each other in the daily and weekly living and worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ! Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. God feels so strongly about our being together, He has COMMANDED us to not miss worshipping together – not neglecting being together when we as a Church meets. If you want to continue to grow spiritually you need to be with the Church, with other Christians, with your spiritual family to encourage them and to allow them to encourage you!
1. Remember how we came to God, through the Word of God and faith. Romans 10:17 “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” We need to have a DAILY reading and studying plan of the Word of God in our lives. It is very important to allow God to speak to us through the Bible to guide us in our daily lives. Without allowing God to talk to us every day, we will gradually grow away from Him.
2. Remember how much God wants us to talk to Him through prayer.
Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it , and it will be yours. This page could be filled with scriptures of God asking us to come to Him prayer. Let us remember that we can talk to God about ANYTHING in our lives at ANY time of the day or night. When we in faith trust in His promises, we will receive all of our life’s needs that we lay before God.
3. Remember how God designed His Church, His Family, His Body for us.
Acts 2:47 And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body. When we are baptized into Christ, God puts us into His Church, which is His family and body! Romans 8:15-17 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Jesus Christ died on the cross so we would be in His family! So we would be God’s children and brothers and sisters to Jesus! God wants us close and near to Him! Eph 1:22-23 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. We can only be full and complete in Jesus when we are living with each other in the daily and weekly living and worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ! Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. God feels so strongly about our being together, He has COMMANDED us to not miss worshipping together – not neglecting being together when we as a Church meets. If you want to continue to grow spiritually you need to be with the Church, with other Christians, with your spiritual family to encourage them and to allow them to encourage you!
The Lost Son that Came Home!
Luke 15:11-24
11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs . 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20 So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
This is a story that Jesus told that shows us how God’s children leave the Father, sin against him, decide they must come home by repenting and submitting to God again. Then we see that God is waiting, looking and wanting very much for the son to come home. God wants us always to be home with Him! And there will be a great celebration when the child of God that was lost comes home again to the Father!
How do we get back home to God again?
1. We have to come to our senses and realize we need God as much as the day we first came to Him! We must know that we will never be happy living outside of God’s will for our lives.
2. We have to admit our sins and know that we must have God’s forgiveness through Jesus just as much now as before. We must humbly submit to God. 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.
3. As we come to God, He is waiting for us! He will run to you, throw His arms around you and kiss you! He will rejoice for His lost child was dead but is alive again, was lost and is found! Let’s celebrate!!! Revelations 3:19-2019 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door , I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. This passage was written to Christians that needed to repent! Jesus is waiting for us to come home to Him so we can be with each other again because He loves us so much!
11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs . 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20 So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
This is a story that Jesus told that shows us how God’s children leave the Father, sin against him, decide they must come home by repenting and submitting to God again. Then we see that God is waiting, looking and wanting very much for the son to come home. God wants us always to be home with Him! And there will be a great celebration when the child of God that was lost comes home again to the Father!
How do we get back home to God again?
1. We have to come to our senses and realize we need God as much as the day we first came to Him! We must know that we will never be happy living outside of God’s will for our lives.
2. We have to admit our sins and know that we must have God’s forgiveness through Jesus just as much now as before. We must humbly submit to God. 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.
3. As we come to God, He is waiting for us! He will run to you, throw His arms around you and kiss you! He will rejoice for His lost child was dead but is alive again, was lost and is found! Let’s celebrate!!! Revelations 3:19-2019 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door , I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. This passage was written to Christians that needed to repent! Jesus is waiting for us to come home to Him so we can be with each other again because He loves us so much!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
The Future of the Lord's Work...
...In Kremenchuk is VERY Glorious IF… We have the Faith to Trust in God!!!
Romans 8:28-39 - 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
PROMISES IN JESUS THAT WE KNOW:
1. When we love God and accept His call, in all things God will work for our good!
2. That God makes us to be like Jesus, our brother.
3. That we are made to be without sin and we stand in God’s glory.
4. God is for us and no one can be against us.
5. God proves this by giving us, in love, His only Son.
6. We know that God will kindly give us all things through Jesus.
7. When are saved and walk in Jesus no one can condemn us.
8. Jesus is in Heaven interceding for us.
9. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
10. In Everything we are more than victorious in Jesus Christ.
With these promises, we have the guarantee that we can actively live today and tomorrow in faith to carry out God’s work and will in our lives! When we choose Christ and become a Christian, God gives us so much over flowing grace and mercy in our lives that we can be carried along through faith in love and joy!
We cannot live just for people or because of people, for they move in and out of our lives. But when we choose to live for Jesus Christ and His Church, His Kingdom, His Glorious return to this earth and Eternal Life in Heaven with Him, we will have a great future! The future that is this day and the tomorrow that we expect with true promise of hope and life!
Romans 8:28-39 - 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
PROMISES IN JESUS THAT WE KNOW:
1. When we love God and accept His call, in all things God will work for our good!
2. That God makes us to be like Jesus, our brother.
3. That we are made to be without sin and we stand in God’s glory.
4. God is for us and no one can be against us.
5. God proves this by giving us, in love, His only Son.
6. We know that God will kindly give us all things through Jesus.
7. When are saved and walk in Jesus no one can condemn us.
8. Jesus is in Heaven interceding for us.
9. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
10. In Everything we are more than victorious in Jesus Christ.
With these promises, we have the guarantee that we can actively live today and tomorrow in faith to carry out God’s work and will in our lives! When we choose Christ and become a Christian, God gives us so much over flowing grace and mercy in our lives that we can be carried along through faith in love and joy!
We cannot live just for people or because of people, for they move in and out of our lives. But when we choose to live for Jesus Christ and His Church, His Kingdom, His Glorious return to this earth and Eternal Life in Heaven with Him, we will have a great future! The future that is this day and the tomorrow that we expect with true promise of hope and life!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
The Future of the Lord’s Work in Kremenchuk
Romans 8:28-39 - 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
PROMISES IN JESUS THAT WE KNOW:
1. When we love God and accept His call, in all things God will work for our good!
2. That God makes us to be like Jesus, our brother.
3. That we are made to be without sin and we stand in God’s glory.
4. God is for us and no one can be against us.
5. God proves this by giving us, in love, His only Son.
6. We know that God will kindly give us all things through Jesus.
7. When are saved and walk in Jesus no one can condemn us.
8. Jesus is in Heaven interceding for us.
9. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
10. In Everything we are more than victorious in Jesus Christ.
With these promises, we have the guarantee that we can actively live today and tomorrow in faith to carry out God’s work and will in our lives! When we choose Christ and become a Christian, God gives us so much over flowing grace and mercy in our lives that we can be carried along through faith in love and joy!
We cannot live just for people or because of people, for they move in and out of our lives. But when we choose to live for Jesus Christ and His Church, His Kingdom, His Glorious return to this earth and Eternal Life in Heaven with Him, we will have a great future! The future that is this day and the tomorrow that we expect with true promise of hope and life!
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
PROMISES IN JESUS THAT WE KNOW:
1. When we love God and accept His call, in all things God will work for our good!
2. That God makes us to be like Jesus, our brother.
3. That we are made to be without sin and we stand in God’s glory.
4. God is for us and no one can be against us.
5. God proves this by giving us, in love, His only Son.
6. We know that God will kindly give us all things through Jesus.
7. When are saved and walk in Jesus no one can condemn us.
8. Jesus is in Heaven interceding for us.
9. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
10. In Everything we are more than victorious in Jesus Christ.
With these promises, we have the guarantee that we can actively live today and tomorrow in faith to carry out God’s work and will in our lives! When we choose Christ and become a Christian, God gives us so much over flowing grace and mercy in our lives that we can be carried along through faith in love and joy!
We cannot live just for people or because of people, for they move in and out of our lives. But when we choose to live for Jesus Christ and His Church, His Kingdom, His Glorious return to this earth and Eternal Life in Heaven with Him, we will have a great future! The future that is this day and the tomorrow that we expect with true promise of hope and life!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
The Greatest Contest on Earth!
The date was September 1, 1999. On November 28, the conestants had to be chosen and to meet for the final selection. On December 1, the contest would begin and had to be concluded by January 1, 2000.The call went out all across the world! Every country had to select their champions. Everyone was invited to participate: young, old, man or woman. The Challenge? They had to select what they thought were the 3 most important books ever written.The countries greatest scholars would determine who the winner in their country would be. The Expense? All must realize that no expense must be spared to fulfill this mission, the completion of this contest. Each contestant must be willing to sacrifice all that they had and all that they are to fulfill this mission. The Reason for the contest? The saving of only one life and the very existence of this one precious soul. Obviously, there was a matter of great urgency about this contest. So within 30 days of the announcement the champions had to be selected. They all met in the capital in the center of the world where all could come. What was considered the greatest minds of all the world were asked to be the judges. They were asked to select 3 people with their three books. They had just 3 days to do it. At the end their was a young man who was 25, a middle age woman who was 41 and an aged man who 74. There were some that feared that this would be an unfair advantage to the young man because he would have greater strength. Some feared that the woman would have the advantage because she would understand life from a woman's point of few and know that her books were best. Finally others felt that the aged man would have the greatest adavantage because of his great wisdom and his experiences in life. However, the contest demanded that they all travel together from beginning to end and more rules would be given them as they proceeded.
The contest began. As many people as could afford to come along were invited. So family and friends, scholars, intillectuals and just interested hangers on traveled with the group. But they had to keep up. They had to pay their own way. They couldn't help the contestants in any way. They couldn't cheer or support by any actions or they would be asked to leave. The only thing they could do was to watch!
Right away the three contestants were amazed that they were asked to work together to figure out where they were going, how they were going to get there and what they should do to save this person that needed them so desperately. They were given 10 days to figure out what country they should travel to. They were told that maybe some of their books should help them to find the way. They traveled to many countries and asking many questions to see if they were on the right track. At the end of the first 10 days, they were told that each of them had to throw away one book. They were told that they were in the right country.
Now they must continue their search and find the city they were to find. They frantically worked together searching for the endanagered person. At the end of the second 10 days, they were told that they were in the right city. Now they were each told to throw away another book, but they could help each other in these choices. Now they must find where the person lived and save this person at all costs. The search became desperate! They worked side by side, hour after hour, day after day.
Finally there was one day left. They had found the right street that the person lived on. Now they had to decide which book to save, to save this person's life, his or her very soul. The book that they chose? The Bible. They had to choose now one person to finally save this lost soul. The three contestants were all exhausted. They finally chose amongst themselves and chose the young man, for he was the only one with enough strength to go on. So on this last day, he began the frantic search from house to house to find the peron that needed to be saved. Finally, he found the 16 year old girl, dieing on her bed. She was given just one hour to live. The young man staggared into her, with the Bible in hand, crying out, "how can I help you?" The girl said that for you to save me, you must answer me but one question, but you must answer me from the Bible so that I can know for sure that my soul will be saved forever. The young man pleaded with her: "Please ask your question!" She looked into his eyes and said, "What must I do to be saved?" The young man fell on his face and burst into tears because he did not know the answer! The one who was controlling the contest, turned to the woman and the old man and asked them to answer the question. They too fell down weeping for they did not know the answer! Then the contestant manager turned to the throng of people for the answer. No one seemed to know. Then the contest manager took off his cloak and his gloves. Everyone gasped! He had holes in His hands and a whole in His side. To everyone that knew the story of the Bible, they realized that this was Jesus Christ who died for the world and had been raised to life, never to die again! Jesus turned to the young woman and said, "For God so loved the world that He sent me into the world save everyone who believes in me." (John 3:16). That you must believe and be baptized to be saved. (Mark 16:16). That when you repent and are baptized into me, your sins will be forgiven and I will give you the Holy Spirit to live in you. (Acts 2:38). Then you will have died to all your sins and have them buried with me as I was buried after my death. I will raise you to walk in new life, just as I was raised from the dead. (Romans 6:1-7). You will live with me for eternity! (John 14:1-6).
Do you have many quesitons about the contest? Where did it start? In your country, in your city! Who were the contestants? Any one in all the world. Where did they go? They went into all the world, seeking the lost. What books did they take? They took all the wisdom and religon of the world with them. Why did they choose the Bible? It was the only answer for all people for all time. Who was the dieing girl? She was you and me, for we are all dieing eternally without Jesus Christ.
Now, some questions for you.
1. Would you know what to do and how to answer the question: "What must I do to be saved?"
2. Would you know where to find the Bible answers for this question and NOT what man has told you they were?
3. Would you be willing to set out on this contest knowing that it could cost you everything that you had, everything that you are so one lost and desperate soul could be saved?
4. If you knew that their were BILLONS of souls in need like this, what would you do? Where would you be willing to go? What time would you give? How much money would you spend? What sacrifices would you make?
5. Jesus Christ made all these sacrifices for you. Will you make them for Him and for the lost?
The contest began. As many people as could afford to come along were invited. So family and friends, scholars, intillectuals and just interested hangers on traveled with the group. But they had to keep up. They had to pay their own way. They couldn't help the contestants in any way. They couldn't cheer or support by any actions or they would be asked to leave. The only thing they could do was to watch!
Right away the three contestants were amazed that they were asked to work together to figure out where they were going, how they were going to get there and what they should do to save this person that needed them so desperately. They were given 10 days to figure out what country they should travel to. They were told that maybe some of their books should help them to find the way. They traveled to many countries and asking many questions to see if they were on the right track. At the end of the first 10 days, they were told that each of them had to throw away one book. They were told that they were in the right country.
Now they must continue their search and find the city they were to find. They frantically worked together searching for the endanagered person. At the end of the second 10 days, they were told that they were in the right city. Now they were each told to throw away another book, but they could help each other in these choices. Now they must find where the person lived and save this person at all costs. The search became desperate! They worked side by side, hour after hour, day after day.
Finally there was one day left. They had found the right street that the person lived on. Now they had to decide which book to save, to save this person's life, his or her very soul. The book that they chose? The Bible. They had to choose now one person to finally save this lost soul. The three contestants were all exhausted. They finally chose amongst themselves and chose the young man, for he was the only one with enough strength to go on. So on this last day, he began the frantic search from house to house to find the peron that needed to be saved. Finally, he found the 16 year old girl, dieing on her bed. She was given just one hour to live. The young man staggared into her, with the Bible in hand, crying out, "how can I help you?" The girl said that for you to save me, you must answer me but one question, but you must answer me from the Bible so that I can know for sure that my soul will be saved forever. The young man pleaded with her: "Please ask your question!" She looked into his eyes and said, "What must I do to be saved?" The young man fell on his face and burst into tears because he did not know the answer! The one who was controlling the contest, turned to the woman and the old man and asked them to answer the question. They too fell down weeping for they did not know the answer! Then the contestant manager turned to the throng of people for the answer. No one seemed to know. Then the contest manager took off his cloak and his gloves. Everyone gasped! He had holes in His hands and a whole in His side. To everyone that knew the story of the Bible, they realized that this was Jesus Christ who died for the world and had been raised to life, never to die again! Jesus turned to the young woman and said, "For God so loved the world that He sent me into the world save everyone who believes in me." (John 3:16). That you must believe and be baptized to be saved. (Mark 16:16). That when you repent and are baptized into me, your sins will be forgiven and I will give you the Holy Spirit to live in you. (Acts 2:38). Then you will have died to all your sins and have them buried with me as I was buried after my death. I will raise you to walk in new life, just as I was raised from the dead. (Romans 6:1-7). You will live with me for eternity! (John 14:1-6).
Do you have many quesitons about the contest? Where did it start? In your country, in your city! Who were the contestants? Any one in all the world. Where did they go? They went into all the world, seeking the lost. What books did they take? They took all the wisdom and religon of the world with them. Why did they choose the Bible? It was the only answer for all people for all time. Who was the dieing girl? She was you and me, for we are all dieing eternally without Jesus Christ.
Now, some questions for you.
1. Would you know what to do and how to answer the question: "What must I do to be saved?"
2. Would you know where to find the Bible answers for this question and NOT what man has told you they were?
3. Would you be willing to set out on this contest knowing that it could cost you everything that you had, everything that you are so one lost and desperate soul could be saved?
4. If you knew that their were BILLONS of souls in need like this, what would you do? Where would you be willing to go? What time would you give? How much money would you spend? What sacrifices would you make?
5. Jesus Christ made all these sacrifices for you. Will you make them for Him and for the lost?
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