Thursday, December 18, 2008

If you have children you should......

Know and,"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." Psalm 127:3
Know that; "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.
Psalm 127:4
Know that; "Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!"
Psalm 127:5
They will be blessed; "The righteous who walks in his integrity -blessed are his children after him."
Proverbs 20:7
Know that we are to; "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6
You, "Should not withhold discipline from a child; if you should strike him with a rod, he will not die."
Proverbs 23:13
Also know; "If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol."
Proverbs 23:14
Know that; "Whoever recieves one such child in My(Jesus) name recieves Me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great
milstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."
Matt. 18:5-6
Not provoke them to anger; " Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
Ephesians 6:4

This is a few words of instruction from the Lord on how we are to love, appreciate, teach, discipline and not make our children angry.
I have been learning the importance of what my role is when it comes to my children. We Christians have fallen in the trappings of the world and lost site of what God says we are to do.
We as Fathers are to teach, and not provoke our children to anger.
It is not the youth pastors job or the church nurseries job to teach or train your children.
No God made it plan and simple on who is to do all of that.
The father and the mother. We seem to have lost site of how we should discipline our children also. We are to use the rod of correction. Not harshly or with anger!!!!
No, but out of compassion and love when they need it.
We don't need Dr. Spock or the Nanny to tell us how to raise our kids. We have the scriptures!
Please look into the word and seek God concerning the importance of our children.
They are needing us to be there for them in all aspects of life.
Train them up in the ways of the Lord and save there souls.
If you love them, you will do as the scripture says.
Amen!

Monday, December 15, 2008

What do you get with three Christians and two drunk women

You get to be where myself and two others were the other night. There is a gentleman we are ministering to who is leaving the drugs and alcoholic life. He is a man we only met a month ago, but there is a Christ-like relationship developing. As myself and two others were at his house the other night listening and talking two ladies showed up. One is an old friend of his from his old lifestyle and the other was someone she picked up just to ride around and drink with.
I must say it was an amusing time. Seminary nor churchology teaching couldn't prepare you for this kind of ministry. We had discussions of how they were raised in church and know the bible just as well as we do. To one of them wanting to give me her number so she could debate me when she was sober. I will say the word got proclaimed and hugs were given before it was all over. Tension was in the air, but before we left laughter came. You see I feel we can be to stuffy in our theology and presentations of giving the gospel. Sometimes you just need to loosen up and listen. All the while being prepared to give a testimony. I don't know what will transpire from this meeting, but I do know that Gods word won't return to Him void. The word was proclaimed to two women who was drunk and were definately not Christian despite of what they said. Again not passing judgment. I just know that they weren't showing the fruit of the gospel. And that is another one of those casualties from people who were raised in church and told your saved. They are out there and they are perishing. We need to be ready in season and out. Our whole purpose of going to that house was to minister to the gentleman yet we ended up speaking to more than him. Only God can orchestrate things like that.
Amen!!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

On "Binding Satan"

This is something I have been wanting to bring out for a while. Especially when in prayer meetings and other meetings. The following site presents some good views of where we stand in this type of warfare.
Click on this:
On "Binding Satan"

A promise for Christmas..."IT IS FINISHED"

"Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisment for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken, And they made His grave with the wicked---But with the rich at His death. Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deciet in His mouth." Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put HIm to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days. And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,And He shall divide the spoil with the strong. Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors. And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors."
Isaiah 53:4-12
Now that is what Christmas is about! Yes He was born on earth. But let's not forget why He was born.
I was taking my oldest daughter to school yesterday. I told her about one time when Jesus got mad. When He went in and turned over the money changer tables in the tabernacle. I told her why the money changers were there. We talked about how the Jews had to sacrifice animals and why. Then I told her what Jesus did on the cross for us and how He was the ultimate and final sacrifice. I told her what Jesus said before He died. "It is finished." Isn't that wonderful? We no longer have to sacrifice bulls and goats etc.. Jesus paid the price and now it is finished. The law and the prophets were fulfilled when He said it is finished. That is a promise for Christmas and forever. Repent and believe! Read the account in Isaiah and realize what Jesus went through and what God went through during that time. Then realize what was done for us who believe in Jesus. That is an awesome present.

I still need a Saviour

You know something saints? We still need a saviour! Isn't that wonderful?
I've been struggling with some issues lately as we all do. Then the other night I woke up with this on my mind. I need a Saviour. Wow, the Lord reminded me that though we are saved and we are being saved that we still need Jesus. All the time! I knew this, but it was a good reminder from the Lord to keep me in line. I then remembered that He who is in me is greater than he who is in this world. That morning I was full of praises. Songs were coming to mind and I was singing them. I was praising my God and Saviour. We will always need a Saviour as we are living in a fallen world. We need to be reminding ourselves that, so we won't get discouraged or prideful. It is not because we are able to do anything on our own. No! It is because of what Jesus did on the cross. He took it all. Now go praise the Saviour.
Amen!!!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Will the true Christian please stand up!

When I was a little tike there was a show called "To tell the Truth." The format was there were three people behind a table answering questions from some celebrity contestants. The contestants had to guess which person was telling the truth about what they really did for a living. So the other two people being questioned would be lying about what they did in order to trick the contestants.
Then at the end the real person who was an author, professor or whatever profession the topic was about would stand up revealing that they were in fact telling the truth. If one of the contestants guessed right they would then win a prize.
My question would be as Christians would a person be able to tell if we were trully Christians or not amongst others? You, see I again am around a lot of people who profess Christ, but there is no fruit. The world basically couldn't tell the difference. So there are alot of imposters out there and we are to be a lamp amongst the darkness.
So will the true Christian please stand up!!!

Friday, December 5, 2008

DEAD MEN WALKING

"And you were dead in trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience---among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."
Ephesians 2:1-3

"Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
Ephesians 5:14b

As you read I hope you notice the reason for the title of this post. How many of us who are of Christ realize we are walking amongst the dead? And that we were once a walking dead man also. Everyone who is not of Christ is condemned already. They are dead to the things of God. So when we are evangelizing we need to take into account that we are talking to people who are dead in their trespasses and sins. There needs to be a distinction of how we approach people with the gospel. Some may be broken and are coming alive to God and need grace. Others may still be hardened and need the law. We need to use discernment when approaching people.
We must realize that it is God who must awaken the people to hear the words. Or else we are just trying to convince someone to hear. Remember our job is not to bring conviction. It is the Holy Spirit who brings conviction. We are only called to proclaim the gospel. We could be the one spreading the seed, or watering. God gives the increase. So when you do talk or see the broken person that may mean someone already has sown a seed and now they need water. Or when you go out and meet that person who is giving you a hard time just plant and walk away. Someone else will come along and water.
It became so much easier for me to realize that when I talk or proclaim to people the gospel and they give me a hard time, it is not me they are rejecting. No, it is God and He can handle that. Because at least a seed was scattered. The burden of conversion is not ours to bear. We can't raise a dead man from the grave only God.
So when I go out on the streets to proclaim the gospel I know that I am just a planter of the word. I don't yell or provoke, I proclaim knowing that God will do the rest. I don't use gimmicks or sign boards. Except one on my carrying case with one word: REPENT. When I go out I use my bullhorn only to propel my voice and not to yell. It is what we are called to do go out and tell people about Jesus. I love what I do as it is a fulfillment of the great commission.
I've been yelled at, cussed at and a lot of horns honking. Some of the horn honking was in agreement. I have learned to tell the difference. Plus as I was out at times I had people come up and say thank you I needed to hear what you said. How many will not ever touch a door threshold and yet they will walk by in the streets. You see we can't depend on people coming to us we must go to them.
Have you ever seen anyone rising out of the grave in the graveyard? I hope not if so you may want to run. So as you probably won't see that happen chances are you won't see the dead coming to a fellowship meeting. So go out!

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ...."
Ephesians 2:4-5

Thursday, December 4, 2008

What is Evangelism.....

My heart has been getting stirred up by the Lord the last two weeks. I have found myself becoming complacent again. Then as one of my earlier posts stated He reminded me of what I am to do. We are called to go out into all the world and proclaim the good news.
How many of us define the words evangelist or evangelism with someone who comes to a church and speaks a good message for revivals? It was over a year ago that the Lord reminded me that evangelist should be going out. And that He(God) is the one who brings revival not man. The best we can do is just temporary. What God does is permenant when it comes to revival.
So check out this definitions:
Evangelism: Zealous preaching and dissemination of the gospel, as through missionary work; the work of an evangelist.
Dissemination: to scatter or spread widly, as though sowing seeds; promulgate extensively; broadcast; disperse.
Promulgation: to make known by open declaration; publish; proclaim formally to set forth or teach publicaly.
2Timothy 4: 1-5 "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word: be ready in season and out of season: reprove , rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be soberminded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."
Titus 2:11-15 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you."
The words to Timothy from Paul speaks volumes. We are to be ready in season and out of season to proclaim the word. We are to rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
We should be zealous for good works. A Godly zealous not a pep talk type of zealousness that fades away after the meetings. We need to be wanting to proclaim the good news. My heart is to go out and reach the lost. Granted it was God who put this on my heart heavily. It is something I long to do. The lost are out in the world. The lost are in our own fellowships. The lost are in our own families. We can all evangelize. We all are called to evangelize. Some may be on the street, inside buildings. And all in our own homes.
Most of all as Paul told Timothy " Let no one disregard you."

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

SAVED by GRACE not Seminary

This is just a thought that came to me today. In todays modern American church most people who are in the mainstream reformed ministry are seminary trained. Not all, but most. I know a few and love their insight they have on the definitions and meanings of the scripture.
Now after prefacing this with what I just said. I am finding a lot of people are reading and devouring books by the Pipers, Mars Hills movers and shakers to name a couple. In doing so they seem to be ignoring the scriptures. They love to quote these other men and their wisdom or insights without seemingly remembering these are mere men.
So that is what the title is about. We are saved by grace. And that not from man and their seminary teachings, but a gift of God.
I feel we are becoming to much like the Greeks. Seeking wisdom over seeking the one who gives us wisdom. In turn our outreaches are not maturing or happening. I challenge those with seminary degrees to go outside of the "church" and into the streets. I know one time when I mentioned to someone that I was going to street preach and they just looked like I had just said a bad word. It is as if you are not trained by "professors" or such that you can't go out and reach the lost. We have houses full of babies and no one is maturing. We are losing to the world because we have become like the world. I am not against seminary teaching or students. No, I just would like for the seminaries to truly do more organic teaching outside of the classrooms. Then maybe reality would hit the students and instructors as to what is really happening in the world.
Somethings can't be taught out of a book they must be learned first hand. I struggled in school trying to read and learn from books. I have been more hands on and that's what God is doing for me now. I am learning hands on what the bible is about. Reaching the lost with the gospel. Granted not everyone is an evangelist for the streets, but we can all learn from each other.

Acts 17:26-27

"And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;" Acts 17:26-27
How awesome is that scripture? It shows the soveriegnty of God all through it. He made from one BLOOD every nation to dwell on all the face of the earth. Every color of men and women have been made from one BLOOD. JESUS!!!!
And not only that, but He determines where and how we live. All so that we should seek HIM in hope that we may grope for Him and find Him.
Are you seeing the awesomeness of God in this scripture? It is self explainatory. We are where we live so we can seek God. Seek God! Brothers and sisters seek God. He is not far from you.
We were made to worship Him. We were saved to worship and serve Him not ourselves.
We think we make the decisions on where we live. Ha Ha Ha!! NO, God predetermined that for us. That is glorious!!! Call me crazy, but I am glad that God is in control. He is awesome!
Give Him a shout of praise.
Amen!!!!