Cleaning Up Our House

It has been awhile since my last post.  It may be a while yet before my next.  I am going through a valley right now and covet the prayers of those who know Christ.  Here is a word that was upon my heart today.  May it be food for thought…

For those of us who still long to see a real movement of God, there is a major problem which exists in many churches and amongst Christians in general that is holding back the healing rain of the Spirit we so desire. Sin in the camp. In our present age, we hear people beat the drum within Christian and secular society saying, “We shouldn’t judge!” The problem is that it is almost always taken out of context and is the very thing that has allowed sin to be in our midst amongst churches. In the Old Testament, we are all familiar with how God brought down the walls of Jericho. And some of us may even remember how a man named Achan hid a wedge of gold and a Babylonianish garment under his tent. No one knew except God and Achan. However, when Israel went to defeat the next town, Ai, they lost and many of their men were killed. Joshua began to pray, wondering why God had not been in their midst fighting their battles. “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.” (Josua 7:10-12) Notice the Lord says “Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”

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“Be Ye Therefore…” – Followers of God

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Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children…

Introduction

This is the sixth in the ‘Be Ye Therefore’ series. The term Christian means literally, to be like Christ. At Antioch they were first called Christians meaning ‘little Christs’. They were identified with and their way was identical to Christ.

Become As Little Children

Jesus in Matthew 18:3 told His followers that they must be converted and “become as little children”, humble and trusting in the Lord for not only salvation but also the daily providential care of the Father.  Remember when we were children?  I never worried where my next meal was coming from.  I didn’t worry about how the light bill would get paid.  I know my Dad would take care of our family.  That is the same trust God wants from His children.  Paul tells us to follow, some say imitate or strive to be like, our heavenly Father.  When I was a child, I wanted to be like my Dad.  I still do.  I remember when he would take me and my siblings walking in the woods.  He seemed to be able to walk so quietly, hardly disturbing the forest floor.  I would try to walk in his footsteps because I wanted to be able to walk like that.

 

1 Peter – Starting Over 1 Peter 1:14

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Scripture Text

1 Pe 1:14  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

Introduction

What if we were given a chance to start over?  Knowing everything we know now we get the chance to start again; would we do it?  This isn’t some fairytale, it is our post today. We can start over.  So are you interested?  Okay, hang on then.

 

“Be Ye Therefore…” – Ready

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Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Introduction

This is the fifth in the “Be Ye Therefore…” series.  Christ had just told His followers not to seek after the riches of this world which are temporal but to seek the kingdom first and then says “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  Then the parable starts with blessed are the servants whom, when their lord returns, he finds them watching or ready for him.  (By the way these two thoughts are related, for earthly treasure often keeps us from watching or even loving His appearing)  He goes on to say that if the good man of a house knew exactly what hour the thief would come, he would have prevented him from breaking into the house.  He would have been waiting in that specific hour to catch the thief.

 

1 Peter – The Blood of Jesus Part II (1 Peter 1:2b)

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Scripture Text

1 Peter 1:2b “…unto obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ…”

Introduction

In our last post we left off in a destitute state.  We were dead in our sins without hope.  In this post salvation is offered.

Hope in Jesus Christ

Now we see the glorious work of Jesus.  Rom 6:23b…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  We know we start as sinners.  We have shown that we have a sin debt.  We understand that sin’s penalty is death.  We now see that Jesus paid the price on Calvary for us but we still don’t know why the blood? 

We will find our answer in the Old Testament, before Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us, when God required animal sacrifices for sin.  Lev 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.  We know that if we lose a significant amount of blood we will die.  This is what happened on Calvary; Jesus shed his blood.  Sin’s penalty is death; the blood that Jesus shed represents that death that paid the price for our sin.  The penalty for all sin was paid that day; all we have to do is accept it.  If you are reading this post and are not saved, or not sure, you can receive the gift of salvation made possible by the blood of Jesus or the death of Jesus as we have learned.  With salvation we are restored to God, given the tools to turn a carnal mind into a spiritual mind, and one day, a place in heaven where we shall forever be with the Lord.

Closing Thoughts

We have now covered the steps to salvation but there is one more; it may surprise you but we have a role in salvation.  No, I’m not talking about works here. We have a part to play if we are to be saved.  What is our role? We must accept God’s gift. Without acceptance we will not go to heaven.  God has provided a plan, a way to be forgiven our sin, but our acceptance is required.  We now know that all are sinners, the penalty for sin is death, we cannot pay that penalty but praise God Jesus paid the penalty for us.  Now we find out that we have a part to play.  How can we accept salvation?  Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

I have proclaimed the gospel message; it is now time for the work of the Holy Spirit to penetrate the hearts of those God has drawn to Him. Please listen to that still small voice and allow the blood of Jesus to pay the penalty for your sin.

Until Night,

A Servant

 

“Be Ye Therefore…” – Merciful

Luke 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Introduction

This is the fourth in the “Be Ye Therefore…” series.  In this passage of scripture Jesus has just told His followers to love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, be ye therefore merciful.  Then He tells us why… because our Father in heaven is merciful and we are children of the Highest.  And He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.  This is the second time in this series that Christ is essentially reminding us to be like Him.  Mercy is an attribute of God’s character.

 

Nothing Says “I Love You” Like a Hedgehog

Introduction

Each year on Valentine’s Day I pick out a little figurine, stuffed animal or trinket to give my wife.  This year’s model, a hedgehog.

For the first time ever my daughter accompanied me when I went out to find that perfect “I love you” item.

Yesterday morning, when I presented my 2014 model, my daughter asked her mother how many of these items had she kept.  After she asked I thought, good question, how many are still in existence?  After all we are talking about 28 Valentine’s Day items.

The Big Reveal

 

The Next Pillow Over

Introduction

On the eve of Valentine’s Day I expect there will be a number of posts covering the big day of romance.  Ever the oddball I’ll be touching on the subject but with a twist.

A day of flowers, candy and dinner at a favorite eatery will be popular choices but I am wondering… how do we show our love for that special person “The Next Pillow Over” the other 364 days of the year?

Do I think it is wrong to go all out one day of the year? No, of course not, but this cannot represent a major portion of expressed love for the year.  Priority #1: Make sure every day is special.

 

“Be Ye Therefore…” – Perfect

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Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Introduction

This is the second in the “Be Ye Therefore…” series.  Christ is speaking here during what is referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. He starts out this part of His sermon with verse 20 of this chapter.  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20) He goes on to describe the kind of righteousness a person must have to enter the Kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is when Christ sets up His everlasting kingdom here on earth and heaven rules here. Anyone who enters will have to be perfect as the Father is perfect. When Christ brings up several points of the law such as adultery, He shows that God’s standard of righteousness is higher than we can attain to. Why, if a man even looks with lust on a woman he has committed adultery. The pharisees had reduced righteousness to just an outward showing of obedience to the law.

 

“…And yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”

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Introduction

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so I wanted to share a thought on love and one of the most convicting passages in the Bible.  Later this week I will be starting a short series on the phrase ‘Be Ye Therefore…’ which occurs seven times in the Bible and each time it appears it is used to encourage God’s people to do something that will be for His glory and their good.  But for now, let’s talk about love…

The apostle Paul had just been dealing with spiritual gifts in the twelfth chapter in his first epistle to Corinth and he finishes with the following verse.  But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. (1Corinthans 12:31)

The Things We Think Are Important

Paul, according to his own testimony in Philippians 3, had at one time considered works and the outward observance of the Law of God to be profitable unto him and the Lord.  According to the standards of the religious elite of his day, Paul was a great man before Christ found him on the road to Damascus.  He said he was, “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”  Paul had come to realize that all that he used to think was profitable or gain for him was loss for Christ.  His position among the Pharisees, all the keeping of the law, everything that he had at one time considered precious he now saw as dung.  To lose such things was nothing now to Paul for he had gained the excellency of knowledge of Christ.

Friend, we say we love the Lord.  We say we serve Him.  But do we?  Is our works motivated by our love for Jesus?  Or do we do what we do out of some sense of duty?  Remember I mentioned that this is one of the most convicting passages in the Bible.  Well Galatians 5:22-25 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.   And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.   If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”  So we see that love is the first of the fruit of the Spirit that should be born by you.  Love is not a gift but rather evidence of the Spirit within you.  Paul reminds us In the first three verses of I Corinthians 13 that to truly love Christ is to love Him with all our heart, all our mind, and all our will or soul.