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…” – 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 – Hope 1 Peter 1:3-5

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Scripture Text

1Pe 1:3-5  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Introduction

Why did Peter go to such lengths in addressing these believers?  In verse 1 Peter addressed the strangers scattered abroad referring to Jews in other countries.  We also see references that cause us to believe he is also addressing Gentiles.  God is not regional, only reigning in Jerusalem.  God is not partial, being only the God of the Jews.  God calls all people everywhere to repent.  Today God is not only worshipped in the church houses, Jesus said “Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

 

The Book of James – The Power of Prayer James 5:16-20

Introduction

Our final post continues the thought introduced in our last post on prayer.  This is also our last lesson on the series we started back in November of last year.  I hope you have enjoyed the series; I for one have enjoyed bringing it to you.

Pray for Each Other

In verse 16 James challenges us to be concerned with, and pray for, each other.  The latter part of this verse is often quoted “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  There is power in prayer and to those who pray, faith believing, God will hear and answer.  James describes the manner of prayer as “effectual fervent” prayer.  It would stand to reason that we examine this manner of prayer so our prayers would be heard.

 

The Book of James – Have Mercy James 5:7-11

Introduction

We are heading into the homestretch of our study in James.  Last time we talked about those who take advantage and cheat in order to accumulate wealth.  The charge we receive next will be challenging even to the point of saying “that’s not fair”.

 

The Book of James – War Between the Ears James 4:5-10

Introduction

We have been talking about the evil desires that are inside us.  Even after salvation we still have to fight against thinking and doing the wrong thing.  In this post James gives us a how-to list to help us fight the “War Between the Ears”.