PSALM 34:12-13-14
"Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it!"
Our ultimate goal is to be in heaven in the presence of the Lord. While on earth we have varying lengths of life and prosperity. The psalmist is telling us what God's advice is if we would like to live a long life and have prosperity while here on earth. It suggests that as we sew, so shall we reap. It confirms that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. It relates to us that we should always think on good things. Most importantly it tells us to keep our tongues from speaking evil and our lips from telling lies. This is a lesson on being positive and not negative and by so doing we can turn from evil and do good. It is something we have to work at to maintain.
To achieve peace we will have to go after it. We must depart from evil and seek and inquire about peaceful things. We alone are responsible for our actions. We are responsible for our thoughts. We have to control them one at a time and throughout our entire life. You can not have good and bad fruit from the same mouth or tree at the same time. You are in control and you therefore are the one that will ultimately determine whether you have a life of peace that is both long and prosperous.
Is you life lacking peace and prosperity. What about your tongue and your lips, do you control them? Do speak negatively and with evil intent. Are you a liar? Do you gossip about others and kill them with your tongue? Do you turn away from evil in print and television and with others? Are you doing good for God? Do you search for a peaceful resolution to your problems and encounters? You will have to work to achieve and maintain a long and prosperous life, but you are the only one in control and the results are in direct proportion to you actions. If you adhere to these warnings you will have LONG LIFE AND PROSPERITY!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
TOO ATTACHED?
1 CORINTHIANS 7:31
"Those who use the things of this world should not become attached to them. This world as we all know will soon pass away."
Make a list of the things that you own that you can just not live without. Perhaps a home or piece of land. How about that bright shiny truck or automobile. What about grandma's silver and china? What about that soft comfortable furniture and high definition television with surround sound. Remember people are not things. What about your state of the art computer system with all the accessories. What about that precious jewelery and those special clothes? Are you attached to them to the point where if you get separated from them you would die?
If the way you deal with this world is to over use the enjoyments of this life then you must consider what the truth for today is telling you. You should live as though you were not absorbed by the things of this life. It should feel as though you are detached from dealing with them. The reason is clear, you brought nothing into this world and you will take nothing out of it. You do not own or possess anything that God has not given you. More importantly it will all burn and pass away at the time of your death or at the coming of the Lord. You are just the steward of everything around you, so be a good steward but remember you are not the owner!
Your desire should be to be free from all anxiety and the stress of being a caretaker. You are just passing through this life and in the end you will not be able to take anything from it. A good way to look at it is that you have to GIVE IT UP! Nothing you have here on earth will be that important. When the fire starts and you try to gather up all that is precious to you, do not forget that the most precious thing you have is Jesus Christ. Who will save you and give you eternal glory and honor, not anyone here on earth. Your mansion is in heaven, not here. what about you and the things of this life, do not be TOO ATTACHED?
"Those who use the things of this world should not become attached to them. This world as we all know will soon pass away."
Make a list of the things that you own that you can just not live without. Perhaps a home or piece of land. How about that bright shiny truck or automobile. What about grandma's silver and china? What about that soft comfortable furniture and high definition television with surround sound. Remember people are not things. What about your state of the art computer system with all the accessories. What about that precious jewelery and those special clothes? Are you attached to them to the point where if you get separated from them you would die?
If the way you deal with this world is to over use the enjoyments of this life then you must consider what the truth for today is telling you. You should live as though you were not absorbed by the things of this life. It should feel as though you are detached from dealing with them. The reason is clear, you brought nothing into this world and you will take nothing out of it. You do not own or possess anything that God has not given you. More importantly it will all burn and pass away at the time of your death or at the coming of the Lord. You are just the steward of everything around you, so be a good steward but remember you are not the owner!
Your desire should be to be free from all anxiety and the stress of being a caretaker. You are just passing through this life and in the end you will not be able to take anything from it. A good way to look at it is that you have to GIVE IT UP! Nothing you have here on earth will be that important. When the fire starts and you try to gather up all that is precious to you, do not forget that the most precious thing you have is Jesus Christ. Who will save you and give you eternal glory and honor, not anyone here on earth. Your mansion is in heaven, not here. what about you and the things of this life, do not be TOO ATTACHED?
Thursday, August 14, 2008
WHAT PLEASES THE LORD?
PROVERBS 21:3
"The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer Him sacrifices."
Do you love the Lord? Do you want to do what He wants you to do or are you self centered? When you wake up each morning do you say, Lord what can I do today that will please you and make you proud of me? Or, do you have a personal plan for what you want to accomplish and what you want to obtain in this world? We all get caught up in this world and many times we focus on this temporary time and place and fail to remember the vertical eternal life that we aspire to. After all, why are we here and what is our purpose. It is to worship God and give Him praise, glory and honor, so shouldn't that be our main focus every day?
In the past most people thought that to bring sacrifices to God was what pleased Him and made us right in His sight. Why is it that their is no temple for sacrifices and that none have been done since the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection? No more animals such as the passover lamb are required, why is that. Is it because the Lamb of God was the final sacrifice that was needed to reconcile man to God? This is not an issue of tithing and Jesus was very clear on the fact that we need to give to the temple that we serve at. Some think of fasting and praying for extended periods of time and if lead to do so, should carry it out. But, there is an even more pleasing way to honor and praise God.
Do the right thing! Is that your motto? When confronted with a human situation, do you look to God and honor His word and His prophets? The laws of God are written in our heart and we have a conscience that leads us to do what is right if we listen. Do you listen? Do people close to you know if you are a just person? Are you able to weight the issues and arrive at a solution that first of all honors God and satisfies your family or friends or neighbors. Are you selfish and opinionated and want only what satisfies your desires? Well, what is it that would please God and even be more important to Him than what you sacrifice? Be just and do the right thing. That is WHAT PLEASES THE LORD!
"The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer Him sacrifices."
Do you love the Lord? Do you want to do what He wants you to do or are you self centered? When you wake up each morning do you say, Lord what can I do today that will please you and make you proud of me? Or, do you have a personal plan for what you want to accomplish and what you want to obtain in this world? We all get caught up in this world and many times we focus on this temporary time and place and fail to remember the vertical eternal life that we aspire to. After all, why are we here and what is our purpose. It is to worship God and give Him praise, glory and honor, so shouldn't that be our main focus every day?
In the past most people thought that to bring sacrifices to God was what pleased Him and made us right in His sight. Why is it that their is no temple for sacrifices and that none have been done since the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection? No more animals such as the passover lamb are required, why is that. Is it because the Lamb of God was the final sacrifice that was needed to reconcile man to God? This is not an issue of tithing and Jesus was very clear on the fact that we need to give to the temple that we serve at. Some think of fasting and praying for extended periods of time and if lead to do so, should carry it out. But, there is an even more pleasing way to honor and praise God.
Do the right thing! Is that your motto? When confronted with a human situation, do you look to God and honor His word and His prophets? The laws of God are written in our heart and we have a conscience that leads us to do what is right if we listen. Do you listen? Do people close to you know if you are a just person? Are you able to weight the issues and arrive at a solution that first of all honors God and satisfies your family or friends or neighbors. Are you selfish and opinionated and want only what satisfies your desires? Well, what is it that would please God and even be more important to Him than what you sacrifice? Be just and do the right thing. That is WHAT PLEASES THE LORD!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
HONOR GOD WITH YOUR BODY
1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20
"Do you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must HONOR GOD WITH YOUR BODY."
Now just about anyone would believe that their body belongs to themselves, right? The truth for today is that once you were saved by Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit entered your body, it became a temple of the Lord! God bought you with the high price of His Son Jesus Christ and you are no longer your own person, but a part of Christ and His temple. Because we belong to Jesus and are a temple of the Holy Spirit we have no other option than to use our body to honor God. The question for today is are you honoring the Lord Jesus Christ with your body and is it an appropriate temple for the Holy Spirit?
Most of us do not think of our bodies as a temple of the Holy Spirit. It may be hard to think of our body as a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who lives within us. Remember that God promised us that the Holy Spirit would enter our lives and dwell within us. That is a gift from God. Now you must realize that you are not your own anymore, you belong to the Lord. You have been purchased with a precious price, the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now we can fulfill our purpose for being, we can worship and honor and bring glory to God with our bodies.
If you do not use your body to glorify and honor God, you must ask yourself an important question. Is the Holy Spirit residing with me in my heart? Am I a child of God and have I been saved by Jesus Christ. If you go on habitually and clearly committing the same sins as the unbeliever, then you are concerned about your own body. You sin against yourself and against God. This is what it means to have the "fruit of the spirit". Those who have Jesus Christ are not the same. They are a new person. One who will HONOR GOD WITH YOUR BODY.
"Do you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must HONOR GOD WITH YOUR BODY."
Now just about anyone would believe that their body belongs to themselves, right? The truth for today is that once you were saved by Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit entered your body, it became a temple of the Lord! God bought you with the high price of His Son Jesus Christ and you are no longer your own person, but a part of Christ and His temple. Because we belong to Jesus and are a temple of the Holy Spirit we have no other option than to use our body to honor God. The question for today is are you honoring the Lord Jesus Christ with your body and is it an appropriate temple for the Holy Spirit?
Most of us do not think of our bodies as a temple of the Holy Spirit. It may be hard to think of our body as a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who lives within us. Remember that God promised us that the Holy Spirit would enter our lives and dwell within us. That is a gift from God. Now you must realize that you are not your own anymore, you belong to the Lord. You have been purchased with a precious price, the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now we can fulfill our purpose for being, we can worship and honor and bring glory to God with our bodies.
If you do not use your body to glorify and honor God, you must ask yourself an important question. Is the Holy Spirit residing with me in my heart? Am I a child of God and have I been saved by Jesus Christ. If you go on habitually and clearly committing the same sins as the unbeliever, then you are concerned about your own body. You sin against yourself and against God. This is what it means to have the "fruit of the spirit". Those who have Jesus Christ are not the same. They are a new person. One who will HONOR GOD WITH YOUR BODY.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
WHO WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM?
1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-10
"Those who do wrong will not inherit the kingdom of God. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people- none of these will inherit the kingdom of God."
Unless you have been cleansed and made holy and right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by His Holy Spirit, you will not inherit the kingdom of God. Thus anyone who does wrong and sins against God is in the group who will not inherit the Kingdom of God. With the exception, that some of us were once like the above group and it is only because we have believed and called on the name of Jesus Christ that we will be saved and will be able to inherit the kingdom of God. Many people do not realize this important message and think there is no salvation. We believer's know better and need to spread the "Good News".
Do you want to share in the kingdom of heaven? Are you a sinner and unrighteous? The answer would be yes. Do not be deceived or mislead no one who does wrong will enter the kingdom. We were all sinners and once like those in the world. We as believers and with the help of the Holy Spirit came to a knowledge of our condition. We could not save ourselves and no one else can do it either. We needed a Saviour and thank God He has given us Jesus Christ.
When we confessed with our mouths and believed in our heart that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, we became born again, in the spirit. We became new men and were cleansed. We were made right and holy when we called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of God. Will you inherit the kingdom of God? Not without being saved by Jesus Christ! Open your heart to Him today and ask for His forgiveness and Salvation.
"Those who do wrong will not inherit the kingdom of God. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people- none of these will inherit the kingdom of God."
Unless you have been cleansed and made holy and right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by His Holy Spirit, you will not inherit the kingdom of God. Thus anyone who does wrong and sins against God is in the group who will not inherit the Kingdom of God. With the exception, that some of us were once like the above group and it is only because we have believed and called on the name of Jesus Christ that we will be saved and will be able to inherit the kingdom of God. Many people do not realize this important message and think there is no salvation. We believer's know better and need to spread the "Good News".
Do you want to share in the kingdom of heaven? Are you a sinner and unrighteous? The answer would be yes. Do not be deceived or mislead no one who does wrong will enter the kingdom. We were all sinners and once like those in the world. We as believers and with the help of the Holy Spirit came to a knowledge of our condition. We could not save ourselves and no one else can do it either. We needed a Saviour and thank God He has given us Jesus Christ.
When we confessed with our mouths and believed in our heart that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, we became born again, in the spirit. We became new men and were cleansed. We were made right and holy when we called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of God. Will you inherit the kingdom of God? Not without being saved by Jesus Christ! Open your heart to Him today and ask for His forgiveness and Salvation.
Monday, August 11, 2008
YOU WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THIS WORLD!
1 CORINTHIANS 5:9-10
"I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But, I was not talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people or worship idols. YOU WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THIS WORLD to avoid people like that."
The clear message here is that we are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer but still indulges in sexual sin, is abusive, a drunkard or a cheat and is greedy and worships idols. In fact we are not even to eat with such people. So what is the distinction to be made here? Unbelievers are not the point of the message here. Unbelievers by definition do not fear God and will do anything they can think of. No Paul is talking here about those who profess to know, love and follow Jesus Christ and fear God, but commit the same sins as unbelievers!
Paul did not mean to never associate with unbelievers. Paul means to not associate closely or habitually with the unchaste or impure. Paul does not mean we should shun the immoral people of this world as he knows that it is impossible. In fact he points our that we would have to leave this world to avoid people like those unbelievers and so called believers that commit the same sins. By the same token, Paul advises that we do associate with true believers that can be seen by their fruit.
How about you? Who do you associate with? Who do you spend your time with on a regular basis? If those you associate with continue to indulge in sexual sin, greed, drunkenness, or worship other gods on a habitual basis, they are not true believers and they will be know to you by their actions and their fruit. We are to make judgements, sometimes with appropriate counsel and then to take action. You always make choices, one at a time, and you are responsible for your decisions. You have a choice who to be with and associate with. We are pilgrims passing through this world and we will be known in part by our friends and associates. To avoid sin and sinful people YOU WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THIS WORLD. Thank God we will be saved.
"I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But, I was not talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people or worship idols. YOU WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THIS WORLD to avoid people like that."
The clear message here is that we are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer but still indulges in sexual sin, is abusive, a drunkard or a cheat and is greedy and worships idols. In fact we are not even to eat with such people. So what is the distinction to be made here? Unbelievers are not the point of the message here. Unbelievers by definition do not fear God and will do anything they can think of. No Paul is talking here about those who profess to know, love and follow Jesus Christ and fear God, but commit the same sins as unbelievers!
Paul did not mean to never associate with unbelievers. Paul means to not associate closely or habitually with the unchaste or impure. Paul does not mean we should shun the immoral people of this world as he knows that it is impossible. In fact he points our that we would have to leave this world to avoid people like those unbelievers and so called believers that commit the same sins. By the same token, Paul advises that we do associate with true believers that can be seen by their fruit.
How about you? Who do you associate with? Who do you spend your time with on a regular basis? If those you associate with continue to indulge in sexual sin, greed, drunkenness, or worship other gods on a habitual basis, they are not true believers and they will be know to you by their actions and their fruit. We are to make judgements, sometimes with appropriate counsel and then to take action. You always make choices, one at a time, and you are responsible for your decisions. You have a choice who to be with and associate with. We are pilgrims passing through this world and we will be known in part by our friends and associates. To avoid sin and sinful people YOU WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THIS WORLD. Thank God we will be saved.
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