If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (John 15:18-20)
The believer in Christ should not shrink from suffering or persecution, but should take heart in the fact that his suffering is counted as due to Christ. For of course, the redeemed children will be the object of scorn and derision! The world despised and hated the most loving, caring, hospitable, and merciful man to ever walk the earth; if they should hate Him so, how can we not expect them to hate those who follow that man—Christ Jesus!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
ANTICIPATING THE HARVEST
ANTICIPATING THE HARVEST
Galatians 6:9-10
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Galatians+6:9-10
Dear Father, just yet merciful God,
May I not become weary in doing good but rather work diligently,
energetically, and enthusiastically, keeping in mind the rich
harvest you will send at the proper time. Don't ever let me give up
on doing good or give up on you. And God, don't ever give up on me!
As I have opportunity, let me do good to everybody, especially to
those in my family of fellow believers.
In the name of Jesus I ask these things. Amen.
Galatians 6:9-10
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Galatians+6:9-10
Dear Father, just yet merciful God,
May I not become weary in doing good but rather work diligently,
energetically, and enthusiastically, keeping in mind the rich
harvest you will send at the proper time. Don't ever let me give up
on doing good or give up on you. And God, don't ever give up on me!
As I have opportunity, let me do good to everybody, especially to
those in my family of fellow believers.
In the name of Jesus I ask these things. Amen.
More on the Lord Promising to Build His Church
More on the Lord Promising to Build His Church
"I will build My church." (Matthew 16:18)
This promise has monumental implications for every follower of Jesus Christ. "I will build My church." Each of the five words in this brief declaration reveals an essential truth of Christian life and service.
First, this promise discloses who will build the church. "I [Jesus]will build My church." Jesus is the builder of the church, not man.. He wants to use us in the process, but He is the builder. Paul understood this arrangement. "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation" (1 Corinthians 3:10). By the grace of God, Paul served the Lord. As he went about proclaiming Christ, the Lord was using him to lay the foundation (Christ) in lives that were being saved and individual churches that were being started.
Second, Jesus' promise reveals the certainty of His church being built. "I will [assuredly] build My church." There is no room for doubt. Jesus will do what He is promising. The only question for us is whether or not we will be available as a part of this wondrous process. The Lord wants to make us usable for His work: "sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Timothy 2:21).
Third, this promise indicates the manner in which the Lord wants to work. "I will build [construct] My church." As with any construction project, there are both the quantitative and qualitative aspects. The Lord saves souls, adding them to His church in a quantitative increase. "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47). The Lord also enriches those He saves, bringing to His church qualitative development. "And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:33).
Fourth, His promise settles the issue of ownership. "I will build My [Jesus'] church." The church does not belong to the Pastor, the Church Board, or the District Office. It is Jesus' church. He paid the price to redeem us: "the church of God which He purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28).
Fifth, this promise specifies exactly what Jesus is going to build. "I will build My church [His people]." The church is not a building. This word (church) literally speaks of "a called-out people." "But you are…His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God" (1 Peter 2:9-10).
Dear Lord Jesus, I honor You as the builder of the church. I rest in the certainty of Your task being accomplished, both quantitatively and qualitatively. I see that the church, Your redeemed people, belongs to You. Also, I humbly ask that You equip me and use me as You fulfill this grand promise, Amen.
"I will build My church." (Matthew 16:18)
This promise has monumental implications for every follower of Jesus Christ. "I will build My church." Each of the five words in this brief declaration reveals an essential truth of Christian life and service.
First, this promise discloses who will build the church. "I [Jesus]will build My church." Jesus is the builder of the church, not man.. He wants to use us in the process, but He is the builder. Paul understood this arrangement. "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation" (1 Corinthians 3:10). By the grace of God, Paul served the Lord. As he went about proclaiming Christ, the Lord was using him to lay the foundation (Christ) in lives that were being saved and individual churches that were being started.
Second, Jesus' promise reveals the certainty of His church being built. "I will [assuredly] build My church." There is no room for doubt. Jesus will do what He is promising. The only question for us is whether or not we will be available as a part of this wondrous process. The Lord wants to make us usable for His work: "sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Timothy 2:21).
Third, this promise indicates the manner in which the Lord wants to work. "I will build [construct] My church." As with any construction project, there are both the quantitative and qualitative aspects. The Lord saves souls, adding them to His church in a quantitative increase. "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47). The Lord also enriches those He saves, bringing to His church qualitative development. "And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:33).
Fourth, His promise settles the issue of ownership. "I will build My [Jesus'] church." The church does not belong to the Pastor, the Church Board, or the District Office. It is Jesus' church. He paid the price to redeem us: "the church of God which He purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28).
Fifth, this promise specifies exactly what Jesus is going to build. "I will build My church [His people]." The church is not a building. This word (church) literally speaks of "a called-out people." "But you are…His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God" (1 Peter 2:9-10).
Dear Lord Jesus, I honor You as the builder of the church. I rest in the certainty of Your task being accomplished, both quantitatively and qualitatively. I see that the church, Your redeemed people, belongs to You. Also, I humbly ask that You equip me and use me as You fulfill this grand promise, Amen.
Monday, July 12, 2010
The Lord Promising to Build His Church
The Lord Promising to Build His Church
"You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)
"The" promise of all promises that God has made is the gift of everlasting life. "And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life" (1 John 2:25). All who respond by faith to this promise of life become part of the church Jesus promises to build. "I will build My church."
The Lord gave this promise after Peter's accurate confession of Jesus being the Messiah. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). As Jesus confirmed this confession, He let Peter know that he did not come up with that insight on his own. "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 16:17). Then, Jesus contrasted the meaning of Peter's name with the kind of foundation He would lay for His church. "You are Peter [in Greek, "Petros," a stone], and on this rock [in Greek, "petra," a bedrock] I will build My church." Peter's name signified a stone, that which could be easily moved or held within one's hand. Jesus would not build His church on mere men, which at best are like movable stones. Rather, he would build upon a bedrock foundation that could not be moved. He would build upon the rock-solid truth contained in Peter's confession. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself would be the actual foundation for the church. "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11).
This picture of Jesus Christ as the foundation of His church is a fulfillment of one of the great prophetic promises the Lord made long ago. "Therefore thus says the Lord God: 'Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation'" (Isaiah 28:16). Also, this is in perfect harmony with the Old Testament revelation of God as our Rock. "Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation" (Psalm 95:1). This rock-solid, anointed King (Jesus, the Messiah) would be fully effective in His mission. Even Satan and his demons, the authorities ("gates") of death and darkness ("Hades"), would be unable to prevent the fulfillment of His promise to build His church: "and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
Lord Jesus, I also confess You as the Christ, the Son of the living God. I praise You as the rock-solid foundation of Your church collectively—and of my life individually. Please use me as You fulfill Your promise to build Your church. In Your mighty name I pray, Amen.
"You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)
"The" promise of all promises that God has made is the gift of everlasting life. "And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life" (1 John 2:25). All who respond by faith to this promise of life become part of the church Jesus promises to build. "I will build My church."
The Lord gave this promise after Peter's accurate confession of Jesus being the Messiah. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). As Jesus confirmed this confession, He let Peter know that he did not come up with that insight on his own. "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 16:17). Then, Jesus contrasted the meaning of Peter's name with the kind of foundation He would lay for His church. "You are Peter [in Greek, "Petros," a stone], and on this rock [in Greek, "petra," a bedrock] I will build My church." Peter's name signified a stone, that which could be easily moved or held within one's hand. Jesus would not build His church on mere men, which at best are like movable stones. Rather, he would build upon a bedrock foundation that could not be moved. He would build upon the rock-solid truth contained in Peter's confession. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself would be the actual foundation for the church. "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11).
This picture of Jesus Christ as the foundation of His church is a fulfillment of one of the great prophetic promises the Lord made long ago. "Therefore thus says the Lord God: 'Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation'" (Isaiah 28:16). Also, this is in perfect harmony with the Old Testament revelation of God as our Rock. "Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation" (Psalm 95:1). This rock-solid, anointed King (Jesus, the Messiah) would be fully effective in His mission. Even Satan and his demons, the authorities ("gates") of death and darkness ("Hades"), would be unable to prevent the fulfillment of His promise to build His church: "and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
Lord Jesus, I also confess You as the Christ, the Son of the living God. I praise You as the rock-solid foundation of Your church collectively—and of my life individually. Please use me as You fulfill Your promise to build Your church. In Your mighty name I pray, Amen.
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me,
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and [that] all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. (2 Timothy 4:17)
When it comes time for us to proclaim the gospel, we can stand in the Lord's strength and He will be right by our side the whole time. Be bold, O believer! Take your strength in the almighty arm of your Father, O child of heaven!
When it comes time for us to proclaim the gospel, we can stand in the Lord's strength and He will be right by our side the whole time. Be bold, O believer! Take your strength in the almighty arm of your Father, O child of heaven!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
SOWING SEEDS
SOWING SEEDS
Galatians 6:6-10
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Galatians+6:6-10
Dear Father, holy unscornable God,
Don't let me be deceived, my God, for I know that no one can mock
you with impunity. For whatever a person sows that is what the
person will reap. Those who sow to the flesh will from the flesh
reap corruption, but those who sow to the Spirit will reap eternal
life.
I want to reap eternal life, Father. Help me always to sow to the
Spirit!
Help me never to tire of doing good, for in your own due season I
will reap. Let me never lose heart, but, as I have opportunity, may
I do good to all people, especially to my brothers and sisters in
the household of faith.
In the name of Jesus I ask all this and that you will give me a
Spirit-filled life resulting in eternal victory! Amen.
Galatians 6:6-10
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Galatians+6:6-10
Dear Father, holy unscornable God,
Don't let me be deceived, my God, for I know that no one can mock
you with impunity. For whatever a person sows that is what the
person will reap. Those who sow to the flesh will from the flesh
reap corruption, but those who sow to the Spirit will reap eternal
life.
I want to reap eternal life, Father. Help me always to sow to the
Spirit!
Help me never to tire of doing good, for in your own due season I
will reap. Let me never lose heart, but, as I have opportunity, may
I do good to all people, especially to my brothers and sisters in
the household of faith.
In the name of Jesus I ask all this and that you will give me a
Spirit-filled life resulting in eternal victory! Amen.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
FREEDOM IS NO EXCUSE FOR SIN
FREEDOM IS NO EXCUSE FOR SIN
Galatians 5:13-15
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Galatians+5:13-15
Dear Father, guardian of the free,
May we never use freedom as a pretext for evil or as an excuse for
indulging sinful desires.
Rather, grant that we, out of love, will make ourselves servants
to one another. For the Lord has taught us that the whole law is
fulfilled in the one saying, "You shall love your neighbor as
yourself." Keep us from "biting" and "devouring" one another, lest
we be consumed by one another. Encourage and enable me and all my
brothers and sisters in Christ to live by love, your principle of
freedom.
In the name of Jesus I ask you to preserve my faith in freedom and
love. Amen.
Galatians 5:13-15
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Galatians+5:13-15
Dear Father, guardian of the free,
May we never use freedom as a pretext for evil or as an excuse for
indulging sinful desires.
Rather, grant that we, out of love, will make ourselves servants
to one another. For the Lord has taught us that the whole law is
fulfilled in the one saying, "You shall love your neighbor as
yourself." Keep us from "biting" and "devouring" one another, lest
we be consumed by one another. Encourage and enable me and all my
brothers and sisters in Christ to live by love, your principle of
freedom.
In the name of Jesus I ask you to preserve my faith in freedom and
love. Amen.
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