Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 31, 2008

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test? II Corinthians 13:5

Grades have always been a priority for students. What will it take to get A? What do I have to do to pass? Do they grade on the curve? Is there anything I can do for extra credit? Many people ask the same questions about their grade from God. How do we get an A from God? Are we passing this week? Will be satisfied with a C? Did I pass the test? Will that be enough to graduate? When it comes to our grade with God, there are only two grades in His class. When we are in union with Christ, His righteousness makes us righteous, and we get an A. When we choose to reject the saving grace in Christ, we get an F. Any amount of effort toward a B,C, or D is useless. Come into Christ and come to the front of the class.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 30, 2008

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. I Jn 4:1

We think of a false prophets as someone teaching a doctrine that takes us away from God and His truth. Not all false prophets lead us to a gold calf, some lead us to a green calf. The calf of riches, excess and greed. These can lead us from God just as quickly as a false Christ. When you walk by a gaming machine or a lottery machine, you may hear a voice calling you. The voice entices us to play for riches. As we focus on that pleasure, the truth of devotion to God may slip away. As Proverbs 9:17-18 reminds us, "Stolen water is sweet; and bread eaten in secret in pleasant; but we do not know the dead are there". Let’s not be a casualty of the spirit of the green calf. Test the spirits to see if they are from God.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, December 29, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 29, 2008

Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You " He said to him, "Tend My lambs." Jn 21:15

Here by the seaside Jesus was calling on the apostle Peter to love like Jesus loved him. This "agape" love was what Peter needed to go that extra mile. Somebody defined "agape" love as, "Giving people what they need the most, when they deserve it the least, at great personal cost". Jesus had already displayed this "agape" for Peter, bringing him from his denials and grief back to his ministry. Peter had been on a rocky road up to this point, but Jesus had something better for him in the future. Tending the lambs of Jesus would be a fulltime, lifelong, job for Peter. When he finally got the Holy Spirit, his "agape" mission was completed. How about us? Do we love Jesus and others more than ourselves and our things? We prove it when we fulfill our mission.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 24, 2008

In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12

People have labeled this verse "The Golden Rule" It was the spirit in every law of God, and all His teachers, up to and including Jesus. This is not the way of the world, and we have to beware as we "swim upstream". Recently a car company ran a full page ad in a magazine with the title, "Demoralize your neighbor. Buy this car". Demoralize your neighbor, enjoy his pain as he covets your new car. Every ad appeals to our selfish hateful nature. Don’t just keep up with the Joneses. Crush the Joneses. We must balance those appeals with what God wants us to be. Try the "Golden Rule" and loving our neighbor as ourselves. If our neighbor must covet something, let it be our love for them. Have a merry every day.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 23, 2008

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

Have you ever seen a dangerous stunt performed on television that was accompanied by this warning? "Don’t try this at home". Too many Christians are performing a dangerous stunt each week. They are trying to grow and prosper as Christians at home alone. It is difficult to continually devote ourselves to anything without encouragement. Fellowship and breaking bread together is impossible. The apostles felt these things were urgent for Christians in the beginning, and it is still important today. Spiritual health is in extreme jeopardy when we are isolated. May we all join in with the apostles, the early church, and Christians today. Let’s be together for worship this week. Don’t try it at home alone.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, December 22, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 22, 2008

Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" He said, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself." And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" Gen 3:9-11

Did the God of Infinite Power, Presence, and Knowledge really need this information from Adam and Eve? Didn’t He already know where they were, how they knew they were naked, and that they had eaten from the tree of knowledge of good and evil? Yes, Yes, and Yes. Why did He ask? God wanted them to answer the questions themselves. Did they know they had sinned? Did they know why they were hiding? Did they know they were in trouble? Do we? When God asks us a question, He wants us to look inside ourselves and get better. They didn’t. Will we?

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, December 19, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 19, 2008

This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

This time of year lots of people say, Have a Merry Christmas!. Meanwhile, they have a lot of miserable days between now and then. They are hoping somehow that lots of loot will make their day merry. Usually they find out that their Christmas is everything but merry. As Christians, should be all for a Merry Christmas, however we should strive for a Merry Everyday. That has been my salutation this year and it really gets people’s attention. When I say, "why wait for Christmas, have a merry everyday", it is just weird enough for them to like it. Everyday should be a day of rejoicing that Jesus came for us, and everyday can be a day of giving and rejoicing. Don’t wait. Have a merry everyday today.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 18, 2008

Being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; Romans 1:29-31

This list of sins comes from people who do not see fit to acknowledge God any longer. They have become worshippers of the creature, instead of the Creator. In case you don’t have your Bible with you, you can always see a complete list in any tabloid or magazine at the grocery store. Most of these things are acted out in every movie, and nightly on your television. If we have been led to believe that we can leave God behind, and still live good lives, we are sadly mistaken. Without the righteousness that comes from God in Christ, this list is the sad end for us all. May we all come out of this darkness and into the light of His dear Son today.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 17, 2008

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18

Many times when people get filled with alcoholic beverages, they become a different person. Their spirits are altered and often they get worse, saying things they wouldn’t normally say, and doing things they usually wouldn’t do. This gets people in lots of trouble. God calls us to a wiser filling. The filling with His Spirit. When we are filled with His Spirit our spirits are altered in a Godly way. We can say and do things we wouldn’t or couldn’t normally do. This person can do great things in this world. As our thoughts change, our words change, and our actions change. God is glorified, and His work is completed. Are we having trouble finding our place in the God’s kingdom? When we allow His spirit to guide our lives, He will find a place for us.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 16, 2008

But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert road.) Acts 8:26

Jesus gave His great commission to his apostles and all His disciples that would follow because of His word. The commission to go into all the world, disciple, baptize, and teach was put into the hands of earthly beings. There is no record of scripture where an angel or a spirit led anyone to Jesus. The directions from above were sent to men, who would go and teach the lost. Here Philip was being sent to teach an Ethiopian nobleman in need of the gospel. Philip followed the direction and met the man on the road. May we never be found waiting around for a spirit, or an angel to lead our loved ones to Jesus. The directions have been left in our hands. Go ye, means go Me!

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, December 15, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 15, 2008

So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, "Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?" John 4:28-29

The apostles were shocked when they saw who Jesus was talking to at the well that day. A woman, a Samaritan, and a sinner living in open adultery. Jesus extended His mercy to this women and ministered to her with the eternal waters of life. In the wake of that love, mercy, and ministry, she immediately rushed into the city to share that message with others. She was able to get over her shortcomings, and their judgmental attitudes to reach out to others. She brought the whole city out to see Jesus. When we experience the true mercy and ministry of Jesus, our response needs to be mercy and ministry for others too. Woe to the person who thinks they have come to Jesus without His mercy, the mercy of faithful men, and the ministry of many. Pass it on.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, December 12, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 12, 2008

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. I Peter 2:13-15

God calls us to do and say what is right all the time. To submit to human authority, to honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the king. As Christians, we need to make a renewed commitment to follow God’s will in this evil world. It seems everywhere we go these days, someone has something evil to say about someone in authority. It may be the outgoing administration, or the new one coming. Let’s take a stand to do and say what is right. Perhaps it will help silence the ignorance of foolish men.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 11, 2008

Jesus then answered, "That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him." So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly." John 13:26-27

This was the pivotal point in the life of Judas Iscariot. At the Last Supper, when the morsel was passed to him, it was one more chance to pass on his deceit and betrayal. He missed that chance and took it the morsel. With that Satan entered into him, and he was off to betray Jesus. How many chances has Jesus given to us to be loyal to Him and reject the temptation of the devil? Every time we reject God grace, the devil is waiting to enter our heart, and take us down. Take the grace, not the temptation of the evil one.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 10, 2008

Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. Amos 5:23

Many times in the Bible, there is a record of worship that is completely dead. The lives of the worshippers are evil, yet they still gathered together to go through the motions. They sang some songs, they observed some feasts, and then went back to their evil lives. At those times God asked them to quit praying, quit singing, and go home. God desire for our worship to be in spirit and in truth. Do we think our worship just sounds like noise to the Lord? Worship should be an overflow of our dedicated lives offering up thanks to God. Let’s reevaluate our stand before God. We all need to Him to listen to our prayers and songs, don’t we? Let’s listen again and allow God’s grace to change us.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 9, 2008

For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple Acts 21:29

The mob of Jews were after the apostle Paul. As he elevated Christ, they felt he was against them, their law, and their temple. They even accused Paul of defiling the temple by bringing in a Gentile. Look! It says they supposed, they assumed, they concluded, that his association brought, evil even though no one knew anything for sure. How quick many are to judge. Is there guilt by supposed association? The self-righteous accused Jesus of the same thing when He would eat with sinners. They assumed, and they were wrong. In our daily walk, may we put judgment on the back shelf, and allow mercy to lead the way. Would we rather be a small town judge, or an intern for the Great Physician? Choose the grace and choose the healing.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, December 8, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 8, 2008

And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. Jude 22-23

The book of Jude is written to bring judgment on false teachers. The church was under attack, and someone had to rise up and speak the truth. Like many of the books in the Bible, there is a sharp rebuke, but it never ends that way. After the rebuke, the Holy Spirit always opens the door with mercy. Mercy on those who are doubting, bringing many to salvation. When he says to hate the garment polluted by the flesh, it means to hate the sin but love the sinner. We should never let sharp rebukes lead us to hate the sinner. May we all keep grace and mercy uppermost in our minds.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, December 5, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 5, 2008

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. II Timothy 4:2

God gives us a great plan for teaching in this passage. The world is lost in sin and God has the solution for their problems in His word. How can we get it too them? Be ready to preach the word all the time. When we reprove, we prove again what God has to say to us. When we rebuke, we point out how far we are from doing what He wants. When we exhort, we encourage others to make the corrections necessary to be in His will. Too many times we just rebuke without truth, or encouragement. That may leave people depressed without a clear plan to obey the Lord. Let’s follow His plan for our teaching, and don’t forget the patience.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 4, 2008

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, John 1:12

Who has the right to be a child of God? Do we know our rights? Jesus came into the world to give us all access, but many miss the opportunity. The Jews thought they were the only ones who had the right, and as a result they took Him too lightly. Little did they know that God was going to give everyone who would receive Him, the right to become His children. Not because of nationality or background, but because it was God’s will. Don’t’ let anyone tell you that God’s righteousness is for someone else. When we become His child, we bear His righteousness. Welcome to the family. Spread the news.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 3, 2008

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." Matthew 13:31-32

Jesus uses several illustrations in this chapter to describe what His kingdom is like. They all share one thing in common. When one comes into His kingdom, we start out small. We are a small seed planted, but that small seed is destined to grow to be the largest in the garden. It also will be the plant that is the most useful, and of the most value. So the small seed is in the ground, but when it grows it will be a great treasure. The last shall be first, and the humble shall be exalted. Wait on the Lord. He has something great for all of us.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Grace for your spirit December 2, 2008

Consider your ways! "You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes." Haggai 1:5-6

God's people returned from their captivity with a challenge to rebuild God’s temple in Jerusalem. They were supplied with all the materials for the job, but they used them to build their own houses instead. Things were not going well for the returning exiles, and they just couldn’t understand why. The prophet told them to wake up. Until they started putting God first, everything would slip through their hands. Sound like anyone we know? We all have some sort of purpose driven life, but is the Lord’s purpose first? Let’s be thankful we can still wake up and get it right.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, December 1, 2008

Grace for yoru spirit December 1, 2008

We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ II Cor 10:5

Have you heard? There’s a war on. The war between the forces of God and the forces of the devil. The devil is trying to spread disinformation about God, and make people doubt His power and glory. The Lord’s army, that would be us, are here to fight in this generation. Every time we have a thought that will aid that fight, we need to take that thought captive. Those thoughts will help us be obedience and aid others in their war. Don’t let those thoughts and ideas, go in one ear and out the other. Make a note. Write in down. Look it up. The devil works overtime. What is on our agenda today?

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 25,2008

Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the LORD is good;His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations. Ps 100:4-5

When we truly understand our relationship with God, no one will have to make us be thankful. We will know that He made us, and we are His sheep in His pasture. We will be thankful, and we will WANT to come into His presence with joyful song. As Christians, we should be the leaders in thanks giving. Let’s not let any special opportunity to lead the way escape us. Wherever we may gather this week, let’s make sure God gets the glory. May God bless you all this Thanksgiving weekend. May God’s grace be with your spirit, and may that grace be generously poured out on the people you are with this week.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, November 24, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 24, 2008

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35

Just after Judas Iscariot had left the supper to betray Jesus. Right before the apostles would hide and scatter in the garden. The day before Jesus would suffer and die at the hand of the Romans, Jesus gave them the command they would need the most in the coming days. In the days to come when they would have good reason to be angry and show bitterness toward everyone, Jesus said, "Love one another, like I have loved you." "Let the world know you are My disciples with the love that you have for each other." Good direction for us in our difficult days too.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, November 21, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 21, 2008

Therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. Matthew 23:3

Have you ever heard anyone say to their children, "Do what I say, not what I do!!" How does that usually work for them? They lose respect for their parents, and usually end up follow their examples, not their words. The same is true in spiritual leading. When Jesus came to the earth, the religions leaders he met were the Pharisees. They said, but did not do. Jesus gave everyone a warning about them. Just because they had the titles, and the books of Law, didn’t mean they were good examples. What would Jesus say about our lives before others. "Do not live like they do?" We may have the truth, and know the truth, but living the truth is a must for a disciple of Christ.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 20, 2008

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. I Corinthians 15:58

No one wants to play a game with someone who either doesn’t care, or someone who crushes them without mercy. Have you every played ping pong with someone who won’t even swing at the ball? Or with someone who slams every shot down your throat? I want to play with someone who returns the ball and helps me with my skills as I improve my play. I can improve my game, so sometime in the future, I can help another. The same is true with our Christian walk. When we start, we’re not very good, and it is nice to have someone who cares about our walk as well as theirs. Every disciple of Christ is called to disciple another. Get in the game. Play with passion and compassion.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 19, 2008

And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:26

Was Antioch the first place that disciples were called Christians, or was it also a church where the disciples were primarily identified by their Christian lives. How about us? How do people primarily identify, and speak of us? We may be Christians, Union members, Republicans, Democrats, Shriners, Americans, and bingo playing electricians. This Gentile church was so on fire for the Lord, and it appears that being Christians was their primary vocation, and everything else was their avocation. What about us? May Christ so dwell in us, so that the first thing people think of is Jesus, and He is always in first place.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 18, 2008

For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives. Hebrew 12:6

God’s love is not always a soft, fuzzy, pampering pillow for us to rest on. Like any good parent, love sometimes must discipline, and chasten us back into the right paths. Every child knows that discipline for the moment seems to be sorrowful, but later the results are wonderful. When mom comes in and puts medicine on our wound, it stings and it smells bad. We think, this can’t be good for us. Don’t wash it off, because when it sinks in, we will enjoy the results. May we never judge God’s love by the surface application. Let’s judge it by what it accomplishes in our life.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, November 17, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 17, 2008

A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. Acts 16:14

The first person Paul baptized in Europe was Lydia. She had been a worshiper of God, she was listening to the teaching, and then something happened. The Lord opened her heart to hear the gospel. I baptized an 84 year old man this week. He had always believed in God, worshiped Him in his own way, was a good family man, and a good worker. Recently, the Lord opened his heart to hear the gospel, and desired to be baptized. His faithful wife of 64 years was excited and so was everyone else. Pray that the Lord opens another heart today and then be ready to preach the good news of Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, November 14, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 14, 2008

But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8

Scripture draws this analogy of the potter and the clay several times. Is the clay equal to the potter? No. Can the pot ask the potter why he made him this way? No. Can the potter remake it or cast it aside? Yes, as he wishes. Since we are cracked pots in the hands of our potter, we must accept God’s sovereign choices, or we will regret it. God does not owe us any explanation for the ups and downs of our life. Right now, everything may not be just like we want it. This is not the time to shout at the potter. When we submit to Him and His sovereign choices in our lives, we will live to enjoy it. Rebel and talk back, we will end up in the dumpster. Let’s choose the potter’s loving hand.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 13, 2008

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" Genesis 3:1

Most of us know the story about Eve in the Garden of Eden. She was surprised by the tempter coming to her in the form of a serpent. As a result she fell into temptation. We might have a plan to stay away from snakes in order to avoid the plots of the devil, but will it work? Adam didn’t see the snake, nor did he debate with the devil over what God said. He simply was led into sin by his mate. Adam knew his Master, his mission, and his mate. He allowed his mate to overshadow the influence of His Master and mission, and sin overtook him. Let’s not be naïve. The temper works in many ways. Sometimes he comes right at you, sometime you send your friends and relatives. Be on guard.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 12, 2008

For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. II Peter 1:16

When Peter preached, he didn’t make up fancy stories so the people would like him and his style. The apostles didn’t come with excellent speech, nor fabulous shows of wisdom, because they wanted people to see the power of God in their message. We shouldn’t assemble to enjoy the preacher, rather we should be eager to hear the message from God. It is fine to have a great orator, but God’s Word should never take second place to the preacher. Peter knew he was really an insignificant pebble next to the mighty rock of Jesus. As an eyewitness of His majesty, Peter just let that majesty overflow to his listeners. When we behold His majesty, may the same spirit flow from our lips.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 11, 2008

Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. Acts 27:22

For many days and nights, this ship carrying the apostle Paul was driven by a great storm. 276 lives were thrown together in a desperate situation with one promise and one hope. Don’t give up the ship. Many decisions were made, some right, some wrong. Some complained, some almost gave up, some doubted, but the ship still went on as promised. When we become Christians, God places us His Ship of Hope. Sometimes, our ship hit’s the storms of life, and it may seem hopeless. God’s message is the same for us. Don’t give up the ship. It is the only way to salvation. We may make mistakes, have doubts, fight, complain, and almost give up. But remember this one thing. Don’t give up the ship. Victory will soon be seen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, November 10, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 10, 2008

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; Ephesians 5:1

One day a church had a new family move in. They were the Tate family. Ro Tate wanted to change everything around. Dick Tate wanted to take over everything. Agi Tate was always stirring things up. Frus Tate kept everyone on edge, and Medi Tate was always in some kind of a trance, never willing to do anything. Fortunately, one member of the family was a great addition to the body. That was Ima Tate. Imi Tate chose God to be her role model. She was determined to imitate Jesus in her walk of love, sacrifice, and purity. Everyone in the church begin praying that the rest of the Tates would start imitating Ima too. Their pray was, "As Ima follows Christ, be an imitator too."

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, November 7, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 7, 2008

But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' Luke 12:20

Did you ever see anyone is class at school who held up their textbook, and put a magazine or comic book inside the book? They read their lesson through the comic book, and when the test came, they failed miserably. This fool had been reading his Bible through his bankbook. His bankbook was his measure of his life’s condition. Suddenly his eternal test came and his bank balance just didn’t matter anymore. When we determine to lay up our treasures in heaven, reading God’s gold instead our counting ours, we will be eternally rich. Jesus said, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 6, 2008

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. Romans 13:1-2

The election is over, and we have elected new leaders. As Christians, whether we fought for a candidate or not, we now have one new road to take. Be in subjection to the governing authorities. God does not want us to be afraid, angry, or rebellious. He wants us to make a renewed effort to serve Him with all our heart. This passage was written when Rome was burning Christians at the stake. Do we think God doesn’t know how to make things work for good for His people now? Let us not resist the Lord, rather trust in Him, and fear not.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 5, 2008

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. Isaiah 43:1-2

The Lord really is our shepherd and has paved the way for our abundant life. Through the cross of Christ, God has redeemed us. He knows our name, and we belong to Him. When we go through the floods, or the fires, or whatever, He will guard and protect us. Our ransom has already been paid and we have received His free gift. Time and time again, God fulfilled these words with His faithful children, and still does today. Yes, the Lord really is our shepherd. We shall not want. Trust in Him.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 4, 2008

My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. James 2:1

Isn’t it only natural to show personal favoritism to rich people over the poor? We may have selfish personal motives by preferring important people, but isn’t that just the way everybody acts? God is looking for something better among those of us with faith. He wants our faith to work for good, not promote evil selfish motives. Most of the time our favorites will not return our favors, instead they often take advantage of those who bow and scrape for them. Besides all of that, God has a specific word for such personal favoritism. He calls it sin. Quit it.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, November 3, 2008

Grace for your spirit November 3, 2008

Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:25

It is so easy to get off track with our church attendance. Just a quick decision to go in another direction can be permanent. I walk in the mall everyday. In one store there is an escalator that takes my walk to the second floor. For a while it was out of order and I took a different path. Long after it was fixed I was still walking a different way until I saw a friend from the second floor. They expressed concern for my absence and encouraged me to come on up. I was touched, and now I’m back on the escalator. Hear the "Psalm of the Escalator". Many get away from worship and develop a new path. Just a little encouragement may touch a heart, and get a soul back on the right path.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Saturday, November 1, 2008

What to Expect at the Northwest Church of Christ

MEMBERS OF CHRIST'S CHURCH
1)Believing that the church is the called out of Christ; and the fellowship of the saved
2)Believing in one eternal all-knowing, all-powerful Godhead of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 3)Believing that Jesus was made flesh, born of a virgin, and lived with us without sin
4)Believing that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended back to heaven
5)Believing the Bible is God’s inspired word that provides our standard of right and wrong, and the way of salvation
6)Believing that man is a sinner and lost without the saving blood of Jesus
7)Believing that saving faith includes repentance, and baptism byimmersion for the forgiveness of sins
8)Believing that only baptized believers are members of the church and the kingdom of God
9)Believing that all Christians should worship properly as Scripture directs.
10)Believing that Christians should share the good news of Jesus, and serve others until Jesus returns with our heavenly reward
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Sunday Morning Worship Activities
Enjoy congregational singing without instruments.
Prayers will be offered that allows our needs to be brought to Him.
Communion service offered every Sunday to remember the Lord’s death until He returns. Lessons from the Bible that will teach us God’s word.
You may expect the worship to be warm, friendly, and orderly.
No one is ever required to speak or made to feel uncomfortable in any way.
We pray you will feel welcome to come and stay

Worship and Study Opportunities

Worship and Study Opportunities
Northwest Church of Christ. US 41 N @ Florida Ave Terre Haute, In
The Church is located on the West Side of U.S 41 North,
One half mile North of the 41-63 interchange in Terre Haute
Sunday 9:30 AM Classes in Jude
Sunday 10:30 AM Worship Services
Sunday6:00 PM Classes on Love
Wednesday 7:00 P.M. Classes on God's Mercy & Our Ministry
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Sunday Morning Continuing Series at the Worship Hour
Am I a member of Christ's church?

December 8th, at 6:30 we will have our annual Christmas party at the Golden Corral Buffet.
Food, games, white elephant gifts, and songs. Bring your family and your friends.

Start thinking about bringing in non perishable food items for our holiday food baskets, and warm winter hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, and socks, for elementary students.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 31, 2008

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. I Peter 1:3-4

Jesus came that we might have an abundant life. We can be born again for the abundant life now and eternal glory with Him in heaven. That inheritance is guaranteed and will not fade away. It’s all in His last will and testament, found in the pages of the Bible. Many people have a unread copy of God’s will in their homes. Everything needed for life and godliness is found in those pages. The will of God could give them a joyous life today and a wonderful hope for tomorrow. What a shame to live in poverty and depression, when His will would change everything. Help someone open it today.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 30, 2008

But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how shall the ministry of the Spirit fail to be more with glory? II Corinthians 3:7-8

When Moses appeared before God and brought back the Law and God’s words to the people, his face was always shining. Moses wore a veil for two reasons. First, to shade the glory of his face, and to not let Israel see that the shine would always fade. It was a picture of the Old Covenant. It was veiled and destined to fade and stop. In the New Covenant of Jesus Christ, there is no veil. The glory is unlimited and it never fades away. Enjoy the shine.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 29, 2008

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, II Corinthians 4:1

Twice in this chapter the statement is made that we do not lose heart. The reason we don’t, and won’t, is because of the two big M’s; Ministry and Mercy. As disciples we always have meaningful work to do, and we know that God is going to give us strength and bless us another day. Then when our work on earth is done, with His grace and mercy, we have an eternal glory to enjoy in heaven. God is blessing us today and for eternity. When we are aware of that kind of encouragement, we do not get discouraged, and we do not lose heart. Help us to remember this, and praise the Lord

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 28, 2008

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: II Cor 3:1-2

Do we need a letter from someone to prove that we are a disciple of Christ? Do we require a letter from a church to prove we are members? Paul proclaimed that their changed lives proved their ministry. He went on to say that the people they had converted and discipled were additional proof of his own discipleship. Our life is actually an open letter for everyone to read. When they are finished, do they see Jesus, a faithful disciple, and an actual church member? When they do, no one will need a letter on paper.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, October 27, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 27, 2008

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. Psalm 71:18

Have we picked a date for our retirement? People try to get their financial situation lined out for stopping work at some point. The way the economy is today, some are changing their plans. Unfortunately, some people also look at a time when they will retire from church work. When we are old and gray it seems nice to "kick back" and take it easy. Here the Psalmist has a different hope for the future. He asked the Lord’s continuing help until he has declared God’s power to the next generation, and to all who would come after. We seem to be having a problem with that task that far overshadows our financial downturns. May I suggest we adjust our prayers for retirement, to prayers of renewed effort in His kingdom until our job is done.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, October 24, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 24, 2008

One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed. Proverbs 19:17

Most of us are very concerned about keeping our money. We worry about someone taking advantage of us, and think very carefully before we loan money or give it away. We become suspicious when the needs of poor people are presented to us, and find any excuse possible to avoid getting involved. The Lord makes a very interesting promise here. When we help the poor, we are making a loan to the Lord, and providing on His behalf. Can we trust the Lord to repay us in full? Can we depend on Him to make repayment in full with interest? He says we can trust Him, and I believe it. The world may tell us to stay away, but in the Lord’s economy, we can invest with confidence.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 23, 2008

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. John 4:4

Our world is not that much difference from the world in Bible times. There is a constant struggle in our lives between good and evil. Children of God have His word and His spirit in us. Also, children of God are surrounded by the influence of the devil in the world. The power of the devil around us is strong, but the power of God in us is greater. It is our responsibility to keep the influence of God strong in us, so the power of the devil won’t overcome us. God is always greater. When we keep Him close keeping the devil out, we will overcome false teachers too.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 22, 2008

And asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Acts 9:2

Several times in the New Testament, the disciples of Christ are referred to as those of “the way”. When Saul took off for Damascus to arrest and persecute Christians, he was looking for those belonging to “the way”. I wonder what he thought about that title. Saul didn’t considered them to be “the way”, rather he thought of them as being “in the way”. In the way of his religious supremacy and domination. Christians actually do represent “the way” of salvation in Christ. World religions actually are the ones that are in the way. From the Pharisees of Christ’s day, to the Pharisees of today, some things never change. Let’s choose to be disciples of “the way”, Christ’s way.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 21, 2008

Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, Cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens. Proverbs 23:4-5

When Jesus directed us to "lay up our treasures in heaven" watching our money fly away is not what He had in mind. Jesus wanted to focus on eternal things and have interest in spiritual wealth that would never fly away. Too many of us have trouble focusing on eternal things because our eyes are directed to worldly wealth. Lately, many have been watching that wealth fly away, and it is ruining many lives. Everything we have will eventually fly away, and the only thing left will be what we can take to heaven. Treasure those things.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, October 20, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 20, 2008

But I am a worm and not a man, A reproach of men and despised by the people. Psalm 22:6

There are times in everyone’s life when we feel more like a worm than a man. We may have fallen short in some way from what God wants, of what we want, or what others expect of us. King David had many times when he felt that way with good cause. He also looked forward to the coming of Christ, realizing that even Jesus would be a reproach of men and despised by the people. Do we feel like worms? We need to remember is that a worm can end up as fish bait or transform into a beautiful butterfly. There used to be a song about Christ dying for such a worm as I. Did He? Yes, but even as a worm we can be beautifully transformed by Him.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, October 17, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 17, 2008

Applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. II Peter 1:5-7

We are struggling for answers to cure our nations ills. Will it be more money? New leaders? More sacrifices? Does anyone have the answers? Yes, God does. May I suggest we start with Him. Faith in Christ, always doing what it right, learning the truth, controlling ourselves, being patient, practicing godly living, being kind to one another, and interacting with a giving love. With these abiding graces from the White House to the outhouse, from Wall Street to Main Street, God has a blessing waiting for us all. We had this once upon a time. We need it again. While we are waiting for all of this to trickle down, let it be our guiding principles starting today.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 16, 2008

Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? II Corinthians 11:28-29

The apostle Paul had many reasons to be beaten down. He had more problems that we could possibly imagine. Through it all, he had a great concern for every church, every soul, every weak Christian, and every sinner. Sometimes people think ministers and church leaders invite and encourage people to worship so they will have a larger attendance and more money in the collection plate. They think that more money and more people will help them with their problems. The true shepherd sacrifices his life for the flock, and trusts the Lord for his provisions. This kind of shepherd feels the pain for everyone who is weak, who sins, and then falls way. Pray the Lord will bless us all with these kind of shepherds

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 15, 2008

'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, Revelation 3:17

The Devil wants us to be spiritually blind. He is happiest when we are walking in darkness. It is his goal to blind our eyes so we won’t see the truth and obey it. The ultimate spiritual blindness is when we think everyone is blind too. We think we can keep on talking about how well we are, when in fact it is obvious that we are in deep trouble. God knows it, our brethren know it, even the worldly know it. We will never be drawn to repentance when we think we need nothing. God wants to enlighten our eyes so we can see our wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked selves. Then we will see His light and find true happiness.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 14, 2008

For behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf." Then his brothers said to him, "Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Gen 37:7-8

Joseph’s dreams got him in a lot of trouble. They were a prophecy of the future and his brothers didn’t like them one bit. As the favorite son of Jacob, the dreams brought about jealousy and hatred that eventually got him sold into slavery. How’s our attitude? When someone has a dream, a vision, or an idea, and we’re not in the middle of the glory, are we angry? Life is not always about us. We are not destined to be in the center of everything. In fact, the proper position is last. God will exalt us when the time is right, and when we are right.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, October 13, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 13, 2008

There is no umpire between us, who may lay his hand upon us both. Job 9:33

A baseball runner slides into home plate just as the ball arrives. There is a cloud of dust and a collision. One side yells, "safe". The other team screams, "out". The umpire says, "It’s nothing until I say what it is". Job was in such a contest. The cloud at the plate was being interpreted by others. Was he a sinner? Was it all his fault for the troubles? Some yelled "yes", Job screamed, "no". God was going to be his umpire and would have the last word. It wasn’t anything until God said so. So it is in our lives. The world may judge us, and at times we may be unsure ourselves. Like Job, we need an umpire to step in and make the call. With Christ as our shepherd, the call can always be "safe".

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, October 10, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 10, 2008

But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert road.) And he arose and went. Acts 8:26-27

When I think of Philip the evangelist, I see availability, a sense of responsibility, and personal initiative. He answered this call from the Lord, and as a result had the opportunity to baptize an Ethiopia noblemen. That conversion would send the gospel to Africa. He had already made himself available to serve the needy in the Jerusalem church, and spread the gospel to the lost souls of Samaria. Finally, we see him opening his home to the traveling apostle Paul. He had four daughters who were prophetesses. Here is a servant who made himself available to the Lord and answered the bell when it rang. Does availability, responsibility, and initiative describe our life for the Lord? I hear a bell ringing.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 9, 2008

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." James 4:13

Real faith produces dependence on God in us. True faith reminds us that that God is in charge, not us. When we start making all our plans like we are in charge, we need to take another look at life. We have no way of knowing what we are going to do, and the best path in life is put the future in the hands of that one that does know. That is God. Remember when everyone in the church used to say, "Lord willing". Those two words take the boast out of our life, and puts our trust where it belongs. As I recall, when people use to say "Lord willing", everyone seemed to be a lot happier. Let’s try that again.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 6, 2008

Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD." Josh 5:13-14

It was a fair question. "Are we for us or against us with that big sword?" Joshua was new in town and he had a big responsibility with the walls of Jericho in his sights, and all of Israel behind him. The answer is interesting. "Neither" the captain said, "I’m here for God." The message that followed was clear. God was going to be on the side of the ones that obeyed Him. The difference was not who’s side was God on, but who was on God’s side? God is sovereign and He doesn’t need to pick sides. We need to choose carefully, Our future depends on it.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Grace for your spirit October 8, 2008

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. James 2:26

I drove through a construction zone today. At least it had all the signs of construction, except for one thing. There was no work. Signs are up, detours are in place, machinery is present, supplies have arrived, but where are the workers. There is an important job to be done, but everyone is on a break. I saw a diamond shaped warning sign in front of a church one day that simply said, "God Working". He’s always working, but what about us? We can have the faith, the signs, the supplies, the people, but if everyone is on a permanent break, where is the working? Is there a faith that does not work? Yes, dead faith. The break needs to be over, or take the signs down.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 7, 2008

She said to her mistress, "I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy." II Kings 5:3

These are the words of a little girl who had been taken captive by her enemies, and was working as a slave. Her master was Naaman, her captor, who had leprosy. At the end of this story Naaman meets the prophet Elisha and receives healing from the dreaded disease. The one detail of the story I like the best is the connection created by this little girl. Even though her life may have been much less than perfect, she loved her enemies and had faith in her God. That bridge of love and faith, built a bridge that brought about healing in the lives of her enemies. What have we ever done that would equal that? Most of the time we are only concerned about when God is going to do something for us. Let the little child lead us.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, October 6, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 4, 2008

Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD." Josh 5:13-14

It was a fair question. "Are we for us or against us with that big sword?" Joshua was new in town and he had a big responsibility with the walls of Jericho in his sights, and all of Israel behind him. The answer is interesting. "Neither" the captain said, "I’m here for God." The message that followed was clear. God was going to be on the side of the ones that obeyed Him. The difference was not who’s side was God on, but who was on God’s side? God is sovereign and He doesn’t need to pick sides. We need to choose carefully, Our future depends on it.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, October 3, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 3, 2008

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, Heb 6:19

As Christians we have a sure and steadfast hope in this life and the life to come. An anchor to hold us, encourage us, and give us refuge in the storms of life. The verses just before this one tells us that hope is created by two things. First of all, God’s purpose never changes, and God never lies. What we hear from Him is will always be true and never changing. Hope is created by what we know. We have to study, learn, and know, and then hope develops. With these two things we know about God, let’s go learn some more about all He has for us.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 2, 2008

Because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. Romans 3:20-21

People are often uncomfortable talking about sin and righteousness. If we live by the Law, we have the knowledge of sin, and that makes us feel guilty. If we understand that God sent His righteousness to us as a free gift, and that free gift makes us righteous, we know we are forgiven. No one wants to talk about the things that condemn them. Maybe that’s the reason why so many don’t understand why the gospel is good news. Good news does not leave us guilty, but to give us the freedom of God’s righteousness. That is really good news. Enjoy the forgiveness and share the good news with someone today.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Grace for your spirit October 1, 2008

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; Philippians 3:10

Paul thought he knew everything as a Pharisee, but he found out he was willing to trade it all for knowing Jesus Christ. There are hundreds of things listed in the New Testament that He wants us to know. Let’s search the scriptures, find out what He wants us to know, and be ready to give an answer of the knowledge He has given us. It won’t be very long until someone greets us by saying, "What d’ya know?" Then we won’t have to say "nuttin’" or "it’s all on me, and I’m not telling." We will recognize that this is a perfect opening to share what we know about Jesus. Let’s quit looking stupid, and start looking like a disciple of Christ.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 30, 2008

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I Corinthians 3:1

Do we ever feel our spiritual life is not progressing? Are we not as strong spiritually as we were when we became Christians? Do the things of the flesh have more power over us than the Spirit of Christ? If our best friends are people of the world, if our favorite activities are doing worldly things, if people don’t know we are Christians, we are feeding on the wrong diet. If our favorite activities are beer and baloney with Bubba, instead of Christ and His Church, we are heading for the church obituary list. Let’s get off the milk of infancy and start feeding on the meat of God’s Word. It is time to grow up, and be spiritual people of God.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, September 29, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 29, 2008

While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad." Acts 26:24

On Paul’s way to Rome he had the opportunity to share his faith a number of times. Felix, Festus, and Aprippa were Roman officials that he met along the way. They were tough audiences with rough backgrounds. Paul himself wrote that he was a fool for Christ, and beside himself for the sake of God. Paul was a brand new creation living in an old world. Many people must have thought he was out of his mind and just didn’t say it. When we are transformed in Christ in such a way that changes our lives, our thinking and our speech, some may think we’ve crazy too. Let’s keep on sharing the love of Jesus. When we are ridiculed, we are in good company.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, September 26, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 26, 2008

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15

When "Little Orphan Annie" was plucked out of the orphanage and adopted by "Daddy Warbucks", her life changed drastically and immediately. From poverty to riches, from sadness to happiness, from abuse to pampering, from loneliness to belonging. The joy in her life was evident and her happiness overflowed onto everyone she met. She couldn’t quit laughing, singing and dancing. When we are born again into the kingdom of God, we leave our slavery and fear behind. Our crying in pain, becomes the cry of joy. Our Father in heaven is the ultimate "Daddy Warbucks" As He meets all our needs in Christ, let the celebrating be seen by all.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 24, 2008

But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:6-8

Does out spiritual life resemble the surf of the sea? The tide is out and the waves come crashing in. We’re not getting our prayers answered and we aren’t happy. When we pray, "Lord, give me more purity and holiness in my life, but not today. You see, today is Friday and I’ve got a big weekend planned, but if you get me on track Monday, that would be good." "Lord, help me to be faithful in my attendance at church, starting this fall. You see, I've got a fun summer planned." That double minded faith will leave us tossed. Try this pray instead. "Lord, strengthen my faith. change my life, according to Your will, starting right now."

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 24, 2008

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; John 16:7-8

Churches and church leaders are trained to discuss, counsel, and lead the worship. Books on psychology, philosophy, marketing, and church growth fill the libraries. If we were asked what was the most important issues facing the church, what would our answer be? Jesus said He was going back to heaven to send the Holy Spirit, and He would remind us and teach us what was really important. These are the three things He mentioned: Sin, Righteousness, and Judgment. These are the real issues of mankind, the real issues they don’t understand, and the solutions to eternal problems. Let’s start with those. That’s where the Holy Spirit started.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 23, 2008

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. John 3:19-20

Jesus is the light of the world. He came into the world so everyone could walk in the light as He is in the light. If we want to practice truth, we welcome Jesus’ light in our life. If we want to practice evil, we avoid the light. Criminals do their best work in the cover of darkness. Cockroaches can fill a room in the darkness. Turn on the lights and the crooks and roaches run for cover. The way we feel about being in the light is our best indicator of what we are. Christ’s child or cockroach. Let’s come out of the darkness and into His light.

The grace for the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, September 22, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 22, 2008

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. I Peter 5:8

Any time we make a decision to disobey the Lord, the devil will be glad to help us. When Jonah ran from his mission, the devil made a ship available for him. When Cain was aggravated with Abel, the devil put sin at his door, and it mastered him. When the children of Israel waited for Moses to come down with the commandments of God, the devil got Aaron to build a gold calf. The list of times the devil has paved the way to sin and rebellion is endless. We may be promising to be faithful to God this week, if nothing comes up. The devil will help find something for us. We may think we can turn away from God and we are on our own, but we are mistaken. The devil is ready to step right in and help us. Never give the devil a ride. He will always want to drive.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, September 19, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 19, 2008

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. "Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes," says the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:10-11

Throughout the Bible, God promises us bless us in two ways. He will open up the windows of heaven and pour blessing on us, and He will stop the losses that might have come our way. When we make a commitment to obey Him, and give to His work and the needs of others, His promises are sure. The next time we are in a discussion about the rotten economy, mortgage rates, food and fuel prices, and unemployment, think again. May we remind ourselves and others that as Christians we also live in God‘s economy. Find someone to help and watch the Lord help us

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 18, 2008

And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. Philippians 4:3 KJV

The Apostle Paul writes to his fellow workers to seek for peace and harmony. They have been "yokefellows", working together for the gospel of Christ, and he appeals for their unity. Jesus invites us to take His yoke, and then seek to be yoked together with His children. Paul noted that his fellow workers had their names written in the book of life. Can we say the same for our fellow workers? The Bible says we can’t walk with anyone unless we are going to the same place, and an ox can’t work in the same yoke with a mule. May we choose the yoke of the Lord and His children every day, and help those who are in the yoke with us to have peace and harmony.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 17, 2008

Or what harmony has Christ with Belial II Corinthians 6:15

God does not want us to be bound together, or unequally yoked with unbelievers. Like light is separate from darkness, believers separate from non-believers, and the temple of God from idols. A Christian should have no more in common with the worldly than Christ has with the Devil. Can their be any harmony or concord between the two? The word harmony comes from the Greek word that translates to symphony. A blending of notes in harmony. Can you picture Jesus and the Devil singing a duet of praise to God? Well God has the same view of us trying to harmonize with the worldly. We cannot sing in both choirs. Come out and be separate singing with Jesus, not the Devil.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 16, 2008

Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

Often people view Christian activities as a time to fulfill our church member obligation only. The time we spent in His word is valuable, but there is also value in spending time together with other Christians. Bible classes, worship, fellowship dinners, personal work, physical labors, and even parties, are all good opportunities to grow together. We cannot sharpen ourselves spiritually by spending time in the world. The sharpening process is best served when one Christian touches another. We need to search for maximum sharpening, not minimum. How dull can we get? Stay away too long, and we will soon be on the spiritual trash pile of useless tools.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, September 15, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 15,2008

It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. Psalm 119:71

Can we picture ourselves thanking God for our afflictions, so we can experience spiritual growth? Paul was thankful for the comfort he received in his affliction, so he could communicate that comfort to others. James considered it joy in trials, for the perseverance and spiritual growth that followed. When affliction converts, when troubles strengthen, we should be thanking God for the good that comes. The next time we find ourselves in an extreme adversity, remember, every trial is another opportunity for God’s good. Thank you Lord.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, September 12, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 12, 2008

Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD of hosts, "nor will I accept an offering from you. Malachi 1:10

The kingdom of Judah was sent to Babylonian captivity because of their rebellion against God. Here the prophet Malachi reveals God thoughts less than 100 years after their return to Jerusalem. Have things improved? No, they are worse. The priests of God are despising His name, and bringing defiled sacrifices. God calls for someone to shut the doors and stop the useless sacrifices. His people refuse to do what is right and even give Him backtalk. How sad it is that we tend to repeat history over and over. How God must be sad at the false religions among us. Do you believe He would rather see the church doors closed, than continue to see false teaching? Let’s be the disciples His word calls for every day.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 11, 2008

Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

Solomon wrote a poetic picture of death. Death is something that we dread, but some who are searching for that better life, look forward to it with anticipation. The Bible promises us eternal life with a new body. Fanny Crosby lived from 6 weeks old to age 95 without seeing. While being blind, she wrote hundreds of songs. In one she wrote of the silver cord breaking and being able to see Him face to face. Her blindness helped her see eternal things more clearly, and inspired her poetry. Maybe we see too much and it clouds our view of eternity with Jesus. Let’s look again.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 10, 2008

Establish my footsteps in Your word, And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me. Psalms 119:133

This is a golden nugget of scripture hidden in the longest Psalm. Psalm 119 has 176 verses and is often passed over because of its length. It is actually 22 segments of 8 verses each. The sections are in alphabetical order in the Hebrew language. It was structured that way to aid in memorization. Does that sound like a lot of work? As it turns out, when we spend a great amount of time in His word, He establishes our footsteps, and sin does not have dominion over us. Aren’t those the things we are searching for in life? Take the time to read a section a day. There is gold in “them there hills.”

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 9, 2008

Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything Ecclesiastes 10:19

Recently a church member said to me, "Hey, I never heard you preach on this topic. All I hear is wine and money are evil." Not all scripture is direction on how we should live. Some direct us on how we should not live. In the passage Solomon is contrasting wisdom and foolishness. Solomon found out far too late that riches, wine, women, and songs were not the key to happiness. His writings direct a man not to let those things be the answer in our lives. When we love the things of this world more than we love God, all these things really do become the root of all sorts of evil. Unfortunately, just a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor. Don’t rip a verse out of contest. Let’s cling to wisdom and honor.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, September 8, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 8, 2008

The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. I Timothy 5:17

The leaders of our churches need all the encouragement they can get. Too often there is a tremendous lack of respect for teachers and those in leadership authority. The devil has enough angels to destroy our leadership without getting help from us. When Elisha stepped into Elijah’s shoes, he had a credibility problem. He needed the authority and respect to ministry to Israel. One day in II Kings 2, forty two kids mocked him, calling him "baldhead". Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and tore them up. God performed many miracles to give Elisha the respect he had to have. Leaders still need our help. Got some evil criticism for your leaders? Watch out for those she-bears!

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, September 5, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 5, 2008

Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14-15

The devil wants us to believe that everyone is going to heaven. He wants us to believe that there is no standard of obedience, and we can live anyway we want. He wants us to believe that God is love and would never condemn anyone. Jesus sent His Son to die for our sins. When we are in Christ Jesus, our sins are washed away and our names are written in the book of life. No name, no entrance into heaven. In Luke 10:20 the apostles rejoiced about the power they had. Jesus told them they should really be rejoicing because their names were written down. When the books are opened, will our name be in there?

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 4, 2008

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? Psalms 42:1-2

David was spending his days crying. He was being ridiculed for being deserted by his God. He was in despair and had lost his praise. He remembered when he used to lead the worship in the house of God. He asked why his soul was so deeply disturbed. Then he remembered he needed to hope in God and praise Him again. Many times we say we are thirsting for the living God, but are we really truthful? What is keeping us from being in worship and Bible study? What are we experiencing that God couldn’t handle if we gave it all to Him? How can we stop our despair and the ridicule we are receiving for our unfaithfulness? Let's hope in God and praise Him again. Then we will feel the refreshment of His presence.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 3, 2008

Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:6

Have you ever watched a potter working the clay at his wheel? He makes whatever he chooses, first one thing then another. We are clay in the hands of the Master potter, that is God. If we yield to His hand, He will make us an honorable vessel. If we resist, He can toss our lump aside. Does the pot yell back at the potter for the way he is made? Sometimes we do, but that is useless yelling. If we want to made into someone worthy of glory, let’s just start yielding our clay to the Master’s hand. As the song goes, "Have thine own way Lord. Have thine own way. Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after thy will. While I am waiting, yielded and still."

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Grace for your spirit September 2, 2008

But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? Acts 5:3

Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold some land and brought the money to the apostles. They lied about how much they had received for the land, and how much they gave. We already know why the devil filled their hearts to lie to the Holy Sprit. The devil wants us to do the wrong thing. My questions are, why did they let him fill their hearts, and when did he do it. The devil is always going to be around to fill our hearts with deceit. We will often let him do it when the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life has become our god. If we aren’t on guard, he will fill our hearts too. It cost them their lives. Don’t let the same thing cost us our eternal life.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirity
Philippians 4:23

Friday, August 29, 2008

Grace for your spirit August 29, 2008

Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Matthew 5:23-24

The goal of the Christian life is to be one with God and man. We need to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, and be reconciled to man by the love we have from God. We may never be able to live at peace with everyone, but as far as it depends on us, let’s try to make that happen. We shouldn’t be going through the motions at church, when aren’t truly attempting be reconciled to God and men. Before we worship again, let’s reach out to others. Remember Proverbs 16:7, "When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." Let’s take that first step.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Grace for your spirit August 28, 2008

For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. Romans 10:3

Paul knew His countrymen had completely missed the point. God had sent Jesus, so they could have the righteousness that comes from God and be saved. They were unwilling to accept that righteousness because they thought they were already right. When we stand on our own righteousness, we will surely die in our sins. We can claim we are righteous on our own, but where is the evidence? Is there a fire where there is no flame, no light, and no heat? When we learn about Jesus and learn about the righteousness from Him, our own will look like nothing. Come to know Him today.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Grace for your spirit August 27, 2008

Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. Acts 4:36-37

A number of times when the apostles needed encouragement to keep going, this man Joseph was there. He so consistently encouraged them, they gave him the nickname, "Barnabas". All of us need a Barnabas to keep us going in difficult times too. A little boy was trying to hit a ball with a bat. He would pitch the ball into the air, then swing and miss. Time after time he would swing and miss. He looked and his friend who had been watching and his friend exclaimed, "Boy, you are a great pitcher!" How can we all keep going when we miss the ball? Have a Barnabas and be a Barnabas for others.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Grace for your spirit August 26, 2008

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15

Many of us have been Bible students for years, and know enough verses to teach without ever studying again. Let’s remember that studying God’s Word is not just to learn to quote verses and teach others. We should want to study because we love His Word. We need to be reminded every day about the liberation His Word provides, His Word calms our spirit, regenerates our hope, and builds our faith. We’re always going to need those things to present ourselves approved to God. When we treasure His Word in our hearts, it keep us closer to God, and keeps us from wandering off into sin. Who doesn’t need that everyday? Whatever our challenge are today, let’s start with His Word and prayer.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, August 25, 2008

Grace for your spirit August 25, 2008

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Ps 119:105

I heard on a Christian radio station today that a Bible Society is promoting a special event this fall based on Psalms 119. Sunday, October 26th has been designated as "Read Your Bible Day". Then Monday, October 27th will be "Take Your Bible To Work Day." Does it seem wrong to anyone that we designate a day in October to read our Bibles? If Christians are going not going to be reading their Bibles until October 26th, and His word is a lamp and a light, we will be stumbling in the dark a long time. The church in Acts 17, were called "noble-minded", because they searched the scriptures daily and eagerly. I don’t want to walk in the dark until October, How about you?

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, August 22, 2008

Grace for your spirit August 22, 2008

And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT." Having said this, He breathed His last. Luke 23:46

Many people love a good murder mystery. They like to be kept in suspense guessing who is going to be killed and who will be the murderer. Once they know the answer, they are enthused to share the information with everyone. The gospel is a good murder mystery. People know that Jesus died, but who should be indicted as the murderers? Do we really know the facts? The people responsible for putting Jesus on the cross is every person who ever sinned. We all share with the Jews and the Romans in bearing the responsibility. The big surprise is that no one really killed Jesus. He chose to give up His life on the cross. It’s a great and surprising outcome. Let’s go tell someone.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Grace for your spirit August 21, 2008

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. I John 3:1

God sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. With that sacrifice He forgives all our sins and we become His children. What great love that takes to overlook all our shortcomings and allows us to be part of His family. When we call on His name as our Father, He ears are attentive to our prayers. People are impressed when one of the President’s daughters simply dials the White House and the President answers. How much more impressive it is when the God of all creation answers our call and is glad to meet our needs. Enjoy the relationship. Enjoy the call.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Grace for your spirit August 20, 2008

Serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, Acts 20:19-20

The apostle Paul was a marked man. Everywhere he went he had opposition. The Jews, the Gentiles, the Christians, and the Romans didn’t trust him. Paul was given a commission to preach the good news of Jesus, but it was never easy. It was revealed to him what was profitable for people to obey the Lord, and he committed his life to getting that done. What is our focus? Are we focused enough and humble enough to overcome the trials that come our way? May we not shrink back from what we know is true because of difficulties. The lost world needs the good news.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Grace for your spirit August19, 2008

As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, even to do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, then I will establish your royal throne as I covenanted with your father David, saying, 'You shall not lack a man to be ruler in Israel.' II Chr 7:17-18

After the temple was built, God issued Solomon an all peril insurance policy on his house for the future. "IF" you keep MY commands, you the kingdom will endure." Solomon forgot the commands of God and didn’t keep the ordinances and statutes. He didn’t pay the premiums and the policy lapsed. Without God’s blessing, his kingdom crumbled and was divided among his enemies. Jesus issued an all peril insurance for us too. "He who believes and is baptized shall be saved". When we trust and obey, we keep His promises active in our life for eternity.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Monday, August 18, 2008

Grace for your spirit August 18, 2008

Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. II Timothy 2:3-4

Every Christian has the message of the gospel entrusted to us. It is our commission to share the message and pass it on to a lost world. Will we fulfill our mission and complete our task? There will be hardship and there will be obstacles. There will always be things that can entangles us and tie us down. If our discipleship is casual and part-time, we will surely fail in our mission. There is no draft in the Lord’s army. We are volunteers for Jesus. May we accept our commission, and commit to please the one who enlisted us.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Friday, August 15, 2008

Grace for your spirit August 15, 2008

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

Our worship songs are designed to teach, admonish others, and to exhibit Christ’s Word living in us. When we mean what we sing, the songs do that. When we sing "Give me a heart of a servant", do we really want one? When we sing "Must Jesus bear the cross alone." are we willing to help?. When we sing "I surrender all", have we already decided we won’t surrender anything?. How can we believe we worship in spirit and in truth, when every word we sing is not truthful? God knows it, those around us know, so let’s start taking our worship seriously and the Lord will shine on us. As kids we sang, "O be careful little tongue what you say." Let’s start being careful again.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Grace for your spirit August 14, 2008

When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first." Lk 11:24-26

As we take steps to obey Christ, we need to be careful to be fully surrendered to Him. When we believe, repent, and are baptized into Christ, we can experience the evil spirit of sin leaving us. That’s a good beginning. Let us then make sure to fill our soul with the His Spirit, so the house won’t be vacant and susceptible to more evil spirits. A vacant house is a hazard. A vacant soul is a disaster. Don’t let the devil have a place in us. Fill it with God

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spiritP
hilippians 4:23