Friday, May 30, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 30, 2008

But kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. Acts 26:20

Mahatma Gandhi was an observer and motivator of people. He wrote of the seven deadly sins as; wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice, and politics without principle. He also said he liked the teachings of Christ, but didn’t care for Christ’s followers. The gospel preached by Paul was coming to Christ and walking away with a changed life. Perhaps if the Christians he had met had been performing deeds appropriate to repentance, he might have found his way to Christ. What are people observing is us? Christ or hypocrisy?

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

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 29, 2008

But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons…… but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. Heb 12:8,10

God desires for us to live holy lives. He knows that the only way we can be truly holy, sanctified, and consecrated, is by sharing His holiness. He gives us the path to holiness when we become His sons, and accept His discipline. If we choose not to take His discipline, we are illegitimate children, not heirs, and will never be truly holy. How frustrating it is to strive for God’s holiness without being His child and having His hand on us. Don’t even try it. We cannot create our own holiness. We must share His.

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

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 28, 2008

Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me!" And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him. Exodus 32:26

When Moses came down from Mt Sinai with the Ten Commandments, he was greeted by a gold calf, and his people completely out of control. Moses had intercede and convinced the Lord not to destroy all the people, but many of them were still going to perish because of their sins. They had one chance to make the right decision. Would they choose God, or a gold calf idol in front of them? If they chose right, they would live, if not they would die. Jesus has been our intercessor with God. He has appeased God wrath by dying for our sins. Now it is our turn. Which will we choose? Will we come to Jesus, or will we choose the gods of this world. May we choose carefully. Our eternal lives depend on it

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

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 27, 2008

Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year. As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet. II Kings 13:20-21

When it came time for Elisha to follow the great prophet Elijah in Israel, Elisha knew he had big shoes to fill. He requested a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. God needed Elisha’s ministry to be effective and granted him the power. How powerful was he with God’s spirit? Even after his death, the miracles were powerful. The dead man who got thrown into Elisha’s grave was the proof. When we are asking for God’s Spirit to guide us, don’t be afraid to ask for a "double dip". Someone may need it

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

Monday, May 26, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 26, 2008

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. John 15:1-2

Any repair manual or help-line, will give you a check list when you are experiencing trouble. Whether it’s a dryer or a computer, they ask the basic questions first. Is it plugged in? Have we reviewed the maintenance record? Are there any knots or clogs? Is it turned on? That Christian fruit-bearing checklist is there for us too. Why aren’t we bearing fruit for God? Are we firmly connected to the vine, Jesus? Have we allowed our branch to be pruned? Are there blockages? Are we turned on? Let’s check all those and activate our branch. I think it will bear fruit this time.

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

Friday, May 23, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 23, 2008

But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and say to them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?' II Kgs 1:3

The King of Israel had an accident and he wondered if he would recover. He chose to ask Baal-zebub, an idol in the land, about his future. Baal-zebub of Ekron was the "lord of the flies." Why would any man, let alone the King of Israel, seek guidance from a "fly god"? Elijah had the question for the King. Is it because there is no God in Israel that you seek the "fly god"? God was in Israel, but He was not always honored as God. When we do not honor Him as God, other gods will become our focus. No matter what our position, a daily renewal with the true God is essential to keep our priorities right. Go with God.

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

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 22, 2008

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, Ephesians 5:15

The Christian walk of light is through a field of darkness. We must learn to walk in a careful new way in a field of land mines placed there by the Devil The KJV uses the word "circumspectly" in this passage to describe our walk. It means accurately measuring each step. That kind of walk improves with practice and good light from above. I walk everyday for my health. I used to be afraid of escalators. I was afraid I would trip and fall. As I continued to walk, my steps became surer each day, and now they are not an obstacle anymore. I still don’t want to try it in the dark. May we let God light our path, continue to practice, and He will make our steps sure. That's the walk of the wise.

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

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 21,2008

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. I Jn 5:2-3

When we are in Christ, we are born of God., we love God, and we love the child born of God, and we keep His commandments. When we examine ourselves, do we pass that test? We can say we love God, love the children of God, and keep His commandments, but do we? When we find that the commands of God are a burden, we are doing something wrong. When we find ourselves reasoning that we don’t need to love our brethren, or keep His commands, we are on the wrong track. Let’s start over. Let’s rebuild our Christian life, until we find our walk with God to be joyful, not grievous. God is able, and we are able too.

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

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 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

How would describe the Christian that is steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord? Is that individual a hot disciple one day, and cold the next? Does that person struggle with how many times a week they must go to worship and Bible study, read their Bible or pray? Are they always threatening to quit if everything doesn’t go their way? Does that church member jerk other members around, shirk responsibility, or carry their load of the work? Jerk, shirk, or work, which are we? We have a great fellowship, and a great mission to get to heaven with the Lord, and take as many with us as possible. Wishy-washy is for the laundry. Steadfast is for the kingdom. Let’s get started.

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

Monday, May 19, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 19, 2008

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

If all the words we spoke this week were published for everyone to read, what would happen? If all the thought we had this week were made to known to everyone, would we have any friends? Would anyone speak to us in a kind way? God knows all the words we speak, all the thoughts we have, and all the meditations of our hearts. Through His great love and grace, He loves us anyway, and still speaks to us. His goal is to transform us, so our words and thoughts become acceptable to Him. When our thoughts are acceptable to Him, they will be enjoyed by everyone. That is our goal as we seek maturity in Christ. Let it happen

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

Friday, May 16, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 16, 2008

Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me." Matthew 11:;2-6

One day John the Baptist begin to wonder, if Jesus is real, why am I in jail? Jesus answered him. Yes I’m really the One. Yes, I am reaching the people, and no, you’re not getting our of jail. Don’t stumble over that. We may have doubts once in a while. If Jesus is real, why am I having trouble? Just because our life is not always a "bowl of cherries", doesn’t mean God isn’t good, and Jesus isn’t real. Don’t stumble over that. Walk by faith, not sight.

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

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 15,2008

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; Matthew 5:11-12

What should we do when we have been criticized, insulted, and persecuted falsely? When we’ve asked God for help and there is no help coming? When we’ve tried to do better, yet there doesn’t seem to be any relief? What is our next step? The answer is simple, but not easy. Just take it and be glad. Jesus knew we would be insulted and persecuted falsely when we decided to follow Him. So He promised us a blessing and a reward when we just take it. If we complain and hit back, we risk losing that blessing. Just take it.

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

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 14, 2008

O God, shatter their teeth in their mouth; Break out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD. Let them flow away like water that runs off; When he aims his arrows, let them be as headless shafts. Let them be as a snail which melts away as it goes along,Psalm 58:6-7

Thjs Psalm is a portion of several "imprecatory psalms" found in the Old Testament. Psalms that called for God’s vengeance to come down on their enemies. Since they were God’s exclusive chosen people, they felt justified to ask God to hurt and punish their enemies. They got rid of their enemies by killing them. Is this the Christian way? The way we should live in the covenant of grace and faith? No. Jesus called us to a better way. A way in which we get rid of our enemies by make them our friends and brethren in Christ. Christianity is an inclusive life, not exclusive. God still takes vengeance, but it is never our judgment or our call.

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

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 13, 2008

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Joshua 1:8

The children of Israel had a great challenge before them as they entered the promised land. What would be their keys to success and prosperity? They needed to determine God’s truth., learn and mediate on His truth, and obey His truth. 1,2,3, would bring a blessing. Mostly they did not do 1,2,or 3,and forfeited their success and prosperity. Our challenge is the same as we march toward our promised land. Truth is not optional, nor negotiable. Let’s make some new commitments to determine, learn, and obey God’s truth for our lives. Jesus is the way. What’s our way?

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

Monday, May 12, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 12, 2008

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Revelation 3:15-16

Jesus appreciated His disciples that were hot for Him. He also understood those who rejected Him, were stone cold, and did nothing. The thing that really made Him sick, were the ones who were hot one day and cold the next. The lukewarm church member. The tepid, indifferent, apathetic, half-hearted, wishy-washy, uncommitted church member, made Him vomit. The things that make Jesus sick, do the same things to our brothers and sisters in Christ. The world enjoys the lukewarm church member. It gives them somebody to ridicule and call a hypocrite. Let’s choose hot.

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

Friday, May 9, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 9, 2008

Grace for your spirit
"Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 8:10-12

A Roman centurion cast a large shadow on the faithful in Israel. The soldier came to Jesus for the needs of his paralyzed servant. He trusted in the power of Jesus in a way Jesus had not seen. It was the kind of faith Jesus hoped he would see in His people. The Israelites seemed to think that their seat in the kingdom was already reserved due to their heritage. Jesus said, "think again." Many will come to sit at that table and will be cast out into outer darkness. Do we think we have an irrevocable reservation at the Lord’s table? Think again. Faith that doesn’t work is dead.

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

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 8, 2008

Grace for your spirit
Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much." Luke 19:8

Zaccheus was a rich, crooked, thieving, tax collector. He was the last person anyone would suspect Jesus could touch. When he put out the effort to see Jesus, Jesus called him down and went home with him. Did Jesus touch his heart, and bring about repentance in his life? The proof is in his action. He paid back anyone he had defrauded four times over, and gave half of his possession to the poor. Zaccheus learned that the real mark of discipleship is change. When Jesus really touches our lives, there will be more of a change than what we do on Sunday morning. Zaccheus knew what to do with his dishonest gain. Give it back. Godly sorrow does produce repentance. Has our change affected the way we treat people, and our priorities? It will, when it is real.

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

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 7, 2008

Grace for your spirit
The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. I Samuel 8:7

Samuel, the great judge of Israel, knew Israel already had a king. Their King was God. He preached that message, but the rebellious Israelites wanted a worldly king. Samuel was greatly distressed by their rejection of his message and prayed to the Lord. God answered his prayer, and told him not to take it personally. The real rejection was of God. As we attempt to bring our rebellious world back to God, we will often have our message rejected. We will feel persecuted and troubled. May we remember, they are really rejecting God, not us. We need to keep a positive attitude, shake the dust off our feet, and move on. The next person we meet may be waiting for the Lord’s instruction. Keep on keeping on.

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

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 6, 2008

Grace for your spirit
Then Samson called to the LORD and said, "O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. Judges 16:28

Samson was a judge of Israel born with a silver spoon in his mouth. His mission and his power was promised before he was born. He was to lead Israel against the Philistines. Samson life was a shame before God, and after his haircut, his power was gone. The first prayer recorded in his life came from a blind, beaten, bald, broken man. God answered his prayer and opened the door for him to return to his commission one last time. When we are born into Christ, we have a great power, and a great mission as well. Will we have to be blind, beaten, bald, and broken, before we turn to our Lord? Let’s fulfill our ministry, and complete our mission. May we pray before are defeated.

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

Monday, May 5, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 5, 2008

Grace for your spirit
It is a trustworthy statement; For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; II Tim 2:11-12

The pathway to heaven is a several step process. If we die with Christ by repenting, are buried with Him in baptism, we arise to live with Him. If we endure through this life, we will reign with Him. However, if we deny Him, He will deny us. If, If, If. The heart of life is if. L-if-E. Dying with Him, submitting to Him, enduring with Him is hard. That is why we must make enduring a priority in our life. When we stay idle, we will most certainly be overcome by the world, and end up denying Him. Our best defense is a great offence. Let’s get in step with the Lord. When we are walking to His drumbeat, denial will be less of an option.

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

Friday, May 2, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 2, 2008

Grace for your spirit
I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," so that we confidently say, THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. Hebrew 13:5-6

The Old Covenant Jews were afraid to write the name of God or to speak it. They were afraid they would make a mistake. The Hebrew language had twelve names for God, and all of them said He was powerful and able to help. He was without beginning or end, a provider, a healer, a banner, a sanctifier, a peacemaker, a shepherd, our righteousness, and He was there for us. The names were, Elohim,El-Shaddai, Adonai, Jehovah, Jehovah-jireh Jehovah- rophe, Jehovah-nisse, Jehovah-M’Kaddesh Jehovah-shalom, Jehovah-tsidkenu, Jehovah-rohi, Jehovah-shammah. Today we can speak and write the name of God, but most of us don’t know who He is, or what it He does. Most use it in vain. We’ve come a long way.

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

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Grace for your spirit May 1, 2008

Grace for your spirit
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, I Cor 15:3-4

There are 31,173 verses in the Bible with 807,361 words. Many people read those words over and over again looking for the most important ones. The Pharisees always wanted to know which law was the most important, and often so do we. Jesus is the center of all Bible scripture. He is the focus of every book in the Old Testament and the New. Without his death, burial, and resurrection, we are all lost in our sins, and our faith is worthless. The way Christ bore our sins, and gave us His righteousness is the most important. Nothing else is even close. Let’s keep our priorities right. First things first.

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

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 I Peter
Sunday 10:30 AM Worship Services
Sunday6:00 PM Classes on the miracles of Jesus
Wednesday 7:00 P.M. Classes in fulfilling the Great Commission
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Becky's Cafe 1462 Lafayette Ave Terre Haute, In
Tuesday 7:30 AM Devotional Breakfast
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