grace for your spirit 3-31-16

Grace for your spirit

Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, "Why does this generation seek for a sign?  Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."  Mark 8:12

Every generation has wanted a sign, preferably a personal sign to show them the way to God's will.  No study, no dedication, just a sign.  Shall we travel to Galilee and wait to see Jesus walk on water?  Should be travel to Sinai to find another burning bush?  Do we have any right to demand our sign?  Jesus has left us a cross, an empty tomb, and believers filled with His Holy Spirit.  Want a sign?  Reach out and shake hands with a disciple.  You can also find one at your local church that honors Christ.  There's your sign.  Look closely

Grace for your spirit 3-30-16

Grace for your spirit

By this you know the Spirit of God:  every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.  I John 4:2

It does not take a degree in Theology to identify a false prophet in this world, or determine who is the Anti-Christ.  Many religions seek the formula to know, when it just isn't that hard.  The cornerstone of all Christianity is Jesus became flesh and lived among us.  He lived, He died, He arose, He ascended.  Any so called prophet that tells us differently is a false prophet.  Let's not look for the flash, but the truth.

Grace for your spirit 3-29-16

Grace for your spirit

The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.  Luke 22:61

Jesus had told Peter he would deny Him three times.  Peter could not imagine his faith being that weak, but it was.  On the way to the cross Peter did deny knowing Him three times, and just then Jesus turned and looked at Peter.  BAM!  My dad would tell me change out of my dress pants or I would rip them.  I didn't think he knew anything until I ripped them.  Then I heard his voice clearly again.  When Jesus tells us something, let's not "blow it off".  He knows.  We don't

Grace for your spirit 3-28-16

Grace for your spirit

But go. tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you."  Mark 16:7

Peter was certainly down in the dumps.  Denying Jesus three times on the way to the cross.  He must have certainly thought he had disqualified himself as a disciple.  The message was clear.  Make sure to tell Peter.  He job is about to begin. It reminds me of Ron Riegels, a UCLA football player, who picked up a fumble at the Rose Bowl and ran 80 yards the wrong way.  After halftime, he has no desire to return to the field, but the coach told him the game was only half over.  Ron, like Peter, certainly redeemed himself in the second half.  Let's get back in the game.

Grace for your spirit March 25, 2016

Grace for your spirit

For I delivered unto 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 raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.  I Corinthians 15:3-4

How important is this message?  The Bible tells us that the message of the resurrection is of first importance.  By it we are saved from our sins. The Apostle Paul who dedicated his life to preaching this good news, confessed that if this was not true, his preaching was in vain, his faith was worthless, and that he was a false witness. Yes, It matters and it matters much.  May it be on our lips every day for everyone.  Be faithful to proclaim it this Lord's day.

Grace for your spirit 3-24-16

Grace for your spirit

Behold I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Ezekiel 3:8

Ezekiel was sent by God to help His people on their way to captivity. The main enemy Ezekiel would face was their hard heads.  Hard heads, hard hearts, closed ears, God's gift to Ezekiel was a head that was harder than theirs.  When they would "butt heads: Ezekiel would prevail. We too should have no fear of the "hardheaded" in our world.  God can give us a head harder than theirs, so we can have victory.  We should not fear their power, let them fear God in us.

Grace for your spirit 3-23-16

Grace for your spirit

Why are you in despair, O my soul?  And why have you become disturbed within me?  Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.  Psalm 42:5

The challenges of life can certainly get us off track and take us down.  When we face obstacles, it is so easy to be disturbed and find ourselves in despair.  What shall we do?  Shall we focus on the despair, or shall we focus on the hope that comes from God.  When we focus on hope, and praise, it generates hope in us.  if we choose to focus on despair, we will continue to be disturbed.  Let's choose to focus on hope, and the hope of praising Him for coming to our aid again. It really works

Grace for your spirit 3-22-16

Grace for your spirit

When she recognized Peter's voice,because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate.  The said to her, "You are out of your mind!"  Acts 12:14-15

Peter had been securely locked away in prison.  His brethren gathered together to pray for him.  Through a great miracle he was released, and went to the house where they were praying for him.  A servant girl ran to announce that Peter was at the gate, but they thought she was crazy. Kind of funny isn't it?  When we pray for something, do we expect our prayers to be answered?  Remember, Abide, Believe, Ask, Receive. 

Grace for your spirit 3-21-16

Grace for your spirit

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Hebrews 4:15

We don't know what it is like to be ultimately tempted, because we always give in to sin along the way.  Jesus knows temptation from A to Z, and has the insight to come to our aid.  That should give us the confidence to come to Him in our troubles.  Jesus became our perfect sacrifice with the temptation and suffering.  Let's go to Him often.

Grace for your spirit 3-18-16

Grace for your spirit

Therefore repent and be converted, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.  Acts 3:19

Time is definitely not on our side.  Time is fleeting, and have no promise of how much time we have left,.  The big question is, what are we doing with the time we have?  There are so many things we can do in one minute to lift our lives and the lives of others.  We have 1440 minutes a day, and 10,080 every week. Each one is an opportunity.  Feeling weight down with sin, and depressed?  Take a minute to repent, return, and feel the times of refreshing in the presence of the Lord.  Got a minute?

Grace for your spirit 3-17-16

Grace for your spirit

And now, Lord take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.  Acts 4:29-30

The early church was so overwhelmed with resistance, persecution, and people in need, the Christians gathered together to pray for another miracle every day.  God granted their request and shook the place where they were, and the world they lived in. Do we ever feel the need for a daily miracle in our lives? Are trying to face our challenges alone? That's too bad.  Recently, I have been praying for a miracle every day. I have not been disappointed.  Abide, Believe, Ask, Receive.

Grace for your spirit 3-16-16

Grace for your spirit

But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food and with the wine which he drank.  Daniel 1:8

Daniel was snatched from his homeland, and became a prisoner when he was a teenager. He would be tempted with food, drink, literature, and idolatry, to make him forget his God.  His  victory came from his decision in advance to reject all these temptations.  God blessed him and he became a prophet to his friends and his enemies.  Our world is waiting to take us captive.  Let's decide in advance to follow God fully. Our victory will be great for our friend and enemies.

Grace for your spirit 3-15-16

Grace for your spirit

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?  Romans 8:32

It is too easy for us to get down on ourselves.  We can easily feel guilty, feeling everyone has deserted us, even God.  Scripture can bring us back to the truth.  God is always for us.  Jesus died to deliver us, not condemn us. When life gets us down remember, God has and will sacrifice everything for us, and He has a wealth of blessings ready to flow over us.  Keep those eyes UP. 

Grace for your spirit March 14, 2016

Grace for your spirit

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.   Psalm 23:6

Once a sheep rancher had two excellent sheep dogs.  He named one dog "goodness" and the other "mercy".  When it came to keeping the sheep together, safe from their enemies, and back into the fold at night, no one could beat "goodness" and "mercy".  Jesus is our good shepherd, and He has a place for us to dwell.  We are His sheep and we need to keep moving toward Him.  Let's keep goodness and mercy close to us, and we will be moving in the right way.

Grace for your spirit 3-10-15

But Moses hands were heavy.  Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.  Exodus 17:12

As Israel's battle raged in the valley, God told Moses that as long as his hands were held up, they would prevail.  When two of his brethren noticed he was growing weak, they rallied to support him.  They call that "stepping up".  These weeks have been difficult at our congregation without their preacher and Bible school teacher.  Thanks be to God and faithful brothers who have "stepped up" to meet the challenge.  God's grace has motivated many to hold up hands for victory.  Just another lesson on how good can come from trouble.