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Sunday, October 25, 2009
Hey Dads! Pay Attention
Hi Everyone!I just got done with Lesson #12 in the Full Armor of God Study with the kids. Sometimes they will complain a little bit about having to do the study at, what they think, is an inconvenient time. So, I wanted to point out to them Ephesians 6 and it inspired me to post it as well. When we belong to Christ, God expects us to raise our children in the instruction of The Lord. This is not a suggestion! If you have a desire to be obedient to God and you have been blessed with children, you NEED TO BE TEACHING THEM GOD'S WORD! Are you doing that, Dad? Maybe you don't know God's Word enough to be able to teach it...fine....learn it together. The Full Armor of God at theonebridge.com might be a place you want to start. The Hands to the Plow Ministry has amazing studies. John MacArthur has a fantastic study Bible you could use. If you do nothing else, commit yourself to raising your kids in the instruction of The Lord....that is God's Will!Steve
Monday, October 12, 2009
God Opposes the Proud
God Opposes the Proud
By Colin Smith
"God opposes the proud..." 1 Peter 5:5 (NIV) It is worth taking a moment to let these words sink in. God opposes the proud. If God opposes me, I'm finished. What hope is there of doing anything useful for Him if He stands in our way? If God be for us, who can be against us? But if God is against us-what hope do we have? God opposes the proud. He cannot bear to see it in is His children. Arrogance will bring me under His fatherly discipline. God gives grace"...but God gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5 (NIV) We sometimes use the expression, "Money makes money." You have to have some before you can make some. Well, it's the same principle here. Humility is a grace that attracts more grace. Pride closes the door to spiritual growth. But humility opens the door of your life to more of God's grace. To the humble, God gives patience, and peace, and gentleness. The fruit of the Spirit grows in the soul of humility. Humility is the key to spiritual growth: "God gives grace to the humble." God will lift you up"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV) This is a marvelous promise. God leads each of us on a path that has many twists and turns. When you are faced with surprises, disappointments, and upsets that God allows in your life, humble yourself. Accept what He allows. If you do that God will lift you up. God cares for you"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) This is one sentence with v6: "Humble yourselves... casting all your anxieties on Him for He cares for you." The proud person feels that he or she has to make things happen. The root of all worry lies in the idea that what happens is ultimately in my hands. If you think that what happens is ultimately in your hands, that's pride. None of us can add an inch to our height or an hour to our life by worrying about it. What happens is finally in the hands of God. There is a powerful insight here. If I want to deal with my anxiety, I have to start by dealing with my pride. Humility is the ultimate release from anxiety. Pride says, "What happens is up to me," and that leaves me anxious. Humility says, "Lord, everything that concerns me is in your hand," and that is the beginning of peace.
By Colin Smith
"God opposes the proud..." 1 Peter 5:5 (NIV) It is worth taking a moment to let these words sink in. God opposes the proud. If God opposes me, I'm finished. What hope is there of doing anything useful for Him if He stands in our way? If God be for us, who can be against us? But if God is against us-what hope do we have? God opposes the proud. He cannot bear to see it in is His children. Arrogance will bring me under His fatherly discipline. God gives grace"...but God gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5 (NIV) We sometimes use the expression, "Money makes money." You have to have some before you can make some. Well, it's the same principle here. Humility is a grace that attracts more grace. Pride closes the door to spiritual growth. But humility opens the door of your life to more of God's grace. To the humble, God gives patience, and peace, and gentleness. The fruit of the Spirit grows in the soul of humility. Humility is the key to spiritual growth: "God gives grace to the humble." God will lift you up"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV) This is a marvelous promise. God leads each of us on a path that has many twists and turns. When you are faced with surprises, disappointments, and upsets that God allows in your life, humble yourself. Accept what He allows. If you do that God will lift you up. God cares for you"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) This is one sentence with v6: "Humble yourselves... casting all your anxieties on Him for He cares for you." The proud person feels that he or she has to make things happen. The root of all worry lies in the idea that what happens is ultimately in my hands. If you think that what happens is ultimately in your hands, that's pride. None of us can add an inch to our height or an hour to our life by worrying about it. What happens is finally in the hands of God. There is a powerful insight here. If I want to deal with my anxiety, I have to start by dealing with my pride. Humility is the ultimate release from anxiety. Pride says, "What happens is up to me," and that leaves me anxious. Humility says, "Lord, everything that concerns me is in your hand," and that is the beginning of peace.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
What Trials Show About Your Faith
What Trials Show About Your Faith
By Colin Smith
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith... may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1:6,7 (NIV) If you have something that might be of great value, you want to know if it is authentic, and you will seize any opportunity to prove it. This is why the Antiques Road Show has been such an outstanding success. The experts arrive in a city and people bring their antiques. They have one question: "What is this worth?" And they seize the opportunity to find out. "I think this might be a Ming vase. Could you tell me if it is authentic?" Your faith is of far more value than a Ming vase or a Rembrandt painting. Your faith is "of greater worth than gold." (v6) Gold, like every other created thing, will eventually perish. But your faith, if it's genuine, will last for eternity. The question is: How do you know that it is genuine? How do you know that it is not a passing phase? Peter tells us "When you suffer grief in all kinds of trials..."
1 Peter 1:6 (NIV) When you suffer you will have all the evidence you need that your faith is authentic. Here's why: If your faith were just a human decision or a passing phase, then as soon as you began to suffer, you would renounce your faith. You would turn away from God and spend the rest of your life saying, "I can no longer believe in God." Or you would smolder away in bitterness and resentment against Him. You must know people like that. The big question is: "Why isn't everybody like that?" Why is it that there are people hearing this who struggle with unanswered questions, disappointed hopes and dreams, lost loved ones and lost jobs, have suffered illness, or violence or some other personal catastrophe... and yet they still believe! They still love Christ! There's only one explanation"These have come so that your faith... may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1:7 (NIV) "Your faith is a miracle! It is a living seed of the life of God planted in you. It is like a bulb in the ground that is buried in the dirt, but it does not die! You have gone through all these trials. You have faced all these unanswered questions. You cannot see Him and you cannot work out what He is doing. Yet, "You love Him. You believe in Him." (v8) There can be no greater evidence of the authenticity of your faith than that. And just so you know, that faith which has been proved genuine will result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. One day He is going to wipe every tear from your eyes, and you will hear His voice saying to you: "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into your Master's happiness."
By Colin Smith
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith... may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1:6,7 (NIV) If you have something that might be of great value, you want to know if it is authentic, and you will seize any opportunity to prove it. This is why the Antiques Road Show has been such an outstanding success. The experts arrive in a city and people bring their antiques. They have one question: "What is this worth?" And they seize the opportunity to find out. "I think this might be a Ming vase. Could you tell me if it is authentic?" Your faith is of far more value than a Ming vase or a Rembrandt painting. Your faith is "of greater worth than gold." (v6) Gold, like every other created thing, will eventually perish. But your faith, if it's genuine, will last for eternity. The question is: How do you know that it is genuine? How do you know that it is not a passing phase? Peter tells us "When you suffer grief in all kinds of trials..."
1 Peter 1:6 (NIV) When you suffer you will have all the evidence you need that your faith is authentic. Here's why: If your faith were just a human decision or a passing phase, then as soon as you began to suffer, you would renounce your faith. You would turn away from God and spend the rest of your life saying, "I can no longer believe in God." Or you would smolder away in bitterness and resentment against Him. You must know people like that. The big question is: "Why isn't everybody like that?" Why is it that there are people hearing this who struggle with unanswered questions, disappointed hopes and dreams, lost loved ones and lost jobs, have suffered illness, or violence or some other personal catastrophe... and yet they still believe! They still love Christ! There's only one explanation"These have come so that your faith... may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1:7 (NIV) "Your faith is a miracle! It is a living seed of the life of God planted in you. It is like a bulb in the ground that is buried in the dirt, but it does not die! You have gone through all these trials. You have faced all these unanswered questions. You cannot see Him and you cannot work out what He is doing. Yet, "You love Him. You believe in Him." (v8) There can be no greater evidence of the authenticity of your faith than that. And just so you know, that faith which has been proved genuine will result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. One day He is going to wipe every tear from your eyes, and you will hear His voice saying to you: "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into your Master's happiness."
Friday, October 2, 2009
Urgent Request from VOM
From VOM:
Maryam Rustampoor, 27, and Marzieh Amirizadeh, 30, were arrested and sent to Evin Prison in Tehran, Iran. The two women did not rob a bank, kill a man or beat up someone.
Their crime? Loving Jesus. And it is for this reason alone they are still imprisoned.
In August during a court hearing, the two were questioned repeatedly about their faith. They were told to return to Islam.
"We love Jesus," was their reply. Prosecutors asked the women, who had already spent five months in prison, if they regretted being Christians.
"We have no regrets," they said. "We will not deny our faith."
The judge sent them back to Evin Prison - notorious for its brutality - to "think about" their decision.
"We have already done our thinking," they told him.
Maryam and Marzieh are among dozens of Iranian Christians arrested, detained or interrogated in Iran in recent months. The harassment is the radical Islamic government's response to an Iranian revival that has thousands of Iranians coming to Christ each month.
The Voice of the Martyrs helps the Iranian church in many ways, including supporting gospel television broadcasts transmitted into Iran and printing Christian literature for distribution inside the country.
Their crime? Loving Jesus. And it is for this reason alone they are still imprisoned.
In August during a court hearing, the two were questioned repeatedly about their faith. They were told to return to Islam.
"We love Jesus," was their reply. Prosecutors asked the women, who had already spent five months in prison, if they regretted being Christians.
"We have no regrets," they said. "We will not deny our faith."
The judge sent them back to Evin Prison - notorious for its brutality - to "think about" their decision.
"We have already done our thinking," they told him.
Maryam and Marzieh are among dozens of Iranian Christians arrested, detained or interrogated in Iran in recent months. The harassment is the radical Islamic government's response to an Iranian revival that has thousands of Iranians coming to Christ each month.
The Voice of the Martyrs helps the Iranian church in many ways, including supporting gospel television broadcasts transmitted into Iran and printing Christian literature for distribution inside the country.
(Click Here to Help)
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Do you see this happneing?
I was listening to Jan Markell this morning and this guy was outlining some clear writing on the wall indicating a clear direction of globalism, one world religion and government, etc. It's happening quick....there are 2 big meetings coming up with influential political and media types (one in November and one in December). The European Union and United Nations have gained power and influence we can not stop anymore....Obama will have to toe the line (which he will because he's a globalist)...but even if he doesn't it won't matter because they have the power now to put enough hardship on this nation that we will crumble in to conformity. It seems to me we (as a nation) are compromising and conforming...The days of saying, "no way, the US would never succumb to world opinion".....now it has become, "yea, I could see it happening"
This guy was pointing out the hatred and hostility the world has toward Israel and it is growing big time. Obama and another world leader got together and agreed that on Jerusalem Day (I guess recently) that they would fly the UN flag over some wall (I assume on the border or something) and the President of Israel said, not on my watch. The point is, Obama is showing his true colors toward Israel more and more. We need to understand that when anyone speaks and acts against the Jews they are the enemy, because Israel is our friend. These guys talk a persuasive game and if we don't have a trail marker we could get confused and persuaded...I think that marker is, "where do you stand on the divinity of Jesus and are you a friend or foe of Israel?" We will know them by there actions. They can and will disguise themselves as instruments of light (2 Corinthians 11:13-15; see below), but if they give equal creditability to all the worlds religions and they seek to hurt Israel we will know who they are of, their father the devil (John 8:44; see below). Remember, Satan's goal is to have all humanity worship him; the one world system is the way he will seek to do it. Write me off as a fool if you want, but this is all Biblical; The Word warns of it and it is being ushered in quickly. Bury your head in the sand or pay attention and be prepared...the choice is yours. As Peter talked about, prepare your minds for action! How will you respond if you are forced to make a decision between life and Jesus? Prison or Jesus? Food or Jesus? Your home or Jesus?
What's my point? This guy hit the nail on the head when he was asked, what we could do as Christians? He said, the problem is, many Christians are 90% political and 10% spiritual. We can address the political issues all we want, but the reality is, if this nation doesn't repent it will not matter. As a nation we need to quit conforming to the world and put God and His ways first.
Remember what Jesus said, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38)
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (James 4:4)
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves (2 Peter 2:1)
From Above:
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
John 8:44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
This guy was pointing out the hatred and hostility the world has toward Israel and it is growing big time. Obama and another world leader got together and agreed that on Jerusalem Day (I guess recently) that they would fly the UN flag over some wall (I assume on the border or something) and the President of Israel said, not on my watch. The point is, Obama is showing his true colors toward Israel more and more. We need to understand that when anyone speaks and acts against the Jews they are the enemy, because Israel is our friend. These guys talk a persuasive game and if we don't have a trail marker we could get confused and persuaded...I think that marker is, "where do you stand on the divinity of Jesus and are you a friend or foe of Israel?" We will know them by there actions. They can and will disguise themselves as instruments of light (2 Corinthians 11:13-15; see below), but if they give equal creditability to all the worlds religions and they seek to hurt Israel we will know who they are of, their father the devil (John 8:44; see below). Remember, Satan's goal is to have all humanity worship him; the one world system is the way he will seek to do it. Write me off as a fool if you want, but this is all Biblical; The Word warns of it and it is being ushered in quickly. Bury your head in the sand or pay attention and be prepared...the choice is yours. As Peter talked about, prepare your minds for action! How will you respond if you are forced to make a decision between life and Jesus? Prison or Jesus? Food or Jesus? Your home or Jesus?
What's my point? This guy hit the nail on the head when he was asked, what we could do as Christians? He said, the problem is, many Christians are 90% political and 10% spiritual. We can address the political issues all we want, but the reality is, if this nation doesn't repent it will not matter. As a nation we need to quit conforming to the world and put God and His ways first.
Remember what Jesus said, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38)
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (James 4:4)
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves (2 Peter 2:1)
From Above:
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
John 8:44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Run the Race
My 7 year old son asked me tonight if there is any verses in the Bible about believing in yourself. I told him we are to believe in Jesus and put our hope and trust in Him. I told him we are also called to run the race set before us, and seek to do His will:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
We need to be self-controled in all we do...our language, our anger, our lust, our thoughts, our actions, etc. When you read God's Word there is an amazing amount of instruction on self control. I'd like to encourage you to go to the NIV website and do a word search of self-control and read all the verses. You can find an easy link to the NIV from the resource page at TheOneBridge.com
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
We need to be self-controled in all we do...our language, our anger, our lust, our thoughts, our actions, etc. When you read God's Word there is an amazing amount of instruction on self control. I'd like to encourage you to go to the NIV website and do a word search of self-control and read all the verses. You can find an easy link to the NIV from the resource page at TheOneBridge.com
Monday, September 21, 2009
Verses of Encouragement
Hi Everyone!
My daughter had a very weird and scary dream last night that may have been a spiritual attack; I had her read these verses to be aware of what it may have been, and to be encouraged by the fact that victory has already been had in and through Christ:
Ephesians 6:1212 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
1 Peter 5:6-11
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Philippians 1:6
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
John 10:28
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
My daughter had a very weird and scary dream last night that may have been a spiritual attack; I had her read these verses to be aware of what it may have been, and to be encouraged by the fact that victory has already been had in and through Christ:
Ephesians 6:1212 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
1 Peter 5:6-11
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Philippians 1:6
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
John 10:28
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
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