Monday, February 29, 2016

Practice


Something to think about.

Practice

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.Philippians 4:9

It is not enough to know the word of God you must actively take part in the life God wants for you. Knowledge is not the ultimate goal, living is. 

Leia Mais…

Saturday, February 27, 2016

The Desire of Christ



Something to think about.

The Desire of Christ

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”John 17:24  (NIV)

Jesus wants us to be with Him that we may experience the wondrous glory of God. Because God loved Jesus before the creation of the world.

Leia Mais…

Friday, February 26, 2016

Two Or Three Are Better Than One

Something to think about.

Two Or Three Are Better Than One

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”Matthew 18:20  (NIV)

Pray with someone, the synergy of the power of God is express in unity.

Leia Mais…

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Our High Priest


Something to think about.

Our High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

He knows us because He lived among us. We know we can approach God because He is there for us.

Leia Mais…

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

For This Day


Something to think about.

For This Day

1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—
2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1 Timothy 2:1-2

People pray for our country we need more of God, not more of man.

Leia Mais…

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

What Don't You Know?

Something to think about.

What Don't You Know?

‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:3  (NIV)

Do You want answers? Seek God he wants to let you in.

Leia Mais…

Monday, February 22, 2016

But Who Do You Say I Am?


But Who Do You Say I Am?

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” Mk 8:29 (NIV) Jesus is traveling with His disciples and he asked Peter “who do you say I am?” It is an odd question if you think about it. Have you asked anyone that knows you well that question? The question is not asking what are other people are saying about me the question is “Who do you say I am?”

When someone asks you the question, “who is that” and you know the answer you might say he’s the president, he’s a professional baseball player, she’s a singer, she’s an actress or any other identifiable fact about the person in question. The question is answered by you with the most exemplifying definition of the person. With the most identifying characteristic that person is best known for.

Prior to asking Peter, he had asked his disciples the same questions “On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” Mk 8:27 (NIV) To which they replied with various answers. First he asks the question to see who the public thinks he is. To which he gets answers from people who don’t know him well. Then he turns to people who know him well and asks the same question and he gets a much different answer. Peter says you are the Messiah.

The Messiah was the savior of the Jewish people. You need to understand that at this point the rest of the world was not included in the anticipated salvation of the Jewish people. As Christians, we accept what Peter says as if it pertained to us. In reality, Peter and all the disciples were not considering any non-Jew as being recipients of the promise. Even after the resurrection, the apostles were still exclusively preaching the Gospel to Jews. Remember Peter does not have the vision of the sheet until after the death and resurrection of Christ. So when he answers this question he is expecting that Jesus is going to deliver the Jewish people from their present situation without concern for the rest of the world.

Peter answers the question correctly but he does not have an inkling of who the Messiah was or why He came to earth. Peter as those of his time was expecting a deliverer that would restore the kingdom of David. He did not know nor was he aware of all that the Messiah would accomplish. Peter was not fully cognizant of who Jesus is. He is yet to come to understand that Jesus is the savior of the entire world, not just the restorer of David’s kingdom. He does not yet understand that Jesus is not just the Jewish king He is the king of the entire universe. He is still not fully aware that he walked, talked and lived with deity. Peter, when he responds to this question, is not answering it as “Messiah God of the Universe Savior of the world” he is answering it as “Messiah the man, the savior of Israel”.

Not until after the disciples met the resurrected Jesus did they understand who he was. Until that time they were still thinking that their savior had died and would not, could not deliver Israel. Even after this did they still remained convinced that salvation was reserved for the Jewish people. Not until Peter has his vision and the conversion of Paul do the apostles come to realize the completeness of the salvation that Christ offers’ the world. Not only did he come for the Jew but He came for the entirety of humanity. Not until the death, resurrection, ascension, not until the vision does Peter begin to understand that his Messiah is not just the Messiah of Israel He is the Messiah of the world.
“Who do you say I am?” Today the answer is the same as it was when Peter answered it. Jesus is the Messiah the savior of the world.

Leia Mais…

Friday, February 19, 2016

Bearing Fruit


Something to think about.

Bearing Fruit

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:16 | NIV

You were chosen with a purpose, to be fruitful in accordance with God’s will. Ask in accordance with His will and it will be granted.

Leia Mais…

Monday, February 15, 2016

Do You Abide in Him?


Something to think about.

Do You Abide in Him?

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7         
 
The more you know God the more you will be blessed by Him

Leia Mais…

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Will You Accept This Offer?


Something to think about.

Will You Accept This Offer?

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” John 10:28-30

If you accept the gift no one can take it away from you but you must accept the gift.

Leia Mais…

Friday, February 12, 2016

Who Do You Pray To?


Something to think about.

Who Do You Pray To?


Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Matthew 6:9 (ESV)

Our Father, my Father, your father, you can address the creator of the universe by His most intimate loving name “Father”.

Leia Mais…

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Foretold


Something to think about.

Foretold

“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,” Luke 24:46

It was prophesied and fulfilled with the resurrection. 

Leia Mais…

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

The Benefits of Obedience


Something to think about.

The Benefits of Obedience

1“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. 3 Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. 5 Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 6 Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
7“ The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. 8 The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.


I pray that I may learn to obey you, God. If you obey, the blessings of God will overtake you.

Leia Mais…

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

It Is Not Ancient


Something to think about.

It Is Not Ancient

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

The word of God is alive because He’s alive.

Leia Mais…

Monday, February 8, 2016

Sovereignty

Sovereignty
Part 1
In one of the Avengers movies Loki the villain is about to be confronted by the hulk. He told The Hulk, “Enough! You are, all of you are, beneath me! I am a god, you dull creature, and I will not be bullied by... Before he finishes his sentence, The Hulk grabs him by his leg and repeatedly smashed Loki into the ground. When he finished smashing him into the ground, The Hulk tosses him aside and said “Puny God”.
Is that your concept of God? Is your god an entity from another plane of existence that can perform supernatural actions but is still not totally in control? An entity that you can manipulate if you’re strong enough or smart enough? One that can be persuaded if you use just the right argument?  A god you can appease by some set of rules or a god that you can negotiate with?  A god you can manipulate to your way of thinking? A god you can look in the eye and go toe to toe with? If this is your God, I say to you Puny God!
Let me tell you about my God. My god is the creator of the universe, and as such, He is sovereign. The God-inspired writer of Genesis begins with “In the beginning God created…” Gen 1:1.  The New Testament book of Revelations 22:13  says “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”  What these verses have in common is the claim to authorship and supreme authority or sovereignty.  In Genesis 1:1 God is claiming responsibility for the creation of the universe and all that is in it. In Revelation, He is explaining His position in life. He is saying before me there was nothing and after Me, there will be nothing. These statements lead to the apparent position of supreme authority or better stated: ultimate Sovereignty. Sovereignty is defined by Merriam-Webster as
: unlimited power over a country
: a country's independent authority and the right to govern itself
In other words, the government of a country has unlimited power to enforce the rules of that society. The only caveat to this is that the society which is being governed gives the government the power to enforce the rules. Any government could not enforce the rules unless the populace is in support of the government. Once the populace no longer supports the government some kind of revolution occurs. That is the limit of sovereignty in human terms. This is the best definition of sovereignty we have in relationship to God and something immediately becomes apparent. This definition though it is clear and easily understandable does not fully explain the sovereignty of God. We need not support Him for Him to enforce the rules. We cannot form a revolution that will remove Him from his position. Whether we acquiesce or not, He will still be God.
If we look closer into the concept of Sovereignty in relation to God we begin to notice some distinct characteristics of God. In Revelation, He makes the claim “I am the Alpha and Omega” Alpha meaning first or beginning, and Omega meaning the extreme final part. Then it says “The First and the Last.” Then it says “the Beginning and the End”. God is saying he is the completeness of existence.  What he is doing by using this vernacular is describing to humanity who he is in a manner which we may understand.  He is saying He is at the beginning and at the end simultaneously. He is the first and the last at the same time. He is the first and final part. If you think about this description, it will lead you to the conclusion that God is everywhere all the time. The reason He can be the first and last at the same time is because He created time. The creation of time was for our benefit, not His, He is not subject to the laws of time for He created the laws of time. Thus, He can and does live without being affected or interrupted by time.
According to Genesis, God created the universe. Think about that for a moment. God created everything that exists.  Before God created it, nothing existed. To be even clearer, before God created the heavens and the earth not even the emptiness of nothing existed. It is hard to imagine the total emptiness of  everything. For example, nothingness has a boundary. The boundary is where something begins. Nothing exists until it finds the borders of something, then its boundaries are defined.  But before God created the universe there did not exist even the basic elements of anything. Then God brought it all into existence.  From the most basic parts of existence to the most complex organism, God created  it all.
The problem I think people have with God is not the concept of God but, an understanding of who God is. God is not a man. He is not an entity we can define. Not because He is undefinable, or because He is hiding, but because we are determined to put Him into human terminology, God cannot be limited by our simplistic intellect! How do we describe an entity that existed before time began? One that in reality created time! An entity that is not part of our human experience but is so far removed from us that we lack the vocabulary to actually describe Him. Just because we lack the ability to describe Him does not mean he does not exist. I was there when both of my daughters were born. However, if you were to ask me to describe childbirth, I would lack the ability to describe it accurately because I did not have the baby. My wife and all mothers would have a much better ability to describe birth because they lived it. My inability to describe it in an accurate way does not negate the fact that my children were born. Our inability to accurately describe God does not negate the fact that He exists.
When we think of the complexity of existence we need to ask what kind of intelligence is required to create the universe and the earth. It requires an intelligence that far exceeds anything that humanity has identified. Yet the one that created the universe had to be all knowing. Why, might you ask? In order to make everything in our universe work, the creator would need to know how everything affects everything else or there would be constant uncontrolled chaos.
I had a traumatic physical experience a few years ago. I had a heart attack. Not your run of the mill heart attack, I had what the nurses called a “widow maker.” To explain, if you have the type of heart attack I had you usually died. I had several highly trained doctors. I had a heart surgeon, nephrologists, a pulmonary specialist, a general surgeon, an infectious disease specialist, a gastroenterologist, a general practitioner and my wife who did more than any of the doctors to save my life. During the most intense part of my treatment I was unconscious, so my wife was the one that relayed this to me. During my stay in ICU, the doctors would confer and my wife would listen in as they were discussing the proper course of action. Because my kidneys had stopped functioning, the nephrologists had the lead. The other doctors would passionately argue for a certain course of action and the effects of doing or not doing dialysis on me. They were all concerned about how the poisons in my body would affect my recovery. Every doctor was concerned with how a specific course of action would affect their specific specialty. There was not a single doctor that claimed to have a full understanding of how a specific course of action would interact with another specialty. These very highly trained professionals did not have all the answers. Fortunately, for me, they made the correct choices. I believe it was because God, the one who had all the correct answers was, in the end, the one that was directing the course of action. These highly trained doctors were concerned that if they made the wrong choice I would die. Their concern was that they did not know how one action would affect another condition. This was just a heart attack with complications. Imagine a universe without knowing how one thing affects the other. We would not exist.
When God created the universe and all that is in it, He did not become part of his creation. There are aspects of God in the creation, but God Himself is not in the creation. It is much like an artist who you can appreciate and benefit from their creation, but you do not have direct access to that creator – the artist. God, the creator lives, or better said, exists outside of that which He created. If He were to live or exist in that which He created, He would be subject to the limitations of His creation. Since He exists outside of His creation He has total sovereignty over his creation. He can dispose of it, keep it, change it or simply redo it. He has the ultimate authority to make final judgments about it, and the creation (us) does not have a say in it!
The creator of everything we see lives in a realm we cannot access or have influence over. What we do on this small ball does not have a material effect on the realm of God. It is important to understand that we are not the single concern of God. I dare say we are not his main concern!  We are simply not that important.
Though I have no evidence of this, I do not find it to be too farfetched. What if the creator of this universe created another universe and, in the other universe Adam and Eve did not sin?  Now we know that God has created other creatures, angels for instance. We know this because the Bible describes other creatures. So it is not unreasonable to hypothesize that He has created other universes.  Since we know He has created other creatures besides us, exactly how awesomely big is God? Is it possible that we are simply utterly ignorant of who God is? We need to remove Him from our understanding of a man type God. In other words, a God that is in resemblance of man. Though the bible says we are created in His image, I think we have to take the word image a little more literally. We may have a resemblance as well as some of God’s attributes, but we are a great deal more unlike Him than we are like Him.
In movies and books, man tries to imagine what life away from our planet might look like. We come up with some pretty imaginative life forms.  We wonder if there are other planes of existence. We postulate on the possibility of a parallel universe that operates just outside of our ability to identify it.  We send exploratory crafts in search of proof of life beyond our earth. We have enjoyed stories of universes outside of anything on this planet. But we have a problem with a creator that created us. We have a hard time accepting that the God that created us lives not bound by the same restraints as we are. Why?  I find it interesting that we can have brave new worlds; we can create new solar systems where different life forms exist and thrive, but we cannot accept the plane of existence where all of this already exists.
After God created the “heavens and the earth,” in verse two it says “and the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface.” Gen 1:2 (NLT) This is an interesting statement because it separates God from his Spirit. It, the Spirit of God is being treated as a separate entity. Now you might ask isn’t God essentially a spirit? Does God have a body? In Gen 1:26 (KJV) “God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:” In this verse we see God speaking and He says “in Our image”. The second word of the verse says “God” singular, and then it says “in our image.” Then it says ‘after our likeness”. In the same verse it goes from the singular “God” to the plural “our” and then as if to emphasize the point, it says “ours” again. Then Gen 3:8 (NLT) it says “they heard the Lord God walking about in the Garden”. From this statement, you would conclude that indeed the Lord God has a body. For only a body could produce sound in a garden. So far, God has been described as a spirit and an entity with a body. So we might conclude that the “our” that God used in verse 26 is describing the spirit of God and the body of God. In the New Testament we have the writer of the book of John referring to Jesus, and he described him in this way:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Jn 1:1-3 (KJV)
The writer of the book of John is placing Jesus at the creation and not only is he placing him at the creation, he is saying that it was Jesus himself that brought forth the universe and all that is in it. From this topical review, we can conclude that God is, at least, three distinct persons operating as one. How do we arrive at “as one”? God said, “let us make man in our image.” God is the description of the three as one. Since the singular word used is “God” and not Gods the three entities are being referred to as one.  Now the concept of the Trinity is very complex. It is a complex concept I barely understand, but for the purpose of describing God, it is sufficient to understand the basic idea of the Trinity, because that is a singular trait that can only be ascribed to God. Though man was created in the image of God, we have never been described by anyone to be three distinct persons; as God is: God the Father, The Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ the son.
Where does God live? Well, he lives in a place called heaven. As to its actual location, no one has found it. Is it because He exists in a plane of existence just outside the ability of human senses to detect? If, as I believe, we were created by God and God created everything that exists, he has to exist somewhere beyond our space and time requirements. This place is the place that our scientists are looking for, a place where we can find different life forms.  This is a place where the rules are different, where life operates under a different set of parameters. Maybe it is located in the ninety percent of our brains that lie dormant. Maybe it is right beside us and we don’t believe because we can’t access it and not because it is not there.
To summarize, the creator of the universe does not need us. We cannot change his plans. We cannot challenge, or we can but we can’t’ win.  He is powerful beyond our understanding. He is bigger than our imaginations. He cannot be overpowered, cannot be negotiated with. He cannot be intimidated. We cannot influence him. We are utterly powerless before him. He is sovereign.

Leia Mais…

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Resurrected

Something to think about.

Resurrected

I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Revelation 1:18 (NKJV)

Death is not final. Christ has conquered and is alive forevermore. He has power and dominion over all.

Leia Mais…

Friday, February 5, 2016

It Is Always Too Soon to Quit


Something to think about.

It Is Always Too Soon to Quit

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

God sees what you're doing and He is grateful, in time He will bless you.

Leia Mais…

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Lying Lips

Something to think about.

Lying Lips

Jesus speaking.

8‘ These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
Matthew 15:8-9

Are you believing the rationalizations of man or the word of God?

Leia Mais…

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Permanence

Something to think about.

Permanence

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8

Regardless of what happens around us God and his word will forever stand.

Leia Mais…

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Something Better


Something to think about.

Something Better

Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11

Your Father in heaven wants to give you good gifts just ask.

Leia Mais…

Monday, February 1, 2016

Who Is Jesus?

Who Is Jesus?
Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” John 8:58

If you're reading this it is for one of two reasons. One is you have heard the call of God on your life and have accepted the call or you are asking yourself who is Jesus? In verse 58 Jesus says “Before Abraham was I Am”.With these words, Jesus is saying I am God.

Abraham is the father of the Jewish nation. By saying “before Abraham”.  He is saying in effect I am the one who commanded your father Abraham to leave his home and promised him a land flowing with milk and honey. “I AM” is the way God  identified himself to Moses. God told Moses to tell them “I Am” sent you.
For you for me for those listening on the day when Jesus spoke these words, this proclamation is beyond huge. He is saying, I am God the creator of heaven and earth.

As you grow in your Christian faith you will come across prophecies from the old testament that foretell of the coming of Christ. You will see that his virgin birth his life his death and his resurrection were foretold. You will come to understand that Jesus is the son of God.

Do not be mislead do not be deceived. Jesus did not leave any doubt about who he was and why he was here.  He is not a prophet, he is not a lunatic he is not a liar. He is not a mystical creation or legend. He is not a puffed up story of man's imagination. He is the son of God sent to make a way where there was no way.  He came to earth to provide humanity with the means to enter into the presence of God and be accepted.

The question has never been, is Jesus who he says he is, the question has been and always will be will you accept who Jesus said he is the “I Am”.

Leia Mais…