Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit set their minds on things of the spirit.
This is one of my favorite verses. Before I was saved, I wouldn't have wanted to read this. It is actually pretty self explanatory, so I won't be boring you all with my opinion about what it means.
God Bless!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
How the 10 Commandments Apply To Me
Exodus 20:2-17
Paraphrased
1. You shall have no other gods before you
2. You shall not make for yourself and carved image to serve
3. You shall not take the Lord your God in vain
4. Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy
5. Honor your Father and Mother
6. You shall not murder
7. You shall not commit adultery
8. No stealing
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's house, or wife, stuff, ect...
10. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
How do you think the commandments can affect someone in today's society? A lot of times it gets people mad. Why? Because we've all committed some or all of them.
I want you to read over them and just think about each one. They served a purpose in the Old Testament and they still serve a purpose now.
Paraphrased
1. You shall have no other gods before you
2. You shall not make for yourself and carved image to serve
3. You shall not take the Lord your God in vain
4. Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy
5. Honor your Father and Mother
6. You shall not murder
7. You shall not commit adultery
8. No stealing
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's house, or wife, stuff, ect...
10. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
How do you think the commandments can affect someone in today's society? A lot of times it gets people mad. Why? Because we've all committed some or all of them.
I want you to read over them and just think about each one. They served a purpose in the Old Testament and they still serve a purpose now.
Psalm 19:7, “The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” (TheLaw here as best as I can figure is the 10 Commandments)
Romans 3:20, “For by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Same)
What the commandments do for us now, is to make us focus on our soul. It's almost like looking into a mirror. Before you can be saved, you have to know you are a sinner. One way to understand you are a sinner, is by reading and understanding the commandments.
I believe that people get convicted of their sins in many different ways. I chose todays message because I personally got convicted of my sins while watching a "Way of the Master" TV show. They were discussing the 10 commandments and how they could show a person their true self: That's what got me. I didn't like who I saw.
As always, if you feel convicted, Pray for God to forgive you of your sins. Thank Jesus for dying on that cross for you and then conquering death. Ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life. Then tell others!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Do it Jesus' Way
Luke 24:45-47
Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
I feel like today forgiveness is the only thing preached to people. You know " ask Jesus to come into your heart" and stuff like that. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, but Jesus said to preach repentance too, and actually repentance comes before forgiveness. In other words, before you can be saved from sin, you have to understand you are a sinner. This pretty much sums up my personal testimony. I had asked Jesus to come into my heart many times, and had even worked with the church in a number of rolls. The problem was, I never really saw myself as the wretched sinner I was. Since I really didn't see myself as a sinner, how could I really repent for my sinful life and really ask for forgiveness.
I hope I'm not beating a dead horse here. I also am not passing judgement on anyone. I am only speaking from my own experience, and believe this is what I have been called to do. I just want people to understand where they relationship with Jesus really is.
Jesus said there will be many who call on him in that day saying Lord, Lord; later it says He says depart from me you workers of iniquity for I never KNEW you. Now why would anyone who isn't saved call on the Lord in the last days? I think it's because it will be those who thought they were saved. I was once one of those who would have called out when it was too late. My purpose, my calling is to make sure everyone knows that just saying a prayer won't necessarily get you into heaven. He has to Know you. He knows you by you understanding what He did for you and You then asking for for forgiveness. You have to believe He is the Son of God and that He did rise and Now sits at the right hand of God.
All I ask is that you think about where you are in your relationship with Jesus. He should be the main priority in your life, not just someone you say you know and then never tell anyone about Him. Remember, we are all called to be fishers of men.
If you really feel convicted of your sins and sinful life, just tell God you are sorry. Thank Jesus for dying on that cross for you, and putting your sins as far as the east is from the west. Ask Him to forgive you. Now turn your life over to HIm. Ask for His guidance. You can get guidance through prayer and by reading His word.
If you like what you are reading, please join my blog.
Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
I feel like today forgiveness is the only thing preached to people. You know " ask Jesus to come into your heart" and stuff like that. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, but Jesus said to preach repentance too, and actually repentance comes before forgiveness. In other words, before you can be saved from sin, you have to understand you are a sinner. This pretty much sums up my personal testimony. I had asked Jesus to come into my heart many times, and had even worked with the church in a number of rolls. The problem was, I never really saw myself as the wretched sinner I was. Since I really didn't see myself as a sinner, how could I really repent for my sinful life and really ask for forgiveness.
I hope I'm not beating a dead horse here. I also am not passing judgement on anyone. I am only speaking from my own experience, and believe this is what I have been called to do. I just want people to understand where they relationship with Jesus really is.
Jesus said there will be many who call on him in that day saying Lord, Lord; later it says He says depart from me you workers of iniquity for I never KNEW you. Now why would anyone who isn't saved call on the Lord in the last days? I think it's because it will be those who thought they were saved. I was once one of those who would have called out when it was too late. My purpose, my calling is to make sure everyone knows that just saying a prayer won't necessarily get you into heaven. He has to Know you. He knows you by you understanding what He did for you and You then asking for for forgiveness. You have to believe He is the Son of God and that He did rise and Now sits at the right hand of God.
All I ask is that you think about where you are in your relationship with Jesus. He should be the main priority in your life, not just someone you say you know and then never tell anyone about Him. Remember, we are all called to be fishers of men.
If you really feel convicted of your sins and sinful life, just tell God you are sorry. Thank Jesus for dying on that cross for you, and putting your sins as far as the east is from the west. Ask Him to forgive you. Now turn your life over to HIm. Ask for His guidance. You can get guidance through prayer and by reading His word.
If you like what you are reading, please join my blog.
Monday, December 26, 2011
To really BELIEVE
1 John 5:1
1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God.
First of all let me say Merry Christmas! Hope everyone had an enjoyable one, I know we did. Today I read the verse and thought WOW, this could be territory that may cause some folks to think. As you know, and as some of you will learn as you read this blog, I like to make folks think about their salvation experience.
Now as you read the verse you could easily do like alot of people and say, "oh, I believe in in Jesus so I'm saved". Look closer--it says " everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ(God's Son-Saviour) has become a child of God" Now what that tells me that I have to actually have the faith to believe that I am following the True Son of God. Just saying a prayer and acknowledging that you believe there was a person who lived named Jesus will not save you. As someone once told me, everyone in Hell right now understands who Jesus is and what He did for the world.
If you go on reading 1 John 5 you will find that it says alot about true believers. If you are standing in front of a tree that I know is about to fall, and I tell you "hey, the tree is about to fall on you", and you say you believe me but don't move. Did you really believe the tree was about to fall, or just think it might? I hope that didn't confuse anyone. My point is If we really believe that Jesus died for our sins, rose again after 3 days, and is the Son of God,and follow His commandments, then we are saved. If we said a prayer at some time in our life, but never felt conviction, never felt the need to follow His commandments, never try and tell anyone about Him, and really aren't different that the rest of the world; it may be that we in fact aren't saved. I speak from experience here.
I thought I was saved when I was in 2nd grade, then 3rd, then watching the 700 club, then at youth group when I was 15. Point is I wasn't. I only said prayers. I didn't turn my life over to God and His will. I wasn't actively reading the word, which is how a Christian is able to grow, and I hadn't really turned over my sins to Jesus. Jesus was the one time sacrifice for us. Everything you have done or will do has been taken care of.
To sum up todays message----
I (steve) believe to truly believe in Jesus is to make Him the Lord of your life. To ask guidance from God. To read His word. To tell others about Him and what He has done for you. I don't believe to believe is just to say you agree that Jesus was a real person and ask him to come into your heart.
If you don't think you are saved, Please take care of it immediately. Just believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and ask him to forgive you for your sins, read His commandments because they can show you alot about yourself, and make Him the Lord of your life. BE DIFFERENT! It's OK! We should't blend in with the world, people should think we are a little strange or different!
Also, thanks to all who are reading this Blog. Please send it to anyone you know.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
God doesn't remember your past, so why should you?
"Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)
I think this is going to be my new life verse. We have all done things in our past that we are not proud of. God tells us that after we are saved he remembers our sins no more.
As usual when I write these, it's because of what's going on with me at the time. I have been feeling guilty about all of my short comings lately, to the point it is driving me crazy. As I read this, this morning I realized that if the one who created me sees me "white as snow" then I have no business thinking otherwise.
Therefore like the above verse implies, we should forget our past and press forward with Kingdom Work. If Satan is able to keep us focusing on our past then it is hard to move into the future working for the Lord.
We are all called to be fishers of men, so let's all make a pact. From now on let's focus on telling others about what God has done for us and how He changed our lives. I think if we do this, we not have enough time to spend feeling guilty about anything.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Something that should make us think
Luke 13:23-24 Someone said, Lord, will those who are saved be few? Jesus said, strive to enter the narrow door. For many, I say will seek to enter and not be able.
Quick thoughts........
Before I truly repented and was saved, I was one of those church members who thought that just saying a prayer would get my sins forgiven. BAck then I just went to church, prayed, and read my bible occasionally. I never felt sorry about being a sinner, and never felt the Holy Spirit convicting me of things that I had done or did on a daily basis.
Jesus makes it clear that many people think that they are saved, but really aren't. Unless you have truly felt sorry about the things that you have done and asked for forgiveness, you can't make the guest list into heaven. That sounds harsh, but if you are/were like me, you may need harsh truth.
I think what He means by the "narrow door" is the path that saved christians take in life. Even though we/I sin daily, we feel obligated to live differently and tell others what Jesus did for us. I don't want this to sound like I believe in "works" getting anyone to heaven, but if you are truly saved, want you be convicted to do good works?
This blog is going to be sometimes harsh, but it is always intended to help those who may need to hear it.
I praise the Lord, for convicting me when I thought i was saved and really wasn't. If it wasn't for that conviction I would still be Hell bound today.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Christmas 2011
Luke 23:34 Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
As usual when I come up with these little devotionals, it's because I have been convicted of something and feel the need to write (talk) about it.
As I read this, this morning, all I could think about was how worthless i felt. I mean, Here Jesus is been beaten to a pulp, spit on, and in what had to have been excruciating pain……Asking God to forgive the people who did this to them. He knew the magnitude of what was going; He knew that God's anger was going to rage!
Could you imagine watching thieves, liars, ect… beat your child? Could you imagine watching people spit and curse your child while he/she was hanging on a cross gasping for breathes of air? Can you imagine the anger( pure rage) you would feel toward all those involved?
Make no mistake about it, God had to have felt anger toward this sinful people. Now can you imagine some of your childs last words being something like: "Daddy, don't be angry with them because they really don't realize what they are doing? It tears me up to think about Jesus' crucifixion like this, but it should tear me (us all) up.
Now realize that God did get angry and rather than punish those (us) hateful sinners who did this to his child, he had to focus this his anger on His own Son. When Jesus yelled out " Father, why have you forsaken me?", we know that God had pulled his presence away from Jesus. You see, Jesus was taking on all of the past, present, and future sins of all mankind so that we could be given the chance to ask for Grace through Jesus. If God had not judged Jesus like a sinner, then He could never have granted us Salvation.
GOD IS ABLE TO FORGIVE OUR SINS ONLY BECAUSE HIS SON TOOK OUR PUNISHMENT. Praise be to God!
If you have never asked God to forgive you, and have never truly felt sorry about the things you have done: all you have to do is tell God you know you are a sinner, tell Thank Him (Jesus) for dying on that cross for YOU. Then make God (Jesus) the Lord of your life. Tell others about your experience. Remember we are to be fishers of men!
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!
As usual when I come up with these little devotionals, it's because I have been convicted of something and feel the need to write (talk) about it.
As I read this, this morning, all I could think about was how worthless i felt. I mean, Here Jesus is been beaten to a pulp, spit on, and in what had to have been excruciating pain……Asking God to forgive the people who did this to them. He knew the magnitude of what was going; He knew that God's anger was going to rage!
Could you imagine watching thieves, liars, ect… beat your child? Could you imagine watching people spit and curse your child while he/she was hanging on a cross gasping for breathes of air? Can you imagine the anger( pure rage) you would feel toward all those involved?
Make no mistake about it, God had to have felt anger toward this sinful people. Now can you imagine some of your childs last words being something like: "Daddy, don't be angry with them because they really don't realize what they are doing? It tears me up to think about Jesus' crucifixion like this, but it should tear me (us all) up.
Now realize that God did get angry and rather than punish those (us) hateful sinners who did this to his child, he had to focus this his anger on His own Son. When Jesus yelled out " Father, why have you forsaken me?", we know that God had pulled his presence away from Jesus. You see, Jesus was taking on all of the past, present, and future sins of all mankind so that we could be given the chance to ask for Grace through Jesus. If God had not judged Jesus like a sinner, then He could never have granted us Salvation.
GOD IS ABLE TO FORGIVE OUR SINS ONLY BECAUSE HIS SON TOOK OUR PUNISHMENT. Praise be to God!
If you have never asked God to forgive you, and have never truly felt sorry about the things you have done: all you have to do is tell God you know you are a sinner, tell Thank Him (Jesus) for dying on that cross for YOU. Then make God (Jesus) the Lord of your life. Tell others about your experience. Remember we are to be fishers of men!
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!
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