I have been reading Matthew 26 & 27. There is much in these chapters that detail the arrest, and death of Jesus. The one thing that stuck out to me is the fact that Jesus stayed the course. Despite the sure pain and suffering that He would experience, he went willingly as a lamb to the slaughter. He had every opportunity to escape or deliver himself from the situation he was in. At his arrest he could of led a rebellion, and because of his great popularity among the people could have been very successful. Of course at any time he could of called on twelve legions of angels. Before the Sanhedrin, He could of kept silent, and would have been eventually set free. Before Pilot, He could of spoken, and defended himself and ultimately be set free. Then on the cross, people mocked Him and told him to rescue himself, and he could have done that very thing. Yet, nothing we keep Jesus from staying the course, neither opportunity, coercing, mocking, pride, power, or self'-defense.
God would say to us today, know the mind of Christ for your life, and stay the course that Christ has set before you, no matter what may come your way. We must be careful not to allow pride, self-centeredness, temptation, the influence of others, or any trial keep us from being faithful to what God has called us to.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Not A Waste
I recently read the story of the woman who anointed Jesus with perfume. (Matthew 26:6-13) I have read and taught on this story many a time, but it is amazing how God shows you something different that you never noticed before. The phrase that stuck out to me is, "Why this waste?". the disciples saw this action as a waste of money. Money that could have been given to the poor.
Then the Lord spoke to my heart, nothing is wasted on me. We have all done things for the Lord. Often this requires our time, energy and finances. Often it may go unnoticed by others, or even unappreciated by others. Sometimes we do things for the Lord, and we wonder if it is really worth it. It is easy to be discouraged as we serve the Lord. It is especially difficult when we pour our lives out as a drink offering to the Lord, and seemingly there is little reward.
The word of the Lord for you today is that your time, energy and effort, no matter how small, given in the Lord's name (this is worship) is not ignored. It has not gone to waste. God sees our heart and our every act of worship. It is a beautiful thing to him. (Matthew 26:10)
Then the Lord spoke to my heart, nothing is wasted on me. We have all done things for the Lord. Often this requires our time, energy and finances. Often it may go unnoticed by others, or even unappreciated by others. Sometimes we do things for the Lord, and we wonder if it is really worth it. It is easy to be discouraged as we serve the Lord. It is especially difficult when we pour our lives out as a drink offering to the Lord, and seemingly there is little reward.
The word of the Lord for you today is that your time, energy and effort, no matter how small, given in the Lord's name (this is worship) is not ignored. It has not gone to waste. God sees our heart and our every act of worship. It is a beautiful thing to him. (Matthew 26:10)
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Keys to Prosperity
Now I am not a name it claim it kind of guy. I don't agree with much of the prosperity doctrine, but I believe that there is an under lying theme through out the Bible that God provides for His children and loves to give them good gifts. There are many examples of this in the Old Testament and principles taught in the new testament on this.
I would like to give you a number of these key principles.
Psalms 24:1 say that, "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it"
The first key is that we need to recognize that God is Lord and make Him Lord of our life. When we do this we will put our confidence in Him. The result will be that we will have peace in our hearts and mind, no longer worrying about our finances. The other result will be that God will honor our faith and provide for us. Also, when we do this, we will no longer try to resolve our financial problems in our own strength. The result, we will no longer tire ourselves in making money. The other result, we will be led by the Holy Spirit in our financial decisions. Also, we will put God above all else and walk up right before Him which will encourage God to provide for our every need.
The second key to prospering as a believer is giving. God promises those who give their tithes and offering will be blessed in a tangible way. (Malachi 3:6-12) Also, God promises to bless those who give to the poor. (Proverbs 22:9) The Bible teaches that the measure we give will determine the measure we receive. (Luke 6:38) Yet, it is not sufficient to give, but we must give with a proper attitude, if not, will not be blessed. (2 Corinthians 9:7; Matthew 6:1)
Another key to prosperity is a spiritual life. Prayer plays an important part in receiving from the Lord. (Matthew 7:8) Accompanied with this prayer there must be faith. Without genuine faith, we shouldn't expect anything from the Lord. (James 1:6-7) James talks about how the prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much. (James 5;16) Also, Psalms 1 talks about the blessings that accompany a righteous man.
There are other practical things that we must apply to our lives to prosper which I don't have time to elaborate on here: faithfulness, creativity, excellence, and strategy.
I would like to give you a number of these key principles.
Psalms 24:1 say that, "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it"
The first key is that we need to recognize that God is Lord and make Him Lord of our life. When we do this we will put our confidence in Him. The result will be that we will have peace in our hearts and mind, no longer worrying about our finances. The other result will be that God will honor our faith and provide for us. Also, when we do this, we will no longer try to resolve our financial problems in our own strength. The result, we will no longer tire ourselves in making money. The other result, we will be led by the Holy Spirit in our financial decisions. Also, we will put God above all else and walk up right before Him which will encourage God to provide for our every need.
The second key to prospering as a believer is giving. God promises those who give their tithes and offering will be blessed in a tangible way. (Malachi 3:6-12) Also, God promises to bless those who give to the poor. (Proverbs 22:9) The Bible teaches that the measure we give will determine the measure we receive. (Luke 6:38) Yet, it is not sufficient to give, but we must give with a proper attitude, if not, will not be blessed. (2 Corinthians 9:7; Matthew 6:1)
Another key to prosperity is a spiritual life. Prayer plays an important part in receiving from the Lord. (Matthew 7:8) Accompanied with this prayer there must be faith. Without genuine faith, we shouldn't expect anything from the Lord. (James 1:6-7) James talks about how the prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much. (James 5;16) Also, Psalms 1 talks about the blessings that accompany a righteous man.
There are other practical things that we must apply to our lives to prosper which I don't have time to elaborate on here: faithfulness, creativity, excellence, and strategy.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Saying I Will is Not Enough
As I was reading yesterday, I came across a wonderful parable in Matthew 21:28-32. Jesus gave the following parable to the religious leaders of his day.
"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”“The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him."
How often have we said to the Lord, I will, and then we don't do what we have said. It is usually during a moving church service that we say to God I surrender all. It is in the quiet place we often make promises to God that we don't keep. We are often like the son in this parable and are quick to say, yes, but don't follow through.
God is not looking for the willing, but those who will do what he has asked them. What is God asking you to do? What are the scriptures asking us to do? Today is the day to stop saying I will do, but to actually do it. Let us not be like the religious leaders of Jesus' day.
"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”“The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him."
How often have we said to the Lord, I will, and then we don't do what we have said. It is usually during a moving church service that we say to God I surrender all. It is in the quiet place we often make promises to God that we don't keep. We are often like the son in this parable and are quick to say, yes, but don't follow through.
God is not looking for the willing, but those who will do what he has asked them. What is God asking you to do? What are the scriptures asking us to do? Today is the day to stop saying I will do, but to actually do it. Let us not be like the religious leaders of Jesus' day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)