Monday, September 15, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Spiritual Weapons
II Cor. 10:3-6 The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.
The Amplified Bible:
II Cor. 10:3 - For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, 5[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
The Amplified Bible:
II Cor. 10:3 - For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, 5[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
Monday, August 18, 2008
A Fight to the Finish - Ephesians
Ephesians 5:10-12 And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
13-18 Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own (rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms -NIV). Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Teachings of Jesus: ASK, SEEK KNOCK
#17 - ASK, SEEK KNOCK
Matt. 7:7-8 "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. (8) "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.”
The Purpose of Prayer:
God is love, and love deepens by intimate fellowship. God wants us to share every intimate detail of our needs in earnest prayer, and His peace will keep guard over our hearts in Christ (Phil. 4:6-7).
The Requirement of Fervency:
For prayer to be effective, it must be fervent and must come from a righteous person(James 5:16).
Prayer and Crying Out:
There is a distinction between prayer and crying out. (Psalms 39:12, 34:6, Israelites-Exodus 3:7-8, Elijah-2Kings 17:21-22, mother -Matt. 15:28, blind man-Luke 18: 38-43).
What a Cry Represents:
1. Total humility.
2. Unconditional surrender. Sometimes God will allow us to come into a crisis in order to seek him. When we seek him with "all of our hearts" (Jer. 29:13)
3. A plea for mercy. (Psalm 67:1).
4. A statement of confidence. (Matt. 28:18)
Important Factors for Asking
1. Ask the right person. (Exodus 16:8).
2. Ask with the right standing (John 1:12, Matt. 7:9,11).
3. Ask in faith. (Jas 1:6-7, Matt. 9:29).
4. Ask in total dependence. (Luke 11:5-9) When we know we are unworthy and have nothing, we are qualified for God's abundance.
5. Ask for the benefit of others. (Luke 11:5-6, Matt. 6:10).
6. Ask according to His will. (Jas. 4:3).
7. Ask in Jesus' name: (John 14:14), Bread-John 6:35, Water- John 3:5, 4:10, Wisdom-Jude 1:25, Truth-John 14:6, Peace-John 14:27, Holy Spirit-Luke 11:13).
How to Seek:
God gave Israel manna, but the people had to be diligent and resourceful to gather it daily.
1. Seek after God (Psalm 105:4, 2Chron 26:5).
2. Seek Him with a whole heart (Jer. 29:13)
3. Seek Him every day (Matt. 6:11).
4. Seek Him early in the day (Psa 63:1).
5. Seek Him with forgiveness (Matt. 6:12).
6. Seek God with generosity (Luke 6:38)
7. Seek Christ's commands (John 14:21).
How to Knock
1. Knock at the right door (Luke 11:3).
2. Knock with persistence (Luke 11:7-8, 18:2-7)
3. Knock out of respect. 4. Knock loudly - urgency and fervency.
How did Jesus follow this command?
1. He asked (John 17:9-10).
2. He sought (Luke 19:10).
3. He knocks (Rev. 3:20).
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Hey Bro...what the F_ _ _ is up?
1 John 3:16-18
16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
Who are our brothers?
• Proverbs 18:24
• Mark 3:34-35
What do our brothers have to do with our relationship with the Father?
• 1 John 2:8-10
• 1 John 4:20-21
What are the consequences of conflict with our brothers?
• Proverbs 18:19
• 1 Corinthians 8:10-12
What should we do about it?
• Matthew 5:22-24
• Luke 17:2-4
Many times we hear the saying blood is thicker than water, however I choose to think that maybe Spiritual bonds are thicker than blood. The people that we walk day to day life with, that we call up for comfort and encouragement, those brothers and sisters are closer than most bonds we know and feel with those around us. Those are the bonds that hold us up, that keep us accountable to the path we have set forth on, that walk with us through good and bad (a friend will bail u out of jail a best friend will be sitting next to you).
We are brothers in God, in spirit, and in truth.
Where are we in our relationship as spiritual brothers?
What is the next step we should be taking in our walk with eachother?
16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
Who are our brothers?
• Proverbs 18:24
• Mark 3:34-35
What do our brothers have to do with our relationship with the Father?
• 1 John 2:8-10
• 1 John 4:20-21
What are the consequences of conflict with our brothers?
• Proverbs 18:19
• 1 Corinthians 8:10-12
What should we do about it?
• Matthew 5:22-24
• Luke 17:2-4
Many times we hear the saying blood is thicker than water, however I choose to think that maybe Spiritual bonds are thicker than blood. The people that we walk day to day life with, that we call up for comfort and encouragement, those brothers and sisters are closer than most bonds we know and feel with those around us. Those are the bonds that hold us up, that keep us accountable to the path we have set forth on, that walk with us through good and bad (a friend will bail u out of jail a best friend will be sitting next to you).
We are brothers in God, in spirit, and in truth.
Where are we in our relationship as spiritual brothers?
What is the next step we should be taking in our walk with eachother?
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Escapism ... run to the cave! Psalm 31
1-2 I run to you, GOD; I run for dear life. Don't let me down!
Take me seriously this time!
Get down on my level and listen,
and please—no procrastination!
Your granite cave a hiding place,
your high cliff aerie a place of safety.
3-5 You're my cave to hide in,
my cliff to climb.
Be my safe leader,
be my true mountain guide.
Free me from hidden traps;
I want to hide in you.
I've put my life in your hands.
You won't drop me,
you'll never let me down.
Last night our Tuesday night discussion group looked at escapism. We talked about all the reasons why people might want to escape from dealing with painful reality and the various kinds of escapism … What is the difference between escapism and just coping? What kinds of escape are potentially productive and beneficial as compared to escapism that is destructive and negative.
I shared with them two examples of healthy, productive escape: David and Job. When David returned to Ziklag with his men and found their wives and children abducted and their goods taken, they wept bitterly and the men talked about stoning David as their leader. But David “strengthened himself in the Lord.”
Job takes the all-time world record for the classic bad day. He received four or five pieces of terrible, tragic news in a sequence, one after another. The final word was that all of his children were killed. His response was to rip his clothes, shave his head in a sign of mourning and to begin to worship the Lord.
There is difference between escaping from truth, and escaping to the Lord. Jesus said “I am the Truth…” and he also said, “You shall know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.” The only way to face and overcome life’s painful realities is to find a way to turn to truth, not run from it, and embrace the truth, painful though it may be.
This Psalm of David, reflecting many of the characteristics of depression, shows David running to God. In God he finds a “granite cave a hiding place,” a “high cliff aerie a place of safety.”
Take me seriously this time!
Get down on my level and listen,
and please—no procrastination!
Your granite cave a hiding place,
your high cliff aerie a place of safety.
3-5 You're my cave to hide in,
my cliff to climb.
Be my safe leader,
be my true mountain guide.
Free me from hidden traps;
I want to hide in you.
I've put my life in your hands.
You won't drop me,
you'll never let me down.
Last night our Tuesday night discussion group looked at escapism. We talked about all the reasons why people might want to escape from dealing with painful reality and the various kinds of escapism … What is the difference between escapism and just coping? What kinds of escape are potentially productive and beneficial as compared to escapism that is destructive and negative.
I shared with them two examples of healthy, productive escape: David and Job. When David returned to Ziklag with his men and found their wives and children abducted and their goods taken, they wept bitterly and the men talked about stoning David as their leader. But David “strengthened himself in the Lord.”
Job takes the all-time world record for the classic bad day. He received four or five pieces of terrible, tragic news in a sequence, one after another. The final word was that all of his children were killed. His response was to rip his clothes, shave his head in a sign of mourning and to begin to worship the Lord.
There is difference between escaping from truth, and escaping to the Lord. Jesus said “I am the Truth…” and he also said, “You shall know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.” The only way to face and overcome life’s painful realities is to find a way to turn to truth, not run from it, and embrace the truth, painful though it may be.
This Psalm of David, reflecting many of the characteristics of depression, shows David running to God. In God he finds a “granite cave a hiding place,” a “high cliff aerie a place of safety.”
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