I'm excited about a new Bible Study we will be starting on Wednesdays beginning January 9th. We are going to be watching a video series called "Understanding The End Time" by Irvin Baxter. After we watch some of the video we will be discussing what the Bible has to say and reviewing current events. Of course, no one knows the day or hour that Jesus will come but Jesus told us that we know the seasons. I believe we are in a special time in history and it is in our interest to study and know all we can about the last things. From a prophetic perspective it appears that there is nothing standing in the way of the Lord's return. I believe that God puts an expectation of His return in the hearts of those who are Spirit filled. It is evident from the writings of the Apostle Paul that he looked for the Lord's return in his lifetime. Will Jesus return in my lifetime? I don't know, but something in me says "come quickly, Lord Jesus". If you live in the Saginaw area I invite you to join us Wednesdays at 7:00 pm.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
At Just the Right Moment
Galatians 4:1-7
God has a perfect sense of timing. He had a plan for mankind from the beginning of time and when the time was right, Jesus was born. The world stage was set so that Jesus would have the greatest impact on the world. The day Jesus was born an unsuspecting world went about its business not knowing what had just happened. I hope that in this season you will not overlook that Jesus came into the world so that we might be saved. He didn’t come so we could have a holiday of merriment, but that we could escape the hopelessness that had a grip on mankind.
The birth of Jesus was a moment in history that changed the world. It effects every man, woman, and child. Nothing would be the same from that moment on. There is a time that is right in our life to receive from God. It’s when we have an open hungry heart. How is your heart today? Today could be the day that Jesus changes everything for you.
He didn’t come just to change the world in some generic sense. Jesus didn’t come for “the world”, He came for you. His coming affects your life today.
Matthew 2:1-10
Herod was troubled. The forces of evil were gathered and wanted to know where Jesus was so they could destroy Him. Evil men still fight against God today. We see it every day in the way people live. We see it in liberal ministers that say the events of scripture are just legends. I heard of a minister on the radio the other day that said that it couldn’t have been a star that led the wise men to Jesus. Stars don’t do that. Perhaps this minister doesn’t believe that God is God and even nature obeys His every command. All efforts of those to minimize Jesus and berate God’s word will fail. Satan’s kingdom trembled at the news of Jesus birth. The wicked hate the things of God and still tremble at the mention of Jesus. The brightness of His star exposes our sin. The Bible describes the men who came seeking Jesus as “wise” men. I believe that those who seek after Jesus today can be described in the same way. Seeking Him took effort but finding Him was worth the journey. The wise men beheld the Savior of the world. King Herod tried to deceive the wise men into leading him to Jesus so he could destroy the Savoir. Of course, Herod’s efforts were futile. No force on this earth can stand against God. The wise men listened to God and wouldn’t be deceived by Herod. When they left Herod God spoke to them and set them again upon the right road. They rejoiced with exceeding great joy when they saw the star. It was the star that led them to Christ.
Satan wants to steal your moment. He wants to steal the moment when God speaks to you; the moment that will change everything in your life. Right now can be the moment that you are touched by God in an unforgettable way. Have you had precious moments with Jesus that changed your life and continue to touch your heart? Nothing is the same after we meet Jesus. He is calling out to you today. Will you experience a moment with Him?
God has a perfect sense of timing. He had a plan for mankind from the beginning of time and when the time was right, Jesus was born. The world stage was set so that Jesus would have the greatest impact on the world. The day Jesus was born an unsuspecting world went about its business not knowing what had just happened. I hope that in this season you will not overlook that Jesus came into the world so that we might be saved. He didn’t come so we could have a holiday of merriment, but that we could escape the hopelessness that had a grip on mankind.
The birth of Jesus was a moment in history that changed the world. It effects every man, woman, and child. Nothing would be the same from that moment on. There is a time that is right in our life to receive from God. It’s when we have an open hungry heart. How is your heart today? Today could be the day that Jesus changes everything for you.
He didn’t come just to change the world in some generic sense. Jesus didn’t come for “the world”, He came for you. His coming affects your life today.
Matthew 2:1-10
Herod was troubled. The forces of evil were gathered and wanted to know where Jesus was so they could destroy Him. Evil men still fight against God today. We see it every day in the way people live. We see it in liberal ministers that say the events of scripture are just legends. I heard of a minister on the radio the other day that said that it couldn’t have been a star that led the wise men to Jesus. Stars don’t do that. Perhaps this minister doesn’t believe that God is God and even nature obeys His every command. All efforts of those to minimize Jesus and berate God’s word will fail. Satan’s kingdom trembled at the news of Jesus birth. The wicked hate the things of God and still tremble at the mention of Jesus. The brightness of His star exposes our sin. The Bible describes the men who came seeking Jesus as “wise” men. I believe that those who seek after Jesus today can be described in the same way. Seeking Him took effort but finding Him was worth the journey. The wise men beheld the Savior of the world. King Herod tried to deceive the wise men into leading him to Jesus so he could destroy the Savoir. Of course, Herod’s efforts were futile. No force on this earth can stand against God. The wise men listened to God and wouldn’t be deceived by Herod. When they left Herod God spoke to them and set them again upon the right road. They rejoiced with exceeding great joy when they saw the star. It was the star that led them to Christ.
Satan wants to steal your moment. He wants to steal the moment when God speaks to you; the moment that will change everything in your life. Right now can be the moment that you are touched by God in an unforgettable way. Have you had precious moments with Jesus that changed your life and continue to touch your heart? Nothing is the same after we meet Jesus. He is calling out to you today. Will you experience a moment with Him?
Friday, December 21, 2007
Who is this Jesus?
Matthew 21:1 through Matthew 21:10
In this Christmas season do we know who Jesus is and why He came? When Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem the crowd cried Hosanna. There was euphoria over a situation that they didn’t understand. They desired a deliverer, and needed one, but they thought that Jesus would break the stranglehold of Rome over the Jews. They wanted to be free. I believe that every person wants to be free. No one wants to live under bondage and tyranny. We want to be free to live full lives and enjoy the fruits of our labor.
What they didn’t understand is that Jesus came to deliver them in a different way than they thought they needed. Jesus’ ministry wasn’t of this world. He came that we might have “life more abundantly”. Jesus came to deliver them from the bondage of sin that couldn’t be broken until He became the sacrifice for all of our sins. They had an expectation that didn’t meet the reality of the situation. What happens when our expectation doesn’t meet reality? We are disappointed. The Jews had great joy when they were getting what they thought they wanted. Have you ever been happy about something you thought you wanted, but it was fleeting? I have good news. Jesus came to give us what we really need not what we perceive that we need. The things of this world are temporary things that pass away. Jesus came to give something that would last for eternity.
2 Corinthians 5:11 "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
The “tent” is our body that last for a short time. The “building from God” is the new life Jesus gives those who are born again and the treasure we are laying up in heaven.
There was a stir in the city that day when Jesus rode in on the donkey. People wanted to know what was going on. Who is this Jesus? He is the one that gives hope to this world. He is the one that will change the lives of those who will call on Him. It is a question we all need to ask in our lives today. Who is Jesus to me? Jesus passes by today so that you can find eternal life. Have you made Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life? Do you know Him in the power of the resurrection? Remember that Christmas is about a Savior that came to set us free from the sin that binds us. Will you accept His free gift this season?
In this Christmas season do we know who Jesus is and why He came? When Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem the crowd cried Hosanna. There was euphoria over a situation that they didn’t understand. They desired a deliverer, and needed one, but they thought that Jesus would break the stranglehold of Rome over the Jews. They wanted to be free. I believe that every person wants to be free. No one wants to live under bondage and tyranny. We want to be free to live full lives and enjoy the fruits of our labor.
What they didn’t understand is that Jesus came to deliver them in a different way than they thought they needed. Jesus’ ministry wasn’t of this world. He came that we might have “life more abundantly”. Jesus came to deliver them from the bondage of sin that couldn’t be broken until He became the sacrifice for all of our sins. They had an expectation that didn’t meet the reality of the situation. What happens when our expectation doesn’t meet reality? We are disappointed. The Jews had great joy when they were getting what they thought they wanted. Have you ever been happy about something you thought you wanted, but it was fleeting? I have good news. Jesus came to give us what we really need not what we perceive that we need. The things of this world are temporary things that pass away. Jesus came to give something that would last for eternity.
2 Corinthians 5:11 "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
The “tent” is our body that last for a short time. The “building from God” is the new life Jesus gives those who are born again and the treasure we are laying up in heaven.
There was a stir in the city that day when Jesus rode in on the donkey. People wanted to know what was going on. Who is this Jesus? He is the one that gives hope to this world. He is the one that will change the lives of those who will call on Him. It is a question we all need to ask in our lives today. Who is Jesus to me? Jesus passes by today so that you can find eternal life. Have you made Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life? Do you know Him in the power of the resurrection? Remember that Christmas is about a Savior that came to set us free from the sin that binds us. Will you accept His free gift this season?
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Thanks Paris Hilton!
I think that Paris Hilton is one of the most misunderstood people in America. So many think that she is just an empty headed socialite. Not so! I just read an article about the things that Paris is doing to be environmentally responsible. She said that there are many little things that we all can do that add up. She said that when she leaves the house she doesn't leave the TV on or the water running. Wow! I'm really thankful for that! You see I learned from Paris how environmentally responsible I have been my whole life. For years now I have turned the TV off and almost never leave the water running when I leave the house. I feel like I have almost saved the planet singlehandedly. Thanks Paris!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Our Heavenly Habitation
2 Corinthians 4:17 -18
In what do we place our trust? Do we trust in the temporary things that we hold in our hands? We all want to do well in this world so that we can provide for our families and have a few toys. It’s perfectly OK to have some nice things as we travel through this life. This time of year we are all thinking about what we will be receiving under the tree in a few weeks. “Things” give us some temporary joy. We get excited about having something new but can’t tell anyone where it is in a short time. Let me ask again, in what do we place our trust? More importantly in whom do we place our trust? God has made a way for us to put up treasure in heaven. The apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:1-3:
1For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.
We have a “house” that is eternal. We have a habitation which is from heaven. Paul is speaking about how we will be when we get to heaven. I believe that God has placed an awareness of eternity within us; we know our souls are eternal. It is of utmost importance that we prepare today for our heavenly home tomorrow. Heaven is not automatic; we must obey the gospel and live our lives for God in order to make heaven our eternal home.
Adam & Eve were in the Garden of Eden and were not ashamed to be naked. Why?
Because they were in God’s presence and not stained with sin. When they were innocent they were not ashamed. After Adam & Eve sinned they tried to cover their nakedness with fig leaves because sin made them ashamed of their condition. Their efforts to cover their own sin were inadequate. God slew animals and covered Adam and Eve. It was necessary that blood be shed to cover their sins. Things are much the same today. Our effort to cover our sins never works. We can’t bargain with God or lay excuse at someone else’s feet. We needed Jesus to shed His precious blood so that our sins could be covered. Jesus made a way of salvation for all of man. We don’t have to be ashamed when we are clothed with salvation. I want to be in the place of God’s blessing and be covered with the robes of righteousness. You can have your sins covered with the blood of Jesus and be robed with righteousness today. Why don’t you cry out to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you of your sins? Once you do, seek a full relationship with Him.
In what do we place our trust? Do we trust in the temporary things that we hold in our hands? We all want to do well in this world so that we can provide for our families and have a few toys. It’s perfectly OK to have some nice things as we travel through this life. This time of year we are all thinking about what we will be receiving under the tree in a few weeks. “Things” give us some temporary joy. We get excited about having something new but can’t tell anyone where it is in a short time. Let me ask again, in what do we place our trust? More importantly in whom do we place our trust? God has made a way for us to put up treasure in heaven. The apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:1-3:
1For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.
We have a “house” that is eternal. We have a habitation which is from heaven. Paul is speaking about how we will be when we get to heaven. I believe that God has placed an awareness of eternity within us; we know our souls are eternal. It is of utmost importance that we prepare today for our heavenly home tomorrow. Heaven is not automatic; we must obey the gospel and live our lives for God in order to make heaven our eternal home.
Adam & Eve were in the Garden of Eden and were not ashamed to be naked. Why?
Because they were in God’s presence and not stained with sin. When they were innocent they were not ashamed. After Adam & Eve sinned they tried to cover their nakedness with fig leaves because sin made them ashamed of their condition. Their efforts to cover their own sin were inadequate. God slew animals and covered Adam and Eve. It was necessary that blood be shed to cover their sins. Things are much the same today. Our effort to cover our sins never works. We can’t bargain with God or lay excuse at someone else’s feet. We needed Jesus to shed His precious blood so that our sins could be covered. Jesus made a way of salvation for all of man. We don’t have to be ashamed when we are clothed with salvation. I want to be in the place of God’s blessing and be covered with the robes of righteousness. You can have your sins covered with the blood of Jesus and be robed with righteousness today. Why don’t you cry out to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you of your sins? Once you do, seek a full relationship with Him.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Not What Is, But What Can Be
1 Kings 18:41-44
The prophet Elijah had declared that there would be no rain because of the idolatry of Israel. In this passage of scripture Elijah notified King Ahab that “there is a sound of abundance of rain”. Sometimes when we have had drought periods in our lives it is easy to believe that the drought will continue. We need to know that when people begin to pray you had better bring your umbrella because it is going to rain. Elijah sent his servant seven times to look toward the sea and report what he saw. The servant went time after time and told Elijah that he didn’t see anything, until the seventh time. We need to be diligent in our prayers when we ask God for something. Elijah had prayed for the rain to start again so he knew God would answer his prayer. What if he had not sent his servant the seventh time to look? It was the seventh time that the servant saw a cloud “like a man’s hand”. Elijah knew that God had answered his prayer. Elijah wasn’t content to live with things as they were but saw them as they could be when he involved God through prayer.
Hebrews 11:1 tells us “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” God is still a creator. He still makes something out of nothing. God made it rain for Elijah even though there was no rain in the forecast. God created rain out of nothing because His faithful servant prayed such. If we have faith in God, and faithfully serve Him, He will hear and answer our prayers even when there seems to be no way in our mind that our situation can be resolved.
I was asking God to do things for our church and He told me to stop looking with my natural eyes. I need to look for the cloud. I may not even be able to see it at first but it is there and I need to keep looking until I see it. Once I spot it, I know that it is full of rain.
In 2 Kings the king of Syria was upset with Elisha and sent a great army to apprehend him. It was one man plus God against an army. Who do you think came out on top? (See 2 Kings 6:16 through 2 Kings 6:17). The young man with Elisha just saw the great army and was worried about his, and Elisha’s, fate. Elisha prayed that God would open the eyes of the young man so he could see that those that were with them were more than those that be with the Syrian army. When God opened his eyes he saw the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around them to protect them. When God opens our eyes we see that we have all the help we will ever need in this world. Again, the key is to commit our lives to Jesus Christ. Have you made Jesus your Savior and Lord? Those that have see things as they can be, not just as they are.
The prophet Elijah had declared that there would be no rain because of the idolatry of Israel. In this passage of scripture Elijah notified King Ahab that “there is a sound of abundance of rain”. Sometimes when we have had drought periods in our lives it is easy to believe that the drought will continue. We need to know that when people begin to pray you had better bring your umbrella because it is going to rain. Elijah sent his servant seven times to look toward the sea and report what he saw. The servant went time after time and told Elijah that he didn’t see anything, until the seventh time. We need to be diligent in our prayers when we ask God for something. Elijah had prayed for the rain to start again so he knew God would answer his prayer. What if he had not sent his servant the seventh time to look? It was the seventh time that the servant saw a cloud “like a man’s hand”. Elijah knew that God had answered his prayer. Elijah wasn’t content to live with things as they were but saw them as they could be when he involved God through prayer.
Hebrews 11:1 tells us “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” God is still a creator. He still makes something out of nothing. God made it rain for Elijah even though there was no rain in the forecast. God created rain out of nothing because His faithful servant prayed such. If we have faith in God, and faithfully serve Him, He will hear and answer our prayers even when there seems to be no way in our mind that our situation can be resolved.
I was asking God to do things for our church and He told me to stop looking with my natural eyes. I need to look for the cloud. I may not even be able to see it at first but it is there and I need to keep looking until I see it. Once I spot it, I know that it is full of rain.
In 2 Kings the king of Syria was upset with Elisha and sent a great army to apprehend him. It was one man plus God against an army. Who do you think came out on top? (See 2 Kings 6:16 through 2 Kings 6:17). The young man with Elisha just saw the great army and was worried about his, and Elisha’s, fate. Elisha prayed that God would open the eyes of the young man so he could see that those that were with them were more than those that be with the Syrian army. When God opened his eyes he saw the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around them to protect them. When God opens our eyes we see that we have all the help we will ever need in this world. Again, the key is to commit our lives to Jesus Christ. Have you made Jesus your Savior and Lord? Those that have see things as they can be, not just as they are.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)