Sunday, December 9, 2012

First Love


Rev 2:1-7

Time
-becomes normal
- lose focus
Remember
-how it was
-what lead you to God
Return
-do your first works
-stir it up

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Four questions about Fire


What is the fire?
   Troubles you encounter
   Rain in this life
What burned in the fire?
   Not possession
   Bounds
Where is the fourth man?
   Still in the fire
What Will the outcome be?
   Still had the possessions
   No smell of smoke

Sunday, October 28, 2012

The water God supplies


1. There is plenty.  One million plus the livestock
2. It satisfied the need
3. Sign of what's to come

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Reverse the curse


1. Feel you are not good
2. Feel you can't do what you know is right
3. Jesus can reverse the curse

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Being all God wants you to be


Daniel 1:19

1. Child of the King
2. Doer of the word. Verse 8
  He resolved
3. Favor and compassion  Verse 9
  Things go you way
  Things you should have no control over
 4. Ten times better  Verse 20
   My not be what you had planned
   May no be what you want

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Jesus means what he says

Luke 8:22-25


We fight fights already fought
No doubt winner
Few things are still in question
What will you look like when you arrive

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Faith bigger than circumstance

Ecclesiastes 3:22

What time of life are you in?
Circumstance is tempory.
Hope is not in:
Goverment
Religion
Hope is only in Jesus

Sunday, September 9, 2012

The Secret of Contentment

Phillipians 4:11-13


It is not based on what we have
It is not based on where we are
It is not based on our state of mind
It is based on Jesus

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Judgment

Luke 6: 37-42


Measure - quantity
Pronounce - express an opinion
Condemn - pronounce guilt
Forgive - set free
Harvest Task   Time required, work required, investment required

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Dead or Alive

Heb 9:25-29
1. Everyone will die
2. Judgment will follow
3. Preparation must be made

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

First Points of the Sermon on the Mt

Matt. 5:13-48
Salt and Light

  1. Preserve
  2. Guide
Standard of Righousness

Sunday, August 19, 2012

While we wait

Titus 2:11-13

Self controled
Upright
Godly Life

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Do you want to be blessed?

1 Peter 3:8-12


Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For 
“Whoever desires to love life 
and see good days
let him keep his tongue from evil 
and his lips from speaking deceit
11  let him turn away from evil and do good; 
let him seek peace and pursue it. 
12  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, 
and his ears are open to their prayer
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 


Two things that is desired to have in check in order to satisfy our calling.
  • Mind
    • Unity of mind
    • Humble mind
  • Heart
    • Sympathy
    • Brotherly love
    • Tender heart
Quote from PS 34:12-16 on how to make it happen.
  1. Control your mouth
  2. Flea evil, do good
  3. Seek, pursue  peace
  4. Puts you were the honey falls

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Duty of the Watchman

Ezk 3:10-21


10 Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. 11 And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.” 
12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake: “Blessed be the glory of the Lord from its place!” 13 It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, and the sound of a great earthquake. 14 The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the Lord being strong upon me. 15 And I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were dwelling by the Chebar canal, and I sat where they were dwelling. And I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days. 
A Watchman for Israel
16 And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 18 If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. 20 Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.” 

Duty of the Watchman

  1. Receive the word of God into your heart vs 10
  2. Go speak Thus says the Lord God vs 11
  3. Moved by the Spirit vs 12
  4. Go when you don't fell like it vs 14
  5. Sat where they sat vs 15
  6. Penally of failing to warn vs 16-21

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Sermon on the Mount

Matt 5 and Luke 6
Blessings and the Lords Prayer

  1. Beatitudes
  2. Standards of Righteousness
  3. Ethical Teachings
  4. Single hearted devotion to God
  5. Judging others
  6. Prayer
  7. Golden Rule
Blessed happy contentment of heart
Poor in spirit - bankrupt movement
Mourn Godly sorrow for moral and personal sin.
Humble - meek power under control
Merciful includes generous



Sunday, July 29, 2012

The Soldier, Athlete and Farmer

2 Timothy 2: 1-7

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 

Soldier
  • Faithful
  • Focused
  • Fit
Athlete
  • Honest
  • Honorable
Farmer
  • Worker
  • Worthy

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Wednesday Study

Matt 12:9-14
Mark 3:1-6
Luke 6:6-11

Synagogue
Cart before the horse

Matt 12:15-21
Mark 3:7-12
Not Noticed

Mark 3:13-19
Luke 6:12-16
List of 12

Sunday, July 15, 2012

How do I Know that I Know

2 Peter 1:1-15
Supplement - to provide at ones own expense
Virtue - merit within a social context
Knowledge - intellectual grasp of something
Self Control - maker of a position, state or condition
Stead Fastness - the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty
Godliness - Show uncommon reverence or respect; awesome respect accorded to God

If these are yours and increasing

  • you will be effective
  • you will be fruitful
If these are lacking
  • your are nearsighted
  • forgotten you are cleansed
  1. Be diligent - speed up the process
  2. Confirm your calling and election
  3. You will never fall

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Advancement of the Gospel

Philippians 1:12
It is not about us once we accept Christ

  • Jesus died for our sins
  • God loves us
  • We are his children 
  • But the Gospel must be advanced
It is about those who have not accepted
  • We must act as massagers 
  • We must act as examples 
Everything that has happened is to advance the gospel
  • I would like to be with every christian I know in service is that best for the gospel?
  • I want all my friends close to me is that best for the gospel?
  • I want to win every time is that best for the gospel?

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Life of God

Ephesians 4:17-32

Six things to stop

  • Bitterness - harshness
  • Wrath - intense inter anger
  • Anger - strong displeasure
  • Clamor - Aloud cry or call usually in anger or outcry to be a spectacle
  • Slander - speech that shows disrespect
  • Malice - state of wickedness
Three things to start
  • Kindness
  • Tenderhearted
  • Forgiveness

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Pool at Bethesda

John 5:1-47

Do you want to be healed?

  • More to it than being present where healing takes place
  • More to it than going through the motions
  • Faith
Sabbath
  • Sabbath made fee the son of man not the other way around
  • Jews did have the sabbath right
Illness 
  • caused by sin?
  • result of sin?


Sunday, June 24, 2012

Overcoming the World

1 John 5:1-5

Key to overcoming is Faith vs 4

  • Mind is powerful (life and death)
  • Living on substance not hope
  • With faith comes peace
Three things everyone needs to overcome
  • Sin
    • Commandments
    • Truth
  • Death
    • Appointment
  • Idols
    • Stuff
    • Heros
    • Self

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Is Jesus safe?

The call of Matthew

Matt 9:9-13
Mark 2:13-17
Luke 5:27-32

Story of Asian
Is Asian safe? No Asian is not safe but Asian is good
Must follow where he leads
Sinners are always around
Call of sinners

Sunday, June 17, 2012

What is Love?

1 John 4:7-21
Here John is writing because some were being mislead. You can see this looking back at verse 1 of this chapter. Today people are still being mislead. In the gospel of John 10:10 he tells us the ruler of darkness was stealing killing and destroying. He is still at work today. He wants to take your joy and peace away. The easiest way to do that is through those closet to you, the ones you love. Here in this chapter God tells us what love is and tests to determine true love.

God is Love

  • He came to be our propitiation (did something for us we can not do for ourselfs)
  • His love is perfected in us
    • At first we may not be good at it
    • We have to work at getting better
Love test

  • No fear
  • Reflects Gods love
  • Demonstrated by loving others

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Healer

Matt 8:2-4 and 9:1-8
Mark 1:40-45 and 2:1-12
Luke 5:12-26

Leper

  • Not discuss
  • Tell the Priest
  • Healed others
Roof raiser
  • Get him to Jesus
  • Move what you can
  • Leave the hard stuff to Jesus

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Ministering like Jesus

Matthew 4:23-25    Mark 1:35-39     Luke 4:42-44

Preach

  1. Proclaim the good news
  2. How bad would you have to hate somebody not to tell them about Jesus
Prayer
  1. The son of God bathed his ministry in pray. We shouldn't for what reason
  2. He prayed early
Teaching
  1. Everyone is not a teacher but there are some you can teach
  2. Learning is important
Casting out demons
  1. Not always what you may think. 

Sunday, June 3, 2012

How should we walk?

Colossians 1:6

Rooted
  1. part of the plant not seen
  2. part of the plant that sustains growth (prayer, Bible study)
  3. takes time
Build up
  1. perfect tense
  2. as in a woman (can't be hide)
Establish
  1. put something beyond doubt, confirm, establish
  2. Are we going to church today? 
  3. takes time

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The Healer

Mark 1:21-28       Luke 4:31-37
His Teaching

  1. Astonished
  2. Authority
  3. Amazed
  4. Power
  5. Command
Who he is

  1. Demon "Holy one of God"
  2. Men ?

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Mystery of our Service

In Ephesians 3:1-13 Paul explains the mystery of the Gospel. He explains it as the Gentiles being included in salvations plan. For theses of us who are gentile this is wonderful news. As Paul explains this mystery, he explains his service to the church in the working of this mystery. As we look at Paul's part we can see the same working going on in each of our lives at we endeavor to serve God.

As with most mysteries we can solve the mystery by answering three simple questions. What? How? and Why?

What
Minister verse 7
  • Sometimes we only think of Pastors as ministers. There is nothing farther from the truth. Here the greek means intermediary in a transaction, agent or courier.
  • Pastors vs Preachers I am not sure where the thought that preacher (proclaimer of the gospel) was only evangelist. Everyone who knows Christ as savior is responsible for proclaiming the gospel.
  • We are each responsible for ministering in the work God has called us. 
Bring to light verse 9
  • Whatever service God has called you to it will bring something to the light.
  • Christ is light  darkness flees light
  • God does not call us to hide things
  • The truth will set you free.

How
Gift of Gods grace verse 7

  • Grace - being in Gods favor
  • Undeserved
By the working of his power Verse 7
  • No flesh will glory
  • least of the saints
Why
The church will be advanced verse 10
  • God is not looking for superstars
  • He wants a place where sinners can come and here the gospel
  • Paul was about editing the church
Wisdom of God verse 11
  • Wisdom of man (sin)
  • Wisdom of God (hope)
Purpose in Christ verse 11
  • That we would know the truth

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Fishers of Men

--Matt 4:13-16
Narareth was never the saviors home during his public ministry. He lived in Capernaum till he left Galilee six months before the crucifixion

Mark 1:16-20
Matthew 4:18-22
Luke 5:1-11

Luke includes the story of the great catch
Three of these four had been disciples and been following Jesus. When Jesus came back to Galilee they where making money fishing. Here he calls them to full time ministry. Our calling can change from time to time. Seldom does it require use to make a complete change. Pastors may be an exception. For most of us God only asks us to be faithful where we are.

Fishers of men. Interesting concept.
--Must go where the fish are.
--Must use equipment
--Normally includes bait

Sunday, May 20, 2012

I am Redeemed

Luke 1:68
Being redeemed brings:
Hope  Luke 24:21
--Reason to live
--Reason to survive
--Reason to disciple
Freedom rom the curse of the law Gal 3:13
--I do what I hate
--Chains are gone
Inheritance  Heb 9:15
--New future

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Back to Galilee

The Official's Son
John 4:43-54

Went to Jesus
--Sickness
--Trouble
--Finance
--Doubt
--Fear

God see's things differently

Joseph's Son
Luke 4:14-30

Overcoming our past
Manny Widows--some will miss it.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Life in the Spirit

Read Romans 8:1-11

No condemnation--Greek here speaks not about forgiveness but about being free from the punishment from having at one time being guilty. Some Christians walk around like someone has just died every minute of their life. We are not required to live like that. You are a free moral agent and can live a defeated life if you choose. Paul here is telling us it is not required.


Freedom--Not to do anything we want but from having to do something.
-----Sin-We are more than conquers in christ
-----Relationship-We can forgive
-----Finance-Favor of God
-----Worry-Minde of peace

Don't have to smell Hell- Freedom from the law of sin and Death for our soul.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

The Well

John 4:1-4; Luke 3:19-20; Mark 1:14; Matt 4:12
John 4:5-42

1.There is a bigger picture than what we see
   Woman coming to draw a day water
   Jesus gave here living water
--What are we missing every day?
2. Nothing to draw
--Jesus does not need material things to work miracles
3. Nothing to hide
--Jesus knew everything
4. Message that Jesus is the messiah
--Same message
--Some say Jesus never said he was the messiah
5 Food you know nothing about.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

The three great questions.

There are three great questions that will confront you sometime in your life. If they haven't yet, they will, you may not have lived long enough yet.  The answer to these three questions are all found in The Gospel of John the first few verses.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 
Five little verses that can answer some of the biggest questions you will ever have in your life. Lets look at one question at a time and find the answer in our five little verses.

1. How does this work?

I have asked this question many times in a lot of different situations. I have worked in the world of science all of my life. There are rules in science that are always true. You can understand any difficult concept if you understand the scienfiic rules that apply. Gravity always pulls an object toward the center of the earth. Always has always will. In my chosen profession energy is conserved. If I have a heat exchanger and I know the energy in a fluid on one side of a heat exchanger and I know the mass of the fluid on the other side I can every time perdict the temperature of the second fluid. How? energy is conserved.

Same question differant situation. In my years of pastoring I have talked with many teenagers and parents of teenagers who where broken hearted over puppy love. I am not sure why it is called puppy love. Most puppies don't hurt you, puppy love sure does. I think it is called puppy love because it can lead to a dog's life. I have told all those parents and teenagers it will get better and it always does. I have heard it said time heals, and it does.

Everything you see hear or experience didn't just happen it was intelligently designed. It is not a accident the earth takes 365.24 days to circle the sun. It is not an accident the earth is titled so here in Tennessee we get to enjoy all four seasons. And it is not by accident that time mends a broken heart. THERE WAS AN INTELLIGENT DESIGNER and John tells us his name was Jesus!

Verse 3 All things were made through him and without him was not any thing made that was made.

2. Why am I alive?

Tuff question! It would have took more than five verses for John to answer this one for each of us. So he took a little short cut here. He told us who gave us life so we could go to him to find out why we are alive.

Verse 4 In him was life

Why are you alive? I have had that question. To be totally honest I have had that question about other people. Some of you are thinking how can a pastor think that? Be honest you have wondered the same thing. Someone takes their own child's life.

If you are asking that question today, maybe there is a simple answer, if you just ask the right person. The wrong places to ask are:
Alcohol
Drugs
The oppsite sex


You need to ask the one who initially possessed the life we all now have. John said his name is Jesus.

3. What do I need to do?

I have this question often about a verity of topics. If I only knew what tomorrow looks like. There use to be a show that come on TV for just one or two seasons. I don't remember the name of the show. But a man would get the next days paper the day before it happen. He could see where someone would be killed and he would try to intervene. He would see there was going to be a fire and he would try to prevent it. You get the way the show went.  Would be good to get the paper a day early.

John tells us Jesus was the light of men. He gets the paper a day early. He is trying to lead his children. We need to follow the light. The darkness can not overcome him. Don't worry.
John says the man who knows the way and has the light, his name is Jesus!


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Must be Born Again

John 3: 1-21

Jesus didn't accidentally use words. He said what he meant and meant what he said. Unlike us sometimes, he didn't talk and them think. The thought he generated here is simple. When you meet christ you have a new life. Nicodemus was a ruler A member of the Sanhedrin Court. He is called a Pharisee religious leader. He recognized Jesus was a teacher come from God. It makes you wander why all the "religous people" didn't see he was God. I wonder the same thing today.

Born again:
Happened at a specific time - not over a long period.
The mother travailed - church
It was recorded - Birth Certificate / Lamb's book of life
Baby produced - babe in Christ

God so loved us he did something for us we couldn't do for ourselfs.
God didn't come to condem the world

Light and darkness, which do you love?

Sunday, April 29, 2012

So Walk


Colossians 2:6-8


Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ


Paul has been talking here how although he had not been to Colossi he wanted them to succeed. As a pastor my biggest concern is for my flock to succeed in their walk with Christ. In my younger days I was more concerned with growth in numbers instead of the people that attended personal growth. God was able to change my outlook and it was a freeing experience. No longer does the number matter. Now I want to see growth in the ones who attend.
In these three short verses Paul gives us guidance on how we should walk. Four simple but very important points that will help us if we focus on them.

Rooted - cause to take root, become permanently fixed. The Greek here has action. It doesn't just mean to have roots, it means to cause to have roots. There are times in all of our lives that we have to do things to help us perform a certain way. Right now in my life I work as a contractor teaching the operators at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant. As a contractor I am just filling a gap till they get enough experienced operators to fill the instructor positions. When I first started working, I was not sure how much ownership I should take in what the operators learned in my classes. This is my first contractor job and it was all new to me. After a few weeks I felt I needed to be more rooted at Watts Bar. I did a simple thing that I had no ideal would help. I took a picture of my grandchildren to work with me for my office. Now the new place I was at seems like home. This one action helped me become rooted at Watts Bar. Are they some minor things you can do to help you become rooted where God has placed you? Yes try these:
-Take a job in the work where God has put you. Doesn't have to be a big job. Doesn't have to take a lot of time.
-Take interest in the people God has put you with. After church ask for more information about prayer request.
-Show up for a work day. Sweat seems to help grow roots.

Built up - Word suggest growth. If you are not growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ you need to change your walk. We all started out as babies and grew through toddler, yard ape, teen ager and young adult. The problem is some have been a Christian for 30 years and are still a babe in Christ.
-Study the word
-Pray with a hacking prayer

Established in faith - You are not born with the ability to have faith. I tell people don't let the first thing you trust God with be the life of your child. You must trust God with daily things, and work your way up to the life of a child. When do you have faith? If you are hurting and you ask God to heal you, does your faith start when the pain stops? No, you must believe when you ask, even if the pain is still present. Establish means make it happen. Faith is a choice.

Ways to be held Captive - In order to walk (move) we must not be held captive. Short list from these verses on ways this world will try to stop us from walking:
Philosophy (mans)
Deceit
Human Tradition
Elemental Spirits


Sunday, April 22, 2012

What kind of mind should we have?

Philippians 2:1-10

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father

Paul instructs us to have one mind in these verses. The reason he gives is that we would be in full accord. You don't have to attend a church very long today to find out it is not in full accord. At least I have never attended one that was. Fairview Worship Center where I pastor nor is about as close as I have seen, but still once in a while discord will raise it ugly head. The things that cause trouble are the smallest most insunificant things. In then 5th verse Paul tells us how to have one mind. He said the one mind we should have is ours in Christ. In other words we all should think like Christ. As we look at a few points I want to give and I want you to think about to see a clear picture of the mind of Christ. We need to be car full to rightly devide the word of truth. Jesus was not simple minded, neither should we be simple minded. I would like to think our mind should be 8 lanes wide. We have to make sure we are in the right lane at all times. Let's look at three points concerning the mind of Christ, try to identify the outside lanes so we can make sure we are on the right freeway.

Tradition
1. Jesus was not concerned about mans traditions.
----Women's position in Jesus's ministry
----Samaritans (good samaritan, women at well)
----Sinners (publican, tax collector)
2. Jesus keep all of God's traditions
----Dot and tittal of the law
----Atended service's at the Temple

Money
1. Jesus understood the necessity of it
----Render to Caesar what is Caesar
----The deciples keep a money bag
2. Jesus understood God's economy was different.
----Cattle of 1000 hills
----Fed 5000 with a little boys lunch

Humility
1. Accepted the cross
2. King of Kings ( if you knew who you are talking to)




Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The First Year of Jesus's Ministery

Here is a chart form a book called "Jesus Christ The Greatest Life".

Notice the relationship between the Roman calendar and the Jewish calendar.
Let's look at John 2:13-22
In this passage Jesus clears the temple the first time. The clearing discussed in Mark 11:15-19 is believed to occured just before the crucifixion.
It had become custom for sellers to be at the temple, providing animals to be sacrificed. During the passover Jews would travel in from long distances and instead of bring in the unblemished of their floc. They would buy an animal to sacrifice. I'm sure they felt this was simpler than transporting an animal. Was this a violation of the law?
I remember a supervisor I had one time, that told me for important things if you have to ask the question is it right. You where wasting your time answering it.
How many things about Christianity do we try to simplify? I am all for keeping our walk with God fresh, but is it suppose to be easy?
Then there is the question of the money changers. Is it right to make a profit off of Gods work? I was watching one of the Holy channels the other day and a famous preacher was talking about a airport he built on his ranch to land his plane so he would not have to land at the local airport and drive home. I'am not going to answer this question here I want you to read this and you answer the question. I believe the man of God should be taken care of. That does not have to be by $ all the time. At my church people take care of things so I can "make tents" and have time for my family. I am well taken care of without $ changing hands. I would be afraid to make a vast profit from Gods work. If you make a profit form doing God's work I am not telling you that it is wrong. You need to decide for yourself.

Jesus words here is do not make my fathers house a house of trade. I have seen some go to an extreme and tell singers they could not sell CD's in the church, but would let them sell them in the parking lot. I'm not sure how that is different. Seems legalistic to me. This passage should make you think. This is one I will just raise the questions and let the Holy Spirit lead you.

The Bish

Sunday, April 15, 2012

When things are going wrong

Read James 4:1-10
When things are not going our way we tend to start complaining. What we should do is start exaiming ourself. Here James gives us five imperative verbs to help us do that very thing. If we would at these five areas our problems may not disappear, but they will get much easier to deal with. Here are the verbs with a definition:
Summit-accept or yield to a superior force; subject to a process; agree to refer to another for a decision. Verse 7 tells us to summit to God. Again if things are not going your way let God start making some decisions. You may be amazed  at the results.
Resist- to be in oppostition too; set oneself against. Again verse 7 tells us to resist the Devil. Man fell to sin in the garden. Because of that we all have fallen from the place God made us to sit at and have fellowship with him. Here James is telling us when Satan comes at us with that temptation we desire because of our fallen state to resist. Don't happily join in as we sometimes have done.
Draw- to move in space in reference to a known point; to make near. The uses of the greek here inply slowly as opposed to quickly.
Verse 8 tells us to draw near to God. The two easy ways to do that is Bible study and prayer. Daily Bible study has to start with reading the Bible daily. I have found daily reading will lead to daily study. The scripture tells us to pray continually. The greek there is the same word we get our word hacking from. Like in hacking cough. We should learn to pray about every thing like that hacking cough will not stop we need to not stop praying.
Cleanse- make clean; innocent
Verse 8 tells us to cleanse our hands. The innocent part of the definition struck me. If we can just keep our hands innocent our life would get better very quick.
Purify-to consecrate; to sanctify; ceremonial washing
Verse 8 tells us to purify our heart. We need to ask God to show us the things inside us we need to change. It is the work of sanctification, we all need it to improve our life's.
 Things just not going well for you. These five verbs will help.