5/23/2017 0 Comments My Utmost 5/23Today when I was reading My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers it talked about the worries of our lives being infidelity to our Lord. He basically says that worrying squeezes God out of our lives because worry says "I don't trust you with this." I just wanted to share this with you. It certainly got me thinking about some things.
Matthew 13:22 https://forums.ccgaming.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=22861
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4/17/2017 0 Comments April 17, 2017Today after reading in My Utmost For His Highest I read John 21. This chapter show the repentance of Peter. Peter jumps from the fishing boat leaving the fish behind, and he answers Jesus's questions about loving Him three times. The disbelief and fear we see in Peter before, forgiven by Jesus who does not hold a grudge about it. That is good news for us because we have all messed up at one time or another as well.
3/19/2017 0 Comments Because Jesus Said SoThis was the section of scripture we looked at today in church. The main point was that we should be obeying God for no other reason than we recognize His authority. Because he said so should be a good enough reason to do what is asked of us. In verse 5 Simon recognizes the authority of Jesus and obeys even though it does not make sense to Him. How much better would the world be if everyone did the same? We need to listen to the Lord, recognize His authority, and obey.
3/4/2017 0 Comments Giving to the LordAs I read this section and we were doing our Bible study at CCG it occurred to me that things in my life had gotten more difficult since have decreased my tithe, both monetarily and in time. God wants us to give cheerfully, out of our love for him. He wants us to serve Him with glad hearts for His glory. I am not saying that if we serve our life will be all sunshine and rainbows. His glory is our purpose and sometimes that means hardships. But the Bible does say if we don't serve Him as we should things will be hard. God knows what is best. With our limited view we can't see it. We just need to trust and follow Him. That is why He made us after all.
1/7/2017 0 Comments January 7th, 2017John 14:8-11 English Standard Version (ESV)
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Today's reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers led me to the above passage. Mr. Chambers states that Jesus is calling Philip into a closer relationship with Him. Chambers makes the point that our greatest fulfillment in life is an intimate relationship with the Lord. I also see in this passage that Jesus is the Lord. That whomever has seen Him as seen the Father. To a certain extent it could also be said that this is how people see Jesus today. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are within me. Can people see the Father in my life? 12/27/2016 0 Comments Why Jesus?Today I saw a wonderful post by Clarence on he Christian Crew website I wanted to share. Feel free to have a look at the link below. I have also reposted it here. https://forums.ccgaming.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1400 What’s it all about?Many non-Christians come our web site and often wonder, ‘what’s it all about?’ In truth we are no different to them. It’s about ‘relationships’. Relationships are the most important aspect of our lives – our relationship with our parents, boyfriend or girlfriend, husband, wife, children, grandparents and so on. Christianity is first and foremost about relationships rather than rules. It is about a person rather than a philosophy. It is the most the most important relationship of: our relationship with God who made us. Jesus said that the first and greatest commandment is to love God. The second is to love our neighbour. So, it is also about our relationships with other people. You and I were created to live in a relationship with God and, until we find that relationship there will always be something missing. One of the main points that is expressed in the many testimonies that I have listened to is that they always felt that there was ‘something missing’. As a result we are often aware of a ‘gap’ One famous rock singer described it by saying: ‘I’ve got an emptiness deep inside’ one young girls spoke of ‘a chunk missing in her soul’. People try to fill this emptiness in various ways such as money but that doesn’t satisfy. Aristotle Onassis, who was one of the richest men in the world said ‘Millions do not always add up to what a man needs out of life’. People have tried many ways to fill the gap, some try drugs, or excessive alcohol or sex. One person said that they provide instant release, but they leave you feeling hollow afterwards. Others try hard work, music, sport or seek success. There may not be anything wrong with those but they still do satisfy the hunger deep inside every human being. Even the closest of human relationships, wonderful though it may be, does not in itself satisfy the ‘emptiness deep inside’. Frankly, nothing will fill the gap except the relationship with God for which we were all made. According to the New Testament, the reason for this ‘emptiness’ is because men and women have turned their backs on God. In this modern day especially, there is so much available for humans to turn their heads towards to try and fill the gap. Jesus said ‘I am the bread of life’ (John 6:35). He is the only one who can satisfy our deepest hunger because He is the one who makes it possible for our relationship with God to be restored. a) He satisfies our hunger for meaning and purpose in life. At some point everyone asks the question, ‘What am I doing here?’ or, ‘What is the point of life?’ or even, ‘Is there any point or purpose to life?’. Albert Camus once said, ‘Man cannot live without meaning.’ Until we are living in a relationship with God we will never find the true meaning and purpose of life. Other things may provide passing satisfaction but it does not last. Only in a relationship with our creator do we find the true meaning and purpose in our lives. b) He satisfies our hunger for life beyond death. Before I became a Christian I didn’t think about death much. As far as I was concerned it was the only certainty in life that one day I would die. But hey, who cares I wont know much about when it does happen I will be worm food. Besides my own death seemed a long way in the future. Problem was I wasn’t facing up to reality. The fact is we all will die. Yet God has ‘set eternity in the human heart’ (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Most people do not want to die. We long to survive beyond death. Only in Jesus Christ do we find eternal life. For our relationship with God which starts now, survives death and goes on into eternity. c) He satisfies our hunger for forgiveness. If we are honest, we would have to admit that we all do things that we shouldn’t and we know that they are wrong. Sometimes we do things of which we are deeply ashamed. More than that there is a self-centredness about our lives, which spoils them. Jesus said, ‘What comes out of you is what makes you “unclean” For from within, out of your hearts, come evil thought, sexual immorality, theft, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make you “unclean”’ (Mark 7:20 – 23). Our greatest need is for forgiveness. Just as someone who has cancer needs a doctor, whether they realise it or not, so we need forgiveness whether we realise it or not. Just as with cancer, those who recognise their need are far better of than those who are lulled into a false sense of security. By His death on the cross Jesus made it possible for us to be forgiven and brought back into a relationship with God. In this way He supplied the answer to our deepest need. More tomorrow. Clarence. ‘Why Jesus’ by Nicky Gumbel WHY BOTHER WITH JESUS? Why should we bother with Christianity? The simple answer is because it is true! If Christianity is not true, we are wasting our time. If it is true, then it must be of vital importance to every human being. But how do we know it is true? We can test the claims of Christianity because it is a historical faith. It is based on Life death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our faith is based on firm historical evidence. Who is Jesus? Jesus is the most remarkable man who ever lived. He is, like it or not, the centrepiece of our civilisation. After all, we what happened before Him ‘B.C.’ and what happened after Him ‘A.D.’ Jesus was and is the Son of God. Some people think He is just a ‘good religious teacher’. However, suggestion doesn’t fit the facts. a) His claims Jesus claimed to be the unique Son of God – on an equal footing with God. He assumed the authority to forgive sins. He said that one day He would judge the world and that what would matter then would be how we had responded to Him in this life. C.S. Lewis pointed out that: ‘A man who was merely a man and said the things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.’ He would either be insane or else he would be ‘the devil of hell’. ‘You must make your choice,’ he writes. Either Jesus was, and is, the Son of God or else he was insane or evil but, C.S. Lewis goes on to say, ‘Let us not come up with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left the open to us. He did not intend to.’ b) His character Many people who do not profess to be Christians regard Jesus as the supreme example of a selfless life. Dostoevsky, himself a Christian, said, ‘I believe there is no one more lovelier, deeper, or more sympathetic and more perfect than Jesus. I say to myself, with jealous love, that not only is there no one else like him but there could never be anyone like him.’ As far as teaching is concerned, there seems to be a general agreement that it is the purest and best ever to have fallen from human lips. To C.S. Lewis it seemed clear that he could neither have been insane or evil and thus he concludes, ‘however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view he was and is God.’ c) His conquest of death The evidence for the physical resurrection is very strong indeed. When the disciples went to the tomb they found that the grave clothes had collapsed and that Jesus’ bodu was absent. In the next six weeks over 500 people saw him. The disciples’ lives were transformed and the Christian Church was born, and then grew at a dynamic rate. A former Lord Chief Justice of England, Lord Darling, said of the resurrection: ‘In its favour as living truth there exists such overwhelming evidence, positive and negative, factual and circumstantial, that no intelligent jury in the world could fail to bring in a verdict that the resurrection story is true.’ The only satisfactory explanation for these facts is that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead and thus confirms that He was, and is the Son of God. Why Jesus Nicky Gumble Why did Jesus come? Jesus is the only man who has ever chosen to be born and he is one of the few who has chosen to die. He said that the entire reason for his coming was to die for us. He came ‘to give his life as a ransom for many’ (Mark 10:45). From what we know of crucifixion, it was one of the cruellest forms of execution. Cicero described it as ‘the most cruel and hideous of tortures’. Jesus would have been flogged with a whip of several strands of leather weighted with pieces of metal and bones. According to Eusebius, a third century historian, ‘The sufferer’s veins were laid bare, and the very muscles, sinews and bowels of the victim were opened to exposure.’ Jesus was then forced to carry a six-foot cross beam until he collapsed. When he reached the site of execution, six-inch nails were hammered through his wrists and feet as he was nailed to the cross. He was left to hang for hours in excruciating pain. Yet, the New Testament makes it clear that there was something worse for Jesus than the physical and emotional pain; this was the spiritual anguish of being separated from God as he carried all our sins. Why did he die? Jesus said he died ‘for’ us. The word ‘for’ means ‘instead of’. He did it because he loved us and did not want us to have to pay the penalty for the things that we had done wrong. On the cross he was effectively saying, ‘I will take all those things on myself.’ He did it for you and he did it for me. If you or I had been the only person in the world he would have done it for us. St Paul wrote of ‘the Son God, who loved me and gave himself for me’ (Galatians 2:20). It was out of love for us that he gave his life as a ransom. The word ‘ransom’ comes from the slave market. A kind person might buy a slave and set them free – but first the ransom price had to be paid. We read in the Bible about how the Jewish people before the Jesus had to provide a sacrifice to cover the things they had done wrong. That sacrifice had to be perfect, flawless. That sacrifice would then be killed in the temple. This was the ransom they had to pay to be freed of their past sins. The problem with this was that it was the people who were providing the sacrifice and that in itself meant that it was not perfect because man could boast that the were forgiven by their own doing (My words). Jesus came to be the one true perfect sacrifice. Jesus paid, by his blood on the cross, the ransom price to set us free. Freedom from what? a) Freedom from guilt Whether we feel guilty or not, we are guilty before God because of the many times we have broken his laws in thought, word and deed. Just as when someone commits a crime there is a penalty to be paid, in the same way there is a penalty for breaking God’s laws. ‘The wages of sin is death’ (Romans 6:23). The result of the things we do wrong is spiritual death – being cut off from God eternally. We all deserve to suffer that penalty. On the cross Jesus took the penalty in our place so that we could be totally forgiven and our guilt could be taken away. b) Freedom from addiction Jesus said that ‘everyone who sins is a slave to sin’ (John 8:34). Jesus died to set us free from that slavery. On the cross, the power of this addiction was broken. Although we may still fall from time to time, the power of this addiction is broken when Jesus sets us free. That is why Jesus went on to say that ‘if the Son sets you free you will be free indeed’ (John 8:36). c) Freedom from fear Jesus came so that ‘by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those whose all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death’ (Hebrews 2: 14 -15). We need no longer fear death. Death is not the end for those whom Jesus has set free. Rather it is the gateway to heaven, where we will be set free from even the presence of sin. When Jesus sets us free from the fear of death he also sets us free from all other fears. Freedom for what? Jesus is no longer physically on earth but he has not left us alone. He sent his Holy Spirit to be with us. When his Spirit within us takes control, he gives us a new freedom. a) Freedom to know God The things, which we do wrong, cause a barrier between us and God: ‘your iniquities have separated you from God’ (Isaiah 59:2). When Jesus died on the cross he removed the barrier that existed between God and us. As a result he has made it possible for us to have relationship with our creator. We become his sons and daughters. The Spirit assures us of this and helps us to get to know God better. He helps us to pray and to understand God’s word (the Bible). b) Freedom to love ‘We love because he first loved us’ (1 John 4:19). As we look at the cross we understand God’s love for us. When the Spirit is freed within us we experience that love. As we do so we receive a new love for God and for other people. We are set free to live a new life of love – a life centred around loving and serving Jesus and loving and serving other people rather than a life centred around ourselves. c) Freedom to change People sometimes say, ‘You are what you are. You cant change.’ The good news is that with the help of the Holy Spirit we can change. The Holy Spirit gives us the freedom to live the sort of lives that deep down we have always wanted to live. Paul tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is ‘Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’ (Galatians 5:22) (Man that last one is hard). When we ask the Spirit of God to take control of our lives, these wonderful characteristics begin to grow in our lives. Why Jesus: Nicky Gumble WHY NOT? So God offers us in Christ Jesus: forgiveness, freedom and His Spirit to be an active part of our lives. All this is a gift from God. By it is meant to be ‘at no cost or charge to us. When someone offers us a gift we have a choice. We can either accept it. Or else we can say, ‘No thank you.’ Sadly many people make excuses for not accepoting the gift that God offers. Try these for size they may look familiar. a) ‘I have no need of God’ When people say this they usually mean they are quite happy without God. What they fail to realise is that our greatest need is not ‘happiness’ but ‘forgiveness’. It takes a very proud person to say they have no need of forgiveness. We all need forgiveness. Without it we are in serious trouble. For God is not only a loving Father He is a righteous judge. Either we accept what Jesus has done for us on the cross, or else one day we will pay the just penalty ourselves for the things we have done wrong. b) There’s too much to give up Sometimes, God puts His finger on something in our lives which we know is wrong and which we would have to give up if we want to enjoy this relationship wit God through Jesus. But we need to remember:- 1) God loves us. He asks us only to give up the things, which do us, harm. If my grandson was playing with a carving knife I would tell him to stop, not because I want to ruin his fun because I don’t want him to get hurt. 2) What we give up is nothing to what we receive. The cost of not becoming a Christian is far greater than the cost of becoming a Christian. 3) What we give up is nothing compared to what Jesus gave up when he died on the cross for us. c) There must be a catch’ Understandably, people often find it hard to accept that there is anything free in this life. They think that it is all far too easy and that there must be a catch. However, what they fail to realise is that although it is free for us, it was not free for Jesus. He paid for it with His own blood. It is easy for us but it wasn’t easy for Him. d) ‘I’m not good enough’ None of us is good enough. Nor can we ever make ourselves good enough for God. But that is why Jesus came. He made it possible for God to accept us just as we are, whatever we have done and however much a mess we have made of our lives. e) ‘I could never keep it up’ We are right to think that we could never keep it up. We cannot by ourselves, but the Spirit of God, who is set free within us, gives us the power and the strength to keep going as Christians. f) ‘I’ll do it later’ This is perhaps the most common excuse. Sometimes people say, ‘I know it is true but I am not ready yet.’ So they put it off. The longer we ‘put it off’ the harder it becomes and the more we miss out. We never know whether we will get another opportunity. Speaking for myself, my only regret is that I didn’t accept the gift earlier. Why Jesus, Nicky Gumble WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO? The New Testament makes it clear that we have to do something to accept the gift that God offers. This is an act of faith. John writes that, ‘God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16). Believing involves an act of faith, based on all that we know about Jesus. It is not blind faith. It is putting our trust in a person. In some ways it is like the step of faith taken by a bride or bridegroom when they say ‘I will’ on their wedding day.
The way people take this step of faith varies enormously but I want to describe one way in which you can take this step of faith right now. It can be summarised by three simple words. a) ‘Sorry’ You have to ask God to forgive you for all the things you have done wrong and turn from everything which you know is wrong in your life. This is what the Bible calls ‘repentance’. b) ‘Thank You’ We believe that Jesus died for us on the cross. You need to thank Him for dying for you and for the offer of His free gift of forgiveness, freedom and His Spirit. c) ‘Please’ God never forces His way into our lives. You need to accept His gift and invite Him to live within you by His Spirit. NOW THEN! If you would like to have a relationship with God and you are ready to say these three things, then here is a very simple prayer which you can pray and which will be the start of that relationship : ‘Lord Jesus Christ, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life (take a moment to ask His forgiveness for anything particular that is on your conscience). Please forgive me. I now turn from everything which I know is wrong. Thank You that You died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free. Thank You that You offer me forgiveness and the gift of Your Spirit. I now receive that gift. Please come into my life by Your Holy Spirit to be with me forever. Thank You Lord Jesus. Amen. WHAT NOW? 1. Tell someone It is important to tell someone in order to underline the decision you have made. Often it is only when you tell someone else that it becomes reality to you. It is probably best to start by telling someone who you think will be pleased about the news. 2. Read the Bible Once we have received Jesus and put our trust in Him we become children of God (John 1:12). He is our heavenly Father. Like any father He wants us to have a close relationship with Him.. We develop this relationship as we listen to him (primarily through the Bible) and we speak to Him in prayer. The Bible is the word of God and you might find it helpful to begin reading a few verses of John’s gospel every day. Ask God to speak to you as you read. 3) Start each day by speaking to God (i.e. pray) This may help: A - Adoration. Praising God for who He is and what He has done. C - Confession. Asking God for forgiveness for anything that we have done wrong. T - Thanksgiving. Thanking God for health, family, friends and so on. S - Supplication. Praying for our ourselves, for our friends and for others. 4) Join a lively Church It is important to be part of a group of Christians who get together to worship God, to hear God is saying to them, to encourage one another and to make friends. Church should be an exciting place! Why Jesus, Nicky Gumble I first prayed a prayer similar to the one above on April 1st 1988, and yes I am a fool for Christ before anyone else says it :biggrin: . It changed my life. It is the best thing and the most important thing I have ever done. I trust it will be the same for you. Want to know more? There are many members in this community who are more than willing to help you as you start on your path with Jesus. I am available to try and answer any questions you want to ask. Thank you for taking the time to read this, I know there is a lot to take in but it just might save your life. Clarence http://www.desiringgod.org/books/the-dawning-of-indestructible-joy
December 2 In today's reading Piper talks about four things that the heart needs to be prepared to understand who Christ really is.
My thoughts on this are simple. Frist, if we are seeking the praise of this world we are not seeking God. Second, we can not place false idols like money or possessions before God. Third, a desire for redemption needs to come from an understanding that I am a sinner and that I need to be redeemed. Then lastly I need to turn to God for that redemption and repent. December 3rd Today Piper talked about drawing near to the Lord. But not directly through an action of my own, though he implies that I will take action. He is mostly focused on the fact that Jesus is praying for us to the Lord that our faith would not fail and that we would draw near to Him. December 4th Today’s reading focuses on Mark 10:45. The heart of it is that this Christmas season we should see that Jesus came to save and to serve us. We should turn away from trying to help ourselves and from sin. We should instead trust in the Lord. My boss gave everyone a copy of “The Dawning of Indestructible Joy” by John Piper.
http://www.desiringgod.org/books/the-dawning-of-indestructible-joy It is a book of daily reading for advent. So I thought I would share my thoughts on these readings as I read them. The reading for today (12/1) talks about how the word advent means coming. Google tells me that advent means the arrival of something of note. In the context of the Christmas season we are of course talking about the birth of Christ. Piper goes on to quote Luke 19:10. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 (ESV) He describes Jesus as being on a “search and save mission.” I find this to be an interesting description. It is certainly worth taking note as we celebrate the birth of Christ why he came in the first place. God’s plan of salvation is the reason why Christmas matters. I am thankful that the Lord has a plan to save each of us. Let’s be thankful for the reason Jesus was born this year. 11/27/2016 0 Comments Biblically Correcting OthersBefore I get into my main post I want you to understand where I am coming from. I was sent on the path of writing this after witnessing a series of posts on the CCG forums that concerned me. That issue has since been resolved so I don’t want to bring it up any particulars. My point is that the old me got riled up and I wanted to jump in and start bashing heads. But then I slowed down, I prayed, then I started to research what the Bible says about correcting others. Then the anger I felt turned to introspection. You see, I’m a teacher. God turned my anger at some forum posts into a genuine concern about whether or not I am correcting my students, and other adults, the way God would have me do.
To begin to answer that question I needed to start looking at what the Bible says about correcting others. The first passage I came across was Matthew 18:15-17. This passage lays out a plan of action for dealing with a person who is living with sin in their life. It seems to offer a series of steps for conflict resolution: Step 1. Talk to them privately about the matter. Step 2. Talk with them with a couple of people who actually witnessed the sin and provide them with evidence. Step 3. Involve the church. Step 4. If they refuse to listen even to the church then exclude them. These steps are useful but not really the explanation of how to offer the correction that I was looking for, so I kept digging. Eventually I came across an article that referenced Timothy 2:23-26. I found these verses enlightening. Verse 23 tells us not to argue over foolish meaningless things. If we are going to argue it should be about something that matters, not just to us but to God. Because if it does not matter to God then it is meaningless. Verses 24 and 25 tell us not to be looking to pick fights but to be kind and to teach with gentleness. While verse 26 tells us what our goal should be. To help them realize their sin and escape the traps set by the devil. So in summary when we seek to correct an error in someone else we should: 1. Do it out of love for the Lord and love for them. 2. Do it only for things that matter. 3. Be gentle with the goal of teaching, not the goal of being right. 4. Do it with the hope that God will bring them to repentance and a right relationship with Him. Anyway, it may be that this post is just God teaching me something. But I pray that someone else will find it useful as well. References Cloe, S.J. (2013, April 15). Lesson 14: The Gentle Art of Correction (2 Timothy 2:23-26). Retrived from https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-14- ... thy-223-26 |