Changed Lives Today

Light of The World:

2012-03-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Light of The World: A now deceased secular philosopher by the name of Allen Watts said: "Veiwing life is like looking into a dark room with a flashlight. You only see small parts of the room at a time and never see the entire room". Can you imagine walking (or stumbling around) into a dark house that you have never been in before. Would it not be so much easier just to know where the light switch is and turn on the lights so you can see everything around you? This is also true in our spiritual lives. Read the verses below to see why:

Ephesians 5: 6-9 'Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.'

Ephesians 5:14–16 'for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,“Awake, O sleeper,rise up from the dead,and Christ will give you light.”Living by the Spirit’s PowerLiving by the Spirit’s Power. So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.'

The Peace of God - Conclusion:

2012-03-15T22:46:00.002-07:00

The Peace of God - Conclusion: We have learned in our previous posts that the 'Peace of God' comes with conditions; "Right Praying, Right Thinking, and last of all, Right Living" (Philippians 4:9). If you have something in your life that you know is not pleasing to the Lord then you will not have any peace. When you live each and every day for the Lord, asking forgiveness for all your sins of commission (ones you know of) and sins of commission (sins you are not aware of), ask that the Holy Spirit will lead and guide you through your day to do God's will and to meditate on God's Word, you will have a life of peace.

"Living Right" always brings peace; see (Isa. 32:17) - "And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever". Read (Isa. 48:18 - 22) - "Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me.” Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea, declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, send it out to the end of the earth; say, “The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob!” They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and the water gushed out. “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.”

The Word of God is His love letter to us. It is our road map to guide and instruct us to find and stay on the path God has chosen for us. Reading the Bible is not a means to an end. It is the "Living" Word of God. It saves people through the Good News of what Jesus did for us on the Cross. It drives us as Christians to want to know God better. It is not enough to use the Bible as a basis for praying and claiming its promises; we must also use it as a basis for our living, obeying its precepts. Please read (James 4:1 - 11) and note that wrong praying ( 4:3 ), wrong living ( 4:4 ), and wrong thinking ( 4:8 ) produce war instead of peace!
May God Bless You!

The Peace of God - Part 3:

2012-03-14T21:11:00.000-07:00

We have learned in our previous posts that the 'Peace of God' comes with conditions. The first one was 'right praying'. The second condition involves 'right thinking'. We find this in verse 8. When we talk about having peace, peace with others, ourselfs, and with God, we have to realize that it starts in our minds. Read these verses: ( Isa. 26:3 ) "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you". ( Rom. 8:6 ) "For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace". So we can see from scripture that 'thoughts' are powerful. ( Prov. 23:7 ) "as he thinketh, so he is". Wrong thoughts will lead to unrest and discouragement, but spiritual thinking will lead to peace.

Paul tells us in verse 8 what we are to think about: "8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things". if you compare these virtues to ( Ps.19:7-9 ), you will see that the Word of God meets all of these requirements.

Meditation on the Word of God will always bring peace ( Ps.119:165 ) Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them".

The Peace of God - Part 2

2012-03-13T22:44:00.001-07:00

"Peace of God": Philippians 4:6-9 - Our last post we talked about "having the peace of God" meeting the right conditions. Today we will look at the first condition: "Right Praying". What does this mean? Vs. 6-7 are telling us to come to God in adoration. When I say adoration I mean 'love'. This is what prayer means in verse 6. By coming to God to want to be in His presence and to honor God in worship, this delights Him. Sometimes we come to God not often enough and when we do we come to quickly to just 'ask' God for all the things we need. God wants us to come to Him in a spirit of worship and love and bowing to God and ask Him to search our minds and heart. Weirsbe says, "Prayer comes from the heart and not the lips".

Next we come in supplication with a sincere desire of the heart. God does want to hear our requests and tells us to ask Him about your needs and what a joy to know we have a God that listens and answers. He wants you to come to Him with a 'thankfulful' heart (Eph. 5:20) and (Col. 3:15 - 17). God wants us to thank Him for everything and that means even those hard circumstances we are in or the prayer that has not been answered yet. That takes faith and trust, God likes this to. Read Dan. 6:10 and you will see that this is the way Daniel prayed. No wonder he had such peace in that lions' den!

We will look at the next condition in our next post concerning having the peace of God. God Bless until then.

The Peace of God:

2012-03-12T23:01:00.001-07:00

Philippians 4:6-9

"Peace with God" is the result of faith in Christ (Rom. 5:1 - "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ") "the peace of God" and the presence of "the God of peace" will come when the believer practices right thinking, right praying, and right living. Worry is tension between the mind and heart. The peace of God will guard (garrison) our hearts and minds if we but meet the conditions He gives. Next post we will give the conditions that God wants of us.

Dead, Now Alive:

2012-03-12T18:44:00.002-07:00

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14)

We are to Confess:

2012-03-10T22:33:00.002-08:00

Now John instructs the saints what to do about sins in their lives. The "we" includes John here, and it would seem that he is speaking of believers, for in other places he gives directions to the unsaved as to what they must do with relation to their sinful state and their sins. The sinner is to believe ( John 3:16 ). The saint is to confess. The word "confess" is homologeo, from homos, "the same," and lego, "to say," thus, "to say the same thing as another," or, "to agree with another." Confession of sin on the part of the saint means therefore to say the same thing that God does about that sin, to agree with God as to all the implication of that sin as it relates to the Christian who commits it and to a holy God against whom it is committed. That includes the saint's hatred of that sin, his sense of guilt because of it, his contrition because of it, the determination to put it out of his life and never to do that thing again. This is what confession of sin means here. The English word "confess" means "to admit the truth of an accusation, to own up to the fact that one is guilty of having committed the sin." But the Greek word means far more than that, as was shown above. The verb is present subjunctive, speaking of continuous action. This teaches that the constant attitude of the saint toward sin should be one of a contrite heart, ever eager to have any sin in the life discovered for him by the Holy Spirit, and ever eager to confess it and put it out of the life by the power of that same Holy Spirit. David wrote concerning that kind of heart when he penned the words: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" ( Psalm 51:17 ). ~ Kenneth Wuest (Wuest Commentary)http://changedlivestoday.com http://changedlivestoday.blogspot.com

Pursue God!

2012-03-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

"David's life was a torrent of spiritual desire, and his psalms ring with the cry of the seeker and the glad shout of the finder. Paul confessed the mainspring of his life to be his burning desire after Christ. "That I may know Him," was the goal of his heart, and to this he sacrificed everything. "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may win Christ." ~ A.W. Tozer

If you were to tell your Christian friends that you want to pursue God and to know Him in a personal way, they would think that you were either crazy, mystical, or radical. But A.W. Tozer would say this should be the "Normal Christian Life". Let's not live a mediocre Christian life.

To Have Too Much God?

2012-03-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Is it possible to get enough or even too much God? Is there a point when a person can be satisfied with the amount of intimacy, knowledge, and power of God he or she experiences? I don’t see how there can be, because doesn’t every encounter with God only cause us to thirst for Him more? ~ Forgotten God by Francis Chan

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."
Matthew 22:37 (NIV)

How Much God Loves Us:

2012-03-07T23:57:00.003-08:00

Want to know what God wants of us? Read the verses below of what God wanted of His chosen people and see:

Deuteronomy 10:12-13
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?Look at the picture and see how much God loves us. Never forget this!

Now Your Saved, Now You Work:

2012-03-06T20:05:00.000-08:00

Salvation is a gift of God and not by works. We've been learning about that for the past couple of days. But did you know once you're saved, you’ve got work to do.

Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works." The word "works" there is exactly the same word--ergon--as we found in verse 9. We are not saved by works, but we are saved by grace--but once we are saved, we are created in Christ Jesus; we are His workmanship so that we can work for Him.

Now we've crossed over the hump in salvation. We're on the saved side of life. When we're coming to salvation, coming to the cross of Christ--works were not at all helpful to us. In fact, for most people, they are a hindrance. Works could not help you become born again, only God can do that. That's what verses 8-9 are all about.

But now that you have been saved--now that your are born again, born from above--now you and I are told by the same apostle who told us that works didn't contribute anything to our salvation, we are now told to work out our own salvation (Philippians 2:12).

You see, working for God is important, but it's only important once we're saved. Working for God is useless until we are saved. Now that we're saved, now that we're born again, it's the work that God does through us that gives us purpose in life.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote from his prison cell that it was there, lying on that rotting prison straw that for the first time in his life he understood that the purpose of life is not prosperity as they were made to believe. The purpose of life is the maturing of the human soul.

Life becomes tragic, friends, for those who have plenty to live on but not plenty to live for.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Peripateo--walk. Walk around. Make your way around life. Making your way through life today isn't easy, friends, unless you're a part of the bigger plan.

God has big ideas for you. Making your way through life, working for Him, that's a part of His big idea, His big plan for you. There are a lot of Christians who are doing nothing, but there are no Christians who have nothing to do.

God does have big ideas for you. So what are they? Maybe you just need to ask him. Or maybe you know, and it's time to get to work.~ Woodrow Kroll (Back To The Bible)

Salvation is not something you do:

2012-03-05T15:28:00.001-08:00

You know Salvation is not something you do; it's something Jesus Christ already has done for you at Calvary.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." The word "works" here--ergon--it means an act or a deed, anything that's accomplished by hand.

Throughout the Bible people have always thought they had to do something in order to be saved, there was some work that they had to perform. The rich young ruler, for example, came to Jesus and asked, "Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" (Mark 10:17). The Philippian jailor asked Paul and Silas after that great earthquake, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30).

The whole concept the world has of salvation today is that salvation is something you do. But the Bible says just the opposite--"Not of works." There's nothing you can do to earn your salvation because if you did then you would boast about what you did to be saved. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

He died for you. He paid the penalty for your sin; and now to receive God's gift of salvation, you must believe that what Jesus did is all that God required and trust Jesus to be your Savior instead of yourself. What He did, instead of what you are currently doing. That's what the Bible says, friends, and that's the Bible means.

How reassuring is that, that my salvation is not dependent on me doing anything? It's because of what Christ has done for me. Alright, who do you know that needs to hear this message?

The Birds:

2012-03-03T17:07:00.000-08:00

That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life - whether you have enough food or drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Matthew 6:25-26

What are you worrying about today? God will take care of you.

To Know God's Majesty:

2012-03-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul's paradox of love, scorned indeed by the too-easily-satisfied religionist, but justified in happy experience by the children of the burning heart. Long ago it was stated this holy paradox in a musical quatrain that will be instantly understood by every worshipping soul: We taste Thee, O Thou Living Bread, And long to feast upon Thee still: We drink of Thee, the Fountainhead And thirst our souls from Thee to fill. Come near to the holy men and women of the past and you will soon feel the heat of their desire after God. They mourned for Him, they prayed and wrestled and sought for Him day and night, in season and out, and when they had found Him the finding was all the sweeter for the long seeking. Moses used the fact that he knew God as an argument for knowing Him better.

A.W. Tozer

The Answer To The Bible Trivia Question:

2012-03-01T23:22:00.001-08:00

One of the favorite characters in the Old Testament is Methuselah, who lived 969 years (Genesis 5:27), longer than anyone else recorded. His father was Enoch, of whom it is said he "walked with God" (5:24) but who was taken to heaven without dying at 365 years. Methuselah's son Lamech died a few years before the Flood at 777 years (5:31) after bearing Noah.

When Methuselah was born, his godly father must have prophetically known of coming things for his son's name means "when he dies, judgment," and interestingly enough, Methuselah died in the same year God judged the sinful world with the great Flood of Noah's day.

To know God Personally:

2012-02-29T23:50:00.000-08:00

We have almost forgotten that God is a Person and, as such, can be cultivated as any person can. It is inherent in personality to be able to know other personalities, but full knowledge of one personality by another cannot be achieved in one encounter. It is only after long and loving mental pursuing of God that the full possibilities of both can be explored. All social dealings between human beings is a response of personality to personality, grading upward from the most casual brush between man and man to the fullest, most intimate communion of which the human soul is capable.

Psalm 42:1 - 2 'As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?' ~ A.W. Tozer

Bible Trivia Question:

2012-02-29T23:03:00.002-08:00

Who is the oldest person in scripture and how old were they?

Please respond with your answers...

Check back with us tomorrow for the answer...

Second Chances:

2012-02-28T22:24:00.003-08:00

This post is part of the Bible teaching trackHave you ever messed up, like really messed up? It feels awful. But, you know what? God is all about second chances. I know this because in the Old Testament Israel had a horrible king. His name was Manasseh and he really messed up. But there was even hope for him.

Second Chronicles, chapter 33.

So in the history of Israel, in the history of God's people that had a king, the longest reigning king of all of them is this fellow right here, Manasseh. Regrettably, though, he's not only the longest reigning king, he's the most wicked of the bunch as well.

I mean Manasseh is a king that just does horrible things. There is no hope for this man, Manasseh. At least you'd think there was no hope for him.

But then you get to verse 11. Look at verse 11, "Therefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon."

And notice verse 12, "Now when he was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God."

What you learn is that God gave Manasseh a chance to have a second chance.

And look what he does there. He tries to undo all the wicked things that he did when he was younger in his life. In verse 14 it says, "After this he built a wall outside the City of David on the west side of Gihon in the valley, as far as the entrance of the Fish Gate; and it enclosed Ophel, and he raised it to a very great height. Then he put military captains in all the fortified cities of Judah. He took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the Lord." Well, good for him.

See, repentance doesn't mean you say to God, "I'm sorry." Repentance means, you show God that you're sorry.

You know, even though Manasseh sinned in the eyes of the Lord, there was still hope for him. When he realized that what he was doing was wrong, he repented: which means to stop what you are doing and turn around and go the other direction. If there was hope for Manasseh, there is hope for you. Is there anything standing between you and the Lord today? ~ Woodrow Kroll - Back to the Bible

Devotion To God:

2012-02-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

Devotion is neither private nor public prayer; but prayers, whether private or public, are particular parts or instances of devotion. Devotion signifies a life given, or devoted, to God. He, therefore, is the devout man, who lives no longer to his own will, or the way and spirit of the world, but to the sole will of God, who considers God in everything, who serves God in everything, who makes all the parts of his common life parts of piety, by doing everything in the Name of God, and under such rules as are conformable to His glory. We readily acknowledge, that God alone is to be the rule and measure of our prayers; that in them we are to look wholly unto Him, and act wholly for Him; that we are only to pray in such a manner, for such things, and such ends, as are suitable to His glory. ~ Wayne Grudem

What Is Your #1 Priority In Life

2012-02-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me."

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

Sitting at Christ's feet, signifies readiness to receive his word, and submission to the guidance of it. Martha was providing for the entertainment of Christ, and those that came with him. Here were respect to our Lord Jesus and right care of her household affairs.

We see two principles here:
- Mary 'Worshipped' Jesus.
- Martha was 'busy doing'.

Was Martha wrong with having to take care of her guests? No. But when she complained that Mary was not busy, Jesus pointed out what was the most important thing to do in life and that is to worship Him. He knows and tells us in scripture to not be slothful and to tend to our affairs. What Jesus is saying is that even though life can be very busy with our affairs and work, we must always make God our first priority. He loves us and wants our fellowship with Him through prayer and reading His Word.

What is the number one priority in your life?

God Is Always There For You:

2012-02-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

Jeremiah 29:11-13 'For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'

We often do not know our own minds, but the Lord is never at an uncertainty. We are sometimes ready to fear that God's designs are all against us; but as to his own people, even that which seems evil, is for good. He will give them, not the expectations of their fears, or the expectations of their fancies, but the expectations of their faith; the end he has promised, which will be the best for them. When the Lord pours out a special spirit of prayer, it is a good sign that he is coming toward us in mercy.

To Know God Personally:

2012-02-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

Sound Bible exposition*(See note below for definition) is an imperative must in the Church of the Living God. Without it no church can be a New Testament church in any strict meaning of that term. But exposition may be carried on in such way as to leave the hearers devoid of any true spiritual nourishment whatever. For it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard the truth. The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.~ A.W. Tozer (The Pursuit of God)

*Richard Mayhue’s foundational definition from Rediscovering Expository Preaching.

Expository preaching is preaching that focuses predominantly on the text(s) under consideration along with its (their) context(s). Exposition normally concentrates on a single text of Scripture, but it is sometimes possible for a thematic/theological message or a historical/biographical discourse to be expository in nature. An exposition may treat any length of passage.

Following is a helpful summary of the essential elements of expository preaching:
1. The message finds its sole source in Scripture.
2. The message is extracted from Scripture through careful exegesis.
3. The message preparation correctly interprets Scripture in its normal sense and its context.
4. The message clearly explains the original God-intended meaning of Scripture.
5. The message applies the Scriptural meaning for today.

The Cost and Blessing of Being a Christian:

2012-02-22T00:24:00.000-08:00

Place yourself in Pastor Youcef's shoes who is facing a 'death sentence'. As you read the verses below think about what you would do in this Pastor's position? We live in the End Times and we may one day face our own persecution for being a Christian:

Scripture: Matthew 10:16-31 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, jdo not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

When Jesus had finished his great saving work, and had laid down his life to save millions and millions of people who would believe in him, and had risen from the dead, he gave this final mandate to his disciples in Matthew 28:18-20.

The Wonderful Results of Your Trials

2012-02-21T18:46:00.002-08:00

Most of us have read or heard about the Book of Job. We have to remember that the people we read about in the Bible were just that, people. People like us. Just like a great preacher said many years ago: "It's amazing what God can do through one person who is totally devoted to God". Getting back to Job, think about all that God let Satan do to him. He lost his wealth, family, and health. We have to try and place our feet into his shoes and wonder how we would have handled all that? Well, there was a happy ending with Job, God doubled back to Job everything he had lost. He regained his health. Even though Job questioned God (I know I would have) and God basically told Job not to ever question Him. There is something in this true story that we never hear about but is the most important lesson of all. Read the last chapter of Job in the Old Testament ( Ch. 42:5).

"I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee".

Job is saying that I had a head knowledge about God but now he has a heart knowledge about God. These trials helped to bring Job closer to the Lord. I always say, God wants a 'Relationship' with us, not a 'Religion'.

God and Worry:

2012-02-20T17:43:00.000-08:00

"Why be in despair when you can be in prayer"

To not worry is a hard concept to grasp, is it not? Philippians 4:6 'commands us not to worry, not about one thing. Wow! Would it not be great to not worry about 'anything'? Well, here is what we have to do;

- Read Chapter 4 of Philippians every day and ask God to give you the strength through the Holy Spirit to give you a 'peace' that only God can give. (John 14:27 - 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.")

- Ask God to help you trust in Him (Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5)

- Talk to God everyday (Prayer)

- Listen to God everyday (Read His Word daily)

Let me know what verses have encouraged you to 'Trust' God more.

Changed Lives Forever:

2012-02-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

"The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual maturity. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian." ~ A.W. Tozer

This is a wonderful quote by Tozer that is the perfect segue to what I would like to announce for a new 'Study' that I will be starting. We will continue with our previous studies but this will be a much needed and exciting study. I will call it 'Changed Lives Forever'. Read below what Paul wrote:

Philippians 3:12-14 "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus".

In verse 13 above Paul is not talking about salvation but sanctification--growth and progress in Christian life and service. Some Christians believe that once saved that is it, until we go to heaven. But this is just the beginning, we start a whole new Journey and Relationship with Jesus. Part of that journey consists of becoming more like Him. Just like no one can be crucified on a cross by themselves, no one can become more like Jesus by their self effort.

By reading and learning the Scripture with the help of the Holy Spirit and with the intent of pursuing God, Jesus will be able to live His life through us. Please keep watching for, 'Changed Lives Forever'.

Who Knows you Better than God!

2012-02-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Psalms 139:1-6 God has perfect knowledge of us and all our thoughts and actions are open before him. It is more profitable to meditate on Divine truths, applying them to our own cases, and with hearts lifted to God in prayer, than with a curious or disputing frame of mind.

That God knows all things is omniscient; that he is everywhere, is omnipresent; are truths acknowledged by all, yet they are seldom rightly believed in by mankind. God takes strict notice of every step we take, every right step and every by-step. He knows what rule we walk by, what end we walk toward, what company we walk with. When I am withdrawn from all company, thou knowest what I have in my heart. There is not a vain word, not a good word, but thou knowest from what thought it came, and with what design it was uttered. Wherever we are, we are under the eye and hand of God. We cannot by searching find how God searches us out; nor do we know how we are known. Such thoughts should restrain us from sin. ~ Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! ~ Psalm 139:17-18 NLT

The Bible is the Word of God:

2012-02-16T00:15:00.000-08:00

We believe that the Bible, as written in the original Hebrew and Greek languages, is the very word of the only wise and the only true God, with whom one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day, who saw the end from the beginning, and not only the end, but every stage of the way. We therefore hold it to be nothing short of positive blasphemy to assert that we have arrived at a stage of our career in which the Bible is not sufficient, or that we are compelled to travel outside its covers to find ample guidance and instruction for the present moment, and for every moment of our earthly pilgrimage. The Bible is a perfect chart, in which every exigency of the Christian mariner has been anticipated. Every rock, every sand-bank, every shoal, every strand, every island, has been carefully noted down. All the need of the Church of God, its members and its ministers, has been most fully provided for. How could it be otherwise, if we admit the Bible to be the Word of God? Could the mind of God have devised, or His finger sketched an imperfect chart? Impossible. We must either deny the divinity or admit the sufficiency of The Book. We are absolutely shut up to this alternative. There is not so much as a single point between these two positions. If the book is incomplete, it cannot be of God; if it be of God it must be perfect. But if we are compelled to betake ourselves to other sources for guidance and instruction, as to the path of the Church of God, its members or its ministers, then is the Bible incomplete, and being such, it cannot be of God at all.

Paul tells us below that if Christ was not resurrected from the dead his preaching would have been in vain. But as Paul and we know, it was not and the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

1 Corinthians 15:12-23 'Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.'

Make the Main Thing the Main Thing:

2012-02-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God. I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it. For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God? Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve Him alone. This is the greatest wisdom -- to seek the kingdom of heaven through contempt of the world. It is vanity, therefore, to seek and trust in riches that perish. It is vanity also to court contempt of the world. It is vanity, therefore, to seek and trust in riches that perish. It is vanity also to court honor and to be puffed up with pride. It is vanity to follow the lusts of the body and to desire things for which severe punishment later must come. It is vanity to wish for long life and to care little about a well-spent life. It is vanity to be concerned with the present only and not to make provision for things to come. It is vanity to love what passes quickly and not to look ahead where eternal joy abides.

Often recall the proverb: The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with hearing. Try, moreover, to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God.

Seek God's Presence Above All:

2012-02-14T23:40:00.000-08:00

In this hour of all-but-universal darkness one cheering gleam appears: within the fold of conservative Christianity there are to be found increasing numbers of persons whose religious lives are marked by a growing hunger after God Himself. They are eager for spiritual realities and will not be put off with words, nor will they be content with correct "interpretations" of truth. They are athirst for God, and they will not athirst for God, and they will not be satisfied till they have drunk deep at the Fountain of Living Water. ~ A.W. Tozer

"Our Heart is RestlessUntil it rests in You"Saint Augustine of HippoYou be one of those few that seek after God and His presence.

Psalm 42: 1-2As the deer pants for streams of water,so my soul pants for you, O God.My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.When can I go and meet with God?

Valentine's Day:

2012-02-13T23:08:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is here and is the celebration of Love. But what about God's Love for us? Read below and see.

2 Chronicles 1:8 And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place.

Psalms 52:8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.

Daniel 9:4 I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments…

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

1 John 4:16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

Romans 5:7-8 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The 3 S's - Life is Short

2012-02-12T21:27:00.000-08:00

You are probably wondering what the three S's are about? Thefirst S is for 'Sobering'. What the other two S's stand for makes for a very soberingpost. But there is a very happy ending. There always is with God. The second Sstands for 'Short'. In Psalm 90:12 it says: “Teach us to number ourdays, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”. There is an important reminder inthis Scripture that life is very short. Our days are numbered. Our lives arelimited. Life passes extremely fast. The Bible says that a person’s life islike a breath or vapor.

Psalm 39:4-6 says: “Lord, make me to know my end,and what isthe measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, the number ofmy days is small like the size of a hand. And my age is as nothing before You.Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.” The Bible also says that life is like ashadow which only temporarily appears. In Psalms 23 David says: "I walk inthe shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;" Here isthe Third S, which means: 'Sure'. Except for those that will be Raptured, deathis a 'sure' thing for all of us.

You can see what I was saying about thefirst S standing for 'Sobering'. But I also said there is always light at theend of the tunnel. Of course that light is Jesus. Remember where David said hewalked in the 'shadow' of death? There has to be 'light' in order to have ashadow. Jesus is our light and "to be absent from the body is to bepresent with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Realizing that life is short can inspireus to be more dedicated to the Lord.

Realizing that life is short can help usto properly value things.

I would like to close by sharing a little about a man who did indeedlived a short life. His name is William Borden.

Throughout the history of missions, manymissionaries have lived very short lives. William Borden is one of them. Infact he died before he even reached the mission field. William was the heir tothe Borden Dairy estate. He was a millionaire before he graduated from highschool. But he was willing to let everything go to follow God’s call to themission field. He wrote in his journal, "say no to self & yes to Jesusevery time." The Lord called him to reach out to the Kansu people inChina. Since the Kansu people were Muslim, William stopped in Egypt to studyArabic before traveling on to China. However, while in Egypt he contractedspinal meningitis and within a month he died at age 25. Prior to his death,William had written these six words in the back of his Bible: No Reserves. NoRetreats. No Regrets.

William Borden was a man who seemed to have a goodhandle on the shortness of life and the need to invest all he had in the thingsof Christ. ~ TheRutherford family

Even though data may differ on different websites,below is a good estimate of how many people die every second, minute, hour, andday.

3 per every second
180 per minute

10,000 per hour

25,0000 a day

A Shaken Faith!

2012-02-11T23:45:00.000-08:00

‘TheFaith that can’t be shaken is the Faith that has been shaken’ ~ RandyAlcorn

1 Peter 1:7 'That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.' NKJV

You Are Never Too Young

2012-02-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Ever feel that people think because you are young of age that you could not be able to do anything worthy for the Lord or could not be responsible with spiritual matters?
David's own family looked down on him when it came to defeating Goliath and becoming the next King after King Saul. But God did not look down on David for He chose him to accomplish the above mentioned accomplishments.
God said in 1 Corinthians 1:27: "Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful." NLT

Paul knew that Timothy was young and people would resist him with his pastoral offices and duties in the Church because of his youth. Paul told Timothy to assert the dignity of his office even though men may think you young to hold it. Let no one push you aside as a boy...St. Paul shows Timothy ‘a more excellent way’ than self-assertion for the keeping up of his dignity: give no one any ground by any fault of character for despising thy youth. (Nicoll, W Robertson, Editor: Expositors Greek Testament: 5 Volumes.)

Timothy was to be an example in regard to his love of God (John 14:15 equates love with obedience) and his love for his fellow man, to reiterate, this love being a manifestation of the fruit of a Spirit controlled life. Just remember this, you can never be too young to do His will. Look at Daniel and his friends, they were teenagers when thrown in the Lions Den and the Furnace.

God's Days:

2012-02-09T22:56:00.000-08:00

There are two days in the week upon which and about which I never worry — two carefree days kept sacredly free from fear and apprehension. One of these days is Yesterday. Yesterday, with its cares and fret and pains and aches, all its faults, its mistakes and blunders, has passed forever beyond my recall. It was mine; it is God’s.

The other day that I do not worry about is Tomorrow. Tomorrow, with all its possible adversities, its burdens, its perils, its large promise and performance, its failures and mistakes, is as far beyond my mastery as its dead sister, Yesterday. Tomorrow is God’s day; it will be mine.

There is left, then, for myself but one day in the week – Today. Any man can fight the battles of today. Any woman can carry the burdens of just one day; any man can resist the temptation of today. It is only when we willfully add the burden of these two awful eternities – Yesterday and Tomorrow – such burdens as only the Mighty God can sustain – that we break down.

It isn’t the experience of Today that drives men mad. It is the remorse of what happened Yesterday and fear of what Tomorrow might bring. These are God’s Days … Leave them to Him.

Author Unknown

The Lord is my Shepherd!

2012-02-08T23:06:00.000-08:00

Philip Keller was a shepherd and he wrote a wonderful book called 'A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23', it is a classic today.

He wrote that Sheep do not 'just take care of themselves' as some might suppose. They require more than any other class of livestock, endless attention and meticulous care. it is no accident that God has chosen to call us sheep. The behavior of sheep and human beings is similar in many ways.

An interesting fact he brought up was that it is almost impossible for sheep to line down unless four requirements are met: free of all fear, free from friction with other sheep, free of pests, and free of hunger. Only the Shepherd can provide release from these anxieties. It is he who makes it possible for the sheep to lie down, rest, relax and flourish.

A flock that is restless and discontented never does well. The same is true of people. In the Christians life there is no substitute for the awareness that the Shepherd is nearby. There is nothing like Christ's presence to dispel the fear, the panic, and the terror of the unknown. The idea of a sound mind is that of a mind at ease, at peace not perturbed or harassed or obsessed with fear. Remember Christ's words: I am with you ALWAYS! Matthew 28:20

God is Our Future and Hope:

2012-02-06T23:59:00.000-08:00

Joshua 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

"Intense Christianity"

2012-02-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

Philippians 1:20 'According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.'

Paul says that he has an 'earnest expectation'. We all have earnest expectations. Some to be the winner in a race or to be accepted for that job interview. You can have expectations for all sorts of things. For Paul, he is writing the above while awaiting trial before Nero, the Roman Emperor, in a Roman prison. Nero's decision could be his death sentence. What was Paul's expectation? That Christ will be magnified in Paul's body whether it be by life or by death. Remember, this was his EARNEST expectation. Would that be your earnest expectation now; let alone in prison not knowing if you were going to live or die?

This is what some would call "Intense Christianity". We see this in the two words "earnest expectation". In the Greek they are one word but they make up three words meaning respectively, "away, the head, to watch." All three of these words together speak of a head outstretched, as if waiting in suspense. The first word meaning "away" or "from," implying the attention turned from other objects. The word "magnified" is from a Greek word made up of a verb meaning to "unloose or set free," and an adjective meaning "great." We all know that the English word "magnify" which is used to translate this word means to take something small in size and make it appear large by means of magnifying glass. But the Greek word literally means"to greatly unloose or set free," in this context , "to display in a way so that Christ may be seen in all His glory."

So here is what Paul's intense desire was about: That Jesus who was indwelling his heart may be allowed freedom of action in Paul so that He would be glorified inspite of anything Paul could do. Paul said it did not matter whether it be by life or death, he wanted Christ to have all the Glory and Praise due Him. Wow! That is "Intense Christianity." Philippians 1:21 'For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.'

How God's Words Become Personal:

2012-02-03T00:21:00.000-08:00

Some of you may remember Dave Dravecky, who is well remembered for his battle against cancer, which ended his baseball career as his team was reaching the 1989 World Series. He won the Hutch Award in 1989. Dave said that for Him, while going through his hardship and suffering, what helped him to endure each day was 1 Peter 1:3-9. Here is what he did: He would write down all the passages mentioned above in a journal. Then he would substitute the pronouns "us" and "you" with the pronouns "I" and "me" to make it his personal prayer. He would always keep it handy and refer to it when his suffering and trials seemed like they were overwhelming him.

1 Peter 1:3-9 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.'

In Dave and his wife, Jan and Joni Eareckson Tada's book, '365 Days Of Hope', Dave challenges all of us to try the same thing he did and see how personal God's words of comfort become to us in our time of trial and suffering.

Carpe Diem - "seize the day"

2012-02-02T00:27:00.000-08:00

Matthew 24:36-51:

Please read the text above, it will really put this post into perspective for you. We should seize each and everyday because we do not know what tomorrow holds (James 4:13-17). "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1 NIV). We can see by the above passages that life is fragile and short. Let's look at it another way, what if we did know how long we had to live. Let's say a month and that is it. Think how that would change all of your priorities both secular and spiritual. We should all live our lives as if Christ is coming back forus today but plan and make prudent decisions about your future as if you had a hundred more years to live. Jesus wants us to enjoy the life He has 'given' us but we are here for a purpose and that is to do His will with the gifts He has supplied us with.

The security of life is very unpredictable. Theologian Francis Schaeffer put it another way: "Life is like a clock with no hands. It's ticking but you never know when it's going to strike midnight."

Live your life to the fullest and live for God everyday. That way, if God takes you home or He comes back for His Church in the Rapture, He will be pleased to see us doing His will. But we do know that each of us will come face-to-face with Jesus and give an account of how we have lived for him. Jesus wants us to be ready no matter when he returns-to be "faithful and wise" servants (Matthew 24:45). Who are the faithful and wise servants? Those who are ready-those whom the Master finds doing his will when he returns.

Carpe diem - "seize the day,"

Are you ready?

Lord, I bring you my life!

2012-02-01T23:55:00.000-08:00

Oh I do love David's Psalm 25, His trust in God, his many conflicts, his great transgressions, his bitter repentance and his deep distresses are all here so that we see the very heart of the man after God's own heart. It starts off in verse one: 'To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.' You can just picture the total devotion of David here. I like how the Amplified Bible puts it: 'Unto You, O Lord, do I bring my life.' Wow, how many times do we start our day like that - Lord, I bring you my life, and put our trust in the One True God. It is well said 'When the outlook is bleak, try the uplook'. David learned this all to well. Then we see in verses 4-5: 'Show me your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.' My friend, we should start every day like this, seeking God's will in our lives, asking what His way is that He would teach us the pathway He wants us to take. Total Trust in the One True God!

Everything is Transparent to God!

2012-01-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

Does God care about the little matters in our lives. David would answer absolutely Yes! Psalm 139:2 'You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar off.' David is showing us here that God knew his every move. The two opposites of sitting and rising represent all his actions. God knew not only David's actions; He also knew his motivation behind each move; his thoughts. This is a fact to be remembered every moment; no matter what we are doing we are to guard our hearts and mind. Know that God is always with us every second of the day. What we do should bring honor and glory to His name. Remember, everything is transparent to God, he sees our heart attitude, he sees everything we do.

Exciting Updates: iPhone / Android Apps

2012-01-30T23:59:00.000-08:00

Exciting News! There has been an update on our iPhone and Android Apps...Not only can you have our Bible Studies at your fingertips, you now can connect directly to both our blogs at Empowered Bible Study Ministries and Changed Lives Today, our Changed Lives Today Website as well as EBSM Facebook and Twitter feeds. All our sites with one simple app!

On the iPhone, you will see the websites under the 'connect' feature.
On the Android, you will see the websites under the 'about' feature.

If you would like to sign up for our Free Apps, Please click on the links below:

iPhone: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/empowered-bible-study-ministries/id470815183?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Android: https://market.android.com/details?id=net.sermon.sn21414&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsIm5ldC5zZXJtb24uc24yMTQxNCJd

Save Pastor Youcef's Life!

2012-01-29T23:53:00.000-08:00

As you know we have been praying for Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani as he faces the death penalty because of his Christian faith. He was ordered to recant his Christian faith or die, he responded 'I cannot' and was sentenced to death. My friends, Pastor Youcef is standing up for his faith and following Jesus Christ no matter what the cost!

American Center for Law and Justice has been fighting for Pastor Youcef and is putting pressure on Iranian Officials. They are asking that everyone be a voice for Pastor Youcef through Social Media. If you have a Twitter Account please donate a Tweet a day; if you have a Facebook account send out a post to bring Pastor Youcef to mind, and if you don't have a twitter or facebook account, please email this post to your friends and family because they may have an account or know someone who does. We need to get the word out to help save Pastor Youcef's life.

Please refer to this link for American Center for Law and Justice: http://aclj.org/nadarkhani
Sample of Tweet: #Iran Pastor Youcef #Nadarkhani pressured to recant #Christian faith Plse keep n prayer aclj.org/nadarkhani ReTweet to save his life

Please keep Pastor Youcef and his family in prayer each day and Thank you so much for joining us in the fight for Pastor Youcef's life. May the Lord bless you.
*This is not Dr. Michael Youssef, Founder and President of Leading the Way.

Live in Hope!

2012-01-28T23:35:00.000-08:00

I Peter 1:3-12"The unsaved person is "without hope" (Eph. 2:12); yet the believer has a living hope because he has a living Savior. Christ is our Hope (1 Tim. 1:1), and we look for His soon-expected return. The Christian does not work for this hope; it is a part of his spiritual birthright. We are born again (John 3:5) into this living hope. This hope is not only a living hope; it is a lasting hope (vv. 4 - 5). It is reserved in heaven, where it cannot decay ("incorruptible"), be defiled, or lose its beauty and delight. But not only is the hope reserved; the believer too is kept (guarded as by a soldier) by the Lord! We are kept by God's power because of the faith we have placed in Him. Eternal security is not based on the faith of men, but on the faithfulness of God. The believer is saved; he is being saved daily (through sanctification); and he will be saved completely when Christ returns (Rom. 8:15 - 25). The end (completion, perfection) of our faith will be the complete salvation of the believer (v. 9), who will inherit a new body. However, until Christ returns, the believer must go through testing. A faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted. Our suffering is but "for a season" as the Lord sees it ("if need be"-- v.6); but the glory will be forever. Verse 7 compares the trial of our faith to the testing of gold. The word "trial" means "approval." The comparison suggested by Dr. Kenneth Wuest is that of a prospector bringing ore in to be tested. The assayer gives him a certificate stating that the ore contains gold. The certificate is the approval of the ore, and this paper is worth much more than the little sample of ore that was tested. In the same way our faith is tested, a "sample" at a time; and the approval of our faith means that there are more riches to follow. The suffering we endure here will result in more glory when Christ comes. Knowing this, we love Him the more. In vv.10 - 12, Peter reminds us that the OT prophets spoke of this salvation we enjoy. They did not, however, fully understand the time or circumstances in which it would appear. They saw the cross and the kingdom, but they did not anticipate the "valley" in between, this present age of the church." WARREN W. WIERSBEWiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament and New Testament

Hunger for the Word!

2012-01-27T23:14:00.000-08:00

Having access to the word is not enough; what we need is the hunger and thirst to read it, ponder it, pray it, and seek to do it. God is eager to give us such a hunger, and the more we spend time in His word, the more the word itself will generate this hunger within us.

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" Joshua 1:8.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God." Colossians 3:16

Apologetics - Know Why You Believe

2012-01-26T23:25:00.000-08:00

On this post we have mentioned the word, Apologetics. Apologetics may be simply defined as the defense of the Christian faith. The word appears 17 times in noun or verb form in the New Testament, and both the noun (apologia) and verb form (apologeomai) can be translated “defense” or “vindication” in every case. Usually the word is used to refer to a speech made in one’s own defense. For example, in one passage Luke says that a Jew named Alexander tried to “make a defense” before an angry crowd in Ephesus that was incited by idol-makers whose business was threatened by Paul’s preaching (Acts 19:33). Elsewhere Luke always uses the word in reference to situations in which Christians, and in particular the apostle Paul, are put on trial for proclaiming their faith in Christ and have to defend their message against the charge of being unlawful (Luke 12:11; 21:14; Acts 22:1; 24:10; 25:8, 16; 26:2, 24).
Let's make sure we can always give a ready defense of the Gospel. In other words, know why you believe and tell others. Our beliefs are not based on assumptions or blind leaps of faith as we are often accused of. We believe in facts and history. "Your faith is only as valid as the object you place it in." We place our faith in a historical person who made the claim, "That He was God.". He died on a cross for saying those very words. No one else ever claimed that, such as Joseph Smith, Muhammad and others. They never did find His body. So the questions most asked are:

Jesus was either a lunatic
a Liar
or was truly God

To learn more about Apologetics please visit our website at: http://www.changedlivestoday.com/_webimages/apologetics.html

Remember this, God never defends Himself or His reality. He just is. When it comes to our existence, here is what God says:Psalm 148:5: Let them praise the name of Jehovah; For he commanded, and they were created.

LEGACY: What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.

What Do You Think About?

2012-01-25T23:49:00.000-08:00

Peace involves the mind (see Isa. 26:3 and Rom. 8:6). Thoughts are powerful; "as he thinketh, so he is" ( Prov. 23:7 ). Wrong thoughts will lead to unrest and discouragement, but spiritual thinking will lead to peace. Paul tells us in this verse what to think about; if you compare these virtues to ( Ps. 19:7 - 9 ), you will see that the Word of God meets all of these requirements. Meditation on the Word of God will always bring peace (Ps. 119: 165).

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers and sisters,

whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

The School of Trials

2012-01-24T23:55:00.000-08:00

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your Faith is Genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold though your Faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your Faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much Praise and Glory and Honor on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the Whole World.” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

You learn things through tests that you would never learn any other way. The tests that you go through force you to look to God and depend on Him rather than depending on yourself. Allow your tests to make you better and not bitter. If you are going through tests right now strive to learn from them. You will never get to the next ‘spiritual’ level if you don’t pass the test on the current level. Just as Abraham passed the test from God in Genesis 22, you must fully trust and obey God and pass your test as well. In doing so, you shall receive the wonderful blessings of God.

Promises of God - Part Eight

2012-01-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

We will be looking at John 10:27-30, again. In verse 29, we read: "My Father, who hath given (gave) them unto me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand". In the Greek language the word "gave" is in the perfect tense which refers to an 'action' that has already happened in the past and is still having results to this day. You have heard the expression, "the gift that keeps on giving." If the writer wants to just talk about the fact of an action then they would use the 'aorist' tense. When the writer uses another tense this usually means that they are making a special effort to convey a special message to their reader. This would be like a carpenter who uses glue and nails to attach two boards together to make sure they stay together. So not only are we in the clasp of the hand of Jesus but also in the hand of God the Father. We can rest and be assured knowing that the owners of these hands are the two persons of our Triune God (Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, and God the Father).

Promises of God: Part Seven

2012-01-21T22:13:00.000-08:00

As with our last post (The Promises of God - Part Six), we will pick up from where we left off concerning, John 10:27-30 - "27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no (or any) one (or man) shall snatch (or pluck) them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who hath given them unto me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch (or pluck) them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."

You will see in verse 28 above how "man" is in italics (KJV). The reason for this is because 'man' is not found in the Greek text and was supplied by the translators to complete the sense. There are two words for "a man" in the Greek language but neither of them is used here. The word "any" is an indefinite pronoun in the Greek and the word "one" would render a better translation than the word "man". The word "any" or "anyone" is truer to the sense of the original. That even includes Satan. The word "pluck" really means "snatch" and is most of the time used in a bad sense as when death snatches its victim.

Read this verse: Isaiah 40:12 Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?'NLT

Now we can understand why no one, and this includes Satan himself', is able to snatch the believer out of God's hands and protecting care.

Promises of God: Part Six

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

We are going to be dealing with a verse that not only will encourage you but will encourage you for 'Eternity'. You will see what I mean as we continue. The verse we will be dealing with is:  (John 10:27-30)  "27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who hath given them unto me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."

Let's take the expression, "they shall never perish". We will see how powerful this expression in the Greek is. There are 'two negatives' before the word "perish." In our previous posts concerning the promises of God, we know that this means that God is telling us that we will not perish, twice. But perish from what? As you see in verse 28, it is 'Eternal Life'. So God is telling us, two times, that we will not lose our Salvation. When  God tells us something two or three times, He is really trying to get our attention. He does not want us to have any doubts or questions. In this case, He is shouting to us so we get it. 

Now if that was exciting there is more. In addition to the 'double negative', there are three words which follow the word, "perish," which are translated by the one word "never." The English language has a hard time trying to convey the Greek meaning but this is what God is saying to us:  "They shall not, they shall not perish, no, not eternally." Wow! How wonderful, yes? God did not send His only Son to die on a cross for our sins,  

give us the the 'faith' (Ephesians 2:8 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God"--), and then abandon us. We are family, we are His children. Would you abandon your children, family or friends for doing something wrong. I do not think so. Remember, God's love for us is even greater than ours.

Promises of God: Part Five

2012-01-19T23:17:00.000-08:00

This post will be a continuation of our last post dealing with the verse: John 15:7, it says: "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you". The word 'done' in the Greek does not mean making something. This would imply taking something that already exists and you fashioning it to be what you want. For example, you take a piece of wood that already exists and then you start to carve it into a bowl. This word 'done' in the Greek means "to come into existence". God love's us so much that if needed, He will bring into existence that which we asked for. That is such a comforting promise. Philippians 4:19 'But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.'

We had talked about the word 'ask' in our last post where the meaning was living in a close 'relationship' with Jesus, those things that we ask for will not be for our own selfish pleasure but to glorify God. But this word 'ask' is also in the aorist tense and when used in a command means, "to do at once what is commanded." So, if we are abiding in Jesus and doing His will, God is commanding us not to hesitate about our needs, desires, fears, worry and so forth. How many times have I said when I was in need of something, "I have tried everything and nothing is working, I better pray to the Lord." This should be the first thing I do when I am in need. Go straight to Jesus and pray for all of your needs and desires. We have a God who love's us so much He cannot wait to answer our prayers. "Why be in despair when you can be in prayer." In the Greek this is how it reads, "If you abide in Me, and my words abide in you, I command you to ask at once and for yourselves whatever you desire, and it shall be yours."

My friends, we have a God that loves us so much and wants to have a close relationship with us. He wants us, even commands us to give Him a chance. He wants to prove to you and me that you can come to Him about anything and He will give you your heart's desire, according to His will.

Promises of God: Part Four

2012-01-18T23:57:00.000-08:00

In John 15:7, it says: "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you". The words, "ye shall ask," are in the 'imperative' mood in the original Greek language that they were written in. So what does this mean to us? These words are a command and are to be taken in the sense of "I command you to ask." The word "abiding" means having fellowship with the Lord and total dependence upon Him. Here is what is so wonderful about this, for all of us that abide or have continual fellowship with Him, God issues the wonderful command, "ask whatever you desire". God here is not just commanding us but He is actually challenging us. In the Greek we see how God is saying to us, "You meet the conditions, and I challenge you to ask, and then see how faithful and able I am to answer your prayer." Here is the important thing to remember, the word "desire" implies not our own selfish wants and desires but should reflect what God wants for us. By being in a close relationship with Jesus, our desires and inclinations are His desires and His inclinations. The word "ask" is in the 'middle voice' which speaks of the subject of the verb acting in its own interest. So in the Greek it would read, "ask for yourselves." Here is what we learn: By living in a close 'relationship' with Jesus, those things that we ask for will not be for our own selfish pleasure but to glorify God. Prayers such as these, will be answered.

The Greek Shows Salvation is Not Earned‏

2012-01-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Philippians 2:12-13 is the verse we will be looking at. What I would like to state about this verse first is what it does not teach. Here it is: No 'unsaved' person can do good works or enough good works to 'earn' their salvation. Here's why and for two reasons. First, the people being addressed in this passage were already saved, and second, the Bible is very clear that it is "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us" (Titus 3:5). Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it (Ephesians 2:9). Again, the passage does not mean that a Christian should work out an inworked salvation. There is absolutely no such idea in the Greek.

The words "your own salvation", have to be taken in the context of the scripture. For the 'Philippians', they were already saved but when Paul was with them, his teaching, example, and his encouragement: instructed, inspired, and urged them on in their growth of grace. Now when Paul was not with them they were on their own. They have to learn to row their raft on their own. Paul is showing them about the human responsibility in their growth in grace. Sanctification is in the mind of the apostle here. What is 'sanctification'? Sanctification also refers to the practical experience of this separation unto God, being the effect of obedience to the Word of God in one’s life, and is to be pursued by the believer earnestly (1 Peter 1:15; Hebrews 12:14). Their growth in Christ-likeness is the 'salvation' concerning which Paul is speaking. So the saints are exhorted to carry their growth in grace to its ultimate goal which is Christ-likeness.

The salvation spoken of in verse twelve is defined for us in verse thirteen and that is, the act of willing to do God's good pleasure and the doing of it. That is our responsibility from the human standpoint. But remember, God does not leave us without power or the resources to do the above. God gave us His Holy Spirit to enable us.

In verse twelve we have human responsibility, and in verse thirteen, divine enablement.

David, a man after God's Heart: Conclusion

2012-01-15T23:55:00.000-08:00

To conclude our three part series about why David was a man after God's heart, we will just summarize the qualities that David had. We have to remember that David was just a man. We tend to look at people in the Bible such as Paul, Moses, David and more as being almost super-human and the most godly people ever. But it bears repeating, they were just like us, regular people. Look at Paul, before his transformation on the road to Damascus, he was killing Christians. Peter denied Jesus three times and David has a long list including adultery and murder. So we see that David was just a man and made mistakes (Some big ones) but as it says in the Old Testament, "A righteous man falls seven times but gets back up and keeps going". (Proverbs 24:16) So lets really see what type of 'heart attitude' David had for God.

David's heart for God meant wanting to live to please God for the rest of his life. We can find out what pleases God through his Word. David chose to follow God with all of his heart. David deliberately put God first above everything else. David made it a point to keep his heart pure and devoted to God. It appears the choices he made produced a heart that was rare. Here is a verse that sums up David's love for God: I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing" Psalms 16:2. David recognized that the only good in him was the God in him. Great godly leaders are willing to step aside from their own need for ego building and self-confidence and humble themselves before an almighty God. I have heard before that President Theodore Roosevelt often went outdoors at night, looked up into the vastness of the universe, simply to remind himself of his humanity compared to the vastness of the universe. I think that is an important principle for all of us.

Yes, it is true; God desires a person after His own heart. He is looking for people who will choose to be pure and wholly devoted to Him. Listed below are verses talking about David’s heart:

1 Kings 11:4 God said Solomon’s heart was "not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David."

1 Kings 14:8 God said David "followed me [God] with all his heart."

1 Kings 15:3 The Bible said Jeroboam’s "heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been."

1 Samuel 13:14 The Bible says after Saul’s failure, God had "sought Him a man after His own heart."

Acts 13:22 God said, "I have found David … a man after My own heart."

Will you be one of these people?

David, a man after God's Heart: Part Two

2012-01-15T00:26:00.000-08:00

As we talked about in our last post, we saw how David was a man after God's Heart because David had a heart for God. "I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will" (Acts13:16-22). We now want to look at two very interesting words in this verse; heart and after. In the Old Testament the Hebrews identified the 'heart' as the seat of the mind and the will, together with the whole range of physical emotions. It was the essence of the human personality. Today in psychology we tend to divide the emotion from the intellect and this would be foreign to the Hebrew vision of the wholeness of personality. So what is meant of God's heart? God's heart is basically his essential nature. God's divine intelligence, ultimate loving-kindness and his sovereign will equals His heart. What is so amazing is that we are made in God's image. He is spirit. God the Father has no body but we can think his thoughts after him, receive and express his love, and want to do his will. The capacities of our hearts correspond sublimely to God's heart. What an amazing thing this is. This is why I always stress that Christianity is about a Relationship and not a Religion.

The word after bonds God's heart and our heart together. As a sculptor who takes a lump of clay and sculpts a bust 'after' our likeness, so a heart after God's heart is one in portrait 'after' our likeness. When people see us they should see God's nature through us. As we pursue God, we become more like God in his nature.

"My brethren, let me say, be like Christ at all times. Imitate him in "public." Most of us live in some sort of public capacity—many of us are called to work before our fellow-men every day. We are watched; our words are caught; our lives are examined—taken to pieces. The eagle-eyed, argus-eyed world observes everything we do, and sharp critics are upon us. Let us live the life of Christ in public. Let us take care that we exhibit our Master, and not ourselves—so that we can say, "It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me."

—Charles Spurgeon

David, a man after God's Heart: Part One

2012-01-12T22:28:00.000-08:00

You have to love David, I know I do. I can relate to David better than anyone else in the Bible. He has been called the greatest sinner and the greatest saint of the Old Testament. I by no means fit the 'greatest saint' description but I do relate to the 'greatest sinner'. I can feel David's times of fear, anger and loneliness. His guilt of his wrong doings. But here is where we should all want to aspire to something David had that made him a person after God's heart: With all David's wrong doings (Adulterer, Murderer and the list goes on...), David had a special 'Heart' for God. He always wanted to make things right with God, He did not want to stray from God. He had a heart for God. What is wonderful is that David shows he has a heart, but God has a heart also, and the secret of the abundant life is receiving His heart into ours (Heart means metaphorically of the inner man. When used metaphorically depending on the context, heart refers to either the mind, the emotions, the will, to the sinful nature, inclusively to the total inner man, or simply to the person as a whole and is often translated as such.)

I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will. (Acts13:16-22) David was a man who was willing to do what God wanted! How simple that is and yet how hard it is for us to do!

Know Why You Believe In What You Believe In:

2012-01-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

An Introduction to Apologetics:

My friend, not only are we to make Christ Lord of our lives, as Christians we should be able to give a ready defense for what we believe in. The Greek word used for 'give a defense' is, Apologia. This is where we get the word 'Apologetics', which is the branch of theology that deals with the Defense of the Gospel.

It is used seven times in the New Testament:

Acts 22:1; 25:16; I Corinthians 9:3; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Philippians 1:7; 2 Timothy 4:16 and
1 Peter 3:15. But it is the latter verse that is most commonly associated with Christian apologetics:

1 Peter 3:15 "...but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence" (NASB).

Oh my friend, there is so much evidence that supports the Bible! The acronym that helps me identify the evidence of apologetics is: MAPS

Click here to learn more about Apologetics

Why Bad Things Happen to Good People

2012-01-09T23:52:00.000-08:00

Some years ago a father lost his only son to a rare disease where his son aged rapidly and died looking like an old man in his teens. In 1981 a book was published called: 'When Bad Things Happen to Good People'. It sold over four million copies and still influences people to this day. The author portrays God as a good God but not all powerful. He contended that there were things that lied outside of God's control. This type of thinking started mainly by the writings of Alfred North Whitehead (1861-1947). They call this "Process Theology". This theology states that God, as we, is constantly changing, evolving and learning. He does not intrude into human history and never performs any kind of miracles.

I did not mention who the author of, 'When Bad Things Happen to Good People' was. It was Rabbi Kushner, the father of the boy with the rare disease. He had lost his sight of who God is and all his wonderful attributes. He gave up on God. We know that this erroneous theology is completely false. Just read - Isaiah 46:9-11 and see what God Himself says about how powerful and omnipotent He truly is. God shows how He is involved in every aspect of our lives.

Isaiah 46:9. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10. Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11. Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

Never give up on God, He will 'never' give up on you.

Ephesians 3:20 - Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

Something has you Worrying?

2012-01-09T00:22:00.000-08:00

Worry is fear's extravagance. It extracts interest on trouble before it comes due. It constantly drains the energy God gives us to face daily problems and to fulfill our many responsibilities. It is therefore a sinful waste. A woman who had lived long enough to have learned some important truths about life remarked, "I've had a lot of trouble -- most of which never happened!" She had worried about many things that had never occurred, and had come to see the total futility of her anxieties.

STATISTICS ON WORRY
Only 8 percent of our worries are actually over legitimate troubles.
Dr. Walter Cavert did a study of the things we worry about. He discovered that:
40 percent of the things we worry about never happen,
30 percent of our worries concern the past,
12 percent of our worries are needless worries about our health,
10 percent of our worries are insignificant or petty (things that will really not make much of a difference in our lives one way or another)
We have spent 92 percent of our emotional energies over things that won’t happen or things we can’t change. Do you see why God does not want us to worry? Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ~ Philippians 4:6, NLT

Remember:

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Oh, by the way, when God tells us "Not to worry" in 'Philippians 4:6 - That is a Command!

The Lord Never Sleeps:

2012-01-07T23:56:00.000-08:00

The Lord Never Sleeps: Why does He not sleep? He is too busy watching over us. "Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust" (Psalms 16:1). This is one of many prayers that David prayed to God when he was in trouble. How often do we find ourselves praying to God to help us get out of another jam we got ourselves into, or we are scared, lonely, and feel helpless? We always need to have that frame of mind, have a complete dependence on God for everything.

"The Lord preserves all of those that love Him" (Psalms 145:20). I wonder how many of us read this verse and think about just the physical things God has saved us from, such as missing a large boulder in the road with our car? But what about all the moral evils that God has kept us from? This really shows how much more in tune we are to the physical rather than the spiritual.

"But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil" (II Thess. 3:3). There is evil surrounding God's people within and without. We still have the sin nature in us and Satan is roaming as a Lion to see whom he can devour. But the Lord "keepeth His people from evil". Not that we are exempted wholly and altogether from evil. But we are kept from being overcome by and engulfed in it. Though they fall, they shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth them with His right hand.

A Must Read about a 'Word'

2012-01-06T23:58:00.000-08:00

My Mom, when she was alive, use to listen to Christian Radio all the time. She would read her Bible everyday and read through the Bible every year. She was a high school dropout but found that she could speed read and retain what she read. She told me that when it came to the Bible, she would always ask God to speak to her through God's Word. She also said she would slow down her reading speed when it came to the Bible. I was never much of a reader and could not remember much that I read. With all this said, God works in miraculous ways. My Mom was the one responsible for me listening to Christian Radio and I started to read Bible Commentaries and Christian Biographies and needless to say, was responsible for having my Mom to start reading Christian books. Being a speed reader, allowed her to read more volumes than I can count.

Here is what I am leading up to, my Mom through her studies found many wonderful truths in God's Word. One day she told me about how there is 'two' different words for 'Word'. Logos and Rhema. It is not surprising to find that the NT uses logos to mean Jesus himself. Many of you know this already, but it is the second meaning that is fascinating. Have you ever had a moment where you found yourself in need of comfort or your witnessing to someone and you all of a sudden are in need of a verse and low and behold, it pops into your mind. This is where Jesus through the Holy Spirit brings to your mind a verse or scripture that you had read at sometime in your life. This is called, Rhema. This is another wonderful reason to read the Word on a daily basis. Read Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary about 'Rhema' below.

"Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words states the following on page 683. “The significance of rhema (as distinct from logos) is exemplified in the injunction to take ‘the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,’ (Eph. 6:17); here, the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need, a prerequisite being the regular storing of the mind with Scripture.” (Read the full definition online from Vine’s Expository Dictionary.)"

Why should we study the Bible?

2012-01-05T22:03:00.000-08:00

Why should we study the Bible? The some of the reasons may be obvious to many Bible students. When the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe has something to say, we had better listen. Unfortunately, many churches downplay the importance of studying the scriptures or even discourage Bible study. But just as children cannot grow to be strong without meat, new Christians must partake of the meat of the Word of God in order to mature as believers (1 Corinthians 3:1-2 and Hebrews 5:12-14). Even mature believers who have studied the scriptures for years can still uncover many more precious truths in God's Word.

In this article, we will also look at several Bible passages that encourage us to study the Bible.When instructing the younger Timothy in the ministry, our Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved of God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." This call to Bible study echos an earlier point that Paul had made in 1 Timothy 5:17, "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine." Note how these verses contrast those who study with those who do not study as "approved of God" and "worthy of double honour", versus disapproved and "ashamed". Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8 Matthew McGee

If you want to develop your faith as a Christian, then you must set aside time for prayer and reading the Bible. Yet, so few of us do so! You must ask the question, what gets in the way of my time with God? How much does TV, over working, or hanging with friends take of you and your time? Dr. Richard J. Krejcir

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

Christ is Our All-in-All

2012-01-04T21:33:00.000-08:00

The all-sufficiency of Christ is clearly evident from Colossians 3:11 : “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” Colossians emphasizes that Christ is all we need, and because of who He is, we are to give Him first place in all of our consideration. He is to be preeminent in everything we think and do. This means that each of us who knows Jesus Christ as Savior should desire to know Him better so we might not only recognize His all-sufficiency but might also honor and please Him in all that we do. The Apostle Paul had the strong desire to know Jesus Christ better. Paul expressed it in this manner: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” ( Phil 3:10 ).

God's Power

2012-01-04T01:05:00.000-08:00

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength ~ Philippians 4:13 NLT

Paul was never the victim of circumstances; he had learned by experience the secret of peace: "I can do all things through Christ who energizes me!" The J. B. Phillips translation says, "I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives in me" ( v.13 ) . Turn back to ( Phil. 2:12-13) and you will see that God cannot work through us until first He works in us; He works in us through His Word ( 1 Thess. 2:13 ), through prayer by the Spirit ( Eph. 2:14), and sometimes through suffering ( 1 Peter 5:10 ). If we depend on our own power, we will fail; but if we depend on His strength, we can do all things through Him. This explains why Paul could rejoice even in prison: he had learned the secret of the secure mind through the power of God.

(Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament.)

2011-12-31T22:35:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year! We appreciate each and every one of you and look forward to 2012 as we see what the Lord has planned for us. "God Bless You All".

Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope".

- Webpage: http://changedlivestoday.com

Promises of God: Part Three

2011-12-30T23:15:00.000-08:00

As we have learned in our last two posts concerning the 'Promises of God', that we are able to dig deeper into God's Word through the Greek language that was used when writing the Bible. The Greek is a rich language that when seen through it's eyes shows us Golden Nuggets that can only reinforce our faith in God. We are going to look at God's Third Promise to us in:

John 6:37: All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. KJV

Here again we have two negatives in the Greek that go before the verb. So the rendering of the verse actually says: "I will not, I will not cast you out". The words 'cast out' are from one word made up of two words: 'throw' and 'out from within'. So God is telling us that we, who are 'saved' by His Grace, are in the Father's house so to speak. He is giving us a 'double-strength' promise that He will not throw us out of His house. Is this not exciting? But there is more. There is another word in the Greek which does not appear in the English, the word 'outside'. So here is the actual rendering of the verse from the Greek: "The one who comes to Me, I will not, I will not throw out into the outside." So we have the wonderful promise of our Lord that the Christian will never be ejected or thrown out from the Father's house or outside. Let this be a 'comfort' to you. I know it has been for me.

John 10:29 'My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.' KJV

The Peace of God:

2011-12-30T00:08:00.000-08:00

When we talk about peace, we usually refer to a lack of conflict, the tranquility of mind, or calmness of heart. However, in the Bible, it has a much richer and deeper meaning. According to Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word ‘Shalom’ - which literally translates to peace, has a whole array of meanings. A word study in the New King James version for ‘Shalom’ says: completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfection, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.

This is the kind of peace that the Word of God talks about, the kind of Shalom peace that God wants to give us. In fact, God wants us to have complete wholeness and perfection in every area of our lives, and through the work of Christ, it has already been given unto us.
Therefore, when we put our trust in God, we shall also inherit His peace and have an undisturbed composure, no matter what our circumstances may be. He desires to give us peace like a river that flows on and on. Even when it seems as if we are experiencing a drought in our lives, when we feel parched by life’s trials, the river of life flows from His throne right to our hearts.

As the river flowing through the land provides water for life, so His life-giving peace flows through us, and renews our spirit. Indeed, we are trees planted by the rivers of living water, and by staying close to the peaceful waters of God, we shall be filled with the abundant life of Christ, and truly live in an everlasting Shalom peace.

The Bible vs The iPhone

2011-12-28T20:07:00.000-08:00

Many of you may have already read this email but it was new to me as I read it today. The thing about this article that really grabbed my attention was how my iPhone really does grab my attention. If you have not read this email, you need to. If you have read it, it bares reading again.
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Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Here is an email that's been making the rounds. How does it strike you? Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone? What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets? What if we flipped through it several times a day? What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it? What if we used it to receive messages from the text? What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it? What if we gave it to kids as gifts? What if we used it when we traveled? What if we used it in case of emergency? This is something to make you go...hmm...where is my Bible? Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected, because Jesus already paid the bill. Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities'? And no dropped calls!

(Posted by Focus on the family President, Jim Daly.)

Your Face:

2011-12-26T23:41:00.000-08:00

We have to remember each and every day that as Christians 'we may be the only Bible that some one may ever read'. Whether it be your friends, enemies, neighbors or family, they are always watching us and how we 'react or respond' to whatever God allows in our lives, whether good or bad. We should always react as Jesus would. We all know we cannot do this without His help and this comes through the Holy Spirit by spending time with Him, talking to Him through Prayer, God talking to us through his Word. The more your around someone the more you become like them. I heard someone say: "Be happy, notify your face". This does not mean that we will always be laughing and on a spiritual cloud everyday. The Bible says: "there is a time to laugh and a time to cry" but through even the roughest of times, people should see a joy and peace that only God can give, not the world. To choose to do this is what God wants of us and you will never know until Heaven how much you have affected others over your life-time.

"If you live close to God
And His infinite grace,
You don't have to tell;
It shows on your face."

-anonymous

What is Real Christmas Joy?

2011-12-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

We have met several people this Christmas season who are really having a rough time and say they just aren't feeling the Christmas joy. My friend, if you are feeling sad this Christmas Season it is ok! Christmas is not about Christmas parties and fellowship with family and friends, it is not about gifts under the Christmas tree or even being happy, it is about remembering why our Lord came to this world to bring us salvation. A lot of people feel forced during the Christmas season to be happy and joyful because that is what the Commercial Corporate world wants you to be. They portray families all getting along spending Christmas all together happily ever-after; but that is simply not the norm! Every family has it's problems. The Christmas Joy is not found in gifts, my friend, it is found in the greatest gift ever given - Jesus Christ! Joy and Happiness are two different things. Joy comes from the inside where we have a peace that only Christ can bring - a peace beyond understanding. So if you are feeling sad, it is okay, I pray you feel the loving arms of your savior Jesus Christ around you this Christmas season.

Promises of God: Part Two

2011-12-22T23:21:00.000-08:00

As we talked about God's Promises a few days ago, concerning Hebrews 13:5, we saw how God will 'Never' leave us. In the original New Testament Greek manuscripts that the Bible was written in back then, we see how Paul used a 'Double Negative' when he wrote 'NEVER'. This means that God was telling us Himself, that He will NEVER, NEVER, leave us. How comforting this is.

Now we are going to look at the other half of verse 5 where it says, "He will never 'Forsake' us". This is where it gets even more exciting and comforting. The word "forsake" is a composite of three words, "to leave," "down," and "in." The first has the idea of forsaking one. The second suggests rejection, defeat, helplessness. The third refers to some place or circumstance in which a person may find themselves helpless, forsaken. The meaning of the word is forsaking someone in a state of defeat or helplessness in the midst of hostile circumstances. I believe we can all relate to this at different times in our lives or maybe some of us are feeling like this right now. So, the meaning of 'forsake' meant "to abandon, to desert, to leave in straits, to leave helpless, to leave destitute, to leave in the lurch, to let one down." Sound familiar? But in times such as these we have great news.

Remember in my first post: 'Promises of God', we learned that Paul (through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) wrote two negatives before the word 'Leave'. This meant that God was telling us He will Never, Never leave us. God was emphasizing and letting us really know that He is not going to leave. He said it twice, I will never, never leave you. Is that not wonderful. That is a promise from God. But now listen to this, before the word 'forsake' He used THREE NEGATIVES in the Greek language. What does this mean to us? God is now telling us 'three times' that He will never FORSAKE US.

This is a promise of triple assurance. "I will not, I will not, I will not forsake you". Not only do we have the assurance of God's all-sufficient sustaining power to hold us true to Him and in 'perfect peace' as we go through testing times, but we have His promise that He will never abandon us, never desert us, never leave us in a bad situation but will be there to help us. God will see to it that we are rescued from the difficulties in which we sometimes find ourselves. He will never let us down. If that is not comforting, I do not know what is.

A Growing Relationship!

2011-12-21T23:42:00.000-08:00

In the spiritual realm, we need to have a growing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. In order to grow, we need to spend time with Him in prayer and the reading of His Word. We need to get to know Him so well that we can think as He thinks and see as He sees and hear as He hears. The closer we are the more He will be able to use us who are His children to do His will. Each of us, individually, needs to ask, 'How well do I really know Him? The key to realizing the all-sufficiency, or supremacy, of Jesus Christ is to really learn to know Him - not as Savior but also as Lord. If you are interested in giving special attention to knowing Christ better, you will find the following passages very beneficial in this regard: Romans 11:33-36; II Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 1:17-19; 4:11-5; Philippians 3:8; II Peter 1:2-8; 3:18 compared with II Timothy 1:12. A careful study of these passages will enable you to know Christ better because they emphasize all that He is to the believer.

God Will Not Let You Be Lonely:

2011-12-21T01:08:00.000-08:00

The Christmas Holidays can bring joy, happy memories of Christmas past and much more. During this season many 'negative' feelings come with it also. For some, the holidays can be hectic, spending lots of money, visiting family and other various things that can for some people, which the holidays were over. Many suicides happen at this time of the year. One of the feelings many people face at this time is 'Loneliness'. I know with the passing of my Parents and Father-In-Law only a few years ago, this time really brings up feelings of missing them so much. I do not know your situation, maybe your all alone this Christmas, have lost loved ones, may have lost your job or just having money problems. You could be facing an illness or waiting for results of tests you took, the list can go on and on. All I know is this, "God Will NEVER LEAVE US! Forgive me for the caps but I just needed to shout this out. As we have learned in our blogs is that God will never, ever, abandon us and He will always be a comfort to us in our times of loneliness, a light in our darkness, and promises to supply all of our needs. You and I remember this and let's see what wonderful miracles God will do for us in the coming New Year.

Promises of God: Part One

2011-12-19T23:39:00.000-08:00

We will go through 5 Promises that God has made to us. We will cover each promise separately under the label: Nuggets from the Greek. The first promise can be found in Hebrews 13:5.

"I will never leave you"

Non of us have to be greek scholars for us to learn what the original language meant when the N.T. was written by the Apostles. We have and have had great men of God who devoted their whole lives to learning and translating the Greek Text into the language we can understand today. The Greek language was such a rich language so we can learn so much more about God's Word.

Let's look at the promise above. The structure of the greek in this verse is 'Intensive' in the Greek. What this means to us is that the Lord Jesus Himself, (personally), made this promise to us. If this is not already exciting that God Himself is promising us that He will never leave us, wait, there is more.

The word 'leave' is not from the usual Greek word which means 'to leave' but from a word which means "to uphold" or "sustain". So now we see that the Lord is promising us (Himself) that "He will not cease to Uphold and Sustain us". In the Greek there are two 'Negatives' before the word, 'Leave'. So here is what God is promising us: "I will not, I will not cease to uphold and sustain you". God is telling us twice that He will never stop upholding and sustaining us. Is this not exciting? This is why Paul could say in Philippians 4:5: "I am strong for all things through the One who infuses strength in me".

We are assured therefore of the sustaining grace of God as we go through trials and testing times.

Word Studies in the Greek New Testament Dr. Kenneth Wuest

What Christmas Teaches us!

2011-12-18T20:43:00.000-08:00

Hebrews 13:16 And don't forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

This verse tells us what Christmas should be about each and every day. God giving His only Son to die in our place. God gave all! Look for opportunities to give sacrificially.

Atheist finds the Truth!

2011-12-16T23:32:00.001-08:00

The well known atheist, Christopher Hitchens died Thursday, December 15th from cancer.

Please read the sad words in the excerpt below taken from the ABC News of Christopher Hitchens, as he disputes Christians and God right to his death. The tragic thing is, he is a believer now. Let's make sure we never miss an opportunity to tell others about Jesus before it is too late.

It is a sad commentary on how many people believe the same way Mr. Hitchens did.I just want to say how many times I, as you, have been told the same things by non-believers, that we have left our minds and all rationalism at the door when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Well, Did we? My decision to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior was not based on a blind leap of faith or even fear based nor was yours. When we analyze all the varied 'religions' and 'belief systems', we basically narrow everything down to 'Two World Views'.

One is a belief in a God, Gods, or a Higher Power, as they say. The other World View is Atheism and/or Agnosticism . Atheist believe there is NO God whereas Agnostics believe that even though they cannot say there is no God by the same token, God cannot be proven. Did you notice what word was used to describe both World Views? 'BELIEF'. You see, to not 'believe' in a God is to take a blind and larger leap of faith and to embrace this view as your 'Religion'. Your faith is only as valid as the 'object' you place it in.

We, as Christians, base our belief in a person named Jesus who claimed He was God. There were eye-witnesses who saw Jesus including the Apostles, contemporary-to-Jesus historians such as Josephus, Pliny and more. I could go on with much more evidence that Jesus did exist and is the Son of God and is God. Read Josh McDowell's book: 'Evidence That Demands a Verdict'. This book shows all the evidence from archaeology to how the Bible has more manuscript evidence than any other literature in the world. Also, read, 'The Case For Christ' by Lee Strobel. Please visit our website: http://changedlivestoday.com/_webimages/apologetics.html

To know more about how you can know Jesus Christ as your savior please click this link: http://changedlivestoday.com/_webimages/knowinggod.html

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ABC News’ Peter Madden reports:British American essayist and avowed atheist Christopher Hitchens died on Thursday, Dec. 15, at age 62, and he saw it coming.“Death is certain,” he wrote in The Portable Atheist, “replacing both the siren-song of Paradise and the dread of Hell. Life on this earth, with all its mystery and beauty and pain, is then to be lived far more intensely: we stumble and get up, we are sad, confident, insecure, feel loneliness and joy and love. There is nothing more; but I want nothing more.”“Faith is the surrender of the mind; it’s the surrender of reason, it’s the surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other mammals. It’s our need to believe, and to surrender our skepticism and our reason, our yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in someone or something, that is the sinister thing to me.”“Faith is the surrender of the mind; it’s the surrender of reason, it’s the surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other mammals. It’s our need to believe, and to surrender our skepticism and our reason, our yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in someone or something, that is the sinister thing to me.”

We have lost awesomeness of God!

2011-12-15T21:51:00.001-08:00

"The decline of the knowledge of the holy has brought on our troubles. A rediscovery of the majesty of God will go a long way toward curing them. It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate. Ifwe would bringback spiritual power to our lives, we must begin to think of God more nearly as He is." A.W. Tozer

Don't Be In Care, Be In Prayer!

2011-12-14T23:21:00.000-08:00

The exhortation "be careful" today means, "exercise caution." When the Authorized Version was made, it meant, "be full of care."

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

One needs to be on the lookout for words that have changed their meaning in three hundred years. The Greek word here is found in an early manuscript in the sentence, "I am writing in haste to prevent your being anxious, for I will see that you are not worried," where its translation, "anxious" is used as a synonym for the Greek word "worried." The word means "worry, anxious care."

The Greek construction indicates that we have here a prohibition which forbids the continuance of an action already habitually going on. The Philippian saints were habitually worrying. Paul exhorts them to stop it. The word "nothing" is literally "not even one thing."

Then the apostle gives these saints the cure for worry, believing prayer. The word "prayer" is the translation of a Greek word which speaks of prayer addressed to God as an act of worship and devotion. "Supplication" is from a word that speaks of supplicating for one's personal needs. "Requests" is the translation of a word which emphasizes the objects asked for, namely, the things requested. The preposition "unto" in the Greek text suggests the translation, "in the presence of God," and is a delicate and suggestive way of hinting that God's presence is always there, that it is the atmosphere surrounding the Christian. Anxious care is out of place in a heavenly Father's presence. Requests are always in place with Him. The words "shall keep," are from a military word, "shall mount guard." God's peace, like a sentinel, mounts guard and patrols before the heart's door, keeping worry out.

Christ in Christmas!

2011-12-13T22:26:00.001-08:00

Although this is the time of year when we frequently hear the call to "put Christ back into Christmas," the sad fact is that Christ has been removed from the center of the worship, teaching, and thinking of many Christians and churches. You get that. You want others to get that as well.

I'm thankful that I can count you amongst many thoughtful Christians who share a passion for the glory of God and the centrality of the gospel, and desire to see reformation take root in the church.

We are Free!

2011-12-12T23:19:00.001-08:00

God gave His only Son to take on all of our sins and to die a substitutionary death in our place. He gave us "Freedom". Freedom from the LAW as the Jews were under. The Law was given to show that none of us could keep God's Law. The Law condemned us. But when Jesus died for us He freed us. We do not have to live under the Law any more. We can live a righteous live only through the Holy Spirit giving us the power and God seeing us as righteous though Jesus' pshed blood.

Galatians 4:4-5

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

Two Ways: Blessing or Judgment?

2011-12-12T02:12:00.000-08:00

The Psalms did a wise thing, for it points the way to blessings and warns about divine judgment. These are frequent themes in the Psalms and throughout the entire Bible. The Psalms presents two ways: The Way of Blessing and the Way of Judgment, which was the choice Israel had to make (Deut. 30:15,19). Which way will you choose?

Psalms 1:2 'But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.' NIV

Joshua 1:8 'Do not let this book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.' NIV

The Walk!

2011-12-10T21:12:00.001-08:00

The Christian life is compared to a walk (see Eph. 4:1, 17; 5:2, 8, 15).

It begins with a step of faith in trusting Christ and it grows as we take further steps of faith in obedience to His Word. Walking involves progress, and Christians are to make progress in applying Bible truths to daily life.

Relationship not Religion!

2011-12-09T23:16:00.001-08:00

I have been posting lately about the importanceof pursuing God. Here's why? Some years ago I came across a book named: 'The Pursuit of God', written by A.W. Tozer.This man died over 50 years ago but even then as a Pastor he was already seeinghow the church was losing it's power. Tozer said that most Christian's believedthat once they were saved or accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, that wasit. Mission accomplished. Now just go to Church and one day be in Heaven.

This is where Tozer changed my life and manyothers forever. He said this was just the beginning. Now life becomes aJourney. A journey that we will take not alone but with Jesus by our sidesthroughout the rest of our lives and into eternity. Bible Schools will call it'Progressive Sanctification', but all that means is that God has a plan andpurpose for our lives and one of the main desires He has is for us to get toknow Him personally and to become like Him.

This is the most wonderful truth. We can actuallyget to know God and have a personal relationship with Him as we do with ourfriends and family. This is why Tozer called his book: The Pursuit God.

I want all of you, I challenge you, to read thethe book of Job. If you do not know the story of Job, God wanted to show Satanthat contrary to what Satan said would happen if he were to kill all of Job'slivestock, children, have his wife tell him to curse God and die, and to loosehis health, Job would not curse God or give up on Him. God told Satan that hecould not kill Job. Job did suffer all of these things at the hands of Satanwith the permission of God. He even had his so-called friends give their twocents about why Job was going through all of this.

This is generally all we remember about Jobalong with how he did not give up on God and how God restored Job's health anddoubled all that was destroyed by Satan. But here is the golden nugget that wedo not always remember, not only did Satan loose his bet with God concerningJob but something wonderful happened to Job that God wants for all of us:

In the last chapter of Job:

42:5 - I have heard of thee by the hearing ofthe ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

Back in Job's time the term, 'hearing of theear' meant that Job had a 'head knowledge' of God. Now! He says, but now my eyesee's thee. Now that Job went through all that suffering he came out of itlearning something remarkable. The 'eye'represented the gateway to the soul. Job had grown closer to God and knew Godin a more intimate way than he ever had before.

This chapter could be summarized in Moses'prayer, "Show me thy glory," or Paul's exclamation, "O the depthof the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" It is theology notof the head but of the heart.

Your Journey in life will be filled with joysunspeakable and trials that will bring you

to your knees, but remember, God has alreadybeen where your going and He is with you along the whole Journey. He is moldingand sculpturing you so others will see Jesus in you and you will have come tohave a RELATIONSHIP with Him.

The Presence of God!

2011-12-08T00:18:00.000-08:00

There is today no lack of Bible teachers to set forth correctly the principles of the doctrines of Christ, but too many of these seem satisfied to teach the fundamentals of the faith year after year, strangely unaware that there is in their ministry no manifest Presence, nor anything unusual in their personal lives. They minister constantly to believers who feel within their breasts a longing which their teaching simply does not satisfy. A.W. Tozer

Pursue God!

2011-12-06T19:57:00.001-08:00

Make God The Focus of Your Life!

2011-12-04T19:55:00.001-08:00

A friend of mine shared with me, one day, that he noticed while reading through Genesis, he never saw where Adam or Eve used the personal pronoun I relating to themselves while God was in the Garden with them and prior to them committing sin. While God was with them, His presence permeated the whole Garden and their focus was totally on God. We would call this being 'Theocentric', meaning that theo=God, and centric=God being the center of interest. After the fall of man and sin entering into the world and Adam and Eve being kicked out of the Garden, my friend noticed that the personal pronoun I was now used by Adam and Eve relating to themselves. Why? God was not in the 'Center' of their lives anymore. Their focus was on themselves and not God. Adam and Eve now noticed that they were not clothed showing their focus on them and not God. Here is where my friend said that he finally started to see the personal pronoun I start showing up relating to Adam and Eve. We would call this being 'Egocentric', meaning that Ego=I, Me, where centric=I being now the focus of all things. This is why everyday we need to make God the total focus of our lives. This is what He wants.

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

1 John 2:15 ESV

The Bible Is a Peculiar Book!

2011-12-02T21:31:00.001-08:00

This is a peculiar book you are holding. Words crafted in another language. Deeds done in a distant era. Events recorded in a far-off land. Counsel offered to a foreign people. This is a peculiar book. It’s surprising that anyone reads it. It’s too old. Some of its writings date back five thousand years. It’s too bizarre. The book speaks of incredible floods, fires, earthquakes, and people with supernatural abilities. It’s too radical. The Bible calls for undying devotion to a carpenter who called himself God’s Son. Logic says this book shouldn't survive. Too old, too bizarre, too radical. The Bible has been banned, burned, scoffed, and ridiculed. Scholars have mocked it as foolish. Kings have branded it as illegal. A thousand times over the grave has been dug and the dirge has begun, but somehow the Bible never stays in the grave. Not only has it survived, it has thrived. It is the single most popular book in all of history. It has been the best-selling book in the world for years! There is no way on earth to explain it. Which perhaps is the only explanation. The answer? The Bible’s durability is not found on earth; it is found in heaven....BY MAX LUCADO

When God Chisels On Us!

2011-12-01T00:46:00.001-08:00

Our vision is so limited we can hardly imagine a love that does not show itself in protection from suffering...The love of God did not protect His own Son...He will not necessarily protect us - not from anything it takes to make us like His Son. A lot of hammering and chiseling and purifying by fire will have to go into the process.

Elisabeth Elliot

Get to Know God Thru Suffering!

2011-11-27T20:57:00.001-08:00

Paul was sent a 'thorn in his flesh' that he prayed for the removal of 3 separate times to God. God told Paul that He would not remove the thorn but God would be Paul's strength.

Job was a great example where God called Him a righteous man but wanted to show Satan that Job would not curse God or give up on Him if God were to send great affliction upon Job. Here is the most 'wonderful' thing that we learn about suffering is in the last chapter of Job. After God restored Job's health and wealth, Job said: "I once heard of thee with my EARS (In the Hebrew language ears meant 'head knowledge'). He goes on to say: "But now my 'EYE' can see thee". You will notice it has a singular 'EYE'. The eye was the gateway to the soul.

So, Job was saying that he always had a head knowledge about God but through his suffering he had come to know God more intimately and now had a heart knowledge about Him. God says that our FAITH is more precious than gold.

God is working on all of us. He wants us to become more like Jesus.

Pain and Adversity Have a Meaning!

2011-11-27T00:33:00.001-08:00

One thing we may be sure of, however: For the believer all pain has meaning; all adversity is profitable. There is no question that adversity is difficult. It usually takes us by surprise and seems to strike where we are most vulnerable. To us it often appears completely senseless and irrational, but to God none of it is either senseless or irrational. He has a purpose in every pain He brings or allows in our lives. We can be sure that in some way He intends it for our profit and His glory.

Jerry Bridges
Navigators

God is Faithful? Psalm 71:9-18

2011-11-25T21:04:00.000-08:00

On one level, it is totally unnecessary to call on God to remain faithful. He is faithful to all of his promises. There is no chance that God will forsake his people. However, our circumstances do not always seem to conform to this truth. We see evil in the world and trouble in our own lives and we wonder, Is God truly with us?

The writer of this psalm had confidence in God from his youth (see Ps 71:5–6), but now that he had grown old he was worried because his enemies had sensed his weakness and had closed in on him. Their assessment was that God had forsaken him in his old age.

From this perspective—pouring out his honest emotions—the psalmist called on God to protect him. He asked God to remember his promise not to forsake him. He also asked the Lord to punish those who were persecuting him. But not only did he appeal to God’s promise; he also made one of his own: If God would rescue him, then he would tell the next generation about God’s power (see Ps 71:18).

The writer was confident the Lord would save him. He repeatedly expressed this firm conviction (see Ps 71:14–17,19–21) and concluded his prayer with a song of praise (see Ps 71:22–24).

What You Do, Do for the Lord!

2011-11-22T22:50:00.001-08:00

John Piper in his book: Don't Waste Your Life, talks about how short life is. (James 4:14 - Whereas ye know not what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.) He goes on about a retired couple who everyday spent their time collecting 'sea shells'. Now their is nothing wrong with having a hobby and expressing passion about it as long as it does not dominate all of your time, day, and life.

There are two themes that you will see repeated over and over in the Bible. The first theme is the extreme importance that each and every Christian enter into a full surrender with the Lord so that He can then enter them into His perfect plan and destiny for their lives. The second theme that you will see repeated over and over again is the extreme importance that each and every Christian seek to establish a good, close, intimate, personal relationship with the Lord.

One day we will all stand before the Lord to see what we did in his name: Ephesians 2:1 - For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. What will be your answer? Sea shells? What we do for the Lord in the 'here and now' will count for eternity and what's not, will all burn up and be for nothing.

When you really stop and think about the big picture and what is really most important in this life, and then study the Bible to see where all of our priorities should be set at in this life – there is one special message and revelation that comes jumping off all the pages of the Bible. This one special message and revelation is that God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit are looking to establish and make a direct, one-on-one, intimate, personal relationship with each person He has created.

Lean not on your own understanding: (Prov. 3:5-6)

2011-11-20T23:39:00.001-08:00

Wisdom Directs Our Path: The key verses in this chapter are verses 5-6, a promise God's people have often claimed as they have sought the Lord's direction for their lives. And this promise has never failed them—if they have obeyed the conditions God has laid down in verses 1-12. God keeps His promises when we obey His precepts, because our obedience prepares us to receive and enjoy what He has planned for us.
Conditions to meet (vv. 1-12). The first condition for receiving God's guidance is that we learn God's truth (vv. 1-4). The will of God is revealed in the Word of God (Col. 1:9-10), and the only way to know His will is to study His Word and obey it. By receiving the Word within our hearts, we experience growth in godly character so that mercy and truth ("love and faithfulness," niv) become beautiful ornaments in our lives (Prov. 3:3; 1:9). It isn't enough for believers to carry the Bible in their hands; they must let the Holy Spirit write it on their hearts (3:3; 7:3; 2 Cor. 3:1-3). Obedience to the Word can add years to your life and life to your years.

Second, we must obey God's will (vv. 5-8). "He shall direct your paths" (v. 6, nkjv) is the promise, but the fulfillment of that promise is predicated on our obedience to the Lord. We must trust Him with all our heart and obey Him in all our ways. That means total commitment to Him (Rom. 12:1-2). The word translated "trust" in verse 5 means "to lie helpless, facedown." It pictures a servant waiting for the master's command in readiness to obey, or a defeated soldier yielding himself to the conquering general.

The danger, of course, is that we lean on our own understanding and thereby miss God's will. This warning doesn't suggest that God's children turn off their brains and ignore their intelligence and common sense. It simply cautions us not to depend on our own wisdom and experience or the wisdom and experience of others. Abraham did this when he went to Egypt (Gen. 12:10-20) and so did Joshua when he attacked the little town of Ai (Josh. 7). When we become "wise in [our] own eyes" (Prov. 3:7), then we're heading for trouble.

—Bible Exposition Commentary (BE Series) - Old Testament

Who Do You Serve?

2011-11-17T22:57:00.001-08:00

"And Joshua said unto all the people [of Israel], . . . choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:2, 15).

A.W. Tozer said: “I want the presence of God Himself, or I don’t want anything at all to do with religion… I want all that God has or I don’t want any.”

The Study of David and The Psalms

2011-11-14T21:50:00.001-08:00

1 Samuel
Chapter One.
"The Lord of Hosts Is With Us"
1 Samuel 1-3

In our study of David and the Psalms we find that one of the awesome titles of our great God is "Lord of Hosts" or "Lord of the armies." This title is used nearly 300 times in Scripture and is found for the first time in 1 Samuel 1:3. "Lord of hosts" describes God as the sovereign Lord of the host of the stars (Isa. 40:26), the angelic host (Ps. 103:20-21) and the armies of Israel (Ex. 12:41; Ps. 46:7, 11). In the Authorized Version, "hosts" is transliterated "Sabaoth" in Romans 9:29 and James 5:4.
The story of the people of Israel recorded in the Bible is a living demonstration of the fact that the Lord does win the battle, that He is sovereign in all things. People and events recorded in Scripture are part of what theologians call "salvation history," God's gracious plan to send the Savior into the world to die for sinners. The Book of Ruth ends with the name of David (Ruth 4:22), and 1 Samuel tells the story of David's successful preparation for reigning on the throne of Israel. It was from David's family that Jesus Christ, the "Son of David," was born. The Books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles record many sins and failures on the part of God's people, but they also remind us that God is on the throne, and when He isn't allowed to rule, He overrules. He is the Lord of Hosts and His purposes will be accomplished. Below we see 5 truths about God:

1. God directs history. 1 Samuel 1-3
2. God answers prayer. (1 Sam. 1:1-28)
3. God receives praise and worship. (1 Sam. 2:1-11)
4. God judges sin. (1 Sam. 2:12-36)
5. God rewards faithfulness. (1 Sam. 3:1-21)

—Bible Exposition Commentary (BE Series) - Old Testament

The Word 'Meek' in the Bible?

2011-11-13T01:02:00.001-08:00

Jesus was Meek, not Weak. Meek in the Bible meant: Strength Under Control.

Matt 11:28-29
28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (ASV)

"Blessed are the Meek" - These are the individuals who understand their spiritual poverty, mourn over their lost condition and are willing to submit their lives to the will of God.

Please visit our Webpage: 'Changed Lives Today'

What is so great about Abram's Faith?

2011-11-07T23:41:00.000-08:00

This week's reading: Genesis 15:6
The Bible makes Abram's (Abraham) faith the model for us all. (See, for example, Romans 4; Galatians 3; Hebrews 11; James 2). The surprising thing is that Abram never saw a Bible, had no church, possessed no creed, took no sacrament, heard not even one of the Ten Commandments and perhaps knew little about life after death.

Yet Abram's faith shows us what really matters. He heard the voice of God and dared to simply believe he could trust him when he spoke. He risked his life, his security, his reputation, his future and even his son on the word that came from the God whom he could not see but in whom he believed. Can there be anything better to demonstrate that it is by faith, and faith alone, that we are saved? We now have the Bible, the church, the creeds, the sacraments and the Ten Commandments. But God still looks for the basics - God still looks for hearts that will risk all to trust in him.

Question: "How can I become more like Christ?"

2011-11-03T00:07:00.000-07:00

God's desire for all who know Him is for us to become more like Christ. We do this by first growing in our knowledge of Christ. It stands to reason that we cannot grow to be like someone we don’t know. The deeper our knowledge of Christ, the deeper our understanding of Him, and the more like Him we become.

Of course, knowledge alone will not produce a Christlike character. The knowledge we gain from God’s Word must impact our hearts and convict us of the need to obey what we have learned. Romans 12:1-2 tells us emphatically that the process of filling our minds with the knowledge of God not only brings us closer to Christlikeness, but obedience to that knowledge aligns us with the perfect will of God: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

The natural consequence of knowing and obeying God is that He becomes greater and greater, while we become less and less as we yield control of our lives to Him. Just as John the Baptist knew that “[Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30), so the Christian grows to reflect more of Christ and less of his own nature. Luke sums it up best when he describes what Jesus told His disciples: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it" (Luke 9:23-24). The cross was an instrument of death, and Jesus encourages us to take up our cross in order to put to death our old sin nature upon it. God wants us to forget about this world and all its temporary pleasures and be obedient to His Word. Jesus is the living Word (John 1:1), and the Bible is God's written Word. Therefore, conforming to the Word of God is conforming to Christ.

It is important to realize that becoming more like Christ starts by receiving Him as Savior from our sins. Then we grow in our knowledge of God by reading the Bible daily, studying it, and being obedient to what it says. This process causes us to grow and occurs over an entire lifetime in Christ. Only when we have entered Heaven for eternity with God does this process reach its culmination. Click here to know God for yourself...