I was reading Philippians 3 today where Paul counted all things as loss in view of knowing Jesus. I want to encourage each of you to make him your personal goal. Such a charge can seem mundane, but it is essential.
It is too easy to become sidetracked by important matters in the kingdom and forget "The Matter": Jesus. Some can serve others like crazy; yet have zero connection to Jesus. Others can recite entire chapters of the Bible by heart but know not the One it is about. Yet others can organize and succeed in godly guidance while having very little awareness of the presence of Christ.
We will all do well to establish the relationship with Jesus as our doctrinal priority. The world is not hurting because society is lacking churches in its midst. The Lord knows there are plenty to go around. The authentic hurt is the fact that churches just like yours and mine are built on something other than the Son of God. Our residing in a community as a church and going unnoticed is a testimony to my point.
I want to see all churches have robust impact on schools, businesses, and families. If we happen to be Christless we will also be powerless. Numbers aren't the measurement. Believing hearts are. Whether you are in a congregation of ten or a thousand it will be most essential you arrange your labor around the Spirit of the Son of God. Otherwise, we are simply out selling fire insurance.....all on our own steam.
3 comments:
YES, YES. TODAY'S BLOG FITS RIGHT INTO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PUT ACROSS THIS WEEK. WE ARE A HUSBAND/WIFE TEAM PRESENTLY IN A COUNTRY WHICH RESTRICTS CERTAIN OPEN WORSHIP OF GOD. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY WHO DO IT ANYWAY. WE TEACH THEM TO FOCUS ON THE FATHER/SON...TO HONOR AND PRAISE THEM. NO DOCTRINE TAUGHT...SIMPLY GOD SENDING HIS TO EXTEND HIS GRACE TO ALL OF US. THAT'S THE NAME OF THE GAME...ALL ABOUT HIM AND ONLY HIM...HIS TEACHINGS...GIVING OURSELHES TO HIM...OBEYING, HONORING, LOVING!!! HE'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
my apologies for the long post I am about to place here, but if it goes thru, I would like for ya'll to send it to others if you are motivated to do so!!! I WAS INSPIRED TO WRITE IT TO SHARE IT AND HOPEFULLY TO SEE IT SPREAD. IF YOU LIKE IT LET ME KNOW, AND I WILL CONTINUE SENDING IT, OTHERWISE, I WILL USE GOOD ADVICE AND MAY NOT SEND IT AGAIN. THE DAY IN MY MIND WOULD BE NOVEMBER 8TH, WHICH IS OF COURSE AFTER THE ELECTION OR EVEN YET A BETTER DAY WOULD BE NOVEMBER 1!
Something is wrong in America that man/woman cannot fix. Only through the Holy Spirit’s divine intervention will America’s problems be fixed.
If our nation was totally dependent on God (doG) then there would be an agreement among all Christians of who should be our next president of the United States of America. As it stands now we are not a nation united or unified but a nation divided.
Was America founded as a Christian nation? I challenge you to look at these 3 websites and do any other exploring that would convince you of the fact that we were a nation founded on Christian principles.
http://www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=259
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/meyer/080125
http://www.perry08.com/christianity.html
We should, as Christians, come together in prayer, a citywide prayer effort in Midland, TX to humble ourselves as this scripture tells us to:
2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
But because of many people’s preconceived notions of this or that, even brothers and sisters who call themselves Christians act not according to what the bible says, because the Bible says,
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
If every true Christian lived as a true new creation in Christ, then the Christian Nation of America would be on fire with the fire from above, the Holy Spirit’s fire. 1 Thessalonians 5 tells us well how we should live now and forevermore in these last days.
1 Thessalonians 5
1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Final Instructions
12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
The bible also speaks of man’s maturing, see Ephesians 4:9-13:
9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
To end this first of a couple of installment letters to the editor I urge you to realize that if we are, as true Christians, to bond together and truly make a difference on election day or any day then we should all unite in one place, as one people, and pray through Jesus Christ our Eternal Savior and Lord, to the one and only God, His Father, that He would not judge us now, but spare us from our own selfishness nonsense to bring God’s people into agreement on what matters the most. And that should be our security and hope that we do have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and that while here on this Earth He wants us to have serious Love relationships with Him and with others while we are living here:
Romans 10:11-13 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
We should not care who we associate with as long as they are believers as we are, but we should again be united to fulfill God’s will for our lives and all of mankind.
and if I, if i be lifted up i will draw all men to myself. Lift Him up!! you are right Terry
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