Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Monday, February 23, 2015
Revealed Truth
1 Corinthians 2:13-14 NLT
When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.
I have been using computers for a long time. My wife, Dianne used to call me the Fred Flintstone of computers. The first ones I worked with were huge as compared to the ones we use today. There is more power in my smartphone than in those dinosaurs I worked on in the 1960's. In all those years I have picked up a lot of knowledge regarding using computers. So when I am with others just getting started much of what I say is meaningless to them. They can't understand what I am talking about.
When we accept Jesus our spirit becomes born again and Holy Spirit is sent to reside in us; the two spirits become one. We then begin to understand things in a different way. It is like a secret door has been opened. When we read God's Word things that were always there jump out at us and we see truths we did not see before.
When we try to discuss these revelations to others who are not born again they just do not understand. They need the key to unlock the truth we have been given. And that key is a relationship with Jesus. And that begins with accepting Him into our heart allowing Him to be our Lord and Savior.
When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.
I have been using computers for a long time. My wife, Dianne used to call me the Fred Flintstone of computers. The first ones I worked with were huge as compared to the ones we use today. There is more power in my smartphone than in those dinosaurs I worked on in the 1960's. In all those years I have picked up a lot of knowledge regarding using computers. So when I am with others just getting started much of what I say is meaningless to them. They can't understand what I am talking about.
When we accept Jesus our spirit becomes born again and Holy Spirit is sent to reside in us; the two spirits become one. We then begin to understand things in a different way. It is like a secret door has been opened. When we read God's Word things that were always there jump out at us and we see truths we did not see before.
When we try to discuss these revelations to others who are not born again they just do not understand. They need the key to unlock the truth we have been given. And that key is a relationship with Jesus. And that begins with accepting Him into our heart allowing Him to be our Lord and Savior.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Reading
Is what you're reading feeding you on you salvation walk or just adding to your knowledge folder?
Bible Reading
Are you reading your Bible to increase your knowledge by feeding your intellect or is it renewing your mind to become more Christ like?
The Encourager
Holy spirit does not change us. He encourages us to die daily to our flesh. He comforts us when trials come our way. He is with us until we come out the other side delivered and changed because of what we came out of.
Sunday, February 08, 2015
Obstacle Course of Life
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Many Christians seem to have been taught that in order to grow in our relationship with God we have to find our way though a number of challenges. I often hear things like "The higher you go with God the bigger the devils". The devil has already been defeated. He has no authority over us. He has no permission to work in our lives and the only way in is to break in to try and destroy us; take us off the path God has for us. I do not know about you, but I am in Christ and He won that battle a long time ago.
I do not believe that we have to go through bad things to grow with God. We have to go forth obeying His voice and as we do we grow as Holy Spirit teaches us all things. Does life here on earth present us with difficulties and even more? Yes, we are living in earthen vessels while we are still here walking out our salvation.
God is with us as we go through each difficult time. We learn through each of them and Holy Spirit uses them as opportunities to teach us. Our walk with God is not an obstacle course. The pain and suffering was already had for us by Jesus so we would not have to go through it.
Many of my challenges have been the result of poor choices. And those choices were made by me as I used my own understanding instead of relying on God to guide me. Smooth sailing in my life occurs when I let Him lead me. But as much as I want that, my own head and desires get in the way often. I can even convince myself that I heard from Him. When the results are not good I realize it was me and not Him.
Father God, thank you for being there for me every time my poor choices or even the choices of others put me in a bad situation. Thank you for being there with me and guiding me out of the mess. Help me to listen to Holy Spirit instead of my own mind. Show me the path I am to follow and help me to stay on it. In Jesus name, I pray.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Many Christians seem to have been taught that in order to grow in our relationship with God we have to find our way though a number of challenges. I often hear things like "The higher you go with God the bigger the devils". The devil has already been defeated. He has no authority over us. He has no permission to work in our lives and the only way in is to break in to try and destroy us; take us off the path God has for us. I do not know about you, but I am in Christ and He won that battle a long time ago.
I do not believe that we have to go through bad things to grow with God. We have to go forth obeying His voice and as we do we grow as Holy Spirit teaches us all things. Does life here on earth present us with difficulties and even more? Yes, we are living in earthen vessels while we are still here walking out our salvation.
God is with us as we go through each difficult time. We learn through each of them and Holy Spirit uses them as opportunities to teach us. Our walk with God is not an obstacle course. The pain and suffering was already had for us by Jesus so we would not have to go through it.
Many of my challenges have been the result of poor choices. And those choices were made by me as I used my own understanding instead of relying on God to guide me. Smooth sailing in my life occurs when I let Him lead me. But as much as I want that, my own head and desires get in the way often. I can even convince myself that I heard from Him. When the results are not good I realize it was me and not Him.
Father God, thank you for being there for me every time my poor choices or even the choices of others put me in a bad situation. Thank you for being there with me and guiding me out of the mess. Help me to listen to Holy Spirit instead of my own mind. Show me the path I am to follow and help me to stay on it. In Jesus name, I pray.
Saturday, February 07, 2015
Friday, February 06, 2015
Thursday, February 05, 2015
Experience Jesus
Are you connected to Jesus because of how much you know about Him? Or is it an intimate connection because of the relationship you have with Him at a personal level? It is not about our knowledge of Him because of the stories we have been told and the books about Him we have read. It is about what He has taught us as we have actually walked with Him. Jesus wants us to experience Him on a daily basis.
Ponderables
Every day or so I get things to write own and ponder about at a later date. Some end up being messages on this blog. Others are just left on pieces of paper all over the place. So I have decided to make them part of this blog. In addition to my weekly post I will be dropping a short ponderable from time to time. (and yes that is a legal word. LOL)
Monday, February 02, 2015
Complaining
Philippians 2:14-16 NLT
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
Everywhere I go people are always complaining about something or someone. Often it centers on the political situation in this country. It seems everyone has a better way for things to be done. It is so easy to look at a situation and think we could do a better job.
It even happens in churches. The congregations complain about the leadership. The leadership complains about the members that aren't volunteering to help. Sometimes the complaining is even about other churches as one is compared to another.
How can we be Christ centered and complain about anything? The enemy loves to see us in conflict with each other. He loves to see us in competition with other groups of believers. The more we are wrapped up in petty stuff, the less we are focused on what God has for us to do. After all, how can we hear God when we are so wrapped up in earthly situations?
We should be spending our time with God instead of keeping on top of the latest news. We should be asking Him what our next step should be instead of listening to the current gossip in and out of church.
I believe God wants us to be the best we can be. Sure we are not Jesus. But we have Holy Spirit living in us. It is this fleshly self we need to die to. Next time you want to turn on the news or listen to the latest gossip, pick up His word instead. That is the news we need to be focused on. Do that and the complaining will cease.
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
Everywhere I go people are always complaining about something or someone. Often it centers on the political situation in this country. It seems everyone has a better way for things to be done. It is so easy to look at a situation and think we could do a better job.
It even happens in churches. The congregations complain about the leadership. The leadership complains about the members that aren't volunteering to help. Sometimes the complaining is even about other churches as one is compared to another.
How can we be Christ centered and complain about anything? The enemy loves to see us in conflict with each other. He loves to see us in competition with other groups of believers. The more we are wrapped up in petty stuff, the less we are focused on what God has for us to do. After all, how can we hear God when we are so wrapped up in earthly situations?
We should be spending our time with God instead of keeping on top of the latest news. We should be asking Him what our next step should be instead of listening to the current gossip in and out of church.
I believe God wants us to be the best we can be. Sure we are not Jesus. But we have Holy Spirit living in us. It is this fleshly self we need to die to. Next time you want to turn on the news or listen to the latest gossip, pick up His word instead. That is the news we need to be focused on. Do that and the complaining will cease.
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