Timely and Faithful

A couple months ago I filled in for someone in leading a certain Bible study group. There were some challenging situations that took place and I didn’t handle them all well. In fact, I thought I may have offended one lady, because I didn’t see her the next few weeks. However, God gave me a positive interaction with her a few weeks ago and she even brought a new lady to the group!  In spite of my failures, God can still timely and faithfully accomplish His purposes.

We definitely see that in the life of Abraham. In spite of the whole mess we saw last week with King Abimelek, God not only was faithful to His promise, but did it in the time He had said.

Genesis 21:1-5    Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. ² Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. ³ Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. ⁴ When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. ⁵ Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

Abraham and Sarah didn’t deserve God’s gift and His faithfulness. The Lord graciously gave Isaac to them anyway, because He always fulfills His promises and timely accomplishes His plans.

Where has God been gracious to you and me?

How are you and I encouraged, knowing He is always timely and faithful in accomplishing His purposes?

Spiritual Awareness

The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded.  He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him.  If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.   For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law.  But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them.  In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil.   One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress.  But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”  2 Chonicles 15:1-7

This week has been enlightening.  I have heard news of the passing of a colleague that saddened me, but it also gave me great courage and joy to know how strong her faith was.  I have watched a hero draw criticism but gain newfound respect for simply giving God the glory.  I have shed tears over God’s greatness and His grace.  I feel God’s presence is all around me.  Not in the sense that I did not know it before.  Instead, it was in the sense of heightened awareness.  Everything done and said and each motion and emotion was seemingly God centered.

We should embrace the moments that our spiritual awareness of God’s greatness is raised.  In today’s verses, it centers about a king of Judah named Asa.  Asa was one who faithfully followed the Lord and was both aware of God and listening to Him faithfully.  As a result, he ruled a time where his country had peace . . . for 35 years!  Continual awareness of God’s presence assures us that we can always find Him, and if we can be attune to His will, we can have confidence that our ‘work will be rewarded.’ 

Staying attune to God is not easy.  The world sends information that distracts us all the time.  Even the most dedicated Christian can be diverted for a moment.  However if we read for knowledge of God and live by guidance from the Holy Spirit, we can assure ourselves that those moments of awareness will be both frequent and enduring.  How spiritually aware are you?  How can you be assured of God’s will?  My prayer is that we appreciate a heightened awareness of God’s presence in our lives.  Amen.

Tues Devo: Choose your attitude

Philippians 2:5-7 “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”(NASB)

Hello,

This winter has been a blast…..of cold air and snow!!!! I was reflecting on what seems to be a drawn out winter I got to thinking about how I cannot change what winter is, but I can choose my attitude. My attitude is something that is visible to others, and it will point to either our trust and reliance on Christ, or illustrate that we are not letting our relationship with Christ properly impact our choices.

When Jesus was here, He didn’t gloomily go about His life/death. He did it in a way of humility and a an attractiveness that drew crowds to Him.

How is our attitude? What are we conveying about our relationship with Christ?

Will Hill

Are You Truly Redeemed? ~ 10 Hallmarks of a True Christian (Part 3 of 6)

Hello Friends!

Welcome back to our study of the book of 1 John as we seek to answer the eternally important question: Are You Truly Redeemed?

Several years ago, there was a book written entitled If Christ is the Answer, What are the Questions? We as Believers in Jesus Christ believe He is the answer, right? Then, if this is so, what are the questions and why don’t more lost people ask us questions about the hope within us? In fact, how many people have asked you about your faith in Jesus Christ? Perhaps we should ask ourselves this question: “Why don’t very many people ask me about the hope within me?” Think about it…

Are You Truly Redeemed? ~ 10 Hallmarks of a True Christian (Part 3 of 6)

The overall theme of 1 John is “a recall to the fundamentals of the faith” or “back to the basics of Christianity.” The Apostle John deals with certainties, not opinions or conjecture. He expresses the absolute character of Christianity in very simple terms that are clear and unmistakable, leaving no doubt as to the fundamental nature of those truths. A warm, conversational, loving tone occurs, like a father having a tender and intimate conversation with his children. I like that!

3. A true convert does not harbor hatred for the Christian brethren

They display forgiveness, love, and compassion:

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes – 1 John 2:9 & 11

Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him – 1 John 3:15

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? – 1 John 4:20

4. A true convert does not love the world or the things of the world

They have a disdain for the world's system of evil ruled by Satan:

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. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world – 1 John 2:15-16

Remember: Our faithfulness to proclaim the Truth of God’s Word as well as defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ may very well assist others in examining their own faith to verify if they are indeed a true convert of Jesus Christ – their very soul may depend upon it!

Please join us next week as we continue to further investigate this promise of eternal assurance from the Word of God – Are You Truly Redeemed?

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!

Shane <><

What Really Matters?

12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?  Ecclesiastes 6

Have any of you taken a Strengths Finder 2.0 test?  Here are mine:

• Analyzer
• Input
• Intellection
• Relator
• Learner

I am a methodical person.  Ever since around middle school, I've had "dailies".  Things that I have to do every day.  These things have changed a lot over the years.  They'd be things such as, I have to read so many chapters of these ever growing number of books every day, or I have to do so many problem sets from these textbooks (above and beyond those required for school), or I have to level up these characters in a game, or I have to do these puzzles.  I had to do these things immediately when I woke up or immediately upon getting home from school or work.  If I didn't do them right away, I would be super cranky towards everyone I lived with.  I just had it set in my mind that these things were important and I had to do these every day.  If I didn't, who would?

Well, guess what?  They're all meaningless.  When I die, is God going to really care that I read so many books or that I did so many math problems?  It's something that I see now, but I still struggle with avoiding the trap of "dailies" in my life.  I still have to do something daily, so I've turned towards my own personal Bible studies.  That gives me something to do every morning when I wake up and I can put the focus on God to start my day.  And yes, I still get cranky if I don't get to do that first thing in the morning 

Each of you have your own strengths, and if you haven't taken that test, I encourage you to do so.  My mother in law is a Methodist pastor and she's the one who introduced the test to me.  Their church staff all took the test, and then they reached out and had everyone in the church take it.  Now, it's a part of their membership class.  (She purchased the test for everyone in our family, so we all took that and it was great fun seeing how different and alike we all are)  Her church really sees that everyone has strengths that can be used to glorify God, and they're all unique.  Your strengths are where you shine, the things that come easy to you.  You can still do things that are not using your strengths, but those things are draining on you and take a lot of effort.  You can use your strengths to then look for the best places for you to give back to the church and spread the word of God.  Placing me as a church greeter is something I can do, but it would be incredibly taxing and draining on me.  Yet, daily, in depth study and writing on what I studied is something I greatly enjoy and look forward to doing. (go figure!)

So where are your strengths, and how are you using them to give the glory back to God?  Are you using those strengths for worldly things, as I once was, or are you using them for God?

The Fear Factor

When was the last time you were afraid of someone or something? How did you react?

One time when I came home from a friend’s house, my door was cracked open. I immediately assumed someone had broken in and was inside. I was terrified! Before going inside, I started calling family members in hopes of talking to one of them while I courageously ventured inside to check things out. No one was available to answer their phone, though. I then stopped and remembered that I could talk to God! He knew and could see everything and could help me know what to do more than any relative or friend! After kicking the door wide open, checking out the basement, every closet, and every possible hiding spot, the coast was clear. Apparently, I hadn’t shut the door completely that morning, and it had blown open at some point.

Even godly Abraham reacted irrationally out of fear.  

Genesis 20:1-6  Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, ² and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. ³ But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.” ⁴ Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? ⁵ Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.” ⁶ Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her.

Back in Genesis 18:10-15, God had specifically told Abraham and Sarah that Sarah would have a son by that same time next year. So, why was Abraham afraid for his life (Genesis 20:11)? Didn’t he trust God to fulfill His promise? And why didn’t he talk to God about his fears? And how was he to have a son through Sarah, if Sarah became Abimelek’s wife??? It’s easy for us to see, since we aren’t in the fear of the moment.

Giving in to fear, Abraham sinned further by lying, encouraging his wife to lie (whether verbally or by example), putting her in danger, putting his own safety above her’s, causing Abimelek to stumble, etc. I love how God stepped in, though, and protected all of them against themselves! God would accomplish His purpose.

How will you and I remember to take our fears to the all-powerful and Sovereign God, so that we don’t react irrationally and cause others to stumble?

Alice

True Friends

As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.  Proverbs 27:17

I’ve gotten to know a new friend lately.  The funny thing is that we did not come together over a bunch of things that we had in common although we did (ex. Both devout Christians).  The bond grew out of a dispute where there might have been a difference or disagreement.  However, it was from their handling of our differences that let me know some of the true nature of their character.  Many times we want people that agree with us as friends, and those who disagree are not.  What I have grown to believe is that really good friends do not always take your side.  In public, they stand with you, but at an appropriate time, they will openly disagree with you if you either have gone astray or done something that does not sound right.  They may even use your own examples to support their differing opinion.  Those are the people who I consider my best friends.

True friends are people God sends to protect us.  We all need people around us to support our life.  Some people will say things you want to hear just to be around you, and others will disagree just to spite you.  Godly friends want the best for you no matter what.  To ensure that, they will provide insight on different ways of looking at a situation.  To do so, they will sometimes disagree with us not to discourage but instead to encourage success of our walk of faith.  This is how indeed iron sharpens iron.

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.” (John 15:13)  Jesus put such a high value on friendship realizing that with the right circle of friends, one will be steady on the righteous path.  This is not to say all of our friends should be Christian.  In fact, inviting a good person unaware of our awesome God into your Christian circle is a righteous thing to do.  So, can your friends be totally honest with you?  How can you be supportive of your friends and yet bold enough to share the hard truth?  My prayer is that we can take notes from Jesus and be true friends.

Tues Devo: Move first

Exodus 14:15-16 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land.” (NASB)

Hello,

It seems I have been in a number of “circular” conversations lately. Debates go on about doing part A first, or waiting until B is ready to do A. Once you get that figured out, you confuse each other and start debating whether A may actually be B and vice versa. Being generally over-analytical by nature this is not good for me! I tend to make one of two decisions: 1) be patient and figure out A and B with a 99% certainty or 2) get frustrated and do C without any thought. Neither of those seem to land terrific results!

Since neither is really a great option, how about this – just move forward! Part of our life of faith in Christ is that He is taking care of things. If we are sitting and waiting to see all the steps He has for to be laid out in HD, we will never move from our spot of sitting. This struck me in the directions God gave to Moses – tell them to go forward. He did not have Moses raise the staff first and then completely part the waters, and then have them start to cross – they were to start moving forward in faith of God handling the rest.

Still sitting there? Move forward!!!! 

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

Are You Truly Redeemed? ~ 10 Hallmarks of a True Christian (Part 2 of 6)

Hello Friends!

Welcome back to our study of the book of 1 John as we seek to answer the eternally important question: Are You Truly Redeemed?

Is repentance required for salvation? There are many verses that specifically say that repentance is indeed required for salvation. Jesus and his Apostles proclaimed repentance as part of salvation. The Scriptures reveal that just believing in Jesus is not the sign or requirement of a true believer. That said however, repentance is not becoming sinless or perfect and thus repentance is not “works” unto salvation. In fact, the Scriptures also reveal that repentance is not something we can do on our own and thus it cannot be defined as “works” – salvation is a gift from God. Faith and repentance are two sides of the same coin and repentance is no more a work than faith is a work…

Are You Truly Redeemed? ~ 10 Hallmarks of a True Christian (Part 2 of 6)

It is my firm belief that one of the main reasons we have a crisis in the American church today is due to the fact that many Christians live no differently from the unbelieving world. Students are also leaving the church in large numbers, mainly because we have an epidemic of what I contend are false converts – tares – within our ranks. Many people today call themselves Christians but do not believe in many – if any – of the essential Christian doctrines found throughout the Scriptures. This is the main issue we will address within this series.

As we noted last week, we find that the Apostle John tells us why the book of 1 John was written:

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God – 1 John 5:13

Over the coming weeks we will investigate “10 hallmarks” found listed in the book of 1 John that reveal the true convert of Jesus Christ. This week, let’s begin with the first two hallmarks…

1. A true convert admits they are a sinner

They do not believe they can get to heaven by being a "good" person and they understand their own total depravity and sinfulness:

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness – 1 John 1:8-9

2. A true convert lives a life of obedience and desires to honor God’s commandments

They are not habitual sinners:

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked – 1 John 2:3-6

There is a difference between stumbling into sin verses willful disobedience:

Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him – 1 John 3:6

While true converts will continue to sin as part of the struggle with the sin nature (see Romans 7:14-25)...

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments – 1 John 5:2

The life of a true convert is marked by a deep desire to pursue holiness and walk in obedience to God's Word.

Remember: Our faithfulness to proclaim the Truth of God’s Word as well as defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ may very well assist others in examining their own faith to verify if they are indeed a true convert of Jesus Christ – their very soul may depend upon it!

Please join us next week as we continue to further investigate this promise of eternal assurance from the Word of God – Are You Truly Redeemed?

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!

Shane <><