Monday, June 29, 2009
Fear
When in comes to destructive forces, I believe that fear is one of the worst in existence. God's Word deals quite a bit with the issue of fear. God tells us that we are not to fear men who can only hurt the body, but cannot hurt our souls. We are warned of the danger of fear and God tells us not to fear. Since God is in control and He is good, there is nothing to fear. God wants us to trust in Him and rest in His sovereign care. Rest, that is a good word. Instead of fear, I will rest in God.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Our Champion
I was reading a wonderful book by Terry Virgo called, "God Knows You're Human." What a wonderful read! I wanted to share a truth that Terry points out. When David faced Goliath, the entire nation became winners because of the victory of David. They all shared in His success. So do we share in the victory of another, our Lord Jesus Christ. He died to destroy the works of the devil and I am a winner because of His fight. The battle belongs to the Lord!
In Christ,
Scott
In Christ,
Scott
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Power Flowing from the Cross
As I write these words, I am flooded with the verse from Eph 1 where the Bible tells us that we are "blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." All spiritual blessings that we have flow down from the cross.
Jesus compared the cross to the snake that was lifted up in the desert. The people were grumbling against God and He sent fiery snakes among them to bite them with poison and they were all dying. Then, in His mercy and grace He told Moses to fashion a snake of bronze and to put it on a pole (forming a cross). Those who would look to the snake would recover. Everyone else would die.
Not only is there power to save from the serpent in the cross, the power of forgiveness of sin, but the power of the cross extends to our daily lives as Christians. There is untold power waiting for our request from God that was already purchased for us by Jesus when He died on the cross. The cross still drips with power to give us "every spiritual blessing." What are the spiritual blessings that He is talking about? I think some of them are the spiritual gifts, the fruits of the Spirit, God's favor and the joy that accompanies a life lived under the smile of God.
Some people of the "name it and claim it" ilk have cheapened the Christian life by saying that God will make us healthy, wealthy, etc. in this life when God is most concerned with blessing us with health and wealth in the life to come (and He tells us to place our focus there), but now, His character is available for us, His giftings are available to us, and His favor and smile are ours now. We are truly blessed people.
So, go boldly to His throne and pray for these blessings. They are yours. Need more grace. Pray. Need more love or patience? It's yours. Desire to prophesy? (1 Cor. 14:1) Want to dream dreams? (Acts 2:17-18) Wish that God would give you a heart of compassion? In Jesus, all the promises of God are yes and amen! Those things have already been paid for by our Savior! Just ask and they are yours for the taking. May His kingdom increase and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Hidden in Christ,
Scott
Jesus compared the cross to the snake that was lifted up in the desert. The people were grumbling against God and He sent fiery snakes among them to bite them with poison and they were all dying. Then, in His mercy and grace He told Moses to fashion a snake of bronze and to put it on a pole (forming a cross). Those who would look to the snake would recover. Everyone else would die.
Not only is there power to save from the serpent in the cross, the power of forgiveness of sin, but the power of the cross extends to our daily lives as Christians. There is untold power waiting for our request from God that was already purchased for us by Jesus when He died on the cross. The cross still drips with power to give us "every spiritual blessing." What are the spiritual blessings that He is talking about? I think some of them are the spiritual gifts, the fruits of the Spirit, God's favor and the joy that accompanies a life lived under the smile of God.
Some people of the "name it and claim it" ilk have cheapened the Christian life by saying that God will make us healthy, wealthy, etc. in this life when God is most concerned with blessing us with health and wealth in the life to come (and He tells us to place our focus there), but now, His character is available for us, His giftings are available to us, and His favor and smile are ours now. We are truly blessed people.
So, go boldly to His throne and pray for these blessings. They are yours. Need more grace. Pray. Need more love or patience? It's yours. Desire to prophesy? (1 Cor. 14:1) Want to dream dreams? (Acts 2:17-18) Wish that God would give you a heart of compassion? In Jesus, all the promises of God are yes and amen! Those things have already been paid for by our Savior! Just ask and they are yours for the taking. May His kingdom increase and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Hidden in Christ,
Scott
Thursday, June 25, 2009
No Fears
The Bible tells us that perfect love casts out fear and that the Holy Spirit has poured the love of God into our hearts. Because of Jesus, I do not have to fear what man can do to me because God has accepted me and I will go to Heaven when I die. Rest. Peace. Safety. This is far beyond the hell that I deserve.
Perhaps I would fear more if Heaven was not waiting. Perhaps I would fear more if God was not crazy in love with me. Perhaps I would fear more if God was not in control of every aspect of my life (as R.C. Sproul says, "there are no rouge atoms in the universe.") Perhaps I would fear more if God was dealing with me according to my sins. Perhaps I would fear more if the wounds on my Savior did not continually cry out to the Father for me. Perhaps I would fear more if God was different, but He never changes. He will always be good, kind, and powerful beyond my wildest imagination. Perhaps I would fear more if He was only my judge and not my Father. Perhaps I would fear more if Jesus' blood did not run down the cross and cover me.
What am I saying? No fears!
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us! God always "gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"
Scott
Perhaps I would fear more if Heaven was not waiting. Perhaps I would fear more if God was not crazy in love with me. Perhaps I would fear more if God was not in control of every aspect of my life (as R.C. Sproul says, "there are no rouge atoms in the universe.") Perhaps I would fear more if God was dealing with me according to my sins. Perhaps I would fear more if the wounds on my Savior did not continually cry out to the Father for me. Perhaps I would fear more if God was different, but He never changes. He will always be good, kind, and powerful beyond my wildest imagination. Perhaps I would fear more if He was only my judge and not my Father. Perhaps I would fear more if Jesus' blood did not run down the cross and cover me.
What am I saying? No fears!
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us! God always "gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"
Scott
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Welcome to my blog
This blog will contain random musings, questions, and perhaps some insight for living the Christian life. I hope that you are served by this blog.
By Christian, I mean a person who is trusting Jesus Christ for the salvation of their souls, people who are dependent on Jesus' life and death to take them to Heaven. The people who have trusted Him in this manner will continue to trust Him throughout life and will show fruit that proves that they have repented of their sins. If there is no life change, then you have not met the Savior.
Notice that I said the Christian life. Being a Christian is primarily about life. "In Him was life and the life was the light of men." Jesus said, "I came that you might have life so much life that it overflows!" (paraphrase is mine). This life is in God's Son. There is no other source of life. There are many alternatives, copies, forgeries, but only one true source of life. It is my prayer that you may know the life found in Jesus Christ!
By Christian, I mean a person who is trusting Jesus Christ for the salvation of their souls, people who are dependent on Jesus' life and death to take them to Heaven. The people who have trusted Him in this manner will continue to trust Him throughout life and will show fruit that proves that they have repented of their sins. If there is no life change, then you have not met the Savior.
Notice that I said the Christian life. Being a Christian is primarily about life. "In Him was life and the life was the light of men." Jesus said, "I came that you might have life so much life that it overflows!" (paraphrase is mine). This life is in God's Son. There is no other source of life. There are many alternatives, copies, forgeries, but only one true source of life. It is my prayer that you may know the life found in Jesus Christ!
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