challies.com • April 30, 2014 A few days ago I tried to demonstrate how a church self-destructs. There is a sad progression that begins with the people growing weary and ashamed of truth. No longer able or willing to endure sound teaching, they get rid of the truth-tellers and accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.…
Protect Your Church in One Simple Step was originally published on BIBLE Knowledge
challies.com • April 21, 2014 I am one of those New Calvinists, I guess, which means I am part of a crowd that values preaching, and expository preaching in particular. Of course I was an Old Calvinist before I was a New one and was raised in a tradition that valued preaching just as highly. For my…
A Cost Of All This Preaching? was originally published on BIBLE Knowledge
It so important to understand why God has chosen this path for you, and not too get stuck with the circumstances around you. Like when Peter was called to step out of the boat – true to his character Peter responded to the call. So, with us we also sometime unwilling sign up for life’s challenges; simply by just being willing to live. When God moves – we need to learn how to follow. Although, we do not know where – why and how; we need to comprehend Gods extreme obsession with us. Like a good Father our God will not take us into harm; if He knows we can’t handle it, he won’t take us there. So, if you in it – You will get through it! The Israelite’s had a 40 Day journey from Egypt to paradise which turned into a 40 year roaming nightmare. I don’t think that was Gods intention or dream for his people. The same with us – God only wants the best… We might not understand things now; when we are in the crux of things it’s not so easy to be happy or smile. It sucks! Why do you think God had the Cloud and Fire? Firstly, the Cloud and Fire was there to show His people His physical nearness. These two signs represented God as whole… Secondly, the Fire and Cloud taught them to blindly follow without any questions – no matter what. When the Cloud or Fire moved they had to blindly pack up camp and move. They did not know where to next or for how long. All they knew was – We must Go! [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/embed?listType=playlist&list=PLXQ9CQLR4uYtVqU1TnevAGCh2YUtgBnFb&layout=gallery[/embedyt] It is in these troubled times of uprooting us when our dear Father wants to teach us the most important lesson of all… God is always Good and God will never leave us! He is crazy in love with us… Our God is faithful till the end!!!
You’re Built for Opposition The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne—Revelation 3:21 Ever been in the middle of something tough, prayed for rescue, and heard . . . nothing? Ever questioned God, in frustration, “Why won’t you answer?” Could it be that God doesn’t always answer because, sometimes, he wants us to stay right where we are and learn, there, how to fight? Could it be that God sometimes allows trouble and pain to train us, to build our maturity, to make us more reliable conduits of his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control? We often consider trouble and pain as unnecessary, to be avoided, hindrances to ease and happiness. Might it make more sense to consider trouble and pain as opposition, as a mountaineer views the pitch and the altitude, or as a linebacker views the block and the fake? We aren’t meant to be men who avoid opposition, numb it or deny it. We aren’t meant to run from battles, to hide and to let others fight. We’re built for opposition. Truthfully, we’d probably wither without it. We must see it, though, for what it is: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Our struggle is against being lured into selfishness, indifference, impatience, rage, resignation, or sin in the face of problems at work, or in our finances or relationships or families. These are epic struggles—battles worthy of any man. Okay, so what do we do? God doesn’t always take opposition away, brother, because he’s built you to conquer, not to cower. And he’s given you everything you’ll need. Spend time this week reading and meditating upon Ephesians 6:10-17. Write out what the words mean to you, personally, practically.
Sodwana Bay Information www.sodwanabayinformation.co.za Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That’s why the prophet said, The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; Grass dries up, flowers droop, God’s Word goes on and on forever. This is the Word that conceived the new life in you. 1 Peter 1:24 MSG
Want More Persevere(ability)? Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour—1 Peter 5:8 The ability to persevere—to remain strong and steadfast in the face of difficulties and delays and distractions—is a fundamental skill, necessary for any man choosing to devote himself to our King, Jesus Christ. He showed us how in the wilderness and against the temptations that followed (Matthew 4:1-11). Like him, we too must bear up against the pressures of the world, and not only for a while, but until the very end of our days. Though any one trial or temptation may be short lived, there’s always something out there capable of our destruction. Preparedness is paramount. You see, when we’re unprepared and trouble comes (at work, in our relationships, our finances, our health) it takes us down: into anxiety, anger, bitterness, despondency, depression, isolation. When we’re unprepared and temptations come (material, carnal, moral) they too take us down: away from God and into sin. Compounding our lack of preparedness, the enemy is always quick with interference and misinformation. “You won’t make it.” “This’ll be long and difficult . . . too long, too difficult for you.” “You’re alone, forgotten.” “You won’t have strength enough to persevere.” “You should just give-up/give-in now, and avoid the grief of waiting, just to give later.” Okay, so what do we do? Perseverance isn’t innate; it’s learned. All of us can do it if we train. So, brother, manufacture some pressure and train yourself. Push your limits, physically, mentally, spiritually: climb a tough summit; tackle a hike of many miles; fast for a period of days; turn devices off and embrace quiet and solitude and prayer for an uncomfortable period. Remember, God designed you for perseverance. So, by training, you’ll simply learn what you’re made of (plus you’ll expose the lies of the enemy). It doesn’t take much to learn a whole lot about yourself.
