2Cor 11 14&15 ...... for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
What a shocker this morning, this was the sermon verses. I had never given thought to Satan's servants masquerading as servants of righteousness.
How do we detect the Angel of light and these masquerading servants of righteousness?
Anything that hints of kill, steal or destroy has the devils mucky prints all over it! What we need to do is, be aware of our actions. How our actions portray or encourage these three traits are the "Tells" of Hell. As we search for wisdom in how we live, God will reveal the deeper issues of our lives on that He wants to clean up.
Other preventative measures we can take are:
Gal 5:22-26 By inspecting the fruit of the Spirit...
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control......Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other".
2 Corinthians 11:3 Being led away from sincere and pure devotion to Christ
"But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ".
Romans 5:21 The work of grace reigning in righteousness
"just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord". Are our thoughts filled with Christ like anger at the wrong in the world and filled with compassion toward those who have no idea that hell is on their tail and moulding them accordingly? Do we tell them of God's forgiveness and mercy?
We are directed in Eph4 :27 "do not give the devil a foothold" Are we striving to figure what this means on a daily interaction basis for us?
Rev 12 "For the accuser of our brothers,who accuses them before our God day and night,has been hurled down. They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb and
by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death". (i.e. devotion)
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation.... Jesus knew what we needed to be praying on a daily basis!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Confessions of Faith 2
Peter and Martha were asked these two questions and both responded with the same confession of faith "You are the Christ of God"
Luke 9:20 Peter & Jn 11:27 Martha
These two questions are worth remembering:
"Who do you say that I am?"
"Do you believe this?"
What is our confession of faith today?
Jehovah - The Self-Existent One; The I AM
Exodus 3:14, Isaiah 43:13, John 8:58, Revelation 1:8
El Elyon - God Most High Sovereign;
Psalm 91:1, Isaiah 14:14, Daniel 4:34-35; Genesis 14:18-22
Immanuel - God is With Us;
Isaiah 7:14 8:8-10, Matthew 1:23, Romans 8:31
Jehovah Mekaddishken - The Lord Who Sanctifies You; Leviticus 20:7-8, Psalm 119:1, Matthew 5:8, 2 Timothy 2:19-22, 1 John 1:7
El Roi - The God Who Sees;
Ezekiel 11:5, Hebrews 4:13, Genesis 16:13, Psalm 139:1-12
Jehovah Nissi - The Lord My Banner;
Exodus 17:8-16, Psalm 60:12, Isaiah 25:8, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57
EL - The Strong One;
Exodus 15:1-18, Numbers 23:22, Deuteronomy 7:9, Mark 15:34
Kanna - Jealous God;
Exodus 20:5, 34:14, Isaiah 9:7, Zechariah 1:14, 8:2, John 2:13-17
Jehovah Shammah - The Lord is There;
Genesis 28:15, Psalm 121, Ezekiel 48:35, Hebrews 13:5
Jehovah Jireh - The Lord will Provide;
Genesis 22:1-14, Matthew 6:11, Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 9:8
El Shaddai - God Almighty, The All Sufficient; Genesis 17:1, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Ephesians 3:20, Jude 1:24
Adonai - Lord and Master;
Isaiah 6:1-8, Genesis 12:1-2, John 13:13-14, Philippians 2:10-11
Jehovah Rohi - The Lord My Shepherd;
Psalm 23, Isaiah 40:11, John 10:11, 1 Peter 2:25
Abba - Daddy, Loving Heavenly Father;
Jeremiah 31:3, Romans 8:15, 1 John 3:1, Matthew 6:9-13, Hebrews 12:5-9, Luke 11:11-13
Jehovah Sabaoth - Lord of Hosts;
1 John 4:4, Colossians 2:14-15, Luke 10:19, 2 Chronicles 20, Psalm 46:7, 91:13
Jehovah Rapha - The Lord Your Healer;
Exodus 15:22-27, Psalm 103:3-4, 147:3, Isaiah 53:5, Hosea 14:4-9, Matthew 9:35
Melekh - King;
1 Samuel 12:12, Malachi 1:14, John 18:37, 1 Timothy 1:17, Revelation 19:16
Yahweh - YHWH - Jehovah
El Olam - The Everlasting God;
Genesis 21:33, Psalm 90:2, Daniel 7:14
Elohim - God the Creator;
Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 40:28, Psalm 139:14, Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 11:10
Jehovah Tsidkenu - The Lord Our Righteousness; Jeremiah 23:1-6, Isaiah 61:10, 63:1-5, Zechariah 3:1-5, Romans 9:14
Jehovah Shalom - The Lord is Peace; Judges 6:1-24, Isaiah 26:3-4, John 14:27, Philippians 4:7
El Elohe Yisrael - God, the God of Israel;
Genesis 33:20, Exodus 5:1, Psalm 68:8, Luke 1:68
Luke 9:20 Peter & Jn 11:27 Martha
These two questions are worth remembering:
"Who do you say that I am?"
"Do you believe this?"
What is our confession of faith today?
Jehovah - The Self-Existent One; The I AM
Exodus 3:14, Isaiah 43:13, John 8:58, Revelation 1:8
El Elyon - God Most High Sovereign;
Psalm 91:1, Isaiah 14:14, Daniel 4:34-35; Genesis 14:18-22
Immanuel - God is With Us;
Isaiah 7:14 8:8-10, Matthew 1:23, Romans 8:31
Jehovah Mekaddishken - The Lord Who Sanctifies You; Leviticus 20:7-8, Psalm 119:1, Matthew 5:8, 2 Timothy 2:19-22, 1 John 1:7
El Roi - The God Who Sees;
Ezekiel 11:5, Hebrews 4:13, Genesis 16:13, Psalm 139:1-12
Jehovah Nissi - The Lord My Banner;
Exodus 17:8-16, Psalm 60:12, Isaiah 25:8, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57
EL - The Strong One;
Exodus 15:1-18, Numbers 23:22, Deuteronomy 7:9, Mark 15:34
Kanna - Jealous God;
Exodus 20:5, 34:14, Isaiah 9:7, Zechariah 1:14, 8:2, John 2:13-17
Jehovah Shammah - The Lord is There;
Genesis 28:15, Psalm 121, Ezekiel 48:35, Hebrews 13:5
Jehovah Jireh - The Lord will Provide;
Genesis 22:1-14, Matthew 6:11, Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 9:8
El Shaddai - God Almighty, The All Sufficient; Genesis 17:1, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Ephesians 3:20, Jude 1:24
Adonai - Lord and Master;
Isaiah 6:1-8, Genesis 12:1-2, John 13:13-14, Philippians 2:10-11
Jehovah Rohi - The Lord My Shepherd;
Psalm 23, Isaiah 40:11, John 10:11, 1 Peter 2:25
Abba - Daddy, Loving Heavenly Father;
Jeremiah 31:3, Romans 8:15, 1 John 3:1, Matthew 6:9-13, Hebrews 12:5-9, Luke 11:11-13
Jehovah Sabaoth - Lord of Hosts;
1 John 4:4, Colossians 2:14-15, Luke 10:19, 2 Chronicles 20, Psalm 46:7, 91:13
Jehovah Rapha - The Lord Your Healer;
Exodus 15:22-27, Psalm 103:3-4, 147:3, Isaiah 53:5, Hosea 14:4-9, Matthew 9:35
Melekh - King;
1 Samuel 12:12, Malachi 1:14, John 18:37, 1 Timothy 1:17, Revelation 19:16
Yahweh - YHWH - Jehovah
El Olam - The Everlasting God;
Genesis 21:33, Psalm 90:2, Daniel 7:14
Elohim - God the Creator;
Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 40:28, Psalm 139:14, Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 11:10
Jehovah Tsidkenu - The Lord Our Righteousness; Jeremiah 23:1-6, Isaiah 61:10, 63:1-5, Zechariah 3:1-5, Romans 9:14
Jehovah Shalom - The Lord is Peace; Judges 6:1-24, Isaiah 26:3-4, John 14:27, Philippians 4:7
El Elohe Yisrael - God, the God of Israel;
Genesis 33:20, Exodus 5:1, Psalm 68:8, Luke 1:68
Monday, April 13, 2009
Confessions of Faith 1
Peter and Martha made the same Confession of Faith "You are the Christ of God".Luke 9:20 & Jn 11:27.In Peters confession,Jesus asks Peter "Who do you say I am?" and Jesus uses his answer to tell his disciples about his death and says "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?"
8 days later we are told of the transfiguration of Jesus with Elijah and Moses with the onlooker disciples Peter, James and John.
Jn 11:25- 27 With Martha, Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ,[b] the Son of God, who was to come into the world."
Jesus told the disciples of his impending death with Peter and shows them the resurrection with rising Lazarus from the dead.
Two questions to remember:
"Who do you say that I am?"
"Do you believe this?"
What is our confession of faith today?
Side Note: Being dead for four days was significant for the Jewish people. They believed that the dead persons spirit remains until the third day. So Lazarus needed to stay dead for four days for superstition sake, so that they could believe in a resurrection! I wonder how many times God uses our superstitious beliefs to help us get onto the road of faith?
8 days later we are told of the transfiguration of Jesus with Elijah and Moses with the onlooker disciples Peter, James and John.
Jn 11:25- 27 With Martha, Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ,[b] the Son of God, who was to come into the world."
Jesus told the disciples of his impending death with Peter and shows them the resurrection with rising Lazarus from the dead.
Two questions to remember:
"Who do you say that I am?"
"Do you believe this?"
What is our confession of faith today?
Side Note: Being dead for four days was significant for the Jewish people. They believed that the dead persons spirit remains until the third day. So Lazarus needed to stay dead for four days for superstition sake, so that they could believe in a resurrection! I wonder how many times God uses our superstitious beliefs to help us get onto the road of faith?
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wayward Wisdom!
Ecclesiastes
When I read Ecclesiastes this morning, it dawned on me that Solomon although the wisest guy on the planet did invite grief as well into his life and maybe when he reached the end of his life he was "reaping what he sowed". He accumulated great possessions and wives and concubines. He drove the kingdom hard, and demanded much. YHWH foreseen this in 1 Sam 8 :10-18.
He seems to have spiraled downwards, from being wise to being foolish. Most of us claw our way upwards to gain wisdom!
It is sad when we come to the end of our lives and our memories are summed up like Solomon's "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher."Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." Isn't that the very thing we work hard at to avoid, and endeavor to live meaningful and purposeful lives?
Solomon should have stayed with his insight at the beginning of recording of books of wisdom. 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom", maybe he would have found greater fulfillment.
2:26 "To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God"
Let us be people who God can bless fully today..Amen
When I read Ecclesiastes this morning, it dawned on me that Solomon although the wisest guy on the planet did invite grief as well into his life and maybe when he reached the end of his life he was "reaping what he sowed". He accumulated great possessions and wives and concubines. He drove the kingdom hard, and demanded much. YHWH foreseen this in 1 Sam 8 :10-18.
He seems to have spiraled downwards, from being wise to being foolish. Most of us claw our way upwards to gain wisdom!
It is sad when we come to the end of our lives and our memories are summed up like Solomon's "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher."Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." Isn't that the very thing we work hard at to avoid, and endeavor to live meaningful and purposeful lives?
Solomon should have stayed with his insight at the beginning of recording of books of wisdom. 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom", maybe he would have found greater fulfillment.
2:26 "To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God"
Let us be people who God can bless fully today..Amen
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
All I need to Know!
A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter.Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line.On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, 'The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know.'
Profound in its simplicity!
Profound in its simplicity!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Prophets, Priests and People.
There seems to be three different ways of relating to YHWH. Prophets, Priests and People. Here is an online resource to help in studying the book of Proverbs.
http://www.cresourcei.org/biblestudy/bbproverbs1.html
"Old Testament theologians usually identify three major approaches to spirituality in the Old Testament. The prophets brought a direct word from God that often conflicted with the institutional form of worship. The priests ordered the services of the temple and administered the sacrificial system. As part of the larger Levitical family they corresponded to what we now call the professional clergy. The third way of relating to God was through wisdom. This approach dealt more with the matters of everyday life and how to survive and be successful in the business of living. The key person was the sage or wise man or wise woman. These were lay leaders whose insight and perspective were valued resources for people in need of counsel and direction".
http://www.cresourcei.org/biblestudy/bbproverbs1.html
"Old Testament theologians usually identify three major approaches to spirituality in the Old Testament. The prophets brought a direct word from God that often conflicted with the institutional form of worship. The priests ordered the services of the temple and administered the sacrificial system. As part of the larger Levitical family they corresponded to what we now call the professional clergy. The third way of relating to God was through wisdom. This approach dealt more with the matters of everyday life and how to survive and be successful in the business of living. The key person was the sage or wise man or wise woman. These were lay leaders whose insight and perspective were valued resources for people in need of counsel and direction".
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
What 's in your wallet?
We have seen the ad. about credit cards (What have you in your wallet? and for everything else there's MasterCard) as we head into recession faster than any Disney roller coaster. As we see personal, national/federal/international debt rising what response can we choose to have?
In Mark 8, we have the the feeding of the 4,000.
People had come to the end of their supplies and collectively had 7 loaves and a few small fish. Jesus, had compassion for the need of the people, he accepted what was available and given to him, he gave thanks, and began meeting the need by breaking the bread.
How often do we think we don't have sufficient because what is required is more than we have.
2 Peter 1:3
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness".
When we have the Daily Bread of the Presence of YHWH we have all we need.
When I only see my reality/my lack of what ever, I often have to ask for the sight to see His provision and resources for my need. Then to move slowly out of the personal darkness and into His Light that provides for all my needs.
I have seen YHWH meet my needs as only a Creator and Father can. Here are four examples that I attribute to God's hand in my life.
Two work positions that were created when I needed to be employed outside the home.
Two vehicles given to me FREE to meet transport needs when I began each new job.
Great educational schools for the boys when homeschooling ceased to be an option for us. Financial ability and freedom to have one or the other parent at home as the children grow up.
Seeing the Hand of God in those aspects of my life gives me hope for the future.
What "stimulus package" are we putting together in the areas of life we influence?
What do we want to stimulate? more faith, more pennies? What would happen if we responded to those around us as Jesus did, with compassion for the multitude and thanks for the resources already at hand?
In Mark 8, we have the the feeding of the 4,000.
People had come to the end of their supplies and collectively had 7 loaves and a few small fish. Jesus, had compassion for the need of the people, he accepted what was available and given to him, he gave thanks, and began meeting the need by breaking the bread.
How often do we think we don't have sufficient because what is required is more than we have.
2 Peter 1:3
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness".
When we have the Daily Bread of the Presence of YHWH we have all we need.
When I only see my reality/my lack of what ever, I often have to ask for the sight to see His provision and resources for my need. Then to move slowly out of the personal darkness and into His Light that provides for all my needs.
I have seen YHWH meet my needs as only a Creator and Father can. Here are four examples that I attribute to God's hand in my life.
Two work positions that were created when I needed to be employed outside the home.
Two vehicles given to me FREE to meet transport needs when I began each new job.
Great educational schools for the boys when homeschooling ceased to be an option for us. Financial ability and freedom to have one or the other parent at home as the children grow up.
Seeing the Hand of God in those aspects of my life gives me hope for the future.
What "stimulus package" are we putting together in the areas of life we influence?
What do we want to stimulate? more faith, more pennies? What would happen if we responded to those around us as Jesus did, with compassion for the multitude and thanks for the resources already at hand?
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