...is that he is a follower of Jesus Christ. Why is this so great? Because Jesus is worthy of our devotion. He is sinless and a good Shepherd full of grace. Because He's the only way to God.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.
Jesus is an infallible guide and has power to forgive all sins, to make us sons of God, to keep souls and to comfort our sorrows. Jesus will bless our efforts with meaning, success, and rewards. He can transform timid or tragic lives. He will be with us when we die.
FOLLOW ME -- Ira F. Stanphill
Oh Jesus, if I die upon a foreign field some day
Twould be no more than love demands, no less could I repay.
No greater love hath mortal man than for a friend to die.
These are the words He gently spake to me
If just a cup of water I place within your hand;
Then just a cup of water is all that I demand.
But if by death to living they can Thy glory see,
I'll take my cross and follow close to Thee.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Barnabas was generous, faithful, and trustworthy.
...He had a gift of seeking the good in people and encouraging them.
Saul, a religious zealot, was on a mission to kill Christians when God changed his life forever on the Damascus Road. He renamed him Paul.
Can you imagine becoming a preacher with his reputation? Christians were afraid of him. When Paul went to meet the apostles, he needed someone to speak for him, someone he could trust. Barnabas boldly told them about his salvation, convincing them to accept him as a brother in Christ.
We need to see the good in each other, not just the bad. Barnabas saw the good in Paul and was chosen to accompany him on his first missionary trip. Paul became one of the greatest missionaries on earth.
Pastors, deacons, Sunday school teachers, singers, piano players, church cleaners, and pew warmers should be encouragers.
Saul, a religious zealot, was on a mission to kill Christians when God changed his life forever on the Damascus Road. He renamed him Paul.
Can you imagine becoming a preacher with his reputation? Christians were afraid of him. When Paul went to meet the apostles, he needed someone to speak for him, someone he could trust. Barnabas boldly told them about his salvation, convincing them to accept him as a brother in Christ.
We need to see the good in each other, not just the bad. Barnabas saw the good in Paul and was chosen to accompany him on his first missionary trip. Paul became one of the greatest missionaries on earth.
Pastors, deacons, Sunday school teachers, singers, piano players, church cleaners, and pew warmers should be encouragers.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Imagine waking up to an angel busting you out of prison,
...guards asleep on each side and chains falling off. Peter thought it was a vision until the angel disappeared and he found himself walking down the street. This had been his third lock up, and God saved his life.
Peter went to the house of Mary, mother of John Mark, where church members were praying for him. His appearance astonished them. Never underestimate a praying church. Satan still trembles when he sees the weakest saint on his knees.
Peter may have thought of that experience when he wrote 1 Peter 3:12. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous.
Its good to know that no matter how difficult the trials or how disappointing the news, God is still on the throne and has everything under control. We may not always understand His ways, but we know His sovereign will is best.
Peter went to the house of Mary, mother of John Mark, where church members were praying for him. His appearance astonished them. Never underestimate a praying church. Satan still trembles when he sees the weakest saint on his knees.
Peter may have thought of that experience when he wrote 1 Peter 3:12. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous.
Its good to know that no matter how difficult the trials or how disappointing the news, God is still on the throne and has everything under control. We may not always understand His ways, but we know His sovereign will is best.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Christ came to be a light to the world.
...When His work was finished he returned to the Father. We, His redeemed, are to shine for Him. Of course, the light which shines through us is a reflected light. So we are to "let" our light shine.
The light of our churches must not fail. A church can fail by forgetting her mission, her message, and her Master. As Christians we must affirm our beliefs in the Word of God and spirit-filled churches.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Never forget the light of your salvation, Jesus Christ. Be happy and witness to others about the Light of the world.
Philippians 2:14,15 Do all things without murmuring and disputing that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.
We must look forward to Christ's return. We must separate ourselves from the world by putting God first in our lives; then we will shine.
The light of our churches must not fail. A church can fail by forgetting her mission, her message, and her Master. As Christians we must affirm our beliefs in the Word of God and spirit-filled churches.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Never forget the light of your salvation, Jesus Christ. Be happy and witness to others about the Light of the world.
Philippians 2:14,15 Do all things without murmuring and disputing that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.
We must look forward to Christ's return. We must separate ourselves from the world by putting God first in our lives; then we will shine.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Can you tell someone how to be saved -- born again?
...Study the scriptures below and be ready to discuss it with them. First, they must understand their sinful condition.
PROBLEM OF SIN: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 15:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. No one can glorify God because of Adam's sin -- the Fall of Man.
PENALTY OF SIN: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Revelation 20:14-15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (The first death is spiritual)
PROVISION FOR SIN: John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his only betotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God send not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. (Adam/judgment vs Christ/justification)
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.
PROBLEM OF SIN: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 15:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. No one can glorify God because of Adam's sin -- the Fall of Man.
PENALTY OF SIN: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Revelation 20:14-15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (The first death is spiritual)
PROVISION FOR SIN: John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his only betotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God send not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. (Adam/judgment vs Christ/justification)
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.
Monday, June 18, 2012
When I was young, evangelists came to town,
...pitched a tent, and held two week revivals. Pounding a pointer on a prophecy canvas spread across the front, they preached the end time message with fire and damnation. I'm not a prophecy expert, and it's hard to cover every detail, but I understand some of the prophecy.
Today, we live in the church age. The rapture of the living and dead saints will meet Jesus in the air just before the seven years of tribulation. This will begin with a global government ran by the Anti-Christ. He will persecute all Christians.
Two witnesses appear 3-1/2 years into the tribulation. They preach the gospel, are killed, and come back alive. Then they disappear. Many judgments hammer the earth during the tribulation.
God instructs John to measure for a new temple. Jesus will reign there a thousand years when He returns. Artifacts for the new temple are now being gathered. The temple will replace the current Muslim Dome of the Rock.
Scripture says all who read the Book of Revelation will be blessed. You may not understand it, but your heavenly Father wants to answer your questions.
Today, we live in the church age. The rapture of the living and dead saints will meet Jesus in the air just before the seven years of tribulation. This will begin with a global government ran by the Anti-Christ. He will persecute all Christians.
Two witnesses appear 3-1/2 years into the tribulation. They preach the gospel, are killed, and come back alive. Then they disappear. Many judgments hammer the earth during the tribulation.
God instructs John to measure for a new temple. Jesus will reign there a thousand years when He returns. Artifacts for the new temple are now being gathered. The temple will replace the current Muslim Dome of the Rock.
Scripture says all who read the Book of Revelation will be blessed. You may not understand it, but your heavenly Father wants to answer your questions.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Stephen, full of grace and power,
...does great wonders and miracles among the people. The scribes and elders drag him before their Counsel as they had Peter and John. These guys, bent on destroying the Jesus movement, don't know they are out of their league. They bribe false witnesses and accuse Stephen of blasphemy.
"Are these things so?" they ask him.
He answers the charges by reciting the entire Jewish history from Abraham to Jesus. Winding down, he calls the Israelites stiffnecked and murderers. (Way to go, Stephen.)
The Counsel turns into an angry mob, gnashing on him with their teeth, and chasing him out of town as they throw stones. Interesting that the future Apostle Paul was a part of that mob.
Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Gost, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.
Stephen cries with a loud voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." And then he dies.
Stephen wins.
"Are these things so?" they ask him.
He answers the charges by reciting the entire Jewish history from Abraham to Jesus. Winding down, he calls the Israelites stiffnecked and murderers. (Way to go, Stephen.)
The Counsel turns into an angry mob, gnashing on him with their teeth, and chasing him out of town as they throw stones. Interesting that the future Apostle Paul was a part of that mob.
Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Gost, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.
Stephen cries with a loud voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." And then he dies.
Stephen wins.
I wish I had asked Daddy more questions
...about his life. Like, why did he only go through fourth grade? I'm sure it had to do with his father dying when he was nine and the hard times that followed. One of my older brothers told me that he liked to drink and play music with guitar thumpers in town, and that one time his mother pulled him out of a beer joint and told him to get home to his family.
But I never knew that side of him. When I came along -- child number ten -- we went to every church service and walked when the car didn't start. So, what happened? He got saved and it influenced all of us.
I have vibrant memories of him playing music on his guitar with a group of men in the living room while I tapped my foot. I see him playing the piano by ear. I see him grabbing Mama and laughing when he felt happy. I see him reading the Bible. I see him at the kitchen table every pay day, perplexed by bills. I see him leaning forward in his easy chair by the piano, singing bass in four-part-harmoney gospel arrangements as my older sister played the piano and sang alto, and I (about ten or twelve) attempted to sing soprano.
Gene Watson, father of twelve, was a miner and went to meet the Lord in 1973.
But I never knew that side of him. When I came along -- child number ten -- we went to every church service and walked when the car didn't start. So, what happened? He got saved and it influenced all of us.
I have vibrant memories of him playing music on his guitar with a group of men in the living room while I tapped my foot. I see him playing the piano by ear. I see him grabbing Mama and laughing when he felt happy. I see him reading the Bible. I see him at the kitchen table every pay day, perplexed by bills. I see him leaning forward in his easy chair by the piano, singing bass in four-part-harmoney gospel arrangements as my older sister played the piano and sang alto, and I (about ten or twelve) attempted to sing soprano.
Gene Watson, father of twelve, was a miner and went to meet the Lord in 1973.
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