Saturday, December 23, 2006
His Assistant:
I found myself meditating this morning on what it means to be a bible teacher and the responsibility of a bible teacher. The bible is the living word of GOD that smarter more scholarly people or myself cannot fully understand or comprehend all of the wonderful mysteries contained within the pages of the bible. I believe I am just an assistant tour guide hopefully inspiring others to want to explore His wonderful words contained in the text of the bible. The Holy Spirit chooses when and what words to bring alive to each and every hearer or reader of the bible and I need to just be available to experience the miracle of His words coming to life in people. Praise GOD for his Holy Spirit and the mystery of a living book.
Eph 3:1-10 KJV
3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles-- 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
N
I found myself meditating this morning on what it means to be a bible teacher and the responsibility of a bible teacher. The bible is the living word of GOD that smarter more scholarly people or myself cannot fully understand or comprehend all of the wonderful mysteries contained within the pages of the bible. I believe I am just an assistant tour guide hopefully inspiring others to want to explore His wonderful words contained in the text of the bible. The Holy Spirit chooses when and what words to bring alive to each and every hearer or reader of the bible and I need to just be available to experience the miracle of His words coming to life in people. Praise GOD for his Holy Spirit and the mystery of a living book.
Eph 3:1-10 KJV
3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles-- 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
N
Labels: Mystery
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Warring Factions:
There is a war going on inside me. There is the spirit that desires to be completely transformed into the very image of Jesus Christ; and alas there is the part of me that sins and indulges my self will. I know what it is to struggle and how dependent on the transforming power of the Holy Spirit and how utterly helpless I am to overcome without His power.
Rom 7:13-25
13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
NKJV
I too thank the Lord because He is my deliverer; praise be to His name. Put your trust in the Lord and read His word.
There is a war going on inside me. There is the spirit that desires to be completely transformed into the very image of Jesus Christ; and alas there is the part of me that sins and indulges my self will. I know what it is to struggle and how dependent on the transforming power of the Holy Spirit and how utterly helpless I am to overcome without His power.
Rom 7:13-25
13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
NKJV
I too thank the Lord because He is my deliverer; praise be to His name. Put your trust in the Lord and read His word.
Labels: Warring Factions
Monday, December 18, 2006
The world has been trying to stop or silence the truth about our Risen Savior for more then 2000 years. It really hits me in the face this time of year with politically correct holiday greetings and or arguments over the display of Christmas trees in airport, schools, businesses etc… This is not a new tactic; in the following passage King Herod tried to silence the Lord.
Matt 2:7-15 NKJV
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."
Oh, then the world attempted to kill the proclamation that our Lord had risen from the dead and ultimately kill Christianity.
Matt 28:11-15 NKJV
11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' 14 "And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure." 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
The message cannot and will not be silenced Jesus has risen and to that I say have a very Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas
Brother Rory
Matt 2:7-15 NKJV
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."
Oh, then the world attempted to kill the proclamation that our Lord had risen from the dead and ultimately kill Christianity.
Matt 28:11-15 NKJV
11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' 14 "And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure." 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
The message cannot and will not be silenced Jesus has risen and to that I say have a very Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas
Brother Rory
Labels: Happy Holiday; SAY WHAT...
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Dare to be Disciplined:
I spend the greatest amount of my time and energy feeding the very part of myself that Christ came to destroy in order to set me free. I barely have the energy to hap heartedly open my bible at bedtime. Oh and the prayer time, my words are jumbled together because I am in a rush to feed my flesh with the things the world offers. I find that I go to bed when I am really tired after worshiping at the alter of my television set; oh then the morning I have to rush and stress to get out of the house because I stayed up too late watching television. Does this sound familiar? You see the problem is that I don’t really spend enough quality time with GOD and or pursuing the things of GOD. As parents, we spend money learning how to raise our kids or read articles on such subjects as dare to discipline; I believe that we need to dare to be disciplined. Disciplined in reading the word of GOD and prayer and also bringing yourself into the light and let HIS light show you the areas of your life that is not pleasing to HIM. A loving Father always disciplines his children and GOD is the ultimate loving FATHER. Praise GOD for His love…
John 3:18-21
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
NKJV
John 10:10-11
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
NKJV
2 Cor 7:1
7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
NKJV
I spend the greatest amount of my time and energy feeding the very part of myself that Christ came to destroy in order to set me free. I barely have the energy to hap heartedly open my bible at bedtime. Oh and the prayer time, my words are jumbled together because I am in a rush to feed my flesh with the things the world offers. I find that I go to bed when I am really tired after worshiping at the alter of my television set; oh then the morning I have to rush and stress to get out of the house because I stayed up too late watching television. Does this sound familiar? You see the problem is that I don’t really spend enough quality time with GOD and or pursuing the things of GOD. As parents, we spend money learning how to raise our kids or read articles on such subjects as dare to discipline; I believe that we need to dare to be disciplined. Disciplined in reading the word of GOD and prayer and also bringing yourself into the light and let HIS light show you the areas of your life that is not pleasing to HIM. A loving Father always disciplines his children and GOD is the ultimate loving FATHER. Praise GOD for His love…
John 3:18-21
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
NKJV
John 10:10-11
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
NKJV
2 Cor 7:1
7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
NKJV
Labels: Dare to be Disciplined:
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Sensational Testimony:
Can you expect to overcome the areas of weakness or sin in your life this side of Heaven. Or does GOD only deliver those with sensational testimonies like murderers, wife beaters etc. Are you destined to be a slave to the lust in your life? I don’t believe we have to be bondservants to the whims of our sinful imaginations or lust any longer. My testimony is much the same as yours; I was a walking dead man. Dead in transgressions and Sins; and I can assure you there is nothing sensational about that because a dead man cannot save himself or even help himself--pretty much puts me in the camp of total reliance on the cross, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Eph 2:1-6
2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
NKJV
Rev 12:10-12
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."
NKJV
There is nothing in this scripture that indicates I am an over comer by my own volition, no the testimony here is all about the blood of Christ and my testimony is a result of what he accomplished on the cross.
Can you expect to overcome the areas of weakness or sin in your life this side of Heaven. Or does GOD only deliver those with sensational testimonies like murderers, wife beaters etc. Are you destined to be a slave to the lust in your life? I don’t believe we have to be bondservants to the whims of our sinful imaginations or lust any longer. My testimony is much the same as yours; I was a walking dead man. Dead in transgressions and Sins; and I can assure you there is nothing sensational about that because a dead man cannot save himself or even help himself--pretty much puts me in the camp of total reliance on the cross, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Eph 2:1-6
2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
NKJV
Rev 12:10-12
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."
NKJV
There is nothing in this scripture that indicates I am an over comer by my own volition, no the testimony here is all about the blood of Christ and my testimony is a result of what he accomplished on the cross.
Labels: Sensational Testimony:
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Pocketful of Grace
Far too often we live our lives for ourselves in pursuits that are not pleasing to GOD and sometimes just downright sinful. As many are taught today that grace is always available and can be dispensed much like pez candy from a dispenser. We tend to keep God’s grace in our pocket so to speak and pull it out when we think we need it. So, why not live our lives for our own good pleasure? Those of us who have been living for ourselves are so empty inside and will always be questioning our salvation and not really knowing GOD’s true peace and plan for our lives. I believe if you are living a sinful existence you should definitely worry about your soul. The typical answer is to focus on GOD’s grace but you must never forget about repentance as the Bible mandates that you must repent of your sins. I pray that GOD gives you and me a repentful heart.
Rom 6:15-16 NKJV
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Mark 1:15 NKJV
15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
Far too often we live our lives for ourselves in pursuits that are not pleasing to GOD and sometimes just downright sinful. As many are taught today that grace is always available and can be dispensed much like pez candy from a dispenser. We tend to keep God’s grace in our pocket so to speak and pull it out when we think we need it. So, why not live our lives for our own good pleasure? Those of us who have been living for ourselves are so empty inside and will always be questioning our salvation and not really knowing GOD’s true peace and plan for our lives. I believe if you are living a sinful existence you should definitely worry about your soul. The typical answer is to focus on GOD’s grace but you must never forget about repentance as the Bible mandates that you must repent of your sins. I pray that GOD gives you and me a repentful heart.
Rom 6:15-16 NKJV
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Mark 1:15 NKJV
15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
Labels: Pocketful of Grace
