James 1:21 So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.
22But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].
23For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror;
24For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like.
25But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).
I cannot forget what Jesus said in Luke 6:46 "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" That is a loaded scripture to meditate on. We are told to examine ourselves in 2 Corinthians 13:5...
5Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [[a]not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you--unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?
If we are going to grow in the Lord we have to be willing to come under His authority. We cannot look through the eyes of pride and see truth. Have you ever tried to share with someone who thought they already knew the answer? They were puffed up with knowledge but knew nothing. Have fun with that one. There is no room for God when we are full of ourselves. We must be willing to take an honest look at ourselves by seeing if we are truly changing.
We are to get ourselves in line with Gods Word. He does not step into our will, we step into His. However we cannot know His will if we do not know His Word. We cannot know the Word if we do not become a student of the Word. Study His Word as if you are studying your image in a mirror. Keeping His Word ever before you. Seeking His face.
We must not look into this mirror and see how much of a mess we are and simply turn away. He does not want to leave you where you are. He wants to lift you up. To show you that abundant life that He promised. Are you following Him? Are you submitting to His authority? Is He really your Lord? Make sure that you are not calling Him Lord in vain. Do what He says. Will you?
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Born Again
John 3 Amplified
3Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.
4Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb again and be born?
5Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [[a]even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.(A)
6What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior we are "born again". We are born of water which is when we are birthed out of our mother's womb. We are born of Spirit when we receive the Holy Spirit into our spirit. It goes deeper but I just wanted to give a general understanding.
There is a parallel between being born of the flesh and born of the Spirit that I would like to share with you. We are born as a "newborn" in both. We are babes in Christ when we first accept Him and we have to grow up into a mature adult. This takes time and a desire to do so. I am sure you have observed some people who never grow up. You know what I am talking about. They are adults but maturity is definitely lacking. The same applies to us as we grow in Christ. There are some who were born of the Spirit 20 years ago and probably even know the scriptures. They may be an adult in their age in the Lord but to see how they act gives away their maturity level.
I want for all of you to understand that being "born again" is the beginning. It is a brand new start. The beginning of the abundant life that Jesus died to give us. There is much more life to live outside of infancy. We have the victory in all things in Christ in this life now and eternally.
Philippians 3 Amplified
10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[b]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
11That if possible I may attain to the [[c]spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].
12Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
3Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.
4Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb again and be born?
5Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [[a]even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.(A)
6What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior we are "born again". We are born of water which is when we are birthed out of our mother's womb. We are born of Spirit when we receive the Holy Spirit into our spirit. It goes deeper but I just wanted to give a general understanding.
There is a parallel between being born of the flesh and born of the Spirit that I would like to share with you. We are born as a "newborn" in both. We are babes in Christ when we first accept Him and we have to grow up into a mature adult. This takes time and a desire to do so. I am sure you have observed some people who never grow up. You know what I am talking about. They are adults but maturity is definitely lacking. The same applies to us as we grow in Christ. There are some who were born of the Spirit 20 years ago and probably even know the scriptures. They may be an adult in their age in the Lord but to see how they act gives away their maturity level.
I want for all of you to understand that being "born again" is the beginning. It is a brand new start. The beginning of the abundant life that Jesus died to give us. There is much more life to live outside of infancy. We have the victory in all things in Christ in this life now and eternally.
Philippians 3 Amplified
10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[b]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
11That if possible I may attain to the [[c]spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].
12Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
It's time to grow up!
Ephisians 4:11-24 The Message
He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ's followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.
No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.
The Old Way Has to Go
And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can't think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion.
But that's no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.
Let the journey begin :)
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