Hello Everyone,
Another adjustment we might have to make in our lives in order to obey God is an adjustment regarding our actions.
Philippians 2:8
8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
The Son took action to make the adjustments necessary to obey the Father, and we will have to do the same.We cannot stay where we are and follow God. Following His call will always require taking the necessary actions to adjust our lives so that we might obey.Noah could not continue life as usual and build an ark at the same time (Genesis 6).Abram could not stay in Ur or Haran and father a nation in Canaan (Genesis 12:1-8).Moses could not stay on the back side of the desert herding sheep and stand before Pharaoh at the same time (Exodus 3).David had to leave his sheep to become king (1 Samuel 16:1-13).Amos had to leave the sycamore trees in order to preach in Israel (Amos 7:14-15).Jonah had to leave his home and overcome a major prejudice in order to preach in Nineveh (Jonah 1:1-2; 3:1-2; 4:1-11).Peter, Andrew, James, and John had to leave their fishing businesses in order to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:18-22).Matthew had to leave his tax collector’s booth to follow Jesus (Matthew 9:9).Paul had to completely change directions in his life in order to be used of God to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9:1-19).God will always make clear what actions we need to take in order to adjust and get in a position to obey Him, because He wants to bless us.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Hello Everyone,
Typically, the adjustments we might have to make in our lives in order to obey God will fall into couple of different categories: First there is an adjustment regarding our attitude.
Philippians 2:5-11
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, Notice the attitude of the Son that put Him in a position to obey the Father. His attitude was that any price was worth paying in order to join the Father in doing His will.Even so, God’s invitation to us will also require a similar attitude if we are going to be in a position to obey.
Whatever is required to obey the Father’s call, we must have the attitude that any sacrifice that is necessary to do God’s will is worth it.
It was this attitude that enabled Jesus to obey the call to sacrifice Himself on the cross for our sake.Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)Obeying God will always require an adjustment in our attitude especially when we consider the worth of whatever sacrifice is required to obey Him.In Luke 18:18-27, we read that the rich young ruler wanted eternal life, but he didn’t want to make the necessary adjustment to Jesus.
His money and wealth were more important. Jesus knew that.
Jesus knew that an adjustment had to be made in this man’s life regarding his worship of money and wealth before he could enter into a personal relationship with God. His money had become his god. The young ruler refused to make that necessary adjustment, and he missed out on the reward of experiencing eternal life.The rich young ruler’s love of money and greed made him an idolater. He missed out on having a personal relationship with the True God and Jesus Christ whom God had sent. He wanted eternal life, but he refused to make the necessary adjustment to his life to the True God.Compare his response to that of Elisha, in 1 Kings 19:15-21. In order to obey God, Elisha had to leave his family and career as a farmer in order to follow God’s call.
You have heard the phrase “burning your bridges behind you.”
The Bible says that Elisha burned his farm equipment and killed his 24 oxen.
He cooked the meat and fed the people of the community.
He was not about to turn back! When he made the necessary adjustments, he was in a position to obey God.
As a result, God worked through Elisha to perform some of the greatest signs and miracles recorded in the Old Testament (2 Kings 2 through 13). Notice that Elisha had to make these adjustments on the front end of his call. It is the same for you and me.
Every time God calls us to obey, before we can do so, we will adjust our attitude in the beginning and determine that whatever sacrifice is necessary is worth making in order to obey the call of God.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Typically, the adjustments we might have to make in our lives in order to obey God will fall into couple of different categories: First there is an adjustment regarding our attitude.
Philippians 2:5-11
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, Notice the attitude of the Son that put Him in a position to obey the Father. His attitude was that any price was worth paying in order to join the Father in doing His will.Even so, God’s invitation to us will also require a similar attitude if we are going to be in a position to obey.
Whatever is required to obey the Father’s call, we must have the attitude that any sacrifice that is necessary to do God’s will is worth it.
It was this attitude that enabled Jesus to obey the call to sacrifice Himself on the cross for our sake.Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)Obeying God will always require an adjustment in our attitude especially when we consider the worth of whatever sacrifice is required to obey Him.In Luke 18:18-27, we read that the rich young ruler wanted eternal life, but he didn’t want to make the necessary adjustment to Jesus.
His money and wealth were more important. Jesus knew that.
Jesus knew that an adjustment had to be made in this man’s life regarding his worship of money and wealth before he could enter into a personal relationship with God. His money had become his god. The young ruler refused to make that necessary adjustment, and he missed out on the reward of experiencing eternal life.The rich young ruler’s love of money and greed made him an idolater. He missed out on having a personal relationship with the True God and Jesus Christ whom God had sent. He wanted eternal life, but he refused to make the necessary adjustment to his life to the True God.Compare his response to that of Elisha, in 1 Kings 19:15-21. In order to obey God, Elisha had to leave his family and career as a farmer in order to follow God’s call.
You have heard the phrase “burning your bridges behind you.”
The Bible says that Elisha burned his farm equipment and killed his 24 oxen.
He cooked the meat and fed the people of the community.
He was not about to turn back! When he made the necessary adjustments, he was in a position to obey God.
As a result, God worked through Elisha to perform some of the greatest signs and miracles recorded in the Old Testament (2 Kings 2 through 13). Notice that Elisha had to make these adjustments on the front end of his call. It is the same for you and me.
Every time God calls us to obey, before we can do so, we will adjust our attitude in the beginning and determine that whatever sacrifice is necessary is worth making in order to obey the call of God.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Monday, March 29, 2010
Hello Everyone,
Read with me Philippians 2:5-11
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
We have talked about the fact that when we sense the direction of God and have received His invitation to join Him in what He wants to do through us, we come to a “crisis of belief.”
Do I really believe that God can do through me what He is calling me to do?
Once we have settled that questions with a positive “yes,” then we are to demonstrate our faith by making whatever adjustments in our life might be necessary to obey God.
That will always be the order of our responding to the call of God: In our scripture, we see that the Son had to make some adjustments before He could obey the father and then, join the father in the work of world redemption.
He made the necessary adjustments (vs. 6-7), so He might obey (v. 8), and receive the reward (vs. 9-11).In the same way, when we sense God’s call to take a new step of obedience in our walk with Him and determine to respond by faith to His call, we to will first have to make the necessary adjustments to walk in obedience.
Once we do that, we can then obey and be blessed as we receive the rewards that accompany that step of obedience to God.What kinds of adjustments do we have to make in order to obey the call of God?
That is the question we will answer this week.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Read with me Philippians 2:5-11
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
We have talked about the fact that when we sense the direction of God and have received His invitation to join Him in what He wants to do through us, we come to a “crisis of belief.”
Do I really believe that God can do through me what He is calling me to do?
Once we have settled that questions with a positive “yes,” then we are to demonstrate our faith by making whatever adjustments in our life might be necessary to obey God.
That will always be the order of our responding to the call of God: In our scripture, we see that the Son had to make some adjustments before He could obey the father and then, join the father in the work of world redemption.
He made the necessary adjustments (vs. 6-7), so He might obey (v. 8), and receive the reward (vs. 9-11).In the same way, when we sense God’s call to take a new step of obedience in our walk with Him and determine to respond by faith to His call, we to will first have to make the necessary adjustments to walk in obedience.
Once we do that, we can then obey and be blessed as we receive the rewards that accompany that step of obedience to God.What kinds of adjustments do we have to make in order to obey the call of God?
That is the question we will answer this week.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Hello Everyone,
A proper response to the call of God reveals belief about God Numbers 14:6-9 see the attached.
What did the response of the people in Numbers 13 and 14 reveal about their belief about God?The believed God had deceived them - 13:27-29They believed God would not defend them - 13:31They believed God would desert them - 13:32-33They believed God would destroy them - 14:2-3
What did the response of Joshua & Caleb reveal about their belief?They believed in the promise of God - 14:8They believed in the power of God - 14:8They believed in the protection of God - 14:9They believed in the presence of God - 14:9
What you do says more about what you believe than what you say. What you do really reveals what you believe about God, regardless of what you say.
When God reveals what He has prepared for you to do, you face a crisis - a decision time.
God and the world can tell from your response what you really believe about God!The “crisis of belief” is only a constant crisis if we choose not to believe and obey!
Don’t live your life in a state of crisis! Instead, choose to believe and obey God!What is your response to the call of God saying about your beliefs?
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
A proper response to the call of God reveals belief about God Numbers 14:6-9 see the attached.
What did the response of the people in Numbers 13 and 14 reveal about their belief about God?The believed God had deceived them - 13:27-29They believed God would not defend them - 13:31They believed God would desert them - 13:32-33They believed God would destroy them - 14:2-3
What did the response of Joshua & Caleb reveal about their belief?They believed in the promise of God - 14:8They believed in the power of God - 14:8They believed in the protection of God - 14:9They believed in the presence of God - 14:9
What you do says more about what you believe than what you say. What you do really reveals what you believe about God, regardless of what you say.
When God reveals what He has prepared for you to do, you face a crisis - a decision time.
God and the world can tell from your response what you really believe about God!The “crisis of belief” is only a constant crisis if we choose not to believe and obey!
Don’t live your life in a state of crisis! Instead, choose to believe and obey God!What is your response to the call of God saying about your beliefs?
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Hello Everyone,
We are still looking today at Faith:
So far we have looked at the “Source of Faith” and the “Object of Faith.
Now today “The nature of faith” - Faith grows with use.“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Show us how to increase our faith.’ The Lord answered, ‘If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,” and it would obey you!’” - Luke 17:5-6 (NLT)Jesus told His disciple’s when they ask for more faith that their problem wasn’t that they needed more faith. Faith was already in their hearts through the Word the Lord had shared with them.
What they needed to do was apply the faith they had!The only faith that God can respond to is faith that is used!
As we see the ministry of Jesus, we see varying degrees of faith in those who came to Him.
He cast out a mute spirit from a son whose father wavered between faith and doubt (Mark. 9:17-24).
He healed a leper who was not sure He would (Mark l:40-45).
And He healed the servant of a centurion who was so sure of the outcome that he asked Jesus merely to speak the word from afar (Luke 7:1-10). God responds to any degree of faith.
His ultimate goal is to develop our faith, so that we might experience the fullness of all He has in mind for us.Faith is like a muscle, and obedience is what makes it grow!My obedience in what God calls me to today will prepare me for what He will call me to tomorrow! This is a basic Biblical principle:“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” - Matthew 25:23 (NIV)Faith to move mountains is the reward of those who have moved little hills.
The evidence of faith - “faith without deeds is dead.” - James 2:26 (NIV)Faith is action, based on the certainty of what God will do! Listen to the example of Caleb: Numbers 13:30-31
30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are."
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”- Luke 6:46 (NIV)
You have a measure of faith in you use it and watch it GROW.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
We are still looking today at Faith:
So far we have looked at the “Source of Faith” and the “Object of Faith.
Now today “The nature of faith” - Faith grows with use.“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Show us how to increase our faith.’ The Lord answered, ‘If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,” and it would obey you!’” - Luke 17:5-6 (NLT)Jesus told His disciple’s when they ask for more faith that their problem wasn’t that they needed more faith. Faith was already in their hearts through the Word the Lord had shared with them.
What they needed to do was apply the faith they had!The only faith that God can respond to is faith that is used!
As we see the ministry of Jesus, we see varying degrees of faith in those who came to Him.
He cast out a mute spirit from a son whose father wavered between faith and doubt (Mark. 9:17-24).
He healed a leper who was not sure He would (Mark l:40-45).
And He healed the servant of a centurion who was so sure of the outcome that he asked Jesus merely to speak the word from afar (Luke 7:1-10). God responds to any degree of faith.
His ultimate goal is to develop our faith, so that we might experience the fullness of all He has in mind for us.Faith is like a muscle, and obedience is what makes it grow!My obedience in what God calls me to today will prepare me for what He will call me to tomorrow! This is a basic Biblical principle:“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” - Matthew 25:23 (NIV)Faith to move mountains is the reward of those who have moved little hills.
The evidence of faith - “faith without deeds is dead.” - James 2:26 (NIV)Faith is action, based on the certainty of what God will do! Listen to the example of Caleb: Numbers 13:30-31
30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are."
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”- Luke 6:46 (NIV)
You have a measure of faith in you use it and watch it GROW.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Hello Everyone,
A proper response to the call of God requires FAITH -Because of their lack of faith, the people of Israel failed to enter into God’s desire for them. They did not respond properly to God’s call.So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.- Hebrews 3:19 (NIV)Let’s think together for a moment about faith.First “The source of faith” - “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” - Romans 10:17 (NKJV)Faith comes from . . .Our lives being filled full with God’s Word -“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” - Joshua 1:8 (NIV)God’s Word being fulfilled in our lives -“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”- Joshua 1:9 (NIV)“They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit.” - Numbers 13:27 (NIV)By studying, memorizing, and meditating on, Gods Word, faith rises up in us. But faith has to be applied if it is going to grow.
It is through obedience that our faith grows as we see what God has said being confirmed in our experience.D. L. Moody once said, “If all the time that I have spent praying for faith was put together it would be months. I thought that some day faith was going to come down and strike me like lightening. But faith did not come. One day I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, ’So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.’ I had closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible and began to read God’s Word and faith has been growing ever since.”Then there is “The object of faith”Our faith does not rest in a concept or an idea. It must rest in a PERSON -God Himself. When God calls us to take a new step of obedience in our walk with Him, it will always be new territory for us.
It will always be something we have never experienced before.
It will always be something only God can do.
That’s why our faith must be centered in God and God alone.“Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends.” - George Muller.Moses could not deliver the children of Israel from Pharaoh’s army, cross the Red Sea on dry land, provide water from a rock, or provide bread and meat for food. Moses had to have faith that the God who called him would do the things He said He would do.
Joshua could not take the Israelites across the Jordan River on dry land, bring down walled cities, defeat enemies, or make the sun stand still. Only God could have done these things. Joshua had to have faith that the God who called him would do the things He said He would do.“The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!” - 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (The Message)Our faith in God grows greater as we obey His call, we come to recognize more of the greatness of God.
And Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
A proper response to the call of God requires FAITH -Because of their lack of faith, the people of Israel failed to enter into God’s desire for them. They did not respond properly to God’s call.So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.- Hebrews 3:19 (NIV)Let’s think together for a moment about faith.First “The source of faith” - “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” - Romans 10:17 (NKJV)Faith comes from . . .Our lives being filled full with God’s Word -“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” - Joshua 1:8 (NIV)God’s Word being fulfilled in our lives -“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”- Joshua 1:9 (NIV)“They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit.” - Numbers 13:27 (NIV)By studying, memorizing, and meditating on, Gods Word, faith rises up in us. But faith has to be applied if it is going to grow.
It is through obedience that our faith grows as we see what God has said being confirmed in our experience.D. L. Moody once said, “If all the time that I have spent praying for faith was put together it would be months. I thought that some day faith was going to come down and strike me like lightening. But faith did not come. One day I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, ’So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.’ I had closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible and began to read God’s Word and faith has been growing ever since.”Then there is “The object of faith”Our faith does not rest in a concept or an idea. It must rest in a PERSON -God Himself. When God calls us to take a new step of obedience in our walk with Him, it will always be new territory for us.
It will always be something we have never experienced before.
It will always be something only God can do.
That’s why our faith must be centered in God and God alone.“Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends.” - George Muller.Moses could not deliver the children of Israel from Pharaoh’s army, cross the Red Sea on dry land, provide water from a rock, or provide bread and meat for food. Moses had to have faith that the God who called him would do the things He said He would do.
Joshua could not take the Israelites across the Jordan River on dry land, bring down walled cities, defeat enemies, or make the sun stand still. Only God could have done these things. Joshua had to have faith that the God who called him would do the things He said He would do.“The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!” - 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (The Message)Our faith in God grows greater as we obey His call, we come to recognize more of the greatness of God.
And Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Monday, March 22, 2010
Hello Everyone,
As we have discussed how we experience God in our lives, we have said:God is always at work in our lives.God pursues a love relationship with us that is real and personal.God invites us to join with Him and cooperate in the work He is doing.God speaks by His Holy Spirit to reveal Himself, His purpose and His ways through His Word, prayer, circumstances, and the church.Today, I want us to understand what happens when we know God’s call. When God calls, we face a "crisis of belief." The "crisis of belief” is a turning point where I must make a decision concerning what I really believe about God.If I believe that God really does know what He is doing, that He really can do what He says He can do, that He really does know what’s best for my life, and that His cause is one worth giving my life to, then I will respond with obedience to His call.
If I really don’t believe these things, then I will not obey His call. It’s that simple. It is at this point that I discover whether or not my belief about God is a belief of conviction or convenience. A belief of convenience is one I hold to only when it is convenient, but a belief of conviction is one I hold to even when it is not.How I respond at this turning point will determine whether or not I cooperate with God in what He’s planned for me or miss out on what God has "prepared in advance for me to walk in " (Ephesians 2:10).
It is very important that when I sense God is speaking to me that I respond appropriately. In Numbers 13:26-14:9, we read about how Israel faced a “crisis of belief” and how their response to God’s call revealed their true belief about Him. Take time to read this text in Numbers today this will be where we draw our e-votion from this week.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
As we have discussed how we experience God in our lives, we have said:God is always at work in our lives.God pursues a love relationship with us that is real and personal.God invites us to join with Him and cooperate in the work He is doing.God speaks by His Holy Spirit to reveal Himself, His purpose and His ways through His Word, prayer, circumstances, and the church.Today, I want us to understand what happens when we know God’s call. When God calls, we face a "crisis of belief." The "crisis of belief” is a turning point where I must make a decision concerning what I really believe about God.If I believe that God really does know what He is doing, that He really can do what He says He can do, that He really does know what’s best for my life, and that His cause is one worth giving my life to, then I will respond with obedience to His call.
If I really don’t believe these things, then I will not obey His call. It’s that simple. It is at this point that I discover whether or not my belief about God is a belief of conviction or convenience. A belief of convenience is one I hold to only when it is convenient, but a belief of conviction is one I hold to even when it is not.How I respond at this turning point will determine whether or not I cooperate with God in what He’s planned for me or miss out on what God has "prepared in advance for me to walk in " (Ephesians 2:10).
It is very important that when I sense God is speaking to me that I respond appropriately. In Numbers 13:26-14:9, we read about how Israel faced a “crisis of belief” and how their response to God’s call revealed their true belief about Him. Take time to read this text in Numbers today this will be where we draw our e-votion from this week.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Friday, March 19, 2010
Hello Everyone,
The last thing we want to look at this week about hearing God speak through His Word is I must Obey the Word of Truth - James 1:21-2521Therefore get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
To not obey God’s Word is like looking into the mirror in the morning, seeing that you need to comb your hair, then walking away without doing it.
You have not adjusted your life to the truth concerning the need to comb your hair.In the same way, James tells us that we must obey the Word of God if we are to see true life transformation. When God speaks to me through His Word, and I do not adjust my life according to His revealed Truth, my time spent with God’s Word has no benefit.Here is an illustration of the way God may use His Word to speak to you. Suppose you are reading your daily devotions in Psalm 37. You have read this Psalm many times before. You come to verse 21 and read: "The wicked borrow and do not repay." You are "drawn" back to that verse. You read it again. Then you remember a debt you have failed lo repay. You realize that this Scripture applies to you.
The Holy Spirit has just spoken to you through that verse. You have encountered truth. Now you understand that those who borrow and do not repay are wicked in God’s sight. The Holy Spirit has called your attention to a specific instance where this verse applies to you. He is convicting you of sin. He is the only One who can do that. God has just spoken to you by the working of the Holy Spirit and through His Word. God wants you to have no hindrances to a love relationship with Him in your life.Once God has spoken to you through His Word, how you respond is crucial. You must adjust your life to the truth. In this case the adjustment is this: • You must agree with the truth - those who borrow and do not repay are wicked in God’s sight.• You must agree that the truth applies to you in a certain situation that you remember. This is confession of sin. You agree with God about your sin.Now you have adjusted your understanding about borrowing and repaying to agree with God’s will in this matter. To agree with God you must change your understanding to agree with His. This requires an adjustment. Is that all you must do? No! Agreeing with God is not enough. Until you repay the debt, you will continue to be seen as wicked in God’s sight. This is where obedience comes in. You obey God’s will by repaying the debt. Now you are free to experience a more complete relationship with God. Obedience is the appropriate adjustment in your actions that reflects the adjustment in your attitude.
Read God’s Word and let the Holy Spirit speak to you through it.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
The last thing we want to look at this week about hearing God speak through His Word is I must Obey the Word of Truth - James 1:21-2521Therefore get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
To not obey God’s Word is like looking into the mirror in the morning, seeing that you need to comb your hair, then walking away without doing it.
You have not adjusted your life to the truth concerning the need to comb your hair.In the same way, James tells us that we must obey the Word of God if we are to see true life transformation. When God speaks to me through His Word, and I do not adjust my life according to His revealed Truth, my time spent with God’s Word has no benefit.Here is an illustration of the way God may use His Word to speak to you. Suppose you are reading your daily devotions in Psalm 37. You have read this Psalm many times before. You come to verse 21 and read: "The wicked borrow and do not repay." You are "drawn" back to that verse. You read it again. Then you remember a debt you have failed lo repay. You realize that this Scripture applies to you.
The Holy Spirit has just spoken to you through that verse. You have encountered truth. Now you understand that those who borrow and do not repay are wicked in God’s sight. The Holy Spirit has called your attention to a specific instance where this verse applies to you. He is convicting you of sin. He is the only One who can do that. God has just spoken to you by the working of the Holy Spirit and through His Word. God wants you to have no hindrances to a love relationship with Him in your life.Once God has spoken to you through His Word, how you respond is crucial. You must adjust your life to the truth. In this case the adjustment is this: • You must agree with the truth - those who borrow and do not repay are wicked in God’s sight.• You must agree that the truth applies to you in a certain situation that you remember. This is confession of sin. You agree with God about your sin.Now you have adjusted your understanding about borrowing and repaying to agree with God’s will in this matter. To agree with God you must change your understanding to agree with His. This requires an adjustment. Is that all you must do? No! Agreeing with God is not enough. Until you repay the debt, you will continue to be seen as wicked in God’s sight. This is where obedience comes in. You obey God’s will by repaying the debt. Now you are free to experience a more complete relationship with God. Obedience is the appropriate adjustment in your actions that reflects the adjustment in your attitude.
Read God’s Word and let the Holy Spirit speak to you through it.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Hello Everyone,
Salvation is described in God’s Word as having three phases: Phase 1: Justification - I am saved immediately in my spirit (Romans 8:16); and I have been saved from the penalty of sin (John 3:16).
Phase 2: Sanctification - I am saved progressively in my soul (mind, will, and emotions) (James 1:21); and I am being saved from the power of sin (Galatians 5:16).Phase 3: Glorification - I will be saved eventually in my body (Romans 8:23); and I will be saved from the presence of sin (Revelation 21:27).What we are talking about this week has to do with Phase 2.
When I am born again (Phase 1), I am made spiritually alive and am enabled to discern spiritual truth and as a result be able to live according to spiritual realities, instead of earthly realities; and the spiritual realities by which I can now live are summed up and embodied in Christ. What is true of Christ is now true of me.“But God--so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).” - Ephesians 2:4-6 (Amplified)Now, the way we translate this spiritual realities into daily experience is Phase 2. The key to Phase 2 is renewing my mind.“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.”- Romans 12:2 (NIV)When I adjust my life to the Word of God, I adjust to the person of Truth - Jesus Christ. That adjustment begins with my thinking, which impacts my feelings, which impacts my choices, which impacts my actions, which impacts my world!
God has made all this available just for us.
Oh How HE Loves Us!Pastor Phil
Salvation is described in God’s Word as having three phases: Phase 1: Justification - I am saved immediately in my spirit (Romans 8:16); and I have been saved from the penalty of sin (John 3:16).
Phase 2: Sanctification - I am saved progressively in my soul (mind, will, and emotions) (James 1:21); and I am being saved from the power of sin (Galatians 5:16).Phase 3: Glorification - I will be saved eventually in my body (Romans 8:23); and I will be saved from the presence of sin (Revelation 21:27).What we are talking about this week has to do with Phase 2.
When I am born again (Phase 1), I am made spiritually alive and am enabled to discern spiritual truth and as a result be able to live according to spiritual realities, instead of earthly realities; and the spiritual realities by which I can now live are summed up and embodied in Christ. What is true of Christ is now true of me.“But God--so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).” - Ephesians 2:4-6 (Amplified)Now, the way we translate this spiritual realities into daily experience is Phase 2. The key to Phase 2 is renewing my mind.“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.”- Romans 12:2 (NIV)When I adjust my life to the Word of God, I adjust to the person of Truth - Jesus Christ. That adjustment begins with my thinking, which impacts my feelings, which impacts my choices, which impacts my actions, which impacts my world!
God has made all this available just for us.
Oh How HE Loves Us!Pastor Phil
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Hello Everyone,
Jesus said, as we hold to His teachings, we will know the truth.
God’s Word is truth (John 17:17). God’s Word is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). The Spirit leads us into all truth (John 16:13). Therefore, the Spirit uses God’s Word to reveal God’s truth to us.But what is God’s truth? The right question would be, “Who is God’s truth?” God’s truth is a person - Jesus Christ.“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’” - John 14:6 (NLT) Through the Spirit, revealing more of Christ to me through God’s Word, I know the truth. But it isn’t enough to know the truth; I must adjust my life to the truth.
I must adjust my life to Jesus Christ.Paul tells us in Galatians 5:25, that as a Christian, I “live by the Spirit.” in other words, my life has the Spirit as its source, not the world.
I am to learn to live on a spiritual plane, not simply an earthly plane. I must develop a spiritual perspective, not simply an earthly one.That is why Paul tells us in Galatians 5:25 that I must “keep in step with the Spirit.”And what are the steps that the Spirit wants us to walk in?“For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].” Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified)“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” - 1 John 2:6 (NKJV)
How am I to walk as Jesus walked? By adjusting my life to what Gods Word says is true about me “in Christ.”
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Jesus said, as we hold to His teachings, we will know the truth.
God’s Word is truth (John 17:17). God’s Word is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). The Spirit leads us into all truth (John 16:13). Therefore, the Spirit uses God’s Word to reveal God’s truth to us.But what is God’s truth? The right question would be, “Who is God’s truth?” God’s truth is a person - Jesus Christ.“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’” - John 14:6 (NLT) Through the Spirit, revealing more of Christ to me through God’s Word, I know the truth. But it isn’t enough to know the truth; I must adjust my life to the truth.
I must adjust my life to Jesus Christ.Paul tells us in Galatians 5:25, that as a Christian, I “live by the Spirit.” in other words, my life has the Spirit as its source, not the world.
I am to learn to live on a spiritual plane, not simply an earthly plane. I must develop a spiritual perspective, not simply an earthly one.That is why Paul tells us in Galatians 5:25 that I must “keep in step with the Spirit.”And what are the steps that the Spirit wants us to walk in?“For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].” Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified)“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” - 1 John 2:6 (NKJV)
How am I to walk as Jesus walked? By adjusting my life to what Gods Word says is true about me “in Christ.”
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Hello Everyone,
The first thing that we nee to realize when we are allowing God to speak to us through His Word is I must submit to the Spirit of Truth.Why is this important if I am to hear God speak to me through His Word?Because God’s Word has been INSPIRED by the Spirit.This is what Peter tells us about the Old Testament - “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” - 2 Peter 1:20-21 (NIV)This is what Paul tells us about the New Testament - “However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’ - but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 (NIV) Because God’s Word is DISCERNED by the Spirit.
“The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn’t speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen. The Spirit will bring glory to me by taking my message and telling it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine. That is why I have said that the Spirit takes my message and tells it to you.” John 16:13-15 (CEV)
How do I submit to the Spirit?“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.” Ephesians 5:18 (NLT)“If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].” - 1 John 1:9 (Amplified)Submitting to the Spirit is something I do consciously.Being filled (controlled) by the Spirit is a command! Submitting to the Spirit is something I do continuously.My life is either being lived under the control of the Spirit or under the control of sin and self. So, when I find unconfessed sin in my life, I must choose to confess it, thus renouncing sin and self’s control over me and submitting myself to the control of God’s spirit.Through committing sin, we take ourselves out of the circle of the spirit’s control and submit, instead, to the control of sin and self. But through confessing sin, we take ourselves out of the control of sin and self, and submit ourselves afresh to the control of the Spirit. As we are within the circle of His control, we are in a position to discern God’s voice and walk in His truth.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
The first thing that we nee to realize when we are allowing God to speak to us through His Word is I must submit to the Spirit of Truth.Why is this important if I am to hear God speak to me through His Word?Because God’s Word has been INSPIRED by the Spirit.This is what Peter tells us about the Old Testament - “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” - 2 Peter 1:20-21 (NIV)This is what Paul tells us about the New Testament - “However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’ - but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 (NIV) Because God’s Word is DISCERNED by the Spirit.
“The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn’t speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen. The Spirit will bring glory to me by taking my message and telling it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine. That is why I have said that the Spirit takes my message and tells it to you.” John 16:13-15 (CEV)
How do I submit to the Spirit?“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.” Ephesians 5:18 (NLT)“If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].” - 1 John 1:9 (Amplified)Submitting to the Spirit is something I do consciously.Being filled (controlled) by the Spirit is a command! Submitting to the Spirit is something I do continuously.My life is either being lived under the control of the Spirit or under the control of sin and self. So, when I find unconfessed sin in my life, I must choose to confess it, thus renouncing sin and self’s control over me and submitting myself to the control of God’s spirit.Through committing sin, we take ourselves out of the circle of the spirit’s control and submit, instead, to the control of sin and self. But through confessing sin, we take ourselves out of the control of sin and self, and submit ourselves afresh to the control of the Spirit. As we are within the circle of His control, we are in a position to discern God’s voice and walk in His truth.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Monday, March 15, 2010
Hello Everyone,
We have said that God speaks to His people by His Spirit through His Word, prayer, circumstances, and His church to reveal Himself, His purposes and His ways.
This week I want to look at how God speaks to His people through His Word.Jesus told the new believers in John 8 that the key to them truly being His disciples was that they would “hold” (v31) to His teaching. If they would do this, He said, then they would know the truth and the truth would set them free - free to experience all that God had in mind for them.
Christian freedom - true freedom - isn’t freedom to do and be what I want to do and be, but freedom to do and become all that God wants me to do and become.If we are going to experience all that God has in mind for us as His children, we must “hold” to the teachings of Christ - teachings which are discovered in God’s Word.
I must learn to hear what God has to say to me through His Word, so that I might adjust my life to His truth. Letting God speak to me through His Word involves three things. And that is what we will be taking a look at this week.
Oh Hoe HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
We have said that God speaks to His people by His Spirit through His Word, prayer, circumstances, and His church to reveal Himself, His purposes and His ways.
This week I want to look at how God speaks to His people through His Word.Jesus told the new believers in John 8 that the key to them truly being His disciples was that they would “hold” (v31) to His teaching. If they would do this, He said, then they would know the truth and the truth would set them free - free to experience all that God had in mind for them.
Christian freedom - true freedom - isn’t freedom to do and be what I want to do and be, but freedom to do and become all that God wants me to do and become.If we are going to experience all that God has in mind for us as His children, we must “hold” to the teachings of Christ - teachings which are discovered in God’s Word.
I must learn to hear what God has to say to me through His Word, so that I might adjust my life to His truth. Letting God speak to me through His Word involves three things. And that is what we will be taking a look at this week.
Oh Hoe HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Hello Everyone,
After God revealed His purpose to Moses (what), He revealed His ways (how & when). God speaks to reveal the same to us.
“I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work. For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.” - Isaiah 55:8-9 (The Message)If we want to see God’s POWER at work and experience Him in the way He desires to make Himself known to us, we must seek to do God’s work God’s way!
God uses kingdom ways to accomplish kingdom purposes.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” - Proverbs 16:25 (NIV)29Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. Matthew 22:29(NIV)
“You’re off base on two counts: You don’t know your Bibles, and you don’t know how God works.” - Matthew 22:29 (The Message)Our plans and purposes must be God’s or we will not experience Him working through us.
God reveals His purposes so that we might know what He plans to do. Then we can join Him.
His plans and purposes will stand, they will prevail.
Therefore, if we want to experience God’s POWER, we must seek to follow God’s plan to fulfill God’s purposes.
In other words, God’s power is only at work among those who seek to do God’s will, God’s way!Our desire should be that we live and work in such a way that only God could get the credit for what is done. If that is our desire, then we must be careful to receive God’s direction and do His work, His way.
“25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 (NIV)
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
After God revealed His purpose to Moses (what), He revealed His ways (how & when). God speaks to reveal the same to us.
“I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work. For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.” - Isaiah 55:8-9 (The Message)If we want to see God’s POWER at work and experience Him in the way He desires to make Himself known to us, we must seek to do God’s work God’s way!
God uses kingdom ways to accomplish kingdom purposes.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” - Proverbs 16:25 (NIV)29Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. Matthew 22:29(NIV)
“You’re off base on two counts: You don’t know your Bibles, and you don’t know how God works.” - Matthew 22:29 (The Message)Our plans and purposes must be God’s or we will not experience Him working through us.
God reveals His purposes so that we might know what He plans to do. Then we can join Him.
His plans and purposes will stand, they will prevail.
Therefore, if we want to experience God’s POWER, we must seek to follow God’s plan to fulfill God’s purposes.
In other words, God’s power is only at work among those who seek to do God’s will, God’s way!Our desire should be that we live and work in such a way that only God could get the credit for what is done. If that is our desire, then we must be careful to receive God’s direction and do His work, His way.
“25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 (NIV)
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Hello Everyone,
God reveals His purposes so we will know what He plans to do. If we are to join God, we need to know what He is about to do.
God speaks with a purpose in mind. When God came to Noah, He did not ask what Noah wanted to do for Him. God told Noah what He was about to do and called Noah to adjust his plans to the work of God.
When God was about to do something, He took the initiative to come to His servants to reveal His plan and purpose.“Whatever the LORD God plans to do, he tells his servants . . .” - Amos 3:7 (CEV)What is important is what God plans to do where we are and how He wants to accomplish His work through us.The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
- Psalm 33:10-11 (NIV)Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.- Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)God wants us to follow Him daily. As we follow Him, then we can plan appropriately. Noah planned according to the revealed purpose of God; and we can do the same!“Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” - Proverbs 16:3 (Amplified)Making plans is not wrong. We just need to be careful and know that the Lord guides us in our planning, which means that you must…Let God interrupt your plans any time He wants!The secret is close fellowship with God so that we can always hear His voice and He speaks to us and we can see His hand as He directs us.
“His confidential communion and secret counsel are with the [uncompromisingly] righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him).”- Proverbs 3:32b (Amplified)“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” - Matthew 5:8 (NIV)
Oh How HE Loves Us!Pastor Phil
God reveals His purposes so we will know what He plans to do. If we are to join God, we need to know what He is about to do.
God speaks with a purpose in mind. When God came to Noah, He did not ask what Noah wanted to do for Him. God told Noah what He was about to do and called Noah to adjust his plans to the work of God.
When God was about to do something, He took the initiative to come to His servants to reveal His plan and purpose.“Whatever the LORD God plans to do, he tells his servants . . .” - Amos 3:7 (CEV)What is important is what God plans to do where we are and how He wants to accomplish His work through us.The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
- Psalm 33:10-11 (NIV)Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.- Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)God wants us to follow Him daily. As we follow Him, then we can plan appropriately. Noah planned according to the revealed purpose of God; and we can do the same!“Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” - Proverbs 16:3 (Amplified)Making plans is not wrong. We just need to be careful and know that the Lord guides us in our planning, which means that you must…Let God interrupt your plans any time He wants!The secret is close fellowship with God so that we can always hear His voice and He speaks to us and we can see His hand as He directs us.
“His confidential communion and secret counsel are with the [uncompromisingly] righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him).”- Proverbs 3:32b (Amplified)“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” - Matthew 5:8 (NIV)
Oh How HE Loves Us!Pastor Phil
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Hello Everyone,
How many stars are there? Astronomers don’t know. They say that the cosmos contains more stars than can be numbered. Billions for sure - probably trillions!Figures like that are hard for us to wrap our brain around. Even a million is mind-boggling. If you were counting a million $1 bills at the rate of 60 a minute for 8 hours a day 5 days a week, it would take you nearly 7 weeks to do it. At the same rate it would take over 133 years to count a billion dollars."Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." - Isaiah 40:26 (NIV)So if we ever wonder whether God is able to carry us with all our burdens, remember that He is the sovereign of the stars.
When the skies are clear, look up and be thankful that the God who calls each star by name knows, loves, and cares for you.
God not only knows the stars by name, but He knows you by name. “What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. And I assure you of this: If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I, the Son of Man, will openly acknowledge that person in the presence of God’s angels.” - Luke 12:6-8 (NLT)What a privilege it is to have a personal relationship with God and for Him to know me by name; and now He invites me to know Him by name!
Oh How HE Loves Us!Pastor Phil
How many stars are there? Astronomers don’t know. They say that the cosmos contains more stars than can be numbered. Billions for sure - probably trillions!Figures like that are hard for us to wrap our brain around. Even a million is mind-boggling. If you were counting a million $1 bills at the rate of 60 a minute for 8 hours a day 5 days a week, it would take you nearly 7 weeks to do it. At the same rate it would take over 133 years to count a billion dollars."Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." - Isaiah 40:26 (NIV)So if we ever wonder whether God is able to carry us with all our burdens, remember that He is the sovereign of the stars.
When the skies are clear, look up and be thankful that the God who calls each star by name knows, loves, and cares for you.
God not only knows the stars by name, but He knows you by name. “What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. And I assure you of this: If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I, the Son of Man, will openly acknowledge that person in the presence of God’s angels.” - Luke 12:6-8 (NLT)What a privilege it is to have a personal relationship with God and for Him to know me by name; and now He invites me to know Him by name!
Oh How HE Loves Us!Pastor Phil
Monday, March 8, 2010
Hello Everyone,
We know that God speaks to His people. When He speaks, what does He reveal? Through out Scripture, when God speaks, it is to reveal something about Himself, His purposes, or His ways. God’s revelations are designed to bring us into a deeper LOVE relationship with Himself.When God spoke to Moses in Exodus three, He revealed His name - "I Am."
He revealed Himself to be adequate for whatever Moses needed.
In the same way when God speaks by His Spirit to us,
He often reveals to us something about Himself.God speaks when He wants to involve us in His work.
He reveals Himself in order to help us respond in faith.
It is a lot easier to respond to God’s instructions when we believe God is who He says He is and when we believe God can do what He says He will do.
Moses needed to know that God was sufficient for his every need if he was to be able to respond to what God called him to. In responding to God’s call, we face a "crisis of belief."
That is the point when we step out in faith.
What that says is: A. I believe God is who He says He is.B. I believe that God can do what He says He will do.C. I adjust my thinking in light of this belief.D. I trust that God will be true to who He is when I obey.E. I obey the call of God.Faith is action based on my understanding of who God is and the certainty of what God will do!And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
We know that God speaks to His people. When He speaks, what does He reveal? Through out Scripture, when God speaks, it is to reveal something about Himself, His purposes, or His ways. God’s revelations are designed to bring us into a deeper LOVE relationship with Himself.When God spoke to Moses in Exodus three, He revealed His name - "I Am."
He revealed Himself to be adequate for whatever Moses needed.
In the same way when God speaks by His Spirit to us,
He often reveals to us something about Himself.God speaks when He wants to involve us in His work.
He reveals Himself in order to help us respond in faith.
It is a lot easier to respond to God’s instructions when we believe God is who He says He is and when we believe God can do what He says He will do.
Moses needed to know that God was sufficient for his every need if he was to be able to respond to what God called him to. In responding to God’s call, we face a "crisis of belief."
That is the point when we step out in faith.
What that says is: A. I believe God is who He says He is.B. I believe that God can do what He says He will do.C. I adjust my thinking in light of this belief.D. I trust that God will be true to who He is when I obey.E. I obey the call of God.Faith is action based on my understanding of who God is and the certainty of what God will do!And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Hello Everyone,
When God speaks, we have an encounter with God!Moses would have been foolish to say, "This has been a wonderful experience with this burning bush. I hope it leads to an encounter with God." It WAS an encounter with God!It is the same when God speaks to us, though we may not yet know all that He has in mind (like the how and the when), we have had an encounter with God. All we do then is wait, watch, and pray to see what God is doing.
Conclusion; The WAY God speaks is essentially the same, though HOW He speaks is different. In Hebrews 1:2a, the Bible tells us that God has spoken by His Son and John 14:16-18 tells us that He still speaks by His Son, who indwells us by His Spirit.
Today, God speaks by His Spirit through His Word, prayer, circumstances, and His church. But the WAY God speaks is the same.1. God has a personal word for each of us.2. When God speaks we can be sure it is God speaking.3. When God speaks, we can know what God is saying.4. When God speaks, that is an encounter with God!The Holy Spirit gives clear directions today. God is personal. He wants to be intimately involved in your life. He will give you clear guidance for living.
You may say, "That has not been my experience." I would say to you that you need to base your understanding of God on Scripture and not on experience.
Oh How He Loves US!
Pastor Phil
When God speaks, we have an encounter with God!Moses would have been foolish to say, "This has been a wonderful experience with this burning bush. I hope it leads to an encounter with God." It WAS an encounter with God!It is the same when God speaks to us, though we may not yet know all that He has in mind (like the how and the when), we have had an encounter with God. All we do then is wait, watch, and pray to see what God is doing.
Conclusion; The WAY God speaks is essentially the same, though HOW He speaks is different. In Hebrews 1:2a, the Bible tells us that God has spoken by His Son and John 14:16-18 tells us that He still speaks by His Son, who indwells us by His Spirit.
Today, God speaks by His Spirit through His Word, prayer, circumstances, and His church. But the WAY God speaks is the same.1. God has a personal word for each of us.2. When God speaks we can be sure it is God speaking.3. When God speaks, we can know what God is saying.4. When God speaks, that is an encounter with God!The Holy Spirit gives clear directions today. God is personal. He wants to be intimately involved in your life. He will give you clear guidance for living.
You may say, "That has not been my experience." I would say to you that you need to base your understanding of God on Scripture and not on experience.
Oh How He Loves US!
Pastor Phil
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Hello Everyone,
When God speaks, we can know what God is saying.Moses knew what God wanted, how He wanted it done, and when.
We to can know what God wants done, how God wants it done, and when God wants it done.“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” - Psalm 37:4-5 (NKJV) As we delight in the Lord, He will not only tell us what He wants us to do (v. 4), but how He wants it done (v.5a); and when He wants us to get started (v. 5b). Six Secrets to Discerning God’s Guidance - Read Acts 11:1-18 Secret #1: Spend time in communion with God - v. 5aPeter was taking time for prayer and meditation when God spoke to him. For us to be in a position to hear God’s voice and receive His direction, we must commit time to prayer and meditation in the presence of the Lord. Secret #2: Receive a personal vision from God - v. 5bPeter tells us that the language of the Holy Spirit is "dreams and visions" (Acts 2:17). 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Through applying secrets one and two, God can implant in my heart a vision for WHAT He wants me to do. Through applying the next four secrets, I can then discern HOW and WHEN He wants me to do it.Secret #3: Look for opportunities given by God - v.11 Secret #4: Listen to the voice of the Spirit of God - v. 12 “And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].” - Colossians 3:15 (Amplified)“God is not the author of confusion but of peace” - I Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV)When God speaks, He doesn’t stutter! Secret #5: Enlist advise from men & women of God - v. 12b“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” - Proverbs 11:14 (NKJV)“Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed.” - Proverbs 15:22 (The Message)Secret #6: Consider the testimony of the Word of God - v.16 God’s will NEVER contradicts God’s Word!God’s word ALWAYS clarifies God’s will!
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
When God speaks, we can know what God is saying.Moses knew what God wanted, how He wanted it done, and when.
We to can know what God wants done, how God wants it done, and when God wants it done.“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” - Psalm 37:4-5 (NKJV) As we delight in the Lord, He will not only tell us what He wants us to do (v. 4), but how He wants it done (v.5a); and when He wants us to get started (v. 5b). Six Secrets to Discerning God’s Guidance - Read Acts 11:1-18 Secret #1: Spend time in communion with God - v. 5aPeter was taking time for prayer and meditation when God spoke to him. For us to be in a position to hear God’s voice and receive His direction, we must commit time to prayer and meditation in the presence of the Lord. Secret #2: Receive a personal vision from God - v. 5bPeter tells us that the language of the Holy Spirit is "dreams and visions" (Acts 2:17). 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Through applying secrets one and two, God can implant in my heart a vision for WHAT He wants me to do. Through applying the next four secrets, I can then discern HOW and WHEN He wants me to do it.Secret #3: Look for opportunities given by God - v.11 Secret #4: Listen to the voice of the Spirit of God - v. 12 “And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].” - Colossians 3:15 (Amplified)“God is not the author of confusion but of peace” - I Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV)When God speaks, He doesn’t stutter! Secret #5: Enlist advise from men & women of God - v. 12b“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” - Proverbs 11:14 (NKJV)“Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed.” - Proverbs 15:22 (The Message)Secret #6: Consider the testimony of the Word of God - v.16 God’s will NEVER contradicts God’s Word!God’s word ALWAYS clarifies God’s will!
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Hello Everyone,
When God speaks we can be sure it is God speaking.The Scripture tells us that when God spoke to Moses through the burning bush, he had no question about the fact that God was the one speaking. We also can recognize the voice of God.
"He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice," - John 10:4 (NIV)If I have trouble hearing God’s voice, then I either do not belong to God or I am not right with God!
In Luke 11:33-36, Jesus speaks about the key to spiritual perception. Having just spoken about the spiritual blindness of His generation in verses 29-32, Jesus speaks to the question of whose fault it is when there is a lack of spiritual perception.
He teaches us that the key to spiritual perception is a heart that is pure. “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.” - Luke 11:33-36 (NIV) As our Lord said in Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Jesus tells us that...
Lack of spiritual perception is not God’s fault - v. 33
One of the purposes of light is to help you find your way in the dark. So when you light a dark room, you place your lamp in a high place, like a lamp stand, so that it might provide as much light as possible.So when it comes to God revealing Himself to us He does not hide Himself from us, but works to reveal Himself to us.Lack of spiritual perception is our fault - vs. 34-36Jesus tells us that our eyes work to help us maneuver around. If, our eyes go bad, then everything goes dark and we are left to stumble around.He then goes on to speak about the heart ("the light within you" - v. 35) as being the organ by which we discern spiritual light.
If, however, our hearts have become darkened, then we are left without spiritual perception, condemned to wander in spiritual darkness. Paul speaks of this in Ephesians 4:18 (KJV) – ("blindness of the heart").How does this hardness develop? It develops from time after time of choosing to not walk in the light we have received.
God has established a law in the universe that governs man’s spiritual relationship with God.
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” - Galatians 6:7 (NIV) If one sows rejection of God’s light, he will reap spiritual blindness; but if he sows reception of God’s light, he will reap spiritual perception.If I am traveling in my car at night with my headlights on, they will only shine so far in front of my car. But they shine far enough to let me know where I am to go, and when I have traveled that distance, my headlights then shine that much further down the road to let me know where to go next.
So it is with the guidance of God. We walk in what light He has given us today, knowing that as we do, there will be more light tomorrow.“We walk in the light as He is in the light . . .” - 1 John 1:7 (NIV)
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
When God speaks we can be sure it is God speaking.The Scripture tells us that when God spoke to Moses through the burning bush, he had no question about the fact that God was the one speaking. We also can recognize the voice of God.
"He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice," - John 10:4 (NIV)If I have trouble hearing God’s voice, then I either do not belong to God or I am not right with God!
In Luke 11:33-36, Jesus speaks about the key to spiritual perception. Having just spoken about the spiritual blindness of His generation in verses 29-32, Jesus speaks to the question of whose fault it is when there is a lack of spiritual perception.
He teaches us that the key to spiritual perception is a heart that is pure. “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.” - Luke 11:33-36 (NIV) As our Lord said in Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Jesus tells us that...
Lack of spiritual perception is not God’s fault - v. 33
One of the purposes of light is to help you find your way in the dark. So when you light a dark room, you place your lamp in a high place, like a lamp stand, so that it might provide as much light as possible.So when it comes to God revealing Himself to us He does not hide Himself from us, but works to reveal Himself to us.Lack of spiritual perception is our fault - vs. 34-36Jesus tells us that our eyes work to help us maneuver around. If, our eyes go bad, then everything goes dark and we are left to stumble around.He then goes on to speak about the heart ("the light within you" - v. 35) as being the organ by which we discern spiritual light.
If, however, our hearts have become darkened, then we are left without spiritual perception, condemned to wander in spiritual darkness. Paul speaks of this in Ephesians 4:18 (KJV) – ("blindness of the heart").How does this hardness develop? It develops from time after time of choosing to not walk in the light we have received.
God has established a law in the universe that governs man’s spiritual relationship with God.
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” - Galatians 6:7 (NIV) If one sows rejection of God’s light, he will reap spiritual blindness; but if he sows reception of God’s light, he will reap spiritual perception.If I am traveling in my car at night with my headlights on, they will only shine so far in front of my car. But they shine far enough to let me know where I am to go, and when I have traveled that distance, my headlights then shine that much further down the road to let me know where to go next.
So it is with the guidance of God. We walk in what light He has given us today, knowing that as we do, there will be more light tomorrow.“We walk in the light as He is in the light . . .” - 1 John 1:7 (NIV)
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Monday, March 1, 2010
Hello Everyone,
Hebrews 1:1-2
1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
In our passage, we are told that in times past, God spoke in various ways. In the Old Testament, we find that God spoke...... through angels - Genesis 16:11-12... through visions - Genesis 15:1... through dreams - Genesis 28:10-19... through symbolic actions - Jeremiah 18:1-10... through a gentle whisper -1 Kings 19:12... through miraculous signs - Exodus 8:20-25But how God spoke is not nearly as important as the fact that He spoke. Looking again at when God spoke to Moses in Exodus 3, I want us to notice four important facts about the way God speaks.
When God speaks it is usually unique to that individual.Moses had no model for a burning bush experience. He couldn’t say, "Oh, this is my burning bush experience. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all had theirs and this is mine." His experience was unique, because God wants our experience with Him and His voice, to be personal to us.If Moses had been alive today, he might have been tempted to write a book, "My Burning Bush Experience And How You Can Have One, Too!"Everyone would be reading it and looking for their "burning bush" experience. We can’t get tangled up in other people’s experiences, but instead learn that God wants to still speak today.
God has a word for you listen be still and hear His voice.
Oh How He Loves Us!Pastor Phil
Hebrews 1:1-2
1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
In our passage, we are told that in times past, God spoke in various ways. In the Old Testament, we find that God spoke...... through angels - Genesis 16:11-12... through visions - Genesis 15:1... through dreams - Genesis 28:10-19... through symbolic actions - Jeremiah 18:1-10... through a gentle whisper -1 Kings 19:12... through miraculous signs - Exodus 8:20-25But how God spoke is not nearly as important as the fact that He spoke. Looking again at when God spoke to Moses in Exodus 3, I want us to notice four important facts about the way God speaks.
When God speaks it is usually unique to that individual.Moses had no model for a burning bush experience. He couldn’t say, "Oh, this is my burning bush experience. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all had theirs and this is mine." His experience was unique, because God wants our experience with Him and His voice, to be personal to us.If Moses had been alive today, he might have been tempted to write a book, "My Burning Bush Experience And How You Can Have One, Too!"Everyone would be reading it and looking for their "burning bush" experience. We can’t get tangled up in other people’s experiences, but instead learn that God wants to still speak today.
God has a word for you listen be still and hear His voice.
Oh How He Loves Us!Pastor Phil
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