Hello Everyone,
Abraham Followed One Day At a Time.
Genesis 12:1-5
12:1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.
5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.
NIV
What did God say? How specific was He? “Leave” and “Go,” Go where? “To a land I will show you.”
The question is are we ready to follow God’s will that way?
Matthew 6:33-34
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
NIV
Agree that God is absolutely trustworthy.
Agree with God that you will follow Him one day at a time.
Agree that you will follow Him even when He does not spell out the details.
Agree that you will let Him be your Way.
WHY?
Because He Loves Us So!
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Hello Everyone,
Ephesians 3:20-21 Says:
“Now Unto Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” NIV
When we come to the Lord to seek His will for our life what do we ask?
Do we ask?
Lord what do you want me do?
When do you want me to do it?
How shall I do it?
Who do you want me to involve along the way?
And please tell me what the outcome will be.
Or do we ask: Lord, just tell me what to do one step at a time, and I will do it.
We are always asking God for a detailed “road map,” We say Lord, if you could just tell me where I am heading, and then I will be able to set my course and go.”
But He says, “You don’t need to set your course. What you need to do is follow Me one day at a time.”
Who is it that really knows the way for you to go to fulfill God’s will or purpose for your life? God is!!
Jesus said:
"I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6NIV
· He did not say, “I will Show you the way.”
· He did not say, “I will give you a road map.”
· He did not say, “I will tell you which direction to head.”
· He said, “I am the way,” Jesus knows the way; He is your way.
If we were to do everything that Jesus tells us one day at a time, do you suppose that we would always be right in the center of where God wants us to be?
When we get to a place where we trust Jesus to guide us one step at a time I believe we will experience a new freedom.
If we can’t trust Him to guide us this way, what happens when we don’t know which way to go?
We worry every time we have to make a decision.
Are we freeze up and cannot make a decision.
I believe with all my heart this is not the way God intends for us to live our lives.
We just release the way to Him. Then take care of everything He tells us one day at a time.
There is always plenty to do that fills each day with meaning and purpose.
If we do everything He says, we will be in the CENTER of His WILL and ready to be used when He has a special assignment.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Ephesians 3:20-21 Says:
“Now Unto Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” NIV
When we come to the Lord to seek His will for our life what do we ask?
Do we ask?
Lord what do you want me do?
When do you want me to do it?
How shall I do it?
Who do you want me to involve along the way?
And please tell me what the outcome will be.
Or do we ask: Lord, just tell me what to do one step at a time, and I will do it.
We are always asking God for a detailed “road map,” We say Lord, if you could just tell me where I am heading, and then I will be able to set my course and go.”
But He says, “You don’t need to set your course. What you need to do is follow Me one day at a time.”
Who is it that really knows the way for you to go to fulfill God’s will or purpose for your life? God is!!
Jesus said:
"I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6NIV
· He did not say, “I will Show you the way.”
· He did not say, “I will give you a road map.”
· He did not say, “I will tell you which direction to head.”
· He said, “I am the way,” Jesus knows the way; He is your way.
If we were to do everything that Jesus tells us one day at a time, do you suppose that we would always be right in the center of where God wants us to be?
When we get to a place where we trust Jesus to guide us one step at a time I believe we will experience a new freedom.
If we can’t trust Him to guide us this way, what happens when we don’t know which way to go?
We worry every time we have to make a decision.
Are we freeze up and cannot make a decision.
I believe with all my heart this is not the way God intends for us to live our lives.
We just release the way to Him. Then take care of everything He tells us one day at a time.
There is always plenty to do that fills each day with meaning and purpose.
If we do everything He says, we will be in the CENTER of His WILL and ready to be used when He has a special assignment.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Hello Everyone,
The Holy Spirit is our personal teacher.
“The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things.” John 14:26 NIV
It is the Holy Spirit that guides us and helps us to apply Biblical principals to our life.
It is the Holy Spirit that reveals God, His PURPOSES, and His WAYS to us.
Jesus said:
“If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”
John 7:17 NIV
The Holy Spirit at work in you will confirm and reveal in your own HEART the truth of the WORD of GOD.
The Bible is God’s word to you.
The Holy Spirit honors and uses God’s Word in speaking to you.
The WORD of GOD is our source of authority for our Faith and our Christian Walk!!
We cannot depend on traditions, our experiences, or the experiences of others to be our authority on God’s will and His ways.
Anything significant that happens in our life will be a result of Gods activity in our life.
He is infinitely more interested in our life than we could ever be.
We must let the Spirit of God bring us into an intimate relationship with the God of the Universe.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
The Holy Spirit is our personal teacher.
“The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things.” John 14:26 NIV
It is the Holy Spirit that guides us and helps us to apply Biblical principals to our life.
It is the Holy Spirit that reveals God, His PURPOSES, and His WAYS to us.
Jesus said:
“If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”
John 7:17 NIV
The Holy Spirit at work in you will confirm and reveal in your own HEART the truth of the WORD of GOD.
The Bible is God’s word to you.
The Holy Spirit honors and uses God’s Word in speaking to you.
The WORD of GOD is our source of authority for our Faith and our Christian Walk!!
We cannot depend on traditions, our experiences, or the experiences of others to be our authority on God’s will and His ways.
Anything significant that happens in our life will be a result of Gods activity in our life.
He is infinitely more interested in our life than we could ever be.
We must let the Spirit of God bring us into an intimate relationship with the God of the Universe.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Hello Everyone,
Jesus said, “ I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV
Would you like to experience life to the FULL?
We can if we are willing to respond to God’s invitation to an intimate love relationship with Him.
1 Corinthians 2:14 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. NIV
Are you Looking For More in Your Experience of God?
* You may be frustrated in your Christian walk because you know that God has more abundance than you are experiencing.
* Are you may be earnestly desiring God’s direction for your life and ministry.
* You may have experienced tragedy in your life.
* Maybe you are standing in the middle of a life that is broken, and you don’t know what to do.
What ever your present circumstance may be it is my prayer that you will be able to:
1. Hear when God is speaking to you.
2. Clearly identify the activity of God in your life.
3. Believe Him to be and to do everything He promises.
4. See a direction that He is taking in your life and what He wants to do through your life.
5. Clearly know what you need to do in response to His activity in your Life.
6. And experience God doing what only God can do!
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Jesus said, “ I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV
Would you like to experience life to the FULL?
We can if we are willing to respond to God’s invitation to an intimate love relationship with Him.
1 Corinthians 2:14 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. NIV
Are you Looking For More in Your Experience of God?
* You may be frustrated in your Christian walk because you know that God has more abundance than you are experiencing.
* Are you may be earnestly desiring God’s direction for your life and ministry.
* You may have experienced tragedy in your life.
* Maybe you are standing in the middle of a life that is broken, and you don’t know what to do.
What ever your present circumstance may be it is my prayer that you will be able to:
1. Hear when God is speaking to you.
2. Clearly identify the activity of God in your life.
3. Believe Him to be and to do everything He promises.
4. See a direction that He is taking in your life and what He wants to do through your life.
5. Clearly know what you need to do in response to His activity in your Life.
6. And experience God doing what only God can do!
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Monday, February 22, 2010
Hello Everyone,
There is one thing that we need to understand JESUS IS YOUR WAY. He is the only way!
John 15:5
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. NKJV
As we follow Jesus one day at a time, He will keep us right in the center of God’s will.
Jesus said, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3 NKJV
The whole heart of the GOSPEL is for us to KNOW GOD and to KNOW JESUS CHRIST whom He has sent.
Knowing God does not come through a METHOD or a PROGRAM.
It is a relationship with a person.
It is an INTIMATE LOVE relationship with GOD.
Through this relationship, God reveals His will and invites you to join Him where He is already at work.
When we obey, God accomplishes through us something that only He can do.
Then we come to KNOW GOD in a more intimate way by EXPERIENCING GOD at work through us.
It has been Gods desire for mankind to move into the kind of relationship with Him that will make it possible to truly experience eternal life to the fullest degree possible.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
There is one thing that we need to understand JESUS IS YOUR WAY. He is the only way!
John 15:5
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. NKJV
As we follow Jesus one day at a time, He will keep us right in the center of God’s will.
Jesus said, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3 NKJV
The whole heart of the GOSPEL is for us to KNOW GOD and to KNOW JESUS CHRIST whom He has sent.
Knowing God does not come through a METHOD or a PROGRAM.
It is a relationship with a person.
It is an INTIMATE LOVE relationship with GOD.
Through this relationship, God reveals His will and invites you to join Him where He is already at work.
When we obey, God accomplishes through us something that only He can do.
Then we come to KNOW GOD in a more intimate way by EXPERIENCING GOD at work through us.
It has been Gods desire for mankind to move into the kind of relationship with Him that will make it possible to truly experience eternal life to the fullest degree possible.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Friday, February 19, 2010
Hello Everyone,
Jesus expressed God’s invitation to all in Matthew 11:28-30!28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. "Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)We need to understand that the key to growing in my knowledge of God and my love relationship with God is my willingness to participate in the work that God invites me to join Him in.
Jesus calls this His "yoke."Using the example of oxen pulling a plow, Jesus is painting a picture of how it is when we are carrying the burden of living a meaningless life; we need to be willing to put ourselves in a position to be used by Him.
In other words, we need to be willing to obey.
Notice that the oxen’s yoke is not designed as an instrument of torture, but as an instrument of blessing, because it allows the ox to be comfortable, as it is used by its master in the work it was designed to do.One of the greatest blessings that we could ever have in this life is when we respond to God’s invitation to love Him more and know Him better by joining Him in His work.
WE do that by obeying His call to share with a lost and dying world that by the POWER of God, their lives can be blessed and transformed!So here is the question "Will your life be a mess or a message?"
Our life is determined by how we daily respond to God’s invitation to love Him, join Him, and know Him.Even the smallest step of obedience is a giant step toward blessing!
What step do you need to take today?
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Jesus expressed God’s invitation to all in Matthew 11:28-30!28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. "Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)We need to understand that the key to growing in my knowledge of God and my love relationship with God is my willingness to participate in the work that God invites me to join Him in.
Jesus calls this His "yoke."Using the example of oxen pulling a plow, Jesus is painting a picture of how it is when we are carrying the burden of living a meaningless life; we need to be willing to put ourselves in a position to be used by Him.
In other words, we need to be willing to obey.
Notice that the oxen’s yoke is not designed as an instrument of torture, but as an instrument of blessing, because it allows the ox to be comfortable, as it is used by its master in the work it was designed to do.One of the greatest blessings that we could ever have in this life is when we respond to God’s invitation to love Him more and know Him better by joining Him in His work.
WE do that by obeying His call to share with a lost and dying world that by the POWER of God, their lives can be blessed and transformed!So here is the question "Will your life be a mess or a message?"
Our life is determined by how we daily respond to God’s invitation to love Him, join Him, and know Him.Even the smallest step of obedience is a giant step toward blessing!
What step do you need to take today?
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Hello Everyone,
God Invites us to KNOW Him -As we cooperate with God in the work He invites us to do we come to know Him more intimately.
In fact, I need to let what I already know of God motivate me to trust Him and obey Him!
When we respond to God’s invitation to work with Him it leads us to more fully appreciate His attributes. What are some of Gods attributes?
God is ... Sovereign - His way is guaranteed victory. (Romans 8:31) Righteous - His way leads to what is right. (Psalm 23:3) Just - His way is perfect. (Romans 12:2) Love - His way is always best. (Jeremiah 29:11) Eternal - His way leads to life. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20a) Omniscient - His way anticipates the unknown. (Joshua 3:1-4) Omnipresent - His way manifests His presence. (Joshua 1:9) Omnipotent - His way reveals His power. (1 Thessalonians 5:24) True - His way leads us to experience truth. (John 8:31-32) Unchanging - His way never changes. (Hebrews 13:8)
And Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
God Invites us to KNOW Him -As we cooperate with God in the work He invites us to do we come to know Him more intimately.
In fact, I need to let what I already know of God motivate me to trust Him and obey Him!
When we respond to God’s invitation to work with Him it leads us to more fully appreciate His attributes. What are some of Gods attributes?
God is ... Sovereign - His way is guaranteed victory. (Romans 8:31) Righteous - His way leads to what is right. (Psalm 23:3) Just - His way is perfect. (Romans 12:2) Love - His way is always best. (Jeremiah 29:11) Eternal - His way leads to life. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20a) Omniscient - His way anticipates the unknown. (Joshua 3:1-4) Omnipresent - His way manifests His presence. (Joshua 1:9) Omnipotent - His way reveals His power. (1 Thessalonians 5:24) True - His way leads us to experience truth. (John 8:31-32) Unchanging - His way never changes. (Hebrews 13:8)
And Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Hello Everyone,
God invites us to JOIN Him -This is what obedience is, joining God in what He is doing.
This is how Jesus walked in obedience to the Father.17Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."
19Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. John 5:17; 19-20 (NIV) Listen to what Jesus says:1) The Father has been working right up until now.2) Now God has Me working.3) I do nothing on My own initiative.4) I watch to see what the Father is doing.5) I do what I see the Father is already doing.
6) You see, the Father loves me.7) He shows Me everything that He, Himself, is doing. The key word here is watch!“…let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,”…- Hebrew 12:lb-2a (NIV)Do you remember the game “Follow the Leader?”
You did whatever you saw your leader doing!
In the same way we need to follow our leader!
When we do, we will discover that the Christian life is designed to be lived as a great adventure with God!
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
God invites us to JOIN Him -This is what obedience is, joining God in what He is doing.
This is how Jesus walked in obedience to the Father.17Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."
19Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. John 5:17; 19-20 (NIV) Listen to what Jesus says:1) The Father has been working right up until now.2) Now God has Me working.3) I do nothing on My own initiative.4) I watch to see what the Father is doing.5) I do what I see the Father is already doing.
6) You see, the Father loves me.7) He shows Me everything that He, Himself, is doing. The key word here is watch!“…let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,”…- Hebrew 12:lb-2a (NIV)Do you remember the game “Follow the Leader?”
You did whatever you saw your leader doing!
In the same way we need to follow our leader!
When we do, we will discover that the Christian life is designed to be lived as a great adventure with God!
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Hello Everyone,
“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him.” - Colossians 2:6 (NLT)As our love is expressed through obedience, God makes Himself more fully known to us and our love relationship with Him goes deeper, as we grow to love Him even more. Understanding this we come to realize first of all that:God invites us to LOVE Him -When we understand that the CROSS is a demonstration of God’s love we respond to His invitation.
The cross is a "once-for-all" statement of God’s never-ending love for you and me!By His love, God has provided us with the opportunity to know Him personally.
He invites us to know Him in an intimate love relationship.
God’s desire is that our chief motivation in our daily walk with Him be a growing love for Him.He wants us to seek His face and His presence just because we love Him? Listen God has put the invitation out there He wants us to love Him.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him.” - Colossians 2:6 (NLT)As our love is expressed through obedience, God makes Himself more fully known to us and our love relationship with Him goes deeper, as we grow to love Him even more. Understanding this we come to realize first of all that:God invites us to LOVE Him -When we understand that the CROSS is a demonstration of God’s love we respond to His invitation.
The cross is a "once-for-all" statement of God’s never-ending love for you and me!By His love, God has provided us with the opportunity to know Him personally.
He invites us to know Him in an intimate love relationship.
God’s desire is that our chief motivation in our daily walk with Him be a growing love for Him.He wants us to seek His face and His presence just because we love Him? Listen God has put the invitation out there He wants us to love Him.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Monday, February 15, 2010
Hello Everyone,
John 14:21
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
We have spoken in this series about how God calls us to develop an intimate and growing LOVE relationship with Him. How is this done? The only reason it is possible is because of God’s initiative. God took the initiative in this relationship by giving His Son for us at Calvary.But God demonstrates his own LOVE for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.- Romans 5:8 (NIV)Out of an appreciation of His love, we love Him.“We love because he first loved us.” - 1 John 4:19 (NIV)When a person truly understands God’s love their love for Him will be expressed through obedience. “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” - John 14:15 (NIV)When a person accepts Christ, he does so through a response to the love of God demonstrated through the CROSS expressed by obedience to the Gospel. “What will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? - 1 Peter 4:17b (NIV)Now, for those of us who have obeyed the Gospel, we have come to know God personally and as a result, love Him all the more.
This love that we have for Him is expressed through obedience. This is how we walk with God and grow in our love relationship with Him.
And this is how we come to understand:
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
John 14:21
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
We have spoken in this series about how God calls us to develop an intimate and growing LOVE relationship with Him. How is this done? The only reason it is possible is because of God’s initiative. God took the initiative in this relationship by giving His Son for us at Calvary.But God demonstrates his own LOVE for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.- Romans 5:8 (NIV)Out of an appreciation of His love, we love Him.“We love because he first loved us.” - 1 John 4:19 (NIV)When a person truly understands God’s love their love for Him will be expressed through obedience. “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” - John 14:15 (NIV)When a person accepts Christ, he does so through a response to the love of God demonstrated through the CROSS expressed by obedience to the Gospel. “What will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? - 1 Peter 4:17b (NIV)Now, for those of us who have obeyed the Gospel, we have come to know God personally and as a result, love Him all the more.
This love that we have for Him is expressed through obedience. This is how we walk with God and grow in our love relationship with Him.
And this is how we come to understand:
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Friday, February 12, 2010
Hello Everyone,
If I am unwilling to make any adjustments in my life that might be necessary to follow God, then I will not recognize God’s voice.5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:5-8
God follows His own advice.“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.” - Matthew 7:6 (NIV)Why should God entrust His guidance to one who is unwilling to make the adjustments in their life that might be necessary to obey?To receive revelation from God requires a willingness to experience a revolution in our lives!You know the Lord’s Prayer is a “dangerous prayer” because if God’s will is to be done on earth as it is in heaven it will result in a “whole lot of rearranging down here!”In John 5:1-15, we read about how Jesus healed a lame man at the pool of Bethesda. Before he did, Jesus asked the man an interesting question, “Do you want to get well?” (v.6).
Jesus wanted to know if the man really did want to be healed or not before he healed him.In the same way, God asks us, “Are you willing to make whatever changes might be necessary in your life to follow me?” if not, we will not hear from God.
But if we are sincerely willing to let God make changes in our life, then we are in a position to hear God speak!
And He will speak!
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
If I am unwilling to make any adjustments in my life that might be necessary to follow God, then I will not recognize God’s voice.5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:5-8
God follows His own advice.“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.” - Matthew 7:6 (NIV)Why should God entrust His guidance to one who is unwilling to make the adjustments in their life that might be necessary to obey?To receive revelation from God requires a willingness to experience a revolution in our lives!You know the Lord’s Prayer is a “dangerous prayer” because if God’s will is to be done on earth as it is in heaven it will result in a “whole lot of rearranging down here!”In John 5:1-15, we read about how Jesus healed a lame man at the pool of Bethesda. Before he did, Jesus asked the man an interesting question, “Do you want to get well?” (v.6).
Jesus wanted to know if the man really did want to be healed or not before he healed him.In the same way, God asks us, “Are you willing to make whatever changes might be necessary in your life to follow me?” if not, we will not hear from God.
But if we are sincerely willing to let God make changes in our life, then we are in a position to hear God speak!
And He will speak!
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Hello Everyone,
When God speaks He always speaks with a purpose.We usually want God to speak to us by giving us a nice thought to make us feel good. And that’s cool, but if you want the God of the universe to speak to you, you need to be ready for Him to reveal to you what He is doing where you are.He reveals what He is doing in order to call us to join Him; and to join Him requires a willingness to make whatever adjustments are necessary to walk with Him and participate in His eternal purpose.
That purpose is calling a people unto Himself that will live in such a way as to bring fulfillment in their lives and glory to God.
Paul tells us in verse 13 of Philippians 2::
“It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” (NIV)Too many in the church today, really don’t want God to speak to them in this way. That is why so many fail to hear the voice of God!“These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. They say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’ and to the prophets, ‘Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!’” - Isaiah 30:9-11 (NIV) When God called Abraham to follow him, he said, “I will make your name great,” - Genesis 12:2 (NIV).
For that to happen, God had to develop Abraham’s character to match his assignment. The same is true for us.
Remember: You cannot stay where you are and go with God! *The reason God is interested in guiding what you are doing is that He is interested in what you are becoming.*When God speaks, He speaks with a purpose. Part of that purpose relates to what He wants to accomplish through you, and part of it relates to what He wants to accomplish in you!Too many of us want the thrill of hearing From God and being in His will without having to make any adjustments in our character.
One does not happen without the other!You cannot follow God and remain the same.
He loves us to much to allow that.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
When God speaks He always speaks with a purpose.We usually want God to speak to us by giving us a nice thought to make us feel good. And that’s cool, but if you want the God of the universe to speak to you, you need to be ready for Him to reveal to you what He is doing where you are.He reveals what He is doing in order to call us to join Him; and to join Him requires a willingness to make whatever adjustments are necessary to walk with Him and participate in His eternal purpose.
That purpose is calling a people unto Himself that will live in such a way as to bring fulfillment in their lives and glory to God.
Paul tells us in verse 13 of Philippians 2::
“It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” (NIV)Too many in the church today, really don’t want God to speak to them in this way. That is why so many fail to hear the voice of God!“These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. They say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’ and to the prophets, ‘Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!’” - Isaiah 30:9-11 (NIV) When God called Abraham to follow him, he said, “I will make your name great,” - Genesis 12:2 (NIV).
For that to happen, God had to develop Abraham’s character to match his assignment. The same is true for us.
Remember: You cannot stay where you are and go with God! *The reason God is interested in guiding what you are doing is that He is interested in what you are becoming.*When God speaks, He speaks with a purpose. Part of that purpose relates to what He wants to accomplish through you, and part of it relates to what He wants to accomplish in you!Too many of us want the thrill of hearing From God and being in His will without having to make any adjustments in our character.
One does not happen without the other!You cannot follow God and remain the same.
He loves us to much to allow that.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Hello Everyone,
Read with me the following scripture.
2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. - John 10:2-4; 27 (NIV)Teresa and I have been married for 30 years. During that time, she and I have spent countless hours and days with each other and as a result, we are intimately acquainted with each other.
I can pick her voice out in a crowd, because we share an intimate love relationship with each other. I can especially recognize her laugh!If we are daily communing with God, cultivating a deepening love relationship with Him, we will be able to recognize His voice above all others as He speaks by His Spirit through His Word, prayer, circumstances, and His people!What this means then, is that if you are having trouble hearing God speak then you are having trouble at the heart of your Christian experience! You are not right with God or you do not belong to God!
Either way God desires such a relationship with us that we can hear His voice.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Read with me the following scripture.
2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. - John 10:2-4; 27 (NIV)Teresa and I have been married for 30 years. During that time, she and I have spent countless hours and days with each other and as a result, we are intimately acquainted with each other.
I can pick her voice out in a crowd, because we share an intimate love relationship with each other. I can especially recognize her laugh!If we are daily communing with God, cultivating a deepening love relationship with Him, we will be able to recognize His voice above all others as He speaks by His Spirit through His Word, prayer, circumstances, and His people!What this means then, is that if you are having trouble hearing God speak then you are having trouble at the heart of your Christian experience! You are not right with God or you do not belong to God!
Either way God desires such a relationship with us that we can hear His voice.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Hello Everyone,
In these last days the thin that we need to know is God speaks to His people.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, - Hebrews 1:1-2a (NIV)In Old Testament times, God spoke in a variety of ways. In these last days, however, He speaks through His son, Jesus.
This was true when Jesus walked the earth; it is also true now!16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.- John 14:16-18 (NIV)13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. 16"In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me." - John 16:13-16 (NIV) God speaks by His Spirit through His Word, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.The key to knowing God’s voice is not a formula or method.
The key to knowing God’s voice is our investing time developing an intimate love relationship with Him.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
In these last days the thin that we need to know is God speaks to His people.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, - Hebrews 1:1-2a (NIV)In Old Testament times, God spoke in a variety of ways. In these last days, however, He speaks through His son, Jesus.
This was true when Jesus walked the earth; it is also true now!16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.- John 14:16-18 (NIV)13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. 16"In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me." - John 16:13-16 (NIV) God speaks by His Spirit through His Word, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.The key to knowing God’s voice is not a formula or method.
The key to knowing God’s voice is our investing time developing an intimate love relationship with Him.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Monday, February 8, 2010
Hello Everyone,
In Philippians 2:12-13 Paul tells us to “work out our salvation.” Notice that he doesn’t tell us to “work for our salvation.” In other words, he is telling us that we need to allow the salvation that is ours to be lived out in our daily lives.I had a pastor friend who would ask the question when one of us was preparing a message. He would say, “Have you fleshed that out”?
Just like Jesus was the “Word made flesh” (John 1:14), we need to let our salvation be “fleshed out” in our daily lives.
“Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.” - Galatians 5:25 (The Message)That is what Paul is telling us here. Our salvation can be worked out in our daily lives because it is God who is at work in us. God is at work to reveal to His people what He wants us to join Him in.
God speaks today! The words of Isaiah 30:21 are just as valid today as they were in Isaiah’s day: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” - Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)
Listen God is speaking whether through His Holy Spirit or His Word or through His church He is speaking.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
In Philippians 2:12-13 Paul tells us to “work out our salvation.” Notice that he doesn’t tell us to “work for our salvation.” In other words, he is telling us that we need to allow the salvation that is ours to be lived out in our daily lives.I had a pastor friend who would ask the question when one of us was preparing a message. He would say, “Have you fleshed that out”?
Just like Jesus was the “Word made flesh” (John 1:14), we need to let our salvation be “fleshed out” in our daily lives.
“Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.” - Galatians 5:25 (The Message)That is what Paul is telling us here. Our salvation can be worked out in our daily lives because it is God who is at work in us. God is at work to reveal to His people what He wants us to join Him in.
God speaks today! The words of Isaiah 30:21 are just as valid today as they were in Isaiah’s day: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” - Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)
Listen God is speaking whether through His Holy Spirit or His Word or through His church He is speaking.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Friday, February 5, 2010
Hello Everyone,
The God centered approach is based on receiving.“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” - Psalm 37:4-6 (NIV)“Keep company with GOD, get in on the best. Open up before GOD, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done: He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.” - Psalm 37:4-6 (The Message)As we daily keep company with the Lord, He will let us know, not only what He wants us to do, but how he wants it done and when. And as a result, not only can we be part of His work, but we can live a life that will fulfill His eternal purpose for us of living to His honor and glory!One Christian writer said it this way: “As I feverishly pushed our lawn mower around the yard, I wondered if I’d finish before dinner. Suddenly, Mikey, our 6 year old, walked up, stepped in front of me and placed his hands on the mower handle. Knowing he wanted to help me, I quit pushing. The mower quickly slowed to a stop. Chuckling inwardly at his struggles, I resisted the urge to say, ‘Get out of here, kid. You’re in my way,’ and said instead, ‘Here, Son. I’ll help you,’ as I resumed walking spread-legged to avoid colliding with Mikey. The grass cutting continued, but more slowly and less efficiently than before, because Mikey was ‘helping’ me. Suddenly, tears came to my eyes as it hit me: This is the way my heavenly Father allows me to ‘help’ Him build His kingdom! I pictured my heavenly Father at work seeking, saving, and transforming the lost, and there I was, with my weak hands ‘helping.’ My Father could do the work by Himself, but He doesn’t. He graciously allows me to co-labor with Him. Why? For my sake, because He wants me to have the privilege of ministering with Him and living life to the fullest.
God has given the invitation to work with Him how about it would you like to?
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
The God centered approach is based on receiving.“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” - Psalm 37:4-6 (NIV)“Keep company with GOD, get in on the best. Open up before GOD, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done: He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.” - Psalm 37:4-6 (The Message)As we daily keep company with the Lord, He will let us know, not only what He wants us to do, but how he wants it done and when. And as a result, not only can we be part of His work, but we can live a life that will fulfill His eternal purpose for us of living to His honor and glory!One Christian writer said it this way: “As I feverishly pushed our lawn mower around the yard, I wondered if I’d finish before dinner. Suddenly, Mikey, our 6 year old, walked up, stepped in front of me and placed his hands on the mower handle. Knowing he wanted to help me, I quit pushing. The mower quickly slowed to a stop. Chuckling inwardly at his struggles, I resisted the urge to say, ‘Get out of here, kid. You’re in my way,’ and said instead, ‘Here, Son. I’ll help you,’ as I resumed walking spread-legged to avoid colliding with Mikey. The grass cutting continued, but more slowly and less efficiently than before, because Mikey was ‘helping’ me. Suddenly, tears came to my eyes as it hit me: This is the way my heavenly Father allows me to ‘help’ Him build His kingdom! I pictured my heavenly Father at work seeking, saving, and transforming the lost, and there I was, with my weak hands ‘helping.’ My Father could do the work by Himself, but He doesn’t. He graciously allows me to co-labor with Him. Why? For my sake, because He wants me to have the privilege of ministering with Him and living life to the fullest.
God has given the invitation to work with Him how about it would you like to?
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Hello Everyone,
The self centered approach is based on achieving.Who delivered the children of Israel from Egypt? Moses or God? God did. God chose to bring Moses into a relationship with Himself so that He - God - could deliver Israel. Did Moses ever try to take matters into his own hands? Yes. In Exodus 2:11-15. In Acts 7:25 we read that Moses tried to instigate a rebellion on behalf of God’s people.
Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not.
What could have happened in trying to deliver the Israelites in his own way? Thousands could have lost their lives. He sought to achieve God’s will by thinking his own thoughts and following his own ways. That mistake cost him 40 years of exile in Midian, during which he had to change himself to God centered living. God is not looking for us to come up with a good idea that He can bless. He is looking to bless those who will seek God’s ideas!“The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” - 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NLT)
Be fully committed to Him He will show Himself to be strong.
Oh HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
The self centered approach is based on achieving.Who delivered the children of Israel from Egypt? Moses or God? God did. God chose to bring Moses into a relationship with Himself so that He - God - could deliver Israel. Did Moses ever try to take matters into his own hands? Yes. In Exodus 2:11-15. In Acts 7:25 we read that Moses tried to instigate a rebellion on behalf of God’s people.
Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not.
What could have happened in trying to deliver the Israelites in his own way? Thousands could have lost their lives. He sought to achieve God’s will by thinking his own thoughts and following his own ways. That mistake cost him 40 years of exile in Midian, during which he had to change himself to God centered living. God is not looking for us to come up with a good idea that He can bless. He is looking to bless those who will seek God’s ideas!“The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” - 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NLT)
Be fully committed to Him He will show Himself to be strong.
Oh HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Hello Everyone,
I read this story that hits close to home: “Are your visits to the psychiatrist helping?” asked a friend. “Absolutely,” was the reply. “Before I sought his help I was afraid to answer the telephone when it would ring. Now I go ahead and answer the phone whether it rings or not.”Sometimes what we think is helpful isn’t helpful at all. But when I live a God centered life, I will think according to the thoughts of God and follow the ways of God, which always leads to life.“I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” - John 10:10b (The Message)Note that Jesus gave this promise as He spoke about Himself as the Good Shepherd.
It is only as we seek to follow God’s direction that we will bring glory to God and know the abundant life Jesus promised to give!
The happiest people are those who know that what they should be doing and what they are doing are the same things.If we are not careful, even in the attempt to know and do the WILL of God, we can take a self centered approach. Thursday and Friday will see the difference between these two approaches to knowing and doing God’s will.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
I read this story that hits close to home: “Are your visits to the psychiatrist helping?” asked a friend. “Absolutely,” was the reply. “Before I sought his help I was afraid to answer the telephone when it would ring. Now I go ahead and answer the phone whether it rings or not.”Sometimes what we think is helpful isn’t helpful at all. But when I live a God centered life, I will think according to the thoughts of God and follow the ways of God, which always leads to life.“I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” - John 10:10b (The Message)Note that Jesus gave this promise as He spoke about Himself as the Good Shepherd.
It is only as we seek to follow God’s direction that we will bring glory to God and know the abundant life Jesus promised to give!
The happiest people are those who know that what they should be doing and what they are doing are the same things.If we are not careful, even in the attempt to know and do the WILL of God, we can take a self centered approach. Thursday and Friday will see the difference between these two approaches to knowing and doing God’s will.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Hello Everyone,
In one Charlie Brown cartoon he rested his head in his hands while leaning on the wall. He was looking miserable, as usual. Lucy approached him and asked, “Discouraged again, huh, Charlie Brown?” Charlie Brown doesn’t even answer. “You know what your trouble is?” Lucy asked, “the trouble with you is that you are you!” Charlie Brown turned to her and said, “Well, what in the world can I do about it?” Lucy said, “I don’t pretend to be able to give advice Charlie Brown, I merely point out the trouble!”God’s Word doesn’t just point out our problem, it also tells us of God’s solution. JESUS CHRIST is God’s solution to mankind’s sin problem.
Through His death, burial, resurrection and ascension, Jesus conquered sin for all mankind. Christ has taken care of the sin problem for all mankind.
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” - Colossians 1:27 (NIV)By the POWER of the ONE in me, I can live beyond the power of sin and bring GLORY to God as He originally intended for ME to do.But to do this, I need to learn how to live a God centered life. Our lives can either be God centered or self centered. Look at the contrast between these two ways of living:The Self Centered Life The God Centered Life1. Focused on self 1. Focused on God2. Dependent on self 2. Dependent on God3. Affirms self 3. Denys self4. Self confident 4. God confident5. Seeks man’s approval 5. Seeks God’s approval6. Glorifies self 6. Glorifies God7. Human perspective 7. Divine perspective8. Ordinary living 8. Extraordinary living
“My thoughts are completely different from yours,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” - Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)When I live a self centered life as a Christian, I think my own thoughts and follow my own ways, which leads to an empty existence.“There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” - Proverbs 16:25 (NLT)
God centered living follows the path that God has laid out a path that is better and higher than any other path that we could chose.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
In one Charlie Brown cartoon he rested his head in his hands while leaning on the wall. He was looking miserable, as usual. Lucy approached him and asked, “Discouraged again, huh, Charlie Brown?” Charlie Brown doesn’t even answer. “You know what your trouble is?” Lucy asked, “the trouble with you is that you are you!” Charlie Brown turned to her and said, “Well, what in the world can I do about it?” Lucy said, “I don’t pretend to be able to give advice Charlie Brown, I merely point out the trouble!”God’s Word doesn’t just point out our problem, it also tells us of God’s solution. JESUS CHRIST is God’s solution to mankind’s sin problem.
Through His death, burial, resurrection and ascension, Jesus conquered sin for all mankind. Christ has taken care of the sin problem for all mankind.
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” - Colossians 1:27 (NIV)By the POWER of the ONE in me, I can live beyond the power of sin and bring GLORY to God as He originally intended for ME to do.But to do this, I need to learn how to live a God centered life. Our lives can either be God centered or self centered. Look at the contrast between these two ways of living:The Self Centered Life The God Centered Life1. Focused on self 1. Focused on God2. Dependent on self 2. Dependent on God3. Affirms self 3. Denys self4. Self confident 4. God confident5. Seeks man’s approval 5. Seeks God’s approval6. Glorifies self 6. Glorifies God7. Human perspective 7. Divine perspective8. Ordinary living 8. Extraordinary living
“My thoughts are completely different from yours,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” - Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)When I live a self centered life as a Christian, I think my own thoughts and follow my own ways, which leads to an empty existence.“There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” - Proverbs 16:25 (NLT)
God centered living follows the path that God has laid out a path that is better and higher than any other path that we could chose.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Monday, February 1, 2010
Hello Everyone,
Read with today Genesis 2:15-17:
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
God made man with a purpose in mind. As Adam communed with God and followed God’s direction, God’s eternal purpose was accomplished through Adam as he lived in such a way as to bring GLORY to God; and man was blessed and fulfilled.Genesis 1:26-27 tells us how man was made.
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Man was made in God’s image, which means that man was made with a spiritual nature so that he could commune with God and a physical nature so he could commune with the created world.Genesis 1:26-27 also tells us WHY man was made that way. Literally, the phrase “in our likeness’ contains the idea of PURPOSE—that is, the reason man was created as a spiritual being was so that by communing with God and obeying His direction, he could reflect God’s GLORY, and His LIKENESS.
Also, man was to rule over all of creation to bring GLORY to its creator (v. 26).But when man chose to decide for himself what was good and what was evil, he experienced death. Literally translated, verse 17 says, “dying, you will die.”
When man chose to decide for himself what was good and what was evil, instead of trusting God to guide him, he placed himself in the role of God and cut himself off from God, who is the source of all life. Sin entered the picture (sin is going my way as opposed to God’s way), and man immediately died spiritually (cut off from God), and eventually died physically. “For the wages of sin is death.” - Romans 6:23a (NIV)Sin keeps man from fulfilling God’s original purpose.
Man condemned himself to living an unfulfilled life. “All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” - Romans 3:23
God centered living is the only way that we can reflect God’s Glory. It is God’s desire for us to shine with the Glory of God.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Read with today Genesis 2:15-17:
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
God made man with a purpose in mind. As Adam communed with God and followed God’s direction, God’s eternal purpose was accomplished through Adam as he lived in such a way as to bring GLORY to God; and man was blessed and fulfilled.Genesis 1:26-27 tells us how man was made.
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Man was made in God’s image, which means that man was made with a spiritual nature so that he could commune with God and a physical nature so he could commune with the created world.Genesis 1:26-27 also tells us WHY man was made that way. Literally, the phrase “in our likeness’ contains the idea of PURPOSE—that is, the reason man was created as a spiritual being was so that by communing with God and obeying His direction, he could reflect God’s GLORY, and His LIKENESS.
Also, man was to rule over all of creation to bring GLORY to its creator (v. 26).But when man chose to decide for himself what was good and what was evil, he experienced death. Literally translated, verse 17 says, “dying, you will die.”
When man chose to decide for himself what was good and what was evil, instead of trusting God to guide him, he placed himself in the role of God and cut himself off from God, who is the source of all life. Sin entered the picture (sin is going my way as opposed to God’s way), and man immediately died spiritually (cut off from God), and eventually died physically. “For the wages of sin is death.” - Romans 6:23a (NIV)Sin keeps man from fulfilling God’s original purpose.
Man condemned himself to living an unfulfilled life. “All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” - Romans 3:23
God centered living is the only way that we can reflect God’s Glory. It is God’s desire for us to shine with the Glory of God.
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
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