Archive for the ‘Believers’ Category

Assembling Together

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

 25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

In the 10th Chapter of Hebrews we find a reminder of the importance of assembling together with the Saints.

Anyone can walk in a church, sit down, sing a hymn or more, and walk out again.  It is a far different thing to assemble together with the Saints exhorting one another provoking one another unto love & unto good works.

I thought about this today when I considered the hose leaking.    Imagine seeing a  hose that is not  tightly connected to the hose bib and water is shooting everywhere.  It makes sense that you have to tighten the connection or there will be problems.

It’s the same way if you don’t stay tightly connected to your Christian friends.  They say the family that prays together stays together.  A family of believers works like that, too. 

If you don’t make a firm connection you are apt to be in a position where it seems like water is flying everywhere. 

Let me make a better picture of this for your mind’s eye.  Imagine the hose that is only loosely connected to the hose bib.  There are no problems at the connection until the pressure is turned on.  See that water spraying out in all directions?  Your mind will run in many directions when the pressures of life hit you if you don’t have a group of believers you are connected with that can hold you up in prayer & help you during the rough times. 

Assemble yourselves together! Provoke love & good works!  Encourage & exhort one another.  It’s that simple.  We need each other.  

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Learning More Every Year

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

I wrote the words Temptation Is Not From God about a year ago.  Review it and then see the new notes that follow:

Temptation Is Not From God

 first written on February 16th, 2009

I was reading from the book of James Chapter 1 this morning.

To be reminded that God will not tempt us is so encouraging.

Since we find that we are tempted by our own evil desires and lusts we know what to do with those desires that we know God did not send our way.  What are you supposed to do with the trash?  That’s right!  You place trash in trash bags and take them out of the house. 

In order for a Christian to keep their spiritual home clean and orderly they have to take time to examine themselves.  When they examine themselves and they see anything is out of order or unclean they need to gather up the ugly thoughts and things that they know God doesn’t want in their home (our bodies which are the temples of the Holy Ghost) and they need to take the trash out.

I’ve been doing some organizing in my physical home and my spiritual home lately.  It is not always easy to go through old stuff and it’s not especially fun to see things laying around that have to be gone through but it is wonderful when the work is all done.

I know we are not going to be totally perfect this side of heaven.  We will have times when we struggle with the battles we endure while living on earth.  We just have to recall that God wants us to think Holy thoughts and He wants us to fill our minds with His Word so we can resist the temptations that come from our own evil desires within us.

Don’t blame the devil for every thought that comes your way.  Even though the devil seeks whom he may devour he doesn’t have any control over your life unless you give it to him. 

Greater is HE THAT IS IN YOU than he who is in the world!  God gives the believer strength to do things different than the way the rest of the world does things. 

You are a Christian if you’ve been saved by acknowledging Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

God’s Word says this in II Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

IF you are in Christ you are a new creation.  The old things of your past are no longer a part of your life.  You are a brand new creature in Christ Jesus. 

When you see people from your past that may recall your ways from former days step right up to them and pray asking God to help you speak with words of conviction so they will know you are not the person you used to be.  You may even practice what you will say to such people just in case you are given an opportunity to speak to them again.

I was thinking about this today.  I thought of how I’d like to gently step forward and say something like, “I’m a new creature in Christ Jesus.  Jesus got a hold of my life and I’m just not the same person any more.  I’m so glad Jesus saved me and made me whole.  I’m happier when I wake up in the morning.  I know where to go to get peace when times are tough.  I’ve been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.”  & “Yeah, I once walked a life of shame and now I’m trying to serve the Lord that gave His life for me.” 

Let Patience Have Her Perfect Work !

 

New notes about last year’s writing:

I still agree that we can change our old attitudes and ways with the help of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is a long uphill battle for some of us. God’s Word tells us the difference between right and wrong. 

This year I still want to encourage fellow Christians to keep doing what they know is right.  It is also my goal to remind them that we are tempted by evil desires within but we are not tempted by God.  God will never tell a person to do something that is evil.  God is not the author of confusion or deceit. 

If you have been tempted by old evil desires know that your Redeemer lives.  Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of the Living God, died on the cross for your sins.  He wants you freed from walking after the evil desires within you.  He wants you to take a stand against unholy ways.  He wants you to take up your cross to follow Him on the straight and narrow path. 

You can do all good things through Jesus Christ who strengthens you.  You are able to overcome evil by doing good things.  Turn from evil ways and live. That’s what God wants for His people.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were forced to choose if they would bow down to an idol or be sent into the fiery furnace.  They made a choice to be sent into a fire rather than to bow down to a worthless idol created by man.  The Lord was with them in the fire.  They were not harmed. God protected them because they made the right choice. 

I pray all my fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord will follow the examples God has given us in His Word.  I pray they will stand up for right living.  I pray they will choose to do what they know is right no matter what anyone else says or does.  I pray they will steer clear of all forms of evil. 

Each person has a choice whether they will follow their own ways or whether they will follow the will of the Lord.  The Lord wants to be on the thrones we hold in our hearts. We are instructed that where our treasure is our heart will be there also.  If we treasure our own selfish ways above the ways of God we will self-destruct. A person cannot serve two masters.  A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. 

Follow God and be blessed.  Follow the world and get what the world offers knowing it won’t last forever.   

 

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Who Believes There Is A Lake Of Fire?

Friday, June 19th, 2009

Some people have said they believe in God but they don’t believe there is a lake of fire or any form of hell awaiting the souls of those who will not accept the truth.

The past couple of days I’ve been reminded of the hereafter.  I was talking with a Christian friend and he was reminded of how we won’t be able to take anything with us to heaven.  Christians talk about heaven because we believe that is where those who trust in God will be able to reside when life on earth is over.

People that believe in God’s Word should also see places where we are told there is another place for those who refuse to follow the path of life.  There is a second death mentioned in Revelation 20.  The devil and a lake of fire causing torment both day and night are both mentioned and you can also read about how people will be judged according to what they have done. 

Revelation 21:8 speaks of the lake of fire again and it tells what kind of people will be going there see: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Take a look at verse 27 seeing how nothing that can defile the Holy City will be placed in it: 

“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

I believe there is a devil, demons, a false prophet, and a beast.  There is a second death that includes much torment and there is a lake of fire. 

Anyone who reads the Bible can find these same things written in it.

The good news is there is salvation for those who believe. Those who believe will be able to enter the Holy City of God.  The City of God is also written about in Revelation 21.  See the first 5 verses of that Chapter below:

Revelation 21

 ”And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

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These Signs Will Follow Believers

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

Mark 16 tells us the signs that will follow believers.

These signs still follow believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

God is not dead.  The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is the same spirit that raises us from death to life.  We can have a victorious joy filled Christian life because Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

We can sing and shout those words, “I’m so glad Jesus set me free. I’m singing glory halleluia Jesus set me free.” and “satan had me bound but Jesus set me free. I’m singing glory halleluia Jesus set me free.”

If you are living in bondage or you know someone who is remember that the blood of Jesus washes us white as snow.  Demons have to flee and every knee will bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  There is no power anywhere that is able to separate you from the love of God.

Posted in Anger, Anxiety, Believers, Deceivers, Depression, Did you know this?, God Will Watch Over His Word, Loneliness, Miracles, Rebellion, Rejection, Resentment, Restoration, Selfishness, Suicide, Temptation, The Sin Of Stubbornness | No Comments »

Temptation Is Not From God

Monday, February 16th, 2009

I was reading from the book of James Chapter 1 this morning.

To be reminded that God will not tempt us is so encouraging.

Since we find that we are tempted by our own evil desires and lusts we know what to do with those desires that we know God did not send our way.  What are you supposed to do with the trash?  That’s right!  You place trash in trash bags and take them out of the house. 

In order for a Christian to keep their spiritual home clean and orderly they have to take time to examine themselves.  When they examine themselves and they see anything is out of order or unclean they need to gather up the ugly thoughts and things that they know God doesn’t want in their home (our bodies which are the temples of the Holy Ghost) and they need to take the trash out.

I’ve been doing some organizing in my physical home and my spiritual home lately.  It is not always easy to go through old stuff and it’s not especially fun to see things laying around that have to be gone through but it is wonderful when the work is all done.

I know we are not going to be totally perfect this side of heaven.  We will have times when we struggle with the battles we endure while living on earth.  We just have to recall that God wants us to think Holy thoughts and He wants us to fill our minds with His Word so we can resist the temptations that come from our own evil desires within us.

Don’t blame the devil for every thought that comes your way.  Even though the devil seeks whom he may devour he doesn’t have any control over your life unless you give it to him. 

Greater is HE THAT IS IN YOU than he who is in the world!  God gives the believer strength to do things different than the way the rest of the world does things. 

You are a Christian if you’ve been saved by acknowledging Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

God’s Word says this in II Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

IF you are in Christ you are a new creation.  The old things of your past are no longer a part of your life.  You are a brand new creature in Christ Jesus. 

When you see people from your past that may recall your ways from former days step right up to them and pray asking God to help you speak with words of conviction so they will know you are not the person you used to be.  You may even practice what you will say to such people just in case you are given an opportunity to speak to them again.

I was thinking about this today.  I thought of how I’d like to gently step forward and say something like, “I’m a new creature in Christ Jesus.  Jesus got a hold of my life and I’m just not the same person any more.  I’m so glad Jesus saved me and made me whole.  I’m happier when I wake up in the morning.  I know where to go to get peace when times are tough.  I’ve been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.”  & “Yeah, I once walked a life of shame and now I’m trying to serve the Lord that gave His life for me.” 

Posted in Believers, Changes, Temptation, Thoughts by E ~ | 1 Comment »

Believe

Wednesday, March 12th, 2008

I looked up the word believe finding it is in the King James Version of the Bible about 131 times.  If you add words that have believe in it like believed it can be found 280 or more times.

There are only 66 books in the Bible.  To find a word as powerful as the word believe in the Bible this many times signifies it’s importance I would think.

When I say the word believe is powerful I think of how it is an action word that can change your whole life.

When you ask God for wisdom you are to believe wavering not.  When you see the signs of those who believe you will find that they lay hands on the sick and they recover. If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ you will be saved.

In 2 Chronicles 20:20  we see this statement: “…..Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.”

I John 5:13 says, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

“But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” ~ That is found in Acts 15:11.

Christians are called believers because they believe Jesus was born of a virgin birth, that Jesus walked a sin free life, and that Jesus died on the cross for their sins.  They also believe God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Christians believe in the Word of God. 

What you believe in is what sets you apart as a Christian.  When you make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life putting Him on the throne of your heart you are a true believer.

 

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