1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
What kind of Christian are you? Or are you a Christian at all?? Is Christianity nothing more than fire insurance for your soul?
There are non believers that want nothing to do with Christ, and have chosen their own way. Christ will honor their desire and keep them eternally separated from Him.
Then there are believers in word only. These are the ones who honor God with their lips but their heart is far from them. (Matthew 15:8) God doesn’t impact these people at all, because, aside from being saved from Hell, they “don’t need Christ” for much else. Most of these “fire insurance” Christians will be very disapointed when they face the Judgment seat.
The dual life Christians are pious on Sunday, secular on Monday thru Saturday. They have their issues and know their sins are forgiven, but they cannot get past their addictions to whatever vice they may have, choose not to humble themselves to Jesus who can remove these sins and addictions from them, but instead surrender to the sinfull nature and expect to be forgiven. A dissapointing eternity awaits these as well; at best they are empty handed in Heaven.
The Christian striving to live by and with the Holy Spirit, who studies and obeys the word and prays, develops a mind that becomes a close and intimate relationsip with Jesus. The vices and sins of the past, while they still may remain temptations, are more easily disregarded. The power of God is making a significan impact in their life. Their judgment at the Bhema seat will reveal the treasure they have in Heaven.
Does your life glorify God?
February 7, 2011
February 5, 2011
Courage for Christ - 4
Genesis 6:14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch...
Imagine, the world becomming corrupt and violent; (Have you read the news today?) and one man who has none of that tainted gene pool, caused when fallen angels breed with humans, gets to hear from God directly: Make a big boat in the middle of a desert, and seal it nice and tight. It will house you, your family and a sampling of the entire animal kingdom.
It’s not recorded, but I’m sure Noah had questions. What’s an Ark? What’s a flood? How do I explain to the rabbits, “only two?” But Noah believed, and followed (Hebrews 11:7)
Imagine the ridicule Noah and his family received building this monster of a box: about one and a half times the length of a football field, with a length to width ratio of 6:1, (the same ratio shipbuilders use today) 3 stories high. There was no water anywhere nearby to float this thing. But build he did, amongst the insults, the mocking, the teasing.
Today, it appears more and more the days of Noah are fast approaching. It appears more and more we will need the faith of Noah to listen to God, hear and bravely obey His commands each of us will be given. For those with the courage to follow, the rewards shall be great! Noah’s reward was he and his family were the only human survivors of the great flood. Imagine what your rewards will be!
Imagine, the world becomming corrupt and violent; (Have you read the news today?) and one man who has none of that tainted gene pool, caused when fallen angels breed with humans, gets to hear from God directly: Make a big boat in the middle of a desert, and seal it nice and tight. It will house you, your family and a sampling of the entire animal kingdom.
It’s not recorded, but I’m sure Noah had questions. What’s an Ark? What’s a flood? How do I explain to the rabbits, “only two?” But Noah believed, and followed (Hebrews 11:7)
Imagine the ridicule Noah and his family received building this monster of a box: about one and a half times the length of a football field, with a length to width ratio of 6:1, (the same ratio shipbuilders use today) 3 stories high. There was no water anywhere nearby to float this thing. But build he did, amongst the insults, the mocking, the teasing.
Today, it appears more and more the days of Noah are fast approaching. It appears more and more we will need the faith of Noah to listen to God, hear and bravely obey His commands each of us will be given. For those with the courage to follow, the rewards shall be great! Noah’s reward was he and his family were the only human survivors of the great flood. Imagine what your rewards will be!
February 4, 2011
Courage for Christ - 3
2Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind
What are you afraid of? Persecution? A good solid mocking? Rejection? The latter seems to be the most common excuse for not being a bold witness for God. This excuse works well at work, too, for we all put off difficult, uncomfortable tasks and all to often end up wallowing in mediocrity. In addition, we use profainty, gossip, and rude and cold behavior to others, mostly because everyone else around us is doing it too. (Sheeple!:))))
But if God has given us the spirit of power and love, and of a sound mind, how much more are we capable of doing? Not just for God’s kingdom, but for your employer’s kingdom on earth; where we are supposed to be bearing fruit for His kingdom! This is where we are required to get uncomfortable with ourselves, and “do the difficult”.
Be that Christlike person in everything you do. Your actions will bear witness for Christ when words will never do.
What are you afraid of? Persecution? A good solid mocking? Rejection? The latter seems to be the most common excuse for not being a bold witness for God. This excuse works well at work, too, for we all put off difficult, uncomfortable tasks and all to often end up wallowing in mediocrity. In addition, we use profainty, gossip, and rude and cold behavior to others, mostly because everyone else around us is doing it too. (Sheeple!:))))
But if God has given us the spirit of power and love, and of a sound mind, how much more are we capable of doing? Not just for God’s kingdom, but for your employer’s kingdom on earth; where we are supposed to be bearing fruit for His kingdom! This is where we are required to get uncomfortable with ourselves, and “do the difficult”.
Be that Christlike person in everything you do. Your actions will bear witness for Christ when words will never do.
February 3, 2011
Courage for Christ - 2
Numbers 13:30 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."
God has given Canaan to the Israelites. It is indeed a land of milk and honey. But the inhabitants at the time were many, and they were huge! Ten of the witnesses convinced the others of the impossible task before them. Two of them pointed out the victory before them since God was the one really in charge.
Ten wimps, and two men of faith and courage. The wimps never saw their reward. Only the men of faith and courage entered the promised land. Where are you in this eternal struggle? Do you stand up or stand down for the Lord? Christ can sure use more courage and fewer excuses.
God has given Canaan to the Israelites. It is indeed a land of milk and honey. But the inhabitants at the time were many, and they were huge! Ten of the witnesses convinced the others of the impossible task before them. Two of them pointed out the victory before them since God was the one really in charge.
Ten wimps, and two men of faith and courage. The wimps never saw their reward. Only the men of faith and courage entered the promised land. Where are you in this eternal struggle? Do you stand up or stand down for the Lord? Christ can sure use more courage and fewer excuses.
December 28, 2010
Is it the beginning of the end?
Or is it the end of the beginning?
In the spring of 2008, I could see the beginning of my company’s demise. But I had no idea what that would mean to myself, my wife, family and friends. Neighboring retail stores were closing up shop; many to retire, others relocated, and more just shut down. In total, seventeen stores would close down in a three block stretch of this downtown over a two year period. Ours was the 14th of 17.
The seeds of this demise started before we started our business. They were sewn before I was born. These seeds were planted in the early 20th century, when a few key people decided we didn’t need God anymore, man is now intelligent enough to solve all of man’s problems. Man can create a perfect paradise right here on earth.
Meanwhile, while God is watching all of this, He orchestrates the return of a remnant of His people, the Jews; Israelites scattered from 2000 years prior; to return to their native land, Israel. (No, not Palestine. Palestine was only a name given to the area by Rome.) As other nations went to war against this tiny country, they have always been soundly defeated. God promised He would bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel. As you can see, God is still keeping this promise.
These same intellectuals who tell us we evolved from apes are preventing us from praying in public or displaying anything Christian in nature (in the name of separation of church and state); while we spend millions of taxpayer dollars funding an Islamic (trophy) center near the World Trade Center (in the name of freedom of religion). Do you see a pattern?
Since God got kicked out of our schools, crime has skyrocketed, we went from being the largest creditor nation to being the largest debtor nation, selling our children and grandchildren into a state of bondage where we will work for other’s prosperity and receive crumbs for our efforts. Our largest exports are frivolous entertainment, computer software and printed, paper dollars. We import 70 of our energy in spite of having all the resources we need within our boundaries. Our very government who has created these energy shortages will not permit us to access them, due to their “Environmentally sensitive nature”. We produce half of the world’s food yet we import more food than any other country in the world. This reversal of fortune has taken place in less than 50 years. Abandon God, and He abandons us. (Read Deuteronomy 28 for a list of rewards for following as well as the list of curses for abandoning God.)
But I too, thought I had it all figured out. I believed, like the bankers, a huge inflation was on its way, not a recession/ depression. I used as much of other peoples’ money as I could, thinking I could pay it all back in diluted dollars. So while I leveraged my finances 8 fold, the banks leveraged themselves 80 fold! And we all fell like the house of cards we were. It was only when I realized how much of our wealth has been being sucked out of the United States did I figure out why things happened the way they did.
1. We abandoned our Lord and our God and we are now paying the price for it.
2. No money left. We wasted it all. We borrowed more, and wasted it too. We print even more and waste that as well.
3. Our arrogance and self pride have given every two bit dictator the challenge to “take pot shots” at us, in order to knock us down a notch or two. And they’re succeeding. In many instances we actually pay them for their efforts at “taking pot shots” at us!
There are actually multiple solutions to this predicament we face ourselves with. God is in the miracle business. He is also in the blessing business. Our Lord and our God will return to us, if we return to Him. He will bless us as we bless Him, and His nation Israel. The other alternative is the United States will come to an end, very soon. If this is what happens, we should all pray that he blesses and protects all of us who honor and love Him in all we do. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
In the spring of 2008, I could see the beginning of my company’s demise. But I had no idea what that would mean to myself, my wife, family and friends. Neighboring retail stores were closing up shop; many to retire, others relocated, and more just shut down. In total, seventeen stores would close down in a three block stretch of this downtown over a two year period. Ours was the 14th of 17.
The seeds of this demise started before we started our business. They were sewn before I was born. These seeds were planted in the early 20th century, when a few key people decided we didn’t need God anymore, man is now intelligent enough to solve all of man’s problems. Man can create a perfect paradise right here on earth.
Meanwhile, while God is watching all of this, He orchestrates the return of a remnant of His people, the Jews; Israelites scattered from 2000 years prior; to return to their native land, Israel. (No, not Palestine. Palestine was only a name given to the area by Rome.) As other nations went to war against this tiny country, they have always been soundly defeated. God promised He would bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel. As you can see, God is still keeping this promise.
These same intellectuals who tell us we evolved from apes are preventing us from praying in public or displaying anything Christian in nature (in the name of separation of church and state); while we spend millions of taxpayer dollars funding an Islamic (trophy) center near the World Trade Center (in the name of freedom of religion). Do you see a pattern?
Since God got kicked out of our schools, crime has skyrocketed, we went from being the largest creditor nation to being the largest debtor nation, selling our children and grandchildren into a state of bondage where we will work for other’s prosperity and receive crumbs for our efforts. Our largest exports are frivolous entertainment, computer software and printed, paper dollars. We import 70 of our energy in spite of having all the resources we need within our boundaries. Our very government who has created these energy shortages will not permit us to access them, due to their “Environmentally sensitive nature”. We produce half of the world’s food yet we import more food than any other country in the world. This reversal of fortune has taken place in less than 50 years. Abandon God, and He abandons us. (Read Deuteronomy 28 for a list of rewards for following as well as the list of curses for abandoning God.)
But I too, thought I had it all figured out. I believed, like the bankers, a huge inflation was on its way, not a recession/ depression. I used as much of other peoples’ money as I could, thinking I could pay it all back in diluted dollars. So while I leveraged my finances 8 fold, the banks leveraged themselves 80 fold! And we all fell like the house of cards we were. It was only when I realized how much of our wealth has been being sucked out of the United States did I figure out why things happened the way they did.
1. We abandoned our Lord and our God and we are now paying the price for it.
2. No money left. We wasted it all. We borrowed more, and wasted it too. We print even more and waste that as well.
3. Our arrogance and self pride have given every two bit dictator the challenge to “take pot shots” at us, in order to knock us down a notch or two. And they’re succeeding. In many instances we actually pay them for their efforts at “taking pot shots” at us!
There are actually multiple solutions to this predicament we face ourselves with. God is in the miracle business. He is also in the blessing business. Our Lord and our God will return to us, if we return to Him. He will bless us as we bless Him, and His nation Israel. The other alternative is the United States will come to an end, very soon. If this is what happens, we should all pray that he blesses and protects all of us who honor and love Him in all we do. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)