- Details
- Hits: 141
Some helpful Scripture:
Romans 4:17-21
Abraham’s name when he was born was Abram which meant “exalted father.” Yet when he was married, he found that his wife couldn’t have children. She was barren. Humanly speaking, he not only could not be an exalted father, but he also couldn’t be a father at all. God wanted to make a nation out of Abram, a nation into which He could send Jesus, our Savior and King! He told Abram that Sarah was going to have a baby! The Bible says of Abram, “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief ; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” (Romans 4: 19-21). God later changed Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning, “father of a multitude,” and raised up a nation of his descendants into which Jesus was born.
When we sense that God is leading us to do something or receive something that seems humanly impossible, or we are challenged to pray for something that we know is right and in God’s will yet seems humanly impossible, I believe we should follow Abraham’s example. I believe that we should be “fully persuaded” and “strong in faith” and that we should “stagger not at the promises of God” through unbelief but that we should believe that what He has promised He will perform!
- Details
- Hits: 184
Some Scripture verses to consider:
Acts 19:23-34
Some people know how to agitate a crowd to accomplish their purposes. When a crowd is perturbed, it is often hard to calm them down. We must be careful about our influence, and we need God’s help as to what to do if a crowd is agitated against us. Sometimes we need to give advice to others if they want to do something that is not wise about an upset crowd. Also, we need to listen to others and to seek God’s advice if we are going to attempt to calm an upset crowd. We must be careful about crowd theology. It is easy to follow a crowd doing the wrong thing when we think they are a part of a group we believe in or are a part of.
I got caught up in a crowd one time when we were missionaries in Mexico. I was at a car agency getting ready to pay for repairs on the mission vehicle when all of a sudden everyone around me started moving toward the door. I was moving with them, caught up in the group. I went with them for a distance, and then said to myself, “I don’t belong in this crowd”, and I turned around and went back where I had been when the movement started. I found out later that some students had burned a bus. There was some political unrest in the country at the time. Evidently the group had been moving toward the scene of the burning bus. I can testify that it is easy to be caught up in a crowd! Let’s be careful that we not get caught going where we should not go.
We should not become a part of an out-of-control crowd just because they are a part of our party or of our race or because they are a part of any group we are a part of or favor. Some people who join an agitated crowd don’t even know why they are there.
We must be reasonable, godly and make the right decisions about our behavior. Prejudice often allows people to be a part of an out-of-control group. The crowd that this scripture passage talks about was out of control for about two hours because of a false belief. If we can get people to listen to us and we can give them the facts they can believe, we can often guide them in the right direction. Sometimes it is a challenge to get people to listen. Right is right and wrong is wrong
whether it is done by our group or someone else’s. We must be careful about following the crowd and going along with beliefs because a crowd of people believe them. Just because “everybody is doing it” doesn’t necessarily mean it is the right thing to do.
- Details
- Hits: 1745
Scripture verses:
Philippians 4:6-8
1 Peter 5:7
1 John 2:1+2
In a recent Sunday School lesson, I got an insight. God is in control! I knew that before, but it hit me in a new way. God is in control, so I don’t have to worry. God sometimes brings difficulty in our lives because we have sinned. He is trying to wake us up, so we’ll confess our sin, find forgiveness and get back on track with Him. That is a win, win situation when we get back into right relationship with God!
Another reason God brings challenges into our lives is that He wants us to grow in our lives with Him. We go through the difficulty with His help, and we grow! That also is a win, win situation!
Also, because God is in control, He doesn’t allow anything to come into our lives that we can’t handle with His help. That is a win, win situation!
I am all excited that God is in control in my Christian life! I don’t have to worry!
As Christians, we don’t have to worry, because God is in control!
- Details
- Hits: 227
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19.
Recent conversations have led me to think about transition time, the time when we pass from this life to the next. I see a problem that we must avoid in order to help us when we come to that time. I see that people who don’t realize who the Center of the universe is struggle when this time comes to them. People who believe that they are the center of the universe see that center deteriorating. They lose power and control. Their body and mind become weaker and less able. Their center is deteriorating and everything seems to be crashing down upon them. Those who know that God is the Center of the universe know that the Center of their universe remains strong and in control when they come to that time of transition.
A godly man we knew in Cuba who suffered terribly from cancer and kept his hope in God passed to death from life with a smile on his face. He told us when we visited him before transition time that he wanted to go to heaven. He said that if God wanted to heal him and let him live longer on earth that would be alright, or if God wanted him to remain on earth longer suffering from the pain of cancer, he was willing for whatever God allowed him to go through. He knew who the Center of the universe was, and his passing was sweet.
One who was protected by her family from knowing who the Center of the universe was had a horrible death. They kept her believing in the family religion instead of having the privilege of knowing who Jesus is and who the Center of the universe is. When her transition time came, she screamed and said, “Don’t let me go! Don’t let me go! It is so dark!”
When Grandpa Boyer came to his transition time, he said, “Oh the angels!” with great anticipation of heaven. He knew who the Center of the universe was.
Philosophers Nietzsche and Voltaire who spoke against the Center of the universe, claiming that they did not believe in God, found out when they were transitioning that God did exist. Both men thought it was too late for them, and they went out into eternity without the assurance of a welcome into heaven.,
Don’t be among those who are off center. Too many are missing the mark on p
urpose.
- Details
- Hits: 265
Scripture Reading: Luke 18:(18-23) +(35-43).
Some Key Verses:
|
18:18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
18:35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 18:38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
|
Two Blind Men, One Rich and One Poor!
We must receive the kingdom of God as a child. The rich young ruler made a bad executive choice and a bad financial choice. He chose great earthly riches which he was only steward of for a limited time over companionship and ministry with Jesus and to be in heaven forever with everlasting treasures. His riches caused him grief. To be totally committed to Jesus not only gives us eternal rewards, but we are also better off here on this earth! We need God’s help in order to enter into the kingdom of heaven, and we must not allow riches to keep us out of heaven. Love of riches can keep us out of heaven. Jesus hears the voice of the blind ones and heals them. The rich young ruler didn’t follow Jesus, but the formerly blind man did. The rich young ruler could have been a formerly rich man who followed Jesus. He also could have been a formerly blind man who followed Jesus, because he was blinded by riches.