John 21:15 "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, Lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, yea Lord; thou knowest that I love thee, He saith unto him, Feed my lambs".
Feed my lambs! these are the instructions given to us by our Savior. Those of us who have been blessed to have received the bread of heaven, are now instructed by the Savior to feed his lambs. Jesus has revealed himself to us that he is the Christ,the son of the living God, and we are now to feed this truth to a lost and dying world. This is the design of his precious Gospel, it wasn't written for a pastime, nor was it published for a profit, but it was written and published so that lost man could be brought to Christ. We don't need to dress it up or add anything to it, the gospel will do what it was designed to do. It was not designed to feed the flesh of man, but to give life to the spirit of man.
Jesus ask Peter if he loved him more than he loved these, and he is asking us the same question? Do you love me more than you love these things, and these people who occupy your life. Do you love me more than your friends, family, and even yourself. Jesus wanted to know the extent of Peters love for him, he wants to know the extent of our love for him. He already knows but he wants to know if we know, are we willing to lose our life to save it. So he says "If you love me feed my lambs." If we truly love God we should be willing to lay aside our will and petty differences and feed those he died for. Someone shared the good news to us, and we should be willing to share it with someone else. The same gospel which lead us to Christ, will lead someone else to Christ. Feed them with the word of God that they might be wise unto salvation.
The world is hungry for the truth of the gospel, and this is evident by all the hatred we see. We might not be able to feed everybody we want, but let us feed all that we can, that a lost world might come to know the love of God and the joy of His salvation.
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Friday, May 29, 2015
Give It To Jesus
2 Corinthians 9:7 every man according as he puroseth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: For God loveth a cheerful giver".
This Christian life we have been called to live is one of total surrender. God has called us from the darkness into His marvelous light, and one cannot be the light and live in darkness at the same time; no one will cancel out the other. This is a all or nothing way of life.
God doesn't force His will, word, or way on any of us. Man has the free will to make a choice as to whom he will serve. But man doesn't have the choice of how he will serve. Jesus said you are either for Him or against Him. The word of God says He will spit the lukewarm out of His mouth. God wants us to give to Him willingly and cheerfully. He wants us to give Him our all, and to give Him our everything. We must trust that God can do more with that which we have than we can. No it is not about money, God don't need your money the silver and gold is His, no He wants your life and for you to be willing to give it to Him cheerfully. Give it to Him because He paid for it, give it to Him because He knows what is best for you. Give it to Him because he loves you so much that He gave His life for you.
God wants us to give to Him cheerfully and not sparingly. Surrender to Him your whole life that He might be your God and we His people. He said He would withhold no good thing from us, so let us not withhold nothing from Him. Give Him everything and give it cheerfully that you might be blessed abundantly.
This Christian life we have been called to live is one of total surrender. God has called us from the darkness into His marvelous light, and one cannot be the light and live in darkness at the same time; no one will cancel out the other. This is a all or nothing way of life.
God doesn't force His will, word, or way on any of us. Man has the free will to make a choice as to whom he will serve. But man doesn't have the choice of how he will serve. Jesus said you are either for Him or against Him. The word of God says He will spit the lukewarm out of His mouth. God wants us to give to Him willingly and cheerfully. He wants us to give Him our all, and to give Him our everything. We must trust that God can do more with that which we have than we can. No it is not about money, God don't need your money the silver and gold is His, no He wants your life and for you to be willing to give it to Him cheerfully. Give it to Him because He paid for it, give it to Him because He knows what is best for you. Give it to Him because he loves you so much that He gave His life for you.
God wants us to give to Him cheerfully and not sparingly. Surrender to Him your whole life that He might be your God and we His people. He said He would withhold no good thing from us, so let us not withhold nothing from Him. Give Him everything and give it cheerfully that you might be blessed abundantly.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Answer Your Own Call
Mark 16:1-2 " And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came to the sepulcher at the rising of the sun".
We have all been called to service for the Lord. We all have a calling and no one calling is more important than another, yet every calling must be fulfilled for the building of the kingdom and the strengthening of the body. We can't let anything interfere with that which God has called us to do, we must just go forth trusting that God will provide us with everything we need to complete the task He has placed before us.
In our text today, Jesus had been crucified and buried in a borrowed tomb. There were women who got together some spices to anoint His body. Now they got up early in the morning to go do what it was that they were led by the spirit of God to do. They didn't let the fact that there were guards at the tomb, or the fact that a large stone blocked the tombs entrance cause them to wonder worry or waver in what it was they wanted to do for the Lord. We too must not let anything cause use to waver or hinder us in our duty for the Lord. When they had arrived at the tomb a angel had removed the stone and taken care of the guards. Even though Jesus wasn't there when they arrived they did there part, and were the first witnesses to the truth that He has risen and were instructed to go share the good news.
When God calls us to a duty we must remember He is the author and the finisher of our faith. If He call you to it , He will see you through it. We must just do our part and trust God to do His part. His word tells us He will supply our every need. We must realize that our needs are not always going to be material things. He also provides us with all we need to do that which He has called us to. Let us just do our part.
We have all been called to service for the Lord. We all have a calling and no one calling is more important than another, yet every calling must be fulfilled for the building of the kingdom and the strengthening of the body. We can't let anything interfere with that which God has called us to do, we must just go forth trusting that God will provide us with everything we need to complete the task He has placed before us.
In our text today, Jesus had been crucified and buried in a borrowed tomb. There were women who got together some spices to anoint His body. Now they got up early in the morning to go do what it was that they were led by the spirit of God to do. They didn't let the fact that there were guards at the tomb, or the fact that a large stone blocked the tombs entrance cause them to wonder worry or waver in what it was they wanted to do for the Lord. We too must not let anything cause use to waver or hinder us in our duty for the Lord. When they had arrived at the tomb a angel had removed the stone and taken care of the guards. Even though Jesus wasn't there when they arrived they did there part, and were the first witnesses to the truth that He has risen and were instructed to go share the good news.
When God calls us to a duty we must remember He is the author and the finisher of our faith. If He call you to it , He will see you through it. We must just do our part and trust God to do His part. His word tells us He will supply our every need. We must realize that our needs are not always going to be material things. He also provides us with all we need to do that which He has called us to. Let us just do our part.
Monday, May 25, 2015
Saved From Sin
John 1:29 "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the lamb of God,which taketh away the sin of the world."
This is what God did to secure forgiveness for us once and for all, Jesus' execution. He was lifted up in the same way that the snake was lifted up on a pole in Moses' day so that the people could look upon it and be forgiven for their sins. He was disfigured and marred beyond recognition. Jesus allowed his flesh to be crushed, ripped and torn, and in spite of His God-given mission to bring redemption to the world, He was despised and rejected by men.
Jesus mission was to bear the burden of our sins. He took upon himself the punishment we deserved for our sins, and he suffered on behalf of us, suffering that included being whipped all night long by a band of soilder, he was spitt on, slapped with an open hand, mocked and pierced in his side. He endured the excruciating pain of his execution knowing that there might be spiritual restoration, for those who put their trust in him. All of us are sinners, and all are in need of spiritual redemption. Jesus secured that redemption with the shedding of his blood, for without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin.
Jesus didn't open his mouth and complain about his treatment. Like a lamb being led to slaughter, he yeilded to his fate without resistance. He was the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus was God's sacrificial lamb, a lamb slaughtered on the altar as an atoning sacrifice. He was also the scapegoat, the one who separates sin from the sinner so God can look at us sinners and see us as sinless. All that was needed to purchase redemption for man was done through Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross. Behold the love of God!
This is what God did to secure forgiveness for us once and for all, Jesus' execution. He was lifted up in the same way that the snake was lifted up on a pole in Moses' day so that the people could look upon it and be forgiven for their sins. He was disfigured and marred beyond recognition. Jesus allowed his flesh to be crushed, ripped and torn, and in spite of His God-given mission to bring redemption to the world, He was despised and rejected by men.
Jesus mission was to bear the burden of our sins. He took upon himself the punishment we deserved for our sins, and he suffered on behalf of us, suffering that included being whipped all night long by a band of soilder, he was spitt on, slapped with an open hand, mocked and pierced in his side. He endured the excruciating pain of his execution knowing that there might be spiritual restoration, for those who put their trust in him. All of us are sinners, and all are in need of spiritual redemption. Jesus secured that redemption with the shedding of his blood, for without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin.
Jesus didn't open his mouth and complain about his treatment. Like a lamb being led to slaughter, he yeilded to his fate without resistance. He was the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus was God's sacrificial lamb, a lamb slaughtered on the altar as an atoning sacrifice. He was also the scapegoat, the one who separates sin from the sinner so God can look at us sinners and see us as sinless. All that was needed to purchase redemption for man was done through Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross. Behold the love of God!
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Without Spot Or Blemish
Matthew 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect".
God's goal is to build spiritually mature, godly character in us in this life, making us more Christ like. We also have a part to play in building eternal godly character, by remaining faithful to God and His word, regardless of the temptations which pulls us to the contrary.
God's goal is to build spiritually mature, godly character in us in this life, making us more Christ like. We also have a part to play in building eternal godly character, by remaining faithful to God and His word, regardless of the temptations which pulls us to the contrary.
We must resist the urge to do things we know go against God's will for our life. We must ,by faith, live knowing God will strengthen us to endure whatever trials the enemy sends our way in this life. Because when we don't we compromise, and when we compromise we tear down the character God is helping us to build. Every time we give in to temptations, it makes it easier to give in to the next one, and the next one and so on. Being faithful is necessary for building a good Christian character. Compromise is especially dangerous because of the insidious way it spreads, it grows like a cancer. It comes on slowly, then spreads, before we know anything, we can find ourselves in grave spiritual danger, and in a fight for our spiritual lives. We must realize what ever is not from faith is sin (romans 14:23)If our actions are not done in faith or according to faith we are sinning. Let us be careful not to violate our conscience(1 pet.3:15-16).
God wants us to live within the boundaries and standards He has set for us, to change our values, attitudes, thoughts and actions so they are in line with His standards. The process of conversion is allowing God to work in us, replacing our standards, values and thoughts with God's standards, values and thought, that we might be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect. That we might truly be Christ like in our living.
Friday, May 22, 2015
Without A Care In The World
Psalms 23:1 " The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
Sheep are said to be dumb, feeble, humble and vulnerable creature. But yet they still tend to live a life as though they don't have a care in the world. They go where they are lead, and trust that the shepherd will not only protect them but also will supply their every need.
We too according to the word of God are also sheep. We are dumb feeble creatures who also need a shepherd. But unlike true sheep, we sometimes live a life which doubts our shepherd, even though He is said to be the good shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. We live as though He is unable to do what a good shepherd does, care for the sheep. He tells us to cast all our cares upon Him, to lean on Him, to trust in Him, to believe in Him and to follow His lead, yet like sheep without a shepherd we wonder aimlessly through life falling off cliff after cliff, to dumb to realize He is the way. Jesus is our shepherd and He will do just what He said, if we will just trust and believe.
Here David tells us that there is a reason He shall not want, Want for anything as he confesses the Lord as His shepherd. This is a personal thing, you first have to know the Lord personally, and accept Him as your personal shepherd. When you do this and believe this then you too can live like a true sheep without a care in the world..
Sheep are said to be dumb, feeble, humble and vulnerable creature. But yet they still tend to live a life as though they don't have a care in the world. They go where they are lead, and trust that the shepherd will not only protect them but also will supply their every need.
We too according to the word of God are also sheep. We are dumb feeble creatures who also need a shepherd. But unlike true sheep, we sometimes live a life which doubts our shepherd, even though He is said to be the good shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. We live as though He is unable to do what a good shepherd does, care for the sheep. He tells us to cast all our cares upon Him, to lean on Him, to trust in Him, to believe in Him and to follow His lead, yet like sheep without a shepherd we wonder aimlessly through life falling off cliff after cliff, to dumb to realize He is the way. Jesus is our shepherd and He will do just what He said, if we will just trust and believe.
Here David tells us that there is a reason He shall not want, Want for anything as he confesses the Lord as His shepherd. This is a personal thing, you first have to know the Lord personally, and accept Him as your personal shepherd. When you do this and believe this then you too can live like a true sheep without a care in the world..
Monday, May 18, 2015
All My Heart
Proverbs23:" My son,give me thine heart,and let thine eyes observe my ways".
God wants us to give to Him cheerfully and not sparingly. Surrender to Him your whole life that He might be your God and we His people. He said He would withhold no good thing from us , so let us not withhold nothing from Him. Give Him everything and give it cheerfully that you might be blessed abundantly.
He is the regulator of the heart. Can you deny him anything, whose goodness created us, whose favor elected us, whose mercy redeemed us, whose wisdom converted us, whose grace preserved us, whose glory shall glorify us? How can we deny his request for our hearts?
God wants us to give to Him cheerfully and not sparingly. Surrender to Him your whole life that He might be your God and we His people. He said He would withhold no good thing from us , so let us not withhold nothing from Him. Give Him everything and give it cheerfully that you might be blessed abundantly.
Of all the people and things in this world seeking our hearts, none other is worthy of them but God. You shall give it to your Father who gave it to you, so give God your heart and by that know that you are his son." My son, give me thine heart" for two reasons: Because unless the heart is truly given, nothing is given; and if the heart is given, then all is given. Let us not think we can give him parts of the hearts and leave some room in our hearts for the evils of the world. We must surrender our whole heart to God, and give him everything. It is God who keeps the heart beating, and it is his power that prepares it for heaven. God gave us his heart which was Jesus, and in return we must give him our heart.
He is the regulator of the heart. Can you deny him anything, whose goodness created us, whose favor elected us, whose mercy redeemed us, whose wisdom converted us, whose grace preserved us, whose glory shall glorify us? How can we deny his request for our hearts?
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