Be Aware Of Adversaries
1 Kings 11:13 Then the Lord raised up against Solomon, an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom,
Hadad was an Edomite. They were descendants of Esua. Yes, that's right, the brother to Jacob. The Edomites were an enemy to Israel. Joab had tried to eliminate all the men of Edom, but this man Edom had escaped as a boy to Egypt. Hearing that King David had died, he purposed to avenge his family.
K and A, I say all this to make sure you know that not all will be peaches and cream, peanut butter and jelly, or cake and ice cream. Not all will go just the way we think it should. sometimes our potatoes will have no gravy, and our cake no icing. This is normal. But, take heart you can overcome them by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus said that troubles will come but take heart for you can overcome just as he did. Daughters, God will give you victory over the enemy. Put your trust in him!
~Dad
Sunday, July 21, 2019
Sunday, July 7, 2019
Amen, Jude 1:25
Amen
Jude 1:25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Well, I probably told this story before... but here we go again... When I grew up, we had a pastor in the Ickesburg area that had two churches during the same period my father pastored at Saville. His name; the Reverend James Gold. He had several quirks, yet everyone loved him and his wife, Elenore. The most prevalent characteristic to me was his booming voice. He learned to project it and he could do it well! We had many community services between churches for Grandpa and he had a strong relationship. The one word that always reminds me of him is "amen". Actually it is... A-MEN! I rarely hear the word without repeating in my head as he would say it. He said it and all knew that that one word ended the service. There was nothing more to be said!
And, that is how this verse and this book ends, A-MEN! Nothing more to be said! God, the only God. God, our Savior, the One to whom all honor is due! There is no greater power or authority. Not now nor will there ever be! Throughout the ages all glory and majesty belong to him and to his son Jesus Christ our Lord!!! A-MEN! (That says it all, there's nothing more to be said.)
~Dad
Jude 1:25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Well, I probably told this story before... but here we go again... When I grew up, we had a pastor in the Ickesburg area that had two churches during the same period my father pastored at Saville. His name; the Reverend James Gold. He had several quirks, yet everyone loved him and his wife, Elenore. The most prevalent characteristic to me was his booming voice. He learned to project it and he could do it well! We had many community services between churches for Grandpa and he had a strong relationship. The one word that always reminds me of him is "amen". Actually it is... A-MEN! I rarely hear the word without repeating in my head as he would say it. He said it and all knew that that one word ended the service. There was nothing more to be said!
And, that is how this verse and this book ends, A-MEN! Nothing more to be said! God, the only God. God, our Savior, the One to whom all honor is due! There is no greater power or authority. Not now nor will there ever be! Throughout the ages all glory and majesty belong to him and to his son Jesus Christ our Lord!!! A-MEN! (That says it all, there's nothing more to be said.)
~Dad
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Don't Fall, Jude 1:24
Don't Fall
Jude 1:24 To him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy
Who is that can keep us from falling back into a life of sin? The Spirit of the Living God is able to keep us from falling! If we draw close to him and lean on his arms of grace, we will be given the strength to stand through any temptation without succumbing to its power and our weaknesses. Praise be to God, we can live without sin!
K and A, know that a clean life is possible. Is it possible to sin after initial salvation? Certainly. Is it possible to fall from away from God? Sadly, yes. You have the responsibility to live a life of obedience to God, but take heart, Jesus can keep you from falling, so he can present you to his father without fault... This gives him great joy, not to mention what it will do for you!
~Dad
Jude 1:24 To him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy
Who is that can keep us from falling back into a life of sin? The Spirit of the Living God is able to keep us from falling! If we draw close to him and lean on his arms of grace, we will be given the strength to stand through any temptation without succumbing to its power and our weaknesses. Praise be to God, we can live without sin!
K and A, know that a clean life is possible. Is it possible to sin after initial salvation? Certainly. Is it possible to fall from away from God? Sadly, yes. You have the responsibility to live a life of obedience to God, but take heart, Jesus can keep you from falling, so he can present you to his father without fault... This gives him great joy, not to mention what it will do for you!
~Dad
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Relating To Non-Christians, Jude 1:22-23
Relating To Non-Christians
Jude 1:22-23 Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear - hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
The last part of this verse we will save for the next time...
How are we to respond to the non-believer? In the past we called them sinners. But, who would dare belittle someone today? It is better to come around the sinner, and declare that we all are sinners! When we do that, it becomes harder to help them see their need of a savior. So how should we approach them...
Be Merciful - When we know someone who doubts who Jesus is, do not be harsh with them. Be merciful, giving grace and patience, so their doubt turn into hope.
Snatch Them From the Fire - Sin is real and its penalty is death, eternal death, but God desires to will deliver them and save them from the fiery pit. He expects us to help him,
Show Mercy - sounds quite similar to the first one, but with it comes a warning - we must be careful that we do not get snagged by the sins that so entangles.
K and A, you must be willing to reach out to the lost. How will they ever know if they have not been told. Be gently with them. Remember, you too were once a sinner, and if no one told you, you would still be in a state of denial! First, be thankful that someone willing to see your spiritual need, then reach out for others and lovingly take along to heaven, knowing that if not for Christ, you would be stuck in your sin, separate from God.
~Dad
Jude 1:22-23 Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear - hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
The last part of this verse we will save for the next time...
How are we to respond to the non-believer? In the past we called them sinners. But, who would dare belittle someone today? It is better to come around the sinner, and declare that we all are sinners! When we do that, it becomes harder to help them see their need of a savior. So how should we approach them...
Be Merciful - When we know someone who doubts who Jesus is, do not be harsh with them. Be merciful, giving grace and patience, so their doubt turn into hope.
Snatch Them From the Fire - Sin is real and its penalty is death, eternal death, but God desires to will deliver them and save them from the fiery pit. He expects us to help him,
Show Mercy - sounds quite similar to the first one, but with it comes a warning - we must be careful that we do not get snagged by the sins that so entangles.
K and A, you must be willing to reach out to the lost. How will they ever know if they have not been told. Be gently with them. Remember, you too were once a sinner, and if no one told you, you would still be in a state of denial! First, be thankful that someone willing to see your spiritual need, then reach out for others and lovingly take along to heaven, knowing that if not for Christ, you would be stuck in your sin, separate from God.
~Dad
Sunday, June 16, 2019
Three Things To Do Until Christ Returns, Jude 1:20-21
Three Things to Do Until Christ Returns
Jude 1:20-21 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in the most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Christ is coming back! When he comes, he will have mercy on all who are his, but his return will not be so pleasant for the ungodly. They are destine for the fiery lake of burning sulfur!
For those of us who belong to God, Jude gives us three things to do until Christ returns:
Jude 1:20-21 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in the most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Christ is coming back! When he comes, he will have mercy on all who are his, but his return will not be so pleasant for the ungodly. They are destine for the fiery lake of burning sulfur!
For those of us who belong to God, Jude gives us three things to do until Christ returns:
- Build ourselves in the most holy faith
- This would including Bible study and prayer, fellowshipping with other believers - as iron sharpens iron.
- Pray in the Holy Spirit
- To me, this relates to God directing our prayer; what we should pray for and being filled with the Spirit in order to know how to pray; praying in accordance with the duties of the Spirit
- Keeping oneself in the love of God
- We know the Lord loves those who obey his commands. We must do the things we know to do and flee the evil things of this world not letting ourselves become soiled by the world around us.
K and A, If you desire the mercy of God in your life today and in the eternity to come, you will need to continue in your walk with the Lord. It is not enough to once been saved. Salvation is a life-long commitment of following Christ. Flee the passions and desires of the world and do not your natural desires control you, rather be self-controlled, doing what the Word of God says. Then, when the end comes... at the end of your life or in the Day of the Lord, you will stand before him with confidence and his mercy will be upon you!
~Dad
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
She's A Natural, Jude 1:19
She's A Natural
Jude 1:19 These men who divide you follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
When we select people from within the church to lead the church based merely on their capable talents, we hurt spiritual health of the church. There are those who appear to be natural leaders, others who are talented handling money, some are great organizers, but it is wrong to choose elders of the church who do not have a spiritual relationship with Christ. It only serves to divide the church during crucial decision making times. It is then when the wisdom of the world begins to take over the church and leads her awry.
K and A, I do believe that you were born more inclined to excel in certain areas of life than others. These God-given talents can be groomed to become well developed skills. You are a natural at something. What is that, you may ask? That isn't the important focus right now, what the focus needs to be is your spiritual talents. As the Spirit fills your soul and life, you are given spiritual gifts that he will use in the Kingdom of God. They will work along side any natural or developed talents. It is at that time when your Spirit-guided instincts become effective in building the church, helping fellow believers to come together to serve and worship the Lord. This is the leadership that is needed. You are the leadership that is needed. With the Spirit, you are a true natural!
~Dad
Jude 1:19 These men who divide you follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
When we select people from within the church to lead the church based merely on their capable talents, we hurt spiritual health of the church. There are those who appear to be natural leaders, others who are talented handling money, some are great organizers, but it is wrong to choose elders of the church who do not have a spiritual relationship with Christ. It only serves to divide the church during crucial decision making times. It is then when the wisdom of the world begins to take over the church and leads her awry.
K and A, I do believe that you were born more inclined to excel in certain areas of life than others. These God-given talents can be groomed to become well developed skills. You are a natural at something. What is that, you may ask? That isn't the important focus right now, what the focus needs to be is your spiritual talents. As the Spirit fills your soul and life, you are given spiritual gifts that he will use in the Kingdom of God. They will work along side any natural or developed talents. It is at that time when your Spirit-guided instincts become effective in building the church, helping fellow believers to come together to serve and worship the Lord. This is the leadership that is needed. You are the leadership that is needed. With the Spirit, you are a true natural!
~Dad
Monday, June 10, 2019
In The Last Days, Jude 1:17-18
In The Last Days
Jude 1:18 They said to you, In the last times, there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires."
In the last days... Jesus warns about the end times. He says that before the end comes, there will be earthquakes, wars, rumors of wars, famine and pestilence, and fearful events. Paul talks about how there will be terrible times in the last days. Certainly, times will be tough among both Christians and as Jude calls them, the ungodly. Even in the church, it will be bad. The ungodly will infiltrate the church and will scoff at common doctrine. They will cause trouble and try to divide the church!
Now, I have heard it said that what Jesus warned about is not a concern. What he was really saying was that you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, when you hear of earthquakes and famines, etc. They are just common occurrences, nothing to be worried about. The end will come without a sign and on a day least expected. To me that is a half truth. Some of it true and some not. Jesus did promise to come as a thief in the night, but the Bible is clear that troubles will increase as we near the end times.
K and A, you need not fear the end times, if your heart is right with God. You can put your complete confidence in his love and grace. But, you still need to be on the look-out for trouble, especially troublemakers. This is what Jude is warning of. Watch out for people who seek to bring in another gospel than what you were taught. Satan is seeking to take back everyone he can - even you! Know that the last days are evil. Be on your guard against the joys of this world, and seek to grasp the joys of the Lord.
~Dad
Jude 1:18 They said to you, In the last times, there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires."
In the last days... Jesus warns about the end times. He says that before the end comes, there will be earthquakes, wars, rumors of wars, famine and pestilence, and fearful events. Paul talks about how there will be terrible times in the last days. Certainly, times will be tough among both Christians and as Jude calls them, the ungodly. Even in the church, it will be bad. The ungodly will infiltrate the church and will scoff at common doctrine. They will cause trouble and try to divide the church!
Now, I have heard it said that what Jesus warned about is not a concern. What he was really saying was that you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, when you hear of earthquakes and famines, etc. They are just common occurrences, nothing to be worried about. The end will come without a sign and on a day least expected. To me that is a half truth. Some of it true and some not. Jesus did promise to come as a thief in the night, but the Bible is clear that troubles will increase as we near the end times.
K and A, you need not fear the end times, if your heart is right with God. You can put your complete confidence in his love and grace. But, you still need to be on the look-out for trouble, especially troublemakers. This is what Jude is warning of. Watch out for people who seek to bring in another gospel than what you were taught. Satan is seeking to take back everyone he can - even you! Know that the last days are evil. Be on your guard against the joys of this world, and seek to grasp the joys of the Lord.
~Dad
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