This evening as I was studying my Bible, I was doing some thinking. Thinking about the importance of sharing Jesus with others. However, a question came to mind: " how am I going to share Jesus when I am far away from everyone around me?" Just then an idea came to my mind. What if I were to do an audio recording of myself preaching? So I got my phone out and began with prayer and to share the Word of God. I must admit that when I started I was quite discouraged. I didn't feel like reading the Bible. However instead of giving up the Lord helped me to read His word. the personal blessing that I received is incomprehensible I was blessed in so many ways. my encouragement to you friend is to read the Bible and share the good news of Jesus whether you feel it or not. His Word will help you.
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
The Reporter
Have you ever wanted to get more out of your Bible study but are unsure how? Then this post is for you!
The Bible study method that I am talking about here I will call the reporter method. This method is really easy and simply involves looking at a Passage of Scripture and then asking questions about it to God in prayer as you go. In a sense you are having an audience with God. First start with prayer asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Read the story surrounding the text. Then go back to that verse and answer the questions by the story or information. surrounding that verse.
Questions could start with:
1. Who
2. What
3. When
4. How
5. Where
6. Why
At this point see the story again in your mind and use your imagination. For example, if it is a story you could try and figure out the characters, pick one and then imagine:
What must have been going through their mind.
How might they have felt?
How were they involved in the story?
What could have been their thoughts about other characters in the story?
For thoughts that are recorded, Why did they think this way?
The list could go on and on...
Next ask how these questions relate to you using the starter questions.
Record the answers in some way! God will guide and direct you! Want to share with someone?
Pick out three of the lessons learned and discuss them with your friends. Ask questions and see what they have come up with in their own personal study. Share your findings on Facebook, YouTube or in a blog like this one. Again these are just suggestions.
Have more ways? Post them in the comments below so we all can grow! Always pray for God to guide you in the study of His Word :)
Thursday, July 30, 2015
The Bush Still Burns
Today I would like to examine a passage of Scripture found in Exodus chapter 3 verse 3. The Bible says: " And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt." The first question that may come to your mind as you read this is: Where is he going with this? Indeed from a surface reading this text may seem out of place. What is missing here is context. What is that you ask? Context is the story surrounding the verse that the verse is embedded in. To better understand this verse in the Bible we need to have an idea of what surrounds this verse. Before we do that though maybe there are some questions we can ask about this verse. So let's take a closer look. Here is the verse again.
" And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt."
Here are some questions that come to my mind, and yours might be different, and that is ok.
1. What is Moses doing when he says this?
2. Why is a Bush burning?
3. When did this happen in the story?
4. How far was the Bush from Moses?
5. What happened when Moses turned aside?
6. What does this tell me about God?
Each question will help to give us better answers about the verse in question.
Next is application.
Application can happen as a result of questions as well.
1. What can I learn from this about having a relationship with God?
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Didn't Get What I Wanted But What I Needed
9Tonight did not turn out the way I wanted it to. Before I get into that it's important for me to give some background to this situation.
Tonight I wanted to go over to my brother's house. At that Point I had a thought in my head that I didn't like, but I knew it was the right thing to do. I needed to ask God what He wanted for me. How did I come to this conclusion? While I was preparing to go to my brother's tonight, I noticed a torn page laying on the bed in the guest room. Examining it a little bit closer I discovered that it was a page ripped out of the Bible. My wife told me that one of the kids had ripped it out of a kids Bible. Picking up the tattered page I began to read. The Bible Story was very clear to understand. The children of Israel would wait for the pillar of fire to lift from camp before they moved on. At this point I was pricked to the heart. I knew what had to be done, but didn't really want to do it. The unrenewed human heart is that way:(
Getting on my knees I prayed for God's will to be done. A few minutes my wife was on the phone with my brother's wife and their kids had gone to bed. I was disappointed but relieved at the same time. I was relieved because Jesus had done for me what I never could have done in my own strength! Though I was disappointed I realized that God knew best! He is so amazing!
Psalms 37:4 KJV
Delight thyself also in the Lord ; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Saturday, May 23, 2015
It's been too Long!
This evening I've been taking inventory of my life. Looking back lately, I realize that God has done so much for me today, it's incredible. Today was the Sabbath day and God showed up in some incredible ways. The night previous I was in prayer with God, wondering, why things weren't seemingly working out in the way that I wanted them to. He has so many ways of speaking. So as I was waiting for a reply I turned on a radio program called "Amazing Facts" and the program was about finding out God's Will for your life. I'm now 31 years old. My life is moving on its, way, but Jesus has not changed! He is still my forever friend! He loves me so much. So do you know what He did for me last night! He spoke to me. I was trying to determine what God wanted me to do with my life at 31. He pretty much told me that He wanted me to work on the work nearest, and that is my dear children! He wants me to be a good dad to them, and to spend time with them. He wants me to be faithful in the small things. The next day was the Academy Graduation. As I looked at them walking down the Aisle, I was taken back to the time when I walked down that same aisle to the front. During that time I was unsure of what my future would hold, and honestly, I still am, but I know who holds the future! He is incredible! So as I watched student after student walk down that blue carpeted aisle, I could see nothing but pure potential walking down the aisle. As I looked at them, I saw what they had, realized what I had, and to be honest felt somewhat envious. That is until the Children's Story at church came along. The Children's story is a time where all the children go up front and are told a story, it's like their mini sermon. This time the person giving the children's story was a graduating Academy student. He told a story about a Marathon, and about running a race, and then he compared that to life. Instantly, I felt like God was speaking directly to me, and indeed He was, not only was He speaking to me, but He was speaking to every single person in the church, because He always does speak through His Word. As this graduate told of his marathon run, I was intrigued. I knew where he was going with the story, but what I didn't realize, was where God was going with it, until I looked around me and saw my three children, and pregnant wife. Because at the moment he began to read 1 Corinthians 9:24, 25:
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
I realized then and there that God was telling me that my most important work was to my wife and children. Yes, it would be a struggle. It would be no easy feat to raise 4 kids in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and the way would definitely be steep, but this is my calling. To not accept it, is to deny the very children God has entrusted to me, and that is a horrible thought. As I thought about the graduates, and the life that I wished I could have had, I realized that what mattered most had not happened yet. Jesus has not returned. The very thoughts that I was thinking about my past were perishable. I was not a failure. The true race, continues on in Jesus. After all, the education that God wants to give us, does not end! He wants to show us more and more of Himself. On this earth the race may be long, but God is in charge. As we ask for His Will to be done in our lives and surrender to His plans, then it is at this point that God's purposes can be realized. This graduate, ended his talk with another incredible verse that really spoke to me, and convinced me that though my life was not turning out the way that my "flesh" would have wanted it to, that He had a bigger plan for me! Here is the verse:
Hebrews 12
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
I realized then and there that God was telling me that my most important work was to my wife and children. Yes, it would be a struggle. It would be no easy feat to raise 4 kids in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and the way would definitely be steep, but this is my calling. To not accept it, is to deny the very children God has entrusted to me, and that is a horrible thought. As I thought about the graduates, and the life that I wished I could have had, I realized that what mattered most had not happened yet. Jesus has not returned. The very thoughts that I was thinking about my past were perishable. I was not a failure. The true race, continues on in Jesus. After all, the education that God wants to give us, does not end! He wants to show us more and more of Himself. On this earth the race may be long, but God is in charge. As we ask for His Will to be done in our lives and surrender to His plans, then it is at this point that God's purposes can be realized. This graduate, ended his talk with another incredible verse that really spoke to me, and convinced me that though my life was not turning out the way that my "flesh" would have wanted it to, that He had a bigger plan for me! Here is the verse:
Hebrews 12
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
"You Shall Worship The Lord Your God and Him Only Shall You Serve"
Today, was an incredible day, that the Lord Jesus taught me an incredible lesson. I pray that I keep this constantly in mind. So what is that lesson you ask? Well, before I answer that question let me ask you one. Do you like being controlled by another person? Do you like to be told what you can and cannot do? Sometimes humans can be very domineering, when they shouldn't be and get out of line, trying to "direct" and control the life of another person. Before I go on in this description of my understanding of being controlled, I would like to admit that I have played both parts. Sometimes, I do it because I want something so bad for the other person, and end up stepping across the line. God, however, did not intend for this sort of thing. I can remember one time, giving a friend bad advice, and then trying to manipulate him into listening to me. Unfortunately, I "persuaded" this person to take my advice, and in the process, caused them much grief. We were not meant to be people's slaves. Take a look at the Book of Exodus, and it becomes clear that we were not meant to be forced to serve people. Now, notice, I am not talking about service from a willing heart and choice, but rather, I'm talking about "forced" service. Each person has to make a choice on what he or she is going to decide, and that choice needs to be their own!
There are many different directions that I could go from here, but I want to focus on a direction that God has impressed me on, and that is the area of sin. Do we actually serve sin? Well, let's notice what the Lord Jesus has to say about this in John 8:33-36, so let's take a brief sound bite here from Scripture, and then we will look at the surrounding area, and unpack things, piece by piece.
Starting with verse 33:
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
So just upon reading this, we can learn a lot about the situation, but some obvious questions come up in verse 33. Who is the "they" being talked about in verse 33? Whoever they are, they are claiming that they are free.
How many times, I find myself doing the same thing. I think, that because I have been with Jesus for a little bit that I am safe, and start to make myself the person in charge of keeping me out of bondage, but the result of this is never good. My own power, pedigree, or whatever you want to call it can never set me free! Never. At this point you may be thinking: "Where is this going"? I understand that, so let me back up. Freedom is not something you are born with. Even though this sounds odd in the Great USA, where we have outward freedoms.
According to Jesus, Freedom is a gift. A beautiful gift, that is given to us at the cost of His Life. Only Jesus has the power to set us truly free from sin. Notice Jesus Words here in verse 34:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever.
Have you ever sinned before? Have you recently sinned? Unfortunately, I must shamedly raise my hand here, because I am not proud to admit it, but I am a horrible sinner. I must agree with Paul who says that he is the chief of sinners. So continuing on with the verse, what Pedigree do I have? I am born a servant to sin. Sin is a very powerful master, and orders me around. My flesh responds and does what it is told. I'm in pretty bad shape on my own.
Now we are back to control. So in the past I have been controlled by sin, and again, I want to re-iterate that you are reading the blog post of a live sinner.
So at this point, if this was about me, this would be a pretty miserable story, but I am happy to say that this is not the case.
Last night I was discouraged, because of failures in my life. I knew I was nothing like Jesus, and so I began to get discouraged. In the morning, I barely had the energy to open the Bible and read a chapter with my wife and children. After worship and breakfast, I headed out the door. As soon as I got outside the cold air greeted me. Getting to my car, I had a heavy burden on my heart: "I had blown it, and I knew it. I had hurt God, and now He was probably miles away, after all, I didn't feel His Presence". As I drove to work, I couldn't listen to any music, because the radio was broken out of the car. In my mind a real war raged my thoughts went something like this:
"So, you failed last night. You seem to be doing that a lot lately. Do you actually ever think you are going to get better? Why don't you just give in and give up?" At this point I was very discouraged, but continued driving to work. The temptation to give up was so strong, that I actually heard my sins replaying themselves in my mind. Then, all of the sudden, something incredible happened. The day before I listened and watched the Resurrection Scene of Jesus, and I was encouraged by the song. The Song was entitled "Arise My Love". (I will post a link at the bottom of this post so you can see and hear what I heard).
The voices of failure that were screaming in my ear were suddenly drowned out very definitely by this Song. "Arise my love, Arise, my Love, the Grave no longer has a hold on You! No more death's sting, no more suffering", and then I heard it: "Sin, where is shackles, death, where is your sting, hell has been defeated, the grave no longer holds the King!" As I heard those Words, immediately, it was like a lightening bolt of protection, blew every negative thought in my mind to smithereens. My discouragements were vanquished. Later that day while at work, I realized that I couldn't make myself better, and asked Jesus to! I need to do this more often, and stop trying to make myself better.
This brings us full circle to Jesus very Own Words:
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Who can make us free? The Son, and He abideth ever. Notice what Jesus says about the servant. The servant does not abide in the house forever, but the Son abideth ever!!!! The next part is the clincher: 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
At this point, I don't care how strong I think my connection with God is, I need Him every second, and this verse needs to be constantly put into my head.
Only Jesus can make us free!
He has conquered, but you and I have a choice, we can choose to ask Him to do this for us, or we can try and live on our pedigree of how good we think we are! I need Jesus and I need Him right now!
So how about you? Do you need Him? He's the only True Way out of this sin trap that we are in. Let us accept His Free Gift of Salvation and freedom to Serve Him!
Here is the link to that song and video: Please be blessed:
and please remember His Words:
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
There are many different directions that I could go from here, but I want to focus on a direction that God has impressed me on, and that is the area of sin. Do we actually serve sin? Well, let's notice what the Lord Jesus has to say about this in John 8:33-36, so let's take a brief sound bite here from Scripture, and then we will look at the surrounding area, and unpack things, piece by piece.
Starting with verse 33:
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
So just upon reading this, we can learn a lot about the situation, but some obvious questions come up in verse 33. Who is the "they" being talked about in verse 33? Whoever they are, they are claiming that they are free.
How many times, I find myself doing the same thing. I think, that because I have been with Jesus for a little bit that I am safe, and start to make myself the person in charge of keeping me out of bondage, but the result of this is never good. My own power, pedigree, or whatever you want to call it can never set me free! Never. At this point you may be thinking: "Where is this going"? I understand that, so let me back up. Freedom is not something you are born with. Even though this sounds odd in the Great USA, where we have outward freedoms.
According to Jesus, Freedom is a gift. A beautiful gift, that is given to us at the cost of His Life. Only Jesus has the power to set us truly free from sin. Notice Jesus Words here in verse 34:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever.
Have you ever sinned before? Have you recently sinned? Unfortunately, I must shamedly raise my hand here, because I am not proud to admit it, but I am a horrible sinner. I must agree with Paul who says that he is the chief of sinners. So continuing on with the verse, what Pedigree do I have? I am born a servant to sin. Sin is a very powerful master, and orders me around. My flesh responds and does what it is told. I'm in pretty bad shape on my own.
Now we are back to control. So in the past I have been controlled by sin, and again, I want to re-iterate that you are reading the blog post of a live sinner.
So at this point, if this was about me, this would be a pretty miserable story, but I am happy to say that this is not the case.
Last night I was discouraged, because of failures in my life. I knew I was nothing like Jesus, and so I began to get discouraged. In the morning, I barely had the energy to open the Bible and read a chapter with my wife and children. After worship and breakfast, I headed out the door. As soon as I got outside the cold air greeted me. Getting to my car, I had a heavy burden on my heart: "I had blown it, and I knew it. I had hurt God, and now He was probably miles away, after all, I didn't feel His Presence". As I drove to work, I couldn't listen to any music, because the radio was broken out of the car. In my mind a real war raged my thoughts went something like this:
"So, you failed last night. You seem to be doing that a lot lately. Do you actually ever think you are going to get better? Why don't you just give in and give up?" At this point I was very discouraged, but continued driving to work. The temptation to give up was so strong, that I actually heard my sins replaying themselves in my mind. Then, all of the sudden, something incredible happened. The day before I listened and watched the Resurrection Scene of Jesus, and I was encouraged by the song. The Song was entitled "Arise My Love". (I will post a link at the bottom of this post so you can see and hear what I heard).
The voices of failure that were screaming in my ear were suddenly drowned out very definitely by this Song. "Arise my love, Arise, my Love, the Grave no longer has a hold on You! No more death's sting, no more suffering", and then I heard it: "Sin, where is shackles, death, where is your sting, hell has been defeated, the grave no longer holds the King!" As I heard those Words, immediately, it was like a lightening bolt of protection, blew every negative thought in my mind to smithereens. My discouragements were vanquished. Later that day while at work, I realized that I couldn't make myself better, and asked Jesus to! I need to do this more often, and stop trying to make myself better.
This brings us full circle to Jesus very Own Words:
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Who can make us free? The Son, and He abideth ever. Notice what Jesus says about the servant. The servant does not abide in the house forever, but the Son abideth ever!!!! The next part is the clincher: 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
At this point, I don't care how strong I think my connection with God is, I need Him every second, and this verse needs to be constantly put into my head.
Only Jesus can make us free!
He has conquered, but you and I have a choice, we can choose to ask Him to do this for us, or we can try and live on our pedigree of how good we think we are! I need Jesus and I need Him right now!
So how about you? Do you need Him? He's the only True Way out of this sin trap that we are in. Let us accept His Free Gift of Salvation and freedom to Serve Him!
Here is the link to that song and video: Please be blessed:
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Monday, February 10, 2014
The Life Changer
Are you struggling with temptation, or have you ever struggled before. Sometimes the overpowering force of temptation can be a lot like an undertow. I can remember going to Panama City Beach when I was younger, and standing by the water coming in and out of the ocean. That day, the yellow flag was out, which meant that the water was unsafe to swim in, and that there was a rip-current. At that point in my life I was not sure what that was, so I didn't pay much attention. The water looked inviting, and that was all that mattered to me. I decided that I was not actually going to swim in the water, because that would be too dangerous, but that I would simply go up to the edge of the water and stand where the water was about up to my ankles. As I waded, into the water, I stood there with the water almost to my knees, thinking to myself: "This is a safe distance, I should be fine here." A few moments later, as I was standing, I felt such a pull from the ocean that almost knocked me off my feet. I almost feel over it was so strong. Right then and there I realized the true force of the ocean. Somehow, by the Grace of God, I managed to get back out of the the water without being knocked down, and I was done for the day. I realized the danger and wanted nothing to do with the pull of that current.
Something I am discovering, is that playing with temptation is a lot like going out in the ocean when the yellow flag is out. From the looks of things, it's ok, and nothing could go wrong. A good time seems in front of me, and I find myself seeing just how close I can get without falling in. Unfortunately, this is a dangerous move because the water is deceptive, and the undertow is strong, I find myself getting sucked into a vortex, and being pulled into sin. Was the temptation my fault? No, no more than the ocean having rip currents is my fault. I cannot control things outside of me, but I can stay out of the ocean when the yellow flag is out.
If you ever find yourself dealing with this, just know that many people have dealt with temptation throughout the years. The key to dealing with temptation is not to give in, or start to give in. Check out what the writer of Proverbs has to say about this in Proverbs 4:14-19:
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil [men]. 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked [is] as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
I would like to first of all point out Solomon's first way of avoiding temptation. Verse 14 says that we are not supposed "to enter into the path of the wicked" Solomon continues by saying: "and go not in the way of evil men". So let's pause and think about this. The first thing we need to do is stay away from the path of the wicked. What does that path look like? That path is anything that is against the Law of God and God's Holy Word. The people that do that are evil men. Continuing on, verse 15 says:
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Notice that there are four admonitions that Solomon gives here.
The first is avoidance. So for me, I would look at this and ask, is there something in my life that I need to avoid? The answer is many unequivocal yeses, my things to avoid are probably different than yours, but they are no more less dangerous, because the only one who can make the decision to accept Jesus for me is me! That's right, not my pastor, not my friend, not my neighbor, not my wife. No one except me. Now, these people can be used to be a blessing in my life by God, but ultimately where I end up is going to depend on my choice.
The second is to pass not by the path of the wicked. So that means I don't go in for a closer look, in fact, I do everything I can to stay out and away from sin. So what is a way that I can not "pass by it"? By following Jesus, and when I come to Him, He is going to lead me in the Paths of Righteousness.
The third thing is to turn from it. This is very important, because even though I got into that water at the ocean which was a horrible idea, and even though it was very difficult to get out, and I almost got pulled under, I did not have to give up at that point. By God's Grace I was able to struggle out. So if you find yourself on the path, you can still "turn from it". Get out while you still can, that undertow is strong! Once you are out, the fourth step comes into play:
Pass away. So many times, I have been out, and then thrown myself right back in. The only problem with that theory is that the undertow is stronger and stronger, and eventually it will drown you. I can remember a story of a little boy who had a baby python and would take the snake out of his cage to wrestle with it, and then put it back into the cage. When asked to stop by those around him, he replied "I can beat this thing, it's not stronger than me" and he would continue wrestling it. Pretty soon, though, that snake began to get stronger, and soon the snake was stronger than the poor little boy. The boy lost the fight with the snake and lost his life in the process.
The Warning in Proverbs from God through Solomon to us is clear: Don't tamper with temptation, it will destroy you.
What happens when a person looses control themselves? They become agents to tempt others. Verse 16 continues:
"16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to fall."
When we are being tempted and fall into sin ourselves, it is almost impossible not to try and drag other people into sin with us.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
When we do this we end up eating wickedness and being violent. Wickedness and violence are the sure result of messing with sin.
But, Solomon does not stop here. He wants to make an incredible contrast for you and I to see. Notice what he says in 18, and 19:
18 But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked [is] as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Notice verse 18. The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The Bible continues "The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
So after reading all of these verse, this bring us to an interesting conundrum. We in and of ourselves are powerless against temptation and sin. Powerless to break the chains, and to be set free, but there is One who can set us free. I was just reading about Him in my Devotions in fact.
Notice John 8:12:
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
When we follow Jesus we have light in our lives. Also notice what John 1:1-4says:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Following Jesus is the way to have light in our lives. Reading about Jesus in the Bible sheds light into our lives. As we spend time with Him we are changed from our old selves into a new creation.
Notice Jesus Words here in John 8:33
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Also again notice what Jesus says about the devil who is tempting us to sin: ... He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Whatever the devil has been telling you about the impossibility to get free from sin is a lie! Because the devil is the father of lies. he is only trying to keep you in bondage. Don't listen to him. he does not care about you, and only wants to see your destruction.
Jesus has the ability to pull us out of our pit of discouragement and dispair. As you spend time with Him and ask for His help He will set you free!
I want to encourage you to spend time with Him day by day in the Gospels.
Check out this link about Jesus for more encouragement:
http://www.bcove.me/om7kj3u7
In this link you will find a Bible Study on Mark 1 and on the Power of Jesus Christ!
Also check out this incredible take on the Resurrection of Jesus by Southern Adventist University:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8ZrHeJb5ZhM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Something I am discovering, is that playing with temptation is a lot like going out in the ocean when the yellow flag is out. From the looks of things, it's ok, and nothing could go wrong. A good time seems in front of me, and I find myself seeing just how close I can get without falling in. Unfortunately, this is a dangerous move because the water is deceptive, and the undertow is strong, I find myself getting sucked into a vortex, and being pulled into sin. Was the temptation my fault? No, no more than the ocean having rip currents is my fault. I cannot control things outside of me, but I can stay out of the ocean when the yellow flag is out.
If you ever find yourself dealing with this, just know that many people have dealt with temptation throughout the years. The key to dealing with temptation is not to give in, or start to give in. Check out what the writer of Proverbs has to say about this in Proverbs 4:14-19:
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil [men]. 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked [is] as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
I would like to first of all point out Solomon's first way of avoiding temptation. Verse 14 says that we are not supposed "to enter into the path of the wicked" Solomon continues by saying: "and go not in the way of evil men". So let's pause and think about this. The first thing we need to do is stay away from the path of the wicked. What does that path look like? That path is anything that is against the Law of God and God's Holy Word. The people that do that are evil men. Continuing on, verse 15 says:
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Notice that there are four admonitions that Solomon gives here.
- Avoid it
- pass not by it
- turn from it
- pass away
The first is avoidance. So for me, I would look at this and ask, is there something in my life that I need to avoid? The answer is many unequivocal yeses, my things to avoid are probably different than yours, but they are no more less dangerous, because the only one who can make the decision to accept Jesus for me is me! That's right, not my pastor, not my friend, not my neighbor, not my wife. No one except me. Now, these people can be used to be a blessing in my life by God, but ultimately where I end up is going to depend on my choice.
The second is to pass not by the path of the wicked. So that means I don't go in for a closer look, in fact, I do everything I can to stay out and away from sin. So what is a way that I can not "pass by it"? By following Jesus, and when I come to Him, He is going to lead me in the Paths of Righteousness.
The third thing is to turn from it. This is very important, because even though I got into that water at the ocean which was a horrible idea, and even though it was very difficult to get out, and I almost got pulled under, I did not have to give up at that point. By God's Grace I was able to struggle out. So if you find yourself on the path, you can still "turn from it". Get out while you still can, that undertow is strong! Once you are out, the fourth step comes into play:
Pass away. So many times, I have been out, and then thrown myself right back in. The only problem with that theory is that the undertow is stronger and stronger, and eventually it will drown you. I can remember a story of a little boy who had a baby python and would take the snake out of his cage to wrestle with it, and then put it back into the cage. When asked to stop by those around him, he replied "I can beat this thing, it's not stronger than me" and he would continue wrestling it. Pretty soon, though, that snake began to get stronger, and soon the snake was stronger than the poor little boy. The boy lost the fight with the snake and lost his life in the process.
The Warning in Proverbs from God through Solomon to us is clear: Don't tamper with temptation, it will destroy you.
What happens when a person looses control themselves? They become agents to tempt others. Verse 16 continues:
"16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to fall."
When we are being tempted and fall into sin ourselves, it is almost impossible not to try and drag other people into sin with us.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
When we do this we end up eating wickedness and being violent. Wickedness and violence are the sure result of messing with sin.
But, Solomon does not stop here. He wants to make an incredible contrast for you and I to see. Notice what he says in 18, and 19:
18 But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked [is] as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Notice verse 18. The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The Bible continues "The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
So after reading all of these verse, this bring us to an interesting conundrum. We in and of ourselves are powerless against temptation and sin. Powerless to break the chains, and to be set free, but there is One who can set us free. I was just reading about Him in my Devotions in fact.
Notice John 8:12:
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
When we follow Jesus we have light in our lives. Also notice what John 1:1-4says:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Following Jesus is the way to have light in our lives. Reading about Jesus in the Bible sheds light into our lives. As we spend time with Him we are changed from our old selves into a new creation.
Notice Jesus Words here in John 8:33
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Also again notice what Jesus says about the devil who is tempting us to sin: ... He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Whatever the devil has been telling you about the impossibility to get free from sin is a lie! Because the devil is the father of lies. he is only trying to keep you in bondage. Don't listen to him. he does not care about you, and only wants to see your destruction.
Jesus has the ability to pull us out of our pit of discouragement and dispair. As you spend time with Him and ask for His help He will set you free!
I want to encourage you to spend time with Him day by day in the Gospels.
Check out this link about Jesus for more encouragement:
http://www.bcove.me/om7kj3u7
In this link you will find a Bible Study on Mark 1 and on the Power of Jesus Christ!
Also check out this incredible take on the Resurrection of Jesus by Southern Adventist University:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8ZrHeJb5ZhM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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