Verses 1,2 "I URGE you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your (reasonable) service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
That word urge is in all capitals in my Bible's text. It must be something that Paul feels very strongly about. He is urging us to listen and follow an instruction that is going to be vital to our success in this life. We are urged not to be conformed to this world. What does that mean? It means don't allow the world around you to squeeze you into its mold. We are called to be set apart. To stand out. Not to blend in. The very way we believe and react to things in life is going to be VERY different from how the rest of the world does.
We are called to not be conformed, but to be transformed. How can we be transformed? By the renewing of our minds. Renew= renovation, to replace tradition with revelation. Renovate in the natural sense means to rip out what doesn't belong and to replace it with something new and fresh. When we are renovating a house completely, we rip everything down to the studs and start to rebuild with new, higher quality materials. We build on a solid foundation and create something beautiful that will last the test of time and life.
In other words, the only way we can be successful and have our faith work in our lives is to change the way we think. We have become new creatures and everything old has been done away with. Sometimes we try to still do things the old way we've always done them. We have a newly created heart and spirit and yet our minds are still the same. So we need to constantly look to the Word to see how our minds should be thinking about the situations we are facing. The old us, may have seen the problems of debt, sickness and broken relationships in our lives and faced them with wringing hands and worrying so much we couldn't sleep. The new creature in us is formed in the image of God Himself and therefore needs to think in line with HIS thinking! So now when faced with adverse circumstances we look to His strength and His Words which tell us who we are in Christ. That we are MORE than conquerors! That Christ lives in us and brings ALL His resources with Him. So anytime we have a problem, we can face it in the power of the crucified, risen, triumphant, Lord, Who lives within us!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
February 20th ~ Romans 8
Being that this chapter is one of my favorites in the entire Bible, it is difficult to pick just one thing to expound upon! As we read through this passage, don't leave here without a sense of how VERY BLESSED we are! We learn that we are not only delivered from the power of the flesh and all that wars against it, but we have been made sons and daughters by the Spirit! That the Spirit helps all our weaknesses, that God has set us up for VICTORY and that NOTHING can separate us from His GREAT LOVE!
That is GOOD NEWS, friends! Firstly, that the Spirit Himself has made His abode in us and there can be NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Those who are of the flesh cannot please God, but we are no longer of the flesh, because the Spirit of God now dwells in us! Verse 11 says that if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He Who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will ALSO give life to or quicken your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in YOU! Wow! If you are dealing with symptoms in your body, I encourage you to camp out on that verse until you are fully persuaded! The Spirit Who raised Jesus, Who had every disease known to man placed upon Him, Who took all of it with each lash of the whip, for you and me, then went to hell and battled for three days with the enemy and overcame him, then the Spirit caused healing power to flow through His body and raised Him after 3 days in the grave...yup, that same Spirit is making that same power available to us today!
Verse 26 says that it is the Spirit Who helps our weaknesses, for very often we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words! Have you ever prayed about something as much as you knew how, but just didn't know what else to say? When we switch over to that wonderful gift of praying in other tongues, that's when the Holy Spirit can hook up with our spirits and pray perfect prayers. How awesome is that? We have a helper Who wants our prayer life to be successful and intercedes for us!
Paul wraps up this passage with some of the most encouraging words...verse 31b "If God is for us, who can be against us?" And verses 34-39 speaks of many, many things we may have to endure during our time on earth, but through all these things we overwhelming conquer through Him Who loved us. No matter what you are facing in your life today, Christ has made you an overcomer. There is nothing you can't face with Jesus by your side. No matter who comes in and out of your life, or what comes your way, NOTHING can separate you from the LOVE of God!
That is GOOD NEWS, friends! Firstly, that the Spirit Himself has made His abode in us and there can be NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Those who are of the flesh cannot please God, but we are no longer of the flesh, because the Spirit of God now dwells in us! Verse 11 says that if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He Who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will ALSO give life to or quicken your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in YOU! Wow! If you are dealing with symptoms in your body, I encourage you to camp out on that verse until you are fully persuaded! The Spirit Who raised Jesus, Who had every disease known to man placed upon Him, Who took all of it with each lash of the whip, for you and me, then went to hell and battled for three days with the enemy and overcame him, then the Spirit caused healing power to flow through His body and raised Him after 3 days in the grave...yup, that same Spirit is making that same power available to us today!
Verse 26 says that it is the Spirit Who helps our weaknesses, for very often we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words! Have you ever prayed about something as much as you knew how, but just didn't know what else to say? When we switch over to that wonderful gift of praying in other tongues, that's when the Holy Spirit can hook up with our spirits and pray perfect prayers. How awesome is that? We have a helper Who wants our prayer life to be successful and intercedes for us!
Paul wraps up this passage with some of the most encouraging words...verse 31b "If God is for us, who can be against us?" And verses 34-39 speaks of many, many things we may have to endure during our time on earth, but through all these things we overwhelming conquer through Him Who loved us. No matter what you are facing in your life today, Christ has made you an overcomer. There is nothing you can't face with Jesus by your side. No matter who comes in and out of your life, or what comes your way, NOTHING can separate you from the LOVE of God!
Friday, February 15, 2013
February 14th ~ Romans 4
What an amazing passage of scripture is Romans chapter 4! So many great nuggets in this one. We learn that it was Abraham's act of believing God's promise (or we could say faith) which reckoned righteousness (or right-standing with God) unto himself. It was not according to any works, that he could then boast in himself. Our righteousness is based upon us believing that Jesus took our sin and shame, was punished with a death on the cross because of it and rose again victorious over it!
It is only by faith through grace that we, too, are justified (verse 16). When God changed Abram's name to Abraham, God was calling those things which be not as though they were! He was now referring to him as "father of many nations". Verse 17 says, "even God, Who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist." Abram did something with what God told him. He starting referring to himself as Abraham! This was his faith in action! Verse 18 says, "In hope against hope he believed, in order that he might become the father of many nations. Verse 19..."Without becoming weak in faith, he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was near a hundred years of age, and the deadness of Sarah's womb."
Wow! SO Abraham was human just like you and me! He contemplated his own body. What does that mean? It means he faced facts. You might have to face facts today yourself. You might have to face that debt head on or that negative medical report that shows some 'facts' about the current condition of your body. It also said that in doing so, he did not allow himself to become weak in faith! Verse 20 says, "YET, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in faith (what he was believing...God's promise to him), but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God. Verse 21, and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform! Verse 22, Therefore it was also reckoned to him as righteousness."
We are made in the likeness and image of Almighty God! Therefore, we, too, are to call things into existence! Our main obstacle is the very same as Abraham's...being fully persuaded. What did Abraham do in the natural to become fully persuaded? Go back and read it again. 1. He contemplated or faced facts. 2. He gave respect to the promise of God. In other words we could say he went back to the Word that he heard and gave it first place. No matter how he "felt" about the circumstances he was facing, he CHOSE to only speak the Word. 3. He grew stronger in faith. We know that faith only comes by hearing and hearing the Word (Rom. 10:17) and by continually planting seeds (the Word) deep into our hearts. 4. He gave glory to God. This is how we water the seeds we have planted. We give thanks to God that the answer is on the way. That He is moving on our behalf. That He is our Strong Tower, our Deliverer, our Mighty God, All-powerful, Magnificent, our Healer, our Counselor, our Advocate, our High Priest, our Provider, EVERYTHING we need Him to be! When we give Him glory, it's not just to bless Him, but rather it increases our faith in His Never Ceasing Love and ability toward us! Then we will have those things which He promised to us, just like Abraham.
It is only by faith through grace that we, too, are justified (verse 16). When God changed Abram's name to Abraham, God was calling those things which be not as though they were! He was now referring to him as "father of many nations". Verse 17 says, "even God, Who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist." Abram did something with what God told him. He starting referring to himself as Abraham! This was his faith in action! Verse 18 says, "In hope against hope he believed, in order that he might become the father of many nations. Verse 19..."Without becoming weak in faith, he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was near a hundred years of age, and the deadness of Sarah's womb."
Wow! SO Abraham was human just like you and me! He contemplated his own body. What does that mean? It means he faced facts. You might have to face facts today yourself. You might have to face that debt head on or that negative medical report that shows some 'facts' about the current condition of your body. It also said that in doing so, he did not allow himself to become weak in faith! Verse 20 says, "YET, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in faith (what he was believing...God's promise to him), but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God. Verse 21, and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform! Verse 22, Therefore it was also reckoned to him as righteousness."
We are made in the likeness and image of Almighty God! Therefore, we, too, are to call things into existence! Our main obstacle is the very same as Abraham's...being fully persuaded. What did Abraham do in the natural to become fully persuaded? Go back and read it again. 1. He contemplated or faced facts. 2. He gave respect to the promise of God. In other words we could say he went back to the Word that he heard and gave it first place. No matter how he "felt" about the circumstances he was facing, he CHOSE to only speak the Word. 3. He grew stronger in faith. We know that faith only comes by hearing and hearing the Word (Rom. 10:17) and by continually planting seeds (the Word) deep into our hearts. 4. He gave glory to God. This is how we water the seeds we have planted. We give thanks to God that the answer is on the way. That He is moving on our behalf. That He is our Strong Tower, our Deliverer, our Mighty God, All-powerful, Magnificent, our Healer, our Counselor, our Advocate, our High Priest, our Provider, EVERYTHING we need Him to be! When we give Him glory, it's not just to bless Him, but rather it increases our faith in His Never Ceasing Love and ability toward us! Then we will have those things which He promised to us, just like Abraham.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
January 15th ~Matthew 10
Jesus calls His twelve apostles to serve with Him during His ministry and to provide leadership for the church after His ascension. Twelve were probably selected because their number corresponds to the twelve tribes of Israel.
The terms apostle and disciple are often used interchangeably in referring to these men. But a disciple is a learner or follower, while an apostle refers to one who is sent with a special message or commission. The Twelve were definitely apostles; when Jesus called them He had a specific mission in mind for them-- to carry on His work after He ended His earthly ministry.
We know that we are ALL disciples of Christ. We are followers who are learning and growing in His Word and are representatives of Him as His body on the earth. Before He sent them out, it says in verse 1, that Jesus summoned His disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. This happened while they were yet disciples and not yet sent out with their mission as apostles! That means that while we, too are disciples the same authority has been given unto us and is to be used by us! Praise God! That is Good News, friends!
While we may not have received a commission from the Lord to go to a far off land to preach and heal the sick, we are ALL called to walk in the authority Christ provided for us and to help those closest to us to receive freedom from bondage and sickness! God is ever searching for those He can find who are willing to be vessels for Him to use. We are His hands on the earth, to reach out and let Him meet needs through us. And we must never forget, that while we are here on the earth, we are still a part of His body. As He is "seated in heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named..." (Eph. 1:20, 21) therefore we, too, are seated in that place!
The terms apostle and disciple are often used interchangeably in referring to these men. But a disciple is a learner or follower, while an apostle refers to one who is sent with a special message or commission. The Twelve were definitely apostles; when Jesus called them He had a specific mission in mind for them-- to carry on His work after He ended His earthly ministry.
We know that we are ALL disciples of Christ. We are followers who are learning and growing in His Word and are representatives of Him as His body on the earth. Before He sent them out, it says in verse 1, that Jesus summoned His disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. This happened while they were yet disciples and not yet sent out with their mission as apostles! That means that while we, too are disciples the same authority has been given unto us and is to be used by us! Praise God! That is Good News, friends!
While we may not have received a commission from the Lord to go to a far off land to preach and heal the sick, we are ALL called to walk in the authority Christ provided for us and to help those closest to us to receive freedom from bondage and sickness! God is ever searching for those He can find who are willing to be vessels for Him to use. We are His hands on the earth, to reach out and let Him meet needs through us. And we must never forget, that while we are here on the earth, we are still a part of His body. As He is "seated in heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named..." (Eph. 1:20, 21) therefore we, too, are seated in that place!
Monday, January 7, 2013
January 7th~Matthew 4
After Jesus was baptized by John He was led by the Spirit to the wilderness and was tempted by the devil. I have always loved reading this account. It shows that Jesus was completely human, like you or me, having to deal with the enemy tempting Him. But the most wonderful part of this excerpt is that it teaches us how to be just as successful as Jesus when dealing with the enemy!
First of all it said that Jesus fasted for forty days. When one is fasting, you become naturally hungry, but more spiritually attuned. Jesus had a lot of time alone, separated unto His Father to commune with Him and become strong in His inner man. The devil tried to be crafty and tempt Him with scripture, yet he did not comprehend that Jesus WAS the WORD. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us! How did Jesus defeat the enemy? By simply quoting the ALL-POWERFUL Word of God right back at him. How can we defeat the enemy? The very same way! When we spend time depositing the Word into our hearts and when we come up against diverse trials it should be the first thing that comes to mind and should come out of our mouths! I once heard it said, when the strong man is robbing your house, that is not the time to go to your weight bench and get strong enough to take him down. We must feed on the Word and exercise our faith muscles daily. Then we will be ready for anything. After all, we are only called to stand our ground. The battle belongs to the Lord and He already OVERCAME. We are called MORE than conquerors!
What are your thoughts about Matthew Chapter 4? Share with us here by leaving a comment :)
Friday, January 4, 2013
January 4th~Matthew 3
Matthew is the gospel written by a Jew, to Jews, about a Jew. Matthew is the writer, his countrymen are the readers and his subject is Jesus Christ. Matthew presents Jesus as Israel's promised messianic King. The phrase "the kingdom of heaven" appears twenty-eight times in Matthew but nowhere else in the New Testament. To show that Jesus fulfills the qualifications for the Messiah, Matthew uses more Old Testament quotations (almost 130) than any other book.
As a Jewish tax collector, Matthew writes to a Jewish audience to convince them that the King of the Jews has come. Everything about this King is unique: His miraculous birth and carefully prophesied birthplace, His flight into Egypt, His announcement by John, His battle with Satan in the wilderness, all support the only possible conclusion- Jesus is the culmination of the promises delivered by the prophets over a period of a thousand years. God's redemptive plan is alive and well!
Chapter 3 gives us the account of John the Baptist working hard to prepare people's hearts for "the kingdom of heaven". Jesus arrives from Galilee at the Jordan river coming to be baptized by John. After coming up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened and the Spirit descended upon Him like a dove and behold a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased."
What an incredible sign for all those witnessing! And a title is given that is unmistakable. Jesus' sonship did not begin on that day. He was already in Spirit because God is Spirit and Christ was the Son of God before He assumed a human body. But God wishes to express the sonship of Jesus. That He was begotten of God in a sense that no one else is. It is a title that shows equality. The Son of God is no less than God. Now Jesus is prepared to go forth and reveal all which is His Father, through Himself, His Son.
As a Jewish tax collector, Matthew writes to a Jewish audience to convince them that the King of the Jews has come. Everything about this King is unique: His miraculous birth and carefully prophesied birthplace, His flight into Egypt, His announcement by John, His battle with Satan in the wilderness, all support the only possible conclusion- Jesus is the culmination of the promises delivered by the prophets over a period of a thousand years. God's redemptive plan is alive and well!
Chapter 3 gives us the account of John the Baptist working hard to prepare people's hearts for "the kingdom of heaven". Jesus arrives from Galilee at the Jordan river coming to be baptized by John. After coming up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened and the Spirit descended upon Him like a dove and behold a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased."
What an incredible sign for all those witnessing! And a title is given that is unmistakable. Jesus' sonship did not begin on that day. He was already in Spirit because God is Spirit and Christ was the Son of God before He assumed a human body. But God wishes to express the sonship of Jesus. That He was begotten of God in a sense that no one else is. It is a title that shows equality. The Son of God is no less than God. Now Jesus is prepared to go forth and reveal all which is His Father, through Himself, His Son.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
We believe, as we endeavor to dig deep into the New Testament this year, we will be transformed by the Word of God! May the Word dwell in us and abide in us, richly, so we may attain all that Jesus so lovingly provided for us and walk in VICTORY in 2013!
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