Showing posts with label Word of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Word of God. Show all posts

Saturday, October 11, 2014

The Mystery of the Gospel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapters_and_verses_of_the_Bible 

"None of us likes pain. All of us wish at times we did not need to 'go through all this stuff.' Let us settle it once and for all: we cannot know Christ and the power of His resurrection without the fellowship of His suffering."
-Elisabeth Elliot, "Quest for Love," 40
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus [the new Man] and put no confidence in the flesh [the old man] — though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.  
-Philippians 3:3-11
"Self is a tight lock. I see many decent sinners who are in spiritual prison because their self is on the throne of their hearts, and Jesus is on the cross. What liberation comes when Jesus cleanses their hearts with His blood and comes to throne, and self goes on the cross!"
-Corrie ten Boom, "Each New Day," 69
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.  -Romans 6:3-11 Cross reference: Colossians 2:9-14
 And He said to all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.  -Luke 9:23
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  -Galatians 2:20 
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self [the old man] with its practices and have put on the new self [the new Man], which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  -Colossians 3:1-14 (underline mine)  Cross reference: Romans 13:14
Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
-Romans 16:24-27 

Monday, June 30, 2014

My Rain Collection (Why I Love Rain)

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you.-Hosea 10:12
     I was searching for some Bible verses today and I came across the verse above.  Isn't that verse exciting?  It makes me think of that story that was told in the movie "Facing the Giants."  You can view that scene in the movie here.  If you've watched the movie before you may recall that Mr. Bridges tells the story of two farmers who prayed for God to send rain, but only one of those farmers went out to prepare his fields to receive the rain.  Mr. Bridges then asks Coach Taylor which one he thinks received the rain, to which the coach replies, "The one who prepared his fields for it."  Mr. Bridges continues by challenging him with the question, "Which one are you?"  He goes on to point out that God will send the rain when He's ready but we need to prepare to receive it.

     Doesn't that fit the verse from Hosea?  ". . .Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you" (emphasis mine).  Isaiah 55:10-11 also gives a wonderful picture through rain (or snow):
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven    and do not return there but water the earth,making it bring forth and sprout,    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth;    it shall not return to Me empty,but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.-Isaiah 55:10-11
     Isn't that an incredible promise?  Every single time that I read/speak/hear/memorize God's Word He promises that it will serve His purpose for shaping and molding me to be more like Jesus.  I'm often challenged . . . am I preparing my heart for rain?  When I go to church, or youth group, or when I just open my Bible every morning out of "habit" am I praying and begging God to break up my "ground," or in other words, give me a broken and contrite heart?
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.-Psalm 51:1

     Another Scripture that I love is Psalm 72:6:
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,    like showers that water the earth!
     Isn't the LORD ("He is") like rain on mown grass?  Jesus Christ is the Truth (which sets us free!).  He is Life.  When we enter into His presence He relieves us of our burdens and sins, and He refreshes us . . . like refreshing rain on mown grass!  I love that picture.

     I love rain.  It's refreshing and cleansing.  Every time it rains it reminds me of these verses . . . and every time it rains I want to sing "Word of God Speak" or the chorus to "Blessings."  Rain makes me happy, and it brings me closer to God because it reminds me to pray and thank God for these promises, and ask Him soften my heart so that I may be saturated, soaked, and overflowing with His grace and love.

     P.S.  If you really want to hear rain right now, go to: rainymood.com (If it slows your computer down considerably try clicking the tiny pause button at the bottom of the page.  That should help some.)