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I have a favorite Old Testament verse that many will probably find odd: "Man that is born of woman is of a few days full of trouble. Job 14:1 The reason it is my favorite is because it helps to explain why there is so much suffering in my life and in the world. It can be my favorite bible verse because of my favorite New Testament verse: " In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 Be certain that troubles will continue. But we can be more certain that when we put our trust in the Lord Jesus, we are able to overcome the troubles and trials and tribulations of this life.
From a heart of love and compassion share the gospel
From a heart of love and compassion share the gospel
Your Christian life may be the only Gospel they will know
Pray and put the results of your sharing in God's hands
Pray and put the results of your sharing in God's hands
As the wind blows we cannot see where it goes, so is the working of the Spirit of the Living God
Have you ever wanted to memorize scriptures to lead a soul to Christ? Let me share this 8 Steps to Commitment to Christ
Life of Faith Scriptures
Life of Faith Scriptures
July 15, 2024 Continuation of the scriptures for Mrs. C. Nazum's book Life of Faith.
Life of Faith Scriptures
Life of Faith Scriptures
July 15, 2024
Be Wholly Devoted To God
1John 5:18 “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. KJV
This is one of those verses that I have read countless times and felt the assurance of my salvation. But I have never tried to explain this verse in terms that a total stranger to scripture could understand. The first thing that stymied me was what does the word sinneth (KJV) really mean. I have heard preachers talk about this word so often and have been in agreement with most of their interpretations. But I had never done a word search for myself for the translation from Greek to English. Based on Strong’s Concordance the Greek word harmatano (264 Bible Lexicon) can be translated to: 1.to be without a share in
2. to miss the mark
3. to err, be mistaken
4. to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong
5. to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin
It is the idea that we miss God’s mark or standard.
From an investigation of commentaries that appear to support this view, I was drawn to what Bruce Hurt notes: “The present tense speaks of continual, habitual, persistent sinning! While a believer is not sinless, the fact is that he sins less! If he doesn't sin less [then] there is a serious question as to whether he (or she) has ever truly been born again!”
(https://www.preceptaustin.org/1_john_518_com]mentary)
1John 5:18 continued
Taking this approach to the scripture makes it clear that when John says, “whosoever is born of God sinneth not”, he is speaking of a habitual, willful sinning against God’s standard or mark of righteousness. For me this explanation falls in line with what I have taken fully on faith without any word search or deeper investigation. My walk of faith with the Lord has not been a sudden miraculous turnabout of my nature. It has been a gradual step by step recognition of the expectations of God and my sometimes stumbling, sometimes falling short, sometimes making wrong choices. But since the day that I asked Christ Jesus to come into my life and take control: to make me a child of God it has never been a willful desire to return to sins of my past. The more I understood God’s character, his love for me, his power at work in my life changing me from the inside out, the less attractive sin has been. So that while I do fall short in many areas of my walk with the Lord, it is never habitual or willful. I am intent on uprooting anything in my life that could separate me from the God who loves me so much that he exchanged his only Son’s life for mine. The more I know about my God the more I am devoted to him and devoted to honoring him. I am still far from perfect. But sin no longer has the appeal for me that it once had.
But there is more to this verse. It has more to do with the ongoing continual work of Christ in my life. I do not have to try to keep myself. It is Christ Jesus himself who is keeping me. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. I have been born again by the spirit of God to give me new life in Christ Jesus.
The same Holy Spirit that Jesus sent to live in his disciples also lives in me keeping me, teaching me. Jesus is my High Priest who makes intersession to the Father for me. By his death and resurrection, I am born again. By his intercession and the Word of God, I am kept. The final statement in this verse tells us that, the “wicked one toucheth him not”. There is such comfort in knowing that Jesus provides for me the same care that he had for his disciples. Jesus said to them “be of good cheer I have overcome the world” John 16:33 The implication of his words of comfort is that because he has overcome, and we are his, we will also overcome. Because we are now in Christ and he in us we are one with him in the Father. So even though we may have struggles in this life. We may even fall short of our own and God’s expectation but because Jesus is our intercessor God never leaves us nor forsakes us, and he keeps us from being overcome by wickedness. This great salvation that God gives to us is by his own grace and mercy not of any of our own works or abilities. So that same grace looks out for our souls all the way to eternity. All of this grace is predicated on you, and I making the decision to forsake our lives of sin and take up the life of righteousness and faith in the promises of God. 1John 5:5 tells us, “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” If you want to overcome the wickedness of this life and live a life of righteousness that pleases God, believe that Jesus is the Son of God and has died that you might be born into the family of God. If you have already believed, be intentional, be diligent to trust in the promises of God in times of great joy and times of great sorrow. Be wholly devoted to him.
Relationship Building: Risks and Benefits
August 23, 2024
“The closer we get to one another the risk of being poked/scarred/challenged/troubled/experience tension"
I recently read some notes from a message that my pastor, Colin Peverall preached in March of 2010. In my notes a wrote this quote from Colin, “The closer we get to one another the risk of being poked/scarred/challenged/troubled/experience tension-Requires trust/time/truth/two people-communication”
Colin is a man who loves words and their meanings. He attempts to incorporate clarity in the words that make up important truths. I have picked up the habit as well. Because I firmly believe even written words can be misunderstood unless you, the writer/speaker, clarify what you mean. Then your reader/hearer can be on equal footing with you and will be able to judge for themselves how well or imperfectly they agree with you.
To that end let’s look at the word relationship.
Cambridge Dictionary defines relationship as a noun:
1. Connection: the way in which two things are connected.
2. Friendship: the way in which two or more people feel and behave toward each other
3. Family connection: the family connection between people.
For the purpose of this essay, I will focus mostly on Connection: the way in which two (things) people are connected. I will also be focusing on the spiritual aspect of our connection with one another. While it is not my intention for this to be a “non-professional” attempt at marital counseling, I do regret that I did not have some of this imparted to me before I married and even more so later after 30 years of marriage.
Note the sub-heading: Risks and Benefit.
Drawing from Colin’s Sunday message in every relationship there will be risks of being poked, scarred, challenged, troubled, and experiencing tension. Because we are still human beings and often have different upbringing and different nurturing. As in marriages, relationships in congregations will be subject to the same risks.
The Apostle Paul admonishes us, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” Philippians 2:5 This is a necessary element for any healthy relationship. Especially for any Godly relationship. Because our sin nature cannot manufacture the godliness that Christ Jesus can develop in us. We develop godliness and godly relationships over time and through experiences. Not all of the bad experiences we go through should be discarded. We can learn to be godlier by evaluating the bad experiences to find what Jesus is saying to us. Sometimes bad experiences will reveal to us flaws or qualities in our character or nature that we did not realize were so dominating or so destructive.
When Paul says let this mind be in you, what exactly is he referring to. In verse 7 Paul explains the mind of Christ Jesus. Paul writes that Jesus “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” Jesus took on the reputation of a servant and the likeness of men. He did not proclaim his importance or right to be worshipped. He did not draw attention to himself but rather he drew attention to his father. Jesus lived out before us the fruits of the spirit that Paul speaks of in Galatians. “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 When we go through bad experiences, do we still model the fruits of the spirit? If we are not, then the fruits of the spirit are not a part of our character yet. It is not difficult to model the fruits of the spirit with one another when things are well, and we are still experiencing the afterglow of good. The real maturing of the fruits of the spirit are in the midst of hard times or hard situations or even hard relationships. Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” John 15:1-4 It is only through Christ Jesus that we can consistently have the fruits of the spirit developing in us godly character.
For the purpose of this essay, I will focus mostly on Connection: the way in which two (things) people are connected. I will also be focusing on the spiritual aspect of our connection with one another. While it is not my intention for this to be a “non-professional” attempt at marital counseling, I do regret that I did not have some of this imparted to me before I married and even more so later after 30 years of marriage.
Note the sub-heading: Risks and Benefit.
Drawing from Colin’s Sunday message in every relationship there will be risks of being poked, scarred, challenged, troubled, and experiencing tension. Because we are still human beings and often have different upbringing and different nurturing. As in marriages, relationships in congregations will be subject to the same risks.
The Apostle Paul admonishes us, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” Philippians 2:5 This is a necessary element for any healthy relationship. Especially for any Godly relationship. Because our sin nature cannot manufacture the godliness that Christ Jesus can develop in us. We develop godliness and godly relationships over time and through experiences. Not all of the bad experiences we go through should be discarded. We can learn to be godlier by evaluating the bad experiences to find what Jesus is saying to us. Sometimes bad experiences will reveal to us flaws or qualities in our character or nature that we did not realize were so dominating or so destructive.
When Paul says let this mind be in you, what exactly is he referring to. In verse 7 Paul explains the mind of Christ Jesus. Paul writes that Jesus “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” Jesus took on the reputation of a servant and the likeness of men. He did not proclaim his importance or right to be worshipped. He did not draw attention to himself but rather he drew attention to his father. Jesus lived out before us the fruits of the spirit that Paul speaks of in Galatians. “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 When we go through bad experiences, do we still model the fruits of the spirit? If we are not, then the fruits of the spirit are not a part of our character yet. It is not difficult to model the fruits of the spirit with one another when things are well, and we are still experiencing the afterglow of good. The real maturing of the fruits of the spirit are in the midst of hard times or hard situations or even hard relationships. Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” John 15:1-4 It is only through Christ Jesus that we can consistently have the fruits of the spirit developing in us godly character.
Relationship Building: Risks and Benefits
No Risk -, No Trust : Building Relationships is a two-way street
No Risk -, No Trust : Building Relationships is a two-way street
In our relationship building we must include allowing the spirit of the living God to cultivate the fruits that will produce godliness even in the face of bad experiences.
As Colin pointed out in his message dealing with pokes, scars, challenges, troubles and tensions require ‘trust/time/truth/two-people communication’
Building strong Godly relationships cannot be rushed into. They require time: time to develop trust, time to discover truth, time to develop trusting two-way communication.
Have you ever had the “I really like … or I appreciate when you … conversations?
Have there ever been an unspoken “but” that was never expressed?
You do realize that the “but” will come out, it will surface, it will emerge, it will boil to the top.
When does it emerge?
When we least can afford for it to come out it will be brought to light. Too often it is when we are angry. But by then the “but” is not constructive, it is decidedly destructive and harmful. I would venture to say that it is vengeful. And no one benefits.
How much more effective the “but “could have been if it were spoken sooner. “I really appreciate you sharing how much you like my cooking with the group, but you know you do not like the way I cook spaghetti. You just swirl it around your plate and eat a lot of bread” “I would like to know how to fix spaghetti the way you would like it, but you never say why you don’t like it.”
Granted this may not be a prevalent issue but you see how it could really become a big issue for this couple if the “but” is not expressed soon. It may be that she will never be able to cook spaghetti the way that she cooks other meals, but truth will out sooner or later. It is so much easier if it comes out while hearts are in unison, not in the midst of crisis.
Consider in the relationships that you are trying to build what are some of the buts that need to be expressed to avoid crisis later.
Trust. Time. Truth in two-way communication. Important building blocks for strong relationships not just in marriage but in all relationships that are intended to grow and flourish.
Colin also pointed out the need to “Provide environments of grace and trust”. We must extend to one another grace to allow for errors and not hold the errors against one another in future encounters.
Here I would like to reference a message that my brother preached recently on Forgiveness and Repentance. In his message Bill pointed out that Relationships are hard or difficult, often because of our own unforgiveness. He asks 3 important questions that only we can answer for ourselves.
1. Why do we so often justify OUR OWN offences yet not forgive those of others?
2. How can we ask so much of God when we willfully choose to wrong one of His other children?
3. Why are our own opinions and feelings more important than those of others?
If we earnestly examine our own responses to these questions, we can discover the roots of unforgiveness that makes relationship building difficult.
A Thought: The way we relate to others says more about our relationship with the Lord, than our relationship with others.
Personal accountability before God is always going to be the first great step toward building strong godly relationships. It is a first great step in our walk with the Lord.
I believe there is an important and strong correlation between Discipleship and building relationships. Discipleship is what we are to strive for, having the same mind (set) as Jesus’ toward others.
One of our members made this connection to Colin’s message this way she said, “God can use us to heal wounded souls” (Janie McCone). The point being when we are in a relationship with others, we are in a much better position to help others heal from wounds, especially spiritual wounds or emotional wounds that we have already come through. Janie made this remark in regard to another statement that Colin shared with us. Colin said, “Too many followers of Jesus are too empty and needy to be of help and mutual support.” It is this mutual support that we as the body of Christ ought to be striving for. Therefore, the closer we are following and abiding in Christ the stronger we are and the greater our usefulness to one another. The better able we are to be successful in relationship building.
Jesus left this final commandment with the disciples saying, “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.” John 15:12 We only build strong godly relationships through loving interaction. Loving one another, serving one another, supporting one another is the way to overcome the pokes, scars, challenges, troubles and tensions that accompany every growing relationship.
Earlier I told you that Colin loves words. I do not know if you can call this a play on words or what, but I think it is significant to the message: Colin said, “No humility and submission, no unity. Know humility and submission and know unity.”
Selah
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Father, I thank you for the timelessness of your Word and your Promises. I pray you will use these words to encourage your children as they grow in their relationship with you. I pray that you will work in the heart of every person who does not know you as Lord to bring them to yourself, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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