Slaves for Christ - John MacArthur from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Accepting Personal Responsibility
by A.W Tozer
It matters little how twisted a man's life may be, there is hope for him if he will but establish a right attitude toward God and refuse to admit any other element into his spiritual thinking. God and I; here is the beginning and the end of personal religion. Faith refuses to acknowledge that there is or ever can be a third party to this holy relation.
Attitude is all-important. Let the soul take a quiet attitude of faith and love toward God, and from there on the responsibility is God's. He will make good on His commitments. There is not on earth a lonely spot where a Christian cannot live and be spiritually victorious if God sends him there. He carries his own climate with him or has it supplied supernaturally when he arrives. Since he is not dependent for his spiritual health upon local moral standards or current religious beliefs, he lives through a thousand earthly changes, unaffected by any of them. He has a private supply from above and is in reality a little world within a world and very much of a wonder to the rest of creation.
Because this is true, we can easily see why we should never blame our spiritual failures on others. The habit of seeking weak consolation by blaming our poor showing on unfavorable circumstances is a damaging evil and should not for one moment be tolerated. To live a lifetime believing that our inner weakness was the result of an external situation and then find at the last that we ourselves were to blame--that is too painful to be contemplated.
It matters little how twisted a man's life may be, there is hope for him if he will but establish a right attitude toward God and refuse to admit any other element into his spiritual thinking. God and I; here is the beginning and the end of personal religion. Faith refuses to acknowledge that there is or ever can be a third party to this holy relation.
Attitude is all-important. Let the soul take a quiet attitude of faith and love toward God, and from there on the responsibility is God's. He will make good on His commitments. There is not on earth a lonely spot where a Christian cannot live and be spiritually victorious if God sends him there. He carries his own climate with him or has it supplied supernaturally when he arrives. Since he is not dependent for his spiritual health upon local moral standards or current religious beliefs, he lives through a thousand earthly changes, unaffected by any of them. He has a private supply from above and is in reality a little world within a world and very much of a wonder to the rest of creation.
Because this is true, we can easily see why we should never blame our spiritual failures on others. The habit of seeking weak consolation by blaming our poor showing on unfavorable circumstances is a damaging evil and should not for one moment be tolerated. To live a lifetime believing that our inner weakness was the result of an external situation and then find at the last that we ourselves were to blame--that is too painful to be contemplated.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Panic-free in Christ
By A.W. Tozer
We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. —Second Corinthians 5:8–9
I could quote hundreds of passages from the Holy Scriptures to show that God keeps His people and that there is nothing in earth or in hell that can harm a trusting soul. The past is forgiven, the present is in God's keeping and a thousand bright promises give assurance for the future. Yet we are sometimes terrified by the adversary. This is not uncommon but it is unnecessary. We should not try to excuse it, but rather acknowledge it as evidence of our spiritual immaturity.
Through the blood of the everlasting covenant we are as safe here on earth as if we were already in heaven. We have not passed beyond the possibility of physical death, but we have entered a sphere of life where we can afford to die, knowing that for the Christian death is a bright portal to the ineffable glory.
It is entirely possible to reach a place in grace where nothing can panic us. We can have an understanding with God about our yesterdays, our today and our tomorrows. The fear of death and judgment goes out of us as the true fear of God comes in, and that fear has no torment but is rather a light and easy yoke for the soul, one which rests us instead of exhausting us.
Prayer
Lord, I'm safe in Your arms whether here or eternally home. Thank You for peace and rest.
Thought
Death, whether from terrorism or natural causes, is the door to our home! Home with the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, the angelic hosts, the saints of the ages, loved ones and friends. Away from the body is to be home!
We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. —Second Corinthians 5:8–9
I could quote hundreds of passages from the Holy Scriptures to show that God keeps His people and that there is nothing in earth or in hell that can harm a trusting soul. The past is forgiven, the present is in God's keeping and a thousand bright promises give assurance for the future. Yet we are sometimes terrified by the adversary. This is not uncommon but it is unnecessary. We should not try to excuse it, but rather acknowledge it as evidence of our spiritual immaturity.
Through the blood of the everlasting covenant we are as safe here on earth as if we were already in heaven. We have not passed beyond the possibility of physical death, but we have entered a sphere of life where we can afford to die, knowing that for the Christian death is a bright portal to the ineffable glory.
It is entirely possible to reach a place in grace where nothing can panic us. We can have an understanding with God about our yesterdays, our today and our tomorrows. The fear of death and judgment goes out of us as the true fear of God comes in, and that fear has no torment but is rather a light and easy yoke for the soul, one which rests us instead of exhausting us.
Prayer
Lord, I'm safe in Your arms whether here or eternally home. Thank You for peace and rest.
Thought
Death, whether from terrorism or natural causes, is the door to our home! Home with the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, the angelic hosts, the saints of the ages, loved ones and friends. Away from the body is to be home!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Please Pray for Orrisa-Christians Persecuted
We take so many things for granite in America-such as being able to Worship our Lord Jesus Christ!!In countries like Orrisa-people are being tortured, killed or forced to convert or die!!This is real and heartbreaking-but our God knows all and he is with these Christians and their suffering!!As Christians the most powerful thing we can do is -Pray Pray Pray.Take these peoples and all Christians to our Heavenly Father in prayer!!The World is more and more turning from God in very hateful and violent forms, governments are condoning and sometimes assisting in the attempt to eradicate Christianity!!Our God in his Sovereignty ,his will be done!!We as Christians must stand strong and bind together in prayer for our sisters and brothers.The persecution will not stop, in fact it is becoming more prevalent and with a veracity not seen before. Even in America we are being called haters!Why haters?Because we trust in our Lord and believe his Word. He is the same yesterday today and forever.And believing His Word we are put at a stark contrast with the World and it's need to satisfy self and not serve our God!!In their need to satisfy self,in it's wretched state,they hate our God!!Their love for themselves,brings out the depravity of their souls.
Ephesians 2:3-Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.Ephesian 4:19-and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. (NASB ©1995)Romans 1:28-And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper
In this day and time we cannot be divided among ourselves in Christ's church-we must unite in our passion for our Lord. Standing firm in our Faith-Knowing that as they have came for the Christians in Indian,Russia,Sudan,Iran,Iraq,Turkey,Britain,they will come for us also!!They have, from the day Jesus died on the Cross,but in the last year it has been with a fervor that is sometimes hard to digest,even as a Christian!!
Stay strong-Matthew 6:20-But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;Ephesians 6:13-Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. (NASB ©1995)
Russian Newspaper Proclaims Gospel!!
Please take the time to read the following article.I read newspapers from all over the World,trying to keep up to date on things,globally.I was so pleasantly surprised this morning-blessed,so very much,from a Russian Newspaper of all places. I can tell you I have never read an article like this in any American Paper!!Pravda is the most prominent newspaper in Russia-and at best most things in it are not very truthful.But this article is all truth-THE TRUTH!!Please take time to enjoy this ,comimg from a Country that Christ's message was for many years prohibited. Praise God and to him be all the Glory!There are two pages to this article -please don't miss any of it!
http://.english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/107811-0/
http://.english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/107811-0/
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Prayer of Praise
Jude 1:24-25
Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.
Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Iran: Church Raided by Police
Please share
On May 21 five newly converted Christians were arrested in Karaj, Iran after plain clothes security officers raided a house church where they had gathered for a Bible study, according to Farsi Christian Network News (FCNN).
FCNN reported that the leader of the house church, Javad Abtahi, was among those arrested and his house was searched during the raid. … [He] was given no arrest warrant by the security officers and his house was searched without any court authorization,” FCNN said. “In this search and seizure, several Bibles, New Testaments were confiscated and all the participants were handcuffed and taken to an unknown location.”
The families of the arrested believers have tried to ask the government where their loved ones are being held, without any success. FCNN added that the government has always refused to disclose where it holds arrested believers.
This incident is the latest arrest of believers in Iran in recent months. On March 5, Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad and Maryam Rustampoor were arrested by Iranian security forces and labeled "anti-government activists." Thirty year-old Marzieh and 27-year-old Maryam are being held at Evin Prison, which is notorious for treating women badly. Recently FCNN reported that both are ill, but their faith in Christ has not wavered. One of them recently said, “I’ve taken up my cross, I now have to bear it.”
The Voice of the Martyrs supports persecuted believers like the five recently arrested and Marzieh and Maryam. VOM encourages you to pray for these believers and others in Iran who risk their lives daily because of their faith. You can also write and send letters of encouragement to Maryam and Marzieh at www.prisoneralert.com NewsAlertsTo receive VOM's News Alerts by email, please fill out the form below. first name * last name * email * * confirm email * * country select your country United States Canada Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Cook Islands Costa Rica Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lebanon Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Chiapas (Mexico) Monaco Mongolia Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Antilles Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Mindanao (Philippines) Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Lucia San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka St Vincent & Grenadines Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Virgin Islands (U.S.) Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Wallis and Futuna Islands Laos Syria Burma (Myanmar) Congo Gabon Libya Kenya Angola Jersey Reunion Croatia Liberia Moldova Lesotho Tokelau Vietnam Guernsey Pitcairn Svalbard and Jan Mayen East Timor Micronesia Azerbaijan Antarctica Korea, South Saint Helena Cote d'Ivoire Faroe Islands Norfolk Island Falkland Islands Christmas Island Saint Kitts-Nevis Cape Verde Islands Vatican City State Samoa (Independent) Serbia and Montenegro Sao Tome and Principe Virgin Islands (British) Northern Mariana Islands Heard & McDonald Islands Saint Pierre and Miquelon Cuba Sudan North Korea Tibet (China) Iraq Iran Gaza and the West Bank *
Please share
On May 21 five newly converted Christians were arrested in Karaj, Iran after plain clothes security officers raided a house church where they had gathered for a Bible study, according to Farsi Christian Network News (FCNN).
FCNN reported that the leader of the house church, Javad Abtahi, was among those arrested and his house was searched during the raid. … [He] was given no arrest warrant by the security officers and his house was searched without any court authorization,” FCNN said. “In this search and seizure, several Bibles, New Testaments were confiscated and all the participants were handcuffed and taken to an unknown location.”
The families of the arrested believers have tried to ask the government where their loved ones are being held, without any success. FCNN added that the government has always refused to disclose where it holds arrested believers.
This incident is the latest arrest of believers in Iran in recent months. On March 5, Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad and Maryam Rustampoor were arrested by Iranian security forces and labeled "anti-government activists." Thirty year-old Marzieh and 27-year-old Maryam are being held at Evin Prison, which is notorious for treating women badly. Recently FCNN reported that both are ill, but their faith in Christ has not wavered. One of them recently said, “I’ve taken up my cross, I now have to bear it.”
The Voice of the Martyrs supports persecuted believers like the five recently arrested and Marzieh and Maryam. VOM encourages you to pray for these believers and others in Iran who risk their lives daily because of their faith. You can also write and send letters of encouragement to Maryam and Marzieh at www.prisoneralert.com NewsAlertsTo receive VOM's News Alerts by email, please fill out the form below. first name * last name * email * * confirm email * * country select your country United States Canada Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Cook Islands Costa Rica Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lebanon Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Chiapas (Mexico) Monaco Mongolia Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Antilles Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Mindanao (Philippines) Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Lucia San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka St Vincent & Grenadines Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Virgin Islands (U.S.) Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Wallis and Futuna Islands Laos Syria Burma (Myanmar) Congo Gabon Libya Kenya Angola Jersey Reunion Croatia Liberia Moldova Lesotho Tokelau Vietnam Guernsey Pitcairn Svalbard and Jan Mayen East Timor Micronesia Azerbaijan Antarctica Korea, South Saint Helena Cote d'Ivoire Faroe Islands Norfolk Island Falkland Islands Christmas Island Saint Kitts-Nevis Cape Verde Islands Vatican City State Samoa (Independent) Serbia and Montenegro Sao Tome and Principe Virgin Islands (British) Northern Mariana Islands Heard & McDonald Islands Saint Pierre and Miquelon Cuba Sudan North Korea Tibet (China) Iraq Iran Gaza and the West Bank *
Paul's Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom
Ephesians 1:15-23
Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God's people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called-his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else-not only in this world but also in the world to come.
God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God's people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called-his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else-not only in this world but also in the world to come.
God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Paul's Pray for knowing God's Will
Colossians 1:9-12
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Abrahams Prayer for Sodom
Genesis 18:23-25
Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing - to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing - to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
David's Prayer on the Sovereignty of God
2 Samuel 7:18-29
Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed, "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And now, Sovereign LORD, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving me a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign LORD? What more can I say? You know what I am really like, Sovereign LORD. For the sake of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have shown them to me.
"How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you--there is no other God. We have never even heard of another god like you! What other nation on earth is like Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you rescued your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way. You made Israel your people forever, and you, O LORD, became their God.
"And now, O LORD God, do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever. And may your name be honored forever so that all the world will say, 'The LORD Almighty is God over Israel!' And may the dynasty of your servant David be established in your presence.
"O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer because you have revealed that you will build a house for me--an eternal dynasty! For you are God, O Sovereign LORD. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to me, your servant. And now, may it please you to bless me and my family so that our dynasty may continue forever before you. For when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign LORD, it is an eternal blessing!"
Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed, "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And now, Sovereign LORD, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving me a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign LORD? What more can I say? You know what I am really like, Sovereign LORD. For the sake of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have shown them to me.
"How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you--there is no other God. We have never even heard of another god like you! What other nation on earth is like Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you rescued your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way. You made Israel your people forever, and you, O LORD, became their God.
"And now, O LORD God, do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever. And may your name be honored forever so that all the world will say, 'The LORD Almighty is God over Israel!' And may the dynasty of your servant David be established in your presence.
"O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer because you have revealed that you will build a house for me--an eternal dynasty! For you are God, O Sovereign LORD. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to me, your servant. And now, may it please you to bless me and my family so that our dynasty may continue forever before you. For when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign LORD, it is an eternal blessing!"
Martin Luther 1483-1546
...And were this world all devils o'er
And watching to devour us,
We lay it not to heart so sore;
Not they can overpower us.
And let the prince of ill
Look rim as e"er he will,
He harms us not a whit;
For why his doom is writ;
A word shall quickly slay him
God's word, for all their craft and force,
One moment will not linger,
But , spite of hell, shall have its course;
'Tis written by His finger.
And,though they take our life,
Goods, honor,children,wife,
Yet is their profit small;
These things shall vanish all:
The city of God remaineth.
---"A Safe Stronghold Our God Is Still"By Martin Luther ,translated by Thomas Carlyle, 1795-1881
And watching to devour us,
We lay it not to heart so sore;
Not they can overpower us.
And let the prince of ill
Look rim as e"er he will,
He harms us not a whit;
For why his doom is writ;
A word shall quickly slay him
God's word, for all their craft and force,
One moment will not linger,
But , spite of hell, shall have its course;
'Tis written by His finger.
And,though they take our life,
Goods, honor,children,wife,
Yet is their profit small;
These things shall vanish all:
The city of God remaineth.
---"A Safe Stronghold Our God Is Still"By Martin Luther ,translated by Thomas Carlyle, 1795-1881
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Why we don't have Revival
by Leonard Ravenhill
In an old town in Ireland they'll show you with reverence a place where four young men met night after night after night praying for revival. In Wales, there's a place in the hills where three or four young men only 18 or 19 years old met and prayed night after night. They wouldn't let God go; they would not take no for an answer. As far as humanly possible they prayed a revival into birth. If you're thinking of revival at your church without any inconvenience, forget it. Revival costs a lot.
I can give you one simple reason why we don't have revival in America. Because we're content to live without it. We're not seeking God - we're seeking miracles, we're seeking big crusades, we're seeking blessings. In Numbers 11, Moses said to God, "You're asking me to carry a burden I can't handle. Do something or kill me!" Do you love America enough to say, "God, send revival or kill me"? Do you think it's time we changed Patrick Henry's prayer from, "Give me liberty or give me death," to "Give me revival or let me die"?
In the 30th chapter of Genesis, Rachael goes to Jacob and throws herself down in despair. She says, "Give me children or else I die." Are you willing to throw yourself down before God to seek the spiritual birth of spiritual children in our country?
People say, "I'm filled with the Holy Spirit." If the coming of the Spirit didn't revolutionize your prayer life, you'd better check on it. I'm not so sure you got what God wanted you to get.
We've said that prayer changes things. No! Prayer doesn't change things. Prayer changes people and they change things. We all want Gabriel to do the job. God says do it yourself - with My sufficiency and My strength.
We need to get like this woman, Hannah. What did she do? She wept, she was grieved, she said she had a complaint, she fasted - and she prayed.
Jesus, the anointed of God, made prayer His custom. Paul, with his background and intellect, depended on prayer because he said he was weak. David, the king, called himself a poor man and cried to the Lord. Hannah prayed for a son and gave birth to a prophet. The prayers of a handful of young men sparked revival.
There's nothing more transfiguring than prayer.
In an old town in Ireland they'll show you with reverence a place where four young men met night after night after night praying for revival. In Wales, there's a place in the hills where three or four young men only 18 or 19 years old met and prayed night after night. They wouldn't let God go; they would not take no for an answer. As far as humanly possible they prayed a revival into birth. If you're thinking of revival at your church without any inconvenience, forget it. Revival costs a lot.
I can give you one simple reason why we don't have revival in America. Because we're content to live without it. We're not seeking God - we're seeking miracles, we're seeking big crusades, we're seeking blessings. In Numbers 11, Moses said to God, "You're asking me to carry a burden I can't handle. Do something or kill me!" Do you love America enough to say, "God, send revival or kill me"? Do you think it's time we changed Patrick Henry's prayer from, "Give me liberty or give me death," to "Give me revival or let me die"?
In the 30th chapter of Genesis, Rachael goes to Jacob and throws herself down in despair. She says, "Give me children or else I die." Are you willing to throw yourself down before God to seek the spiritual birth of spiritual children in our country?
People say, "I'm filled with the Holy Spirit." If the coming of the Spirit didn't revolutionize your prayer life, you'd better check on it. I'm not so sure you got what God wanted you to get.
We've said that prayer changes things. No! Prayer doesn't change things. Prayer changes people and they change things. We all want Gabriel to do the job. God says do it yourself - with My sufficiency and My strength.
We need to get like this woman, Hannah. What did she do? She wept, she was grieved, she said she had a complaint, she fasted - and she prayed.
Jesus, the anointed of God, made prayer His custom. Paul, with his background and intellect, depended on prayer because he said he was weak. David, the king, called himself a poor man and cried to the Lord. Hannah prayed for a son and gave birth to a prophet. The prayers of a handful of young men sparked revival.
There's nothing more transfiguring than prayer.
Monday, June 8, 2009
PRAYER
By Leonard Ravenhill
The Gospel Of Prayer
There's nothing more transfiguring than prayer. People often ask, "Why do you insist on prayer so much?" The answer is very simple - because Jesus did. You could change the title of the Gospel according to St. Luke to the Gospel of Prayer. It's the prayer life of Jesus. The other evangelists say that Jesus was in the Jordan and the Spirit descended on Him as a dove - Luke says it was while He was praying that the Spirit descended on Him. The other evangelists say that Jesus chose 12 disciples - Luke says it was after He spent a night in prayer that He chose 12 disciples. The other evangelists say that Jesus died on a cross - Luke says that even when He was dying Jesus was praying for those who persecuted Him. The other evangelists say Jesus went on a mount and He was transfigured - Luke says it was while He was praying that He was transfigured. There's nothing more transfiguring than prayer.
The Scriptures say that the disciples went to bed, but Jesus went to pray - as was His custom. It was His custom to pray. Now Jesus was the Son of God - He was definitely anointed for His ministry. If Jesus needed all that time in prayer, don't you and I need time in prayer? If Jesus needed it in every crisis, don't you and I need it in every crisis?
The story goes that a group of tourists visiting a picturesque village saw an old man sitting by a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one of the visitors asked, "Were any great men born in this village?" Without looking up the old man replied, "No, only babies." The greatest men were once babies. The greatest saints were once toddlers in the things of the Spirit.
C. H. Spurgeon was converted at the age of 16 and began preaching in London at the age of 19. When he was 27, they built him a tabernacle seating 6,000 which he packed twice on Sundays - that's 12,000 - and once on Thursday nights. How? He waited on God. He got alone with God. He studied...and he prayed.
The Gospel Of Prayer
There's nothing more transfiguring than prayer. People often ask, "Why do you insist on prayer so much?" The answer is very simple - because Jesus did. You could change the title of the Gospel according to St. Luke to the Gospel of Prayer. It's the prayer life of Jesus. The other evangelists say that Jesus was in the Jordan and the Spirit descended on Him as a dove - Luke says it was while He was praying that the Spirit descended on Him. The other evangelists say that Jesus chose 12 disciples - Luke says it was after He spent a night in prayer that He chose 12 disciples. The other evangelists say that Jesus died on a cross - Luke says that even when He was dying Jesus was praying for those who persecuted Him. The other evangelists say Jesus went on a mount and He was transfigured - Luke says it was while He was praying that He was transfigured. There's nothing more transfiguring than prayer.
The Scriptures say that the disciples went to bed, but Jesus went to pray - as was His custom. It was His custom to pray. Now Jesus was the Son of God - He was definitely anointed for His ministry. If Jesus needed all that time in prayer, don't you and I need time in prayer? If Jesus needed it in every crisis, don't you and I need it in every crisis?
The story goes that a group of tourists visiting a picturesque village saw an old man sitting by a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one of the visitors asked, "Were any great men born in this village?" Without looking up the old man replied, "No, only babies." The greatest men were once babies. The greatest saints were once toddlers in the things of the Spirit.
C. H. Spurgeon was converted at the age of 16 and began preaching in London at the age of 19. When he was 27, they built him a tabernacle seating 6,000 which he packed twice on Sundays - that's 12,000 - and once on Thursday nights. How? He waited on God. He got alone with God. He studied...and he prayed.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
A.W Tozer
The Wisdom of God
Thou, O Christ, who wert tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin, make us strong to overcome the desire to be wise and to be reputed wise by others ignorant as ourselves. We turn from our wisdom as well as from our folly and flee to Thee, the wisdom of God and the power of God. Amen.
”Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever,” cried Daniel the prophet, “for wisdom
and might are his:
. . . he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
he revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the
light dwelleth with him.” The believing man responds to this, and to the angelic chant,
“Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might,
be unto our God for ever and ever.” It never occurs to such a man that God should
furnish proof of His wisdom or His power. Is it not enough that He is God?
Psalm 111-10: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom;A good understanding have all those who do his commandments;His praise endures forever.
Excerpt: The Knowledge of the Holy- A.W Tozer
Thou, O Christ, who wert tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin, make us strong to overcome the desire to be wise and to be reputed wise by others ignorant as ourselves. We turn from our wisdom as well as from our folly and flee to Thee, the wisdom of God and the power of God. Amen.
”Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever,” cried Daniel the prophet, “for wisdom
and might are his:
. . . he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
he revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the
light dwelleth with him.” The believing man responds to this, and to the angelic chant,
“Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might,
be unto our God for ever and ever.” It never occurs to such a man that God should
furnish proof of His wisdom or His power. Is it not enough that He is God?
Psalm 111-10: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom;A good understanding have all those who do his commandments;His praise endures forever.
Excerpt: The Knowledge of the Holy- A.W Tozer
Friday, June 5, 2009
Response to Tiller Murder
As Christians we are Pro-Life.That is life inside the womb and outside the womb. The murder of Tiller is evil the same evil that caused Tiller to kill 60,000 babies!!!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Grace Alone
Grace Alone
R.C. Sproul
Ligonier Ministries
June 2, 2009
Soli Deo gloria is the motto that grew out of the Protestant Reformation and was used on every composition by Johann Sebastian Bach. He affixed the initials SDG at the bottom of each manuscript to communicate the idea that it is God and God alone who is to receive the glory for the wonders of His work of creation and of redemption. At the heart of the sixteenth-century controversy over salvation was the issue of grace.
It was not a question of man’s need for grace. It was a question as to the extent of that need. The church had already condemned Pelagius, who had taught that grace facilitates salvation but is not absolutely necessary for it. Semi-Pelagianism since that time has always taught that without grace there is no salvation. But the grace that is considered in all semi-Pelagian and Arminian theories of salvation is not an efficacious grace. It is a grace that makes salvation possible, but not a grace that makes salvation certain.
In the parable of the sower we see that regarding salvation, God is the one who takes the initiative to bring salvation to pass. He is the sower. The seed that is sown is His seed, corresponding to His Word, and the harvest that results is His harvest. He harvests what He purposed to harvest when He initiated the whole process. God doesn’t leave the harvest up to the vagaries of thorns and stones in the pathway. It is God and God alone who makes certain that a portion of His Word falls upon good ground. A critical error in interpreting this parable would be to assume that the good ground is the good disposition of fallen sinners, those sinners who make the right choice, responding positively to God’s prevenient grace. The classical Reformed understanding of the good ground is that if the ground is receptive to the seed that is sown by God, it is God alone who prepares the ground for the germination of the seed.
The Full Article located at the following link-By R.C Sproul
http://www.crosswalk.com/pastors/11604276/
R.C. Sproul
Ligonier Ministries
June 2, 2009
Soli Deo gloria is the motto that grew out of the Protestant Reformation and was used on every composition by Johann Sebastian Bach. He affixed the initials SDG at the bottom of each manuscript to communicate the idea that it is God and God alone who is to receive the glory for the wonders of His work of creation and of redemption. At the heart of the sixteenth-century controversy over salvation was the issue of grace.
It was not a question of man’s need for grace. It was a question as to the extent of that need. The church had already condemned Pelagius, who had taught that grace facilitates salvation but is not absolutely necessary for it. Semi-Pelagianism since that time has always taught that without grace there is no salvation. But the grace that is considered in all semi-Pelagian and Arminian theories of salvation is not an efficacious grace. It is a grace that makes salvation possible, but not a grace that makes salvation certain.
In the parable of the sower we see that regarding salvation, God is the one who takes the initiative to bring salvation to pass. He is the sower. The seed that is sown is His seed, corresponding to His Word, and the harvest that results is His harvest. He harvests what He purposed to harvest when He initiated the whole process. God doesn’t leave the harvest up to the vagaries of thorns and stones in the pathway. It is God and God alone who makes certain that a portion of His Word falls upon good ground. A critical error in interpreting this parable would be to assume that the good ground is the good disposition of fallen sinners, those sinners who make the right choice, responding positively to God’s prevenient grace. The classical Reformed understanding of the good ground is that if the ground is receptive to the seed that is sown by God, it is God alone who prepares the ground for the germination of the seed.
The Full Article located at the following link-By R.C Sproul
http://www.crosswalk.com/pastors/11604276/
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Stand-John Piper
Would like to share with you an excerpt from a John Piper book called "Stand"!!The book is a compilation of different Pastors sharing about their "Stand" in the Gospel.Very touching and a real blessing.John MacArthur shares-
My Dad went to heaven in 2005 at the age of ninety-one, and into his ninety-first year he was still teaching a Bible class every Sunday.His father,my grandfather,died at a much earlier age from cancer,and I clearly remember standing by his bedside.I think I was about nine or ten , and my father said to him, "Dad,is there anthing you want?" He replied, "I want to preach one more sermon." You see, he had prepared on and didn't get to preach it but was feeling like the prophet Jeremiah, who said,"There is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding in it, and I cannot." (Jer:20:9).So my dad took his father's notes, printed them and passed out the sermon at the funeral. The title of that sermon was "Heavenly Records" So my grandfather preached on heaven from heaven.
As I read about these Godly men I knew that was where I wanted to be.Not to preach -but perservere to the end, with that burning in my heart for my All Sufficient God!!Then I had one person come to my mind-it was my grandfather-he also passed in recent years.He had the feelings of Jeremiah-it was on his face incessantly.As I grew up he had a bus ministry in the Church.He would go every Saturday to the poorest part of our Area and he would go to each house, encouraging those little ones to come to church the next day!!Sometimes, I would go along and it was always fun, I looked forward to it,and the kids loved him.See Grandpa taught me a wonderful lesson very early on, because you see,I also lived in this very poor area. He taught me that things and stature in life don't matter one iota,but the richest of men, are the ones that are called of God and are privledged to serve him!!His heart was with the Lord and not in this World.Having a conversation with Granpa that didn't include the Lord was not an option!When it came to the work of the Lord -he was tireless and always with Joy!!Even in his last years he had a form of demetia,he couldn't remember who I was-but he could still quote the Holy Scriptures and I had joy knowing,he, like Paul had fought the good fight,finished the race,and kept his faith !!!The fire was still burning in his heart!!
I cannot count in my adult years how many people have came up to me and said "I love your Grandpa,you know he picked me up every Sunday for Church" many times the tears will well up in their eyes, thankful that God had sent Grandpa to them!!
My Dad went to heaven in 2005 at the age of ninety-one, and into his ninety-first year he was still teaching a Bible class every Sunday.His father,my grandfather,died at a much earlier age from cancer,and I clearly remember standing by his bedside.I think I was about nine or ten , and my father said to him, "Dad,is there anthing you want?" He replied, "I want to preach one more sermon." You see, he had prepared on and didn't get to preach it but was feeling like the prophet Jeremiah, who said,"There is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding in it, and I cannot." (Jer:20:9).So my dad took his father's notes, printed them and passed out the sermon at the funeral. The title of that sermon was "Heavenly Records" So my grandfather preached on heaven from heaven.
As I read about these Godly men I knew that was where I wanted to be.Not to preach -but perservere to the end, with that burning in my heart for my All Sufficient God!!Then I had one person come to my mind-it was my grandfather-he also passed in recent years.He had the feelings of Jeremiah-it was on his face incessantly.As I grew up he had a bus ministry in the Church.He would go every Saturday to the poorest part of our Area and he would go to each house, encouraging those little ones to come to church the next day!!Sometimes, I would go along and it was always fun, I looked forward to it,and the kids loved him.See Grandpa taught me a wonderful lesson very early on, because you see,I also lived in this very poor area. He taught me that things and stature in life don't matter one iota,but the richest of men, are the ones that are called of God and are privledged to serve him!!His heart was with the Lord and not in this World.Having a conversation with Granpa that didn't include the Lord was not an option!When it came to the work of the Lord -he was tireless and always with Joy!!Even in his last years he had a form of demetia,he couldn't remember who I was-but he could still quote the Holy Scriptures and I had joy knowing,he, like Paul had fought the good fight,finished the race,and kept his faith !!!The fire was still burning in his heart!!
I cannot count in my adult years how many people have came up to me and said "I love your Grandpa,you know he picked me up every Sunday for Church" many times the tears will well up in their eyes, thankful that God had sent Grandpa to them!!
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