When The Door Slams
How joyful are those who fear the LORD-all who follow his ways!...
Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table.
That is the LORD's blessing for those who fear Him.
Psalm 128:1,3-4
For the average Israelite, the dream was not a house on the beach or an estate in Rome but a plot of land that grew grapes and olives. Wine and olive oil were two of the staples of life, and the person who had a measure of each was truly blessed.
Think about this: You want to see GOD's greatest blessing? The first blessing is a good, loving, and healthy wife. The second is children full of life and spunk." In other words, the blessing for those who followed the LORD included a happy, joyous, and fulfilled family-a spouse, kids, grand-kids. The whole family.
If you ever question whether the LORD GOD cares about you, don't look at the bank accounts, the number of rooms in your house, or the size of your backyard. GOD's care can be found in other ways. For example, look at the faces around your table. If they are smiling and laughing and just enjoying a great meal together, you will know GOD's face is shining on you this Thanksgiving.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.
Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Christians Living In This World
When The Door Slams
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
1 Peter 5:8-9
We as Christians live in a world in which there are evil forces that attack us: Peter visualized Satan as a vicious lion on the prowl for its next meal. There are individuals who see a demon or evil forces behind every bush and who become obsessed with evil in everything around them.
There are other kind of individual who also exists in our world. This is the person who do not really believe there is any evil threat around them. We should not be obsessed with evil, but in a balanced way be alert, it is around us.
As you spot the evil, resist and stand firm in your faith in LORD JESUS. We do not need to live in fear. We can face evil, and with our faith in JESUS and His Word, we can take a stand. Let's not be blown away by evil, but let's be alert to its reality. Let's stand confidently in the LORD and resist the evil that is around us. JESUS my LORD, has overcome evil in this world. This is why we can stand in faith with CHRIST our LORD.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
1 Peter 5:8-9
We as Christians live in a world in which there are evil forces that attack us: Peter visualized Satan as a vicious lion on the prowl for its next meal. There are individuals who see a demon or evil forces behind every bush and who become obsessed with evil in everything around them.
There are other kind of individual who also exists in our world. This is the person who do not really believe there is any evil threat around them. We should not be obsessed with evil, but in a balanced way be alert, it is around us.
As you spot the evil, resist and stand firm in your faith in LORD JESUS. We do not need to live in fear. We can face evil, and with our faith in JESUS and His Word, we can take a stand. Let's not be blown away by evil, but let's be alert to its reality. Let's stand confidently in the LORD and resist the evil that is around us. JESUS my LORD, has overcome evil in this world. This is why we can stand in faith with CHRIST our LORD.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Wallowing In Self-pity
When The Door Slams
You also be patient. Establish Your hearts, for the coming of the LORD is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the LORD, as an example of suffering and patience. James 5:8-10
The typical reaction in the midst of suffering and struggle for many people is to grumble and complain. The root of their grumbling often centers on a comparison game that is played. If we are struggling financially, we look at someone who seems to be doing well financially and complain that we are not like them. They may in fact be struggling in some other area. The apostle Paul encouraged us not to compare ourselves with others.
We are also challenged not to gripe and focus on our problems and sufferings, but instead to follow the example of the prophets. The prophets stuck their necks out and pointed people to Christ. They were patient in the midst of their suffering they encountered because of the message they were sent to give.
James wants us to focus on the LORD's coming rather than on the suffering of the present. What is holding your gaze and catching your eye? Are you expectantly watching for Christ's return or wallowing in self-pity because of your circumstances? Why don't you just praise the LORD in your suffering right-now. LORD Jesus Christ, thank You for the serenity and joy that come from serving You with the perspective of Your eternal plan in my mind.
Ask the Spirit to, search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
You also be patient. Establish Your hearts, for the coming of the LORD is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the LORD, as an example of suffering and patience. James 5:8-10
The typical reaction in the midst of suffering and struggle for many people is to grumble and complain. The root of their grumbling often centers on a comparison game that is played. If we are struggling financially, we look at someone who seems to be doing well financially and complain that we are not like them. They may in fact be struggling in some other area. The apostle Paul encouraged us not to compare ourselves with others.
We are also challenged not to gripe and focus on our problems and sufferings, but instead to follow the example of the prophets. The prophets stuck their necks out and pointed people to Christ. They were patient in the midst of their suffering they encountered because of the message they were sent to give.
James wants us to focus on the LORD's coming rather than on the suffering of the present. What is holding your gaze and catching your eye? Are you expectantly watching for Christ's return or wallowing in self-pity because of your circumstances? Why don't you just praise the LORD in your suffering right-now. LORD Jesus Christ, thank You for the serenity and joy that come from serving You with the perspective of Your eternal plan in my mind.
Ask the Spirit to, search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Disciple's Prayer
When The Door Slams
"Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven."
Matthew 6:9-10
This is the first half of the Lord's Prayer. We could actually call it the Disciple's Prayer, because it is a model of how we should pray to God. Jesus began with worship, showing reverence for our Heavenly Father. As a perfect, loving, all-powerful God, our Heavenly Father deserves our respect.
Jesus also taught us to make a mysterious request: "Your kingdom come." What is God's kingdom? It is a spiritual kingdom that exists now, a future true Messianic Kingdom here on earth, or an eternal kingdom in heaven? It quite likely includes all three.
God will accomplish His will whether or not we ask Him to. But in the very act of seeking His will, our lives are put in proper perspective. If we ask sincerely, the Father will grant us wisdom to know His desires for our lives each day as we take part in helping others in building His kingdom on earth.
We also look forward to a faithful one thousand-year Millennial Kingdom here on earth, ruled by Jesus. The Father's eternal kingdom is in heaven. As believers, we will dwell in all three. ask God to guide you in your role in His kingdom. It is beyond our ability to comprehend God's eternal perspective. May God grant us enough of His insight to devote our lives daily to His will and to His kingdom.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
"Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven."
Matthew 6:9-10
This is the first half of the Lord's Prayer. We could actually call it the Disciple's Prayer, because it is a model of how we should pray to God. Jesus began with worship, showing reverence for our Heavenly Father. As a perfect, loving, all-powerful God, our Heavenly Father deserves our respect.
Jesus also taught us to make a mysterious request: "Your kingdom come." What is God's kingdom? It is a spiritual kingdom that exists now, a future true Messianic Kingdom here on earth, or an eternal kingdom in heaven? It quite likely includes all three.
God will accomplish His will whether or not we ask Him to. But in the very act of seeking His will, our lives are put in proper perspective. If we ask sincerely, the Father will grant us wisdom to know His desires for our lives each day as we take part in helping others in building His kingdom on earth.
We also look forward to a faithful one thousand-year Millennial Kingdom here on earth, ruled by Jesus. The Father's eternal kingdom is in heaven. As believers, we will dwell in all three. ask God to guide you in your role in His kingdom. It is beyond our ability to comprehend God's eternal perspective. May God grant us enough of His insight to devote our lives daily to His will and to His kingdom.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Why Do Bad things happen to good people
When The Door Slams
The Eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil.
1 Peter 3:12
Why do bad things happen to good people? In time you will pondered this question once or twice in your life time. Christians wrestle with the reality of pain and suffering all over our world. We struggle to understand why, when we try to help others and do the right thing, so often we find ourselves in difficult times--especially when we struggle to understand when the same thing happens to us.
Why do good things happen to bad people? At some level we can understand that the trials of life produce character in those who suffer through them (James 1:2-4), but what about those times when wicked people prosper? What good can come from cheaters and liars who seem to rise higher and higher each day on the wings of their own greed?
Peter's words in this verse offer comfort in the face of such big questions. "The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right" and "the LORD turns his face against those who do evil." That is a promise from God's Word. We may not always understand how that promise works itself out, but we can have confidence that God is listen, he wants to hear from us. You don't have to strain your-self to get God's attention.
We can rest assured that God works against those who do evil, even if they appear to be "getting away with murder." Even if evil is used against us personally, we know that God will work it out, for our good, so all we need is faith that God is quite capable and let God be Who I AM.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. Proverbs 3:5-7
The Eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil.
1 Peter 3:12
Why do bad things happen to good people? In time you will pondered this question once or twice in your life time. Christians wrestle with the reality of pain and suffering all over our world. We struggle to understand why, when we try to help others and do the right thing, so often we find ourselves in difficult times--especially when we struggle to understand when the same thing happens to us.
Why do good things happen to bad people? At some level we can understand that the trials of life produce character in those who suffer through them (James 1:2-4), but what about those times when wicked people prosper? What good can come from cheaters and liars who seem to rise higher and higher each day on the wings of their own greed?
Peter's words in this verse offer comfort in the face of such big questions. "The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right" and "the LORD turns his face against those who do evil." That is a promise from God's Word. We may not always understand how that promise works itself out, but we can have confidence that God is listen, he wants to hear from us. You don't have to strain your-self to get God's attention.
We can rest assured that God works against those who do evil, even if they appear to be "getting away with murder." Even if evil is used against us personally, we know that God will work it out, for our good, so all we need is faith that God is quite capable and let God be Who I AM.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. Proverbs 3:5-7
Sunday, September 8, 2019
You Know The Story
When The Door Slams
And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:11-12
A Wall Street Journal article reported on a survey in which men and women were asked, "What is it that you fear the most?" The number three fear of all participants was the fear of death. The fear of failure ranked number one, and the fear of loneliness was number two.
1 John 4:18 says that "perfect love casts out fear." Perfect love has only the good of the person being loved in mind. Perfect love was demonstrated when God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die in our place.
Fortunately that wasn't the end of the story. Jesus was the ultimate victim of my sin, but God wasn't going to leave Him a victim forever. Death had no power over Him. Resurrection was God's answer to the worst that human beings could dish out.
If I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, repent and be obedient to His Word I have eternal life. That frees me from my fear of death. Then I am welcomed into a caring, supportive group of believers. Together we support each other as we discover what it means to follow Jesus. We no longer need to fear loneliness.
The incredible power that raised Christ from the dead is also available to you today. That power can bring good out of even your most devastating failures. Therefore I don't have to fear failure. You know the story. Because of Christ I do not fear failure, loneliness or death.
Ask the Spirit to Search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.
Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:11-12
A Wall Street Journal article reported on a survey in which men and women were asked, "What is it that you fear the most?" The number three fear of all participants was the fear of death. The fear of failure ranked number one, and the fear of loneliness was number two.
1 John 4:18 says that "perfect love casts out fear." Perfect love has only the good of the person being loved in mind. Perfect love was demonstrated when God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die in our place.
Fortunately that wasn't the end of the story. Jesus was the ultimate victim of my sin, but God wasn't going to leave Him a victim forever. Death had no power over Him. Resurrection was God's answer to the worst that human beings could dish out.
If I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, repent and be obedient to His Word I have eternal life. That frees me from my fear of death. Then I am welcomed into a caring, supportive group of believers. Together we support each other as we discover what it means to follow Jesus. We no longer need to fear loneliness.
The incredible power that raised Christ from the dead is also available to you today. That power can bring good out of even your most devastating failures. Therefore I don't have to fear failure. You know the story. Because of Christ I do not fear failure, loneliness or death.
Ask the Spirit to Search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.
Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Monday, September 2, 2019
Jesus Christ is Light.
When The Door Slams
He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of this Son. Colossians 1:13
Think about this, the kingdom of darkness. What picture do they form in your mind? An impenetrable blackness all around that would keep you from seeing where to go? An enveloping darkness like a fog that would make you fear something will jump out and hurt you? A reeking swamp of despair that would keep you feeling terrified?
The kingdom of darkness is Satan's domain. The main thing he does is keep people in the dark so they can't see the light that would lead them out of it to a place of hope, joy, and peace. How does Satan's kingdom work?
Through dark lies, Satan keep people afraid, unable to move in any direction. Through accusations and guilt-inducing deception, through false leadership or authority in Cults where people become further immobilized. By keeping them chained to their sins, bad habits, lies, and addictions.
Practically in today's churches has certain characteristics that can tell the careful observer that something is wrong. A unwillingness of the leaders to let the people grow up. A true shepherd will do everything he can to bring Christian people to maturity as quickly as he can. He will not seek to avoid necessary teaching, nor will he try to keep people from maturity. Many cults perpetuate spiritual dependence so that their followers lose the ability to make independent, rational decisions.
But there is a way out. How? By the light of Christ's Kingdom. Jesus is the Light of the world (John 8:12), and when his light shines on you, He enables you to escape from this darkness. Do you ever feel guilt, fear, and despair? Look to the light of Christ. His promise is to lead you into his Kingdom.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.
Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of this Son. Colossians 1:13
Think about this, the kingdom of darkness. What picture do they form in your mind? An impenetrable blackness all around that would keep you from seeing where to go? An enveloping darkness like a fog that would make you fear something will jump out and hurt you? A reeking swamp of despair that would keep you feeling terrified?
The kingdom of darkness is Satan's domain. The main thing he does is keep people in the dark so they can't see the light that would lead them out of it to a place of hope, joy, and peace. How does Satan's kingdom work?
Through dark lies, Satan keep people afraid, unable to move in any direction. Through accusations and guilt-inducing deception, through false leadership or authority in Cults where people become further immobilized. By keeping them chained to their sins, bad habits, lies, and addictions.
Practically in today's churches has certain characteristics that can tell the careful observer that something is wrong. A unwillingness of the leaders to let the people grow up. A true shepherd will do everything he can to bring Christian people to maturity as quickly as he can. He will not seek to avoid necessary teaching, nor will he try to keep people from maturity. Many cults perpetuate spiritual dependence so that their followers lose the ability to make independent, rational decisions.
But there is a way out. How? By the light of Christ's Kingdom. Jesus is the Light of the world (John 8:12), and when his light shines on you, He enables you to escape from this darkness. Do you ever feel guilt, fear, and despair? Look to the light of Christ. His promise is to lead you into his Kingdom.
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.
Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)