God So Loved the World, Part 2

Abigail has a double ear infection, so we listened to John Piper instead of going to church on Sunday. I would encourage you to listen to (or Read) his sermon- Here.
It was so encouraging to be reminded of the love that God has for me. Something he said that stuck out in my mind is this:

...the relationship between being a sheep of Christ and believing on Christ is not that we believe in order to become sheep, but that God makes sheep in order that we may believe.

Go to the site and listen to the sermons.
Part 1
Part 2

My Thoughts

Something I am relearning is that I am in control of nothing! No matter what I do or how hard I try... I am never the one who is ultimately in control. To some that may sound like a bad thing. But to me, it gives me great comfort and peace.
I know that God is sovereign over all things and that He is working it all for my good and His own glory. ( Rom. 8:28)
This past Sunday I taught on Isaiah 45:1-13. God kept reminding the people that He is God and there is no other God besides Him. He formed everything. He made the heavens and the earth. He made us and He can do what He pleases with what He has created.
I am so thankful to know the the God of the universe care that much about me. He orchestrates all the events in my life from the small to the great.
May I keep learning this and stop trying to control things!

Colossians 3:12-15

Colossians 3:12-15 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 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. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

These verses have been going through my mind this week. I know I fall short, but it is my prayer that I would have more of a compassionate heart, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and LOVE. To love as Christ has and is continuing to love me. Help me Lord! As God's children, we have been shown great forgiveness and love and are called to show that to others. I am thankful that He helps me and is conforming me more and more into His image (Romans 8).

The Darkness of Abortion and the Light of Truth

I listened to a sermon by John Piper called:The Darkness of Abortion and the Light of Truth. I would encourage you to listen or read it here. The topic of abortion has been burdening my heart for the past few months, since Obama was elected as president. I am not for abortion in any way, but if you read this blog and are, I just want to encourage you to listen to this sermon and others he has preached on this topic and may the Lord change your hearts!
Piper preached through Ephesians 5:1-16.

Ephesians 5:1-16 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

5x5x5 Reading Plan

Last year I shared about the Bible Reading Plan I was using here. So I thought I would share what my plans for this year are. I have chosen the 5x5x5 plan.

5 minutes per day, 5 days per week, 5 ways to dig deeper. Takes you through one chapter each day. Read the New Testament in one year.

You can go here and download a copy or look and see if there is another plan you would like to try. It is never to late to start! I will be using my new ESV Study Bible that I got for Christmas!!

The Christmas Story

Luke 1:26-38
God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. "Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel* forever; his Kingdom will never end!" Mary asked the angel, "But how can this happen? I am a virgin." The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God. Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." And then the angel left her.

Matthew 1:18-25
This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord's message through his prophet:
"Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means 'God is with us.'"
When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Luke 2:1-20
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased."
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Matthew 2:1-12

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose,* and we have come to worship him." King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, "Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?" "In Bethlehem in Judea," they said, "for this is what the prophet wrote:
'And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
are not least among the ruling cities of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.'
Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, "Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!" After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

John 1:1-18
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son. John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.'" From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us.

A Look at Titus

One of my pastors has been preaching through the book of Titus. I have learned a lot through this study. All of the sermons so far are on-line. Click HERE and listen through the book of Titus.

It is Here!

Finally the ESV study Bible is here! You have many choices and the WTS book store.

Calfskin Leather, Black                 

Hardcover

Genuine Leather, Burgundy

Genuine Leather. Black  

Bonded Leather, Burgundy                                                   

Bonded Leather, Black

Tru Tone Classic Black                    

Tru Tone Natural Brown

Terrible twos....I think not

I always have heard about the "terrible twos" as if it is something that we are just to accept and allow in our children's lives- it is normal. How your child will pitch fits, say no, and act completely crazy as they break away and form some new independence that they did not have before. Well to all who believe that behavior is acceptable and normal I have something to say. NO WAY!!!

I would like to label these "terrible twos" for what it really is SIN! I feel like today was WW3. I love my baby boy and for the most part he is very compliant, but today we had a battle. To start things off he did not have a nap- something that is always needed and enforced daily. From there it just got worse. As I was in the middle of what seemed like a never ending crying, screaming, discipline, eternity- God spoke to my heart.

I have learned so many things about the character of God from being a parent. I have also learned to depend on Him for everything. Some things that I learned today- or was reminded of I should say are:

1. God places people in our lives (and uses suffering) to form us more into the image of Christ.
Through the book study I am doing, I read last week about how the suffering in our lives makes us more like Christ. That has really been on my mind. Christ had to suffer and did suffer for God's glory. He suffered with His family, friends, and everyone else. So why should I expect anything different in my life. I can see how different people are in my life to make me more like Christ. He uses it all for His glory. Even enduring a day I never wish to have again. (Romans 5:3-5, Romans 8:18, Philippians 3:8-11)

2. God is so gracious to sinners who are found in Christ.
My sin is so great and His grace is even greater. (Romans 5:18-21)

3. I am in my "terrible twos" and will be until I am glorified.
I am a sinner. I sin all the time and am in need daily of grace and mercy.( Romans 8:22-25)

4. God never stops loving His children.
No matter how much I blow it and sin, because I am His child, I cannot be separated for Christ.
(Lamentations 3:22-24, Romans 8:31-39)

5. We must be broken to be made new.
(Psalm 51)

6. God disciplines His children because He loves them.
It is not always easy to discipline my children, but I do it because I love them. I do not want to leave them in their sin. I am to teach them and bring them up in the instruction of the Lord. That is the same thing that my Heavenly Father does with me. ( Ephesians 6:4, Hebrews 12:7-11)

Watch Your Man

I just listened to this and would encourage other wives to listen to Watch Your Man By Carolyn Mahaney  

Click HERE to download and listen. This message was delivered at Sovereign Grace Ministries’ 2007 Leadership Conference.

Here is a description of the message:

Part of a wife’s biblical role is to bring faithful, gentle correction to her husband when necessary. True friends are willing to humbly correct one another, but if a wife does this poorly, she can damage her marriage.

In this seminar for women, Carolyn Mahaney explain’s a wife’s responsibility to lovingly watch over her husband. She gives biblical advice on questions such as how to correct in humility and love, when to forbear patiently, and when to prayerfully persist and appeal for change. Most important, Carolyn encourages wives to rely on God to change their husbands’ hearts and actions. It is God’s favor and approval—not change in their husbands—that wives must ultimately seek.

Pray for Your Children

Like most parents, who are believers in Christ, I want to pray for my children. I especially want to pray scripture over them. There are many books out there that can help you do that- but I am not promoting any book. I did come across this article that I found encouraging. The Bible is full of scripture that we can pray over our children. I am not talking about the "health, wealth, and prosperity gospel" prayers. I am talking about scriptures to pray for their souls, thoughts, dreams, protection, maturity, obedience, and attitudes.

Many of these are the same scriptures that we should/could be praying for ourselves. We should pray not just when our children are in trouble or need, but daily pray for them. I just want to encourage all parents to pray for their children. You will have to change the wording a little and include your child's name- but pray the meaning of the scripture for them and over them. 

Here is an example: Colossians 3:20 "Lord please help____ to obey us in everything for this is pleasing to you. Help him to want to please you in all things, especially through his obedience to us. He is struggling with ____. Please change his heart and guide him into obedience."

I have listed a few scriptures below to help get you started.

Obedience:

Ephesians 6:1

Colossians 3:20

1 John 5:1-5

Love:

Deuteronomy 6:5 

Deuteronomy 7:9

Romans 8:28-39

1 Corinthians 8:3

1 John 4:7-12

1 John 4:21

Other:

Ephesians 4:29

Ephesians 3:14-21

Ephesians 1:17-23

Romans 6:12-13

Colossians 1:9-13 

Are you free?

I don't know about you, but I have been struggling with my freedom. Now different things may enter your mind when you hear the word free. It all depends on your situation or circumstances. If you are shopping- you would love to see a free sign, or if you live in America we talk about our freedoms all the time that have been given to us. Even people in prison long to be free.

But the freedom I am talking about is different. I am talking about being Truly Free! A freedom that makes you want to stand with your arms outstretched and bask in the beauty of what you have.  The kind of freedom that makes you want to scream "I'm Free", or laugh, or cry, or just about any other emotion you have. 

The freedom I am referring to is the only True freedom, the one that comes from Christ.

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)

What is this freedom referring to? Being free from your sins. Free to live without the burden of sin. Free to live a new life, one that is pleasing to God, because you are no longer bound to sin, but are set free. (This freedom only comes if we believe that Christ died and was raised again to take away our sins so that we would have this freedom.) Now this freedom does not mean that we will not sin, because we still do- but that we are not under the bondage of sin- we are not slaves to it. It does not control us or motivate us because the Spirit of God has made us new creations that are free. Here is what The Word tells us us:

"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood" (Revelation 1:5)

" Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man [Christ] forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. " (Acts 13:38-39) 

" 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 6:5-11)

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17)

So what is the struggle? The struggle comes with trying to still carry the burden of my guilt and shame. I cannot experience true freedom when I carry guilt around, beating myself up over my sin. I am set free from sin, not a slave of any kind. Christ has set me free. I need to understand the Truth and apply it to my life. God's Word says:

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh," (Romans 8:1-3)

 "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” (John 8:31-32)

I know the truth and the truth will set me free. I pray that I lock this truth on my mind when I start to feel bound again. What Christ did for me was sufficient to take away all my sin, all my guilt, and all my shame. Satan (1 Peter 5:8)tries to make me believe the lies that I need to feel guilty, but Christ has washed me clean and I am FREE.  I am to-"Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God." (1 Peter 2:16) May we all begin to grasp what our freedom is and enjoy what Christ has made possible- for those who are found in Him.

The Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan

I thought that I would share with you how I am reading through the Bible. Our Church gave us several different option of Bible Reading plans at the beginning of the year and I chose The Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan.

I have enjoyed reading it and going through four different books at a time. You always read out of one of the gospels, a New Testament book, a Psalm or Proverb, and then an Old Testament book.

You can go here and get one for yourself, or there is a place to preview a free sample that you can print off here.

It is never too late to start.

Great Verses

These are some of my favorite verses. They were a part of my Bible reading today. They are my prayer for my heart. That God would be all I desire and He would be my strength. That I would continue to recognize that God is all I have, and He provides the rest for me.

Psalm 73:25-26

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Lesson 10: We can worship Jesus on earth and in heaven.

Here is the last lesson I wrote for the children's musical.

Lesson 10: We can worship Jesus on earth and in heaven.
References: John 3:16-18, Romans 6:23a, 2 Peter 3:13, Romans 6:23b, Revelation5:11-13

John 3:16-18 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” God sent Jesus to the world. The world was lost and dying in sin because people chose not to follow after God. Adam and Eve were the first sinners and ever since then all people have sinned. Sin leads to death. Romans 6:23a says, “For the wages of sin is death”. But God is rich in mercy and love for His people. He did not want for us to die in our sins, so He provided a perfect sacrifice for our sins and that was Jesus Christ. If we believe in Jesus and follow Him in obedience, then we will not die, but will live forever with Him in the new heavens and the new earth. 2 Peter 3:13 tells us that is our hope, and what we are waiting for, “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” If we believe, then one day we will live with God in a new heaven and a new earth that will be perfect - the way God planned it to be. As it also says in John, God did not send Jesus to condemn the world, but to save it. The way we are to be saved is through faith, in believing that Jesus is God’s Son and that He came to take away the punishment of our sins. This is the gift that God offers, the gift of eternal live (life that never ends). In Romans 6:23b it says, “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Those who do not believe will be punished and condemned as it says in John; but for those who do believe they will not be condemned. They will live forever with Jesus! That is why Jesus is worthy of our worship and praise. He paid a great price to save us. He gave up His life so that we could live.

We praise Jesus now while we are on the earth, but we will also praise Him in the new heavens and the new earth with the rest of His believers. In Revelation5:11-13 it says, “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” These praises are about Jesus. He is worthy of our praise because He was killed for our sins. He was forsaken by God because when He died He took our sins upon Him. Then He rose again and ascended to where He is seated next to God in heaven. All this happened so that we could believe in Jesus and be God’s children forever. Jesus has the power to overcome all things, and He has, even death. This is what God’s amazing love is about.

Lesson 9: Everything Jesus did showed He was a humble king.

Lesson 9: Everything Jesus did showed He was a humble king.

References: Matthew 8:20, Luke 2:7, Philippians 2:5-8, Romans 10:9-11

Jesus is God. He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, and there are so many more wonderful things that could be said about Him. But He never lived His life as an earthly king would while He was here on Earth. He never lived the life of a king, in a great palace. He was very humble. That means He was not proud, but He was modest, respectful, and meek. He was not in fabulous clothes. He did not live in a big house with servants and slaves, eating and drinking all the time. He did not treat people cruelly or unkind, nor did He use the power that He had to get what He wanted. He could have had lots of those things, but that was not what Jesus was here for. His life had a different purpose than what we would expect a king to have.

From the way He was born, we could see that He was going to be a different kind of King. Jesus was born in a stable in a manger, where all the dirty animals live. In Luke 2:7 it says, “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” He lived with his parents. They were not rich; He was a carpenter with his father. When He started doing His ministry, He did not even have a home to live in anymore. Matthew 8:20 says, “And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Jesus’ life did not show that He was a King, as we would expect a king to be. He would have been poor in many people’s eyes, but we know He was great. All of His life was devoted to doing what God had planned. He did everything so that people would know God and believe in Him. That was what His life was about. He did not care about the things of this world (money, clothes…) - He cared about the things that matter to God. Jesus had a purpose. He was to die for the sins of His people. This was one of the greatest acts of humble obedience, when Jesus died on the cross to take away sin. Philippians 2:5-8 tells us that Jesus humbled Himself and was a servant, being obedient to what God had called Him to do. “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Jesus was God’s Son and He came to be one of us. He made Himself nothing, and was born in the likeness of men. If Jesus had not been a humble king, we would have died in our sins. But He did come to earth and died on the cross so that we could be saved if we believe in Him. Romans 10:9-11 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Unity of the Spirit

This week we were discussing unity in the Spirit during Sunday School. We were looking at the passage 1 Corinthians 12:12-31.
We are one body, united in Christ. That is not just our local congregation, but the church as a whole- those who by faith have believed in Jesus Christ and follow after Him daily. None of us are superior to any other part of the body. That is part of what 1 Corinthians 12 was talking about. But my thoughts went also in another direction.

We do need to be one in Spirit, not at the expense of Truth. I went on a mission trip a few years ago to Chicago and we were working with a church that was quite different. The groups that we worked with that week were of different denominations and they were proud that they had unity, all under the banner of unity through love. I think that is wonderful, but the Truth was not upheld. There was doctrine and other issues that were ignored so they could get along in love. I do not feel like that is honoring the Lord or His Word. It seems like we go to one extreme or the other. We are united under love- and leave out Truth, or we are unified under Truth and seem to not have love. So what should the balance be? God’s Word is clear that we should know the truth. In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul addresses the issue of unity and the truth.

Ephesians 4:1-6 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

This teaches us that we are to be humble, gentle, patient and bearing with others in love. But he goes on to talk about what unites us. We are to be united under one Spirit, one body. So, how are we to live in one Spirit? How do we know what the truth is?

I think that we often are so caught up in our own experience and “this is what I have always thought and been taught” that we lose the truth, we lose unity. I am not saying that everything we believe is wrong, nor am I saying that we need to throw out all we believe and start over. What I am saying is that we are to uphold the Truth of what God’s Word says. When we discuss things with others, or read something new we need to seek what God’s Word says about this issue-being patient and gentle- bearing with them in love. But what often happens is we enter into heated discussions that are not unifying, nor do they solve anything.

Paul goes on in Ephesians to talk more about the truth and unity. In Ephesians 4: 14-16 it says “ …so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

There are lots of false doctrine and deceitful schemes out there that would cause us to be tossed about. So we need to be in God’s Word all the more to distinguish what is the Truth. How do you know that what other denominations or other religions believe is wrong or right? We should measure them all by what the Word says. But how willing are we to do this? Isn’t it easier just to condemn things that are different than what we think? Isn’t it easier to pass judgment rather than seek out what is the truth for ourselves? But God has called us to something so much more. If we are to be united then we need to know the Truth of what God’s Word says and tell others.

I often find myself critically looking and listening to everything… from song lyrics, to sermons, or even just in reading other people’s blogs. I think that is what we are to do. Our doctrine and what we believe comes out in everything we say and do. So we need to make sure that what we think, say, and live out is the truth. In doing so, in love, I think that will bring about unity of the Spirit. There are things that are not essential to understanding the Gospel and life that we can bear with others in love in order to keep unity. I am not planning on going into those now.

This is not an in-depth study nor is it my complete thoughts. I just wanted to see what others think about this. So anyone up for a discussion? in love? with the Truth??

1 Corinthians 15:1-28

The Resurrection of Christ

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

Maundy Thursday

Today is Maundy Thursday. For those of you who do not know what it is, here is a definition from Wikipedia.

"In the Christian liturgical calendar, Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday is the feast or holy day falling on the Thursday beforeEaster that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. It is the fifth day of Holy Week, and is preceded byHoly Wednesday and followed by Good Friday.

On this day four events are commemorated: the washing of the Disciples' feet by Jesus Christ, the institution of the Mystery of theHoly Eucharist at the Last Supper, the agony of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal of Christ by Judas Iscariot.

The morning celebration of these events marks the beginning of what is called the Easter Triduum or Sacred Triduum. The Latin word triduum means a three-day period, and the triduum in question is that of the three days from the death to the resurrection of Jesus. It should be noted that for Jesus and his followers a day ended, and a new day began, at sunset, not at midnight, as it still does today in the modern Jewish calendar.^[1] The Last Supper was held at what present-day Western civilization considers to be the evening of Holy Thursday but what was then considered to be the first hours of Friday. Its annual commemoration thus begins the three-day period or triduum of Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, days of special devotion that celebrate as a single action the death and resurrection of Christ, the central events of Christianity."

John Piper wrote a good article giving us thoughts about today. You can read it here.

Lesson 8: God loves us to praise Him.

Here is lesson eight.

Lesson 8: God loves us to praise Him.

References: Matthew 21:1-11, Psalm 18:3, Mark 16:16, Hebrews 12:28-29

God is worthy of our praise. Jesus is worthy of our praise. The Holy Spirit is worthy of our praise. Praise is to show you approve of, to show admiration or respect, to give grateful homage (honor, worship). God is worthy of all of these things. Psalm 18:3 says, “I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised.” There are different ways that we can praise God. We can praise Him by singing, dancing, praying, reading His Word… there are many different ways to show God that we honor Him and love Him. All that we do should be worship and praise to God. When Jesus came into Jerusalem the people praised Him. In Matthew 21:1- 11 we see how they showed Jesus respect with hearts full of praise. Matthew says, “Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

The people were shouting and speaking praises about Jesus. They laid down their cloaks (jackets) and branches from trees on the road for Him to ride on the donkey over. It was as if they were laying down a carpet for Him to walk on. They were treating Him as King, which He was. They did not understand all of who Jesus was, but they gave Him praise, which His is worthy of. Today we know more about Jesus than they did because we have the Bible that tells us about His life, death, resurrection, and future coming. We should praise Him too for the King that He is. We cannot see Him or lay down branches for Him to walk on, but the way we live can be a form of praise and worship to Him. But before we can praise God, we have to believe in Him. Mark 16:16 says, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” So, let us believe in Jesus and praise God with how we live our lives. Hebrews 12:28-29 tell us, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."