All Christians know they cannot live the Christian life alone. They need the constant help of God’s Spirit to keep them from sin, promote their holiness, and renew their minds toward eternal things. Remove the Spirit and Christians are done. The commands of God are beyond human capacity. The attacks of the devil are no match for us. And the flesh is so strong, we fail every time we try to subdue it in the strength of self.
Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
New Testament
Today’s scripture demands a pause and a pondering. We likely are familiar with the Lord’s interaction with the church at Laodicea. As we read His letter to them, He is bringing the most serious of spiritual charges against them; a lukewarm heart. Such a heart is defined as a spirit of indifference toward Him and spiritual things. The seriousness and subtlety of this condition is one doesn’t have to be living in outward gross sin to be in it.
Colossians 3:11 – Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. THEME OF THE DAY: JESUS: THE CHRISTIAN’S CONTENTMENT. Have we recently taken time and pondered all the rich blessings we receive from God by being Christians? The list is long. It would be a good exercise to periodically…
Matthew 25:1-13 – “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom…
In this sixth part of our Lord’s instruction on prayer, Pastor Jim outlines the implications of the third petition to God, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. This petition is explored in 3 ways: what is the definition of the will of God, how is the will of God done in heaven, and what are examples of His will for us on earth. Throughout the message, Pastor Jim explains the nuances between God’s absolute will (He is sovereign) and his revealed will (the part we understand and must follow). We assume responsibility of carrying out his will when we pray “Your will be done”, falling under obedience to his revealed will.
2 Corinthians 9:15 – Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! THEME OF THE DAY: THE PRIVILEGES OF BEING A CHRISTIAN. Today’s scripture immediately draws our hearts and minds to the gift of God in His Son, the Lord Jesus. In this gift from the Father, we are blessed with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3). We also receive precious promises (2…