Ezekiel 14:6 (KJV) – Thus saith the Lord God; REPENT, and turn yourselves from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
The word of the Lord had come unto Ezekiel to speak to the elders of Israel in this passage of scripture, but just think about how relevant this word is to each of us today. How many idols have you set up in your heart? Things you might have never considered as idols, yet upon careful examination could not be denied.
Many people have a false notion that an idol is just a statue that some worship, but in reality an idol is anything that you love or care about more than God. It can be a job, a spouse, your children, a hobby, etc. An idol can also be a false image God, yes like statues, but also false beliefs such as believing in a God that accepts your sin and would never judge you for it in order to indulge in your sinful vices. This is very prevalent in society today. I believe one of the reasons people have so many false ideas about God is because they do not immerse themselves in the word of God. They will go to a church service once a week, learn some Christian clichés and traditions of men and adopt them as the word of God. We must be like the Bereans in acts 17:11, who receive the word with all readiness of mind, but also search the scriptures daily to see if those things are so.
Exodus 20:3-5 is a command written directly by the finger of God, You are not to have any idols in your life. The truth is that we need to examine our lives against the word of God… Have you any idols in your heart? Repent and turn yourselves from your idols. Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.
Revelation 21:8 (KJV)- But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
The truth is God will judge sin… So turn from all your idols today!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Spurgeon's morning & evening- morning 12/18
"Rend your heart, and not your garments."
— Joel 2:13
Garment-rendering and other outward signs of religious emotion, are easily manifested and are frequently hypocritical; but to feel true repentance is far more difficult, and consequently far less common. Men will attend to the most multiplied and minute ceremonial regulations--for such things are pleasing to the flesh--but true religion is too humbling, too heart-searching, too thorough for the tastes of the carnal men; they prefer something more ostentatious, flimsy, and worldly. Outward observances are temporarily comfortable; eye and ear are pleased; self-conceit is fed, and self- righteousness is puffed up: but they are ultimately delusive, for in the article of death, and at the day of judgment, the soul needs something more substantial than ceremonies and rituals to lean upon. Apart from vital godliness all religion is utterly vain; offered without a sincere heart, every form of worship is a solemn sham and an impudent mockery of the majesty of heaven.
HEART-RENDING is divinely wrought and solemnly felt. It is a secret grief which is personally experienced, not in mere form, but as a deep, soul-moving work of the Holy Spirit upon the inmost heart of each believer. It is not a matter to be merely talked of and believed in, but keenly and sensitively felt in every living child of the living God. It is powerfully humiliating, and completely sin-purging; but then it is sweetly preparative for those gracious consolations which proud unhumbled spirits are unable to receive; and it is distinctly discriminating, for it belongs to the elect of God, and to them alone.
The text commands us to rend our hearts, but they are naturally hard as marble: how, then, can this be done? We must take them to Calvary: a dying Saviour's voice rent the rocks once, and it is as powerful now. O blessed Spirit, let us hear the death-cries of Jesus, and our hearts shall be rent even as men rend their vestures in the day of lamentation.
— Joel 2:13
Garment-rendering and other outward signs of religious emotion, are easily manifested and are frequently hypocritical; but to feel true repentance is far more difficult, and consequently far less common. Men will attend to the most multiplied and minute ceremonial regulations--for such things are pleasing to the flesh--but true religion is too humbling, too heart-searching, too thorough for the tastes of the carnal men; they prefer something more ostentatious, flimsy, and worldly. Outward observances are temporarily comfortable; eye and ear are pleased; self-conceit is fed, and self- righteousness is puffed up: but they are ultimately delusive, for in the article of death, and at the day of judgment, the soul needs something more substantial than ceremonies and rituals to lean upon. Apart from vital godliness all religion is utterly vain; offered without a sincere heart, every form of worship is a solemn sham and an impudent mockery of the majesty of heaven.
HEART-RENDING is divinely wrought and solemnly felt. It is a secret grief which is personally experienced, not in mere form, but as a deep, soul-moving work of the Holy Spirit upon the inmost heart of each believer. It is not a matter to be merely talked of and believed in, but keenly and sensitively felt in every living child of the living God. It is powerfully humiliating, and completely sin-purging; but then it is sweetly preparative for those gracious consolations which proud unhumbled spirits are unable to receive; and it is distinctly discriminating, for it belongs to the elect of God, and to them alone.
The text commands us to rend our hearts, but they are naturally hard as marble: how, then, can this be done? We must take them to Calvary: a dying Saviour's voice rent the rocks once, and it is as powerful now. O blessed Spirit, let us hear the death-cries of Jesus, and our hearts shall be rent even as men rend their vestures in the day of lamentation.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Let's Be witnesses
The mission of the church is, in reality, a continuation of Christ's earthly ministry…
John 14:12- Jesus states, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Jesus’ purpose for coming to the earth was for the redeeming of men's souls. As we see in Matt. 18:11 where Jesus states, "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost" and again in Luke 19:10, where he says, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
What we all need to realize is that as Christians, we are all called to share the gospel. Whether we think we have the gift of evangelism or not.
In Matthew 4:19, Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fisher’s of men”. The truth is that if you are not fishing, you are not following. Some people don’t want to fish because they don’t want to get their hands dirty, they think, “If I catch this fish then I have to clean it.” But it is Jesus who cleans the fish, not man.
Acts 1:8 declares,
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Your Jerusalem can be considered as those people who are closest to you, your Judea and Samaria are those people who are near, but different from you, and to the ends of the earth should be taken literally, that means everyone! No exceptions, no preferences, no picking and choosing who you feel like witnessing to.
I tell you… It will be a fearful thing to stand before a Just and Holy God on the Day of Judgment and have to give an account for those times that you knew God was telling you to witness to someone and yet you willfully disobeyed and did not.
A lot of times we use the bible verse that says “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”. (Matthew 5:16), and we think that are deeds can be a witness all by themselves, Yes our deeds are a great witness, but a lot of times people see our deeds and give us glory instead of God. We need to not only witness with our deeds, but also with our speech. In the same way our gospel should not only come in words, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost. (1 thess 1:5). You see, the scripture says when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, then you will be His witnesses. It is very difficult to be God's witness apart from the power of the Holy Spirit and when we do these deeds of love and mercy, we need to tell people where the power comes from. So deeds without words are kind of a half a witness, I believe God wants both."
We can share the gospel anywhere we go, we are not limited, we have freedom of speech here! There is a Christian optometrist, who is pretty wise. He uses Biblical verses as his eye chart. He will sit the patient down, covers one eye and says, "Now read that." The patient begins to read.. "There is none righteous, no not one”. Then he says, "Now read that second line." "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Line three “The wages of sin is death”. Now, there is a guy who is thinking. He is using his work to be a witness. We should all be that bold!
So, there are four possible responses to this call to be Christ's witnesses everywhere. We can say like Moses, who me? We can say like Jonah, not me. We can say like Jeremiah, why me? Or we can say like Isaiah, send me. Send me Lord. Let those who know, tell those who don't.
John 14:12- Jesus states, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Jesus’ purpose for coming to the earth was for the redeeming of men's souls. As we see in Matt. 18:11 where Jesus states, "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost" and again in Luke 19:10, where he says, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
What we all need to realize is that as Christians, we are all called to share the gospel. Whether we think we have the gift of evangelism or not.
In Matthew 4:19, Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fisher’s of men”. The truth is that if you are not fishing, you are not following. Some people don’t want to fish because they don’t want to get their hands dirty, they think, “If I catch this fish then I have to clean it.” But it is Jesus who cleans the fish, not man.
Acts 1:8 declares,
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Your Jerusalem can be considered as those people who are closest to you, your Judea and Samaria are those people who are near, but different from you, and to the ends of the earth should be taken literally, that means everyone! No exceptions, no preferences, no picking and choosing who you feel like witnessing to.
I tell you… It will be a fearful thing to stand before a Just and Holy God on the Day of Judgment and have to give an account for those times that you knew God was telling you to witness to someone and yet you willfully disobeyed and did not.
A lot of times we use the bible verse that says “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”. (Matthew 5:16), and we think that are deeds can be a witness all by themselves, Yes our deeds are a great witness, but a lot of times people see our deeds and give us glory instead of God. We need to not only witness with our deeds, but also with our speech. In the same way our gospel should not only come in words, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost. (1 thess 1:5). You see, the scripture says when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, then you will be His witnesses. It is very difficult to be God's witness apart from the power of the Holy Spirit and when we do these deeds of love and mercy, we need to tell people where the power comes from. So deeds without words are kind of a half a witness, I believe God wants both."
We can share the gospel anywhere we go, we are not limited, we have freedom of speech here! There is a Christian optometrist, who is pretty wise. He uses Biblical verses as his eye chart. He will sit the patient down, covers one eye and says, "Now read that." The patient begins to read.. "There is none righteous, no not one”. Then he says, "Now read that second line." "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Line three “The wages of sin is death”. Now, there is a guy who is thinking. He is using his work to be a witness. We should all be that bold!
So, there are four possible responses to this call to be Christ's witnesses everywhere. We can say like Moses, who me? We can say like Jonah, not me. We can say like Jeremiah, why me? Or we can say like Isaiah, send me. Send me Lord. Let those who know, tell those who don't.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Spurgeons morning & evening 11/10
"The eternal God is thy refuge."
— Deuteronomy 33:27
The word refuge may be translated "mansion," or "abiding- place," which gives the thought that God is our abode, our home. There is a fulness and sweetness in the metaphor, for dear to our hearts is our home, although it be the humblest cottage, or the scantiest garret; and dearer far is our blessed God, in whom we live, and move, and have our being. It is at home that we feel safe: we shut the world out and dwell in quiet security. So when we are with our God we "fear no evil." He is our shelter and retreat, our abiding refuge. At home, we take our rest; it is there we find repose after the fatigue and toil of the day. And so our hearts find rest in God, when, wearied with life's conflict, we turn to Him, and our soul dwells at ease. At home, also, we let our hearts loose; we are not afraid of being misunderstood, nor of our words being misconstrued. So when we are with God we can commune freely with Him, laying open all our hidden desires; for if the "secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him," the secrets of them that fear Him ought to be, and must be, with their Lord. Home, too, is the place of our truest and purest happiness: and it is in God that our hearts find their deepest delight. We have joy in Him which far surpasses all other joy. It is also for home that we work and labour. The thought of it gives strength to bear the daily burden, and quickens the fingers to perform the task; and in this sense we may also say that God is our home. Love to Him strengthens us. We think of Him in the person of His dear Son; and a glimpse of the suffering face of the Redeemer constrains us to labour in His cause. We feel that we must work, for we have brethren yet to be saved, and we have our Father's heart to make glad by bringing home His wandering sons; we would fill with holy mirth the sacred family among whom we dwell. Happy are those who have thus the God of Jacob for their refuge!
— Deuteronomy 33:27
The word refuge may be translated "mansion," or "abiding- place," which gives the thought that God is our abode, our home. There is a fulness and sweetness in the metaphor, for dear to our hearts is our home, although it be the humblest cottage, or the scantiest garret; and dearer far is our blessed God, in whom we live, and move, and have our being. It is at home that we feel safe: we shut the world out and dwell in quiet security. So when we are with our God we "fear no evil." He is our shelter and retreat, our abiding refuge. At home, we take our rest; it is there we find repose after the fatigue and toil of the day. And so our hearts find rest in God, when, wearied with life's conflict, we turn to Him, and our soul dwells at ease. At home, also, we let our hearts loose; we are not afraid of being misunderstood, nor of our words being misconstrued. So when we are with God we can commune freely with Him, laying open all our hidden desires; for if the "secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him," the secrets of them that fear Him ought to be, and must be, with their Lord. Home, too, is the place of our truest and purest happiness: and it is in God that our hearts find their deepest delight. We have joy in Him which far surpasses all other joy. It is also for home that we work and labour. The thought of it gives strength to bear the daily burden, and quickens the fingers to perform the task; and in this sense we may also say that God is our home. Love to Him strengthens us. We think of Him in the person of His dear Son; and a glimpse of the suffering face of the Redeemer constrains us to labour in His cause. We feel that we must work, for we have brethren yet to be saved, and we have our Father's heart to make glad by bringing home His wandering sons; we would fill with holy mirth the sacred family among whom we dwell. Happy are those who have thus the God of Jacob for their refuge!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Evangelizing the Nations @ Times Sq
On Friday, October 24, 2008. We will be meeting at 44thSt & Broadway for a night of Evangelism. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few so if you would be able to join us this night please call me or email me. We will meet at 8pm. Come join us to fulfill the great commission and preach the gospel to every creature. Love you all!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Walk For Breast Cancer
One of my friends will be walking next month in the breast cancer walk to help provide access to care for those that most need it, fund educational programs, and accelerate research into new treatments and potential cures, check out her web page for information about the cause or to donate for the cause.
Copy & Paste
http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk2008/NewYork?px=4232630&pg=personal&fr_id=1660&et=LuAGrlHIPWUhYwEDI51x6g..&s_tafId=283182
God Bless!
Copy & Paste
http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk2008/NewYork?px=4232630&pg=personal&fr_id=1660&et=LuAGrlHIPWUhYwEDI51x6g..&s_tafId=283182
God Bless!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Liberal Christians
There are some people who profess to be "Liberal Christians". These Christians pray,
they read the word, they testify of God's goodness, but when it comes to certain
"sins" they feel no conviction, they see nothing wrong. When it comes down to truly
being doers of the word they find many excuses.
James 1:22- But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own
selves
James 2:17- Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone
Titus 1:16- They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him,
being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
These "Liberal Christians" take part in and participate in things of the world. They
feel no conviction and use the liberty which comes from Christ for an occasion to
sin.
1 John 2:15- Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Galations 5:13- For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not
liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
How can a true believer in Jesus Christ be so liberal as to allow sin to rule? The
Lord has delivered us from the power of sin and death and we must walk in that
victory! Do not allow yourself to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
(Galations 5:1)
Our Lord Jesus Christ was not liberal...
Matthew 5:28-30 (King James Version)
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath
committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it
is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy
whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it
is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy
whole body should be cast into hell.
Matthew 21:12-13 (King James Version)
12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and
bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the
seats of them that sold doves,
13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer;
but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Mark 10:21 (King James Version)
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest:
go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt
have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Jesus said "if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
and follow me". -Matthew 16:24
Jesus commands us to follow him and that means that certain things are off limits,
certain entertainements, certain liberties that may have been ok before your
relationship with the Lord now have to be forsaken.
What happens with "liberal Christians" is that they want to bring in all those
things...the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life into
their new lives. They use the excuse that God has given them liberty to try to
justify their acts. They profess a watered down, tweaked gospel that seems right
unto men but in the end thereof are the ways of death. They speak with their lips
good things, but their hearts are far from God.
Many 'liberal Christians' are sincerely deceived, but others know they are wrong
and chose to walk in the flesh rather than the spirit. They are lukewarm awaiting the
moment when the Lord will spew them out of His mouth.
All of us who profess to be Christians need to walk in the spirit so that we will not
fulfill the lust of the flesh. I exhort all to read Galations 5 and examine yourself
againest the word of God. Are you bearing good fruit?
This week I have been examining myself and God is always faithful in showing me where
I need Him to change and shape me. Regardless of the "Liberal Christians" around me
I am determined to remain "Narrow Minded" and on that narrow way. With the Grace of
God I will not only profess to know Him,but with my deeds and with my life I will
chose to Honor Him.
they read the word, they testify of God's goodness, but when it comes to certain
"sins" they feel no conviction, they see nothing wrong. When it comes down to truly
being doers of the word they find many excuses.
James 1:22- But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own
selves
James 2:17- Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone
Titus 1:16- They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him,
being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
These "Liberal Christians" take part in and participate in things of the world. They
feel no conviction and use the liberty which comes from Christ for an occasion to
sin.
1 John 2:15- Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Galations 5:13- For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not
liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
How can a true believer in Jesus Christ be so liberal as to allow sin to rule? The
Lord has delivered us from the power of sin and death and we must walk in that
victory! Do not allow yourself to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
(Galations 5:1)
Our Lord Jesus Christ was not liberal...
Matthew 5:28-30 (King James Version)
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath
committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it
is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy
whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it
is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy
whole body should be cast into hell.
Matthew 21:12-13 (King James Version)
12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and
bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the
seats of them that sold doves,
13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer;
but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Mark 10:21 (King James Version)
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest:
go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt
have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Jesus said "if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
and follow me". -Matthew 16:24
Jesus commands us to follow him and that means that certain things are off limits,
certain entertainements, certain liberties that may have been ok before your
relationship with the Lord now have to be forsaken.
What happens with "liberal Christians" is that they want to bring in all those
things...the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life into
their new lives. They use the excuse that God has given them liberty to try to
justify their acts. They profess a watered down, tweaked gospel that seems right
unto men but in the end thereof are the ways of death. They speak with their lips
good things, but their hearts are far from God.
Many 'liberal Christians' are sincerely deceived, but others know they are wrong
and chose to walk in the flesh rather than the spirit. They are lukewarm awaiting the
moment when the Lord will spew them out of His mouth.
All of us who profess to be Christians need to walk in the spirit so that we will not
fulfill the lust of the flesh. I exhort all to read Galations 5 and examine yourself
againest the word of God. Are you bearing good fruit?
This week I have been examining myself and God is always faithful in showing me where
I need Him to change and shape me. Regardless of the "Liberal Christians" around me
I am determined to remain "Narrow Minded" and on that narrow way. With the Grace of
God I will not only profess to know Him,but with my deeds and with my life I will
chose to Honor Him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
