Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Consume me from the inside out
Born into sin, it has wrecked us. It has wrecked our frame, always pulling us off the path.
When we find Christ and see His unending love we are set free from the power of sin.
Romans 6:22 - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
But why do we as christians still struggle with sin when we have been "set free from sin?" The effect of sin are still in us. We need to re thread ourselves. Often times I struggle with the "do it myself" method of trying to change my actions and look like a "better christian." In Romans 7:14-23 Paul speaks of our attempt to follow the law, the rules, but it just doesn't work.
Galatians 3:2-3 - I would like to learn just one thing from you. Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law? Or did you receive the Spirit by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? You began with the Holy Spirit. Are you now trying to complete God's work in you by your own strength?
We become consumed by idea that we need to come to God by our actions. We try to find strength in pursuing the law. But God is calling us to His heart. God is calling us to fall in love with him and for us to be consumed from the inside out. He is calling us to experience the Holy Spirit. We need to experience God from within and then He will transform our actions and our lifestyle.
Galatians 5:16-24 - So I say, live by the Holy Spirit's power. Then you will not do what your sinful nature wants you to do.
17 The sinful nature does not want what the Spirit delights in. And the Spirit does not want what the sinful nature delights in. The two are at war with each other. That's what makes you do what you don't want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the authority of the law.
19 What the sinful nature does is clear. It enjoys sexual sins, impure acts and wild living. 20 It worships statues of gods. It also worships evil powers. It is full of hatred and fighting. It is full of jealousy and fits of anger. It is interested only in getting ahead. It stirs up trouble. It separates people into their own little groups. 21 It wants what others have. It gets drunk and takes part in wild parties. It does many things of that kind. I warn you now as I did before. People who live like that will not receive God's kingdom.
22 But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful 23 and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their sinful nature to his cross. They don't want what their sinful nature loves and longs for.
When we find Christ and see His unending love we are set free from the power of sin.
Romans 6:22 - But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
But why do we as christians still struggle with sin when we have been "set free from sin?" The effect of sin are still in us. We need to re thread ourselves. Often times I struggle with the "do it myself" method of trying to change my actions and look like a "better christian." In Romans 7:14-23 Paul speaks of our attempt to follow the law, the rules, but it just doesn't work.
Galatians 3:2-3 - I would like to learn just one thing from you. Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law? Or did you receive the Spirit by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? You began with the Holy Spirit. Are you now trying to complete God's work in you by your own strength?
We become consumed by idea that we need to come to God by our actions. We try to find strength in pursuing the law. But God is calling us to His heart. God is calling us to fall in love with him and for us to be consumed from the inside out. He is calling us to experience the Holy Spirit. We need to experience God from within and then He will transform our actions and our lifestyle.
Galatians 5:16-24 - So I say, live by the Holy Spirit's power. Then you will not do what your sinful nature wants you to do.
17 The sinful nature does not want what the Spirit delights in. And the Spirit does not want what the sinful nature delights in. The two are at war with each other. That's what makes you do what you don't want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the authority of the law.
19 What the sinful nature does is clear. It enjoys sexual sins, impure acts and wild living. 20 It worships statues of gods. It also worships evil powers. It is full of hatred and fighting. It is full of jealousy and fits of anger. It is interested only in getting ahead. It stirs up trouble. It separates people into their own little groups. 21 It wants what others have. It gets drunk and takes part in wild parties. It does many things of that kind. I warn you now as I did before. People who live like that will not receive God's kingdom.
22 But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful 23 and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their sinful nature to his cross. They don't want what their sinful nature loves and longs for.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Prayer Reveals Our View of God
How do we pray? Who are we praying to?
What do our prayers look like?
Ephesians 3:14-21
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
We often pray for what we desire, almost demanding that God gives us these longings and wants. Are these what prayers should look like? God speaks to us through His word and we speak to Him through prayer. How often to do you pray that "he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit?" How often do we pray that Christ dwell in our hearts, that He build our faith? It's time that we start putting God first.
The way we pray reveals our understanding of who God is. 20 and 21 declare that God can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine! When we pray, do we believe our God is a star breathing God, a Father who has love that surpasses knowledge?! No wonder we don't see miracles and wonders in our life. God is calling us to meet Him, to learn about Him, to bring the kingdom of Heaven to Earth.
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Father we pray that you root us in your love. That we are rooted in the love that surpasses knowledge! That we may grasp how wide and long and deep your love is! God, reveal yourself to us! Let us put you first! Let us fall to our knees in complete awe.
In Christ Jesus, Amen.
What do our prayers look like?
Ephesians 3:14-21
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
We often pray for what we desire, almost demanding that God gives us these longings and wants. Are these what prayers should look like? God speaks to us through His word and we speak to Him through prayer. How often to do you pray that "he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit?" How often do we pray that Christ dwell in our hearts, that He build our faith? It's time that we start putting God first.
The way we pray reveals our understanding of who God is. 20 and 21 declare that God can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine! When we pray, do we believe our God is a star breathing God, a Father who has love that surpasses knowledge?! No wonder we don't see miracles and wonders in our life. God is calling us to meet Him, to learn about Him, to bring the kingdom of Heaven to Earth.
-----------
Father we pray that you root us in your love. That we are rooted in the love that surpasses knowledge! That we may grasp how wide and long and deep your love is! God, reveal yourself to us! Let us put you first! Let us fall to our knees in complete awe.
In Christ Jesus, Amen.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Monday, August 24, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
He died for me, the least I can do is take a few beatings
This is a story I heard about the other day, now one of my favorites.
There is this band known as The Great Commission, (http://www.myspace.com/thegreatcommission) if you have not heard of them please check them out!
Im not sure how recent this was but they played at show in southern California.
At the venue the show promoters/owners approached the vocalist Justin, telling
him not to speak anything about Jesus Christ on the stage or they would beat
him up after the show. After The Great Commission's first song, Justin tells the
crowd about the threat they made on him and he continues by saying that he would
take a couple hits to preach His amazing word because Jesus Christ died for him!
HOW EPIC IS THAT! After the show he continued to show God's love and didn't
fight back and they took him outside to beat him up.
Are you willing to give it all to tell the world how amazing our God is?
A story of encouragement
There is this band known as The Great Commission, (http://www.myspace.com/thegreatcommission) if you have not heard of them please check them out!
Im not sure how recent this was but they played at show in southern California.
At the venue the show promoters/owners approached the vocalist Justin, telling
him not to speak anything about Jesus Christ on the stage or they would beat
him up after the show. After The Great Commission's first song, Justin tells the
crowd about the threat they made on him and he continues by saying that he would
take a couple hits to preach His amazing word because Jesus Christ died for him!
HOW EPIC IS THAT! After the show he continued to show God's love and didn't
fight back and they took him outside to beat him up.
Are you willing to give it all to tell the world how amazing our God is?
A story of encouragement
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Huge Ebay Auction, Chad Johnson
I know there are some Tooth and Nail kids out there!! Go support Come and Live! and purchase some awesome stuff (cds, records, posters) VERY RARE ITEMS :D
Check it out here!
http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/rmnsgnls_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZ
Check it out here!
http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/rmnsgnls_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZ
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