the story of daniel is awesome. it's a great story of how God uses people who worship Him. He gets glory from them and He also uses people who reject Him, to get glory. As one pastor used to say 'you're either going to give glory to God or He will get glory from you'.
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, the 2nd one. Daniel interpreted it that he would be rejected from his kingdom, live like an animal for 7 years and then once he acknowledged that God is in control, his kingdom would be restored to him. Daniel warned him to set his life in order, to repent of his sins that this prophecy might linger before coming to pass. And is says (Daniel 4:29-32) 'Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. The king reflected and said, 'Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my majesty? While the word was still in his mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying 'King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the bests of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.'
Wow, what an awesome example of God 'getting glory' from someone who did not give Him the glory.
sometimes I am discouraged by the prayer of righteous people in the bible. in james 5 we are reminded that though great things were done through Elijah, that he had a nature like ours. our nature is sinful, so was his - and yet God used his prayer for mighty things.
wow!
We've been waiting on San Antonio, or the anticipation of it for what seems months. In fact, I think it has been about 2 months now. We should hear about the contract by Sept 19th. I know if God leaves us here it is for growth and our good. But if He takes us, other than the job and being back where we feel at home I'm not sure why it would be. What ministry would I have there?
Obedience.
(Jim Campbell @ Rush Creek, during worship on 7/24/05, this is my paraphrase of what he said)
Sometimes I am reminded that God's standard is too high to attain. It can be an overwhelming realization. But it is not how far I am from His standard. The important thing is how close He is to me.
(self)
That is why a personal relationships is SO.... important.
Jesus said "if you love me you will do the things I have been doing". iv'e looked for a connection that shows that if we really are believers that we will show fruit. two of these evidences are below:
"and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf" - 2 Cor 5:15
"therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." - 2 Cor 5:17
so according to these verses if a persons' faith is REAL, they WILL stop being their old self and there will be a new self. this will produce fruit.
many times I've heard that we (believers) will not be judged, as Christ has already paid for our sins, judgement has already been passed on us, etc. the argument goes on to say that we will stand before something where God will judge our works. well Paul says in 2 Cor 5:10
"for we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body , according to what he has done, whether good or bad."
now, we can say that this "we" may be Christians. but it does say that we will sit before the "judgement" seat, not the "reward" seat.
a heavily heated argument in evangelism is whether God really provides "all people" the opportunity to come to him or not. Paul in 2 Cor 4:3-4 says
"and even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
this implies that though God allows the veiling, it is Satan who actually does the veiling.
Paul closes his 1st letter to the Corinthians with chapter 16. There are several points I had not noticed before.
- Effective Service was recognized through great and many adversaries.
- 'Act like men' - Paul says this why? Were they not acting like men? He says to them in vs 13 'Be alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.' why would he need to tell them this?
- 'Acknowledge such men' - he is speaking of those who take care of needs. He mentions Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus why? 'Because they have supplied what was lacking on your part. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.' We tend today to think acknowledging such men is political, a strategy to either produce guilt in those who did not or to encourage such men to do so again. Paul says to do it. The Holy Spirit says to do it.
- Failing to love the Lord produces a curse - I remember Jesus saying "if you love me..." but I wondered if there was any guidance that not only is it a good idea to love Jesus but it's a command. Paul says here if you do not love the Lord you are acursed. It's not just a suggestion.
Often when talking about liberties in Christ the subject of alcohol comes up. There are not too many of us who argue over whether or not to eat meat sacrificed to idols. While this is still a valid argument among certain religions it is not a primary argument in America. Paul talks in 1 Cor 8&9 about our liberties in Christ.
Many pastors (more often their members) will preach 1 Cor 8:13 as evidence that we should never drink because it will cause another to stumble. It is fine if a person chooses not to drink at all, certainly he or she has that right. Paul later says in Chapter 9 that he becomes all things to all people in order that some might be saved. In Chapter 10 Paul talks multiple times (v 25, 27, 31) about the freedom to eat and drink. It depends on those you are eating and drinking around. If it would make them stumble, then do not. If they understand the freedom and eat and drink then you are also free to do so.
This does in no way nullify the guidance from Scripture to not get drunk. It's not a guideline to eat, drink and be merry until you fall over drunk.
1 Chronicles 21:1 says that Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel. Now, this is something that seems unevil to so speak. How was it a sin for David to call for a census? Anything that Satan "moves" us to is sin, he is certainly not going to nor is he able to move us to do something good. But w/out Satan moving him would it have been sin? Was it becuase David did not ask God if he could take a census?
It seems obvious that the most important thing here was that it was Satan who moved him. It's somewhat puzzling that something as simple as a census could be sinful. It doesn't even seem to indicate the nature of David's heart in the matter. But anything that does not seek to glorify God can be sinful.
Paul talks to the Corinthians in 1 Cor 5 about immorality and removing someone from fellowship. He says "I am not talking about people of the world. If I was you would have nothing to do and would need to just have Jesus take you to heaven." (Mark's unpublished paraphrase). He says he's talking about believers. And not just anyone who says they've prayed a prayer. If people can see fruit from their lives and they are "immoral, covetous, swindlers, idolaters" then don't even have lunch w/them.
We can't reject those who don't know Christ, in fact he warns us not to judge them, but to judge those who are a part of the way. He says "why would I be judging those who are of the world? Certainly you should judge those inside the church." This does not sound fun now does it? But this is God's word. I believe many churches are failing to grow because they are failing to practice church discipline.
A good thing at this point would be to study those words "immoral, covetous, swindlers, idolaters" and see who all is included. Am I included?
Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you? - James 3:12 (The Message)
Can you pick olives from a fig tree or figs from a grapevine? No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty pool. - James 3:12 (NLT)
Because of the ways of the tongue (evil, untamable, etc.) not many of you should be teachers. Teachers will receive a stricter judgement.
Sometimes what you intend to teach is not what goes into their heart, then they apply it falsely and it becomes a stumbling block. That's why it's so important how we prepare and teach.
Rom 7:14-25 Paul is talking about the conflicting natures of sin and righteousness.
He says "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate."
I've felt like this many times. I purpose in my heart to do one thing, but when the time comes I instinctively do another. After the fact I am so mad I could spit. I determine that I am incapable of doing good (vs 18). I am incapable of doing Good. Paul says next:
"For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of good is not."
His explanation is in vs 19 "For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want."
Oh how often I have purposed in my heart to do good, to become better, to be more sensitive not only to the Spirit, but also to my wife, to my unbelieving friends. But in that moment of discussion I forget what I had purposed and I am unloving in my speech, I am unforgiving in my heart, I am not mindful of those who do not yet know God. After the fact I am guilt ridden for my actions and words.
This is the essence of the conflict of two natures. We want to be better, but we cannot except through Christ.
This blog is a compilation of things learned from The Word. Dont' be alarmed if there is not alot on here. I'm just starting to add what God has taught me since March 2005.