All posts filed under: Discipleship

The Stick that keeps me Grounded

Published by

Could it be, that the very thing you are pleading with the Lord to remove is the very thing that was meant to bless you… the very thing that was meant to keep you grounded? So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ESV 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 What was the thorn in Paul’s flesh? This question has been for a long time the subject of debate and speculation. The following is a …

Building Blocks of Faith

Published by

JUDE But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt;  save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh Jude 1:20-22  Prayer in the Spirit keep yourselves in the Love of God waiting the second coming show mercy toward doubters snatch others form the fire hate sin rely on God’s power Please let me share a few words base on this outline: Prayer in the Spirit is God’s call to take our prayer to another level. I believe that prayer in the Spirit, is the highest level of prayer you can ever reach. It is the Spirit of the Lord praying through you with “groans that word cannot express.” Those times when we know not what to pray for, the Spirit of God intercedes on our behalf. We are also told by …

UnFollow: 7 People you may need to Unfollow

Published by

We live in a day and age where people and things continually scream for your attention. We are constantly being asked to follow something. For example, these request might look like the following: Follow me on Facebook Follow me on Instagram Follow me on Twitter Follow me on Tumblr Follow me on Foursquare Follow me on WordPress Follow me on Google Follow this trend, website, celebrity The list goes on and on. It is not hard to see how people can easily start following people and things they have no business following. Let me suggest some people or trends you might want to consider unfollowing: Unfollow your favorite porn star It may be the one in your favorite movie, TV Show or dirty magazine or website. If they’ve ever exposed themselves – you need to unfollow them. Unfollow your favorite author or blogger If their words incite lust. profanity and all shades of sexual perversion – you need to unfollow them. Unfollow your favorite Rock star If they curse God or his people in their …

God’s in Charge, Not You – the less you speak, the better

Published by

Watch your step when you enter God’s house. Enter to learn. That’s far better than mindlessly offering a sacrifice, Doing more harm than good. God’s in Charge, not you – the less you speak, the better Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. Don’t even presume anything God’s in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better . Over work makes for restless sleep. Over talk shows you up as a fool. Over-asking is a little immature God is in charge, not you – the less you speak, the better When you tell God you’ll do something, do it—now. God takes no pleasure in foolish gabble. Vow it, then do it. Far better not to vow in the first place than to vow and not pay up. God is in charge, not you – the less you speak, the better Don’t let your mouth make a total sinner of you. When called to account, you won’t get by …

When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased.

Published by

I am starting a five-part new teaching series this Sunday at church. And just for curiosity sake,  well, I should say, just to find some fun way to introduce the series, I decided to find out what people are saying about priorities on twitter using the #priorities. I don’t know if I will use these, but reading them just re-enforces the fact that many of us have misplaced priorities.  I am reminded of a powerful C. S. Lewis quote – When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased. Defining what the most important things are in life – through God’s word, is the single most important thing we can ever do. One, it helps us not only to focus on those things, but also pursue them as if our lives depended on them. Moses’ prayer is a great example of that kind of life – Psalm 90:12 – Lord teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Pray for me. That I will be able to communicate …

Ignite

Published by

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. NIV Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord. KJV Romans 12:11 The word Slothful/Lazy means to hesitate, to be slow. Slow and “poky” as in Matthew 25:26… “you wicked lazy slave… A lazy Christian is a contradiction of terms. Having been saved from the guilt and ravages of sin, the Christian is man at the zenith of his best powers. Strength, zeal, enthusiasm, vigor, and the full thrust of his total energy should distinguish the Christian’s performance in business, trade, profession, study, artistic creation, or in anything else that he pursues as a vocation; and, above everything, such qualities should characterize his devotion and service in the church. The opposite of what Paul commanded here is lukewarmness, a negative condition represented as disgusting to God himself (Revelation 3:16). Coffman’s Commentary I believe what God desires and applauds  in a believer is his or her passion and zeal not only for the things of God but for God himself. Here are four …

Walk in the Spirit

Published by

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. Galatians 5:16-18 There is an answer to all of us who at one time or another felt like the Apostle Paul when he asked the question – “oh wretched man that I am who shall save me from this body of death?” The question came after the realization that he was incapable of rising above the power of the sinful nature within himself. At that point he realized that only the grace of God through the redemptive work of Christ could help him break the …

He’s not finished with me yet!

Published by

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” I hope I can impress on you today through this short passage the need to live daily in a spirit of worship and continuous repentance. I don’t think you can truly get to a genuine, …

Don’t worry be happy!

Published by

Here’s little post I wrote You might want to read it Line  by Line Don’t worry be happy! Have you ever heard people say things like – “when I get that house up in the hills, or that car – “than” I will be happy?” I have! I have heard and seen people try to make material goods, success, social status and outside influences or events control or dictate their level of happiness. When I get that pair of legs – than I will be happy When I get that promotion or raise – than I will be happy When I meet Mr. Or Mrs. Right – than I will be happy But what people fail to realize is that riches, material blessings, the ideal life and all your hopes and dreams combined can not make you happy. Your happiness does not depend on or should not be dependent upon others, circumstances or what you have or have not. The bible says that a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of what he …

Chariots of Firing you up for God/ Part 1

Published by

With the London Olympic Games approaching, Chariots of Fire, the 1981 Best Picture Oscar-winner and perennial family favorite, is back. I read somewhere that the movie is being shown all over london in order to put people in the spirit of the Olympics and recapturing their imagination. I thought it was a brilliant idea, so I too am going to be watching the movie at least once a week for the duration of the Olympics. My motivation is of course is to improve my spiritual skills to compete in this race that I am in. I want to fire myself up, bringing my running to a whole new level. For those of you unfamiliar with or have forgotten the story, Harold Abrahams was an English Jew who overcame the ingrained anti-Semitism of the British establishment, while Eric Liddell was a committed Scottish Christian and son of missionaries to China who refused to run the 100 meter sprint – because it fell on a Sunday. He however went on to win gold in the 400 meters. …