Re: Pastor JOhn

Admin Sat 17 Jul 2010, 1:22 pm

"The Rich Young Ruler
Luke 18:18-23
Three of the four gospels contain an account of the young man who asked Jesus a very important question: "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (v. 18). A ruler with great wealth, he considered himself a moral man because he had kept God's commandments.
However, he was operating under the false assumption that good works bring salvation. He seemed to be asking Jesus what else he had to do to secure his place in heaven--besides all the good things he'd already accomplished.
This is what I refer to as the "great deception"--the false belief that eternal life can be earned through our own efforts. If we give credence to this lie, then we do not understand the problem of our sin and how it separates us from God. Scripture tells us that we have inherited a sinful nature from the first man (Rom. 5:12). Ever since that time, humanity has been in rebellion against the Lord and under His judgment. There is nothing we can do to pay for our sin. If this were the end of the story, we would be a people without hope for today or the future. But the good news is that the heavenly Father recognized our plight and mercifully provided the way to heaven (John 14:6).
When God made us in His image, He created us to live forever. So, though our earthly body will perish, our spirit will never die. The question about eternal life is important, as we'll spend eternity either with God in heaven or in an insufferable state, separated permanently from Him (Matt. 25:34, 41)."

Admin Wed 14 Jul 2010, 12:01 pm

"A Poor Man Become Rich!
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
(Luke19:9-10)
The people thought Zaccheus was a wealthy man, but actually he was only a bankrupt sinner who needed to receive God’s gift of eternal life, the most expensive gift in the world. This is the only instance in the four gospels of Jesus inviting Himself to someone’s home, and it illustrates the words of Revelation 3:20.
Zaccheus was not saved because he promised to do good works. He was saved because he responded by faith to Christ’s gracious word to Him. Having trusted the Savior, he then gave evidence of his faith by promising to make restitution to those he had wronged. Saving faith is more than pious words and devout feelings. It creates a living union with Christ that results in a changed life (James2:14-26).
Under the Mosaic law, if a thief voluntarily confessed his crime, he had to restore what he took, add one fifth to it, and bring a trespass offering to the Lord (Lev. 6:1-7). If he stole something he could not restore, he had to repay fourfold (Ex. 22:1), and if he was caught with the goods, he had to repay double (Ex. 22:4). Zaccheus did not quibble over the terms of the law; he offered to pay the highest price because his heart had truly been changed.
The child of God is born rich, for he shared “every spiritual blessing” in Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:3). We have the riches of God’s mercy and grace (Eph. 1:7; 2:4) as well as the riches of His glory (Phil. 4:19) and wisdom (Rom. 11:33). These are “unsearchable riches” that can never be fully understood or completely exhausted (Eph. 3:8)."

Admin Tue 13 Jul 2010, 4:13 pm

"What Christ's Blood Does for Believers
Romans 3:21-26
Knowing what we believe is a key to strong, life-sustaining faith. Yesterday we saw two of the blessings that are ours through the blood of the Savior. Today we will look at two more.
By trusting in Christ as Savior, we are . . .
Justified. Justification is the process by which God declares us "not guilty." Romans 3:23 condemns all mankind as sinners who are under a sentence of death and facing a dreadful eternity apart from the Lord and His blessings. But everything changes for the person who accepts Christ's shed blood as payment for his sins--through Jesus, our heavenly Father declares the sinner not guilty, provides him with Christ's righteousness, and adopts the new believer into His family (Gal. 3:26). Jesus' sacrifice satisfied our sin-debt, and His death was counted by God as our own (Rom. 5:9).
Reconciled. Before salvation, we were separated from the Lord and spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1). We had no way to span the gap between Him and us. Christ sent His Holy Spirit to convict us of our guilt (John 16:8), make us aware that we need a Savior, and bring us to saving faith. Jesus, the Lamb of God, removed the barrier of sin that separated us from God. Christ reconciled us to God "having made peace through the blood of His cross" (Col. 1:20).
As believers, we should understand what occurred when we received Jesus as Savior (Acts 16:31). Through His sacrifice, we are redeemed, forgiven, justified, and reconciled to God. That is, Christ's blood has brought us from death to life--and has let us enter into an eternal relationship with the Father."

Admin Mon 12 Jul 2010, 1:18 pm

"“What Lack I Yet?”
The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
(Matt19: 20-22)
Nowhere in the Bible are we taught that a sinner is saved by selling his goods and giving the money away. Jesus never told Nicodemus to do this, or any other sinner whose story is recorded in the Gospels. Jesus knew that this man was covetous; he loved material wealth. By asking him to sell his goods, Jesus was forcing him to examine his own heart and determine his priorities. With all of his commendable qualities, the young man still did not truly love God with all of his heart. Possessions were his god. He was unable to obey the command, “Go and sell.....come and follow.”
The young man went away grieved, but he could have gone away in great joy and peace. We cannot love and serve two masters (Matt6:24). We can be sure that, apart from Christ, even the material possessions of life give no lasting joy or pleasure. It is good to have the things money can buy provided do not lose the things that money can not buy. Unless this rich ruler eventually turned to Christ, he died without salvation, one of the “richest” men in the cemetery."

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"We Can Be A Blessing To Others!
“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
(Matt10:40-42)
Not everyone will reject our witness. There are those who will welcome us and receive a blessing. After all, we are the ambassadors of the King! Our King will see to it that they are rewarded for what they do. When people receive us, they welcome the King, for we are His representatives. Read 2 Samuel 10 for an example of what happens when people mistreat the envoys of the King.
The blessing, however, is not automatic. It all depends on the attitude of the host. If he receives the ambassador as s prophet (a spokesman for God), then he gets one reward; if he receives him only as a righteous man, there is another reward. But even a cup of cold water, given with the right spirit, brings its own reward.
Keep in mind that the theme of this last section is discipleship, not sonship. We become the children of God through faith in Christ; we are disciples as we faithfully follow Him and obey His will. Sonship does not change, but discipleship does change as we walk with Christ. There is a great need today for faithful disciples, believers who will learn from Christ and live for Him. Amen
Pastor Fahim John"

Admin Sat 10 Jul 2010, 4:30 pm

"The Father Has Authorized His Son
“For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.”
(John3:34-35)
God sent Him (another key theme in john’s gospel); God gave Him the word; God gave Him the Spirit; and God gave Him all things (John13:3). What a commissioning! To reject the Son’s witness is to rebel against the highest authority in the universe.
We usually think of God’s love for a lost world (John3:16), but John reminds us of the Father’s love for His Son. Jesus is the Father’s “beloved Son” (Matt. 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke3:22). Because the Father loves the Son, He has given Him all things, and He shows Him all things (John 5:20). It is a love that can hold nothing back.
Therefore, when we receive His witness, we share in His love and His wealth. To reject Christ’s witness is to sin against love and light. No wonder our Lord wept over the city of Jerusalem (Matt. 23:37-39). They had rejected His witness-both His messages and His miracles- and their rejection led to judgment. Amen"

Admin Mon 05 Jul 2010, 10:07 am

"The First Temptation
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
(Matthew4: 1-4)
The involved the love of God and the will of God. “Since you are God’s beloved Son, why doesn’t your Father feed you? Why does He put you into this terrible wilderness? This temptation sounded like Satan’s words to Eve in Genesis 3! It is subtle suggestion that our Father does not love us.
But there was another suggestion: “Use your divine powers to meet your own needs.” When we put our physical needs ahead of our Spiritual needs, we sin, When we allow circumstances to dicate our actions, instead of following God’s will, we sin, Jesus could have turned the stones into bread, but He would have exercising His powers independently of the Father, and He came to obey the Father(John5:30;6:38).
The Lord quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 to defeat Satan. Feeding on and obeying God’s word is more important then consuming physical food. In fact, it is our food (John4:32-34)
Pastor Fahim"

Admin Fri 02 Jul 2010, 12:06 pm

"The New Birth
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he can not see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he can not enter the kingdom of God.
(John3: 3-5)
Our Lord began with that which was familiar, birth being a universal experience. The word translated “again” also means “from above” Though all human beings have experienced natural birth on earth, if they expect to go to heaven, they must experience a spiritual birth from above. Being a patient teacher, our Lord picked up on Nicodemus’s words and further explained the new birth. To be “born of water” is to be born physically (“enter a second time into his mother’s womb”) but to be born again means to be born of the Spirit. Just as there are two Parents for physical birth, so there are two “Parents” for spiritual birth: the spirit of God and the Word of God. The Spirit of God takes the Word of God and, when the sinner believes, imparts the life God.
Jesus was not teaching that the new birth comes through water baptism. In the New Testament, baptism is connected with death, not birth, and no amount of physical water can effect a spiritual change in a person. The emphasis in John 3:14-21 is on believing, because salvation comes through faith. The evidence of salvation is the witness of the Spirit within, and the Spirit enters your life when you believe.
Birth involves a future, and we are “born again to living hope” A newborn baby cannot be arrested because he or she has no past! When you are born again into God’s family, your sins are forgiven and forgotten, and your future is bright with a living hope.
Nicodemus must have had a surprised and yet bewildered look on his face, for the Lord had to say, “You must not be surprised that I told you that all of you must be born again”
Dear Brothers and sister I hope that you understand the clear lesson about being born again may the Lord grant us wisdom to understand. Amen
Pastor Fahim"

Admin Thu 01 Jul 2010, 9:44 am

"The Lamb of God
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Be hold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! “This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’
(John1: 29-30)
The people of Israel were familiar with lambs for the sacrifices. At Passover, each family had to have a lamb, and during the year, two lambs a day were sacrificed at the temple altar, plus all the other lambs brought for personal sacrifices. Those lambs were brought by men to men, but here is God’s Lamb, given by God to men! Those lambs could not take away sin, but the Lamb of God can take away sin, but this Lamb would shed His blood for the whole world! This is a lesson and our Faith that Jesus is the Lamb of God who took away all our sins so that we may get safe from the sin to salvation. Amen
Pastor Fahim"

Admin Wed 30 Jun 2010, 4:20 pm

"Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic
When saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?” which is easier, to say ‘your sins are forgiven you, or to say, ‘Raise up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins- He said to the man who was paralyzed, I say to you arise, take up your bed, and go to your house. Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
(Luke5: 20-25)
The paralytic was unable to come to Jesus himself, but he was fortunate enough to have four friends who were able to get him to Jesus. These four are example of how friends ought to minister to one another and help needy sinners come to the Savior. To begin with, they had faith that Jesus would heal him, and it is faith that God honors. Their love for the man united them in their efforts so that nothing discouraged them, not even the crowd at the door. Jesus could have simply healed the man and sent him home, but instead, He used the opportunity to teach a lesson about sin and forgiveness. Certainly it was easier to say to the man, “your sins are forgiven!” than it was to say, “Raise up and walk!” Why?
Because nobody could prove whether or not his sins really were forgiven! Jesus took the harder approach and healed the man’s body, something everybody in the house could witness.
The healing was immediate and the people glorified God. But even more than receiving healing, the man experienced forgiveness and the start of a whole new life. Our Lord’s miracles not only demonstrated His deity and His compassion for needy people, but they also revealed important spiritual lessons about salvation. They were “object lessons” to teach spiritually blind people what God could do for them if only they would believe in His Son. Amen
Pastor Fahim"

Admin Tue 29 Jun 2010, 11:15 am

"Feeding The Five Thousand
And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
(John 6: 11-13)
The problem, of course, was how to meet the needs of such a vast crowed of people. Four solutions were proposed. First, the disciples suggested that Jesus send the people away. Get rid of the problem. But Jesus knew that the hungry people would faint on the way if somebody did not feed them. It was evening, and that was no time for travel. The solution came from our Lord, and it was the true solution. He took the little boy’s lunch, blessed it, broke it, handed it out to His disciples, and they fed the whole crowed! The miracle took place in the hands of the Savior, not in the hands of the disciples, He multiplied the food; they only had the joyful privilege of passing it out. Not only were the people fed and satisfied, but the disciples salvaged twelve baskets of fragments for future use. The Lord wasted nothing.
The practical lesson is clear: whenever there is a need, give all that you have to Jesus and let Him do the rest. Begin with what you have, but be sure you give it all to Him. That little lad is to be commended for sharing his lunch with Christ, and his mother is to be commended for giving him something to give to Jesus. The gift of that little snack meant as much to Jesus as the pouring out of the expensive ointment. I pray that God may bless us and grant us kind heart and power to do the same. Amen"

Admin Mon 28 Jun 2010, 10:23 am

Pastor John
"A Lame Man Healed
Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them-walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
(Acts 3:6-9)
The giving of alms was an important part of the Jewish faith, so beggars found it profitable to be near the temple. Since the believers had pooled their resources the two apostles had no money to give, but money was not what the man needed most. He needed salvation for his soul and healing for his body, and money could provide neither. Through the power of the name of Jesus, the beggar was completely healed, and he was so happy and excited that he acted like a child, leaping and praising God. It is easy to see in this man an illustration of what salvation is like. He was born lame, and all of us are born unable to walk so as to please God. So we have to all learn the lesion and let’s start the work of the Lord and like the true apostles. I pray that God may grant us power and courage so that we may carry on doing His great work. Amen"

Admin Mon 21 Jun 2010, 1:55 pm

Subject: “The Controversy”

"“The Controversy”
For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him; Because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father making Himself equal with God.”
(John 5:16-18)

Jesus made Himself equal with God because He is God. This is the theme of John’s gospel. The Jewish leaders could not disprove His claims, so they tried to destroy Him and get Him out of the way. Both in His crucifixion and His resurrection, Jesus openly affirmed His deity and turned His enemies’ weapons against them. Jesus claimed to be one with His Father in His works. If healing a man on Sabbath was a sin, then the Father was to blame! Jesus did nothing “of himself” but only that which the Father was doing. The Father and the son worked together, doing the same deeds in the same way. “I and Father are one” (John 10:30)."

Admin Sun 20 Jun 2010, 11:13 am

"“Jesus The True Shepherd”
“Most assuredly, I say to you, He who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
(John10:1-2)
The true shepherd comes in through the door, and the porter recognizes him. The thieves and robbers could never enter through the door, so they have to climb over the wall and enter the fold through deception. But even if they did get in, they would never get the sheep to follow them, for the sheep follow only the voice of their own shepherd. The false shepherds can never lead sheep, so they must steal them away. The false shepherd does not care for man; instead, they mistreat him and throw him out, but Jesus the shepherd came to him and took him in. Amen"

Admin Sat 19 Jun 2010, 11:46 am

Pastor John
Subject: Hi

"During the times of waiting God stretches our faith in Him and brings about change and growth in our lives. Trusting God often requires not knowing God how God is going to accomplish something and not knowing when God will do it.
Keep believing in God and surely we will get fulfillment of our desire.
I pray that God may grant us power and wisdom so that we may keep trusting in Him. GBU"

Admin Thu 17 Jun 2010, 9:15 am

Subject: Verse of the Day

"Mark(13:13)
"All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."
We can see that in he word of God that it is very clear to all of us that good times and bad times comes in our lives but we have to be strong in our faith and trust God.i pray that May the LOrd Bless us and great us power and wisdom so that we may be faith full till the end. GBU
Pastor Fahim john"

Admin Sat 12 Jun 2010, 2:12 pm

Subject: A Cheerful Giver

"A Cheerful Giver
2 Corinthians 9:6-12
God loves a cheerful giver because He Himself is one. He wants the bounty that He pours out on His children to overflow toward others. Sadly, many people treat their wealth more like a personal reservoir than a divine channel.
The reservoir mentality treats wealth as a means to provide solely for one's own family, goals, and desires; money for God's work is given reluctantly. The stingy person figures that as long as he offers something, it shouldn't matter that he'd rather not. However, attitude is vital. To God, the state of a believer's heart is more important than his or her actions (Hos. 6:6). Lukewarm giving is a signal that we aren't fully engaged in seeing the Lord's work done. We'd rather ensure our own security.
What surprises the tightfisted believer is that God does not fill a reservoir. Even people who appear affluent never feel that they have enough. True contentment comes with accepting that our wealth—however limited—belongs to the Lord and is sufficient for our needs. As soon as we understand that, our reservoir bursts its banks to become part of God's divine channel. As He pours in, we cheerfully pour out with full confidence that He will provide for both our needs and our gifts.
The Lord's ultimate plan does not include making all of His children prosperous. His purpose is to make every one of us generous with all that we have—wealth, compassion, knowledge, etc. Cheerful giving is courageous giving because we have to trust that the Lord will provide."

Admin Fri 11 Jun 2010, 9:21 am

"God's Grace and Our Finances
Proverbs 3:9-10

If you knew that something you desired could destroy your life, would you keep chasing after it? The Bible warns about a certain kind of pursuit that can cause one to:
1.Fall into sin.
2.Be mastered by foolish wishes.
3.Engage in activities that erode character.
4.Plunge into moral ruin.
5.Wander from faith.
In spite of these dire warnings, many people are ruled by a longing to get rich.
There is nothing wrong with being affluent so long as we follow God's rules for wise living. Specifically, we are to honor Him with our money (Prov. 3:9), which includes acknowledging that He is the rightful owner and giving it cheerfully (Ps. 50:10; 2 Cor. 9:7). The desire for riches becomes a sin when accumulation is among our highest priorities. In that case, the god we serve is treasure.
Believers are to live by grace in every aspect of their lives, including finances. That means we surrender wages, portfolio, and charitable giving into God's hands. Furthermore, we accept what He gives as enough, even when the bank account seems low by the world's standards. He has promised to supply our needs, so we're to regard financial gains and losses as part of His will and plan.
I am not preaching a so-called "prosperity gospel," wherein godly people are rewarded with riches. Poverty and tough times are as common to believers as to unbelievers. However, the Bible promises that if we live by God's grace, He will provide amply for whatever we need (2 Cor. 9:8)."

Admin Wed 09 Jun 2010, 11:27 am

"Healing for Inferiority
Ephesians 3:14-21
The world bombards us with messages that nourish feelings of inferiority. Happiness and satisfaction are promised if we will only drive the latest car, wear the newest styles, or build up those muscles while losing unsightly pounds. If we do not guard against the onslaught of commercialism, it will drive the truth of God from our minds, and we will pursue a fruitless search for adequacy and value.
So often we look at externals to prove to ourselves and others that we're valuable. Or we think, If only I were better-looking, richer, or smarter, I would be accepted and esteemed. It's not wise to let others' opinions and standards determine our feelings about ourselves; the only accurate assessment of our worth comes from looking into the eyes of the One who loved us enough to die in our place.
Paul told his readers that true significance comes from knowing and understanding the full dimensions of God's love for them. This knowledge is our anchor when feelings of worthlessness overwhelm or failures tempt us to berate ourselves and withdraw in defeat. Notice that the Lord doesn't say He'll give us all the qualities and possessions we think will overcome our sense of inferiority. Instead, He promises to strengthen us "in the inner man" (v. 16).
"God is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think" (v. 20), but His method is to work from the inside out, "according to the power that works within us." If you struggle with feelings of inferiority, ask God to heal your soul by doing a great work within."

Admin Tue 08 Jun 2010, 2:24 pm

"Feelings of Inferiority
Ephesians 2:10

Early in my life, I experienced some feelings of inferiority. Because we struggled financially, my mom and I didn't live in the "right" places, and I didn't wear the "right" clothes. Even in school, I felt that I did not measure up academically to the other kids. The sense of failure and embarrassment at not being good enough was devastating to me.
The misery of inferiority is never what God intends for His children. Its seed usually takes root in the impressionable hearts of the young and thrives in an atmosphere of comparison. This kind of emotional baggage can have debilitating and enslaving ramifications in every area of life. Feelings of inadequacy may cause avoidance of healthy challenges; low self-esteem cripples personal relationships; and comparison steals contentment.
We need to understand how God sees us. Then, when feelings of inferiority come, we can cling to His accurate assessment rather than our own faulty one. He says we are His workmanship—His masterpieces. Each person is specially and uniquely designed by the Creator for His purpose. The differences that cause us to make comparisons and feel discouraged are the very qualities that the Lord "programmed" into us to bring Him glory.
Feelings of inferiority are a hindrance to becoming the people God designed us to be and fulfilling His purpose for our lives. When it comes to our value, we either accept the truth of His appraisal or decide not to believe Him and instead rely on our own feelings. What will your choice be?"

Admin Sat 05 Jun 2010, 5:52 pm

"Strength for the Fearful
Isaiah 41:9-13
I recommend that believers underline Isaiah 41 in their Bibles and meditate on it often. When one of God's people is seeking an anchor in turbulent times, this is the right passage for the job. Here, Isaiah writes about the source of Christians' strength.
In verse 10 alone, the Lord promises strength, help, and protection. Moreover, He gives two commands: "do not fear" and "do not anxiously look about you." Among Satan's subtle and successful traps is the art of distraction. The Evil One knows that fear can choke faith. He works hard to make unsettling circumstances a person's sole focus. Once a believer's attention is diverted from God, natural human tendencies take over. In the absence of prayer and worship, anxiety and doubt grow unobstructed.
Staying focused on God can be hard. The flesh prefers to seek security by thinking through all possible angles: our tendency is to weigh what we think could happen against what "experts" say will happen, and then to evaluate possible ways of preventing our worst fears from coming true. Instead of becoming more confident, we begin to realize how powerless we are.Thankfully, we serve an almighty God who says, "Surely I will help you" (v. 10). You can count on Him.
When we focus on our circumstances, we're actually choosing to feel anxiety and doubt. But these emotions don't belong in a believer's daily life. Instead, let's decide to trust in the promises God has given us. He's filled His Word with scriptural anchors to keep His children steady in the faith."

Admin Thu 03 Jun 2010, 7:07 am

"The Priority of Life
Matthew 6:31-33

What is the priority of your life—the one thing around which everything else revolves? Jesus tells us that God's kingdom and righteousness are to be our highest priority.
Such a lofty goal will never be achieved through passivity. Rather, it demands continuous, diligent effort. "To seek" means to be active and aggressive in our quest. This isn't an issue that is settled once and for all in life; it must be pursued every day, moment by moment.
We live in a world of two opposing realms, which are in constant conflict—the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of God. Our only protection against the Devil is the authority of the King of Kings. To seek the Father's kingdom is to submit to His rule over every area of our lives. The bottom line is obedience. Every decision must be subjected to His will.
To seek God's righteousness means submitting to His process of transforming us into Jesus' image. An integral part of this procedure is the renewing of our minds with Scripture. The Word of God washes away worldly thinking and replaces it with the Father's viewpoint and instructions. By yielding to His promptings, we will begin to sense His presence and discover the most satisfying relationship possible.
Stop and evaluate your priorities. Who or what dominates your thoughts and affections? Where do you invest time and money? How do you come to a decision? Making Christ top priority requires you to surrender your time and submit your will—but the rewards far outweigh any sacrifice."

Admin Wed 02 Jun 2010, 9:50 am

"The Priority of Life
Matthew 6:31-33
What is the priority of your life—the one thing around which everything else revolves? Jesus tells us that God's kingdom and righteousness are to be our highest priority.
Such a lofty goal will never be achieved through passivity. Rather, it demands continuous, diligent effort. "To seek" means to be active and aggressive in our quest. This isn't an issue that is settled once and for all in life; it must be pursued every day, moment by moment.
We live in a world of two opposing realms, which are in constant conflict—the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of God. Our only protection against the Devil is the authority of the King of Kings. To seek the Father's kingdom is to submit to His rule over every area of our lives. The bottom line is obedience. Every decision must be subjected to His will.
To seek God's righteousness means submitting to His process of transforming us into Jesus' image. An integral part of this procedure is the renewing of our minds with Scripture. The Word of God washes away worldly thinking and replaces it with the Father's viewpoint and instructions. By yielding to His promptings, we will begin to sense His presence and discover the most satisfying relationship possible.
Stop and evaluate your priorities. Who or what dominates your thoughts and affections? Where do you invest time and money? How do you come to a decision? Making Christ top priority requires you to surrender your time and submit your will—but the rewards far outweigh any sacrifice."

Admin Mon 31 May 2010, 2:24 pm

"The Cross: Grace Displayed
Romans 3:21-27
At Calvary, the Lord displayed His grace for the entire world to see. The cross represents the intersection of His holiness and His love. From there, He poured out mercy on an undeserving population: all of humanity, including you and me.
Our holy God is absolutely without fault. He's so "perfectly perfect" that no earthly man or woman can look upon Him and live (Ex. 33:20). The problem has to do with our sinful nature—we all have an inborn desire to rebel against His authority (Rom. 3:10). Anyone who thinks otherwise is deceiving himself (1 John 1:8). It's important to understand that God hates sin. He cannot abide evil in His presence, so He pronounced a death sentence on sinners (Rom. 6:23).
But Scripture also tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8), and He created people with the intention of caring for them. What's more, the Lord desires that all people spend eternity with Him. Yet there remains the problem of our sin and the death penalty that we owe.
The Lord cannot violate His own nature. Though God loves mankind, His holiness would be compromised if He permitted the filth of sin into His presence. So the Father made a way to cleanse dirty hearts and transform wayward natures: He put the sin of all mankind on Jesus Christ's shoulders.
The Father sent His holy Son to be a perfect sacrifice on our behalf. Jesus Christ took our sin upon Himself and died on the cross in our place. When we trust Him as our Savior and receive His forgiveness, we are made new—holy, perfect, and welcome in our Father's presence."

"Jesus: The Only Way to Heaven
John 10:1-11
While there are many religions, there is only one way to heaven. Jesus clearly states that "no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). He used several picturesque descriptions to emphasize this point—He called Himself the way (14:6), the door (10:9), the living bread (6:51), and the good shepherd (10:11).
God does not expect people to follow a ritual to make Jesus Lord of their lives—you can use any words you'd like. However, some biblical elements are essential when beginning a relationship with Him:
1) Confess your sin and admit your need for a Savior (1 John 1:9).
2) Place your trust in Jesus Christ as the only possible Savior, acknowledging that He died for your sins, was buried, and rose again (John 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:3-4).
3) Believe that your sins are forgiven and your name is written in the Lamb's book of life (1 John 5:11-13).
Every person has a choice to make. Death is inevitable, but we can decide whether, on exiting this world, we will enter God's presence or eternal torment. Let me make this very clear: What a person believes about heaven and hell won't influence God in the slightest. People will be judged not by their attitudes but by the truth of His Word.
The Bible declares that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. His gospel is a straight path from the pit of sin to the glory of heaven—with the promise of an abundant life in between. What we must do is go through the Door and follow the Way to taste the Living Bread."

Admin Sun 30 May 2010, 12:49 pm

"Our God of Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
God's care for us extends to the details of our lives. He knows when His children hurt and longs to offer comfort (Isa. 49:13).
The Lord's compassion is personal, continuous, and always available. We receive His comfort through the Holy Spirit, who lives within us. There is no situation or time when He is inaccessible to the believer—we can be consoled and reassured at any time, day or night.
Consider how the compassion of God was demonstrated through Jesus' life. He interacted even with the "untouchables"—people whose bodies were infected with a contagious disease (Luke 17:11-14). And no sickness of ours will prevent Him from caring for us.
Jesus had compassion on people with medical conditions (Matt. 14:14). He not only healed them physically but also gave an even greater comfort—new life through the forgiveness of sins. And while our infirmities may remain, the Lord lovingly strengthens us to persevere (2 Cor. 12:7-9).
And what about the messes we get into? Peter's betrayal of Christ was met with forgiveness (John 21:15-17). Thomas's doubts were answered by Jesus Himself (John 20:27). Our mistakes won't stop Him from loving us. Even to His enemies, Jesus left the way open for repentance.
God's comfort and care are adequate for anything we face, whether it's declining health, insufficient finances, or family trouble. Then, once we've experienced His consolation, we are to become bearers of comfort to others (2 Cor. 1:4). People everywhere are in great need of His compassion."

Admin Sat 29 May 2010, 6:13 pm

"Conquering Loneliness
Psalm 25:15-22
I know the pain of loneliness. I was the only child of a single mother who had to work long hours to support us. My adult life has been marked by periods of emotional isolation as well. However, God has never abandoned me to these feelings.
The Lord desires that all people feel connected to Him and to each other. And in fact, we can be quickly comforted when we respond wisely to loneliness.
The first step is to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Believing He exists is not enough. The Lord created mankind for fellowship, which is why a relationship with Him gives people a sense of oneness. The love of Christ squeezes loneliness out of the lives of God's children.
Second, we must admit that we're lonely. Some Christians incorrectly think they shouldn't be susceptible to normal human feelings. But nothing in the Bible says we won't endure emotional isolation. Not only men like David and Paul, but even the Lord Himself knew the ache of feeling deserted (Ps. 25:16, 2 Tim. 4:16; Matt. 26:40; 27:46).
Finally, we ought to develop godly friends. These are the Christian brothers and sisters who will laugh, cry, and empathize with us. Above all, believers need friends who will continually point them to God and pray over them.
We can't deny feelings of loneliness, nor can we run from them. A person who seeks ways to escape those feelings only broadens the gap between the Lord and himself. There is just one way to close the chasm and conquer loneliness—by drawing near to the Lord."

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