The Bible of Your Life - What Are People Reading From It? (by Assoc. Pastor Linda Pugsley)12/4/2017 Someone once said that one life wholly devoted to God is of more value than 100 lives simply awakened by His Spirit…so true! What does God say about our lives? Read all of Colossians…what a book!! • Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving (4:2) • Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person (4:6) • To be firmly rooted and established (2:6-7) • Put off the old (3:5-10) • Put on the new (3:12-17) In a nutshell, after reading Colossians, we can see the picture our lives should portray. Hmm-go through and check off what applies to YOU: I pray it does…let’s make it happen. JUST DO IT! NOW GO LIVE IT!
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I once heard it said that uncertainty is a given…fear is optional! That is so true. Fear is real, for sure, but God said we have a choice to make. He tells us not to fear, for He is with us (Genesis 26:24) He goes on to tell us a group of “fear nots”:
Over and over again (and that is just a few verses listed), God is telling us not to fear. He supplies us in times of want; He is protection in times of peril; He is strength in our weakness; He is companionship in trial; He has overshadowing care for us, and gives us life beyond the grave. That would surely be enough to make us fearless, don’t you think? But we have to be reminded over and over again of the greatness and power of God to help us in our times of fear. They will come, but they don’t have to stay. Don’t be a scaredy cat! Choose to trust in God and make those fears flee. NOW GO LIVE ITIf you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. God loves us so much…He actually WANTS to spend time with us. He WANTS to share with us and be a central part of our lives. He SEEKS our company! Exodus 24:9-11 Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet, there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they beheld God, and they ate and drank. Don’t listen to the devil when he says, “you’re not worthy” … you’re NOT … BUT God chose you anyways!
For Jesus, the person was more important than the label society put on them. He sought their company…
You sit down to have some quiet time with the Lord BUT:
As Paul so well put it: Colossians 3:7-8 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ. Don’t let the world pull you away from time with God … whether your “alone” time with Him, or as you walk (or run) through your day. Colossians 3:15-17 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom, teaching, and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Let’s all together tell God, “I’m right here now, not later.” Psalm 34:1-4 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in Thee Lord; the humble shall hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. NOW GO LIVE ITIf you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. There are so many real horrors in this world – barbarism, Nazism, terrorism, hatred, killing, sexual perversions…you name it – the broken, “post-Adam” mankind has done it! But I want you to think on this…for all the horrors and sin, God still found us worth dying for. To us, the world is often rotten and unfair. Remember, though, Jesus offered no immunity to horrors and unfairness – only a way through it. The cross overcame evil, not the horrors and unfairness of it. God loves us, He wants to bless us, but He’s not stupid. He won’t pour His blessings into a bucket with holes in it. He has set some standards for living and He encourages us to learn them and follow them. There are ample examples in the Scriptures of His many blessings being poured out onto those who obey Him. Plug up those holes in your bucket by obeying Him, worshipping Him, praising Him.
Don’t get me wrong now, having trials and troubles doesn’t mean you’re off God’s list…they are either allowed or actually constructed by God to change you and strengthen you. It’s not easy, but with Him, it’s doable. God has abundant blessings for His people. Join with Him, obey Him and be mightily blessed! NOW GO LIVE ITIf you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. If anyone hasn’t noticed, there are huge changes going on in our world: • Hurricanes • Wars • Shootings • Educational system problems • Family breakup problems • Corruption in business and government • Arts and entertainment in the sewer We tend to cry out, “Come soon, Lord Jesus!” I would like to propose something else, seeing as He hasn’t come yet. Let’s get spiritually fit for the battle. I’ve started a blog… www.Crossfitforyoursoul.com and here is the latest entry: There is a lot going on in our country and our world. Three devastating hurricanes, one of which I had to endure here in Tampa; threats to many nations, including our own from the despots, the deranged and those out to destroy. But in looking at the root of all these evils, too many seem to be chasing rabbits...religious ideation, political affiliation, gun control etc. All of those are influential in many ways, but I think we may be missing the point. It's the morality, stupid!!! I am repeating here what I posted on Facebook. It seems to me, that over 50 years of this country not having prayer and Bible in the schools, our culture inundated in a media system full of nudity, crudity and violence, the acceptance of abortion on demand as commonplace, the growing anti-conservative fever gripping many, the seeming aversion to the absolute necessity of the basic family structure and the cherry-picked, propaganda-filled history being jammed down the throats of our vulnerable students by liberal dominated ideologues have done more damage than any gun ever could. Those changes are killing the basic foundation needed to provide a thriving, healthy, full life for 320 million people and the dreams of a nation. There, done. Deal with it. Told you this was a tough workout. In that light…let’s get a workout going so you have the strength to face, get through and help CHANGE the direction of this community, state and nation. I am sure you have heard of the exercise program “CrossFit”. It has the participants go through a series of exercises designed to strengthen them and increase their aerobic activity…it is brutal! It involves using your body in different positions to squat, pull up, push up etc. Some of my nieces and nephews also enjoy their youth in this type of exercise. It is the workout out of workouts! Crazy Pastor Drew has done the Spartan series using the CrossFit exercises on an obstacle course. God has a “spiritual workout” for us, too…and just like the physical one, it PREPARES you to serve Him. He tells us to be fit…be prepared…be ready. 2 Timothy 2:21 – be PREPARED for every good work Luke 12:12 – the HOLY SPIRIT will TEACH you in that very hour what you are to say 2 Timothy 4:2 – BE READY in season and out of season Seven spiritual “CrossFit” moves you have to do to be spiritually fit: 1. Lying down - for spiritual rest – Psalm 23:2 “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters.” 2. Sitting - for instruction – Luke 10:39 “And she had a sister called Mary, who moreover was listening to the Lord’s word, seated at His feet.” (Mary sat and Martha worked) 3. Standing - for warfare – Ephesians 6:14-17 “Stand firm and take up the armor of God…” 4. Walking - for fellowship – 1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another…” 5. Running - for progress – Hebrews 12:1 “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” 6.Leaping - for praise – Acts 3: 8 “And with a leap, he stood upright, and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” 7. Mounting up - for exaltation – Isaiah 40:31 “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” See – the end result of God’s spiritual CrossFit…you will run and not be weary…you shall walk and not faint! Just like a physical CrossFit program takes discipline – so it is for God’s “CrossFit” program. Hebrews 12:11 “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” So…let’s get going:
Just do it! Our world needs you. NOW GO LIVE ITIf you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. How many times have we heard that? Or how many times have we said that? Someone hurts us or they sin against us or we hurt them and everyone says they are sorry and promise things will change...but they don’t. What’s up with that? With tears of determination, the promise is made that things will get better...but they don’t. A sincere sense of sorrow is felt, but as time passes, we are back in the same old rut. Hmmm, part of the problem is that we think sorrow and confession are enough to make the changes needed. We need to add some understanding to that. In the Scripture, the process is called repentance...and that involves much more than saying you are sorry. The Bible shows us that there is a difference between repentance and remorse. Judas “felt remorse” and brought back the 30 pieces of silver. He even confessed his crime (Matthew 27:3-4). Even though he knew how horrible his sin was, he let it lead to self-hatred and shame and led to his suicide instead of leading him to God and life in Him. Paul calls this the “sorrow of the world”—a sorrow that holds no hope for people wracked in their guilt and shame. “...the sorrow of the world leads to death” (2 Corinthians 7:10b). But there is another sorrow that produces life... “I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, in order that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation. (2 Corinthians 7:9-10a) Made sorrowful to the point of repentance! That is what makes the difference. The big determination here is whether the sorrow brings the sinner to repentance. Big difference. Repentance in the Greek is metanoeo (meta = after, nous = mind) which means to perceive or know afterwards, implying a CHANGE. In the Old Testament, repentance meant not so much involving sin as involving just a change of mind on an issue. But in the New Testament, repentance has reference to repentance from sin—and that involves a change of mind that means both a turning from sin and a turning to God. True repentance means you not only confess your sin and sorrow but you ALSO choose to turn from that sin and choose God’s ways instead. It is active, up front—YOU MAKE A CHOICE. Repentant people take a hard look at themselves and are brutally honest in facing the truth about who they are and what they have done. And that means, NO EXCUSES. This “turning” thing is serious—don’t just be sorry—turn to God! "I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud, and your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." (Isaiah 44:22) Just the presence of remorse, emotions and tears may not be the full sign of true repentance—purposeful, changed behavior in that repentance will show the difference. And that takes work on the sinner’s part. Long, dark periods of self-reflection and the painful surrender of pride and selfishness are arduous tasks. It often requires letting go of cherished pleasures and being accountable to others for our actions (we don’t like to do those things—especially if we have done things in our “closet” so to speak—looking good to others and yet privately rotting with sin inside). The end result of true repentance is glorious though. It is a revived life in Christ knowing that His way is the best way and no treasure tops His righteousness ruling in us. Six Signs to Recognize True Repentance 1. Repentant people are willing to confess all sin, not just the one that got them in trouble.
The good news is that you don’t have to do this alone...God and those in the Body of Christ are at your side. There’s no “I” in TEAM. We need Jesus. We need each other. (Philippians 2:13; Romans 12:5, 10) God bless you always. NOW GO LIVE ITIf you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. Most of us have read that verse in James 2:17, “Faith without works is dead”. But what does that really mean? For many Christians, they are told it means they are to fill their lives full to the brim with “works”. That means feeding the poor, volunteering at a hospital or nursing home, doing Bible studies, street ministries, youth programs, bible camps, visiting the sick…often until they are sick, literally! Nope, try again. God never intended for us to “good works” ourselves to death. Satan will be happy to accommodate you there, though. I have often said that if Satan can’t get you with bad works, he’ll be glad to wipe you off the face of the earth by guilting you into a burden of good works. Only God can give you strength and wisdom for what He calls you to do. He does require us to do more than sit in a cave and pray but there is a prerequisite for all this. John 6:28-29 gives us the answer, “They said therefore to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He has sent.’” In order to do the “doing”, you have to be practiced in the “being”. There’s no way around this. The “being” includes giving Him thanks, making known His deeds, singing to Him, glorifying His name, speaking of His wonders, practicing being glad, seeking His strength and such things as these. Immersed in God and His Spirit is the only way to accomplish the works He calls us to. We must be passionate in our pursuit of Him and His plan for this time and epoch. We have to be hot for God and not cold. Revelation 3:15-16 starkly reminds us, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.” Now God is not saying He prefers you to be cold…it’s the hot He’s going for but if you’re “cold”, He has an opportunity to make you on fire for Him. If you are “lukewarm” you are mixed and are neither…you’ve not made a choice for Him. You’ve mixed Him and the world around you and that is not the choice God requires.
Be hot, full of zest for the Lord and His works. Continue with “being” so you can be involved with His “doings”. The “spiritual life” is living the ordinary life extraordinarily well! Dad’s – are you acting as the “Christ” to your wife and kids as the Lord commands? Kids – are you obeying your parents, as unto the Lord? YOU – in your “being” in God…what are you “doing” in God? Thomas Merton, Christian writer, once said, “You can tell more about a monk by the way he uses a broom than by anything he says.” Yes, and so must we shower the world with God’s love, led by His Spirit. Let’s be “hot” for the Lord…let’s be boiling hot for the Lord and do His mighty works in these end times, in His Spirit, in His might. God bless you always. NOW GO LIVE IT If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. Doubts and complaints are natural responses to challenges and NOT a sign of weak faith. Even Jesus said, “Why have you forsaken Me?” The Bible is full of examples of people feeling abandoned by God. Just read through the Psalms-Prophets-Job…they are full of doubts and fears. BUT…the key is…they never let go of God! Matthew 14:22-33--READ Matthew 21:21-22--READ Message from all of this…RUN TO GOD…WAIT ON HIM…PRAY WITH ONE ANOTHER…YOU WILL RECEIVE Luke 4:18 Jesus read from Isaiah…The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He appointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. • The same exuberant message is given to us…we are to be the fulfillment of that Scripture in Christ • And the devil knows that too and will torment you to the end—FIGHT HIM OFF IN JESUS NAME! There is no pit so deep, that He is not deeper still! God bless you always. NOW GO LIVE IT! If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS How many times have you heard that preached? How many books have been written on stress? Even the Lion King movie – remember the song – Hakunah Mattatah…it’s a worry-free philosophy…Hakunah Mattatah. NOT! If our lives were to be trouble free…then why are the titles of God’s Spirit:
I’m not saying that you need to live in fear. Things ARE scary in life, but you don’t need to be scared! God really means it when He says, “Fear not, for I am with you.” Hebrews 11 is called the “faith chapter.” It recounts the TRIUMPHS of faith…the chronicle of fallen man, slugging through the challenges that we all face in a fallen world. Hebrews 11:1-3: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it (meaning faith) the men of old gained approval. By faith, we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was NOT made out of things which can be seen. Let’s take a look at some of the people mentioned in Hebrews 11. We’ll see how even though their lives weren’t “trouble free,” they were able to cling to God. Abel: (Vs 4)
Enoch: (Vs 5)
Noah: (Vs 7)
Abraham: (Vs 8)
Sarah: (Vs 11)
The next few verses remind us that all these people died without seeing the “promised” Savior…but they kept on believing Him for what He SAID and not what they SAW! Abraham again: (Vs 17)
Isaac: (Vs 19)
Moses: (Vs 23)
The Scripture goes on to say that time would run out if he told of Gideon, Samson, David, Samuel and the like…who BY FAITH:
Oh yes…sign me up for that life…trouble free…oh, yeah!! But wait… (Vs 35)…
WHAT IN THE WORLD? Read verses 39-40: And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised (Jesus, the Messiah), because God had provided something BETTER for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. God never promised us a rose garden here
It’s not a trouble-free life, but you can be “care free” in Him. NOW GO LIVE IT! If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS What: 2 Timothy 3:1-4, 13 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be:
But evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. YIKES! Are we there yet? How to counter this: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 You however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them; and then from childhood you have known the sacred writings, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 4:2-5 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
Are we there yet? Who: Titus 2:1-10 Older men:
Older women:
Young men:
Workers:
Are we there yet? End result: Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Do all this and you will be there…with Him, for eternity. Amen and amen…God is with us. NOW GO LIVE IT!If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS |
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