The Best Expression Of Love Is Time!

The importance of things can be measured by how much time we are willing to invest in them. The more time you give to something, the more you reveal its importance and value to you. If you want to know a person's priorities, just look at how they use their time.

Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. You can make more money, but you can't make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you will never get back. Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.

It is not enough just to say relationships are important; we must prove it by investing time in them. Words alone are worthless. The Bible says, " My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action." 1John 3:18. Relationships take time and effort, and the best way to spell love is "T-I-M-E."

The essence of love is not what we think or do or provide for others, but how much we give of ourselves. Men, in particular, often do not understand this. Many have said to me, "I don't understand my wife and kids. I provide everything they need. What more could they want?" The answer is they want you! Your eyes, your ears, your time, your attention, your presence, your focus - your time. Nothing can take the place of that.

The most desired gift of love is not diamonds or roses or chocolate. It is focused attention. Love concentrates so intently on another that you forget yourself at that moment. Attention says, "I value you enough to give you my most precious asset - my time. "Whenever you give your time, you are making a sacrifice, and sacrifice is the essence of love. Jesus modeled this: "Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave Himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins." Ephesians 5:2.

You can give without loving, many people do it everyday, but you cannot love without giving. "God so loved the world that He gave...." John 3:16. Love means giving up - yielding my preferences, comfort, goals, security, money, energy, or time for the benefit of someone else.

Sometimes procrastination is a legitimate response to a trivial task, especially with our lives being so busy today. But because love is what matters most, it should take top priority. The Bible says, "Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone. Galatians 6:10. "Use every chance you have for doing good." Ephesians 5:16. "Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it. Never tell your neighbor to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now." Proverbs 3:27.

Why is now the best time to express love? Because you don't know how long you will have the opportunity. Circumstances change. People die. Children grow up. You have no guarantee of tomorrow. If you want to express love, you had better do it now.

Knowing that one day you will stand before God, here are some of the questions you need to consider: How will you explain those times when projects or things were more important to you than people? Who do you need to start spending more time with? What do you need to cut out of your schedule to make that possible? What sacrifices do you need to make?

The bottom line is that the best use of life today is love. The best expression of love is time. And the best time to love is now!

..
.
..

How Do I Forgive My Enemies?

Jesus said in Mathew 5: 43-44, " You have heard that is was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."

The first step in forgiveness is to recognize your resentment against an enemy. You must understand who the enemy is and what he has done to hurt you. Then you must consciously say, "I forgive that person for the following wrongs against me." Then repent of you feelings against your enemy and ask God to forgive you, as Jesus said in Luke 11:4.

After that, begin to pray actively for your enemy's good. Jesus told us to pray for our enemies and that doing this will help to fill us with love for them, (Mathew 5:43-48). When you pray for your enemies, asking God to meet their needs and manifest Himself to them, you are overcoming evil with good. Instead of fighting negative thoughts in your mind, you are filling your mind with positive thoughts of God's love for that person. You are now on the side of your enemy; you have a spiritual stake in his well being. If God answers your prayer, which you want Him to do, the person prayed for will be blessed, and you will have a deeper understanding of redemption - the ultimate form of forgiveness, (Mathew 18: 21-35). So if you ask God to bless someone who has wronged you, the result may well be a repentant sinner, and a new brother or sister in the Lord!
..

What Drives Your Life?

Everyone's life is driven by something.

The dictionary defines the word drive as "to guide, to control, or to direct." Whether you are driving a car, a nail, or a golf ball, you are guiding, controlling, and directing it at that moment.

So my question for you today is...

What is the driving force in your life?

Right now you may be driven by a problem, a pressure, or a deadline. You may be driven by a painful memory, a haunting fear, or an unconscious belief. There are hundreds of circumstances, values, and emotions that can drive your life. The Book of Ecclesiastes can help you greatly in your search of the truth to the answers you may be looking for, finding real unchanging values, (to profit) in this life.

Let's look at some of the things that may be driving your life today.

Many people are driven by guilt. They spend their entire lives running from regrets and hiding their shame. Guilt-driven people are manipulated by memories. They allow their past to control their future. They often unconsciously punish themselves by sabotaging their own success. When Cain sinned, his guilt disconnected him from God's presence, and God said, "You will be restless and wander the earth." (Genesis 4:12) That describes most people today - wandering through life without a purpose.

We are all products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it. He turned a murderer named Moses into a leader, and a coward named Gideon into a courageous hero. He can do amazing things with the rest of your life also. God specializes in giving people a fresh start. The Bible says, "What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! ... What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record." (Psalm 32:1)

Many people are driven by resentment and anger. They hold on to hurts and never get over them. Instead of releasing their pain through forgiveness, they rehearse it over and over in their minds. Some resentment-driven people "clam up" and internalize their anger, while others "blow up" and explode it onto others. Both responses are unhealthy and unhelpful.

Resentment always hurts you more than it does the person you resent. While your offender has probably forgotten the offense and gone on with life, you continue to stew in your pain, perpetuating the past.

Those who have hurt you in the past cannot continue to hurt you now unless you hold on to the pain through resentment. Your past is past. Nothing will change it. You are hurting yourself with your bitterness. For your own sake, I challenge you to learn from it, and then let it go. The Bible says, "To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, and senseless thing to do." (Job 5:2)

Many people are driven by fear. Their fears may be a result of a traumatic experience, unrealistic expectations, growing up in a high-control home, or even genetic predisposition. Regardless of the cause, fear-driven people often miss great opportunities because they are afraid to venture out. Nothing ventured is nothing gained. Instead they play it safe, avoiding risks and trying to maintain the status quo.

Fear, False Evidence Appearing Real, is a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be. You must move against it with the weapons of faith and love. The Bible says, "Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life - fear of death, fear of judgment, - is one not yet fully formed in love. (1John 4:18)

Many people are driven by materialism. Their desire to acquire becomes the whole goal of their lives. This drive to always want more is based on the misconceptions that having more will make one happier, more important, and more secure, but all three ideas are untrue. Possessions only provide temporary happiness. Because things do not change, we eventually become bored with them and then want newer, bigger, and better versions.

It is also a myth that if you get more, you will become more important. Self-worth and net worth are not the same. Your value is not determined by your valuables, and God says the most valuable things in life are not things. They are just tools for fulfilling your calling and destiny.

The most common myth about money is that having more will make you more secure. It won't. Wealth can be lost instantly through a variety of uncontrollable factors. Real security can only be found in that which can never be taken from you - your relationship with God.

Many people are driven by the need for approval. They allow the expectations of parents, spouses, children, teachers, or friends to control their lives. Many adults are still trying to earn the approval of unpleasable parents. Others are driven by peer pressure, always worried by what others might think. Unfortunately, those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it.

I do not know all the keys to success, but one key to failure is in trying to please everyone. Being controlled by the opinions of others is a guaranteed way to miss God's purposes for your life. Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters." (Mathew 6:24)

There are many other forces that can drive your life, but all lead to the same dead end: unused potential, unnecessary stress, and an unfulfilled life. The answer clearly lies in God's Word, and the Finished Work of the Cross. We must really take a look back, back about 2000 years ago, at what really happened to us. This will give us the insight to our future. A life guided, controlled, and directed by God's purposes. Without doing this, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason.
..

What Is Love?

The Christian understanding is that love comes from God. The love of man and woman (Eros) in Greek—and the unselfish love of others (Agape), are often contrasted as "ascending" and "descending" love, respectively, but are ultimately the same thing.

There are several Greek words for "Love" that are regularly referred to in Christian circles.

* Agape: In the New Testament, is charitable, selfless, altruistic, and unconditional. It is parental love, seen as creating goodness in the world; it is the way God is seen to love humanity, and it is seen as the kind of love that Christians aspire to have for one another.

* Phileo: Also used in the New Testament, Phileo is a human response to something that is found to be delightful. Also known as "Brotherly Love."

* Two other words for love in the Greek language, Eros (sexual love) and Storge (child-to-parent love), were never used in the New Testament.

Christians believe that to Love God with all your heart, mind, and strength and Love your neighbor as yourself are the two most important things in life, (the greatest commandments of the Bible, according to Jesus; Mark 12:28–34).

The Apostle Paul glorified love as the most important virtue of all. Describing the essence of love, and the 14 characteristics of it he wrote, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres." (1 Cor. 13:4–7)

• Love suffers long, having patience with imperfect people.
• Love is kind, active in doing good.
• Love does not envy; since it is nonpossessive and noncompetitive, it actually wants other people to get ahead. Hence, it does not parade itself.
• Love has a self-effacing quality; it is not ostentatious.
• Love is not puffed up, treating others arrogantly; it does not behave rudely, but displays good manners and courtesy.
• Love does not seek its own rights and demanding precedence; rather it is unselfish.
• Love is not provoked; it is not irritable or touchy, rough, or hostile, but is graceful under pressure.
• Love thinks no evil; it does not keep an account of wrongs done to it; instead it erases resentments.
• Love does not rejoice in iniquity, finding satisfaction in the shortcomings of others and spreading an evil report; rather, it rejoices in the truth, aggressively advertising the good.
• Love bears all things, defending and holding other people up.
• Love believes the best about others; credits them with good intentions, and is not suspicious.
• Love hopes all things, never giving up on people, but affirming their future.
• Love endures all things, persevering and remaining loyal to the end.

The Apostle John wrote, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the Name of God's one and only Son." (John 3:16–18)

• True love is not conditional, it is unconditional.
• It covers a multitude of sin.
• Love is a choice.

John also wrote, "Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:7–8)

One must be able to decipher the difference between love and lust. Lust is an overindulgence, but to love and be loved is what is sought for our entire lives. One does fall in love and is loved back, by God. The only one who can love you truly and fully is God, because love with a human only allows for flaws such as “jealousy, suspicion, fear, anger, and contention.” To love God is “to attain the peace which is yours.”

God is the source of love, which is mirrored in humans and their own loving relationships.

"God is love." All human beings, are created in the image of God, who is love, are able to practice love; to give themselves to God and to others (Agape) and by receiving and experiencing God's love in contemplation, and expectation, (which is a form of Eros). This life of love, is the direction Christians take when they believe that God loves them. Without love, the most magnificent manifestation of gifts and the most heroic self-sacrificing mean nothing.
..

How Do I Receive The Baptism In The Holy Spirit?

.....Peter says in Acts 2:38-39, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.

.....Peter calls upon all to change their opinion of and attitude toward Christ and to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ as public acknowledgment that they have accepted Jesus as Messiah and Lord. "Name" suggests nature and character; therefore, to be baptized "in the name of Jesus" is to confess Him to be all that His name denotes. Baptism in and of itself is not a means of forgiveness and salvation. But for the early Church, however, there was no separation between ritual, and reality. Coming to Christ and being baptized were mutually inclusive. One thing to note is that the gift of the Holy Spirit must be distinguished from the gifts of the Spirit. The former is the Holy Spirit Himself, while the latter are the special abilities granted by the Spirit to equip believers for service, (1Cor 12:1-31).

.....The promise of the Holy Spirit, is a gift for every believer in every generation. All who are afar off includes the Gentiles as well. Every believer in every era and everywhere, have the surety to expect the same resource and experience that was afforded the first believers who received the Holy Spirit at the birth of the Church.

So, How do I receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit?

.....You need to do a number of things in order to receive this blessing. First, you need to be born again. The person who is going to be filled with the Spirit must have the indwelling Spirit and must belong to Jesus, (Romans 8:9).

.....The second you have to do is ask. The Bible says, if we ask for the Holy Spirit, that prayer will be answered, (Luke 11:8).

.....The third thing you have to do is surrender. The Apostle Paul made this need very clear in the Book of Romans when he said, "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, (Romans 12:1).

.....Fourth, you must be willing to obey the Spirit. God does not give this power to someone and then say, "You can take the parts you like in all this and leave the parts you do not like." If you want to be immersed in the Holy Spirit, you need to be prepared to obey the Spirit, (Acts 5:32).

.....Fifth, you need to believe. The Apostle Paul said, "Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Galatians 3:2). The answer, obviously, is faith. You have to believe that if you ask, you will receive.

.....Finally, you have to exercise what God has given you. Having asked, having received, having been willing to obey, you need to respond in a biblical fashion.

.....The Bible says that those baptized with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost "began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance," (Acts 2:4). This means they spoke the words that the Spirit gave them. The Holy Spirit gave the words, but the Apostles and the Disciples voluntarily responded. There was action based on faith, not merely passive acceptance of the blessing. That is the way it is with God, yesterday, today, and forever. God is offering the baptism in the Holy Spirit to people who need only to reach out and take it, and then enjoy the blessing.
..

How Do I Pray For A Miracle?

.....When we are faced with a great need, either for ourselves or for others, we should begin by humbly seeking to know God's will in the matter; "Father, what do You want to do in this situation?" Jesus said, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working," (John 5:17). He listened to the voice of the Father, and He watched Him. Be careful not to start or end a prayer by saying blindly, "If it be Your will." Rather, you should seek to know God's will in the situation and then base your prayer upon it. Praying for a miracle is welcoming a gift of the Holy Spirit to manifest. When His will is to work one, He will witness that to your heart. Then you can ask Him to perform the miracle that you know He wants to bring about.

.....It is often important to exercise a key to the miraculous - the spoken word. God has given us authority over disease, demons, sickness, storms, and finances, (Mathew 10:1; Luke 10:19). Often, we may keep asking God to act, when, in fact, He calls us to employ His authority in Jesus' name: we may command needed funds to come to us, command a storm to be stilled, command a demon to come out, command affliction to leave, even command a sickness to depart.

.....Jesus said, "Whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says," (Mark 11:23). Believe in your heart that it has already happened! With the anointing of faith that God gives you, speak it forth. But remember, miracles come by faith in God's present power, not by ritual or formula of human works or willpower.
..

What Do I Have To Do To Be Saved?

John 3:3 says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

To be saved you must turn away from sin, believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and receive Him by confessing Him as Lord and Savior of your life.

Here is the step-by-step process. First, you must consider your life and then turn away from everything in it that is contrary to what God wants. This turning away from selfishness and toward God is called repentance, (Mathew 3:7; Acts 3:19).

Second, you must acknowledge, and believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross to forgive you of sin. You take Him as your Savior to cleanse you from sin- as the substitute who paid the price due for your sin, (Romans 5:9-10; Titus 2:14).

Believing means to trust in, have faith in, and to be fully convinced of, fully relying on what you are acknowledging. It expresses reliance upon and a personal trust that produces obedience.

Third, you must ask Him to be Lord of your life, acknowledging openly and verbally that Jesus is not only your Savior, but your Lord, (1 John 2:23).

The Bible says that as many as received Him were given the power to become the sons of God, (John 1:12). So when you open your heart and receive Him, He comes into your heart- your inner person- through His Holy Spirit, and begins to live His life in you. From that point on, it is your privilege and call to confess what God has done, (Romans 10:9).

The power is now established at the beginning of every Christian's life in Christ, through this process. His continuing working in our lives is advanced by the same means through faith, the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things unseen.

..

What Sin Particularly Blocks The Flow Of Kingdom Power!

Please read the passage of Scriptures in Mathew 18: 21-35 concerning the parable of the unforgiving servant.

Lack of Forgiveness blocks access to the kingdom and to its marvelous power. (See also Mathew 6:5-15; and also Mark 11:22-26)

The first person you probably have not forgiven is yourself. More people lack forgiveness toward themselves than anybody else. They are unwilling to forgive themselves and recognize that God says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12). If you are a believer, He has already cleansed your conscience from dead works so that you might serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). God cleanses us for service in order not to leave us with the guilt of past sin. That should all be dead, buried, gone, and forgotten.

"If our heart does not condemn us," the Bible says, "we have confidence toward God" (1 John 3:21). Obviously, we cannot have continuing sin in our lives and expect forgiveness. We have to be free from ongoing conscious sin and rebellion against God. But if we are walking in the light, and walking in forgiveness, then the blood of Jesus Christ is continuously cleansing us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

The second person we have to "forgive," if we have bitterness, is God Himself. There are people who blame God because a child died, because a husband ran away, because they have been sick, because the have not had enough money. Consciously or unconsciously they think all of these things are God's fault. There is a deep-seated resentment; yet you cannot be resentful toward God and experience kingdom power flowing in your life: you have to rid yourself of any bitterness toward God. That may take some soul searching. You must ask yourself, "Am I blaming God for my situation, or circumstance?"

The third person you may have to forgive is a member of your family. You have to get rid of resentments, especially toward those closest to you. The husbands, the wives, the children, and the parents- All must be forgiven when slights and resentments have built up in family situations. Many people say, "Well, I didn't think that counted. I thought it was just a family matter." All lack of forgiveness has to be eliminated, especially toward family members.

Finally, there has to be forgiveness for anybody else who has ever done anything against you. It may be that your resentment is justified. The person may have done a very evil, or terrible thing against you. You may have every legal and intellectual right to hold a grudge and to hate that person. But if you want to see kingdom life and power flow in your life, it is absolutely imperative that you forgive.

Forgive them to the point where you actually feel yourself cleansed of resentment and bitterness and are actually praying for them. If you do not, the lack of forgiveness will make it impossible for God's power to be released to you, in you, and through you. The miracle of life depends completely on your relationship to God the Father. That relationship is built strictly on the strength of His forgiveness of your sin.

The bottom line is that forgiveness is the key. Other sins can be present, and if your heart condemns you for something else, then of course you do not have confidence before God. But it is a lack of forgiveness that most often comes between people and God.
..

Wisdom, Revelation, And Knowledge!

One of the most needed things among the Body of Christ today is revelation knowledge of the Word of God.

To understand what revelation knowledge is and how to get it functional in your life, you have to know at least some of the basics about your spirit, soul, and body. Your spirit is the part of you that was changed at salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Your body and soul didn't become totally new. They can be changed and renewed as you grow in the Lord, but that is a continuing process. The only part of you that is completely changed at salvation is your inner man or spirit.

This born-again spirit is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him (Col. 3:10). 1 Corinthians 2:16 says "But we have the Mind of Christ," and 1 John 2:20 says, "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." These scriptures show us that our spirit man is complete in Jesus (Col. 2:10). We know all things.

But even though that is true in your spirit, this knowledge will not profit your physical and soulish parts until you release it by renewing your mind. Romans 12:2 says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, Will of God."

Our minds are actually the battleground. Our spirits are complete (Eph. 4:24, Col. 2:10), and our bodies will do what they are told, but our soulish parts (which include our intellect) have the responsibility to choose or exercise our free will. So in that sense, a person's soul is the master control over our whole person. For the born-again man, the spirit is the driving or life-giving force, but the soul has the last say-so because of the will. God will not violate our free will except in final judgement. Therefore, it is necessary that we get this "mind of Christ" (which we have received in our spiritual man) functioning in our soulish minds so we can make the right choices. This is done by studying the Word of God. God's Word is the wisdom of God (Luke 11:49), written down so that our soulish man can read and understand it. But shows us that the mere knowledge of God's Word is not enough. We must have spiritual understanding because God's Word is spirit and it is life (2 Corinthians 3:6, John 6:63).

When the knowledge of God's Word enters our soulish minds through hearing or studying it, our spirits bear witness with the truth and impart wisdom, which is the ability to apply knowledge. This then becomes revelation knowledge, not just facts about God ( you could program a computer with that), but the knowledge of God which has been divinely quickened in us by God through our born-again spirits.

This explains why the Word of God seems to work for some people and not for others. On the surface it may appear that all knew the Word, but in truth, only those who overcame had the Word of God made alive on the inside of them through revelation knowledge. God's Word works! And if we have the true revelation of God's Word in our hearts, we will overcome the world.

How do we receive the Word of God being made alive and powerful in our lives as Hebrews 4:12 talks about? One important way is by meditating God's Word. Too many times, we get so hungry to learn God's Word that we don't take sufficient time to let the mind of Christ in our spirit man give us a full disclosure of the power that is in those words. There was a time in my life when I was so busy reading every book and going to hear every preacher that the Lord told me to stop all of that and make the truth He had spoken to me a reality in my life, (that's wisdom, the application of knowledge). I am not saying that we should stop filling ourselves with the knowledge of the Word, but we need to realize that only the Word which has been mixed with faith (which comes from our spiritual man, Rom. 10:10) will profit us (Heb. 4:2). We would be better off with only a small amount of the Word in us if it was a true revelation to us from God than if we had vast amounts of Scripture with only carnal understanding. The early disciples proved this because in comparison to the completed Word of God that we have today, they did not have the majority of the New Testament scriptures. The Old Covenant scriptures were not readily available to them, and yet they still transformed their present-day world.

This revelation knowledge is what has been missing in the religious realm's presentation of God's Word. Carnal preachers have been putting out carnal knowledge to carnal people, and therefore, the true power of God's Word has not been released. But in these last days, God's revelation knowledge is beginning to flow among His people more than ever before. Believers are not responding to the titles before or behind a man's name but rather to the power of God's Word, regardless of which vessel it comes through, "For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power" (1 Cor. 4:20). You can have this revelation knowledge, for God has already given to you the "Mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16).
..

Child Rearing - According To The Word Of God!

Everywhere we look, there is an article or book about how to raise children. An author will strongly give one opinion, and another writer will just as strongly give another. Some support old fashioned values, others think we need to loosen up. What are parents supposed to believe? We have the desire to bring our children up well, wanting them to be godly, responsible, productive, and successful adults. We want them to be a joy to us, and not bring us a lifetime of grief. But how do we achieve that? How do we get the wisdom needed for such an awesome responsibility?

Let's look to the Bible as our infallible source of advice. Why not get our guidance from God, who created our children, and knows exactly what they need? Here are a few of the many scriptural guidelines for raising our children.

OUR DUTIES AS PARENTS

1. To love them (Titus 2:4)

2. To bring them to Christ (Matthew 19:13,14)

3. To train them up for God (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4)

4. To instruct them in God's word (Deuteronomy 4:9; 11:19; Isaiah 38:19)

5. To tell them of God's judgments (Joel 1:3)

6. To tell them of the miraculous works of God (Exodus 10:2; Psalms 78:4)

7. To command them to obey God (Deuteronomy 32:46; 1 Chronicles 28:9)

8. To bless them (Genesis 48:15; Hebrews 11:20)

9. To pity them (Psalms 103:13)

10. To provide for them (Job 42:15; 2 Corinthians 12:14; 1 Timothy 5:8)

11. To rule them (1 Timothy 3:4,12)

12. To correct them (Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 23:13; 29:17; Hebrews 12:7)

13. Not to provoke them (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21)

14. Pray for them (Lamentations 2:19)

RESULTS OF GODLY PARENTING

1. They will not bring their parents shame. (Proverbs 29:15)

2. They will not depart from Christian teaching when they are older. (Proverbs 22:6)

3. They will have great peace. (Isaiah 54:13)

4. They will bring us joy. (Proverbs 15:20)

5. They will give us peace and delight to our soul. (Proverbs 29:17)

6. They will rise up and call us blessed. (Proverbs 31:28)

7. Keeping God's commands will help prolong their lives, bring them prosperity, and win them favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:1,2,4)

Who would not want all these wonderful benefits for their children? Yet, we are only human. How can we accomplish all this? Let's remember these promises.

1. If you lack wisdom, ask God and He will give it to you. (James 1:5)

2. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13)

3. Pray! The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

More Scriptures Concerning this.....

Proverbs 3:12
For whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs 10:1
A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

Proverbs 13:24
He that spares his rod hates his son: but he that loves him chastens him betimes.

Proverbs 15:20
A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish man despises his mother.

Proverbs 17:2
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

Proverbs 17:25
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

Proverbs 19:13
A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

Proverbs 19:18
Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

Proverbs 19:26
He that wastes his father, and chases away his mother, is a son that causes shame, and brings reproach.

Proverbs 19:27
Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causes to err from the words of knowledge.

Proverbs 20:11
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Proverbs 20:20
Who ever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Proverbs 23:13-14
Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beats him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

Proverbs 23:15-16
My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

Proverbs 23:24
The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begs a wise child shall have joy of him.

Proverbs 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame.

Proverbs 29:17
Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

Proverbs 29:21
He that delicately brings up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.

In conclusion, we don't have to be confused and unstable in our child rearing. By bringing up our children according to the Bible, we will all enjoy the benefits, both now and eternally!

..

Righteous Anger!

.....Anger is an emotion that is part of being made in the image of God. Like all other emotions such as love, joy, and sadness it was not tainted by sin. After the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, sin entered into all man. Since then all these emotions have been expressed sinfully including the emotion called anger. Righteous anger is a reaction to wrong doing or sin. This definition of wrong doing or sin is based upon the Bible and not a subjective notion. The Bible must be our guide. This provides the framework which delimits the meaning of righteous anger.

.....How do we know that there is such a thing as righteous anger and that anger was originally part of being made in God’s image? We know that God is perfect. He does not and cannot sin. If there are passages in the Bible that say that God is angry and we are made in God’s image then we will know that anger was part of our original emotional make up. The Bible is replete with the demonstration of God’s righteous anger, from Genesis to Revelation! In fact, the final judgment of the world, Satan and his demons is a demonstration of His righteous anger! Here are some other examples of God’s righteous anger.

Exodus 4:14 , “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.” – Moses was called by God in the burning bush to lead Israel out of Egypt. Moses had been giving reasons why he was not suitable. All the reasons were legitimate and very carefully refuted by God until Moses was left with no more reasons other than to either accept or reject the calling of the LORD. Before this passage, Moses had asked God to send someone else. That was why God reacted in righteous anger to Moses’ unreasonable disobedience.

Exodus 32:10 , “Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.” – Prior to this incident the LORD had spoken directly to the people of Israel with the Ten Commandments out of Mount Sinai. The people’s response was that they would accept the Ten Commandments and obey them. The LORD had been communing with Moses up on Mount Sinai for the past forty days and forty nights. At the foot of Mount Sinai the people, out of impatience, instigated Aaron to make a golden calf and called it the god who brought them out of Egypt. The LORD was very, very angry as the phrase “waxed hot” depicts. Moses prayed and persuaded the LORD not to punish Israel. But when Moses went down later, he experienced the same intensity of righteous anger as the LORD. Exodus 32:19 records, “And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.” The phrase used to describe the LORD was also used to describe Moses to demonstrate that the righteous anger of Moses was a legitimate anger for believers to experience. Out of this righteous anger, the immediate response of Moses was to break the tablets of stone where the Ten Commandments had been written by the finger of God. Then he “took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and cast it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it” (Exodus32:20 ). Then Moses said these words recorded in Exodus 32:26 , “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.” Moses’ actions were swift and immediate. The serious nature of the sin committed resulted in 3,000 deaths. These were killed by the Levites who said to Moses that they wanted to be on the Lord’s side. Then it was followed immediately by forty days and forty nights of fasting and prayer by Moses inside a tabernacle set a short distance away from the rest of the camp. This intercessory prayer of Moses resulted in God sparing Aaron’s life. But the serious nature of this sin of the golden calf also resulted in the LORD further plaguing Israel. Exodus 32:35 says “And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.”

.....Righteous anger is right anger. If we do not have righteous anger it is a reflection of a lack of love for God, His truth, justice and everything that is pure and good. If we feel no righteous anger when the Lord Jesus Christ is maligned and attacked, we fail the Lord. If we feel no righteous anger when the perfect Word of God comes under grievous attack, especially by people who claim to be defenders of God’s Word, we have sinned. When we love God and His perfect Word with all our heart, soul, strength and mind and they are attacked, righteous anger must well up from within us. When we see God’s people and especially pastors, elders and deacons fall into heinous sin such as idolatry and adultery, we must be angry just as God and Moses were angry with the sin of Israel when they made the golden calf! Our response must also be immediate action, not hesitation and delay in order to maintain “peace” and not to rock the boat! God will surely punish and will definitely not reward them for sin committed, and so must all who love God and His perfect Word take appropriate action!

.....Some people have a wrong understanding of anger, believing that it is always wrong to be angry. This is a worldly and erroneous belief. As a result of this erroneous belief they sincerely believe that to have a ‘cool as cucumber’ demeanor is always best. Even when the perfect Bible or God or Christ comes under attack they show no emotions at all. They are placid and behave like a dead or deaf man! Their passive and emotionless behavior might even be perceived as being ashamed of Christ!

.....Righteous anger is justified and godly. It reflects a healthy spiritual walk with God where the Christian’s emotional make-up is likened to that of God’s. The closer one walks with God, the closer one is like God in all things including the demonstration of the emotion called righteous anger!
..

Hearing God's Voice!

Hearing God's Voice - Are You Ready to Listen?

Hearing God's voice is something we all long for-but did you know that it's not hard to do? In fact, God wants you to hear His voice! He doesn't speak to us through a quiver in our liver or through vibes or mediums. Hearing the voice of God is as natural as hearing your best friend talk to you. What's more, we can hear Him everyday and not just on special occasions or by chanting special incantations. He speaks to us in the natural moments of life. Do you want to hear God's voice? Then you must be ready to listen.

Hearing God's Voice - Why Do You Want to Hear Him?

Why do you want to hear God's voice? That may sound like a silly question, but motives are important in anything we do. The Bible says this about God's Word: "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

Do you want to hear God's voice? If you do, it's possible you're hearing Him already, for He may be the one giving you the longing to hear Him.

Hearing God's Voice in the Bible

God has spoken to man, and the Bible is His Word, given to us to make us wise unto salvation.

The Bible itself declares, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). In another place, we read: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16).

You may hear people say that the Bible is just a book written by men, but the Bible itself claims to be God's Word! Can we rely on it? The evidence of history, archaeology, fulfilled prophecy and personal testimony over thousands of years is overwhelming that the Bible is, indeed, God's Word. Do you want to hear God's voice? Then read the Bible. Find a good daily reading plan, and stick to it.

Hearing God's Voice through Prayer

When you want to have a conversation with someone, how do you begin? Do you stand in front of the person and hope they will talk to you? That might work, if the other person is outgoing enough, but usually we begin a conversation by opening our own mouths and talking, engaging the other person's attention. It's the same with God! He loves to hear us talk to Him, and it's in those moments that we prepare ourselves to hear the voice of God. Prayer is like saying, "Hello, God, it's me. I believe You created me and that You know way more about how I should live my life than I do. I'd like to get to know You better. Here's what's going on in my life, and I'd sure like Your thoughts on how to handle it. Would You please speak to me about this today?"

In an ordinary conversation, we speak, then listen for the response of the other person. It's the same with God! Once we've prepared our hearts to listen through prayer, we're more likely to hear the voice of God. Does He speak to us through an audible voice? Some claim He does, but usually that's not the case. We may not actually "hear" the voice of God, but He speaks to us in many ways. Here are some of them:

• God speaks through His Word
• God speaks through our thoughts
• God speaks through conversations with others
• God speaks through circumstances

Hearing God's Voice through Jesus

The Bible also tells us that Jesus is God in the flesh. Therefore, if you want to hear the voice of God, you must study and know the teachings of Jesus. Here's how John describes Him: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life." (1 John 1:1). You must also have a personal relationship with Jesus. Have you ever tried to carry on a conversation of any depth with a person you did not know? It doesn't usually go very far.

Shortly before He was crucified, Jesus met with His disciples to reassure them of what would happen after He was gone. He promised them a helper: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit, then, is the fulfillment of the way we hear God's voice!

Hearing God's Voice with the Help of the Holy Spirit

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26). The second chapter of Acts describes the events that occurred on the day of Pentecost, after Jesus ascended into Heaven. Verse 3 says they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, the Counselor promised by Jesus. This unique aspect of God's personality did not come to them as someone they could see and touch, but rather He came to live inside them. That same Spirit is available to you and me today. Are you a Christian? If so, you already have the Holy Spirit available to you. Ask God for a fresh filling everyday, and He will prepare your heart to hear God's voice. His Spirit, that still, small voice inside you, is the One who will remind you of what God said, and help you recognize God's opportunities in your life.

..

Salt Of The Earth & Light Of The World!

The Bible says in Mathew 5: 13, "You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."

The metaphor of the word "salt" used here was to describe the character of God's people in being connected with purity, and to indicate their influence for good as they penetrate secular society.

In the old days, a Christian who had been ejected by discipline from the Church was compelled, before he was received back, to lay at the door of the Church and invite people to enter, saying, "Trample upon me who is the salt which has lost its flavor."

Salt has some unique characteristics. Let's take a closer look:

Salt causes thirst...
We make others thirst for the Lord by living His Will.

Salt is a seasoning...
We are to season each other by His Word and our testimonies.

Salt is a preservative...
By doing His Will we save souls because His wish is that none should perish.

Mathew 5: 14 - 16 says, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven."

Christianity was meant to be seen...
We shine as reflected light, (His Light), radiating from the presence of Christ within our hearts.

Visible to all men in the World
Attracting them to God...

We are to be a guide for God to others, In Love, to make the way clear as an example or a warning light which is our duty. Praising good and condemning evil.

The bottom line is that Christian uselessness invites disaster. We must be an example of purity. Our conviction should be brought about by loyalty and living for Christ today. We have a choice to either have a positive or negative effect on others today. It is and always will be our responsibility to live in the Truth, as He has instructed us, bringing glory to Him.

..

Committed Christians - Certainty Of Purpose!

What was the certainty of purpose that propelled the early Church into action?

Let's look back for a moment -

The Crucifiction

.....To the disciples it seemed as if everything was over. They felt helpless as they stood off at a distance and watched Jesus, the light of their world, fading before their eyes. As He was being nailed to the Cross, all of their hopes and dreams were being nailed to it also. Their reason for living hung before them bleeding and dying. Looking at the blood-stained body of Jesus, the disciples shook their heads in dismay. This was the man that they had seen give sight to the blind, open deaf ears, cast away demons, and feed thousands with a few loaves of bread, and fish. This was the man who spoke into the darkness of a tomb and called a dead man back to life. This man who was now on a Cross, laboring to breathe.

Can you picture the despair that was on the faces of all the disciples, not to mention in their minds, envisioning danger, capture, and the end of a dream?

In those dark hours, they forgot the promise of Jesus.
The promise to rise again on the third day.

.....Their moment of darkness could have been an occasion for expectancy. Had they focused on the promise instead of the problem, they would have known much sooner that it was not the end, but the beginning.

.....In John 20: 1-8, the Gospel proclaims, "Jesus was resurrected. The tomb was empty. Tribulation was turned into triumph. Jesus was alive." A new beginning had dawned out of the darkness. God's grace shined for all of mankind. He showed us that even when things looked dark, and it seems nothing can be done, that is when your faith should be strongest. To God, your dark tomb of tribulation is just the fertile ground from which He will resurrect your deliverance. The instant you exercise your faith in His Divine Power, your tribulations turn into triumphs. In our hour of despair and darkness, we are to take our eyes off our problems, and turn them toward Jesus, the Light of the World.

.....Christ's resurrection provided His shaken disciples with a solid foundation of hope. His empty tomb gave new life and meaning to the disciples. It strengthened their shaky structure of faith, and gave them all something to live for, and die for. They were no longer afraid. The resurrection of their master turned their certain break-up into a breakthrough of certainty. Each one of them became a man of great faith and action.

....Then on the day of Pentecost, these men and 108 others, emerged from the upper room, and possessed a certainty of purpose. No longer did these disciples cower behind locked doors and deny involvement in the cause. They had a sure foundation of faith, and the power of the Holy Spirit as their guide and comforter. These 12 men allowed no hardship, no tribulation, no threat of death, to hinder them from proclaiming "Truth," Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord, and coming King. Despite every test, and torture, these men remained constant in their resolve. They kept their feet firmly planted in the Word, and their eyes fixed on the prize. From that point in their lives, they preached the Gospel with boldness, having the authority given to them by God through the revelation of what truly happened and what they witnessed, even unto death.

James, the brother of John, "The Revelator," was so adamant of his faith in Christ he was beheaded.

Thomas, the one who believed only after seeing the nail scares of Jesus with his own eyes, proclaimed the Gospel throughout Persia, and took the message of Christ eastward to India. There he declared his faith openly, up until the very day he was slain with a short spear.

Simon, The brother of Jude and James, was a dynamic witness for the Son of God, and was crucified in Egypt.

Simon, called Zelotes, preached throughout Africa, and also was crucified.

Mark, taught about Jesus throughout Egypt, and during the terrible reign of Trajan the Emperor, the evangelist was dragged by ropes into a fire, and left there to burn.

Bartholomew, missionary to India, later went to Armenia and withstood numerous persecutions. He was finally beaten mercilessly with sticks, then crucified. And afterward, beheaded.

Andrew, the brother of Peter, proclaimed the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for about 50 years. He brought many to the understanding of salvation. He confronted the Governor of a large territory in what is now known as Ethiopia for worshiping idols, boldly declaring the Son of God. The Governor became afraid of Andrew's growing influence and ordered the disciple to be, "fastened to the cross with all speed."

Mathew, wrote a New Testament Book and taught against pagan practices in Ethiopia, and Egypt, leading many to salvation, when King Hircanus, the ruler of the area, sent a servant to him and ran him through with a spear.

Phillip, fearlessly declared the teachings of Jesus throughout the nations of the Middle East. And after persevering through many trials, he was crucified and stoned until dead.

James, Governor of the early Church, he persuaded both Jews and Gentiles that Jesus was the promise Messiah. He was killed by the Scribes, and Pharisees, and buried where he fell.

Peter, traveled the World testifying of the saving power of Jesus Christ. Facing a multitude of adversity, including scourging, imprisonment, and trials before Kings. Peter suffered the agonizing torment of death on an upside down cross.

John, Author of "The Revelation of Jesus Christ," live to be 100. Dedicated his entire life to Christ and the administering of His Church. Was banished to a life in prison by the Emperor Domitian on the Island of "Patmos," which means My Killing.

.....All of these brave, and dedicated men of God were committed, excited, and sure of their faith. And that is why miracles followed them. They built up the Church of Jesus Christ, and courageously looked death in the face, proclaiming the Gospel with a certainty of purpose. These first Christians were committed to seeing lives transformed by the power of God, despite the personal dangers.

.....God is looking for committed Christians today who are certain of their convictions, and willing, without hesitation, to stand up for their beliefs. He is looking for those that have the tenacity to stand their ground, no matter whose toes they have to step on. The example committed Christians set during adversity today will drive men to either get right with God, or get left behind. The Word is our responsibility. Our response to God's Ability. Tribulation helps us to learn not only of God, and from God, but also enables us to teach others about God, so that many will be drawn to God. Adversity makes the strong stronger, and the weak weaker. Are you ready? Are you committed to Christ? Are you ready and willing to go out into the World and rescue the hurting, the dying, the lost? Let us take our cue from the 12 disciples. If you do not stand for something, you will fall for anything.

Like those who have gone before us, if we are to survive the heat, we must be prepared to walk through the fire, for Christ, and acquire God's special mark of "Certainty."

..

Basic Insights On Knowing God's Will!

God's Will Involves People

God so loved a world full of people that he gave His Son...
It's all too easy for us to become more concerned about things than people today.
If this happens we will always miss the real joy of knowing God's will.

Knowing Basic Needs Removes Fear Of People

Many people have a fear of talking to others.
There is a way of overcoming this fear.
If we were walking down a neighborhood street and happened to see a gathering of people sitting the porch in front of their house, many of us would probably experience a certain fear about the idea of saying hello, concerned with intruding upon their gathering.

However, if we were to see that the roof of their home was on fire, we would overcome our fear instantly. We would be sure that the message we had to give them was one of great importance and one which they needed to hear. We would be quite confident that they would immediately recognize the importance of our message.

So what is our problem with sharing our Christianity with them and others?

1John 4: 17-18 says, "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness...
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear."

God Has A Special Concern For Christians

It is quite easy for us to become spiritually discouraged with the spiritual immaturity of some Christians today, and decide that we will not bother with them, but instead will concentrate on only reaching those who are not saved or heard the Gospel.

It is important for us to proclaim the Gospel to those who have never heard. But when there are already Christians in the area, it is also important to bring them up to their full maturity in Christ. If we don't do this, their immaturity will cause others to stumble, and we will know how to solve similar immaturity in those we lead to Christ.

This is the main reason we are able to "Do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household faith."
Galatians 6: 10

In determining God's will for our lives, one of the most important questions we must ask ourselves is: "How can I help the Christians around me to mature and by doing so, beautify the Body of Christ?"

We Are To Assume Responsibility For The Reputation Of Our Lord Jesus Christ

When one member of the Body of Christ sins, (Missing the mark), or displays spiritual immaturity, the reputation of Christ is damaged and the whole Body of Christ suffers. When David sinned with Bathsheba, in 2Samuel 12: 14, Nathan the Prophet stated, "... by this deed thou has given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme..."

Because of this, Hebrews 3: 13 says, we are to "exhort one another daily... lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Just as the corpuscles in our blood surround a wound in the skin, laying down their own life and dieing, in order to stop the infection from spreading, we too are to "lay down our own lives for the brethren." 1John 3: 16

Three Types Of Christians Exist In Most Church Groups

When I had the privilege of working directly with a few churches and youth groups, I could always expect to find three types of Christians: Those that were cold, those that were spiritually hot, and those that were in between.

I soon learned why the in between or "lukewarm" Christians were and are nauseating to God.

Revelation 3: 15-17 says, "I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot: I would rather see that you were cold or hot. So then because thou are lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have no need of nothing , and knowest not that thou are wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

Cold Christians needs are fulfilled from the world and all it has to offer. They view lukewarm Christians as having no difference between them. The reason is "No Conviction." Their thoughts are, "He is closer to God than I am, but He does the same things I do!"

While cold Christians see the difference between them and the hot Christians. They can see that their needs are focused and centered around Christ. They can see the "Conviction" by which they live. Their thoughts are, "His life is so different from mine. I want to know what he is doing differently than me, maybe I had better start doing something about it."

2Chronicles 7: 14 says, "If my people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God." 1Peter 4: 17

God's Will Involves Leading Those For Whom We Are Responsible To Spiritual Maturity

When we determine which individuals are under our spiritual care and purpose to give ourselves to the high calling of leading them to spiritual maturity, we have established the basis for a fulfilling ministry in our lives. Then, as God allows us to experience death to our natural inclinations, we will discover His way of responding to life's situations. We are then... "able to comfort others who are in trouble, by the comfort where with we ourselves are comforted by God." 2Corinthians 1: 4

We Are Responsible To Deepen Our Message.
God Is Responsible To Broaden Our Ministry.

We are prone to be concerned with how many people we are reaching with the Gospel. But God is only concerned that we bring those we reach to spiritual maturity. Colossians 1: 28 says, "Those who become mature are then able to reproduce the life and character of Christ in others as well."

God's Will Involves The Message We Develop More Than The Job We Are Doing

As each one of us dies to the natural inclinations of our old ways, which were contrary to the Word of God, and as we experience the life of Christ by applying the principles of His Word to our daily lives, we build a "Life Message."

God desires that each one of us becomes a "Living Epistle." 2Corinthians 3: 2
As we do, we will experience more and more joy. Proverbs 15: 23

God has chosen us and ordained us that we should go and bring forth fruit, and that our fruit should remain. John 15: 16

2Peter 1: 4 says, "God has given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these we might be partakers of His divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in this world."

May this help you on your journey today!
..