The 3 P’s (lesson two)

This is lesson two of a four part series covering things about Jesus that was Prophesied, Planned, and Produced.

Isaiah 53:3-5 NASB (3) He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. (4)  Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. (5)  But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.

The rejection of Jesus was Prophesied, Planned, and Produced.  Isaiah is telling us that Jesus will come to the world and instead of being accepted as the Messiah, he will be rejected, mocked, beaten, and crucified.  Jesus being with God from the beginning willingly came to earth fully God and fully man to be the sacrifice to reconcile man back to God.

God planned it; Isaiah prophesied it and Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all record the production of it.

Tell someone about Jesus.

Happy New Year

The 3 P’s (lesson one)

This is lesson one of a four part series covering things about Jesus that was Prophesied, Planned and Produced.

Psalms 132:17 KJVR

(17)  There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.

Luke 1:67-69 KJVR

(67)  And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, (68)  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, (69)  And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

The Ancestry of Jesus was Prophesied, Planned and Produced.  Luke gives the full ancestry of Jesus in chapter 3 verses 23 – 38.  This linage goes all the back to God and proves that God did make the horn of David bud and produced a savior to reconcile us back to God.

Now let’s read

Isaiah 53:6 KJVR All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Jesus came to die for all.  I ask that each of you take a minute and write down the names of people who are in your circle of influence.  Now, put a check by those who are in your circle who need Jesus in their lives.

You have five days until Christmas.  Make sure you tell these people about Jesus.  There is no better gift then to introduce someone to Christ.

Merry Christmas

I DID IT MY WAY Part 3

This is the third of a three part series covering the need for us to be faithful to God’s Commands.  This week we will look at answering God’s commands.

1 Samuel 15:32-35 KJVR

(32)  Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.

(33)  And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

(34)  Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

(35)  And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

Disobedient servants face God’s judgment.  Saul had to answer to God for his disobedience and it cost him the Kingdom.  People today seem to take no thought as to the consequences of their disobedience.  God takes our disobedience seriously.  One thing that was true in Saul’s day and it is still true today, is that unrepentant servants make shallow confessions.

Saul asked Samuel to pardon him.  He wasn’t sincere.  How many times do we see the same thing repeated today?  We have a form of Godliness but certainly deny the power that God has.  God withdrew from Saul and he was shocked.  People today wonder why they no longer have God’s blessings.  Could it be that due to our rebellious nature that God has withdrawn from us.

When we rebel against God we will suffer His wrath.  God withdrew from Saul and by the way, God didn’t forget about Agag.  He sent Samuel to kill him.

My friends we must always listen and heed God’s commands.  If we do not we will most certainly suffer His wrath.  

I DID IT MY WAY Part 2

This is the second of a three part series covering the need for us to be faithful to God’s Commands.  This week we will look at Subverting God’s commands.

1 Samuel 15:13-21 KJVR

(13)  And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.  (14)  And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?  (15)  And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.  (16)  Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.  (17)  And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?  (18)  And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.  (19)  Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?  (20)  And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.  (21)  But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.

Foolish servants only partially obey.  Saul only killed the Amalekites that got in his way between Havilah and Shur.  Many escaped and they would cause problems for years to come.

Obeying God starts with a decision.  It is something we can do once we decide to follow.  Saul made a decision to only partially follow God’s commands.  I am reminded of an old saying “What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive”.

Deceitful servants give a partial report and God is hurt by our disobedience. Our Christian brothers and sisters are hurt by our disobedience. 

Guilty servants are exposed.  The bleating sheep told on Saul.

Trapped servants blame others and this is what Saul did.  He says the animals were kept for them to sacrifice and it was the people who urged him to disobey.  Saul over looked an important fact.  What God rejects cannot be sacrificed.

When we disobey God we will go to extreme measures to justify our disobedience.

Next week we will look at Answering God’s Commands.

I DID IT MY WAY

This is the first of a three part series covering the need for us to be faithful to God’s Commands.  This week we will Consider God’s Command.

1 Samuel 15:5-8 KJVR  (5)  And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.

(6)  And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.  (7)  And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.  (8)  And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

 

Humble servants listen to God’s commands.  Saul was to wipe out Amalek.  I know this sounds harsh but, God’s commands are for the good of His creation. 

Did your Mom and Dad ever do something that at the time seemed harsh but looking back it was for your benefit?  When they do that, our part is to simply obey.

Submissive servants prepare to fulfill God’s commands.  Saul prepared 210,000 men to go into battle.  This is twice the size that was used to invade Iraq.  What are ways that you prepare to obey God?

Determined servants act on God’s commands.  God told Saul to kill Agag.  Saul attacked and destroyed the Amalekites. 

BUT

He did not kill Agag.  Saul failed to obey.

Remember that obedience and disobedience requires a decision.  How do our decisions affect our lives and how do our decisions affect others?

 

Next week we will look at Subverting God’s Commands.

Disobedient Servants

1 Samuel 4:2-4 NASB (2)  The Philistines drew up in battle array to meet Israel. When the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield.  (3)  When the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us take to ourselves from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that it may come among us and deliver us from the power of our enemies."  (4)  So the people sent to Shiloh, and from there they carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts who sits above the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

1 Samuel 4:7-10 NASB (7)  The Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp." And they said, "Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before.  (8)  "Woe to us! Who shall deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who smote the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.  (9)  "Take courage and be men, O Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been slaves to you; therefore, be men and fight." (10)  So the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent; and the slaughter was very great, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers.

1.     Disobedient servants are over confident.  Israel lost 4000 men in the battle against the Philistines.  They lost because God was not pleased with them.  When things are not going well with us we need to check ourselves with God.  Israel failed to repent and the same thing happens to us.

2.     Disobedient servants trust the wrong things.  The Israelites said let’s send to Shilo and get the Ark.  This was their plan to get God back on their side.  We need to search out and follow God’s plan.  The Ark symbolized the presence of God.  The error in their plan was they thought that symbols of God’s presence were just as good as God’s presence.

3.     Disobedient servants are deceived.  The Israelites were deceived.  God requires obedience not a semblance of obedience.  The Philistines understood more about God then the Israelites.  They were afraid when they realized the Ark of Covenant was in the camp.

4.     Disobedient servants ultimately fail.  God was not with Israel.  In a single day they lost 30,000 men and the Ark of the Covenant.

Obedient Servants

1 Samuel 3:9-13 NASB  And Eli said to Samuel, "Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.  (10)  Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."  (11)  The LORD said to Samuel, "Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.  (12)  "In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.  (13)  "For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them.

1)    Obedient servants are active in God’s service.  Samuel proved to be reliable to God at an early age. As Eli became old and started to lose his sight, Samuel made sure the lamps burned in the tabernacle.

2)    Obedient servants listen to God.  Samuel thought it was Eli calling, but Eli knew it was God and told Samuel what to do.  Samuel heard God’s voice.  Do you hear when God speaks?  We can only hear God’s still small voice when we humble our hearts and yield to His will.

3)    Obedient servants accept unpleasant truth.  God told Samuel that He would deal with Eli’s sons.  God also said that when He dealt with Israel their ears would tingle.

4)    Obedient servants declare God’s judgments.  Samuel told Eli what God had said.  Eli had allowed sin to go unchecked in his children and God would deal with him and his house.

Total Commitment

Romans 12:1-2 NASB  Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  (2)  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Let’s start this week with a story that demonstrates what we are talking about, when we say total commitment.

A pig and chicken are walking down the street and pass a mission that is fixing Ham and Egg breakfasts for the poor.  The chicken looks at the pig and says “we should give”.  The pig says “that’s ok, for you it is just a donation but for me it’s total commitment”.

Paul is begging us to present ourselves a living sacrifice to God.  See Paul is telling us that in light of the mercies of God it is our reasonable service to give all to him.

He goes on to explain to us that we are to separate ourselves from the world. We should not look like the world we should look like Christ.  The world wants us to conform to what they think a Christian should be and God tells us to transform ourselves.

This is accomplished by renewing our minds.  We do this through studying God’s Word, attending church, Sunday school, Bible study, prayer, and meditation.  See God has given us the entire growth plan for our lives.

It takes TOTAL Commitment. 

I’m A Believer (Part Five)

We are still looking at Freedom.  When I say freedom, I am talking about real freedom that comes from the right relationship with Jesus Christ. This week let’s explore the second necessity.

Romans 6:12-14 NASB  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,  (13)  and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.  (14)  For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Necessity Two: 

Believers must be disciplined in their living.  The bible teaches us to resist the temptation to sin.  In a former life I was land surveyor.  I thought it was funny that many times we would run into the surveys of an old land surveyor who was notorious for conducting bad surveys.  This would give us nightmares and extra hours of work trying to sort through the mistakes that he left behind.  On day in a company meeting we were talking about a particular survey and someone mentioned this old surveyor.  The comment was made “Isn’t he dead?” and the reply “Well that was the only thing that was going to stop him.”

When it comes to temptations we must remember what Paul is telling us.  We are dead in Christ. How do we resist temptation, we play dead.  This calls for us to rededicate our bodies to righteousness.  We must pursue holiness and recognize the demands of grace.

Sin does not have dominion over the person who is under grace.  Grace does not encourage sin. It promotes holy living.

Yes we are free and as the POP Group of the Sixties stated, “Yes I’m a Believer, Not a Trace of Doubt In my Mind”

 

I’m A Believer (Part Four)

Ok, I know I’m a day late.  I am sorry.  I attended a wonder Church service late night and let the time get away.

We are still looking at Freedom.  When I say freedom, I am talking about real freedom that comes from the right relationship with Jesus Christ. This week let’s explore the first necessity.

Romans 6:6-11 NASB  knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;  (7)  for he who has died is freed from sin.  (8)  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,  (9)  knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.  (10)  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  (11)  Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Necessity One:  Believers must be disciplined in their thinking.  Paul tells us that there are things we need to know.  One, a believer that is dead in Christ is freed from sin.  Two, since he is dead with Christ he shall also live with Christ.

We are also to reckon (used in King James Version).  We are to ponder or think about how Christ died unto sin once and lives unto God.  Likewise reckon that believers are dead to sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ.

No wonder Paul says in Philippians 4:13 NASB  I can do all things through HIM who strengthens me.

It is a necessity that we be disciplined in our thinking so we can reckon about Christ.

Next week we will finish this series with a look at the Second Necessity.

I’m A Believer (Part Three)

The Monkey’s had a hit song in 1966 with “I’m A Believer” and one line goes like this;
            “I’m a believer, not a trace of doubt in my mind”

Are you still humming this song?  Let’s look at this week’s lesson.  We are looking at Freedom.  When I say freedom, I am talking about real freedom that comes from the right relationship with Jesus Christ. This week let’s explore the second reality.

Romans 6:4-5 NASB  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  (5)  For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

Reality two:  Believers have been raised with Christ.  We are raised to walk in a newness of life.  We enjoy freedom from the penalty of sin. There is nothing we could ever do within ourselves that justifies our forgiveness and salvation.  It is good to know that through Christ we have justification.

We enjoy freedom from the power sin has to rule our lives. We are no longer under the bondage of sin.  When we accept Jesus Christ as Savior, His Holy Spirit comes in our lives and becomes our Comforter, Mentor and Guide.  We begin a journey at that moment.  As we mature as Christians we gain a better understanding of our Relationship with God.  This growing process of the Christian is the process of sanctification.  It is the continual growing process of the Christian.

Paul is basically saying if we have been justified we shall be sanctified. You cannot have sanctification without first having justification.  It is justification that opens the way for God’s sanctifying grace

Next week we will look at the First of Two Necessities.

I’m A Believer (Part Two)

The Monkey’s had a hit song in 1966 with “I’m A Believer” and one line goes like this;

            “I'm a believer, not a trace of doubt in my mind”

Are you still humming this song?  Let’s look at this week’s lesson.  We are looking at Freedom.  When I say freedom, I am talking about real freedom that comes from the right relationship with Jesus Christ. This week let’s explore the introduction for our series.

Romans 6:3-4 NASB  Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?  (4)  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Paul says it clearly.  Believers have died and been buried with Christ.  When a person is saved, they are baptized into Christ Jesus.  They are identified with Christ in His death and resurrection.  We have become spiritually united with Christ the very moment we are saved.  As a result we die to sin.  

This is a spiritual baptism.  It is at that moment we are saved.  Our water baptism does not save us it is an answer of a good conscience toward God and represents the death burial and resurrection and identifies us with Christ.

Next week we will look at the Second Reality

I’m A Believer (Part One)

The Monkey’s had a hit song in 1966 with “I’m A Believer” and one line goes like this;

            “I'm a believer, not a trace of doubt in my mind”

Now that I have you humming this song let’s look at our study for the next five weeks.  We are looking at Freedom.  When I say freedom, I am talking about real freedom that comes from the right relationship with Jesus Christ. This week let’s explore the introduction for our series.

Romans 6:1-2 NASB What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?  (2)  May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

In chapter 5 Paul explains that sin entered into the world through Adam’s fall.  He explains that many died as a result of sin that was charged to all.  He then goes on to say that through Christ’s death on the cross we now have eternal life.  We are freed from the bondage of sin through Grace.  Paul tells us that where sin increased Grace increased that much more.

It is here that we see out scripture for this week.  Paul asked the question in such a way that it sounds absurd to the reader.  He is basically saying it like this;

Since grace was offered because man has sinned and come short of the Glory of God, should we keep on transgressing God’s will so God can keep on showing us how gracious he is.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  Yes, we are saved by God’s Grace.  We also know that when we are saved we are a new creature and we are to live our lives free from any constraints that sin has on us.  Being free from the bondage of sin doesn’t mean we no longer sin.  It means we are not controlled by a life outside of the will of God.  Yes, we are humans and we will do things that miss the mark which God wants for us.  (By the way that is what sin means Hamartia).   

As believers we want to look at two Realities and two Necessities about the freedom we enjoy through Jesus Christ.

Next week we will look at the first Reality

What are the Benefits? Part Four

Paid vacation, paid sick leave, 401K, and stock options are all benefits that you might have in certain jobs.  Then there are other benefits that might not be mentioned when you first decide to take the job or join the group.  Wellness program, education program, discount program.

Maybe being part of this organization has the potential to bring other things that you may have never thought possible. 

This is lesson four of a Four Part Series exploring the benefits of justification in the believer’s life.

Romans 8:35-39 NASB  Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  (36)  Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."  (37)  But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  (38)  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,  (39)  nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Many organizations, give bonuses or extra benefits.  Paul asks the question who will separate us from the love of Christ?

Well, who will?  Paul goes on to list all the things that cannot separate us from the love of Christ.

What a bonus!  It is simple God longed to restore the separation created between Him and man.  Remember this happened as a result of Adam and Eve sinning in the Garden.  However, God loved of so much that He sent Jesus as the sacrifice to reconcile us back to Him.

I used to work for a company that gave me a $4000 Christmas Bonus and I felt like they really cared.  When you compare that amount to what Jesus did there is no comparison.

The Love of Christ with us always!!!!!  Now that’s a bonus

What are the Benefits? Part Three

Paid vacation, paid sick leave, 401K, and stock options are all benefits that you might have in certain jobs.  Then there are other benefits that might not be mentioned when you first decide to take the job or join the group.  Wellness program, education program, discount program.

Maybe being part of this organization has the potential to bring other things that you may have never thought possible. 

This is lesson three of a Four Part Series exploring the benefits of justification in the believer’s life.

Rom 5:6-11 NASB  For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  (7)  For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.  (8)  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  (9)  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.  (10)  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  (11)  And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Many organizations, especially within the Academic World have what is known as “Continuing Status”.  It is the expectation of continued employment at the position you have achieved.   Let’s look at the definitions of these two words separately.

Continuing -  to maintain without interruption

Status -  position or rank

We are all worthless.  The Bible teaches that our righteousness is as filthy rags.  So from this we can see that our status within ourselves is nothing.  However, Paul tells us in verse 8 that God has shown us his love by allowing His son, Jesus to die for us on Calvary.  Paul says while we were yet sinners.  Even in our worthless state, God loved us. 

Paul says, Christ’s death has power through his blood to justify us.  Through His resurrection we have life.  When we ask Jesus to save us we are promoted to a child of God.  Our status changes, not from anything that we do but from what Christ did.  Now that we have been saved, Paul says that Christ’s life has power to keep us. 

The part of continuing status in this organization is …………………..

We can now rejoice because we have the atonement through Jesus Christ and have been reconciled to God.

Next week we will look at Bonuses.

What are the Benefits? Part Two

Paid vacation, paid sick leave, 401K, and stock options are all benefits that you might have in certain jobs.  Then there are other benefits that might not be mentioned when you first decide to take the job or join the group.  Wellness program, education program, discount program.

Maybe being part of this organization has the potential to bring other things that you may have never thought possible. 

This is lesson two of a Four Part Series exploring the benefits of justification in the believer’s life.

Rom 5:3-5 KJVR  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  (4)  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  (5)  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

In today’s world everyone wants a position with an organization where the boss takes notice of you and invests in your development and growth.  So let’s look at God’s professional development program.  Paul tells us in verse three that we should glory in our trying experiences.  We don’t glory in the present discomfort but in the eventual results.  Only God’s professional development plan can have Joy coexist with affliction.

Tribulation works patience and patience experience.  This is another way of saying we are to persevere.  Do seals of approval mean anything to you?  You might see UL listed on items you buy.  This means Under Writers has approved these items.  What about USDA on meats you purchase or the Good housekeeping seal.  When we are in the mist of our trials and we look to Him to work out his purpose he is pleased. You might say, He gives us His Good Endurance Seal of Approval.  

It doesn’t stop there, God approval gives us hope and confidence that he will continue to work in our lives.  Our Hope will never be disappointed.  We know this because the Love of God is in our hearts. We have been given the Holy Spirit. 

Who else but God could work out such a growth and development plan?

Next week we will look at Continuing Status.

 

What are the Benefits? Part ONE

Paid vacation, paid sick leave, 401K, and stock options are all benefits that you might have in certain jobs.  Then there are other benefits that might not be mentioned when you first decide to take the job or join the group.  Wellness program, education program, discount program.

Maybe being part of this organization has the potential to bring other things that you may have never thought possible. 

Today we begin a Four Part Series exploring the benefits of justification in the believer’s life.

Romans 5:1-2 NASB  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  (2)  through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

One benefit which is sometimes overlooked is proper work environment.  We like to have policy that guarantees no strive between the employee and the boss.  Paul tells us that we have this.  He plainly states in verse one that we have peace with God through Jesus Christ.

When we are saved, the war is over and all enmity between our soul and God has been removed.  We have been changed from foes to friends.  How much easier is it to work for someone when there is no friction between you and the boss.

The next benefit is an open door policy.  We have access to God.  When we believe in Jesus we are brought in as sons and daughters.  We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  We know without a doubt that one day we will see the fullness of God.  We cannot comprehend this here on earth and we won’t get over the wonder of it through all eternity.

Next week we will look at the Professional Development Program.

 

Let’s Be PROACTIVE

Last week we finished our five part series Can You Handle The Truth.   In our study Paul showed that there are lifestyles that are unrighteous.  He also warned us that we are in danger of being deceived.  This week we will take a look at some verses that show us how to take a proactive approach is several areas of our lives.

The boundaries for physical involvement before marriage

1Co 6:18-19 KJVR  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.  (19)  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Proper roles for husbands and wives

1Pe 3:7 KJVR  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

True meaning of love

1Co 13:4-8 KJVR  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,  (5)  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;  (6)  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;  (7)  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  (8)  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

How to deal with someone who has chosen a sinful lifestyle

2Co 5:17-21 KJVR  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  (18)  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;  (19)  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  (20)  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.  (21)  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

God has left us His Holy Word as guide.  He wants us to be proactive. That is why Peter tells us:

2Pe 1:5-8 KJVR  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  (6)  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  (7)  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  (8)  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.