tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69981721948356749032024-03-08T02:14:48.641-08:00Messiah Encounters ConnectNow that you experienced a powerful Encounter with God, we from the Encounter team want to stay in touch with you. The goal of the Messiah Encounters Connect blog is to encourage you throughout the week, and remind you that no matter what goes on in your life-<b>you are not alone</b>. Our prayer is that as you read our weekly postings, pray for one another and meditate on the Word, you will continue to grow in your relationship with God and experience His presence every day, right where you are.<a href="http://www.messiahchristian.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=122257">Encounter Weekends</a>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03027465671941652624noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998172194835674903.post-71918054113202445322011-04-17T06:18:00.000-07:002011-04-17T06:18:33.056-07:00<span style="font-family: Raavi;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span>Thy Kingdom Come . . . </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>It’s all about the Kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Kingdom<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> is</i> the Good News.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While among us, Jesus preached the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place> -- revelation that came of His intimacy with the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus urged us to pray that the Kingdom would come <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">on earth as it is in heaven.</i> <span>[Matthew 6:10</span>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus came as the Living Word, and He sent the Holy Spirit to be our Teacher and Comforter that we might have a taste of heaven -- a precursor of God’s coming glory --dwelling <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">with</i> us and even <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in</i> us, here in this world.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Raavi;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Raavi;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333399;">“And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the LORD, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, all of which is from the LORD, who is the Spirit.”</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- 2 Corinthians 3:18</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Raavi;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Raavi;">And Jesus then He told us to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">occupy until He returns, to go to the nations and make disciples, and to do great exploits in His name.</i> <span>[Titus 2:11-13, Matthew 10:7-8, John 14:12]</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Raavi;">May this monthly message be a catalyst for Kingdom living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May it inspire you as you labor to usher in the Kingdom each day, and as you present all that you are as a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">living sacrifice, holy, acceptable, and pleasing to God</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span>.</span></i><span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[Romans 12:1]</span> Brokenness . . . breakthrough . . . breakout . . . blessings -- my prayer, in Jesus’ name, for you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen. </span></div><span style="font-family: Raavi;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333399;"></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Raavi;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333399;">“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s delight to give you the Kingdom.”</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- Luke 12:32</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Raavi;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span>The Red Carpet Treatment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span>[April 2011]</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b>Am I a “<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Hollywood</st1:city></st1:place>” Christian?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does my “act” line up with what I know of God’s Word?</span></div><span style="font-family: Raavi;">Scripture teaches us to be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">doers of the Word, and not hearers only.</i> <span>[James 1:22]</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since we can’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> what we don’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i>, it’s clearly a good thing to read and understand the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">doing</i> what we know, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">performing</i> in a way that agrees with God’s Word, is better still.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, it’s required of those who wish to mature in the faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we consistently meet this goal, however, does it mean we’ve <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">arrived</i>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we then expect the “red carpet treatment”?</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Raavi;">As Savior, Jesus came to cleanse us of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> our sins -- those we’ve already committed, those that tempt us even now, and those which may defile us in times to come, especially if not acknowledged and confessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All these sins -- past, present, and future -- are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">already</i> forgiven because of the love and all-sufficient grace of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hallelujah!</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Raavi;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333399;">“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.”</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- John 3:16</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Raavi;">If we are in Christ, sin no longer defines who we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are set free to be the righteousness of God. <span>[John 8:36, 2 Corinthians 5:21]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Jesus <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> Lord of all things past, present, and future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is also Lord of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">memories</i> which shaped our past, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">conscious mind</i> which shapes our present, and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">imaginations</i> which will shape our future.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Raavi;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333399;">“Jesus Christ is the same today and yesterday and forever.”</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- Hebrews 13:8<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Raavi;">Jesus is to be Lord of the body, heart, and soul, and we are to be like Him, conformed to His image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that Jesus represents, all that is written in scripture, and all that the Holy Spirit leads us to believe and do -- all of this is holy and true in the heart and eyes of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And all this is applicable to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> persons, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> places, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> periods in time.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Raavi;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333399;">“He Himself is before all things and all things hold together in Him.”</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>-- Colossians 1:17<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Raavi;">Now, back to our opening inquiry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does my act line up with God’s Word?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, having become consistent in performing the Word, have I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">arrived</i>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Raavi;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333399;">“The LORD does not see as man sees, for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- 1 Samuel 16:7</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Raavi;">When did you last ask of the Lord, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Search me, O God, and know my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Show me if there be any deception or wickedness within”? </i><span>[Psalm 139:23]</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> your heart?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good act, even one birthed from truth and the desire to obey, will produce a godly walk and heavenly reward only if flowing from a heart filled with God’s gifts of love and faith.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Raavi;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333399;">“Without faith it is impossible to please God.”</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- Hebrews 11:6</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Raavi;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Raavi;">Any other work, no matter how godly it may appear on the outside, is only chaff that will be burned in God’s all-consuming fire.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Raavi;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Raavi;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333399;">“Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or set their hopes on such things which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides to us all things for our enjoyment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell them to do good, to be rich in kind deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future, and so lay hold of what is truly life.”</span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- 1 Timothy 6:17-19</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Raavi;">If we are to see God’s Kingdom manifest in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i> world, in our lives, and in the lives of others, we must ask, “Am I a doer of the Word, or a hearer only?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must also ask, “Am I being conformed and transformed into the image of Christ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does God’s Word represent not only what I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i>, but also, in the deep places of my heart, who I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">am</i>?” </span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Raavi;">We are not called to walk the red carpet after all, but rather the narrow way that is the path of the cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Jesus, who willingly laid down His life for us, this path was made scarlet by the shedding of His blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you willing, even if it causes you pain, to lay down your life -- your thoughts, your feelings, your will, your “rights”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will you be a living sacrifice for the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place> so that others might live and come to know His love and saving grace?</span><a href="http://www.messiahchristian.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=122257">Encounter Weekends</a>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03027465671941652624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998172194835674903.post-56442765859283699932011-03-09T10:44:00.000-08:002011-03-09T10:44:08.903-08:00Bread of Content<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Proverbs 30:8b-9</span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">How would our lives be different if we trusted God to provide for our daily needs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not just the basic physical needs, but ALL of our needs; our emotional needs, our financial needs, and our spiritual needs?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">I was pondering this very question this week as I meditated on this particular chapter of Proverbs. (I have taken up the challenge that Solomon posed when he said, “Get wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get understanding.”)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">“Give me just enough…”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is profound wisdom in the contentedness of “just enough.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instantly my mind flashed to the Israelites in the wilderness and God choosing to feed them from His very own hand by raining manna down to them every morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were told to gather <u>just enough</u> to feed everyone in their tent for that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they took more than that, or if they tried to save it for another day (aside from the Sabbath) it became full of maggots and began to smell!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">What was God trying to teach here about His provision? First of all, he told the Israelites that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">at twilight you will eat meat and in the morning you will be filled with bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.</u></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted them to know that HE was their God because HE was the one providing for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secondly, God told them to gather enough for that day because this was His way of testing them to see if they would follow his instructions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our actions prove what or whom we place our faith in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I trust God to provide for my needs or do I only trust in myself or other people?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 16pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">All throughout scripture we see that God wants us to be satisfied with “enough” while He goes on to prove that He is much MORE than enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of the feeding of the 5,000…there was more than enough!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What about the widow’s oil?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than enough.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 13pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In the book of John, Jesus tells us,</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” He will provide what we need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HE is enough.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 13pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">These days we tend to worry a lot about money and the economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are worried we might not have enough, but how are we defining “enough?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enough to meet our needs or enough to live the lifestyle we think we deserve?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This brings us back to our Proverb…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 13pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">We don’t want to have too much because then we tend to forget who our provider is. We begin to believe that WE are our own providers and we place ourselves in the position that God should have in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what happens when we lose that job or can’t pay that bill?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We come to a crisis of faith!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we have too little, we can become desperate and once again because we trust in ourselves and not God, we can easily fall into sinful acts such as lying, cheating, or stealing to meet our needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ability to be content hinges on our faith in God’s promises and on our obedience to his word.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 13pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">What things am I always “complaining” or worrying about just like the Israelites?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does my impatience with His timing make me behave like them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did they realize how awesome it was that God was miraculously feeding them from His very hand each day?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All they had to do was go get it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I do that?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 13pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Never was the hand of God so strong upon them as when they were in the wilderness yet they failed to recognize their incredible favor and took it for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worse yet, they became so spoiled that they began to focus on what they DIDN’T have.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 13pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">We tend to apply this scripture to God’s provision of physical needs but what about applying it to our spiritual needs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question that came to my mind was, Do I spend so much time begging God to “show me” what He want me to do, that I’m missing what He IS doing in my life right now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I read and receive revelation from His word can I be content and enjoy that time in His presence?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Admittedly, I get so caught up at times with what I’m receiving that I constantly find myself saying, “What do you want me to do with this Lord?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I struggle a lot with just being content to receive and not DO!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 13pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">I saw the silliness of this when I pictured the Israelites standing out in a field full of manna and saying, “God, this is awesome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is wonderful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is certainly from the Lord! What do you want me to do with this Lord?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Him saying, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 13pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">“Good grief, JUST EAT IT!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ha ha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 13pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Lord, help me just to be in awe of your faithfulness and your miraculous presence in my life. You ARE my daily bread…my source for existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Help me to just be content to receive that. Thank you for giving me what I need for today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You <u>know</u> what I need to sustain me. Help me not to constantly want to run ahead of you that I might “disown” you and believe that I can do anything by myself or become complacent and fail to see the opportunities and blessings you have put right in front of me for today. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 13pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">I can enjoy where I am because you are always more than enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are my bread for content!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 13pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;"><br />
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</div><a href="http://www.messiahchristian.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=122257">Encounter Weekends</a>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03027465671941652624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998172194835674903.post-35559719096381589612011-03-06T11:59:00.000-08:002011-03-06T14:57:24.142-08:00Faith Comes by Hearing…<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bible teacher and writer Beth Moore explains in one of her books, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Believing God</i>, that there is a big difference between ‘believing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">in</b> God’ and ‘believing God.’ She argues that believing that God exists is completely different from believing what He says to us in His Word and how that applies to our lives. Indeed, many people say that they believe in God’s existence, but more often than not their profession of faith can easily be followed by the statement, “I just don’t know anything about Him or the difference He can make in my life.” Now, what good is it to believe in God, when we don’t know the role He plays in the world today and especially in our individual lives? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", "sans-serif";">Hebrews 11:6 says: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him</strong></span></i><span style="color: black;"><strong>.</strong> There is an important truth in this verse. Not only must we believe in God’s existence, but we must understand that He has blessings and rewards for those who believe and seek Him. But how do we get to that point? One way to acquire this kind of faith according to Romans 10:17 is by learning what God says in His Word. Here the apostle Paul says that, <strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">faith</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">comes</span> from <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">hearing</span>, and <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">hearing</span> by the word of Christ</i>.</strong> Therefore, in order to go beyond simply believing in God’s existence to the point of trusting Him completely, we must hear/read His Word and meditate upon its truths. We also need to cultivate our relationship with God through prayer and daily interact with Him.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", "sans-serif";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic", "sans-serif";">In other words, if we want our faith in God to make a difference in our lives, we must seek real knowledge of Him by learning who He is, what pleases and displeases Him, and what He thinks and says about us. Jeremiah 29:11 says that God has good plans for our lives, to prosper us and give us a future and a hope. But how can we fulfill His good plans for us, if we don’t know anything about them?</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic", "sans-serif";"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic", "sans-serif";">Therefore, the question confronting us today is, “Will we take the time to get to know God?” </span></span></span><br />
</span> </div><a href="http://www.messiahchristian.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=122257">Encounter Weekends</a>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03027465671941652624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998172194835674903.post-7836884253147692852011-02-14T12:53:00.000-08:002011-02-14T12:53:20.625-08:00Big decision?<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Big decision?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Proverbs 11:2 </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Pride is essentially a focus on self vs. focus on God.<span> </span>It is when you do things to glorify yourself and not him.<span> </span>It is a place where your ego is attached.<span> </span>When our egos get involved, we become prone to offense and hurt feelings.<span> </span>We say and do things that are not loving and we destroy our testimony as a Christ follower.<span> </span>Pride will always cause us to expose the “unclean” parts of our hearts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">When we think we know it all, when we never feel the need to ask God, we act in pride.<span> </span>How many times have we acted without consulting the Lord and experienced “disgrace” because of it?<span> </span>When we find ourselves facing decisions of any size when we are in difficult situations, we need to be humble enough to go to God first!<span> </span>No matter how large or small the decision!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Why don’t we ask?<span> </span>Do we just not think about it?<span> </span>Is it a lack of relationship?<span> </span>Is it rebellion?<span> </span>Do we know what God says about the matter, but just desire to do what makes US feel good at the time? Is it just easier to do it our way?<span> </span>Is it lack of faith?<span> </span>Do we just not believe that God care about EVERYTHING that concerns us?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">His omnipotence is our strength and our peace.<span> </span>When we ASK, we receive the wisdom of the creator of the Universe!<span> </span>Who better to advise us than He who is sovereign over all things?<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Hmmmm.<span> </span>“With humility comes wisdom. “</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><span> </span>How great is it to know that all we have to do is ask and receive the wisdom of God!</span></div><a href="http://www.messiahchristian.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=122257">Encounter Weekends</a>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03027465671941652624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998172194835674903.post-39065327244344805982011-02-06T12:24:00.000-08:002011-02-09T10:37:19.594-08:00<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>SIGN UP FOR MESSIAH ENCOUNTERS CONNECT BLOG</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>Postings start on February 15th, 2011!!!</strong></span></div><a href="http://www.messiahchristian.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=122257">Encounter Weekends</a>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03027465671941652624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6998172194835674903.post-53766619658171885942011-01-17T18:02:00.001-08:002011-01-17T18:02:37.804-08:00Testing<a href="http://www.messiahchristian.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=122257">Encounter Weekends</a>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03027465671941652624noreply@blogger.com0