Hebrews 5 11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 6 1Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a] and of faith in God,2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And God permitting, we will do so. 4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because[b]to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. In this last Scripture it raises some serious issue. To conclude that our sins (our idols and past transgressions or old nature) is to big for Jesus to handle or that we keep looking for a "bigger miracle" to get us over our dependence on adultery, pornography, drinking, drug use, laziness, pride, arrogance, or fill in whatever blank you need to is to say that the death and resurrection was not enough and that you need more? Is this is what you are saying or your actions are doing?"Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Confess with your mouth to others and stop letting the sin (idols)
in your life blackmail you from a life of walking worthy for the sin offering that was paid for all of us on Calvary. Jesus is the High Priest and gave for us a blood offering that has washed us all white as snow. We hear a lot about grace and mercy and sometimes we overlook the act of true repentance from the heart. We are quick to call that "free pass" in our salvation, but do we let go of that sin that we carry with us daily. Look, I am not saying that any of us are perfect and blameless. Actually, quite the contrary, however, the difference is that we sometimes lack the very essence it what God is calling us to do: Repent from the heart. Go and sin no more. Free ourselves from the very thing that holds us prisoner and or blackmails us from true worship (true repentance of the heart). For some of you, you may be reading this and saying that there is no way that a loved one or a friend would understand. There is no way that they can or would ever forgive us. James 4: 7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. What is the mark of a true disciple of Jesus Christ: Humility. A man who is committed to the daily reading of scripture. To Prayer.
Hebrews 5: 7During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Warning Against Falling Away
SHAME ON YOU!
REPENT AND SIN NO MORE FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND!
Wordless Wednesday
What fruit are you bearing?
GALATIANS 5:16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
A Tree and Its Fruit
Mathew 7: 15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
------------------------------
How do I really know what fruit my life is bearing? Who will hold me accountable and tell me what I am really like? How can I change? Do I want to change? How can I possibly let go of that? My wife (or my kids) will never understand? I cannot believe that I grew into the man that I said I would never be? Or you find yourself saying that it won't hurt anyone? How about, "No one will ever know"?
------------------------------
Here is the bitter pill to swallow: GOD KNOWS! GOD SEES EVERYTHING & GOD IS NOT MOCKED! God isn't just looking for you to say Lord, I am sorry please forgive me, BUT you still hold on to that which causes you to stumble. You won't let go? You won't fully repent of the heart. STOP BEING FOOLISH!
------------------------------
If you think for a moment that God will overlook this unrepentance in your life then read Judges 10:6-16. After you have read this then I implore you to grab a notebook and before you go into a quiet place take a deep look into the mirror and reflect on who you truly see. If things aren't adding up or you know you have to let go of some things in order to have God come closer to you, then write these things down that are causing you to stumble. Confess your sins to God and go and sin no more. As Jesus had the Pharisee bring a woman who was caught in the middle of committing adultery, the people were going to stone her and Jesus had asked whoever is without sin to cast the first stone. After a while only the woman and Jesus were left standing. He didn't say to her that's okay, go back and continue on your journey toward hell- NO! He said, Go and sin NO MORE! Flee from evil. Let go of that which causes you to stumble. Come closer to God and He will come closer to you.
What fruit do you see in your life? That of the sinful nature or that of the Fruit of the Spirit.
I love this song
Lyrics:
He never thought he cared so much about the minute hand
Until he started praying for a second chance
If he could only do it all again
And trade the long nights that he spent behind his desk
For all he missed
He tells his wife I wish that this moment in this room
Was not me dying but just spending a little time with you
Until he started praying for a second chance
If he could only do it all again
And trade the long nights that he spent behind his desk
For all he missed
He tells his wife I wish that this moment in this room
Was not me dying but just spending a little time with you
Chorus:
You only get just one time around, you only get one shot at this
One chance to find out the one thing that you don’t wanna miss
One day when it’s all said and done I hope you see that it was enough
This one ride, one try, one life to love
She never thought she cared so much about those little hands
That held on tight the day she left till she was scared to death
Sitting all alone on a hotel bed, the end of the road
The sun has set on her big plans to feel young again
She picks up the phone, dials a number, hears that little voice
That’s haunted every single mile since she made that choice
You only get just one time around, you only get one shot at this
One chance to find out the one thing that you don’t wanna miss
One day when it’s all said and done I hope you see that it was enough
This one ride, one try, one life to love
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NouK3fxgZXI&hl=en&fs=1&w=425&h=344]
So God gives us this life to live. Everything around us tells us of his wonder. The ultimate gift was His Son dying on that cross for our sins and conquering sin (Romans 10). In the process, this thing that we call life, we are to honor God with our first fruits and to make this life a life worthy of his praise. How we choose to praise the God of the universe is our life song.
What do you plan on doing?
Oh, I almost forget, almost Wordless Wednesday:
Listening & Doing
James 1: 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials ofmany kinds, 3becauseyou know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature andcomplete, not lacking anything. 5If any ofyou lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all withoutfinding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he whodoubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
12Blessed is the man whoperseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive thecrown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13Whentempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot betempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but eachone is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then,after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it isfull-grown, gives birth to death. 16Don't bedeceived, my dear brothers. 17Everygood and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of theheavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He choseto give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind offirstfruits of all he created.
Listening and Doing
19My dearbrothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speakand slow to become angry, 20for man'sanger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is soprevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22Do notmerely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.23Anyonewho listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks athis face in a mirror 24and,after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But theman who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continuesto do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessedin what he does. 26If anyone considers himselfreligious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himselfand his religion is worthless. 27Religionthat God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look afterorphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted bythe world.
Eye of the Needle
The World's View:
Jeremiah 5:21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear...
The Disciples' View:
Matthew 13:16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
I am not quite sure about each and everyone of you, but sometimes I feel that I get lost in translation of my every day demands. For instance, I have found this week that I have had no quiet time and no time to arm myself in the morning for a spiritual day's battle. Yet, I wonder why I find myself lacking and at sometimes frustrated in not finding my way. I have given in to the bleakness of this World View and have found myself stating that things are only going to get worse.
The thing is that I have suffered and perservered over these past 9 years in my life. My mother suffered two heart attacks and a bout with breast cancer (she is still with us). I was diagnosed with Malignant Melonoma before the birth of my second child in December 2004. I have struggled through some personal dilemmas in trying to lead a Men's Ministry between those who "want to see" the light and those that flee from that light. I have also struggled with conflicts at work. And I have dealt with my wife getting very sick this past year only to discover that it was a viral myosis that attacked her muscle composition.
Hear is the kicker, each time I have perservered through each trial and tribulation only at the falling to my knees and trusting and obeying the only One in my life who is control of it all. Through prayer, devotion and obedience I have been delivered through each of these painful events. I have also learned that the more that I am in the Word and in Prayer the more clear the true path becomes.
However, I have found in this season that I am in, whether that is a season of self-pity and/or just plain fatigue- I can hear Paul saying, "That which I know I shouldn't do- I do! And to that which I should do, I do not do." (Paraphrase from Scripture).
So what is my game plan? To get back to His Word and to my Prayers today and each day until I can see much more clearly.
What about you?
Are we really being the hands and feet...
Recently, the federal hate crimes bill passed in the House of Representatives by a voteof 249 to 175. But not everyone believes this piece oflegislation is a great idea. They are cautioning many supporters that such a lawis a two-edged sword and may have unintended consequences that includes misuseby overzealous and politically motivated prosecutors. During a discussion of HR 1913, the LocalLaw Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, opponents of the proposedlaw offered compelling arguments for scrapping the bill. For example, Federal Bureau ofInvestigation statistics contained in the bureau's annual
Uniform Crime Report showed that the number of so-called hate crimes has actuallydeclined over the last 10 years. Also, the last UCR released by theFBI revealed that of the approximately 17,000 homicides that occurred in theU.S., only 9 of the murders were determined to be motivated by bias.
Some of the provisions contained in HR 1913include:
· Federalizationof crimes that already are being effectively prosecuted by our States and localgovernments.
· The forcingof law enforcement officials and prosecutors to gather evidence of theoffender's thoughts and words, regardless of the criminality of his actions.
· Blurring theline between violent belief, which is constitutionally protected, and violentaction, which is not.
"This new law opens the door to suspects beingquestioned about their thoughts rather than their actions. Are we going to startinterrogating people about what they are or were thinking?" asks a New York Citydetective who opposes the law.
"We already have a hate crime law in our state PenalCode. What are the feds doing getting involved in state crimes?" said theveteran cop on condition of anonymity.
During a discussion of the new law, US CongressmanPaul Broun of Georgia voiced his opposition to HR 1913 and explained why hevoted against it.
“Regardless of its motivation, I believe that everyviolent crime is appalling. Furthermore, I believe that all people should beequally protected by law from violence, no matter who theyare," said Broun, who is also a licensedphysician.
“In addition to posing a litany of constitutionalproblems, today’s legislation alarmingly overturns the cornerstone of equalityin our justice system by placing a higher value on one life over another. In noway could I support a bill that more harshly punishes criminals who kill ahomosexual, transvestite or transsexual than criminals who kill a policeofficer, a member of the military, a child, or a senior citizen. I believe thatall victims should have equal worth in the eyes of the law," said Rep.Broun. “This unconstitutional hate crimes bill also raisesthe possibility that religious leaders or members of religious groups couldbecome the subject of a criminal investigation focusing on a suspect's religiousbeliefs, membership in religious organizations and any statements made by asuspect," said Congressman Paul Broun. "Religious leaders and others who express theirconstitutionally protected beliefs should not be silenced out of fear ofprosecution,” he said,
The US Senate has a similar version of the bill andwill no doubt vote soon on their own hate crimes legislation.
Romans 5 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Our Founding Father's of this beautiful nation were God-Fearing men. They wanted Separation of Church and State not because of what the newsmen and politicians tell you today, but because they did not what a Government to tell them how or how they could not worship God. If you have time to Google, then look back at what 52 of the 55 men who signed our Declaration of Independence had to say about their beliefs in Christ and the Word of God. We should strive as Legacy Dad's to pray for God-Fearing leaders and to be the hands and feet of Christ. Let us leave our biases and predjudices and insecurities at the foot of the Cross and step out in a leap of Faith and do what Christ calls us to do (Mathew 28).
(http://www.errantskeptics.org/FoundingFathers.htm#Samuel Adams).
Happy Mother's Day (Don't Forget)
Everything Mom
How did you find the energy, MomTo do all the things you did,To be teacher, nurse and counselorTo me, when I was a kid.How did you do it all, Mom,
Be a chauffeur, cook and friend,
Yet find time to be a playmate,
I just can’t comprehend.I see now it was love, MomThat made you come whenever I'd call,Your inexhaustible love, MomAnd I thank you for it all