Monday, April 25, 2011

The Pattern of Salvation

1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

1Ti 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

I want to shorten my message from yesterday and it put it into blog form. It was entitled, “The Pattern of Salvation.” Paul was an example to us, as were many others in the Bible. You could say they were a pattern for us to follow, but the pattern wasn’t created and established by Paul, rather Paul believed the common salvation for his own life and preached it unto others.

Lets look to Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith, for a minute. Jesus came for a cause, he came for a reason. All of the prophecies concerning him in the Old Testament had to be fulfilled. In John 18, we find Jesus standing before Pilate and he tells Pilate for what cause he came.
verse 37  Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

He came to “bear witness unto the truth.” For a reason. Not just so…

  • That 2000 years later we could have a nice story to tell.

  • Not just so we would have a day to celebrate life and family.

  • Not just so we could hide eggs and give children sweets.

  • Not just so the stores would have another holiday to sell for.

  • Not just so we would have a day to go to church on.
But he came, TO SAVE US!

He came and died, and was buried, and resurrected. And if not for the resurrection, Paul wrote later, that our faith would be in vain if the dead rise not. He was giving us his gospel, he was bearing witness to truth, he was setting a pattern for us to follow. Everything Jesus said and did was for a reason. He did everything he did in his love toward us, showing us his great grace! He allowed this to be for whosoever will. He came on the scene saying “repent, and believe the gospel.” He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He came to give life (John 10:10). He had so much purpose!

Lets look at the pattern of Salvation that Jesus set, and then how Paul obeyed it! First lets remember that Jesus came in the flesh (God in Christ) so that he could have a lamb to shed blood, because the shedding of blood was needful for remission of sins. (Heb. 9:22, Matt. 26:28, Eph 1:7). Once again there was a reason, as in everything Jesus did. Now neither of those scriptures tell us how to apply that blood, nor how to get remission, WE will see how later. Lets look at the gospel…

1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

That is the gospel, now the question is how do we obey the gospel? Jesus gave us this pattern to follow, and helped us by explaining it during his earthly ministry. He told us a “expect a man be born again”, and he told us “of water and of the Spirit.” He explained his fulfilling of the old testament to his disciples in Luke 24 and then later opened their understanding so that they could understand the scriptures. Luke 24:

Verse 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

Luk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Luk 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

Luk 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Once again for a cause he suffered, and rose. So that now repentance and remission of sins could be preached in his name!

And on the day of Pentecost this very message was preached. We find Peter deliver them the way to obey the gospel. Repent-our death, our turning from sin. Be Baptized in Jesus name-our burial, remission of our sins (blood). And receive the Holy Ghost (God’s promise, what he must give us if our heart is right). This is the way to obey the gospel, the pattern Jesus set! (see Acts 2:38, obey it!)

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Born again)

Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Rom 6:6
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
So Paul said he was an example, a pattern to follow. So how did God take him from being a persecutor of the church to what he became (a great missionary/evangelist of this gospel)? By him following the pattern, the common salvation. Which we all must follow.

First of all he had to get the revelation of one God, of what he later wrote Go manifested in the flesh!

Act 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Act 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
If we never believe, “I am he” we will die in our sins. First must get that understanding.

Then the Lord sent Paul to a preacher.

Act 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

And that preacher, Ananias, gave the pattern to Saul.

Act 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Act 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Act 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

 And we find this to be the pattern Paul preached in the 19th chapter of Acts.

Act 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

Act 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Act 19:7 And all the men were about twelve.

Act 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
So Jesus came and bore witness to the truth, and accomplished his mission. He shed his blood for our remission, and he sent back his Spirit to reside in those that will obey him. So Jesus established the pattern, Paul followed it and preached it as did the other apostles. So why would the pattern change for us, why would the message change for us? It hasn’t, this is the common salvation.

Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Follow the pattern, believe the truth!

Heb 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him
There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. It has been confirmed by his word. Follow the pattern of God’s word! The examples he gave us!

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation

-Bro. C

Monday, April 18, 2011

Suffering for a Cause!


Could your suffering have a meaning to it?

I want to use an excerpt from Viktor E. Frankel's book which is a great read, "Man's Search For Meaning." As did Mr. Frankel in his book, let me make it clear from the start that in no way is suffering necessary to find meaning. He said, "I only insist that meaning is possible even in spite of suffering-provided, certainly, that the suffering is unavoidable." The following is that excerpt I would like to draw from:

The Meaning of Suffering

We must never forget that we may also find meaning in life even when confronted with a hopeless situation, when facing a fate that cannot be changed. For what then matters is to bear witness to the uniquely human potential at its best, which is to transform a personal tragedy into a triumph, to turn one's predicament into a human achievement. When we are no longer able to change a situation- just think of an incurable disease such as inoperable cancer-we are challenged to change ourselves.

Let me cite a clear-cut example: Once, and elderly general practitioner consulted me because of his severe depression. he could not overcome the loss of his wife who had died two years before and whom he had loved above all else. Now, how could I help him? What should I tell him? Well, I refrained from telling him anything but instead confronted him with the question, "What would have happened, Doctor, if you had died first, and your wife would have had to survive you?" "Oh," he said, "for her this would have been terrible; how she would have suffered!" Whereupon I replied, "You see, Doctor, such a suffering has been spared her, and it was you who have spared her this suffering-to be sure, at the price that now you have to survive and mourn her." He said no word but shook my hand and calmly left my office. In some way, suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of sacrifice. (Man's Search for Meaning, pg. 112-113)

Upon reading these two paragraphs of Mr. Frankel's book, these scriptures came to my mind:

John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Jesus came for a reason, for a cause!

Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins

He came for a cause, Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins, yet there was suffering involved.
1Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Peter 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Peter 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Christ sufferings were for a cause, for our redemption. So that we could have new life. He shed his blood so that we could have remission of sins though baptism in his name. He died that we might have life. He gave us an example to follow. It would take a whole another blog to cover that. But his death, burial, and resurrection gave us an example of our new birth experience that we must have!

But the sufferings he faced were for a reason, but there was purpose in what he was doing. Love for us!

Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
See sometimes we have to see the silver lining and unsterstand there may be a cause in our affliction, a meaning in our suffering. Consider:
It may be God's way of awakening you
Psalms 119:67
Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
 It may be Eternally weighty for you
2Corinthians 4:17
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
 

It may be a chastening from the Lord that you may yield fruit of righteousness.
Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
 

Maybe it is for our refining
Isasish 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
1Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

You can find a meaning in your suffering, and it can help you to see the big picture. To understand that though it all you are becoming stronger, that your faithis being built. Now if you are outisde the will of God, and not following him then your suffering may be self inflicted, but if you are walking after the Spirit of God then you just need to consider Jesus who for the JOY set before hiim endured the cross. See the JOY at the end of all your sufferings, and understand that God is always for you.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Understand that whatever takes place in this life, you may lose everything the world has, but if you gain your soul that is what matters! Dont let the circumstances of life rob you of your faith. Keep the faith though them, and on the other side see that your faith is that much stronger. What sight may see as suffering, faith will see as a CAUSE!
Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

2Corinthians 4:16
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
2Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Faithfulness--Treasure

Treasure
1Co 4:2
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.


Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also

We often don't like to talk a lot about our treasure, but the bible says where our treasure is that's were our heart is!

Is our treasure in the church, if so We will not HOLD BACK ANYTHING THAT BELONGS TO GOD!!


Acts Chapter 5 ––
Act 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Act 5:2 And kept back part of the price , his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost , and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Act 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
Act 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Act 5:6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
Act 5:7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
Act 5:8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
Act 5:9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
Act 5:10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.


You better watch taking what dosent belong to you, ask Adam and Eve!


What they held back killed them! What God requires of you and you are holding back is killing you if you are holding it back! DONT NOT PRAY, DONT NOT FAST, DONT NOT DO SOMETHING FOR GOD!! Because God wants to bless you, but you holding back is killing you!!
It isn't killing the church, it isn't killing God, isn't killing me, IF I HOLD BACK OR YOU HOLD BACK WE ARE ONLY KILLING OURSELVES!!


I was praying a few days back for the Lords blessings to be in some folks lives, and I stopped and remembered something I had heard before..so I started praying for them to be faithful so that God had to bless them..His plan works, you either have the blessings of God in your life, or eventually the wrath and judgment of God! I want his blessings! Don't Hold back what is his!!

So let's talk just a moment about treasure.


We live in a greedy world, driven by the love of money! And you can find that all evil traces its roots back to the love of money!

You must get deliverance over your pocketbook to please God! Who wants to be a faithful and wise Steward/Servant?!


You see God wants to see your faithfulness, and obedience and just how much you love him..is it more than earths treasures!! I'm living on the principle, But seek ye first the kingdom of God!! God opens doors, God makes ways!! So for us to purse wealth more than God is not wise! No steward can serve God and mammon! Luke 16:13

Mat 6:19
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth , where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven , where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Heb 7:1 For this Melchisedec , king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
Heb 7:2To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Heb 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
Heb 7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. (Not to great!)

Let me give two Examples before the law here––Pre–dated the law! About 500 years before the law! And the law was not destroyed...but love requires more than law read Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
Gen 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
Gen 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Gen 14:21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.
Gen 14:22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
Gen 14:23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet , and that I will not take any thing that is thine , lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

Gen 28:19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
Gen 28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
Gen 28:21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
Gen 28:22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

Blessings follow obedience!!
Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Mal 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Mal 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

Remember the earth is the Lords!! You are just giving God what is rightfully his, its all rightfully his, really God is just giving you what he wants...and your pretty blessed you are getting the 90%, that's your first blessing right there, if it wasn't for him you wouldn't be getting that!

Jesus Christ is High Priest after the order of Melchizdec(Hebrews 7:15–17) and we are children of Abraham through faith (Galatians 3:7, 29)

Joh 8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Heb 7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth .

Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done , and not to leave the other undone

When you give you are giving unto the Lord!

Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ

Whether we pay them are not, it belongs to God. When you withhold it you are withholding what is his, thus robbing him! Gal 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth , that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Deut. 14
Deu 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
Deu 14:23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.

Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

2Co 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.



1 Co. 10:26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.




Saturday, April 2, 2011

Faithfulness--Talent (Second blog on Fatihfulness)

1Co 10:26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.


TALENT

Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest .

Using our talent is about serving and working, we need faithfulness...we need soul winners. He that winneth souls is wise! Everyone isnt a keyboard player, or a bass player, or a preacher. We all have a calling to be a witness.

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

And those talents you had when you weren't serving God, God can take you and use them same talents the enemy use for destruction for advancement of his kingdom! Peter and his brother knew a little about fishing, well here came Jesus saying follow me I will make you fishers of men! Your potential is greater with God than anywhere else! You have eternity to gain.

We are never too good to do what must be done for the kingdom of God! if you do well with the small things entrusted to you, God will increase you...Pray for his will, you don't want what will cause you to be lost..God is for you!

We need outreaches', and pray warriors, and some folks take can talk to God!