| Show you believe by belonging by Rick Warren |
| Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:35 (NLT)
The Bible says a Christian without a church home is like an organ without a body, a sheep without a flock, or a child without a family. It is an unnatural state. The Bible says, “You belong in God’s household with every other Christian.” (Ephesians 2:19b LB) Today’s culture of independent individualism has created many spiritual orphans—”bunny believers” who hop around from one church to another without any identity, accountability, or commitment. Many believe it is possible to be a “good Christian” without joining (or even attending) a local church, but God would strongly disagree. The church is so significant that Jesus died on the cross for it. “Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.” (Ephesians 5:25 GW) Except for a few important exceptions referring to all believers throughout history, almost every time the word church is used in the Bible it refers to a local, visible congregation. The New Testament assumes membership in a local congregation. The only Christians not members of a local fellowship were those under church discipline who had been removed from the fellowship because of gross public sin. (1 Corinthians 5:1-13; Galatians 6:1-5) The Bible offers many compelling reasons why you need to be committed and active in a local fellowship. A church family identifies you as a genuine believer. I can’t claim to be following Christ if I’m not committed to any specific group of disciples. Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35 NLT) When we come together in love as a church family from different backgrounds, race, and social status, it is a witness to the world. (Galatians 3:28 MSG; see also John 17:21) |
Posts Tagged ‘Spiritual Food for the Day’
Show you believe by belonging
Posted: March 22, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Fellowship, Happiness, InspirationTags: Daily Motivation, Encourgment, Job Opportunity, Motivation, power, Spiritual Food for the Day
Love your spiritual family
Posted: March 22, 2010 in Beliefs, Daily Motivation, Encourgement, Fellowship, Inspiration, Personal Growth, UncategorizedTags: Bible Study, Daily Motivation, Encourgment, Fellowship, Inspiration, Spiritual Food for the Day
| Love your spiritual family by Rick Warren |
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Love your spiritual family. 1 Peter 2:17b (MSG)
As I mentioned yesterday, the church is a body, not a building; an organism, not an organization. For the organs of your body to fulfill their purpose, they must be connected to your body. The same is true for you as a part of Christ’s Body. You were created for a specific role, but you will miss out on this if you’re not attached to a living, local church. You discover your role in life though your relationships with others. The Bible tells us, “Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we?” (Romans 12:4-5 MSG) If an organ is somehow severed from its body, it will shrivel and die. It cannot exist on its own, and neither can you. Disconnected and cut off from the lifeblood of a local body, your spiritual life will wither and eventually cease to exist. (Ephesians 4:16) This is why the first symptom of spiritual decline is usually inconsistent attendance at worship services and other gatherings of believers. Whenever we become careless about fellowship, everything else begins to slide, too. The Bible says, “Love your spiritual family.” (1 Peter 2:17b MSG) Membership in the family of God is neither inconsequential nor something to be casually ignored. The church is God’s agenda for the world. Jesus said, “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” (Matthew 16:18 NLT) |
Trusting God when I don’t understand
Posted: March 22, 2010 in Acceptance, Daily Motivation, Encourgement, Fellowship, Inspiration, Personal Growth, UncategorizedTags: Encourgment, Fellowship, Inspiration, power, Spiritual Food for the Day
| Trusting God when I don’t understand by Rick Warren |
| “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
When the children of Israel were finally set free from Egypt after 400 years of slavery, they started marching out to freedom and the first thing they came to was the Red Sea. There were impassable mountain ranges on two sides of them, the sea in front of them. Behind them, in hot pursuit, was the Egyptian army because the Pharaoh had changed his mind about letting them go. The path before the Israelites looked like a dead end. But God knew exactly what He wanted to do. He had not made a mistake. He could see what they could not see. He opened the Red Sea and they walked through to safety. Years later, the Israelites looked back and sang, “Your road led by a pathway through the sea—a pathway no one knew was there!” (Psalm 77:19 LB). You may be facing a dead end right now—financial, emotional, relational—but God can see a path that you don’t know about. If you will trust God and keep on moving in faith, even when you don’t see a way, He will make a way. It will become more understandable as you head down the path he sets before you, but understanding is not a requirement for you to start down the path. Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter till the full light of day” (NIV). One day you will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. You’ll see God’s purpose behind the path He specifically chose for you. What do I do in the meantime? You do what Proverbs 3 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” What does He mean “don’t lean on your own understanding”? You don’t need to try to figure it out. In truth, you’re not going to understand most of the things that happen in your life until you get to heaven. Be patient. God knows what He’s doing. God knows what’s best for you. He can see the end result. You can’t. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties and delays — all the things that make you ask “why” — one day it will all be clear in the light of God’s love. But for now, we’re learning to trust God. |
Tuning in to God
Posted: March 22, 2010 in Bible Study, Daily Motivation, Encourgement, Fellowship, Personal Growth, UncategorizedTags: Encourgment, Fellowship, Inspiration, power, Spiritual Food for the Day
| Tuning in to God by Rick Warren |
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“God does speak—sometimes one way and sometimes another—even though people may not understand it.” Job 33:14 (NCV)
After we ask in faith for God’s guidance, we need to listen for God’s response! Did you know that the room you are in right now is filled with radio waves? You can’t see them but if you had the right type of receiver – like a radio – to tune them in, you’d be able to hear them. God designed you to hear His voice. There is a receiver in you that allows you to get guidance from God. Job 33:14 says, “God does speak—sometimes one way and sometimes another—even though people may not understand it.” We don’t understand when we’re not tuned in. What channels does God use? The primary way that God speaks is through the Bible. The Bible is God’s guide book. It’s like a road map to guide us along the way. It helps you negotiate the mazes you face in life, giving you the directions you need. This is why we need to read the Bible very day. God’s will is found in God’s Word. God also speaks through godly Bible teachers. Have you ever been in church or at a Bible study and you feel like the teacher is speaking directly to you? In that moment, God is speaking directly to you. God not only speaks through teachers, he also speaks through every Christian. He even speaks through you. If you’ll stay in tune to Him and learn His Word, sometimes God will use you to say things to people that He wants to say to them. It’s not something special reserved only for pastors; God speaks through every believer at different times. God also speaks through your circumstances and your pain. God whispers to us in our pleasure, but He shouts to us in our pain. God is speaking all the time. But we must listen. Tune in to God and He will lead you on the right path. |
Smoke Screen
Posted: March 16, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, UncategorizedTags: Bible Study, Daily Motivation, Encourgment, Mind, power, Spiritual Food for the Day
15 March 2010
Written by Rob Henry, Army of Christ, and Under GODS Command
Smoke Screen
How many times do people used another issue to get to what is really on their mind. Does the term Stop Beating Around the Bush mean anything? Let’s take a look at the Bible, and we will see an example of people who argue over minor disagreements, leaving the real issue untouched. Such was the case when Miriam and Aaron came to Moses with a complaint.
Numbers 12: 1-2,
- 1. Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. (It appears that they are concerned about his Cushite wife)
- 2. “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the LORD heard this. (Now they jump from his Cushite wife to a sign of Jealousy against Moses)
People often argue over minor disagreements, leaving the real issue untouched. The real issue was their growing jealousy of Moses position and influence. Since they could not find fault with the way Moses was leading the people, they chose to criticize his wife. Rather than face the problem squarely by dealing with their envy and pride, they chose to create a diversion from the real issue. When you are in a disagreement, stop and ask yourself if you are arguing over the real issue or have you introduced a smoke screen by attacking someone’s character. If you’re unjustly criticized, remember that your critics may be afraid to face the real problem. Ask God to help you identify the real issue and deal with it
The Battle of the Mind
Posted: March 2, 2010 in Acceptance, Battle of the Mind, Beliefs, Bible Study, Churches in Maryland, Daily Motivation, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Job Opportunity, Maryland Churches, Money, Money Issue, Personal Growth, Scripture Memory, Self-Talk, Uncategorized, winningTags: Bible Study, Memorization, Money Problems, Motivation, power, Spiritual Food for the Day
| Friday, January 22, 2010 | |||
| The Battle of the Mind Dr. Frederick K.C. Price Everyone has to fight the battle that goes on in the mind. Our thought life determines where we are in the things of God. When people meditate on what is wrong or the negative side of a situation, they become blinded by the problem and never see the escape available to them. Our Heavenly Father has given us a way to bring forth light, and that is through diligent study and meditation of the Word of God. In Hosea 4:6 God tells us, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” As Christians we are going to have to learn how to apply Bible knowledge to our lives, if we want to win the battles of life. God instructs the Believer on how to control their thought life by utilizing His whole armor. Ephesians 6:10-17 says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” The Apostle Paul uses armor, the battle dress of the first-century Roman soldier, as a metaphor for God’s spiritual armor. Clearly, the military metaphor is intended to show that we are engaged in an active battle. Therefore, Believers must recognize that they are in warfare everyday, and that the battlefield is our minds. The whole armor of God has been provided to help us guard against the enemy of our mind–Satan. Satan’s only weapon against us is through the mind. If he can put thoughts, ideas and suggestions in our minds, then he can control our actions. We must come to understand that ignorance of the Word and victory over life’s battles are impossible roommates. If we desire the overcoming life of Jesus then we will need to “take up the whole armor of God.” We are not to focus in on only part of the armor to the neglect of the other combat coverings, if we do so we will find ourselves defeated. It is the whole armor-knowledge of the Word of God-that gives us the victory. We need to take each piece of the armor as illustrated by Paul and apply them to our life so that we can benefit from its protection. Family, it is critical that we acknowledge that the warfare is not against physical forces but against powers that have authority in the spirit realm. Paul not only warns the Believer of a clearly defined demonic structure, but also instructs us to take up the whole armor of God in order to maintain a battle stance against these unseen forces. Satan’s mode of operation has not changed. He continues to use the same mind game that he used on Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1). We are going to have to recognize his deceptive ways and stand against them with the Word of God. Our battle is clearly spiritual. Satan launches assaults on the mind in order to affect the spiritual aspect of our lives. The mind is like the door through which the enemy has access. If Satan can influence our thoughts, he can control every aspect of our lives. Therefore, we must examine every thought that comes to our minds. Are they the fiery darts, the evil day and or the wiles of the devil? Every thought has either a life or death component attached to it. Once a thought is allowed to have access in our lives, it begins its subtle work. This is the reason God tells us in Romans 12:1-2: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
© Dr. Frederick K. C. Price all rights reserved. |
Under Gods command 