“Can a leopard [change] its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.” [1]
Humanity is hopelessly bound to living a self-centered, self-pleasing life, contrary to God and under God’s condemnation, unless humanity (a human being) believes in Christ. God has ordained His Son to be the only liberator from the sinful nature. God has ordained that His Holy Spirit is only given to those who believe in Jesus Christ His Son.
Humanism is living according to the flesh.
A prideful human is contrary to God.
The Bible says, “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” God is the only One who gives us new life, divine life, through His Spirit.
“Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh,
but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death,
but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God;
for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” [2]
Ever since Christ resurrected from the dead and ascended on high, He pours forth His Spirit on who all ask God’s forgiveness and believe in Him. Do you believe in Christ? If not, why wait?
The Lord says, “Come now, and let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” [3]
God’s forgiveness and Christ’s Holy Spirit yields transformation from the inside out. He removes our heart of stone and gives us a heart like His… full of love, joy, and peace.
[1] Jeremiah 13:23
[2] Romans 8:5-9, 11
[3] Isaiah 1:18
Friday, August 31, 2018
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Praying for Others
Paul says the Holy Spirit helps us to pray. “...the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groans which cannot be uttered. Now, He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” [1]
The Holy Spirit is an intercessor. If we want to pray for others, let the Holy Spirit empower and lead us. Paul says that He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Dr. E. Stanley Jones wrote, “In prayer you align yourselves to the purpose and power of God and He is able to do things through you that He could not do otherwise.”
Richard C. Trench wrote, “Prayer is not getting man's will done in heaven but getting God's will done on earth. It is not overcoming God's reluctance but laying hold of God's willingness.”
Hans Von Staden wrote, “When man works man works, but when man prays, God works.”
Dwight L. Moody wrote, “Every great movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure.”
[1] Romans 8:26
The Holy Spirit is an intercessor. If we want to pray for others, let the Holy Spirit empower and lead us. Paul says that He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Dr. E. Stanley Jones wrote, “In prayer you align yourselves to the purpose and power of God and He is able to do things through you that He could not do otherwise.”
Richard C. Trench wrote, “Prayer is not getting man's will done in heaven but getting God's will done on earth. It is not overcoming God's reluctance but laying hold of God's willingness.”
Hans Von Staden wrote, “When man works man works, but when man prays, God works.”
Dwight L. Moody wrote, “Every great movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure.”
[1] Romans 8:26
Friday, August 17, 2018
The Spirit of God
“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” [1]
“He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.” [2]
The Holy Spirit is the breath of God. He fills with us with new songs of praise for our God. He is our Helper. He is our teacher. He reminds us of what our Lord Jesus Christ taught us. He helps us to trust God amidst the most adverse circumstances.
“The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” [3]
[1] Job 33:4
[2] Psalm 40:3
[3] John 14:26
“He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.” [2]
The Holy Spirit is the breath of God. He fills with us with new songs of praise for our God. He is our Helper. He is our teacher. He reminds us of what our Lord Jesus Christ taught us. He helps us to trust God amidst the most adverse circumstances.
“The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” [3]
[1] Job 33:4
[2] Psalm 40:3
[3] John 14:26
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Fountains of Living Water with God
The value of believing in Christ and maintaining our faith in Christ is not fully realized without the blessed assurance of a heavenly home with God when this life is over.
“These [the ones in white array] are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne He will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” [1]
No more hunger or thirst! What a wonder! Especially for the millions who are deprived of sufficient sustenance to survive in this world. “The sun shall not strike them, nor any heat.” What a blessing! Especially, for those who lived day after day in extreme temperatures. Such as those in refugee camps who lack air conditioning and fans.
The Lamb who was slain for the sins of humankind shall bring these who washed their garments in His blood to fountains of living water. They are refreshed. Their tears are wiped away by God.
They are before the greatest throne of all. The throne of God! God has turned their mourning into dancing, and He has clothed them with garments of joy. [2] Praise the Lord!
[1] Revelation 7:13-17
[2] Psalm 30:11
“These [the ones in white array] are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne He will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” [1]
No more hunger or thirst! What a wonder! Especially for the millions who are deprived of sufficient sustenance to survive in this world. “The sun shall not strike them, nor any heat.” What a blessing! Especially, for those who lived day after day in extreme temperatures. Such as those in refugee camps who lack air conditioning and fans.
The Lamb who was slain for the sins of humankind shall bring these who washed their garments in His blood to fountains of living water. They are refreshed. Their tears are wiped away by God.
They are before the greatest throne of all. The throne of God! God has turned their mourning into dancing, and He has clothed them with garments of joy. [2] Praise the Lord!
[1] Revelation 7:13-17
[2] Psalm 30:11
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Testimony from the National Evangelism Seminar
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation, for a hypocrite could not come before Him. I know that I shall be vindicated. Who is he who will contend with me?” [1]
During our small group gathering, we each shared our salvation testimony. What surprised me was the commonality of content among us. There were four of us among the nine who had been brought up in religious homes where we tried to measure up to God and others in our own strength. That was impossible! We reaped deep despair!
Prior to being born again, we perceived God to be an angry overseer who was never happy with us. The enemy of our souls told us that the best option was to self-destruct. However, the real JESUS reached out to us and revealed Himself to be the source of true love, peace, comfort, and joy. Asking Jesus Christ to save us yielded the gift of blessed assurance... God loves us, wants us, and has secured an eternal home for us through faith in Jesus Christ His Son.
One person in our group said that the following Bible verses helped him to see the light, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” [2]
Now, thanks to Jesus, our lives are meaningful, enjoyable and producing good fruit in both our lives and in the lives of others.
[1] Job 13:15-16, 18-19
[2] Romans 5:6-8
During our small group gathering, we each shared our salvation testimony. What surprised me was the commonality of content among us. There were four of us among the nine who had been brought up in religious homes where we tried to measure up to God and others in our own strength. That was impossible! We reaped deep despair!
Prior to being born again, we perceived God to be an angry overseer who was never happy with us. The enemy of our souls told us that the best option was to self-destruct. However, the real JESUS reached out to us and revealed Himself to be the source of true love, peace, comfort, and joy. Asking Jesus Christ to save us yielded the gift of blessed assurance... God loves us, wants us, and has secured an eternal home for us through faith in Jesus Christ His Son.
One person in our group said that the following Bible verses helped him to see the light, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” [2]
Now, thanks to Jesus, our lives are meaningful, enjoyable and producing good fruit in both our lives and in the lives of others.
[1] Job 13:15-16, 18-19
[2] Romans 5:6-8
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Loving God
Short biographies of the kings of Judah and Israel are found in the 112 chapters of the books of Kings and Chronicles in the Bible. The outcomes of their lives are measured by devotion to God and by service rendered to His people. Four of forty-two kings of Judah and Israel are said to have had a heart after God. The first commandment is to love God.
"My servant David kept My commandments and followed Me with all his heart, to do only what was right in My eyes." [1]
"There was no king like him [Hezekiah], who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him." [2]
"Jehoshaphat sought the Lord with all his heart.” [3]
"Then the king [Josiah] stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul..." [4]
Sin separates us from God, so let us pray as David did...
"Dear Lord Jesus, please fill our hearts with love for YOU. Anoint us and fill us with YOUR precious HOLY SPIRIT."
[1] 1 Kings 14:8
[2] 2 Kings 23:25
[3] 2 Chronicles 22:9
[4] 2 Chronicles 34:31
[5] Psalm 19:12-14
"My servant David kept My commandments and followed Me with all his heart, to do only what was right in My eyes." [1]
"There was no king like him [Hezekiah], who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him." [2]
"Jehoshaphat sought the Lord with all his heart.” [3]
"Then the king [Josiah] stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul..." [4]
Sin separates us from God, so let us pray as David did...
"Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth,
and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer." [5]
Truly, the best life is a life of love for God and people.
"Dear Lord Jesus, please fill our hearts with love for YOU. Anoint us and fill us with YOUR precious HOLY SPIRIT."
[1] 1 Kings 14:8
[2] 2 Kings 23:25
[3] 2 Chronicles 22:9
[4] 2 Chronicles 34:31
[5] Psalm 19:12-14
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Create in Us Clean Hearts O God
There is so much time, talent and treasure spent focusing on human politicians and legislators, but what our country really needs is a populace whose heart has been changed by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
Legislation in the USA has become as wind. It blows in the direction of whoever has the power at the time. What has it done for Americans?
We need a great awakening where people turn their hearts to God as the only answer to human need and say, “Heavenly Father, forgive us for the sins by which we crucified Your Son Jesus Christ. You have been gracious to us. We have been evil towards You. We have failed the first and foremost commandment which is to LOVE You God, and the second one to love our neighbors.”
Repentance unto life is based on love for God and others, “Forgive us Lord Jesus, for what we have done to You and to the people who You created in Your image. Please change our hearts O God! Please make us more like You.”
May we all pray as David prayed in Psalm 51:10-12, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”
“Holy Spirit, please speak to hearts today and call us to repentance of sin and to faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. For it is in the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.”
Legislation in the USA has become as wind. It blows in the direction of whoever has the power at the time. What has it done for Americans?
We need a great awakening where people turn their hearts to God as the only answer to human need and say, “Heavenly Father, forgive us for the sins by which we crucified Your Son Jesus Christ. You have been gracious to us. We have been evil towards You. We have failed the first and foremost commandment which is to LOVE You God, and the second one to love our neighbors.”
Repentance unto life is based on love for God and others, “Forgive us Lord Jesus, for what we have done to You and to the people who You created in Your image. Please change our hearts O God! Please make us more like You.”
May we all pray as David prayed in Psalm 51:10-12, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”
“Holy Spirit, please speak to hearts today and call us to repentance of sin and to faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. For it is in the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.”
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