Knowing that our lives are short in comparison to eternity (Psa 39:5), I acknowledge that I can't know anything apart from the Lord. I'm not even sure what faith is, but I know that I can find out about it in the word of God!
Below are a few verses that I have found the Greek word, pistis, the word for faith, in the new testament (concordances are great!):
God requires faith:
Matt 23:23; Mark 11:22; Luke 7:50, 8:25, 18:8; Acts 20:21; Rom 1:17, 11:20, 14:22-23
God gives faith:
Luke 17:5, 22:32; Acts 14:27, 15:9; Rom 12:3-6; 1 Cor 12:9
These are very encouraging to me to know that all I have to do to find faith is to pray and look to what God has already given to establish faith. Faith come by hearing the words of Christ (Rom 10:17)!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Praise be to God!
Been reading numbers... some pretty cool stuff in there... God definitely wanted Israel to do exactly what he told them to do... usually they didn't do it... so they'd get plagued or some other punishment... Thank the Lord for Christ's death and sacrifice, so that no longer does God requires us to be sinless. We just can't do it!
All we have to do is believe in Christ (John 3:36)! But true belief does not result in "believing" Christ, becoming merely hearers of the word and not doers (James 1:22). It begins with asking Christ for a repentant heart. This repentance leads to acts that are done to please the Lord, not to get to heaven (Matt 3:8; Luke 3:8; Eph 6:6). Thank the Lord that he spells it out for us in his word!
Rachel and Piper and doing well these days. Rachel's worried that she's not big enough (thinking that Piper is not big enough), but last night it looked like Piper was playing basketball inside Rachel's belly! My hope is in Christ that he might call Piper to repentance just as he has Rachel and I. I look forward to a life of teaching and leading both Rachel and Piper and any other children that the Lord allows us to keep.
Praise be to God from whom all blessings flow!
All we have to do is believe in Christ (John 3:36)! But true belief does not result in "believing" Christ, becoming merely hearers of the word and not doers (James 1:22). It begins with asking Christ for a repentant heart. This repentance leads to acts that are done to please the Lord, not to get to heaven (Matt 3:8; Luke 3:8; Eph 6:6). Thank the Lord that he spells it out for us in his word!
Rachel and Piper and doing well these days. Rachel's worried that she's not big enough (thinking that Piper is not big enough), but last night it looked like Piper was playing basketball inside Rachel's belly! My hope is in Christ that he might call Piper to repentance just as he has Rachel and I. I look forward to a life of teaching and leading both Rachel and Piper and any other children that the Lord allows us to keep.
Praise be to God from whom all blessings flow!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Who should I follow? Why JC of course!
Romans 14:22
"The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. "
Ecclesiastes 12:11-12
"The words of wise men are like goads (a pointed spear, used to direct animals), and masters of {these} collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion {to books} is wearying to the body."
John 14:26
"But 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 that I said to you."
1 John 2:27
"As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him."
Matthew 15:3
"Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?"
Mark 7:10
"Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men."
"The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. "
Ecclesiastes 12:11-12
"The words of wise men are like goads (a pointed spear, used to direct animals), and masters of {these} collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion {to books} is wearying to the body."
John 14:26
"But 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 that I said to you."
1 John 2:27
"As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him."
Matthew 15:3
"Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?"
Mark 7:10
"Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men."
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Our Call to Teach
John 14:16-17,26;16:5-14
We have the holy spirit if we believe on Christ!
1 John 2:26-27
The Holy spirit teaches us through God's word!
Hebrews 5:7-12
Bam! Who is called to teach? We are are called to teach. Do you know the elementary principles of the Gospel? (Hebrews 6:1-2)
Matthew 28:18-20
Christ has called us to teach.
2 Timothy 2:24-25
Paul tells us how to teach.
REMEMBER. It is all to be done in Love with Love!
We have the holy spirit if we believe on Christ!
1 John 2:26-27
The Holy spirit teaches us through God's word!
Hebrews 5:7-12
Bam! Who is called to teach? We are are called to teach. Do you know the elementary principles of the Gospel? (Hebrews 6:1-2)
Matthew 28:18-20
Christ has called us to teach.
2 Timothy 2:24-25
Paul tells us how to teach.
REMEMBER. It is all to be done in Love with Love!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Broken with Perserverance
I came into Architecture studio thinking that people's lives were going to be changed by God just as soon as I was able to tell them of the Love of God and the peace of Christ. It just seems that this is not happening. I am finding that God may be using this to build perseverance in me. I see that in Romans 8:28-29, All good things work for good to those who are called to God's purpose, being foreknown and predestined to be conformed into the image of Christ. As far as I can tell, I think that God is testing to see if I will continue to speak his name and not become worn down by despair. If anyone has examples of this from the Word and other scripture that might encourage me, please share.
Christ has Died for our sins and risen for our salvation! There is no refuting that. If a man foretells his death and resurrection and then fulfills his prophesy, I know I will trust him to be faithful at his word. Praise Christ for giving me freedom so that I might not be bound by a yoke of slavery again (gal 5:1)!
Christ has Died for our sins and risen for our salvation! There is no refuting that. If a man foretells his death and resurrection and then fulfills his prophesy, I know I will trust him to be faithful at his word. Praise Christ for giving me freedom so that I might not be bound by a yoke of slavery again (gal 5:1)!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Christ offers peace...
I have been working hard at school and have been involved in two group projects. Through talking with my group mates, I find myself searching for words to say that might bring them to Christ. They both have very hard outlooks on life, lacking Christ first but also missing out on the peace of Christ through faith. I wish I knew something to say. Proverbs 1:5 says "A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel." I will ask the church what to say that might bring them to the Lord. The only way I can learn better how to speak Christ to someone is to read his word. So I will be sure to continue to Abide in my Lord, also.
I pray that I might speak my mind more often to my wife.
I pray that I might speak my mind more often to my wife.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Starting School
So... I just started school yesterday, again... I'm really excited about finishing this year! I have to keep reminding myself to fix my hope completely on the grace of Christ (1 Peter 1:13) to keep myself grounded and in the present. It keeps me grounded by making me realize, from 1 John 2:28, that I do not want to be in shame when my savior returns. It's going to be a busy year, but the Lord is my strength and in his word I will rest!
I'm praying for:
Matthew 24:42-51
42"Therefore (BC)be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
43"But be sure of this, that (BD)if the head of the house had known (BE)at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
44"For this reason (BF)you also must be ready; for (BG)the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
45"(BH)Who then is the (BI)faithful and (BJ)sensible slave whom his master (BK)put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?
46"Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.
47"Truly I say to you that (BL)he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
48"But if that evil slave says in his heart, 'My master is not coming for a long time,'
49and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards;
50the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know,
51and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be (BM)weeping and gnashing of teeth.
I'm praying for:
- my family
- Piper Ruth
- Myself, that I may speak boldly and truthfully
Matthew 24:42-51
42"Therefore (BC)be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
43"But be sure of this, that (BD)if the head of the house had known (BE)at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
44"For this reason (BF)you also must be ready; for (BG)the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
45"(BH)Who then is the (BI)faithful and (BJ)sensible slave whom his master (BK)put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?
46"Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.
47"Truly I say to you that (BL)he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
48"But if that evil slave says in his heart, 'My master is not coming for a long time,'
49and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards;
50the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know,
51and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be (BM)weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
