Stories of Salvation Blog

Stories of Salvation Blog http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php Christian articles written by many authors. en-us Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:49:35 -0400 Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:49:35 -0400 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Salvation Ministries Derek Kirk Salvation Ministries Christian Question: "Should a Christian use social networking tools (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, blogs, etc.)?" Question: "Should a Christian use social networking tools (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, blogs, etc.)?" Answer: Hundreds of millions of people are running toward social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to participate in the relational components of the Internet. Are these networks the next big mission field or an enormous waste of time? Should a Christian participate in social networking? The answer to these questions should be determined by whether we can honestly ask God to bless and use our actions for His own good purposes. "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). If we are willing to let God use our participation for His glory, we have freedom to participate. Christians who choose to participate in social networking should be aware of the negative aspects of social networking. It should be remembered that not everyone on the internet has pure motives, and we should use safety precautions, utilize the privacy settings, and be selective as to who is accepted as a ‘friend’ or ‘fan.’ Parents should regularly interact with their children and be active participants in their child's use of social networking sites. In addition, Christians should be aware of the danger of narcissism (excessive self-love and preoccupation with self) inherent in self-oriented sites. Studies have shown that overuse or wrong motives in social media participation can breed narcissism. When we rely on social media sites primarily to promote ourselves or draw attention to ourselves, it is time to take a step back. It’s wise to utilize accountability, encouraging spouse, family members, and Christian brothers and sisters to view our social networking activity and hold us accountable. Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend's countenance." It’s also important to understand the impact our status, photo, comments, or blog posts may have in the future. It should be remembered that social networking sites involve publishing to the entire Internet, including family members, current and future employers, college admissions personnel, etc. The ramifications of any statements, both now and in the future, should be considered. It should be assumed that everything written is permanent and viewable by everyone. Furthermore, while maintaining relationships is important and healthy, addiction is not. Limiting the amount of time we devote to these social networking sites is both healthy and wise. On the other hand, there are definitely positive aspects of social networking. For the Christian, social media sites can be an enormously productive mission field. Reconnecting with old friends and increasing our sphere of influence can lead to evangelistic opportunities unavailable elsewhere. Social media allows us to reenter the daily lives of people we may have lost contact with and open up new avenues for sharing Christ. As such, we can influence the views of others by what we post, bringing encouragement and spiritual guidance to others and using friends lists or Facebook status updates to pray regularly for friends and their needs. "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25). Finally, social networking sites can engage spiritual seekers on the Internet, meeting those seekers where they are. Just like face-to-face evangelism, we can establish credibility and authenticity in the seeker’s natural and comfortable environment, and then build on that foundation and share the love of Christ with new online friends. (We invite you to become a fan of GotQuestions on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @GotQuestions ) Recommended Resources: Thy Kingdom Connected: What the Church Can Learn from Facebook by Dwight Friesen . What's new on GotQuestions.org? What is Pascal's Wager? What is a biblical theology of worship? Inclusivism vs. exclusivism - what does the Bible say? What is the biblical understanding of the wrath of God? What does the Bible say about the role of evangelism/outreach pastor? When were Joseph and Mary considered married? What are the heavenly crowns that believers can receive in Heaven? Is it wrong to have angel figurines? What does the Bible say about youth ministry? Was Nostradamus a true prophet of God? What are some encouraging Bible verses? What is glossolalia? What does the Bible say about the role of youth pastor/minister? GotQuestions.org seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by providing Biblical answers to spiritually-related questions. To continue in this mission, we need your support! For more information, please visit https://www.gotquestions.org/support.html We apologize, but with over 161,000 QOTW subscribers, we simply cannot handle email replies to our QOTW. If you would like to discuss the QOTW, you can do so at http://www.gotquestions.org/gqblog . Got Questions? The Bible has Answers! We'll find them for you! www.GotQuestions.org http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1281818975 GotQuestions.org http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1281818975&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1281818975 Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:49:35 -0400 Jesus Whispering to Our Hearts Jesus Whispering to Our Hearts  By Marijo Phelps   The best teacher I think I ever had for making a point that everyone in that room listened to had a unique delivery method. Instead of raising his voice to make his point he'd lean forward over the podium and whisper the most important part of his lecture. All in the class hushed and leaned forward eagerly to see what important part of the lecture was about to come out of his mouth. It got our attention each and every time and we truly listened.   Imagine your Lord and Savior doing the same thing. The Bible tells us to tune in to that "still, small voice". It is when we are quiet before Him and focused on Him that he can speak the loudest, often times in a whisper:   Daughter, it doesn't always have to come to you what I am about to say for you to write (it). I may choose to whisper a thought or word of encouragement into a corner of your mind for momentary encouragement, some too precious to be written, some too heavy to bear for more than that first moment; truths to be resurfaced over and over until you're able and ready (open) to grasp and hold them, coming up gradually as a red sunrise. Awesome revelations, perhaps they are frightening at first glance, but real and "normal" as they unfold embellishment with a fire that creates a beauty, special beauty even greater than the daily sunsets. Cling to those revelations as I bring them up. You will learn them and make them part of you as I deem you able to stretch and grow; as you yield to My molding. You cannot yield unless you recognize that you are holding back. Rest in Jesus as He does His life redeeming work within you! Selah.   PS 51 "let the bones which thou hast broken rejoice"   Psalms 51 is one of my favorites. I like to read it over and over with discovery of even more each time I re-read it. Please take some time with this chapter for yourself to see what it says to you. The psalmist is first asking for God's mercy, not based upon anything the psalmist did or didn't do but based upon God's love and compassion. David asks to have his transgressions blotted out and to be washed and made clean from all his sin. He continues recognizing his sin and that it is against God only that he has committed those sins even back to his birth. He even indicates that God can make him whiter than snow. That should give hope to all of us.   What an attitude he then reveals in saying he would like the bones which God broke to rejoice. To me that is showing David's total and utter trust in God and his assessment or David's condition. Even in that pain to know it is "good for him" and necessary. Imagine your broken bones being encouraged to "rejoice". No wonder the Bible says that David had a heart for the Lord.   And to then hear that he had hope and expectation that God could and would create in David a "pure heart" and give him, once again, a steadfast spirit, welcoming David into His presence and restoring David's joy. David is requesting to be made whole so he could then teach sinners and have them turn back to God.   This Psalm alone is full of so many good and wonderful promises. There are even more in the rest of the psalm but I want to give you an opportunity to chew on it yourself and see what they Lord will speak to your heart. Be encouraged and built up in Jesus most capable and incredible name!   Prayer: Lord God, at first it sounds SO hard to ask that the bones which You have broken rejoice. But You don't want me to walk with a limp or not walk at all. You are the Great Physician and know what needs to be done for complete healing and wholeness. I submit to Your ultimate wisdom and Your Physician's hand. I also place my hand in Yours as You continue to make and remake me  WHOLE in You. Amen   (C) Marijo Phelps all rights reserved. Use with proper credits. About Self   Saved by His grace in 1974, from 9 years of professing atheism into His loving arms. RN for 23 years, missionary with YWAM then statistical analyst for Every Home for Christ over 9 years. Living with my husband in the middle of a mountain meadow. GRIN! Wanting to spread the good news Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1280631533 Devotions http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1280631533&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1280631533 Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:58:53 -0400 Worship Worship By beatrice ofwona   Some followers of Christ abandoned him when he asked them to eat his flesh and blood. In the book of John 6:53-69 we see some of them  choosing to leave rather than follow Jesus when he told them that they would have to do this in order to live forever. In verse 60, many of them, on hearing this said, "This is hard teaching, who can accept it?  Many turned their backs on him and did not follow him. The twelve who were finally left were the ones who understood that Jesus Christ had the words of eternal life and that this was a covenant talk. They chose to be with him and revere him as the promised Savior.   Worship is associated with dance, speaking in tongues, tears and many other manifestations which characterize a powerful service, yet some people come to church and leave the same way that they came in. This may be because they are fearful of letting go, or just too arrogant or angry to let go and enjoy the presence of the Lord. This therefore means that their worship will not translate into tangible change in their lives, yet this is what is needed; that we may modify our reason for calling on God and the way in which we experience Him.  In John 6:53-69 Christ told his followers the truth about eternal life but they failed to receive it. This is because truth has always been hard to receive yet it is absolute and does not respect our situations or our circumstances. Therefore regardless of who we are, if prayer does not change us, then there is a problem.   Secondly, if it does not change how we see God, as the Psalmist does in Psalms 63, then that too is a problem. Worship is not just about what we want from God but also about waiting on Him for what He can do in us. Many are the times we come with our lists of demands, with everything we want changed for us, except ourselves. How awesome it could be if we were able to approach the throne and say, " I have tried to change the way I talk to others, the way I relate with them and the way I see them, but I have not been able to; Oh God, could you help me to love others as I love myself?"  Worship is about obedience, it has no laws and there is no other way around it; it is not an option but even mentioned in the very first commandment; a prerequisite for our God.   Worship is about reverence. It is good to enjoy the presence of the Lord, but this too should be done in fear. New medical students run away when they first encounter a cadaver. Some of them lose sleep, cry, and run to other departments to do other programs but for those who survive the traumatic moments, it is soon business as usual to the extent that they can take a cup of tea with a body in room; they become casual with what they first feared. We Christians are also guilty of treating God causally after a while instead of treating Him with the reverence that is deserving of Him as our God all the time and always.   We are human beings and we love it when things are going well for us; this is when it is easiest to worship God. However, when sacrifice and perseverance are needed of us we cry foul at how unfair things are. Yet worship calls for sacrifice even when we do not feel like doing so; that we may get down on our knees even when it looks like all the world has abandoned us, that we may be involved in ministry or share the word of Christ even when things are not well in our lives and in our homes. Jesus Christ may have fed the multitudes but he remained clear in his actions; that no matter what, he was God of all provision.   Worship is about holiness not just happiness; that we may be right with God before we approach the throne to give our petitions. It is about submission in all facets of our lives. It is denying ourselves and decreasing so that He may increase in us through Jesus Christ. Worship is not what we do on the outside but what continually happens on the inside.   Worship is a pursuit, a passion that should be followed with abandon and which Christians must commit to. However, if worship fails to change us, then we begin to lose ourselves to the world instead of to Christ. As a result, the world then begins to spite us because we are giving mixed signals about our salvation; we are failing at being the salt and the light of the world. As Christians, let us all drink of Christ, lose our own ideals and embrace his, change our beliefs and soak in his, stop being casual with our God and aim to lose ourselves in worship. (Word count-846)   Writing is my calling and I use it to honor God. More on:- http://expertscolumn.com/content/you-are-salt-earth http://expertscolumn.com/content/you-are-light-world-where-are-you http://expertscolumn.com/content/replicating-nature-sin contact:-bofwona@yahoo.com Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1280631413 Christian Living http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1280631413&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1280631413 Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:56:53 -0400 Question: "Where was Jesus for the three days between His death and resurrection?" Question: "Where was Jesus for the three days between His death and resurrection?" Answer: 1 Peter 3:18-19 states, "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison." The phrase, "by the Spirit," in verse 18 is exactly the same construction as the phrase, "in the flesh." So it seems best to relate the word "spirit" to the same realm as the word "flesh." The flesh and spirit are Christ's flesh and spirit. The words "made alive by (in) the spirit" point to the fact that Christ's sin-bearing and death brought about the separation of His human spirit from the Father ( Matthew 27:46 ). The contrast is between flesh and spirit, as in Matthew 27:46 and Romans 1:3-4 , and not between Christ's flesh and the Holy Spirit. When Christ's atonement for sin was completed, His spirit restored the fellowship which had been broken. First Peter 3:18-22 describes a necessary link between Christ's suffering (verse 18) and His glorification (verse 22). Only Peter gives specific information about what happened between these two events. The word "preached" in verse 19 is not the usual word in the New Testament to describe the preaching of the gospel. It literally means to herald a message. Jesus suffered and died on the Cross, His body being put to death, and His spirit died when He was made sin. But His spirit was made alive and He yielded it to the Father. According to Peter, sometime between His death and His resurrection Jesus made a special proclamation to "the spirits in prison." To begin with, Peter referred to people as "souls" and not "spirits" (3:20). In the New Testament, the word "spirits" is used to describe angels or demons, not human beings, and verse 22 seems to bear out this meaning. Also, nowhere in the Bible are we told that Jesus visited hell. Acts 2:31 says that He went to "Hades" (New American Standard Bible), but "Hades" is not hell. The word "Hades" refers to the realm of the dead, a temporary place where they await the resurrection. Revelation 20:11-15 in the NASB or the New International Version give a clear distinction between the two. Hell is the permanent and final place of judgment for the lost. Hades is a temporary place. Our Lord yielded His spirit to the Father, died, and at some time between death and resurrection, visited the realm of the dead where He delivered a message to spirit beings (probably fallen angels; see Jude 6 ) who were somehow related to the period before the flood in Noah's time. Verse 20 makes this clear. Peter did not tell us what He proclaimed to these imprisoned spirits, but it could not be a message of redemption since angels cannot be saved ( Hebrews 2:16 ). It was probably a declaration of victory over Satan and his hosts ( 1 Peter 3:22 ; Colossians 2:15 ). Ephesians 4:8-10 also seems to indicate that Christ went to "paradise” ( Luke 16:20 ; 23:43 ) and took to heaven all those who had believed in Him prior to His death. The passage doesn’t give a great amount of detail about what occurred, but most Bible scholars agree that this is what is meant by "led captivity captive.” So, all that to say, the Bible isn’t entirely clear what exactly Christ did for the three days between His death and resurrection. It does seem, though, that He was preaching victory over the fallen angels and/or unbelievers. What we can know for sure is that Jesus was not giving people a second chance for salvation. The Bible tells us that we face judgment after death ( Hebrews 9:27 ), not a second chance. There isn't really any definitively clear answer for what Jesus was doing for the time between His death and resurrection. Perhaps this is one of the mysteries we will understand once we reach glory. Recommended Resource: Jesus: The Greatest Life of All by Charles Swindoll . This page is also available in: Chinese , Arabic , Română , Indonesia , Hebrew , Korean , Deutsch , Slovenčina , Ukrainian , Español , Français , Greek , Srpski , Magyar , Bulgarian , Italiano , Russian , Cesky , Hrvatski , Polski , Hindi , Trad-Chinese , Thai , Latviešu , Belarusian , Bosanski , Dansk , Shqip , Việt , Jawi , Slovenščina , Svenska , Nederlands , Português , Türkçe , Afrikaans , Tagalog , Farsi , Urdu , Suomi , Sh-Punjabi , eesti , Azerbaijani , Japanese , Armenian , Lietuvių , Kiswahili , Sesotho , Pashto , Kazakh , Mongolian , Malayalam , Sindhi , Sinhala , Yorùbá , íslenska , Melayu , Samoan , O’zbek , Nepali , Hausa , Myanmar Related Topics: Did Jesus ever travel to India? What day was Jesus crucified on? Where does the Old Testament mention Christ? Who were the spirits in prison? Why should I believe in Christ’s resurrection? Return to: Questions about Jesus Christ Return to: GotQuestions.org Home http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1280631199 GotQuestions.org http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1280631199&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1280631199 Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:53:19 -0400 Question: "What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?" Question: "What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?" Answer: First of all, no matter what view one takes on the issue of divorce, it is important to remember Malachi 2:16 : "I hate divorce, says the LORD God of Israel.” According to the Bible, marriage is a lifetime commitment. "So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” ( Matthew 19:6 ). God realizes, though, that since marriages involve two sinful human beings, divorces are going to occur. In the Old Testament, He laid down some laws in order to protect the rights of divorcees, especially women ( Deuteronomy 24:1-4 ). Jesus pointed out that these laws were given because of the hardness of people’s hearts, not because they were God’s desire ( Matthew 19:8 ). The controversy over whether divorce and remarriage is allowed according to the Bible revolves primarily around Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 . The phrase "except for marital unfaithfulness” is the only thing in Scripture that possibly gives God’s permission for divorce and remarriage. Many interpreters understand this "exception clause” as referring to "marital unfaithfulness” during the "betrothal” period. In Jewish custom, a man and a woman were considered married even while they were still engaged or "betrothed.” According to this view, immorality during this "betrothal” period would then be the only valid reason for a divorce. However, the Greek word translated "marital unfaithfulness” is a word which can mean any form of sexual immorality. It can mean fornication, prostitution, adultery, etc. Jesus is possibly saying that divorce is permissible if sexual immorality is committed. Sexual relations are an integral part of the marital bond: "the two will become one flesh” ( Genesis 2:24 ; Matthew 19:5 ; Ephesians 5:31 ). Therefore, any breaking of that bond by sexual relations outside of marriage might be a permissible reason for divorce. If so, Jesus also has remarriage in mind in this passage. The phrase "and marries another” ( Matthew 19:9 ) indicates that divorce and remarriage are allowed in an instance of the exception clause, whatever it is interpreted to be. It is important to note that only the innocent party is allowed to remarry. Although it is not stated in the text, the allowance for remarriage after a divorce is God’s mercy for the one who was sinned against, not for the one who committed the sexual immorality. There may be instances where the "guilty party” is allowed to remarry, but it is not taught in this text. Some understand 1 Corinthians 7:15 as another "exception,” allowing remarriage if an unbelieving spouse divorces a believer. However, the context does not mention remarriage, but only says a believer is not bound to continue a marriage if an unbelieving spouse wants to leave. Others claim that abuse (spousal or child) is a valid reason for divorce even though it is not listed as such in the Bible. While this may very well be the case, it is never wise to presume upon the Word of God. Sometimes lost in the debate over the exception clause is the fact that whatever "marital unfaithfulness” means, it is an allowance for divorce, not a requirement for it. Even when adultery is committed, a couple can, through God’s grace, learn to forgive and begin rebuilding their marriage. God has forgiven us of so much more. Surely we can follow His example and even forgive the sin of adultery ( Ephesians 4:32 ). However, in many instances, a spouse is unrepentant and continues in sexual immorality. That is where Matthew 19:9 can possibly be applied. Many also look to quickly remarry after a divorce when God might desire them to remain single. God sometimes calls people to be single so that their attention is not divided ( 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 ). Remarriage after a divorce may be an option in some circumstances, but that does not mean it is the only option. It is distressing that the divorce rate among professing Christians is nearly as high as that of the unbelieving world. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God hates divorce ( Malachi 2:16 ) and that reconciliation and forgiveness should be the marks of a believer’s life ( Luke 11:4 ; Ephesians 4:32 ). However, God recognizes that divorce will occur, even among His children. A divorced and/or remarried believer should not feel any less loved by God, even if the divorce and/or remarriage is not covered under the possible exception clause of Matthew 19:9 . God often uses even the sinful disobedience of Christians to accomplish great good. Recommended Resource: Divorce and Remarriage: 4 Views edited By H. Wayne House . This page is also available in: Simp-Chinese , Arabic , Română , Indonesia , Hebrew , Korean , Deutsch , Slovenčina , Ukrainian , Russian , Español , Français , Greek , Srpski , Magyar , Bulgarian , Italiano , Cesky , Polski , Hrvatski , Hindi , Trad-Chinese , Thai , Latviešu , Belarusian , Bosanski , Dansk , Shqip , Việt , Svenska , Jawi , Slovenščina , Nederlands , Português , Türkçe , Afrikaans , Macedonian , Tagalog , Farsi , Urdu , Suomi , Melayu , Sh-Punjabi , eesti , Azerbaijani , Japanese , Armenian , Lietuvių , Kiswahili , Sesotho , Pashto , Kazakh , Mongolian , Malayalam , Sindhi , Sinhala , Yorùbá , íslenska , O’zbek , Samoan , Nepali , Hausa , Myanmar Related Topics: Is remarriage after divorce always adultery? Is abuse an acceptable reason for divorce? What are Biblical grounds for divorce? What does the Bible say about remarriage if a divorce occurred before salvation? What is the exception clause? Return to: Questions about Marriage Return to: GotQuestions.org Home http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1280631084 Marriage http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1280631084&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1280631084 Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:51:24 -0400 Question: "What are the different names and titles of Jesus Christ?" Question: "What are the different names and titles of Jesus Christ?" Answer: There are some 200 names and titles of Christ found in the Bible. Following are some of the more prominent ones, organized in three sections relating to names that reflect the nature of Christ, His position in the tri-unity of God, and His work on earth on our behalf. The Nature of Christ Chief Cornerstone: ( Ephesians 2:20 ) – Jesus is the cornerstone of the building which is His church. He cements together Jew and Gentile, male and female—all saints from all ages and places into one structure built on faith in Him which is shared by all. Firstborn over all creation: ( Colossians 1:15 ) – Not the first thing God created, as some incorrectly claim, because verse 16 says all things were created through and for Christ. Rather, the meaning is that Christ occupies the rank and pre-eminence of the first-born over all things, that He sustains the most exalted rank in the universe; He is pre-eminent above all others; He is at the head of all things. Head of the Church: ( Ephesians 1:22 ; 4:15 ; 5:23 ) – Jesus Christ, not a king or a pope, is the only supreme, sovereign ruler of the Church—those for whom He died and who have placed their faith in Him alone for salvation. Holy One: ( Acts 3:14 ; Psalm 16:10 ) – Christ is holy, both in his divine and human nature, and the fountain of holiness to His people. By His death, we are made holy and pure before God. Judge: ( Acts 10:42 ; 2 Timothy 4:8 ) – The Lord Jesus was appointed by God to judge the world and to dispense the rewards of eternity. King of kings and Lord of lords: ( 1 Timothy 6:15 ; Revelation 19:16 ) – Jesus has dominion over all authority on the earth, over all kings and rulers, and none can prevent Him from accomplishing His purposes. He directs them as He pleases. Light of the World: ( John 8:12 ) – Jesus came into a world darkened by sin and shed the light of life and truth through His work and His words. Those who trust in Him have their eyes opened by Him and walk in the light. Prince of peace: ( Isaiah 9:6 ) – Jesus came not to bring peace to the world as in the absence of war, but peace between God and man who were separated by sin. He died to reconcile sinners to a holy God. Son of God: ( Luke 1:35 ; John 1:49 ) – Jesus is the "only begotten of the Father” ( John 1:14 ). Used 42 times in the New Testament, "Son of God” affirms the deity of Christ. Son of man: ( John 5:27 ) – Used as a contrast to "Son of God” this phrase affirms the humanity of Christ which exists alongside His divinity. Word: ( John 1:1 ; 1 John 5:7-8 ) – The Word is the second Person of the triune God, who said it and it was done, who spoke all things out of nothing in the first creation, who was in the beginning with God the Father, and was God, and by whom all things were created. Word of God: ( Revelation 19:12-13 ) – This is the name given to Christ that is unknown to all but Himself. It denotes the mystery of His divine person. Word of Life: ( 1 John 1:1 ) – Jesus not only spoke words that lead to eternal life, but according to this verse He is the very words of life, referring to the eternal life of joy and fulfillment which He provides. His position in the trinity Alpha and Omega: ( Revelation 1:8 ; 22:13 ) – Jesus declared Himself to be the beginning and end of all things, a reference to no one but the true God. This statement of eternality could apply only to God. Emmanuel: ( Isaiah 9:6 ; Matthew 1:23 ) – Literally "God with us.” Both Isaiah and Matthew affirm that the Christ who would be born in Bethlehem would be God Himself who came to earth in the form of a man to live among His people. I Am: ( John 8:58 , with Exodus 3:14 ) – When Jesus ascribed to Himself this title, the Jews tried to stone Him for blasphemy. They understood that He was declaring Himself to be the eternal God, the unchanging Jehovah of the Old Testament. Lord of All: ( Acts 10:36 ) – Jesus is the sovereign ruler over the whole world and all things in it, of all the nations of the world, and particularly of the people of God's choosing, Gentiles as well as Jews. True God: ( 1 John 5:20 ) – This is a direct assertion that Jesus, being the true God, is not only divine, but is the Divine. Since the Bible teaches there is only one God, this can only be describing His nature as part of the triune God. His Work on earth Author and Perfecter of our Faith: ( Hebrews 12:2 ) – Salvation is accomplished through the faith that is the gift of God ( Ephesians 2:8-9 ) and Jesus is the founder of our faith and the finisher of it as well. From first to last, He is the source and sustainer of the faith that saves us. Bread of Life: ( John 6:35 ; 6:48 ) – Just as bread sustains life in the physical sense, Jesus is the Bread that gives and sustains eternal life. God provided manna in the wilderness to feed His people and He provided Jesus to give us eternal life through His body, broken for us. Bridegroom: ( Matthew 9:15 ) – The picture of Christ as the Bridegroom and the Church as His Bride reveals the special relationship we have with Him. We are bound to each other in a covenant of grace that cannot be broken. Deliverer: ( Romans 11:26 ) – Just as the Israelites needed God to deliver them from bondage to Egypt, so Christ is our Deliverer from the bondage of sin. Good Shepherd: ( John 10:11 , 14 ) – In Bible times, a good shepherd was willing to risk his own life to protect his sheep from predators. Jesus laid down His life for His sheep, and He cares for and nurtures and feeds us. High Priest: ( Hebrews 2:17 ) – The Jewish high priest entered the Temple once a year to make atonement for the sins of the people. The Lord Jesus performed that function for His people once for all at the cross. Lamb of God: ( John 1:29 ) – God’s Law called for the sacrifice of a spotless, unblemished Lamb as an atonement for sin. Jesus became that Lamb led meekly to the slaughter, showing His patience in His sufferings and His readiness to die for His own. Mediator: ( 1 Timothy 2:5 ) – A mediator is one who goes between two parties to reconcile them. Christ is the one and only Mediator who reconciles men and God. Praying to Mary or the saints is idolatry because it bypasses this most important role of Christ and ascribes the role of Mediator to another. Rock: ( 1 Corinthians 10:4 ) – As life-giving water flowed from the rock Moses struck in the wilderness, Jesus is the Rock from which flow the living waters of eternal life. He is the Rock upon whom we build our spiritual houses, so that no storm can shake them. Resurrection and Life: ( John 11:25 ) – Embodied within Jesus is the means to resurrect sinners to eternal life, just as He was resurrected from the grave. Our sin is buried with Him and we are resurrected to walk in newness of life. Savior: ( Matthew 1:21 ; Luke 2:11 ) – He saves His people by dying to redeem them, by giving the Holy Spirit to renew them by His power, by enabling them to overcome their spiritual enemies, by sustaining them in trials and in death, and by raising them up at the last day. True Vine: ( John 15:1 ) – The True Vine supplies all that the branches (believers) need to produce the fruit of the Spirit— the living water of salvation and nourishment from the Word. Way, Truth, Life: ( John 14:6 ) – Jesus is the only path to God, the only Truth in a world of lies, and the only true source of eternal life. He embodies all three in both a temporal and an eternal sense. Recommended Resource: Jesus: The Greatest Life of All by Charles Swindoll . Related Topics: What is the meaning of the blood of Christ? What do John 1:1,14 mean when they declare that Jesus is the Word of God? Where does the Old Testament mention Christ? If Jesus was God, how could He pray to God? Was Jesus praying to Himself? If Jesus was God, why did He not know when He would return? Return to: Questions about Jesus Christ Return to: GotQuestions.org Home http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277863425 GotQuestions.org http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277863425&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277863425 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:03:45 -0400 How Capable is God in Your Life How Capable is God in Your Life  By Marijo Phelps   Are you walking on water in the middle of the storm or are you going through fiery trials thinking you are ready for the burn unit, maybe a little bit of both is happening to you right now. During the time I was thinking about this and bringing things before the Lord I was particularly concerned about a friend. Many other times in my walk with the Lord I found myself in the trial and tribulation department. This study can apply to both situations. I think I can be pretty sure when I say that if you are a born again believer you definitely know there IS a battle, and then you hear His still, small voice whispering in your ear:   My child, think it not strange the fiery trials you're going through. Remember Peter, as he kept looking up to Me, did what was humanly impossible through the power of My Holy Spirit. You cannot walk on top of the stormy waters but for Me. Yet I can take your hand and you shall walk in a new dimension; one humanly impossible, as I, Your Lord lift you up.   Come unto me all you who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest/renewal/restoration. I shall lift you up if you relax in My arms. Yield, snuggle in My everlasting arms, have a good cry, pour out your heart to Me, my daughter. I LOVE you. I weep with you and I desire to release you into that peace and joy you long for in your walk/life.   Dwell in/on My Word. Praise Me. I shall change your heart and circumstances beyond what you can believe or hope. Run to your Father and let it all out. I AM the burden bearer. Press in as never before. I AM victory  lift up your arms/eyes to Me. I shall release you both. Selah.   Have you ever wondered what kind of man James was? I certainly have when I read some of his writings. James 1:2 starts out his part of the Bible with a bang. Notice he didn't say, hang on, this will not last for long or your character is being perfected through this. What kind of man could say "count it all joy whenever you face trials of many kinds?" Who did he know that helped him be this radical? What had happened in his life for him to be able to make this very abnormal assertion? Actually, he knew the same Lord and savior that, gulp, we do, the Lord Jesus Christ who was fully human and fully God. Oh, my.   I am not sure how this affects you but I could tell you a bit about me. Yes, times of trials get a bit less daunting over the years. Not because I am so wonderful or incredible but because He is. I have seen that Jesus is faithful, creative, takes my hand and walks me through. I will readily admit that I do not get up in the morning when I am facing something daunting and shout "goodie, a chance to rub off some of those lumps and bumps in me." I sit and wonder what kind of a character transformation it would take to make me thing differently, yes, I know Jesus is more than able. "Yes, I have been through the fire before and He has brought me through. Sometimes I feel I am "retaking" the midterm for Patience 101 over and over and over, how about you? And that is just one example.   Then we take a look at Peter. Did I mention that having Peter in my Bible gives me hope? Well, it does. Good old "open mouth and insert foot" Peter. Yes, I definitely claim him as my brother! In this instance he was the only one in the boat who stepped out and walked towards Jesus.   Matthew 14:30 states that Peter (my brother) got out of that boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus! Then he began to look around at the wind and was afraid and began to sink but at least he cried out "Lord, save me!". During the storm he knew where to turn, to Jesus. Yep, I am proud to call him my big brother and continue to learn from him all the time.   Psalm 146:8 is full of promises for us telling how the Lord gives sight to the blind. I suspect that it is not only referring to physical sight here but also spiritual sight. I have been SO blind. Since I gave my heart and life to Jesus I have been getting better and better eye exams each year. Physical eye exams and certainly spiritual.   Have you ever heard it taught that if you come to Jesus all your problems will be solved? Well, David, who was a man after God's own heart had a different view of this all. In Psalm 18:6 he spoke of being in distress. No, that is not a "negative confession", that is David speaking truth and reality. Yes, David was distressed BUT he knew where to go for help in his distress. "I cried to my God for help". We cannot do it all ourselves, we were not made to be self sufficient but to need our God. Does that surprise you? It shouldn't. And then David said something wonderful. God heard him. Just as He will and does hear us.   No wonder David's response in Psalm 61:4 is that he longs to dwell in God's "tent" forever and take refuge in the shelter of God's "wings". He knew from experience where his place of rest was and so can we.   In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says "come unto me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." To me, this verse amplifies and affirms what David was saying in Psalm 61.   Prayer: Dear Jesus, please be with my sister and be the lifter of her head.  Help her draw even closer to You through this trying time. Thank You for Your wisdom and comfort for her. Help me to be your arms reached out and your hands extended and show me what that means. AMEN (C) Marijo Phelps all rights reserved. Use with proper credits.     About Self   Saved by His grace in 1974, from 9 years of professing atheism into His loving arms. RN for 23 years, missionary with YWAM then statistical analyst for Every Home for Christ over 9 years. Living with my husband in the middle of a mountain meadow. GRIN! Wanting to spread the good news Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277863232 Bible Studies http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277863232&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277863232 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:00:32 -0400 I Believe In Miracles I Believe In Miracles By Cindie York   Psalms 66:5 Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he does for his people! Miracles are awesome unexplainable events that occur by the divine power of God.  The purpose of a miracle is to show the wonderful, mighty power of God.  They provide great opportunities for testimonies and witnessing about God's mercy, power, and love.    Miracles are life-changing events and can come at any time and in different forms.  The type of the miracle depends on the individual need.  Healing of an illness, deliverance from an addiction, and financial miracles are just some examples.  The possibilities are endless.  Regardless of the type of miracle given, it will always increase faith in God.  The witnessing of these miracles has a strong impact on the doubter, who finds it necessary to see before they will believe.   Miracles provide opportunities for second chances, new outlooks, and better qualities of life.  Miracles occur by faith, through prayer, and the moving of God's Spirit.    There are countless miracles mentioned in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, from a donkey that speaks, to the resurrection of the dead. God is still in the miracle working business.  There are still blinded eyes receiving sight, crippled legs that are walking for the first time, and yes, even people being raised from the dead.  Not just healings, but every sort of awesome event.   God has no respect of persons, so if He is healing one person, one group, one area, He can surely do it for another.   If God is transforming situations in one place, He can do it in another.  We are the ones who put the limits on an unlimited God.  We are the ones that tend to bind the hands of the Miracle Worker with doubt and unbelief.   We must have full trust and faith in God to meet us at our needs and to answer our earnest prayers.  We have to expect that He is going to work these miracles. Faith is the essential aspect in which these miracles can occur and be performed.  Believe that God will deliver.  Believe that the Great Physician can accomplish any task, and bring restoration to any broken area.   We serve an amazing God, who can do anything, at any time.  The scriptures tell us that with God all things are possible, not some things, not the simple or easy things, but all things are possible.  Never look at a situation, illness, or need as hopeless.   Personally, I have witnessed miracles.  I have been a recipient of miracles.   Members of my family have received miracles of divine healing and deliverance, among other extraordinary interventions from the Lord God Almighty.  Was the power of God made manifest with strong impact?  Absolutely!  Was the experiences life-changing?  Definitely!  Do I believe in miracles?  You better believe I do!   I have been a Christian for 19 years.  I am one of the Sunday School teachers at our local church.  I enjoy Bible study and growing in the knowledge of God's word.  I literally want to soak up God's Word like a sponge. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277863067 Miracles http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277863067&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277863067 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:57:47 -0400 Expect a Miracle Expect a Miracle  By Rick King   Years ago I spent some time chatting on the internet. I met a young gal that I became a close friend with for a time. One day she told me that she was to go into the hospital the next day for cancer surgery. She had lumps in her breasts. This is the account of what God did for her.   After I was told about her need, the Holy Spirit told me to call her and pray for her. I had not talked to her on the phone as of yet. I asked her and she consented. We talked for a short time and then prayed. After I had prayed for her, the Holy Spirit told me to expect a miracle. I told her what was told me so we then just started praising and thanking the Lord for what He was doing. I was working night shift at that time so I needed to get to sleep. I went to work that night and came home to a fabulous email from her. The best I can remember it went something like this.   She had typed a song and said that she was singing. She then said that what she was going to tell me that I probably wouldn't be surprised but she was and so very thrilled. She went to her scheduled appointment and they did one more test before the surgery. The doctors were amazed, as they could not find any lumps on either breast to remove. God had totally removed the cancerous lumps. I was thrilled and amazed at the love and grace of Jesus that he had shown to this gal. I was humbled and felt very privileged to be a part of her miracle.   I don't understand why Jesus does a miracle for some and others it takes a long process at times for healing. Yet I know that miracles are still for today. God is able and faithful to do what He has promised.   The Bible tells us that according to our faith be it unto us. We also know that by His stripes that we were healed. I have come to this conclusion. Jesus did not take those painful agonizing stripes for nothing. This act by Him was not in vain. He did it for you and I to be healed. Even when things seem the darkest in our lives, regardless of the pain or problem, it is time to hold on to Jesus and trust, believe, and exercise your faith. As you praise him in the midst of the pain, you too may also get a miracle.   Need to contact me? I am not signed up with the messenger, so please email me at r_king60@hotmail.com Thanks...   I am a 60 year old Born-Again spirit filled Christian, that has been saved for 30 years. Jesus found me when I was suicidal. I learned real quickly that I was powerless to be in control of my life, so I let Jesus take over. He has chosen me to be a warrior for Him. WE win, if we fight His way. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277862951 Miracles http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277862951&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277862951 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:55:51 -0400 Question: "Was Jesus a pacifist?" Question: "Was Jesus a pacifist?" Answer: According to Webster’s dictionary, a pacifist is someone who is opposed to violence, especially war, for any purpose, often accompanied by the refusal to bear arms by reason of conscience or religious conviction. While Jesus is the "prince of peace” ( Isaiah 9:6 ), He was not, and is not, a pacifist. Revelation 19:15 , speaking of Jesus, declares, "Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty." Ecclesiastes 3:1 , 3 , & 8 say, "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heaven…a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build…a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” Daniel 9:26 says that "war will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.” Matthew 24:6-8 says, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.” Jesus Himself said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law---a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household’” ( Matthew 10:34-36 ). "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it” ( Matthew 11:12 ). We are commanded to hate what is evil and cling to what is good ( Romans 12:9 ). In doing so we must take a stand against what is evil in this world and pursue righteousness ( 2 Timothy 2:22 ). Jesus did this and, in so doing, spoke openly against the religious and political rulers of His time because they were not seeking a righteousness from God, but rather of their own making ( Luke 20:1-2 , Romans 9:31-33 ). Zeal for God’s righteousness consumed Jesus, and He was not afraid to stand up against those who opposed and dishonored His Father ( John 2:15-17 , see also Numbers 25:11 ). "Those who hate Him He will repay to their face by destruction; He will not be slow to repay to their face those who hate Him” ( Deuteronomy 7:10 ). "While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:3 ). The Old Testament is full of examples of how God used his people in war to bring judgment upon nations whose sin had reached its full measure (only a few examples: Genesis 15:16 , Numbers 21:3 , 31:1-7 , 32:20-21 , Deuteronomy 7:1-2 , Joshua 6:20-21 , 8:1-8 , 10:29-32 , 11:7-20 ). In raising the moral consciousness of the world, God must take the people as He finds them and introduce principles of righteousness within the moral framework with which the people can identify. We can be assured though, that it is always with justice that God judges and makes war ( Revelation 19:11 ). "For we know Him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” ( Hebrews 10:30-31 ). What we can learn from these and other Biblical examples is that we are only to wage war when it is the will of God and not at our own discretion ( John 18:11 , Numbers 14:41-45 ). It is God’s choice as to how and when He brings judgment of sin upon this world and its inhabitants, to display His holiness. We are simply called to follow Him ( Matthew 16:24-25 ). All of this may sound contradictory to the teachings of Jesus, God Himself, in which He instructs us to "love your neighbor as yourself” ( Matthew 19:19 ), turn the other cheek ( Matthew 5:39 ), as well as the command, "you shall not murder” ( Exodus 20:13 ). After all, we are told that God is love ( 1 John 4:16 ) and "Blessed are the peacemakers” ( Matthew 5:9 ). The Bible also says in 2 Corinthians 10:4 , "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine powers to demolish strongholds." While all this is indeed true, it helps in examining these seemingly contradictory concepts from an eternal perspective, that we may gain a more complete understanding for Jesus’ purpose in coming to this earth. At the beginning of human history, God commanded mankind to rule over the earth ( Genesis 1:26-31 ; Hebrews 2:6-8 ). When man disobeyed God, sin entered the world ( Genesis 2:17 , 3:6-7 ). By this one action, man sold his right to rule this world to Satan and at the same time became captive to sin himself ( John 8:34 , 12:31 ; Romans 6:6 ; Ephesians 2:2 , 6:12 ). As a result, sinful men live in a world full of corruption, each person doing what is right in his own eyes, the whole time being led astray by their own evil desires ( Psalm 8:6 , 51:5 ; Proverbs 14:12 ; Genesis 3:17 ; Romans 8:20 , James 1:14-15 ). It isn’t hard to see that the whole world lies in Satan’s power ( 1 John 5:19 ). Even Jesus did not dispute with him over the fact that he ruled the kingdoms of the world ( Matthew 4:8-10 ). Therefore, there can be no lasting peace or restoration of the land until Jesus returns to redeem the land and man ( Galatians 4:4-5 ). Jesus came in the likeness of mankind, while still retaining his full authority as God, in order that He might redeem men from their sentence of death, and re-establish, for the believer, man’s authority to rule ( Philippians 2:6-8 , 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 , 54-57 , Revelation 20:6 ). When Jesus died on the cross, He purchased back the land and men’s souls from the dominion of Satan through the shedding of His own blood, the purchase price for redemption of man’s sin ( Hebrews 9:22 , Acts 20:28 , 1 Peter 1:18-19 , 1 Corinthians 6:20 ). A day is coming, after severe judgment upon the earth, when Jesus will break the seal of the deed and end Satan’s rule ( Revelation 5:1-10 , 6-18 , 19:11-21 ). At the end of Jesus’ 1,000 year reign upon this earth, Satan will be set free for a short time and war once again will be waged ( Revelation 20:7-10 ). It is only at the end of that war, once the murderer of man, Satan, is destroyed by Jesus and His servants’ blood is finally avenged, that wars will cease and peace will once again be established in the new heaven and new earth ( John 8:44 , Deuteronomy 32:43 , Daniel 7:13-14 , 2 Peter 3:3-13 , Revelation 21:1-4 ). Until that time we are called to fight the good fight and keep the faith ( 2 Timothy 4:7 ). Recommended Resource: War: Four Christian Views by Robert G. Clouse . Related Topics: What does the Bible say about a Christian serving in the military? What does the Bible say about spiritual warfare? What did Jesus mean when He instructed us to turn the other cheek? What does the Bible say about war? What did Jesus mean when He instructed us to love our enemies? Return to: Questions about Jesus Christ Return to: GotQuestions.org Home http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277862633 GotQuestions.org http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277862633&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277862633 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:50:33 -0400 Give and it shall be Given Give and it shall be Given  By Jerry Ousley   You hear a lot about giving now-a-days.  I realize that it takes a lot of money to carry the Gospel around the world.  There are many hungry mouths that need to be fed.  There are widows and orphans that need to be clothed, and there are countless numbers that need shelter.  Yes, there is no doubt that there is a great need and none of it can be done without a good supply.    There are also many wonderful ministries that are endeavoring to do their part to meet these needs.  They give of themselves sacrificially to fulfill the Great Commission mandated by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.    However, there are also a great many who abuse the good nature of people.  They know the right words to say to pluck the heartstrings.  They are aware that those they are asking to give also have great needs and they teach about giving as sowing seeds so as to reap a harvest in return.  As with all teaching in the Bible there is a balance.  In Exodus 36 we read of how God instructed Moses to build the Tabernacle.  It was to be a very elaborate tent-like structure that they could take down and carry with them while in route to the Promised Land.  It took a lot of skill to build and it also took a lot of provisions.    In His wonderful foreknowledge God had already provided for this work.  He had granted the people of Israel favor with the Egyptians so that just before they left the land they were given the riches of Egypt.  They walked out not only with their freedom but with the gold, jewels and fine materials of that nation.  When it was time to begin construction of the Tabernacle God instructed Moses to ask the people to give the things needed.  They did.  Man, did they ever give!  We are told that those over the construction of the Tabernacle had to go to Moses and ask him to tell the people to stop giving.  They had more than enough to complete the work.  This story makes me wonder if in today's world, if God would cause His people to give to the point that there was enough, would those receiving their offerings tell them, "Okay folks; you can stop giving now.  We've got all we need!"  I believe there are some who would do this.  But I also believe that there are many who would greedily hoard it all up for themselves, purchasing fine automobiles, ritzy homes, expensive clothing and so forth (I believe that because there are some who are doing it right now).    We are to give.  It is Biblical.  It is also scripture that as we give God will bless us for it.  There are many passages we could quote but I'm only going to remind you of the one found in Luke 6:38.  Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."  What a powerful promise from our Lord!    Unlike much of the teaching today, we shouldn't give just to get back.  We should give because God has prodded our hearts and in obedience to the word.  We see someone hurting, sick, afflicted, poor, hungry, destitute or naked, and God tells us in our hearts, "Do something about this."  We don't say, "Okay God; I'll do it but don't forget that you promised to give back to me."  If we do that we are in danger of only making a business transaction.  We are giving because we have a selfish motive in our minds.  We only want to get back, and get more back.  Is that really giving?  Is that sacrificial?    Yes we are promised that God will provide.  There are places where we are told that we will receive back 30  100 percent more.  I believe firmly that God blesses His children who are obedient to Him but as a byproduct of our faith and giving, not as a business transaction.    Give in obedience to God and He will tell you what to give and when it is enough.  Don't be selfish, but be wise, and most of all listen to the Holy Spirit in your heart.  When you do you will be a blessing to others, the Kingdom will be provided for and you just might hear God speaking to your heart saying, "That's enough; you've given enough.  The need has been supplied."  Then He will begin taking care of you just because He loves a cheerful giver!   Jerry D. Ousley is the Author of five books, "Soul Challenge", "Soul Journey" "Ordeal" "The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional" and his first novel "The Shoe Tree."  Listen to the daily broadcast Spirit Bread.  Find out more by visiting www.spiritbread.com or email us at jousley@spiritbread.com Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277862418 Christian Living http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277862418&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1277862418 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:46:58 -0400 Do good people go to heaven? Do good people go to heaven?  By Robert Kiser   It is a common belief that good people that believe in God will go to heaven. There are indeed good people that believe in God that will go to heaven. There are also good people that believe in a God that will go to Hell. Being a good person and believing in God is not what gets a person into heaven. In the Bible James tells us even the demons believe there is one God and shudder. Isaiah tells us that our righteousness is like a filthy rag before the Lord. This means even your best acts or most sincere prayer is corrupt, filthy and stained. The Bible tells us that every person in their very best state is altogether vanity. You see man is not the standard of good; God is the standard of good. All of us have sinned and fall short. Every single one of us is guilty and has broken God's laws.   Have you ever told a lie? Stole something small? Envied your neighbors possessions or relationships? According to the Bible even breaking one of God's laws makes you guilty. Picture someone in court for driving 75 MPH in a 45 MPH zone. They tell the judge that just this week I have helped feed the homeless. I went to church twice and I helped a little old lady putting her groceries into her car. Is an honest judge with great concern for the law going to let them off the hook for speeding? No he is not! God is the one who will judge each and every one of us. His justice demands payment for each and every sin. Now none of us can keep the law of God. The Bible tells us the law was meant to be a tutor to lead s to Christ. True within the law there are a lot of things that we should apply to our lives, but you will never actually live the law without breaking it. Breaking the law is a sin and one sin is enough to separate us from God for eternity in a place called Hell. Now many will say that is not fair! Considering that God himself paid a great price to provide a way of escape he considers it fair. It reminds me of a poster I once had that said "There are 2 factors for human enlightenment (1) There is a God (2) You are not Him!   What is his way of escape? It is a genuine decision to leave your old life and commit everything you are and own to Jesus. You are not your own person you were bought with a price at the cross. You can believe that God is real and lead a pretty good life without doing this and never actually be saved.   Unfortunately we as Christians often throw around words that many do not really understand. What does it mean to be saved? Saved means rescued or delivered. Rescued or delivered from what? According to the bible we can be rescued and delivered from the wrath of God. That brings us to the next words we often hear "the gospel" what does that mean? Well gospel means good news. The good news is you can be rescued and delivered from the wrath of God. Another term we use is to be born again. Jesus told Nicodemus that we must be born again. The bible describes us as dead in or trespasses and sin. So spiritually we are considered dead even though we have been physically born and are physically alive. When we receive our spiritual birth we are born again and then we are adopted into God's family before this point we are not God's children.   So if just believing in God and being good does not save me; how am I saved? We can be saved by accepting God's payment for our sins. The bible tells us we must repent and we are saved by faith. Repent is more than just temporarily feeling sorry for what we have done. Repent is a change of mind. What are we to change or mind about? This is where we quit trying to run our own lives and decide to relinquish everything to the Lord and let him be in control. Part of the definition of Faith in Webster's Dictionary is loyal and trusting. Now as mentioned earlier the demons believe in God, but they are not loyal and trusting to God. So we decide to accept Jesus' payment for our sins on the cross and in doing so we change our mind about who is in control of or life and desire to become loyal and trusting to God.   Now this is a heart decision and is not an actual action or work. When we sincerely do this we are saved by grace. This means we do not deserve or earn it in any way, but rather we accept our salvation as a gift from God.  This has absolutely nothing to do with you being a good person. This has everything to do with Jesus taking all of your sins past, present and future upon himself on the cross. Jesus dying on the cross paid the penalty for our sins. Jesus takes our sins away and replaces it with his own righteousness. Not only are we declared not guilty we are declared righteous and then there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. We are saved by grace and not of works or good deeds. (Eph.2:8-9)   Now some get confused because James says we are justified by our works. Well justified does not mean saved. As James illustrates justified is to show outward evidence that we really are saved. In other words if you have a genuine faith then good deeds or works is the natural fruit or results of it. James and Paul both used Abraham as an example when you study all of the related passages you will find that all of the following statements are true.   Abraham was saved by faith alone Abraham was justified by works Abraham was not justified by works alone   I have met people that believed that they were going to heaven because years before they said a prayer like they were told. Yet there never was any change in their life. This means there never really was true repentance or genuine faith. The Bible teaches that if we have true faith then our life will change and it will continue to change the rest of our lives. This is a point that James was trying to emphasize. James asked the all important question: "What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?" (James 2:14) The answer to the question is "No" because it isn't genuine faith. Works is the fruit of having real faith. Yet we are not saved by our works. It is only the fruit of real faith. We do good works because we are saved. We do not do good works to become saved. A sheep says baaa baaa because it is a sheep. The sheep does not say baaa baaa to become a sheep.   Obedience has results that are often desired by the true Christian. Do you want the fruits of the spirit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness? Do you want the Lord to answer your prayers? Do you want to be in the will of God? Do you want to see real purpose in your life? Do you want to be used by God and see fruit? Well my friend that comes from obedience. A well behaved child is more likely to be rewarded by the Lord than a selfish wining brat which we often are! However obedience is not what saves us. We are saved by grace alone.   One of our first acts of obedience as a Christian is to be baptized. In doing so we are identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are saying that we will put to death the old sinful nature and raise a new person. We will take up or cross and follow Jesus. Following Jesus is a process that will continue the rest of your life. It is not just a one time or weekly event.   By accepting Jesus payment for your sins and totally committing your life to him you can be saved from the wrath of God. This is something that no person deserves or can earn. This is a gift of God. It can be accepted on the Lords terms or you can turn it down.   My personal advice is to accept this gift and flee from the wrath to come!   This of course does not mean that your life is suddenly going to become easy. In many respects my life got harder after turning to Christ because I suddenly became concerned about what was morally or ethically right. It amazes me that some would refer to Christianity as a crutch for the weak. I found that that is the opposite of reality in my own life. That being said your life here may not be easier, but it will certainly end up having more meaning and purpose. Furthermore it makes even the bad hopeful when you focus on the beautiful eternity that awaits God's children in the afterlife instead of the evil fallen world we live in.   I should also tell you that committing your life to Christ is only the first step. When you are first adopted in to the family of God you are only an infant in Christ. To grow you need to be fed by studying the directions that God left for you. (The Bible) Also as in any relationship you need to learn to communicate often. This is done through prayer and we need to learn to listen as well. As with all children sometimes we fall down and get hurt. That is OK get back up and keep following Jesus.   Also after being adopted into the family you are not an orphan. Being part of the family has blessings and responsibilities. So a good start would be to start meeting some of the rest of the family. As with any family we are to support and help each other. We have dysfunctional members of the family as well. You will end up having brothers and sisters that you would rather hang out with than other family members and that is OK. Just remember we are all still family.   For more information see ReasonableAnswers.org Robert Kiser is the author of 4 books and the ReasonableAnswers.org website. His website explains and defends the Christian Faith. It also includes a section on Cults including Mormonism and Jehovah Witnesses. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276359455 Salvation http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276359455&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276359455 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 12:17:35 -0400 The Ten Christian Principles Of A Successful Marriage The Ten Christian Principles Of A Successful Marriage By Greg Baker   Here are the Ten Principles for a successful marriage. A summary of each will follow:      1. Unless God is allowed to be the Chief Architect of my marriage, I can't get the marriage I want. (Psalms 127:1, 128:1-6)      2. Communication is the medium through which all love, growth, and grace must flow. (Prov 18:4, 21)      3. Unhealed emotional injuries will always be the most hazardous obstructions in my marriage. (2 Cor 2:6-7, Mat 5:23-24)      4. There can't be any place, physical, mental, or emotional that my spouse is not allowed to go with me. (Gen 2:24, Eph 5:31, Mark 10:8)      5. Deepening my love for my spouse is dependent upon increasing my knowledge of, and walk with, God. (1 John 4:8)      6. Resolution and reconciliation is more important than who is at fault or who is to blame. (Mat 5:23-24, Mat 18:21-22)      7. Strengthening shared values is more essential to my marriage bond than engaging in shared interests. (Amos 3:3, 2 Cor 6:14)      8. It is more important to earn my spouse's trust than to get my own way. (Prov 28:20, Prov 25:19)      9. To whatever degree insecurity exists in my marriage to that same extent my marriage has become vulnerable. (Luke 22:31-34, Heb 6:18-19)     10. Submission and love go hand in hand, and neither can exist in my marriage without the other. (John 15:13, Eph 5:21-33)   Here is a brief explanation of each principle:   UNLESS GOD IS ALLOWED TO BE THE CHIEF ARCHITECT OF MY MARRIAGE, I CAN NOT GET THE MARRIAGE I WANT. (Psalms 127:1, 128:1-6)   No one ever planned to have a lousy marriage. They have great dreams of happiness and marital bliss. They just don't have any plans. Or they aren't following the plans. Or they are changing the plans.   God knows what He is doing and He has given us a complete set of architectural plans for building a good marriage. These plans are intuitive for your specific and unique marriage. They are indeed drawn up to provide you with what you want while staying within the codes and regulations. COMMUNICATION IS THE MEDIUM THROUGH WHICH ALL LOVE, GROWTH, AND GRACE MUST FLOW. (Prov 18:4, 21)   Communication is the bedrock for any relationship. It does little good to love someone but be incapable of expressing that love. Without good communication, a marriage cannot function properly.   There are many types of communication. Body language, symbols, words, music, and even tears are all forms of communication. But without it, there can be no growth.   UNHEALED EMOTIONAL INJURIES WILL ALWAYS BE THE MOST HAZARDOUS OBSTRUCTIONS IN MY MARRIAGE. (2 Cor 2:6-7, Mat 5:23-24)   When a person is emotionally traumatized, they usually stop their emotional growth at that moment. As a result, we have adults getting married who emotionally are still children, or senior citizens who still have an emotional immaturity of a young couple.   These emotional injuries are the greatest danger to a marriage. They prevent growth. They stop couples from achieving their dreams. They short-circuit a couple's happiness. Giving them all the knowledge in the world is not going to fix such a marriage. Only healing will fix it.   Satan will always find a home in such an emotional injury.   THERE CAN'T BE ANY PLACE, PHYSICAL, MENTAL, OR EMOTIONAL THAT MY SPOUSE IS NOT ALLOWED TO GO WITH ME. (Gen 2:24, Eph 5:31, Mark 10:8)   When distances - physical, mental, or emotional - between a married couple are enforced, it only creates greater distance. When a man tells his wife that she cannot be part of an area of his life, he pushes her away in other areas. This is very destructive.   Sometimes, a man or a woman will have a fantasy realm tucked away in their imagination. His wife, or her husband, is not allowed to go there. This creates even more distance. When a woman is addicted to romance novels or even romance movies, she will begin to compare her husband to the men she is observing or reading about. This is not good. It is an area her husband is not allowed to go and it creates more distance.   DEEPENING MY LOVE FOR MY SPOUSE IS DEPENDENT UPON INCREASING MY KNOWLEDGE OF, AND WALK WITH, GOD. (1 John 4:8)   The relationship with God - not necessarily a duty for God - will always deepen other relationships. As our understanding of God expands, our ability to love is also deepened.   God is the embodiment of qualities we cherish, such as love, peace, kindness, gentleness, mercy, forgiveness, and so forth. To get to know God, therefore, is to begin to understand these qualities in ways that will always have a positive effect on every other relationship - including, and especially, marriage.   RESOLUTION AND RECONCILIATION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHO IS AT FAULT OR WHO IS TO BLAME. (Mat 5:23-24, Mat 18:21-22)   Too often couples fight to accuse, blame, and otherwise point fingers. This is never conducive to good relationship building. It is highly destructive and nothing constructive can come out of such bickering.   Until a couple can put aside the blame and fault, they will never find resolution or true reconciliation. Blaming the other person may provide a temporary sense of relief or justification, but it won't fix anything. There must be more concern for solutions than who created the problem.   STRENGTHENING SHARED VALUES IS MORE ESSENTIAL TO MY MARRIAGE BOND THAN ENGAGING IN SHARED INTERESTS. (Amos 3:3, 2 Cor 6:14)   Doing things together is important. There is nothing wrong with that! But values are a much more powerful bond than sharing interests. Having things in common may have initially drawn two people together, but sharing similar values, morals, and principles will keep a couple together.   Strengthening these bonds is essential. They help provide the vision and purpose of a relationship.   Without the shared values, there is no meaning to the marriage. Two people getting married because they like to do things together should not be the sole reason - might as well join a club. But when two people have the same morals, they find a mission, a purpose that gives their marriage meaning.   IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO EARN MY SPOUSE'S TRUST THAN TO GET MY OWN WAY. (Prov 28:20, Prov 25:19)   Trust is a large factor in providing security. But too often immaturity intrudes and a couple finds their marriage inconvenient. Marriage requires responsibility. Responsibility requires accountability. Accountability requires maturity. It is imperative that a couple keep each other's trust.   Earning someone's trust takes effort, time, and commitment. There is no other way to gain someone's complete trust. In marriage, this trust ought to be much more important than getting your way.   TO WHATEVER DEGREE INSECURITY EXISTS IN MY MARRIAGE TO THAT SAME EXTENT MY MARRIAGE HAS BECOME VULNERABLE. (Luke 22:31-34, Heb 6:18-19)   When either the husband or the wife is insecure, the marriage becomes vulnerable to Satan, outside influences, stress, and pressure. A couple who is secure in their marriage can defend any attack, resist any influence, and handle any stress or pressure.   Too often we strip our spouse of his or her security. Sometimes this is done in innocence, sometimes in anger, sometimes intentionally. Either way, no one will be happy. An insecure wife will become controlling and dominating. An insecure husband will become reclusive, withdrawn, and angry. Anything could cause that volcano to blow.   SUBMISSION AND LOVE GO HAND IN HAND, AND NEITHER CAN EXIST IN MY MARRIAGE WITHOUT THE OTHER. (John 15:13, Eph 5:21-33)   Our society has rejected it, but submission and love are right and proper in marriage. When both the husband and the wife mix submission and love for each other there is stability and strength in the marriage. The husband is head of the home, the Bible teaches, and the wife is supposed to submit. Yet the husband is to love the wife. And what few people understand is that love is always an act of submission.   So the Bible command is twofold. A couple is supposed to submit to each other because submission is one of the greatest acts of love possible. The Bible commands us to submit to God to demonstrate our love (John 15:15), and Jesus submitted Himself to the cross as an act of love (Philp 2:8, John 3:16). Both the husband and the wife are to do the same for each other. The two cannot exist apart.   Please visit our website at: http://www.fitlyspoken.org For more books and resources to build Christ honoring relationships, express yourself, and develop stronger communication and social skills. Be sure to check out our own Christian Article Directory at: http://articles.fitlyspoken.org Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276359263 Marriage http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276359263&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276359263 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 12:14:23 -0400 Unforgiveness and Bitterness Unforgiveness and Bitterness  By Kelvin Gilmore   If one doesn't forgive, he can't be forgiven. If peace is not pursued, one would be bitterness driven.   Unforgiveness and bitterness are twins of damnation. Unforgivesness opens the door to bitterness in this evil collaboration.   They are demons that Satan uses to divide relationships and conquer. Being deceived, the host usually complies making them an evil doer.   In Jesus' parable the man that didn't forgive was turn over to the tormentors. For this is the result of everyone who is bitter towards their offenders.   Let us not be tormented no longer but quickly forgive. Let us love unconditional so that our soul won't perish in hell but eternally live.   Kelvin Gilmore www.poeticpersuasion.com Kelvin Gilmore, a devout man of God, sold out for Jesus Christ. Gifted and chosen by God to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ through teaching and poetic persuasion. WANTED !!! CHRISTIAN LITERARY AGENT..Please email i_am_prepared_4_success@yahoo.com . Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276359025 Poems http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276359025&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276359025 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 12:10:25 -0400 Victory is Never Easy Victory is Never Easy By Cathey Pavlikianidis   Ask any soldier if winning the war was easy and the only reply you will get is a head hung low and tears for the warriors that fell in battle. There are sure to be some casualties in any war and the war waged in this earth against the enemies of Christ is no different. We hear stories of missionaries being felled by the enemy in various parts of the world every day. But believe me they did not lose the war! They were more than conquerors through Christ who loved them. Romans 8:37 Their testimonies will live throughout the Church until the wonderful day of Christ's return. The Christian life is not easy, but it can be victorious.  Right now in the heat of this battle, God, your Father, Provider, Protector, Savior, and your True Love is saying to you, I have heard your prayers and seen your tears. II Chronicles 20:15 Thus saith the LORD unto you, be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.  I know that it seems like the enemy is coming at you in every way possible and using people and places that you would never expect. People you have always admired as being Godly are suddenly putting negative thoughts in your mind, slowly eating away at your faith. Members of your family are questioning your beliefs and at work it seems like a barrage of assaults trying to make you do and say things that go against everything you believe. STOP! Are you standing on God's Word, or their word? Is what they are saying in line with Gods Word? Is it Positive? Is it encouraging? Is it THE WORD? Likewise, is what you are telling others in line with the Word? Or is it just your opinion or theirs for that matter? It is so important to know the Word and the truths and promises that it holds for every believer. The Word is your weapon, your sword. Without it... don't go into battle. You will be left with egg on your face because the enemy uses the Word every chance he gets, wrongly. If you know the Word of God you will recognize the lies. If you don't know the truth what will your defense be? When Jesus went into the wilderness He did not go alone, He had the Spirit and the Word with Him. He had the truth to battle the deceit of the enemy: Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.  (2) And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward a hungered. (3) And when the tempter came to him he said," if thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."    Notice that Satan is attempting to put doubt into the mind of Jesus about His identity, about His Son-ship, about His personal relationship with God, His father. Satan is taunting Jesus by insisting that if he is who he claims to be then he needs to prove it. But Jesus had the Word in him and not to forget that Jesus IS the Word (John 1:1) and he knew that he need not worry about provisions because he knew God personally. He knew everything about God, because He knew the Word, studied it, prayed it, spoke it and lived it. As a young boy His only interest was in what was going on at the Temple, and what was being taught. The reading of the Torah and the Prophets were weekly public lessons. (Luke 4:16-21) Luke 2:46-52 And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. (47) And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.  (48) And when they saw Him, they were amazed: and His mother said unto Him, son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.    (49) And He said unto them," How is it that ye sought me?" Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"   (50) And they understood not the saying which He spake unto them.    (51) And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.   (52) And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.  Jesus knew his father's word and used it for a weapon to defeat the enemy. He wasn't concerned with food or power or possessions or even his own safety because he knew and summed it up in these words: Matthew 6:31-33 therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? (32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles (non-believers) seek :) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Jesus answered Satan's attacks with this Word: Matthew 4:4-7 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. The confidence Jesus had in God and of his provisions was not shaken because he knew the Truth. But Satan wasn't ready to admit defeat just yet, he still had a bag load of fiery darts to throw, or so he thought: (5) Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, (6) And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. (See there! Satan knows the Word but uses it to try to get Jesus to test his Fathers promise) (7) Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt (test) the Lord thy God.  II Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Jesus is now exhibiting rightly dividing the word of truth; I am sure that if Jesus had accidentally fallen angels would have saved him, but Jesus knows the Word and in Deut. 6:16 it is written 'thou shalt not tempt (test) the Lord thy God.'  Matthew 4:8,9  Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, (9) And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.  This has got to be the most incredible offer ever made. Satan is appealing to the flesh side of Jesus to offer him what God, the Father had created and what Jesus would naturally fall heir to. I think Satan must have been desperate at that moment. I can almost see the look that must have been on the face of Christ when he heard that offer.  I would like to add one other thought here, if I may, for you to contemplate. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ..."  Jesus is that Word, that very same God is Jesus Christ. He is the very One that created the world to be a thing of beauty, a perfect place for his creation to enjoy and live a sinless perfect life. Satan was offering this back to him in a corrupted condition, if Jesus would worship him (Satan). Satan has nothing beautiful or good to offer us, but our Heavenly Father offers streets of gold. In Genesis 3:17-19 God took the beauty that was in the Garden of Eden and closed it off to mankind and made him to eat of the cursed ground in sorrow all the days of his life. He added thorns and thistles. All of this was done because of the lies of Satan. First they heard the lie (vs. 4, 5), then they believed the lie (vs. 6). But most of all they doubted God their creator. Adam and Eve was the first to begin passing the buck (vs. 11-13). This has become a corrupt pass the buck world where no one wants to take responsibility for his own sins. 'The devil made me do it' was a funny expression made up years ago by a comedian named Chip Wilson. We all laughed and started using that phrase every time we were caught doing something that we knew we shouldn't. But the truth of the matter is that the devil didn't make them sin! He didn't stick his viper tongue out and threaten Eve with death if she didn't eat of the tree in the midst of the garden. He just planted the seed of DOUBT! He, Satan, the 'serpent' suggested that God didn't really mean it, that she misunderstood what God said, and even that God had lied to them to keep them from having the very best fruit in the garden. And she didn't take time to think it through, to remember God's words, or His actions toward them. She responded quickly upon seeing that "it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise..."vs. 6. This is the key in our walk with our loving Creator, Provider, Protector and Savior. When you find yourself having doubting thoughts, negative thoughts about God's love and provision for you; when fear and confusion enter your mind you had better have His word packed in there with all that garbage. One such as: I Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace... And when fear blindsides you respond with:  II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Force yourself to remember the times God was faithful and true to deliver you from the attacks of his archenemy. And remember, the Devil doesn't make you do anything. He offers it, but you make the decision.   Mat.4:6 And Satan saith unto Him, "If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee; and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Notice how Jesus counters with the written Word.  Satan knows the word and will try to wrongfully use it against you. Mat.4:7, 10, 11 Jesus said unto him, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God".  Then saith Jesus unto him, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. God's Word is the only thing that makes the devil back off. We need to know the Word of God to be able to counter the attacks of the enemy. 2 Tim. 2:15b: Rightly dividing the word of truth. If Jesus used it and it worked for him to get the devil off his back, then as believers it should work for us also. In fact, there isn't any other defense. Respond loudly and openly as Jesus did at his temptation: Now, here is how God fulfilled his Word from Psalm 91:9-15 'Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation, 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.  The battle is not yours, it is God's, but he is not going in alone - you get to go with him to see the action and behold the victory that was won for you before you even knew you had a battle to fight.  Yes, you are going in to the heat of it but not without help and not without provisions. The problem with most believers today is that they expect God to fight these battles with absolutely no preparation from them. What good is armor if you don't own it and wear it?   He has provided the WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD.  Ephesians 6:11-20 11 Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. James 4:7 Submit your selves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 14 Stand therefore, having your  LOINS GIRT ABOUT WITH TRUTH.  The girdle or belt is what holds all of the other pieces of armor on. Truth is to be what holds every thing together and protects the most sensitive area of your belief. If the enemy can get a shot at your most vulnerable area, you will go down. If you know the truth, you will not fall victim to the lies of the enemy. John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. According to Vine's Expository Dictionary, pg 317; Sanctification is used in the New Testament of the separation of the believer from evil things and ways. He teaches it by His Word, John 17:17, 19; cp. Psalms 17:4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. & Psalm 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. It must be pursued by the believer, earnestly and undeviatingly. And having on the... BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.  The heart that pumps your blood and the lungs that give you the breath of life are covered by the breastplate. The righteousness of Christ implanted in us is our breast-plate to fortify the heart against the attacks which Satan makes against us. Mathew Henry Commentary pg1858) I don't know about you but the most sensitive area I have are my children. They are used so many times to break my heart and take my breath away. AND YOUR FEET SHOD with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (15)  We are to protect our walk with the Lord with peace. Blessed are the peacemakers, you know. Mathew Henry's Commentary describes the military armor for the feet as metal because the enemy would put up all kinds of traps and sharp sticks that would pierce the feet and injure the marching army, thus rendering them ineffective in battle due to weakness. Bind (shod) your feet: protect your walk with a firm foundation in the gospel of peace. 2 Cor. 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: Vs.16 above all, taking the SHIELD of FAITH, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  All of the other pieces of armor are secured to the body; thus, they can only protect that area in which they cover. The Shield is held extended out in front and is moveable to protect from whatever direction the fiery darts come from. It is the most important part of the armor. Vs.17 and take the  HELMET of SALVATION,  Salvation is the all in all that protects our minds. Mind games are Satan's favorite attack.  Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength. At the time you are saved God reveals His word to you, giving you understanding that you did not have before. God's word will act in your mind as a helmet. The more word you have in your mind the stronger your helmet will be. And the SWORD of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD:  Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. 13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, (we should all pray for this for ourselves) 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Let's reinforce this in our minds.  Go back and read verses 11-17.   IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO STAND WE NEED: TRUTH - Belt RIGHTEOUSNESS - Breastplate FAITHFUL WALK WITH THE LORD FAITH - Shield SALVATION - Helmet KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORD - Sword   SPIRIT LED PRAYER  We've got the loins, chest, feet, and the head covered, plus we have a shield to knock off the fiery darts before they can reach any area not covered by the other armor, and a sword to thrust into the enemy for the kill. But what about the back, are we just left exposed to the attacks from behind? No, God's got your back!  God moves in mysterious ways and this proves it. He used a pillar of fire somewhat like a tornado that would move in any direction that the Lord told it to. It was in front of them by day and it moved to the back by night to come between them and the enemy. Exodus 14:19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.  Don't tell me that was then, not now because I don't believe that for a minute. God is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. Hebrews 13:8 The funny thing is that I can't find it in the text that Moses asked the Lord to specifically make the pillar of fire and the angel to go behind them, or to open the sea and dry the land. Moses didn't tell God how to answer their need. In verse 13-14 of Exodus 14 Moses told the people to 'fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.... the Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.'   In other words: Be quiet and Watch! He didn't have a clue how God was going to do it. In fact, God told him to lift up the rod and stretch out his hand over the sea and divide it and they would go over dry land. You know this had to sound impossible to Moses, but he did it. And if that wasn't enough, God told Moses that he would send the Egyptians after them. I don't think Moses would have done it that way, do you? Specifics can sometimes hinder our prayers. I think we hurt ourselves because we try to map out exactly how God can accomplish what we are asking for. If we would just trust Him to do what needs to be done to bring honor and glory to His name, then the answer to our prayer would have Perfect results. Once again the battle in our mind is our worst enemy. We think too much. We humans have a tendency to play out the whole program in our heads trying to find the best way, when if we are in the word we will know that His ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts. Isaiah 55:8, 9   Copyright 2008 Mary C Pavlikianidis www.yourfaithministries.com Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276358846 Christian Living http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276358846&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276358846 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 12:07:26 -0400 Question: "What is the plan of salvation / way of salvation?" Question: "What is the plan of salvation / way of salvation?" Answer: Are you hungry? Not physically hungry, but do you have a hunger for something more in life? Is there something deep inside of you that never seems to be satisfied? If so, Jesus is the way! Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” ( John 6:35 ). Are you confused? Can you never seem to find a path or purpose in life? Does it seem like someone has turned out the lights and you cannot find the switch? If so, Jesus is the way! Jesus proclaimed, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” ( John 8:12 ). Do you ever feel like you are locked out of life? Have you tried so many doors, only to find that what is behind them is empty and meaningless? Are you looking for an entrance into a fulfilling life? If so, Jesus is the way! Jesus declared, "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture” ( John 10:9 ). Do other people always let you down? Have your relationships been shallow and empty? Does it seem like everyone is trying to take advantage of you? If so, Jesus is the way! Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me” ( John 10:11 , 14 ). Do you wonder what happens after this life? Are you tired of living your life for things that only rot or rust? Do you sometimes doubt whether life has any meaning? Do you want to live after you die? If so, Jesus is the way! Jesus declared, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” ( John 11:25-26 ). What is the way? What is the truth? What is the life? Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” ( John 14:6 ). The hunger that you feel is a spiritual hunger, and can only be filled by Jesus. Jesus is the only one who can lift the darkness. Jesus is the door to a satisfying life. Jesus is the friend and shepherd that you have been looking for. Jesus is the life—in this world and the next. Jesus is the way of salvation! The reason you feel hungry, the reason you seem to be lost in darkness, the reason you cannot find meaning in life, is that you are separated from God. The Bible tells us that we have all sinned, and are therefore separated from God ( Ecclesiastes 7:20 ; Romans 3:23 ). The void you feel in your heart is God missing from your life. We were created to have a relationship with God. Because of our sin, we are separated from that relationship. Even worse, our sin will cause us to be separated from God for all of eternity, in this life and the next ( Romans 6:23 ; John 3:36 ). How can this problem be solved? Jesus is the way! Jesus took our sin upon Himself ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 ). Jesus died in our place ( Romans 5:8 ), taking the punishment that we deserve. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead, proving His victory over sin and death ( Romans 6:4-5 ). Why did He do it? Jesus answered that question Himself: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” ( John 15:13 ). Jesus died so that we could live. If we place our faith in Jesus, trusting His death as the payment for our sins, all of our sins are forgiven and washed away. We will then have our spiritual hunger satisfied. The lights will be turned on. We will have access to a fulfilling life. We will know our true best friend and good shepherd. We will know that we will have life after we die—a resurrected life in heaven for eternity with Jesus! "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” ( John 3:16 ). Have you made a decision for Christ because of what you have read here? If so, please click on the "I have accepted Christ today" button below. If you have any questions, please use the question form on our Bible Questions Answered page. 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What are the steps to salvation? What does the Bible say about altar calls? Are altar calls biblical? What does it mean to be a born again Christian? Got Eternal Life? Return to: Questions about Salvation http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276358545 GotQuestions.org http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276358545&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276358545 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 12:02:25 -0400 Talk about Jesus Compare how often you talk about your church or your pastor versus how often you talk about Jesus.   When unbelievers see Christianity, I can't help but wonder how many of them simply see a bunch of denominations fighting about petty issues: Contemporary vs. traditional worship? Drums and guitar vs. organ and hymns? Powerpoint slides vs. hymn book? Jeans and tee-shirt vs. suit and tie?   Instead, wouldn't our testimony to the world be so much better if, with one voice, we proclaimed "Jesus!"? In Romans 15:9 , Paul writes, Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name. Paul's singular focus was on making the name of Jesus known throughout the world.   It's not about your church, your ministry, your Bible study, your small group, or your denomination. Your single focus should be on shouting the name of Jesus to all peoples. Your life should be a walking advertisement for the hope, peace, and joy that's available to all people in Christ. http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276104672 Devotions http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276104672&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276104672 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:31:12 -0400 Question: "Was Jesus a Jew?" Question: "Was Jesus a Jew?" Answer: One needs only to search the internet today to determine that there is great controversy and disagreement over the question of whether Jesus of Nazareth was actually Jewish. Before we can answer this question adequately, we must first ask another question: Who (or what) is a Jew? Even this question has its controversial elements, and the answer depends on who is answering. But one definition that each of the major sects of Judaism— Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform—would probably agree to is, "A Jew is any person whose mother was a Jew or any person who has gone through the formal process of conversion to Judaism.” Although the Hebrew Bible does not specifically state anywhere that matrilineal descent should be used, modern rabbinical Judaism believes that there are several passages in the Torah where this is understood or implied, such as Deuteronomy 7:1-5, Leviticus 24:10, and Ezra 10:2-3. Then there are several examples in Scripture of gentiles converting to Judaism (i.e. Ruth, the Moabitess, see Ruth 1:16 where Ruth voices her desire to convert), and are considered every bit as Jewish as an ethnic Jew. So, let’s consider these three questions: Was Jesus a Jew ethnically? Was Jesus an observant Jew religiously? And then finally, if Jesus was a Jew, why don’t Christians follow Judaism? Was Jesus a Jew ethnically, or was his mother a Jew? Jesus clearly identified with the Jews of His day and their religion (although correcting its errors), His physical people and tribe. God purposely sent Him to Judah: "He came to His own [Judah], and His own [Judah] did not receive Him. But as many [Jews] as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name... (John 1:11-12 NKJV) and He clearly said: "You [Gentiles] worship what you do not know; we [Jews] know what we [Jews] worship, for salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). The very first verse of the New Testament clearly proclaims the Jewish ethnicity of Jesus. "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). It is evident from passages like Hebrews 7:14, "For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah” that Jesus descended from the tribe of Judah from which we get the name "Jew.” And what about Mary, the mother of Jesus? In the genealogy in Luke chapter 3 we see clearly that Mary was a direct descendant of King David which gave Jesus the legal right to ascend the Jewish throne as well as establishing without any doubt that Jesus was a Jew ethnically. Was Jesus an observant Jew religiously? Both of Jesus' parents had "done everything required by the Law of the Lord” (Luke 2:39). His aunt and uncle, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were also Torah observant Jews (Luke 1:6), so we can see that probably the whole family took their Jewish faith very seriously. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), Jesus continually affirmed the authority of the Torah and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17) even in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:19-20). He regularly attended synagogue (Luke 4:16) and His teaching was respected by the other Jews of his day (Luke 4:15). He taught in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 21:37) and if He were not a Jew, His going into that part of the Temple would simply not have been allowed (Acts 21:28-30). Jesus also displayed the outward signs of being an observant Jew. He wore tzitzit (tassles) on His clothing (Luke 8:43; Matthew 14:36) to serve as a reminder of the commandments (Numbers 15:37-39). He observed Passover (John 2:13) and went up to Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16) on this very important Jewish pilgrimage feast day. He observed Succoth, or the feast of tabernacles (John 7:2, 10) and went up to Jerusalem (John 7:14) as required in the Torah. He also observed Hanukah, the festival of lights (John 10:22) and probably Rosh Hashanah, the feast of trumpets (John 5:1), going up to Jerusalem on both those occasions as well, even though it isn't commanded in the Torah. Clearly, Jesus identified Himself as a Jew (John 4:22) and as King of the Jews (Mark 15:2). From His birth to His last Passover Seder (Luke 22:14-15), Jesus lived as an observant Jew. So, if Jesus was a Jew, why is it that Christians don’t follow Judaism? The Laws of Judaism were given to Moses for the children of Israel in a very sacred and special covenant at Mount Sinai and recorded for us in the book of Exodus. In this covenant, God wrote His laws on tablets of stone, and Israel was commanded to be obedient to all that was revealed to them. But this wonderful covenant was only a picture of a New and better covenant that God would one day give to His people, both Jew and gentile. This new covenant is recorded for us in Jeremiah 31:31-34, "‘The time is coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,’ declares the LORD. ‘This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, "Know the LORD,” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,’ declares the LORD. ‘For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’” Christians don’t follow Judaism today because the Mosaic covenant has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). And the writer to the Hebrews wrote, "By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear” (Hebrews 8:13). As Christians we don’t need to follow the old covenant any longer because that old covenant has been replaced. We now have a better covenant, with a better sacrifice, administered by a better High Priest! "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:19-23). Recommended Resource: Jesus: The Greatest Life of All by Charles Swindoll . What's new on GotQuestions.org? GotQuestions.org seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by providing Biblical answers to spiritually-related questions. To continue in this mission, we need your support! For more information, please visit https://www.gotquestions.org/support.html Got Questions? The Bible has Answers! We'll find them for you! www.GotQuestions.org http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276094369 GotQuestions.org http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276094369&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276094369 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:39:29 -0400 Question: "Why are there so many religions? Do all religions lead to God?" Question: "Why are there so many religions? Do all religions lead to God?" Answer: The existence of so many religions and the claim that all religions lead to God without question confuses many who are earnestly seeking the truth about God, with the end result sometimes being that some despair of ever reaching the absolute truth on the subject. Or they end up embracing the universalist claim that all religions lead to God. Of course, skeptics also point to the existence of so many religions as proof that either you cannot know God or that God simply does not exist. Romans 1:19-21 contains the biblical explanation for why there are so many religions. The truth of God is seen and known by every human being because God has made it so. Instead of accepting the truth about God and submitting to it, most human beings reject it and seek their own way to understand God. But this leads not to enlightenment regarding God, but to futility of thinking. Here is where we find the basis of the "many religions.” Many people do not want to believe in a God who demands righteousness and morality, so they invent a God who makes no such requirements. Many people do not want to believe in a God who declares it impossible for people to earn their own way to heaven. So they invent a God who accepts people into heaven if they have completed certain steps, followed certain rules, and/or obeyed certain laws, at least to the best of their ability. Many people do not want a relationship with a God who is sovereign and omnipotent. So they imagine God as being more of a mystical force than a personal and sovereign ruler. The existence of so many religions is not an argument against God's existence or an argument that truth about God is not clear. Rather, the existence of so many religions is demonstration of humanity's rejection of the one true God. Mankind has replaced Him with gods that are more to their liking. This is a dangerous enterprise. The desire to recreate God in our own image comes from the sin nature within us—a nature that will eventually "reap destruction” (Galatians 6:7-8). Do all religions lead to God? Actually they do. All but one leads to His judgment. Only one—Christianity—leads to His forgiveness and eternal life. No matter what religion one embraces, everyone will meet God after death (Hebrews 9:27). All religions lead to God, but only one religion will result in God's acceptance, because only through His salvation through faith in Jesus Christ can anyone approach Him with confidence. The decision to embrace the truth about God is important for a simple reason: eternity is an awfully long time to be wrong. This is why right thinking about God is so critical. Recommended Resource: Jesus Among Other gods by Ravi Zacharias . What's new on GotQuestions.org? What is Christian fanaticism? Why is it important to study the Bible in context? What is wrong with taking verses out of context? What is biblical stewardship? Who are the Jesuits, and what do they believe? What is the Holy See? Is the idea of a spiritual marriage biblical? What does the Bible say about government? What is existentialism? What does it mean that women are the 'weaker vessel' (1 Peter 3:7)? Did Balaam's donkey really talk to him? What is narrative theology? Links from last week (we sincerely apologize for the error with the links last week) What did Jesus mean when He said the first will be last and the last will be first? Is religion the cause of most wars? What is historic premillennialism? Will we be naked in Heaven? What did Jesus mean when He instructed us to turn the other cheek? How should a Christian respond to unanswered prayer? Did one third of the angels fall with Lucifer? Why should we pray for the peace of Jerusalem? What is the origin of baptism? What is the love of Christ? What is Christian revival? Why did the Israelites need manna if they had flocks/herds of animals that they could eat? What is the Day of the Dead? GotQuestions.org seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by providing Biblical answers to spiritually-related questions. To continue in this mission, we need your support! For more information, please visit https://www.gotquestions.org/support.html Got Questions? The Bible has Answers! We'll find them for you! www.GotQuestions.org http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276094203 GotQuestions.org http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276094203&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276094203 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:36:43 -0400 Marital Duties of the Christian Husband and Wife Marital Duties of the Christian Husband and Wife  By Angie Lewis   Many of you reading this may not know that God designed marriage to work according to the way he created the man and the woman. Each gender has its own marital duties that when practiced appropriately make the marriage thrive. "The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband." (1 Corinthians 7:3)   What are the martial duties that scripture is talking about?  Understand that in a Christ-built marriage the husband has responsibilities and the wife has responsibilities, lest the marriage would have no purpose and no direction.  When both the husband and the wife are practicing their duties properly it keeps the relationship structured, organized, and spiritually blessed. Everyone is happy, no one is in need of anything, and no one is looking outside the bounds of the marriage for companionship.   "Wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord". (Ephesians 5:22) It is a wife's duty to submit to her husband. God created a hierarchy in marriage according to how he created men and women. Jesus Christ is head over the husband and husbands are head over the wife in just the same way that Christ is head over the church, his body, of which he is the Savior". (Ephesians 5:23) This does not mean that man is superior to the woman.   In God's eyes men and women are equal heirs of His kingdom, and that's all that matters!  In society there is a push and shove mentality that the different sexes exhibit with each other from time to time, but it doesn't mean a thing! You can't take this life to heaven with you. Why work so hard proving something that you cannot take to heaven with you?  In fact, you will not see heaven if you are so burdened in this life with things of the flesh. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)   God chose to make Eve out of Adams flesh and bones, which illustrates that in marriage man and woman symbolically become "one flesh".  The goal in marriage should always be of "oneness" between husband and wife. Do you see "oneness" in marriage today? The wife is doing her own thing and the husband is doing his own thing. They each have their own jobs, their own money, their own friends, etc. Are we honoring God with our marriage, or satan? Where is the oneness? Why are we not procuring for ourselves spiritual treasures that we can take to heaven with us? When a Christian wife rebels against her duty of marriage she is rebelling against God and His plan for her in the marriage, consequently the marriage will have difficulties, much like what we are seeing today. Reality is, if the husband does not fulfill his marital duty to his wife properly she will have a difficult time submitting to her husband. In fact this is where the attitude of feeling like a doormat has been brought into Christian culture.    Wrong attitudes grow like yeast does in bread dough. I would venture to say that ninety percent of the Christian culture has been deceived and they don't even know it. Women have been deceived into believing that being a wife and mother is not good enough and that she must go to college and have a good career and boss her husband around. After all, most women have been told they are equal to or above men and will not be treated like a doormat. Many of them have the "no man will tell me what to do" attitude!   More and more men are being emasculated by their wives. Consequently men are looking outside of America for suitable marriage spouses so they may find a good woman who will treat him like a man. I know of many such marriages and the wives are treated with love and almost anything their heart desires. Many American women are really missing out on the blessings that come with a healthy Godly marriage because they are confused in their God-given role.   If one link in the marriage is weak, ultimately the marriage will have no leg to stand on. Why is it so important that wives honor and submit to their husbands in everything? It is because her husband, being the man that God created him to be has a built in natural instinct to be a protector, provider, and leader.  All men have this ability, even those men who believe they were born without it. When a woman usurps her husband's headship she will be in constant suffering in her marriage because she is trying to row her boat against the nature of the current.   A man needs to be treated like a man for him to be able to properly carry out his God-given calling.  It is wrong for any woman to try and undermine the natural instincts of her husband because of a messed up attitude that has evolved from a confused cultureit is not natural for a woman to behave like a man and it is not natural for a man to behave like a woman. It doesn't matter what century we are living in!   "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her". (Ephesians 5:25) Husbands are commanded to love their wivesin the same way Christ loved and gave himself up for us. This is why it is so important to understand what real love is. Love is not s superficial feeling of lust and desires like so many think, but principled acts and behaviors that must be acted upon and sometimes sacrificed for.   A husband cannot love his wife properly if he does not put Jesus Christ above himself and utilize the power of the Holy Spirit within him. Now there is a wonderful treasure to store up for yourself in this life. When a husband loves his wife in the ways of the Lord, he is giving up his own life for that of his wife, to make sure her needs are met and taken care of, above his own. A husband must pray about this daily and ask Christ to help him love his wife because there will be days when he may not feel like being very loving.    A man who learns to love his wife in the ways of God will be blessed with much marital happiness. The results will be a wife who respects, honors and loves her husband. Let's stop all the fussing and fighting and lets start honoring God with our marriage. What one thing can you do today to help bring your marriage back to God? What spiritual treasures can you store up for yourselves in marriage?   To read more Christian based articles and books, check out Angie and Frank's Ministries. http://www.heavenministries.com Marriage Healing Ministry http://www.heavenministries.org Marriage Preparation Ministry Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276085464 Marriage http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276085464&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276085464 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 08:11:04 -0400 It Is Possible... It Is Possible... By Shannon Heiden   When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian." The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"(Judges 6:12-14 NIV)   Beautiful One, in an unstable world, with all of it's uncertainty's, how do we effectively keep our head above the waters of life? The answer for us as Christians is an easy one, Jesus Christ! And for most of us He is  what comes to the forefront of our minds. But did you know that you can be rooted in the Lord, and still feel like your drowning? Did you know that head knowledge is completely different than heart knowledge? And, it is possible to have wounds within our minds that go deeper than the faith within our hearts.   It is possible, to believe pain more than to believe God!   What makes this statement true is that sometimes we feel God has evaded us. But, pain, adversity, and hardship, there never seems to be a shortage of. Almost around every corner of life, there they are.  After you have turned enough corners, you realize that in order to get passed them, you must go through them first.   Hardly seems fair at times, especially if you have encountered many hardships in life. Sometimes, you look around and can agree that yes, you could be worse off. Then again, you can also look around, and realize that hey, it could be a whole lot better too.   As you turn the pages of life, you can see very clearly defining moments. Places where choices were made, offenses occurred, and successes had their moments! But why is it that we as people, can so easily be derailed and stalled by the wounds of life? Do we really want this? No, I don't believe any sane person wants to be tormented and plagued by their pain. Sometimes though, when the pain is great, it's easier to not take that risk and believe for something better, again. It is so much easier to not have any expectation, than to have one, and have it elude you. It's so much easier to not do anything, than to do something and have it all fall apart, again. Beautiful One, it's easier, but it's a lie!   When times of turmoil hit our homes and pierce our very hearts, we are in a defining moment! We may despise the trial, shed buckets of tears, even act foolish in the process. But it's OK. So long as we keep going, never give up hope, and believe for something greater than we could imagine! When Gideon was in a cave hiding from the Mideanites, God came to him. God told him to get up and out of the cave, and go! For He had a job for him to do. But, Gideon, by his own admission was afraid, alone, and worn out. All he could see was his pain. He loved the Lord, he knew him and his strength, and might. But Gideon also knew the pain of oppression and injustice, because it daily stood on the corner in his life and called his name.   What I love about the Lord is that God didn't care how skewed Gideons thinking had become! He didn't seem to mind so much that he sought comfort in dark places. God didn't rebuke, or even acknowledge Gideons response of basically telling God, there was no way possible, he could do what God asked  him to do.   It's as if God had seen all of the details of what brought Gideon to the place he was in, and it was now time to bring him out! None of it mattered. The mistakes, the fear, the anger Gideon passively expressed towards God for his hardship. None of it mattered. Because in case you missed it, like Gideon did, God is in control. And every step you have taken, has never been taken alone. Our past will never negate our future!   Beautiful One, if you believe that the pain you are in is because you have failed, or sinned, or just been a victim of circumstance, believe again! Maybe that's true, then maybe it's not, does it really matter?   There is nothing you can ever face that God cannot bring you up and out of! No matter how scared you are, or how much anger and resentment you may experience, remember that there is a defining moment when God will call you by name, and call you out! You may be like Gideon, and ask questions, and are afraid to risk believing him, but that's OK too.   God is not called patient for nothing.   If God will turn the weak and fearful Gideon into a mighty man of valor, how much more will he do for you?   God is no respecter of persons, but He is a respecter of faith. Simple childlike faith. Can you remember when we were children, and the world was just grand? Our curiosity was just that, simple curiosity, and we believed on the drop of hat. Doubt didn't plague our hearts. Worry didn't play tag with us. Somewhere between time, and experience we lost our God given ability to just believe. And, it slowly traded places with our pain. Over time, our dreams were replaced by dread and disappointment.   I have personally come to resolve that this is just a part of life. But, although life will present many challenges, it is our job to stop facing them armed with ourselves and our vast head knowledge of the wounds from times past.   There comes a time in all of our lives when we are expected of God to present every challenge, wound, and injustice before the throne of the One who can redeem them!   We, like Gideon will have to make the conscious choice, to simply believe God, and go! And that my friend, is possible! Beautiful One, just believe!   Shannon Heiden shannonheiden@yahoo.com changingonelifereachingmany.typepad.com Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276085226 Devotions http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276085226&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276085226 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 08:07:06 -0400 KNOWING CHRIST DOES NOT COME FROM READING A BOOK KNOWING CHRIST DOES NOT COME FROM READING A BOOK  By Gary Bixler   Brothers, how can we know the Lord Jesus as Lord and Friend?  Only by hearing the simplest of His Words and obeying them.    We cannot know Christ in any other way.  Not by studying the Word, not by reading the latest and greatest book written by someone who claims that once you read his book you'll suddenly be putting Christ first in your life.    No head knowledge works.  Only heart knowledge, and that is gained by spending much time with our Lord, and by going through the fires with Him.   Daily crosses are not popular, and our churches simply don't teach us to lay down our lives for Jesus and one another any more.  But though the narrow road is unpopular, it is still the only Way.    Jesus promises us that if we obey Him, the world will hate us, just as it hates Him.  Read Jesus' Word to his disciples the night before His crucifixion in John chapters 13-17.   Again and again, read this and pray through it with your Savior, because it expresses Jesus Christ's most important desires for you.  He wants you and me to understand that there is no way but the Way of obedience to His simplest commands.   No amount of dissembling on the part of our leaders, with their fantasies of bringing people to their knees by the thousands and reviving the churches by the power of their written and published words, will accomplish what they hope.    The churches are dead because the people in them have not entered the Narrow Gate--which is Christ Himself--because they have never been taught what true discipleship is.  You can't revive dead people without the direct power of God.    It would not have mattered how many books Mary and Martha read (John 11).  Lazarus would have remained in the grave if they hadn't sent for Jesus.   And when Jesus came, did He preach sermons or write books about how He could raise Lazarus?  No, He just called the man out.  Out from the dead.  Out from the tomb.    Jesus calls us today, but we're not listening.  We're too busy buying the latest book by our 'celebrity Christian authors' who want us to learn how to exalt and revere Christ by reading about it.  This rebuke is from the heart, and without malice.  It is a fact that God never needed any slickly marketed books to change the world through Christ, because He did it without them for many centuries.   Sorry, brothers, as I've learned from the Word lately, and from the Spirit who testifies to the same, there are no easy shortcuts to becoming Christ in this world.  Either He remains in us, and we remain in Him, and we obey Him, thus producing much fruit, or WE DON'T.    This kind of growth is like the kernel of wheat that falls in the ground and dies.  We can hold the seed in our hand, have big bags of it sitting all around in our barns, read about seed in books, watch about seeds on TV, and research endlessly about seed on the internet. We can even meet with others and talk about seed, and revere seed, and try to obtain more seed. But until we throw the seed onto the fertile ground, the seed cannot die, and therefore, the mysterious processes by which God grows the seed cannot start.    We are the seed.  It is only in the dying to ourselves and our own lives that can allow Jesus to call forth life.  Lazarus had to die first.  We must die daily.  It is only the dying that produces new life in us through Christ's power.  (John 12:24)   Remember Lazarus.  He didn't work at his own resurrection.  Jesus did it all.  So you and I must seek Jesus, to know Him, to know the fellowship of His suffering, and the power of His resurrection.  (Phil. 3:10)  Lazarus knew the power of His resurrection, and so the enemies of Christ became his enemies, plotting a double murder.  The enemies of Christ will not ignore you if you come forth out of the grave and become New People in Christ.  They will mark you for opposition and hatred, as they do Jesus.   Let's stop reading what this or that man says, and begin to discover together how to fall to the ground and die to self today, so that Jesus Christ may call us forth from our graves of worldliness and churchiness into the Light of His Day.   A. Brother (c)2010 Narrowgate Publishing May be used with or without permission in its entirety. Website: http://narrowgatepub.blogspot.com/   After a successful business career, I lost everything.  I now consider that loss gain, and seek to remain in Christ.  Without Him I can do nothing.   Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276085066 Christian Living http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276085066&comments=comments http://storiesofsalvation.org/blog.php?entry_id=1276085066 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 08:04:26 -0400