Do you know what the biggest deterrent to a vibrant relationship with God is? The one thing that it must have: Faith.
There is no 12 step, 3 main points, 40 day goal, for Dummies book that will acquire faith for us. There is no proof. There is nothing tangible. It makes no logical sense. Now faith is the reality of what is hope for, the proof of what is not seen. Hebrews 11:1
To be forgiven our sins:
We must have faith. Matthew 9:2, Luke 5:20
To be well:
We must have faith. Matthew 9:29; Mark 5:32
To do mighty things for the sake of the Gospel and Jesus Christ:
We must have faith. Matthew 21:21; James 1:6
To be righteous:
We must have faith. Romans 1:17; Galatians 5:5
Why?
...for we walk by faith, not by sight - 2 Corinthians 5:7
There is, however, a very important element to goes along with faith which we must never forget...
Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
It is one of those things we must just accept: Have faith.
For as Jesus said, ..."But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:32
Showing posts with label Bible-Hebrews 11. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible-Hebrews 11. Show all posts
Monday, November 8, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Avatar Is Proving That We Are All Aliens
This is truly amazing.
Audiences Experience 'Avatar" Blues
When I read this, the first thing that came to mind was, "Yes! Halleluia and Amen! Come quickly Lord Jesus!"
Even those who do not believe in a deity of any sort can recognize the soul-sickening desire for more: More beauty, more honor, more love, more of everything that is right and good in this world. The Creator of all has so much more in store for us and we are created to long for it. Just look at the descriptions of heaven and the new earth in Revelation 4, 5, 21, & 22. Yes, James Cameron has a vivid imagination, but Who do you think created him that way?
Did I long to travel to Pandora after watching the film? Yes. Several times. But what got me so much more excited was knowing the the real thing will be so much better. This is how we can witness to those around us who express the same longing after watching the film: And our new world will never be invaded!
2 Corinthians 5:1-3, 5
For we know that if our earthly house, a tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. And in fact, we groan in this one, longing to put on our house from heaven,... And the One who prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave us the Spirit for a down payment.
Hebrews 11:13-16
These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been remembering that land they came from, they would have had the opportunity to return. But they now aspire to a better land - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God. for He has prepared a city for them.
Don't be fooled. People long for better. Are you going to deny telling them about Him who will create it anew?
OK, perhaps not quite in the way you are initially thinking, but it's true none the less. The following article is from CNN about people's response to James Cameron's movie sensation Avatar.
Audiences Experience 'Avatar" Blues
When I read this, the first thing that came to mind was, "Yes! Halleluia and Amen! Come quickly Lord Jesus!"
Even those who do not believe in a deity of any sort can recognize the soul-sickening desire for more: More beauty, more honor, more love, more of everything that is right and good in this world. The Creator of all has so much more in store for us and we are created to long for it. Just look at the descriptions of heaven and the new earth in Revelation 4, 5, 21, & 22. Yes, James Cameron has a vivid imagination, but Who do you think created him that way?
Did I long to travel to Pandora after watching the film? Yes. Several times. But what got me so much more excited was knowing the the real thing will be so much better. This is how we can witness to those around us who express the same longing after watching the film: And our new world will never be invaded!
2 Corinthians 5:1-3, 5
For we know that if our earthly house, a tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. And in fact, we groan in this one, longing to put on our house from heaven,... And the One who prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave us the Spirit for a down payment.
Hebrews 11:13-16
These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been remembering that land they came from, they would have had the opportunity to return. But they now aspire to a better land - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God. for He has prepared a city for them.
Don't be fooled. People long for better. Are you going to deny telling them about Him who will create it anew?
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Set Apart
I thought of something interesting about Rahab when reading in the book of Joshua the other day. She was a industrious prostitute in the city of Jericho when the Israelites came to conquer the land. She harbored the spies Joshua secretly sent, and helped them evade the kings soldiers so that they could report to Joshua that a fear of the Lord and of His people had fallen on all the inhabitants.
When the time came for Jericho's destruction, these are the instructions that Joshua gave the people: "...'Shout! For the Lord has given you the city. But the city and everything in it are set apart to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone in her house will live, because she hid the men we sent. But keep yourselves from the things set apart for destruction. If you take any of those things, you will set apart he camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster on it. For all the silver and gold, and the articles of bronze and iron, are dedicated to the Lord and must go into the Lord's treasury." Joshua 6:16-19.
Everything in Jericho that wasn't destroyed was to be set apart for the Lord. I think that He included Rahab as well. Matthew 1:1-17 is an account of the lineage of Jesus, and verses 5 and 6 say, "Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered King David."
Rahab - the Gentile prostitute of a doomed nation - was in the lineage of the Messiah. It was by faith (Hebrews 11:31) she was set apart by the Lord and given the honor to be named, forever, as a grandmother to Jesus. Pretty cool, huh?
We can never fall too far to be set apart for the Lord's work. By faith, we are set apart, too.
When the time came for Jericho's destruction, these are the instructions that Joshua gave the people: "...'Shout! For the Lord has given you the city. But the city and everything in it are set apart to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone in her house will live, because she hid the men we sent. But keep yourselves from the things set apart for destruction. If you take any of those things, you will set apart he camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster on it. For all the silver and gold, and the articles of bronze and iron, are dedicated to the Lord and must go into the Lord's treasury." Joshua 6:16-19.
Everything in Jericho that wasn't destroyed was to be set apart for the Lord. I think that He included Rahab as well. Matthew 1:1-17 is an account of the lineage of Jesus, and verses 5 and 6 say, "Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered King David."
Rahab - the Gentile prostitute of a doomed nation - was in the lineage of the Messiah. It was by faith (Hebrews 11:31) she was set apart by the Lord and given the honor to be named, forever, as a grandmother to Jesus. Pretty cool, huh?
We can never fall too far to be set apart for the Lord's work. By faith, we are set apart, too.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
The Tools of Satan- Part 3 of 3: Fear/Anxiety
The Future: Fear/Anxiety
Phobophobia: The fear of phobias/being afraid.
It is absolutely amazing what and how many things we can be afraid of.
When Satan isn't getting much of anywhere with condemning or tempting us, I believe he begins to prey on the “what ifs...”. In fact, the fear of what might happen can become so severe that we miss the blessings and opportunities God has for us. That is exactly what Satan is hoping for- Missed glory for God.
The Cure: Faith
“Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 These are all future things. We are to just believe it. Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” He had been telling them not to worry, “...you of little faith” (v.30). This is much easier said than done, I know, but it is the only thing to be done. You don't want to be afraid? You don't want to be overly anxious? Just have faith: Trust completely in God to work all things for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)
Are you still worried or fearful about things? It's OK to pray to God and ask Him to increase your faith. Pray with me today from Mark 9:24 and Luke 17:5 “Immediately the father of the boy cried out, 'I do believe! Help my unbelief.'” and “The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith'”
Phobophobia: The fear of phobias/being afraid.
It is absolutely amazing what and how many things we can be afraid of.
When Satan isn't getting much of anywhere with condemning or tempting us, I believe he begins to prey on the “what ifs...”. In fact, the fear of what might happen can become so severe that we miss the blessings and opportunities God has for us. That is exactly what Satan is hoping for- Missed glory for God.
The Cure: Faith
“Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 These are all future things. We are to just believe it. Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” He had been telling them not to worry, “...you of little faith” (v.30). This is much easier said than done, I know, but it is the only thing to be done. You don't want to be afraid? You don't want to be overly anxious? Just have faith: Trust completely in God to work all things for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)
Are you still worried or fearful about things? It's OK to pray to God and ask Him to increase your faith. Pray with me today from Mark 9:24 and Luke 17:5 “Immediately the father of the boy cried out, 'I do believe! Help my unbelief.'” and “The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith'”
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