IN MEMORIUM

Stop.

Think for a moment what it must be like for those doing battle in our armed services overseas at this moment.

Do you wonder, as I wonder, whether they wonder whether future Memorial Days will be to remember them?

Whether or not you agree with a person's decision to serve in the U.S. Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Air Force, the National Guard, the Merchant marines, or any of their respective Reserves, you must know that they serve in harm's way for us.

Those who have gone before them did the same.

Many of them, hundreds of thousands of them, gave their lives so you could have whatever lifestyle and/or opinions you have.

They firmly believed that freedom is worth dying for.

They were right.

Remember them this weekend, especially on Monday.

I hope this helps:



HAVE A GOOD MEMORIAL DAY!

A Study in I Corinthians-02

I Corinthians 2:1-16

For the next 9 weeks we’ll be continuing our study of I Corinthians.

Chapter 2 is a set-up for Paul to go in depth into his discussion of divisions in the church.

The Verses

01. 1-3 This is not a philosophical or intellectual approach to Christianity, it is simple and direct. Its only topic is Christ crucified. The “mystery” spoken about here is that which had not previously been known and is now revealed. The cross had never been directly revealed before and now it is. Paul asserts that his only topic is Christ crucified for the remission of sin.

02 4-5 Paul was not trying to impress with flowery language or the wisdom of man, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. He did this so that you and I would not depend on our education, our intellect, or our reasoning power, but on the power of God. Salvation does not depend on how “reasonable” we can be, but upon faith, which must stand on the power of God.

03 6-7 The wisdom that Paul spoke was not the wisdom of the world. In fact, the world hears Paul’s “wisdom” and considers it folly. Christianity is not an anti-intellectual faith, but it is not based on intellectualism. Christianity was God’s plan from before the beginning of time. Remember: You want good history? There is none better than the Bible’s, but it is not about history. You want good philosophy? There is none better than the Bible’s, but it is not about philosophy. You want good psychology? There is none better than the Bible’s, but it is not about psychology. The Bible is God’s revelation of His character, His love for His creation and His plan for its redemption.

04 8-11 If Pharaoh had understood God’s plan, he would never have had Israel in slavery. If Nebuchadnezzar had understood God’s plan, he would never have Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the fiery furnace. If Darius had understood God’s plan, he would never have thrown Daniel into the lions’ den. And if FDR, Truman, Nixon or even Barack Obama had understood God’s plan, we would not be in the mess we’re in today. Verse 9 tells us that no intellectual has ever fathomed God’s plan. Verse 10 tells us that God has now revealed it to us through His Holy Spirit. Verse 11 reminds us that we can’t read each others’ minds and we SURE can’t read the mind of God. But the Holy Spirit can.

05 12-14. We don’t have the spirit of the world, but the Spirit (capital ‘S”) of God. It is the Holy Spirit of God who enables us to communicate with God and who interprets God’s mind to and for us. The Holy Spirit is a “He,” not an “it.” He expresses spiritual truth to us from God and to God from us.

It is at this point that we must be careful. Not in the history of creation has the Holy Spirit ever told one person one truth and another person some other “truth” about the same subject. (Psalm 133:1 – “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity, harmony and love.”) If there is disunity, you can be absolutely certain that it is NOT of the Spirit of God.

06 15-16 Iff (if-and-only-if) we are Spirit filled [which if you have ever been saved you are (the question is not “Do you have more of the Spirit?” The question is, “How much of you does the Spirit have?”)], we will be unified in the interpretation and application of God’s Word. But look!!! Paul says “But we have the mind of Christ.”

So…do YOU have the mind of Christ, today? If you do, how are you using it to promote the unity of the Spirit in our church?

If you don’t, that means you are not saved and you need to confess Jesus as Lord and believe that God has raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9) that you might enjoy the fullness of John 3:16, and the joy of true salvation.

Predictions

With all the problems the World is facing,it can be unsettling to the mind.

Today, I will share with you ten predictions that are true!


Top 10 Predictions for 2010

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on Earth..
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still honor the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

Isn't It Great To Remember Who Is Really In Control,
and that; "the Word of the Lord endures forever."
(1 Peter 1:25)

A Study in I Corinthians 01

I Corinthians 1:1-31

For the next 10 weeks we’ll be studying I Corinthians.

The major themes of I Corinthians are: Church Unity; Church Leaders; Christian Morality; What Christian Should Do; What You Can Do; Expressing Love; and The Resurrection.

The Verses

01. 1-3 Paul introduces himself and establishes his authority. He addresses the First Baptist Church of Corinth as the sanctified and holy ones. He tells them they are included with Christians world-wide. He wishes them God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense, tells them that it comes from the Father and equates God and Jesus.

02. 3-9 Paul expresses gratitude to God for the Corinthian church. He refers to them as “enriched” in their speech and knowledge. Paul’s testimony about Christ is confirmed in them. Is his testimony about Christ confirmed in you?

Questions: How do you know that you repented unto salvation years ago? Because you continue to repent today. How do you know that you believe unto salvation years ago? Because you continue believing today. How do you know that God had an encounter with you years ago? Because He continues having an encounter with you today. The evidence of salvation is not only that He changed your life, but that He continues to change your life.

Paul promises strength to endure and great reward at the finish line (Heaven). He proclaims the faithfulness of God.

YouTube.com: The True Gospel (Paul Washer @ VCY America Conference)

03. 10-12 Paul establishes the first theme of I Corinthians: Unity in the church. He stresses that there be no divisions. We are not to follow Paul, Apollos, Calvin, Wesley, Sturgeon, R.G. Lee or any other theologian, we are to follow Christ.

04. 13-17 Christ is unified: with Himself; with God and with the Holy Spirit. Our job is not to baptize, although we should baptize as many as will receive Christ. Our primary job is to preach Christ, crucified for the remission of sin.

The cross divides the saved from the unsaved, but it should not divide the saved. It should unite them.

05. 18-25 To the unsaved person, the message of the cross doesn’t make sense. The message of the gospel (Christ crucified for the remission of sin and raised from the dead) is just too “out there” to grasp. Muslims can’t accept the “God killed His Son” thing; Jews want to please God by obedience to the Law (See Romans for a refutation of this concept). We don’t live by signs and wonders, we live by faith, without which it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)

06. 26-29 Before any of us was saved, we were just like the rest of the world, impressed by our own wisdom. God chose the simplicity of the gospel to reveal to us His plan for His creation: that al who confess Jesus is Lord and believe God raised Him from the dead will be saved (Romans 10:9)

07. 30-31 Since we have no righteousness of our own, and since we can never achieve righteousness, Christ did not give us His righteousness, He IS righteousness for us. Therefore, there is no room for pride in the Christian life. If we boast, it must be about, and only about, what Christ has done for us in His death, burial and resurrection (Ephesians 2:4-9)

REAL MOANERS

Those who jump off a bridge in Paris are in Seine.

A man's home is his castle, in a manor of speaking.

Dijon vu - the same mustard as before.

Practice safe eating - always use condiments.

Shotgun wedding - A case of wife or death.

A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

Dancing cheek-to-cheek is really a form of floor play.

Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?

Reading while sunbathing makes you well red.

When two egotists meet, it's an I for an I.

A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two tired.

What's the definition of a will? (It's a dead give away.)

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

In democracy your vote counts. In feudalism your count votes.

She was engaged to a boyfriend with a wooden leg but broke it off.

A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

If you don't pay your exorcist, you get repossessed

With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.

The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.

You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.

Local Area Network in Australia - the LAN down under.

Every calendar's days are numbered.

A lot of money is tainted - Taint yours and taint mine.

A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.

He had a photographic memory that was never developed.

A midget fortune-teller who escapes from prison is a small medium at large.

Once you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.

Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead-to-know basis.

Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.

Acupuncture is a jab well done.

THE DOCTRINE OF PRAYER Part 6

A Six Weeks Study about What Prayer Is and How To Engage In It

Week #6 Intercessory Prayer and Objects of Prayer.

James 4:3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives

Remember What Prayer Is

Prayer, by strict, Scriptural definition, is basically making petitions to God, with a number of conditions attached, the most basic of which is that the person praying should really expect to receive what he asks. The men who originally translated the Bible into English must have seen this truth or they wouldn't have used the word "pray" to translate the Greek verb "proseukesqe". The English word "pray" originally meant "ask earnestly", and nothing else! (Remember Shakespeare?)

John 16:24 "Until now you have asked nothing in My Name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full".

What Is Intercessory Prayer?

It is generally understood that intercessory prayer is making petitions to God on the behalf of others. This definition is fairly accurate, but as shown in the table above, a completely precise definition is that intercessory prayer is making petitions concerning the spiritual needs of others. This is not to say that we can't include petitions for other needs in a working definition.

I Timothy 2:1-2 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Philippians 4: 6 & 7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

To Whom Do You Pray?

This issue must be included in any complete definition of Biblical prayer. It is, of course true that you can address a petition to almost anything, ask earnestly, and call it a prayer. But a Biblical prayer is only addressed to God. Of course, since we believe in the Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all of whom are God, it follows that we can address our prayers to any one of the Three.

Pray for the Forgiving of Sin

In the “Lord's Prayer,” the only petition that has a qualification attached to it, and the only one that Jesus comments on at the end, is the prayer for forgiveness of sin.

Pray for Healing and Deliverance

We have a Scriptural obligation to pray for the healing of the sick. We should also pray for deliverance, and this does mean freedom from bondage.

Pray for Protection from the Evil One (John 17:15)

Pray for Sanctification (Being made holy through the action of the Holy Spirit)

Pray for Unity among the Saints (Ephesians 4:2)

Pray For Spiritual Enlightenment (Ephesians 1:18)

Pray for yourself . In John 17, Jesus set the example by praying for Himself.

Whatever else you do, remember: we are instructed by Scripture to

PRAY

ISAIAH 48:15

"My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together."

I CERTAINLY THOUGHT THIS WAS ENLIGHTENING.

BEYOND OUR SUN, IT'S A BIG UNIVERSE.

ANTARES IS THE 15TH BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE SKY IT IS MORE THAN 1000 LIGHT YEARS AWAY. NOW HOW BIG ARE YOU?

NOW TRY TO WRAP YOUR MIND AROUND THIS.

THIS IS A HUBBLE TELESCOPE ULTRA DEEP FIELD INFRARED VIEW OF COUNTLESS

'ENTIRE' GALAXIES BILLIONS OF LIGHT-YEARS AWAY.

BELOW IS A CLOSE UP OF ONE OF THE DARKEST REGIONS OF THE PHOTO ABOVE.

HUMBLING, ISN'T IT?

And yet, God knows how many hairs are on your head; and, not even a single sparrow dies apart from His will.(Mt. 10:29-31)!

NOW HOW BIG ARE YOU? AND, HOW BIG ARE THE THINGS THAT UPSET YOU TODAY?

AND

HOW BIG IS YOUR GOD?

THE DOCTRINE OF PRAYER

A Six Weeks Study about What Prayer Is and How To Engage In It

Week #5 – Individual and Appropriate Prayer

Prayer, both personal and corporate prayer, should be appropriate to the situation.

Luke 6:28 “…bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Luke 8:18-22 “Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.”

Luke 18:1-8 “…Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

Acts 10:9-15 “Peter went up on the roof to pray.”

Acts 21:4-5 “…and there on the beach we knelt to pray.”

2 Corinthians 13:5-7 “Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong.”

Ephesians 6:17-20 “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,…”

Colossians 1:9-14 “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,”

2 Thessalonians 1 11-12 “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.”

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 “The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.”

Philemon 1:6 “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.”

James 5: 13 “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.”

James 5:14 “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

James 5: 16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Jude 1:20 “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.”