Revelation 3:14-20
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
I came across these verses during my Bible studies this past year and last week with a good friend of mine. Again, the message here is discussing people who are "nominal Christians" or lukewarm Christians. They claim they are Christians, but do not live a Christian lifestyle. This is not what God wants. I use to be lukewarm.
I witnessed this all the time during my Samford days. People claiming they were Christians and I saw them going out to bars all the time, getting drunk, sleeping around, cursing, etc etc...read Galatians 5. This was me. I was not living the Christian lifestyle. I knew I was sinning, but I felt that I could always ask for forgiveness. True, God forgives...but only if you truely Repent! I was clearly not living for God. I was clearly not in a repent mode. I struggled and I still struggle to this day. I have a hard time when I'm around friends sometimes or I'm at a happy hour with work or at a party. I try to resist any temptations (physical and mental) and I just try to surround myself around other Christians as much as possible. This is my family. These are my brothers and sisters.
This was the church that John was writing about in Revelation. The church and the believers were content, satisfied, half-full, not giving their life to Christ. And we shouldn't follow God in this manner. We should give Him 100%. Not just 50% or just worship Sundays. We need to give Him our all. Pray every single day. Serve people, serve the community. Read scripture every day. He's always listening to us. Always watching us and we should NOT be lukewarm because this is even worse than being a non-believer. We need to be fired up by the Word, about Christ...we need to be HOT!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Repentance
Ephesians 4:29-32
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Today as I was reading this verse, it made me think about my sin. There were many times in my life where I've cursed and had fits of rage. Both on the tennis court, at work, at school, and in my personal relationships with people.
The Bible warns us against this sin clearly. Specifically it warns us about unwholesome talk coming out of your mouths. That includes cursing, talking behind people's backs, slander, deceit, etc etc. These are things I've learned to control through the power of Jesus Christ. A lot of people don't think twice when they curse and I use to curse a lot honestly. It's such a common thing to do it that we tend to take it for granted. And now when I hear it both on television and from people, I try to turn myself away from it. I don't want to put myself in those situations. It's a sin. Yes Christian's sin, but Christians also repent and do everything that they can to turn away from sin. If you follow Jesus, you follow his teachings and that includes turning away from sin. Ridding yourself from sinful temptations and surrounding yourself with disciples - God's holy people.
Ephesians 5:3-7
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
Point clear. The Bible is warning us further of these sins including temptations and greed. These things should have no place in a Christian's life. There are many "nominal Christians" out there that believe that they can sin over and over again and just ask for forgiveness and be "forgiven". Yet, this is not what the Bible says. The principles of the Bible teach us to repent. How are you repenting if you sin and then ask for forgiveness, sin ask for forgiveness, and on and on. That's not repenting. Therefore, your truely not asking for forgiveness from God.
Repenting is turning away from sin and changing your mind. Taking a 180 degree turn and changing your life.
Luke 13:3
I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
It's deeper than just sinning and asking for forgiveness. If you sin and just ask for forgiveness, and then committ the same sins, then your without hope. This is fact when Jesus stated the Parable to two Sons in Matthew 21:28-32
“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
“‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
I thought this was a good lesson as I read this passage. Do God's will and repent. Change your MIND, your ATTITUDE, your THOUGHTS. Don't just go through the motions of asking for forgiveness. We need to match our actions with our words, including myself. Then someday we will have the blessing of being in God's kingdom. The door is narrow as Jesus said and people will knock and we won't know who they are. I don't want to be knocking.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Today as I was reading this verse, it made me think about my sin. There were many times in my life where I've cursed and had fits of rage. Both on the tennis court, at work, at school, and in my personal relationships with people.
The Bible warns us against this sin clearly. Specifically it warns us about unwholesome talk coming out of your mouths. That includes cursing, talking behind people's backs, slander, deceit, etc etc. These are things I've learned to control through the power of Jesus Christ. A lot of people don't think twice when they curse and I use to curse a lot honestly. It's such a common thing to do it that we tend to take it for granted. And now when I hear it both on television and from people, I try to turn myself away from it. I don't want to put myself in those situations. It's a sin. Yes Christian's sin, but Christians also repent and do everything that they can to turn away from sin. If you follow Jesus, you follow his teachings and that includes turning away from sin. Ridding yourself from sinful temptations and surrounding yourself with disciples - God's holy people.
Ephesians 5:3-7
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
Point clear. The Bible is warning us further of these sins including temptations and greed. These things should have no place in a Christian's life. There are many "nominal Christians" out there that believe that they can sin over and over again and just ask for forgiveness and be "forgiven". Yet, this is not what the Bible says. The principles of the Bible teach us to repent. How are you repenting if you sin and then ask for forgiveness, sin ask for forgiveness, and on and on. That's not repenting. Therefore, your truely not asking for forgiveness from God.
Repenting is turning away from sin and changing your mind. Taking a 180 degree turn and changing your life.
Luke 13:3
I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
It's deeper than just sinning and asking for forgiveness. If you sin and just ask for forgiveness, and then committ the same sins, then your without hope. This is fact when Jesus stated the Parable to two Sons in Matthew 21:28-32
“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
“‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
I thought this was a good lesson as I read this passage. Do God's will and repent. Change your MIND, your ATTITUDE, your THOUGHTS. Don't just go through the motions of asking for forgiveness. We need to match our actions with our words, including myself. Then someday we will have the blessing of being in God's kingdom. The door is narrow as Jesus said and people will knock and we won't know who they are. I don't want to be knocking.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Narrow Door
Luke 13: 22-20
Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’
“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’
28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”
You know how some people have verses from the Bible that they remember or read over and over again? Well, this is the one that sticks out to me. This is probably one of the most powerful and eye opening verses in the Bible that I've ever read. And it's because this is probably the question that I've always asked myself and the question I probably would have also asked Jesus if I had come face to face with him..."are only a few people going to be saved?"
And His response is powerful and clear: He wants us to make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many will try to enter and will not be able to. Period. Point clear. Strait from Jesus. Strait from the Truth.
So what do you do? What did I do? The answers are all in the Word and these 5 steps. It may take a short period of time or it may take 29 years and specifically 7 months of studying like it did me. There's no time table.
(study with Charlie)
1) You hear the message (Romans 10: 17; Acts 2)
2) You come to your faith (Romans 10: 17; Hebrews 11:6, Acts 2)
3) You repent. Repent just doesn't mean asking for forgiveness. It means asking for forgiveness and turning away from sin. (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38)
4) You confess (Romans 10:9; Timothy 6:12)
5) Baptism = Salvation = Eternal Life
(Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-5; Matthew 28: 18-20; 1Peter 3:18-22; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:26-29)
There are many false doctrines and teachings out there. Books people write, their interpretations, their so-called beliefs. They are reading the Bible with a critical eye. This is not the way to read it. If you did read it with a critical eye, it becomes difficult, confusing, creates tension, guilt, debate etc etc.
The teachings then become difficult. It's simply not clear and this WAS the way I use to read it. I read into other people's views and followed them and the fact is that I should have had a critical on those books. Not the Bible and it's teachings.
The Word is meant to be clear. Clear enough for even a child to read. And it IS when you spend personal time studying the Bible. So I encourage people that do not know the TRUE meaning to sit down and study the Bible for themselves. It will change your life and you will have the opportunity to be born again because the DOOR IS NARROW and I honestly believe that. If you doubt it, then you are doubting GOD himself.
Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’
“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’
28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”
You know how some people have verses from the Bible that they remember or read over and over again? Well, this is the one that sticks out to me. This is probably one of the most powerful and eye opening verses in the Bible that I've ever read. And it's because this is probably the question that I've always asked myself and the question I probably would have also asked Jesus if I had come face to face with him..."are only a few people going to be saved?"
And His response is powerful and clear: He wants us to make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many will try to enter and will not be able to. Period. Point clear. Strait from Jesus. Strait from the Truth.
So what do you do? What did I do? The answers are all in the Word and these 5 steps. It may take a short period of time or it may take 29 years and specifically 7 months of studying like it did me. There's no time table.
(study with Charlie)
1) You hear the message (Romans 10: 17; Acts 2)
2) You come to your faith (Romans 10: 17; Hebrews 11:6, Acts 2)
3) You repent. Repent just doesn't mean asking for forgiveness. It means asking for forgiveness and turning away from sin. (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38)
4) You confess (Romans 10:9; Timothy 6:12)
5) Baptism = Salvation = Eternal Life
(Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-5; Matthew 28: 18-20; 1Peter 3:18-22; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:26-29)
There are many false doctrines and teachings out there. Books people write, their interpretations, their so-called beliefs. They are reading the Bible with a critical eye. This is not the way to read it. If you did read it with a critical eye, it becomes difficult, confusing, creates tension, guilt, debate etc etc.
The teachings then become difficult. It's simply not clear and this WAS the way I use to read it. I read into other people's views and followed them and the fact is that I should have had a critical on those books. Not the Bible and it's teachings.
The Word is meant to be clear. Clear enough for even a child to read. And it IS when you spend personal time studying the Bible. So I encourage people that do not know the TRUE meaning to sit down and study the Bible for themselves. It will change your life and you will have the opportunity to be born again because the DOOR IS NARROW and I honestly believe that. If you doubt it, then you are doubting GOD himself.
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