"stand in boldness"

"Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences." 

2 Corinthians 5 : 11

  The people I know who are bold in telling everyone they meet about the Lord have a tremendous sense of victory in their lives. I know I get excited when I meet someone maybe in a airplane or restaurant who doesn't know the Lord, and I have the opportunity to share Christ with them. You might think, "Well, that makes sense. You're a pastor and it's your job to tell others about Christ." But according to the Bible, it is every believer's privilege and responsibility to share the Gospel. Jesus' last words in Matthew 28:19 are to all of us --- "Go therefore and make disciple of all the nations."

  The book of Revelation warns us about the terrible events that are rapidly approaching. 2 Corinthians 5:11 says, "Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." If we understand the suffering, anguish and judgement that lies ahead for those who do not know Christ, there will be a sense of urgency in our witness. 

  Did you Know that you could open up people's hearts to spiritual matters by asking questions? Sincere question show people that we are interested in their thoughts. We can learn a lot about a person's spiritual condition simply by listening to their responses. Jesus was a master at drawing people out by asking questions. Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus asking purposeful questions to uncover the heart condition of the person he was talking to.

  Have you ever thought of using current events in the newspaper as  springboard to talk about Bible prophecy and the coming of Jesus Christ? The newspaper can be a depressing parade of natural disasters, warning governments and moral depravity. Why not use these same headlines to talk out what is important in life? By asking your friends or co-worker about their feeling concerning today's news you can hear volume about where they stand with God.

        

                  

"Our Part, His Plan"

       "You shall march around the city, all you men of war, you shall

              go all around the city once. This you shall do six days.

                                             Joshua 6:3

        It was a very unorthodox plan. Who had ever heard of conquering a city by walking atound it? Picture the amazement on people's faced as they asked, "Ket us get this straight. We're going to walk around Jericho, and the walls are going to fall down?"

         Sometimes, we don't understand God's plan. One of the hardest things in the Christian life is when God directs you to do something, but you can't figure out why. Our part is to obey God's directions by faith, even if they don't make sense.

         Perhaps God involve us in far fetch plans do that when they happen, no one can possibly claim the credits but God. After all, Joshua couldn't take credit for the fall of Jericho. That was a plan only God could have come up with. Remember that God has some amazing plans for your life. Walk in obediencs to His direction. Believe that God has a wonderful purpose and a pkan for you. 

         God moves in a mysterios way, His wonders to perform. He plants His foot steps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.

         

"Our future He Is"

      "The  creation waits in eager ecpectation for the sons of God to be

       revealed.                                                               -- Romans 8:29        

The young and the young at heart often find it difficult to wait. It might be a party, a reunion with a friend, or some other big event that they are looking for ward to. Anticipation folls their whole being. They just can't wait until the big day comes. If you have ever experienced that kind of anticipation, then you will certainly be able to understand our word about life for today.

        In this verse we are told that the creation is on pins needles as it waits for the completion of God's promises to his people. The creation waits with anticipation for the formation of the new heavens and earth, for the day when the resurrected and glorifiec saints will stand face to face with their God in glory. What a great day that will be!

        Some people live their lives fearing their past, others are filled with doubts the preset and many are totally uncertain about the future. A few have hope that the future will better but have no valid grounds on which to base that hope.

         To live in fear, to live in doubts or to live with a groundless hope are not necessary evils in life. Jesus Christ calms fear, cancels doubts and supplies from ground for a certain hope. Fear is calmed because, thanks to Jesus, all is right between sinful mortals and God. Doubts is canceled because, "If God is for us. Who can be agsinst us?" The song last friday! It awesome. Hope is firmly established since Jesus declared, "Because I live, you also will live."

         By God's grace we can look forward to each succeeding day. We can look forward with hope, peace and joy. Life is not a joke-- with us as its target. In Christ , life is a wonderful hope of ever better things to come.

        Each day brings us closer to glory. With each passing day. The anticipation builds also in the creature world as the time for the revealing of God's sons draws near. " Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall like him, for we shall see him as he is."                    

Binary: "Ups and Downs"

        "But those who marry will face many troubles in this life."

                                                            -- 1 Corinthians 7 : 28

During the last days of the twentieth century, some venture capitaists (VCs) went to great lengths to make themselves available to would be entreprenuers. They gave lectures at entrepreneurial conferences. They drank beers at Resto bar pub, and they told elaborate stories to explain why their. Particular firm was better than the rest. On their home, at the other night She fell into bed with miserable cold. Mind you, She isn't able to blow her nose because she can't  use her hands, and She can't really cough because She have no chest muscle. She knew was going to face rough nigth. But not as rough as Ken.

         She woke up  at 3:00AM and groaned, "Ken, please get up. Help me sit up so I can cough." The poor guy threw back the covers, stumbled out of bed, and sat me up to pound on my back. He held a tissue to my nose as I coughed and sputtered.

         An hour -and-a-half later, we repeated the routine. We were both dead tired and spmewhere in between him swueezing my ribs and reaching for another tissue he moaned, "did our wedfing vows include this stuff?"

         I sniff and reminded him, "Remember that part about 'for better or for worse? Welk, this is the worst part. And remember when we said we'd love each other through thick and thin?"

         "I know, I know," Ken sighed. "Yhis is thin part."

          Every couple agrees thag marriage has its ups and downs. The up times are when love is as plain as day and fully visible. The down times are when love goes undercover and incognito. So commonplace are the ups and downs that one wonders why they aren't written into the  wedding vows. But they are. When a husband and wife vow to love for better or for worse, it includes the full extent of the ups and downs.

         Marriage will akways ask you to prove love. To be married is 

         Not to be taken off the front lines of love but to be plunged

         Into the thick and thin of the ups and downs. Know your pips.

         May my love, Lord, always cover a multititude of troubles.

      

"A Calf's Look at Life"

        "Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never

         Cover with shame."                                    -Psalm 34:5

On particularly damp and windy day, hundreds of calves were huddled outside, shoulder to barnquarter, tucked between the fence and the barn. The rain had created a mess of mud  and the calves looked miserable. 

         All except one calf although he, too, faced the dame windy rain and was covered with the same mud, he chose a different shelter an open field of muck! In the face of the wind he skipped and jump loke a child. He was oblivious to thr downpour. That calf literally looked happy.

         Life is quite often like the farm scene of the calves, isn't it? We huddle with others of like misery in hopes that one day our lives will be happy again. The calf, however, David, the psalmist, chose an unusual moment in his life to declare the jo of being a child of God. Huddled around him in the cave of adulam were four hundred smelly, dirty renegades fleeing from saul. David had the audacity to cevlare: "Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shMe" (Psalm 34:5).

        David made a choice for himself. " we may be in a mess and we may be discouraged. But my God knows we are here and knows our need. I will dance and sing."

        David was able to do despite his fears. He submitted them to God and was enabled to declare a calflike joy. Ate you gripped with a spirit of feaf? Take each one by the horn and lead it to the fear of God. Let yours fears see the light of eternal day and you too, will skip, laugh, dance, and sing.

         Lord, I desire to skip and dance like a calf despite the problems. That face me each day. Grant me the inner sunshine of Your Holy Spirit.

" HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

 "And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Matthew 10:38-39

Jesus, full of love and compassion, extends His hand and offers us life abundantly and joful, here for eternity." But how much will it cost?" You ask. The answer is short, simple, and painful. "It will cost you everything," the Lord replies.

    Ouch. That's what the rich young ruler must have said when he asked Jesus how he could have eternal life. The Lord commanded the young man to sell everything he had give the money to the poor, and follow him as Lord. The man couldn't bear the cost and had walked away the loser.

    It is worth taking up your cross, losing your life, and following the Lord? Jesus wraps His loving arms around us, reminding us, "Everyone who has left houses or brother or sister or father or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life" ( Matthew 19:29).

What was true for the rich young ruler, is true for us. God Seems to always be pointing to one more area of our life that needs to come under His domain. "Ouch, we reply, "Lord, haven't you asked enough of me? You can be sure that at whatever point you resist, God will persevere.

Lord, what area of my life still needs to come under Your rule? Please show it to me, and then help me to place it under Your domain. May I look to the apostle Paul who counted everything a loss in order to know Jesus. Please Help help me to understand that I have everything to gain when I lose my life  for Your sake. Say it a prayer

          

"Hate. . . But Cling to What Is Good"

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling is
  what is good."

                                                   ROMANS 12 : 9

Christians have a great deal to fight against these
 days: Pornography. Corruption in government.
Abortion. Homosexual right, Euthanasia. Sound
familiar, same sex marriage, Humanism and
secularism in schools.

   But our campaign simply can't be aimed at
what is wrong in our society. We can't rebuke
evil, expose the works of darkness, and simply
stop there.

   Rather, God calls us to lay down our lives for
the people behind the issue we support. Heroism
is an extraordinary feat of the flesh, and
campaign are occasionally won that way. But
not people. Holiness is the only power that not
only defeats darkness but changes our lives,
including the lives of those behind the issues
we oppose.

  That means praying for the pimp who exploit
wayward teenagers on the street. It means
interceding for the homosexuals who march
against city hall for sexual civil rights. It means
 campaigning in prayer for the pornography
mongers. It could mean connecting with the
director of a nearby abortion clinic, or
contacting a government leader who's on the
"take," and letting them know you care about
their spiritual needs. It could mean taking a
right -to-die advocate out to lunch to discuss
life worth living.

   Fighting and winning a campaign may bring
one personal glory, but fight for soul in prayer
and winning them to Christ brings glory to God.

    Approach problem in our society with a
Romans 12:9 frame Of mind. Hate what is evil,
But, in prayer, love the individuals  Behind
those hateful issues. As Jesus said, bless those
who Persecute you and love your enemy.

      

"A Soaring Imagination"

                            Faith is the substance of things hoped for,

                                   The evidence of things not seen.

                                        Hebrews 11 : 1 NKJV

        In his classic self-help book think & Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill wrote, "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, he can achieve." His promise, and that of many others, is that once the human mind has been programmed with a certain expectation, it will begin to act to fulfill that expectation.

        The Scripture declared this principle long before Hill wrote his book. Faith is believing and then seeing. It is expecting a miracle before receiving a miracle.

         The aluminum Company of America coined an interesting word; imagineering. They combined the idea of imagining a product or service, with the idea that this dream could then be engineered into a reality. Throughout history we've seen this principle at work.

         *   A premitive ancestor came up with the idea that it was easier to roll 

             object than drag them--and he carved a wheel from stone.

         *.  A man named Gutenberg imagined that letters might be set in metal and 

              combined to create Words, which then could be printed repeatedly with 

             the application of  ink. He set about to make such a machine.

         *.   Men designed cathedrals that took decades to build --- but build them 

             they did.

             Your future will be impacted directly by the ideas and dreams that you have today. What you begin to believe for, and then how you act on that belief. Will result in what you have , do and are in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead.

          Let your " faith imagination " soar today. Believe for God's highest and best in your life. And then begin to live and work as if that miracle is on its way.

            

           

" I'll be back

        "Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking 

          into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from

          You into heaven, will come back in the same way you have

          Seen him go into heaven.'"                            Acts 1:11

It's one of the rules of the church nursery," my friend with three little girls told me. "When you drop off your child, always tell the. You'll come back. And then by all means come back  it's the only way they'll accept being in the nursery."

         What would it be like for us if the angel on the Mount Olives had said. "Jesus has gone" and nothing more? What if Jesus had said "I'm going to prepare a place for you, but you'll have to get there on your own"? I know what I would do. I would give up hope. I'd be lije a child in the nursery standing alone in the middle of toys and books. Staring at the door that once framed my mother. And I'd cry. Not whimpers but bawling scream of pain and panic. There are few things more frightening to a child than being alone without hope that Mom or Dad will return. For the child like has ended.

        But Jesus is coming back, told me so. I need not spend my days in tear or pain. I can enjoy the fellowship of others who are also expecting His return. And I can tell others about Jesus, friends who wonder why they came into this  world in the first place.

        He's gone, but He's coming back. I know. Daddy told me so. And that mskes all the difference.

 

        Lord, You're promised us. You promised that you'd come back 

        For Us. It's been so long, Lord. When will it be ? Please remind 

        Me often of your promise because I need to enjoy fellowship with

        Other of like promise bacause I need readh other of like mind, 

        and I need to reach others don't who don't know about the 

        The promises of your return.

"Barometer"

 "Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom
  Jesus loved was Following. When Peter saw 
  him, he asked. 'Lord, what about Him? Jesus
  answered, 'If I want him to remain alive until
 I return, what is that to you? You must follow
me.'"

                                                  John 21:20-22

Christian know that it's wrong to compare, yet
 culture has more sociological groupings and
measurements than you can shake a yardstick
 at. We struggle to avoid coming oug on the
losing end as we compare our lot in life with
others,' And if we have faced tragedy, we often
 seek a refuge where  our purple Heart medals
shine more brightly.

    Peter had the same problem. Jesus had just
revealed that peter would be led to a martyr's
death, but not a word had been spoken about
John. Obviously, when Peter sized up the
situation, John appeared to be  getting a better
deal. "Lord, what about him?" He blurted out.

     Jesus' answer was shocking, He allowed no
room. For deserved indulgence, no luxury of
self-pity. In effect Jesus said, "Look, if it's my
will that John lives until I come again, what is
that to you? What I have planned for John is
not your business. Get your eyes off him and
follow me." Rather words for a man facing 
martyrdom! But the Lord knew the greater 
devastation of competing and comparing.

   "Envy rots the boned (Proverb 14:30).     

 Here's the best antidote for envy I've ever
read. Roman 12:2  Is the prescription to
swallow. "Do not conform any longer to

 the pattern of this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind. The. You will
be able to test and approve what  God's will is
his good, pleasing and perfect will."

"Miracle work of Our God"

        "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, 

          but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is 

          Everyone who is born of the spirit".                          John 3:8

         In this reading, we saw that Jesus told Nicodemus, a Pharisee member of the Jewish council, that a person must be born again in order to enter the kingdom of zgod. Predictably, Nicodemus was stunned and bewildered by Jesus' declaration. "'How can a man be born when he is old?"' He asked, the followed up with a crass question as to whether Jesus meant that a man must re-enter his mother's womb and e erge again. Here is one of the most learned men in Israel standing by a theological cincept expressed by Jesus. But his reaction is not unique. Many believers down through the centuries have struggled to understand the process of regeneration. They have done so because regeneration is extremely mysterious. In fact, at it's root is impenetrable.

          Jesus acknowledges as much in His conversation with Nicodemus. 

          "'The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it,"' He says, "'but (you) cannot tell where it cones from and where it goes. So it's  everyone who is born of the spirit."' He is saying that the wirk of the spirit in regeneration is something like wind. We can hear the wind howling, we can feel the breeze against our cheek, and we can even see the devastating result when the wind blows with terrible force. But these are se ondary things we cannot see the wind itself. Even so, we cannot detect the Holy Spirif as He comes to regenerate our hearts, for Ge leaves no footprints. We even pinpoint the momemt of our spuritua resurrection. Nevertheless, regeneration is a spiritual reLity that takes plCe internally and transform a person to meet the requirement for seeing the kingdom of God.

         Because of this mysterious nature of regeneration, many professing Christian struggle to find assurance that regeneration has truly occurred in their lives. It can be difficult to find certainty about the states of our own souls, let alone those of others. But the regeneration wrought by the spirit shows itself in changes to the nature of the person who is born again. At rebirth, the internal disposition of our souls is renewed, so that we come an affection for God we did not have before. This affection is far from perfect, but it is there and it is real. Our hearts begin beating for God and we begin to manifest the fruit of. Changed life.

         Fo you struggle with assurance that you have been truly born again? Scripture makes clear that God wishes His children to have such assurance. Mediate those things study the verses  and apply them to yourself. Do you  see evidence of supernatural change in your life? If so, rejoice, ans rest assured that you will indeec see the kingdom of God.

"The Good Confession"

          "Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, 

           Witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than 

           Which than those which the prophets and Moses said would come.

                                                ACTS 26: 22

Paul previously has declared that his work of preaching and teaching among the Gentile is simply a matter of obedience to Jesus christ, who is God incarenate. He told the Sanhedrin in Acts 23:1 that he had lived in "'all good conscience."' And he told Governor Felix that he had striven "'to have a conscience without offense toward God and men"' (Acts 24:16). Now, as he speaks to King Herod Agrippa II, he makes another ringing declaration that he is simply a servant doing his duty. Having told the king what Jesus commanded him to do, he says, "'Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision."' Indeed, his testimony is that, just as we have seen, he went right to work, calling Jews in Damascus, Jerusalem, and Judea, and then Gentiles as well, to repent and turn to God through Christ.

          Ironically, he tells the king it was it was for his obedience to the Lord's commands that he was seized by the Jews and almost killed. He had been indtructed by Israel's God to preach repentance, but the people of Israel did not want to head. Even more remarkable, Paul says, he was 

Preaching nothing more than Moses and other Old testament prophet proclaimed that the Messiah would suffer and die, the. Rise from the dead, and that His message would go forth to Jews and Gentile alike. But just as the Old Testament prophets were rejected and despised when they called the Jews to turn from wickedness to God, so Paul has been hated by his people.

          Yet Paul is able to give a magnificent testimony of God's faithfulness and assistance through all his difficulties. We have seen instances when Paul appears to have been fearful and anxious, abd the Lord came to strengthen and encourage him (Acts 18:9-10; 23:11). Now Paul declares that God has been with him through all his work, enabling him to stsnd fir. And make his witness before the small and the great. Paul's implication is clear without the Lord standing with him, he would have been crushed long  before. He makes this assertion throughout his epistle and he makes it here in the court of the romN governor, fearl and confidently ascribing to the one true God his call and the strenght to carry it out. This is Paul's good confession" ( ( 1 Tim 6:12-13), his ringing testimony of the faithfulness of the one who called and   Has carried him

"All in the Outlook"

                            The inward man is renewed day by day

                                          2 Corinthians 4:16b    

It's been said that when it comes to living. "Attitude is everything"' this is true in the case of Fanny Crosby ( 1820-1915! ). An eye infection caused her to be blind for the rest of her life. Fanny's attitude? "It was the best thing that could hyve happened to me how in the world could I have lived such a helpgul life had I not been blind?"

         Fanny grew up o serve and glorify God in all she did. She became a hymn writer and eventually composed over 9,000 hymns, many of which are as beloved today as they were over one hundred years ago. Whenever she wrotey a hymn, she first prayed that God would use it to bring many souls to Him.

        You may feel that a disability, physical problem or even an illness is keeping you from being used by God. Ask Him to use you in spite of your challenge, as Fanny Crosby did, and be assured that He will. God looks past your limitations to your heart. No disability can keep God from using you!

"Preparation of Prophecy"

"But ye, brethen, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake  you a as a thief."                 1Thessalonians 5:4

Jesus told many Parables to illutrates the importance of being prepared for His coming. One such parable was about a master of the house who had been robbed. If the master had known the hour the thief was coming, he would have watched to prevent the robbery. The lesson is simple Be prepared. Always be ready for the Lord's return. Which will be as unpredictable as a thief in the night. 1thessaloanians 5:4 Prophecy prepares us to meet the Lord anytime. Prophecy also prepared us for the future events. Hardly. A day goes by that we don't read about wars, natural disasters or lawlessness in the newspaper and different form. These grim headlines can concern us. Yet Jesus told His disciples to look for these signs of the end of the age. World calamities never take God by surprise. John 16:4 Jesus said, "But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them." By reading biblical passages of prophecy you will be prepared for the days ahead. For even though the time of sorrows is coming, that means the day of redcemption is drawing near.

"A PROVEN FRIEND IS A PLUS"

                  "My command is this: Love each other as I have

                       love you. Grater love has no one than this,

                          That he lay down his life for his friends.

                                           John 15:12-13

Do you have a best friend? Would you be willing to die for her or him? It's easy to say yes. Now, but what if someone had a gun to your head? Is there anyone in your life that you love so much you would die for them?

Jesus loves you that much, and to prove it, he actually did die for you. He died so that you would know He was your friend. Jesus is not just some spooky, holy, faraway guy with white robes and a beard. He's someone Who wants to call you friend. You can talk to Him when you pray and tell Him about your day. You can tell Him what you like and what you don't like. 

          Wanted: Someone willing to risk his life to rescue 200 Jewish artists and intellectuals from the Nazis. Faint of heart need not apply.

          Would hewent to Marseilles, France, in August  1941, intending to stay only three weeks. He stayed fourteen months.

          Forging passport and smuggling people over the mountain into spain, Fry and a handful of American and French volunteers managed to save almost 4,000 people from the NZu scourge. Among them were the 200 well-recognized Jewish artists and intellectuals he originally intended to rescue.

          Did Fry have a difficult time motivating himself each day to face the task in front. Of him? Probably not. 

He had little doubt what he was doing haddivine purpose and tremendous significance.

          Most of us will never find oursekves in Fry's position, and often we wonder if what we do throughout our dayhas any dignificance at all. In many cases, it takes more strength to do the trivial tasms than the mlnumental ones.

           If the job we do is difficult, we must ask God to show us how to make the task less strenuous.

           If the job is dull. We need to ask God to reveal ways to make it more interesting 

           If we think our work is unimportant, we need to remember that being in God's will and doing a good job for Him will not only bring blessing to others, but blessing to us nos and for eternity 

           Often it is the people Factor that keeps us motivated. God gives us purpose and make our lives meaningful, but He is always working to bless us so we can turn around and bless other people.

          The tasks you face today are dignificant as you work to meet a need or to see growth in others. You will see God's love moving through your life to others in everything you do for them from putting a bandage on a child's skinned knee to inventing a machine which helps people with asthma breathe.
           Get to know Jesus as your friend. Hang out with My Son. He's great company.

"Empowerment"

"When this became known to the Jews and
Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized
with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was
held in high honor. Many of those who
believed now came and openly confessed their
evil deeds."

                                                ACTS 19:17-18

Power is let loose when Christians start living
out the Gospel on a grass-roots level. Just read
Acts19. The early church unlocked the power
of God's Word as they turned upside their local
communities. Neighbors in Ephesus were
gripped with an awesome fear of God as they
gathered to openly confess their waywardness.
It even says they held the name of the Lord
Jesus in high honor. Can you imagine such a
thing in your community?

    Because first-century Christians lived out
the Gospel on a local level, God got people's
 attention. And the same can happen today.
The Lord wNts to use this time of social
unrest and political change as an
unprecedented opportunity for the local
church to demonstrate the power of God to
change a situation. To change people's lives,
to change a community.

    Empowerment involves the people closest
to a problem learning how to solve it
themselves. Need a few ideas? Just open your
 eyes. Elderly people in dilapidated. Suicide
among teenagers. Lonely widows in busy
neighborhoods. Abused wives and battered
children. Girls with unwanted pregnancies.
Disabled people needing housekeeping help.
Drug abuse in schools.

    These are the problems you live close to.
And when believers begin living out the
Gospel on a grass-roots level, God will get
people's attention.       

    God's life-changing power shakes a
community when a church directly
 addresses the needs in the streets, schools,
 and home. The Gospel is best declared
when it is demonstrated toward the people
 closest to you

Principle or Custom?

            "In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the 

               Commandment  of men"' ---- MATTHEW 15 : 9 

       We have seen that our task in biblical interpretation is to seek the original meaning of each text. The books of Scripture were written in times and place quites different from our own, and as we seek to understand and apply the Bible to our lives it is helpful to know what the authors of Scripture were attempting to say to their own times. But having reached an understanding of the original meaning, we must ask another question: It is proper to apply this teaching to our  lives? In other words, do some teaching of Scripture express merely local customs while other parts express enduring principle?

       A custom is a practice of a certain people at a certain time at a certain locality; it is a matter of preference or expediency and need not be maintained. A principle, however, is a teaching, admonition or precept that is trans-cultural, applying to all people of all times in all places; it must be maintained Customs include the language spoken, the clothing styles worn, and the currency traded by a people. A clear scriptural principle is that there is to be no idolatry. However, there are many biblical teaching that inspire much debate. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 11, Paul teaches that women should cover their heads in worship. Is this a custom of Paul's time or should it be continued as a principle? Similarly, Jesus sends His disciples out with the command that they take nothing ( Matt.10:9-10 ); is evangelism always to be done this way? And should we continue the first-century custom of foot-washing? The list goes on and on.

        To decide such issues, we first should remember that the Bible recognize the ecistence of customs. Within its pages, we see changes in numerous cultural norms. Second, we should allow for Christian distinctives. Paul bases his head- civering directives on the principle female submissin, nut commentators sometimes speculate that he made his command because prostitutes of the day left their heads uncovered. Such speculation bypasses Paul's own rationale. Third, we should look for links to creation. For instance, Jesus appealed to creation to answer a question about divorce in Matthew 19:4-6. Creation principles must always be observed. Finally, when a matter is unclear, it is best to treat it as a principle. By doing so we will be, at worst, over scrupulous, but that is far better than dismissing a divine directive.

               

"Bigger in the Crowd"

          And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw

            him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus,make haste and come      

                        down for today I must stay at your house."

                                               LUKE 19 : 5

          In our large world it's easy to feel that we are nothing more than an insignificant speck in the midst of a multitude. Our world tends to depersonalize us, seeking to make us like everyone else, but God loves us in specific ways that are particular to us.

          Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem to fulfill His assignment on the cross. The multitudes thronged around yhim in such numbers that the diminutive Zacchaeus could. Not see Jesus unless he climbed a tree. Zacchaeus would have been satisfied simply to catch a glimpse of the great Teacher. But Jesus stopped, turned, and looked directly at him! In that momenf, Zacchaeus was oblivious to the crowd around him. Thus began a special time with Jesus that radically changed his life.

           Jesus will relate to you in ways that are unique to you. He knows your past, He knows what you will face in the future. Because He knows everything about you, His word to you will perfectly fit the ciru stances of your life. You may be in a group of Christians who are listening to God's Word, and may hear things from Him that no one else hears. Don't become frustrated with others if they are not as excited about a truth from God as you are. Don't be impatient with them if they ate not implementing God's Word in their exactly as you are. God will personalize His word to you. He will relate to each of your friends in a way specifically meets their needs as well.

"Knowing God"

                   Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for

                     righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

                                         MATTHEW 5:6

Every person is Driven by something whether it is the quest for excellence, the desire to succeed, the thirst for wealth, or the ambition to be known and recognized. Whatever drives you becomes a motivating passion.

        Jesus said the one who has a passion for God will be completely satisfied. Yet for some people, the thought of having a passion for God seems frightening. Prayer advocate David Bryant says that ours fears evolve around three clusters of thought that he describes as, "God won't . . . God will. . .and I can't. . ."

        First people are afraid that God won't come through with what He promised. Many Christians describe the benefits of faith in God in glowing terms of what they have been told you can expect from heaven health, prosperity, soundness of mind, and others blessing. The problem is that many don't understand the fine print of what Jesus call us to do to die to self that He may give life. Yes, there is a sacrifice involved. But the abundant life that God promises far outweight any sacrifice from our end.

        The second cluster of fears includes what God will ask of you. You are afraid that He will ask you to do something you dislike or stop doing something you want to do.

         The third fear is that I can't meet His expectations and He will reject me and push me away like many Christians, you may have tempered a growing passion for God because you were afraid of disappointing Him.

          A passion for God is not about what you do ; it's about what you love. Let knowing God be your driving passion today, say within Me.

Title:      knowing God

Chorus: knowing God 

              and having Him reside within me

              In His love He save me

              the way the thing i do

Verse:     And when i roam He leads me

               And when i slept He kept me

               And when i awake He will speak to me

               About His love nows fills me

Bridge:    I need to be filled within in youe love

               This will surround me yeah yeah

Verse.      And there's your hand shall lead me 

               And your right hand shall hold me 

                Today. . . .yeah yeah

               

"OUR GOD"

"For our God is a consuming fire."

HEBREW 12:29

The God of the Bible is a God of Judgement. Throughout the Bible, in the Book of Isaiah, the judgement of God is a prominent theme. But the Judgement of God is a disquiieting idea in the modern world. Some Christian cringe at the idea of Judgement as they contemplate their own sins. Others want a loving God in whom Judgement is absent. For non-Christians, the idea of judgement simply seems antique and at odds with the tolerant modern world.

  Judgement, we must remember, is intimately associated with Justice. Where there is no Judgement or punishment for the wicked there is no Justice and no righteous goverrnor. As Lord Peter wimsey said, "Justice is terrible, but injustice is worse" (Dorothy Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh, Thrones, Dominations, New York (St.Martin's Press,1998, p.131). Christians who believe in a God who is the righteous governor of the universe must also believe that God will uphold justice through judgement. To lose a just and judging God is to lose the God of the Bible.

  One of the God of the Bible speaks of God as judge is as a consuming" or "devouring" fire. That expression for God originated in Israel's experience at the foot of Mount Sinai:"the sight of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the too of the mountain in the eyes of the Children of Isreal"(Ex. 24:17).This vision of God become a characteristic way of speaking of God. Deuteronomy 4:24, for example, concludes a call to obedience and a warning against idolatry with the words, "for the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." And those words are quoted in Hebrews 12:29, showing that the character and revelation of God as judge have not changed from the Old to the New Testament.

  The same words are echoed by Isaiah. When the prophet speaks of the judgement of God, he uses thr image of fire: "Behol, the name of the Lord comes from afar, burning with His anger, and His burden is heavy; His lips are full of indignation, and His tongue like a devouring fire" (Isa. 30:27). Fire bevome a characteristic way of thinking of judgement, as we see in Peter's second letter: "But the heavens and the earth...are reserved for fire until the day of judgement... The element will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will burned up" ( 2 Peter 3:7).

"Speak it to the Lord in Prayer"

                          " who has known the mind of the Lord? 

                                            ROMANS 11: 34

What an amazing creation of God is the human mind! However, most attention these days is given to computers. How much information can the computer store? How fast can it operate? We often tend to forget that each of us has mind which puts even the most powerful computers to shame. It has been said we use only a small portion of our brains. Even at that our minds are capable of some astounding things. Consider the speed of the brain in eye-hand coordination. The eye sees a ball speeding our way and in an instant sends a message to the brain which inturn send a message to the hand to reach up to catch it. We think a home computer is more than adequate if it has a memory capavity of 128k, of the human brain. It has been said that everything we have ever known or experience is in our minds somewhere. Consider the human mind's ability to reason and to make decisions. Show me a computer which can do these things as wells, or do them at all for that matter. Even though more is being learned about the human mind all the time, we still don't understand its many-faceted complexities, intricacies and abilities.

       How then can we expect to understand the mind of the Lord? How can we ever hope to investigate the mind of Him who knows absolutely everything? How can we whose minds are corrupted by sin expect to comprehend the mind of the holy and righteous God? Isn't that completely presumptuous? Yes, for man by nature it is.

       "But we have the mind of Christ, " Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:16. That means that by God's Word the Spirit reveals the mind of the Lord to us. As believers we know that God thinks thoughts of love and kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. We learn that because of Christ's death on the cross there is no longer in Go's mind any wrath or hatred toward us. We understand that God has only our best interest in mind, that he wants only what is best for us in our lives now, and that he wants us with him in heaven forever. In God's word we come to know the mind of the Lord in another sense. We understand the way God wants us to think and speak and live.

       "Who has known the mind of the Lord? No computer ever built will be able to know God's mind. The greatest minds if men have never nor will they ever discover the mind of the Lord by their own powers. Only believers know the mind of God because he has revealed it to them in his Word.

       

" IRREVOCABLE CHANGE"

             Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, 

          simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not reveaveld 

                   this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."

                                      MATTHEW 16 : 17

Twelve men received the bread and the wine from Jesus as He instituted the Lord's supper on the night of His arrest. All of them had been with Him throughout His ministry; all professed to love Him and believe in Him. And yet. Jesus said of one of them,"'The hand of my betrayed is with Me on the table. An truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man who. he is betrayed"' (Luke 22:21-22). To another He said, "'Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith shoulld not fail; and when you haved returned to Me, strengthen your brethen"' (Like 22:31-32). Later that night the first of the two, Judas Iscariot, betrayed Jesus, while the second, Simon Peter, deniedHim three times.

           The difference? Peter turned back to Christ, as his Master had said he would, for he had come to kmow that Jesus was truly the Son of God, the Father Himself having revealed the truth to him (Matt.16:17). But Judas had no such knowledge he was "'the son of perdition"' (John 6:70). Peter was truly regenerate son of God; thus, he could fall deeply into sin but could not fall away completely. By contrast, Judas fall away because he had not been reborn. Spiritual rebirth, once accomplished, is permanent.

           If it were up to us, we would find every possible way to lose our regeneration and plunge back into spiritual death. But because, as we have seen, it is God who gives spiritual rebirth, we cannot become once again unregenerate. God simply does abort what He conceives and bring to life. Instead, He preserves those to whom He grants rebirth, for we are told that "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil.1:6b). God is working to bring us to the fullness of redemption.

           The Bible tells us that the Spirit of God is given to us as a guarantee, a down payment on the inheritance that is to come (2Cor. 1:22; Eph 1:14). The same Spirit which effecf our rebirth seals us as God's own possession. Our rebith is fixed and cannot be lost. Just as Jesus lost none of His true disciple (john 17:12), He will lose none of His true followers now. Rebirth is permanent. God will not default on the deal. He will finish what He began.

           Peter urges believer to "make your call and election sure" (2 Peter1:10b). The verses listed below assure believer that God will not cast away one yhe has regenerated; study these verse and memorize them. From time to time, you will wonder how God can continue to have patience with you. Let these verses remind you of His grace.

"Every knee shall bow"

So then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taugh, and overflowing with thankfulness"

Colossian 2:6-7(KJV) 

A writer for a local newspaper was interviewing a farmer about the effect of recent weather on his crops. Rain had been abundant and the farmer's soybean and corn crops were tall and lush. "My crops are especially vulnerable right now," said the farmer. This statement took the reporter by surprise. He had planned to focus his article on the good harvest expected and the economic boom it would bring for the town. The farmer went on, "Even a short drought could have a devastating effect." "Why?" Asked the reporter. The farmer explained that while we see frequent rains as benefit, during rainy times the plant are not required to push their roots deep in search of water. The roots remain near the surface, leaving the plants Unprepared for drought. His crop also faced the danger oc sudden strong wind storms. again, because of the shallow root structure, a strong wind could wipe him out in only a few minutes. Some Christian enjoy an abundance of "rain showers" that come in the form of praise services, fellowship with other believers, and times of rich Bible teaching. But when stress enters their lives, these same Christians can lose faith abandon God, or believe God to be unfaithful. Why? Their roots have never pushed much below the surface. Their spiritual life is top-heavy, relying on others more than on personal devotion in prayer and study of God's Word. They are especially vulnerable to the strong winds of adversity or the searing heat of stress. Only the roots grown deep into God will help us endure tough times. Put your roots down more deeply today. Spend time with the Lord...in the Word ...and on your knees.

"Still happen Today"

           "If any one choose to do God's will, he will find out whether

           My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own"

                                                John 7 : 17

There was something about the stranger who walked with those two men on a dusty road that led from Jerusalem to Emmaus almost 2,000 years ago. The two men were talking about all of the events that caused them to believe Jesus was the Savior.

           As the three walked, the two men told how two women had gone to the grave and it was empty; but this they could not believe. Luke (who records the event) says,"As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him" ( Luke 24: 15-16 ). Then the stranger began to explain what had happened in terms they could understand. They invited Him to dinner and suddenly the mystery was over

          Luke says, "when he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him" ( Luke 24:30-31 ). It was the resurrected Christ who had walked with them, and they had known Him not. 

          It is still true today. Sometimes it is the impact of 21" century materialism that blind our eyes and keeps us from recognizing the resurrected Savior. The aura of "intellectualism" keeps us in the dark. Sometimes we are so consumed with ourselves, our plans, and our agenda that we never discover that the resurrected Christ has been with us all along.

          How strange that these two men were so preoccupied that they failed to recognize Him, but then does not the same thing happen even today? Ask Christ to open your eyes spiritually and reveal Himself to you, and invite Him to walk with you day by day.

" Have mercy "All of Me"

 "Have mercy on me, O Lord. . . ; my eye wastes away with grief, yes my soul and my body.

Psalm 31:9

In a document film about three legendary guitarist, Jack white described the first essential for writing a song: "If you don't have a struggle already inside of you or around you, you have to make one up."

     The songs that mean the most to us give expression to our deepest feelings. Many of the Psalms, often called "the Bible's songbook," were born out of struggle. They capture our disappointment and fears, yet they always point us toward the faithful love of God.

      In Psalm 32, David wrote: "Have mercy on me, O Lord. For I am in trouble; my eye wasted away with grief. Yes, my soul and my body!" (V.9). He speaks of a trap set for him (v.4). His own sin (v.10). abandonment by friends (vv.11-12). And plots against his life (v.13).

    Yet, David's hope was not in his own strength. But in God. "I trust in you, O Lord: I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me" (vv.  14-15).

     Psalms invite us to pour ours hearts to God because He has stored up. His goodness for those who trust in Him (v.19).

"The Tragic Flaw"

        "His fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped

          till he became strong.                             2 Chronicles 26 : 15

In literature, a tragic flaw is a character trait that causes the downfall of the a story's hero. That was true of Uzziah, who was crowned king of Judah at age 16. For many years, he sought the Lord; and while he did. God gave him great success (2 chron. 26:4-5). But things changed when his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong. But when he was  strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction (vv15-16).

          Uzziah entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar (v.16). Openly defying God's degree. Pershaps pride convinced him that God's rules applied to everyone except him. When Uzziah raged against the priests who told him this was not right, the Lord struck him with leprosy (vv.18-20).

           In literature and in life, how often we see a person of good reputation fall from honor into disgrace and suffering. "King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He dwelt in an isolated house. . .  cut off from the house of the Lord" (v.21).

           The only way we can prevent the nectar of praise from becoming the poison of pride is by following the Lord with a humble heart.