Love Endures

 

Author: Phillip Ross

In 1 Corinthians 13 the very first gift that Paul sets love over and against is tongues. In Paul's day as in ours tongues was a special concern. Two kinds of tongues are mentioned here: tongues of men and tongues of angels. This is the only time that the phrase "tongues of angels" occurs in Scripture. The obvious references can only be to human and angelic languages. No doubt Paul had encountered glossolalia among some of the Corinthian members. Given what we have seen about the desire of some of the Corinthians to mix Greek ideas into their Christian theology, it should come as no surprise that the highly valued spiritual practices of the Greeks at the highly valued Oracle of Delphi, and no doubt elsewhere, had found their way into Corinthian worship. People seem to have a natural propensity for religious syncretism.

Indeed, the idea of mystical communication and its interpretation by specialized priests has a very long history in the religions of humanity. Even the Roman Catholic Church has held on to vestiges of this practice into the Twenty-First Century. Until Vatican II the Roman Catholic Church recommended that church members not read the Bible because of its interpretative difficulties. Rather, Catholics were to rely upon the clergy in this regard. The clergy would read and explain the Scriptures for the people. The point is that such a practice was simply the continuation of what I have called God's mystical communication and its interpretation by specialized priests.

Paul's mention of tongues of angels is, I believe, an allusion to the practice of mystery glossolalia that had become part of the Corinthian church experience. If so -- and I believe it was, Paul was placing the gift of love above it. He said that Christian love is more important than mysterious communication with God, even more important than translating the gospel into foreign languages. Why? Because apart from the primacy of Christian love, any translation of the gospel into a foreign tongue would be inadequate and inaccurate because the person doing the translating would lack the main ingredient of faithfulness -- love.

In addition, Christian love is more important than communication with angels. Why? Because Jesus Christ has been given all authority and anything divine that needs to be communicated has been or will be communicated through Him and/or through the structures of authority that have been given in Scripture. Angels take a back seat in the light of Christ.

In essence, Paul was saying that Christian love is more important than anything anyone can say, more important than words. As the old adage goes, "Actions speak louder than words." Apart from the actual manifestation of Christian love, words are just noise. "And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:2).

Paul said that love is more important, more valuable than the ability to perform miracles. This is a big one. To be able to miraculously move mountains from one place to another is nothing compared to Christian love. Even perfect and complete understanding of all religious mysteries and all knowledge of the world are nothing compared to Christian love. Paul is saying that not only are words without love nothing more than meaningless noise, but that thinking itself, thought and understanding are nothing without love. Any thought or ideas that anyone may bring to the table in defense of some position -- any position about anything -- is nothing but noise apart from Christian love. Paul has essentially and effectively undermined all opposition to the love of Jesus Christ, which manifests as Christian love among God's people.

"If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:3). Here Paul suggests that people can do sacrificial things, good things, noble things, and still lack the essential ingredient of Christian love. But to do so amounts to nothing. Even martyrdom can be nothing but an effort of works-righteousness apart from the actual manifestation of Christian love provided through regeneration by the power and presence of God's Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. This is a very significant statement because it identifies Christianity as an expression of Christian love, not theology, not mystery, not personal sacrifice or commitment to some ideal. Agape is love in action. Having said this Paul moves on to define

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is a call to Christian faithfulness. Here is the very heart of Christianity. Here are the characteristics that necessarily mark all Christians. And conversely, anyone who claims to be a Christian but does not manifest these characteristics is deluded about his or her membership in the body of Christ.

What is patience other than the good-natured tolerance of delay and incompetence? Patience means not flying off the handle when things don't go they way that you think they ought to go. Patience means endurance and perseverance in the face of difficulty, complexity and confusion. Patience means not chomping at the bit. Patience and worry are opposites.

Kindness and patience go hand-in-hand. Kindness means being warmhearted, considerate, humane and sympathetic toward others. Patience and kindness are related to manners, social deportment. Manners are the commonly understood and practiced behaviors that communicate kindness and patience. Manners provide various ways to demonstrate kindness and patience. Manners give legs (or wings) to kindness and patience.

Paul then shifts gears and sets out some limitations to his definition of love by expressing what it is not. The definition of a thing in the negative, saying what something is not, is a way to provide for maximum freedom of definition. The Ten Commandments employ this method. By saying what a thing isn't, you allow the widest possible interpretation of what a thing is by setting the limit at what it is not. Love is many things to many people, and we are free to understand love in many different ways. There are as many ways to understand love as there are people, and yet the various understandings of love have much in common. So, rather than trying to provide a detailed list of everything that love is -- an impossible task, Paul simply says what it is not. And by implication, then, as long as these negative characteristics are avoided, all other definitions of love are viable.

Love is not envious or boastful, said Paul. Both envy and boasting are functions of pride. So, Paul is saying that love and pride are opposites, and that they don't and cannot mix. Nor is love arrogant or rude. Arrogance issues from feelings of unwarranted importance or overbearing pride. To be rude is to lack civility or good manners. And again, we see that arrogance and rudeness are functions of pride.

In addition, love "does not insist on its own way" (1 Corinthians 13:5). Of all of the characteristics Paul enumerates, this may be the most important. It means that love understands itself to be a servant, not a master. To love another is to live in service to him or her. And to keep this service from simply feeding the ego of the person loved, Christian love is first given to Jesus Christ. Christians love Christ first and foremost, and then love their brothers and sisters in Christ as an expression of their love for Christ. This means that our service to those we love is not a matter of simply doing whatever they want us to do for them. But rather it means that our service to those we love in Christ is a matter of doing what Christ wants us to do for them. Christ is the governor of our love and service. By loving Christ first and foremost our love for others in Christ does not serve or feed the selfish desires that abide in the breast of every person. Rather, our love for and service to others is directed, not by them, not by their felt needs, but by Christ.

------

Phillip A. Ross founded http://www.Pilgrim-Platform.org in 1998, which documents the church's fall from historic Christianity. Demonstrating the Apostle Paul's opposition to worldly Christianity, he published an exposition First Corinthians in 2008. Ross's book, Arsy Varsy -- Reclaiming the Gospel in First Corinthians, shows how Paul turned the world upside down. Now available!

Article Source: www.articlealley.com

Is Your Citizenship in Heaven

By Kurt Hartman Jr.

Each day, as a Christian, I am faced with the task of discerning the days I am in. As an American, I am daily confronted with the decline of our nation, at the hands of both political parties.

I grieve for my nation daily, as the new norm becomes one that has sunk further in depravity, hopelessness, and despair. Yet, I cannot dwell on these things. Why? Because my citizenship is elsewhere, as is my allegiance.

Now, this is not some declaration of disloyalty to the USA. I am still obliged to abide by its laws, pay my taxes, and be subject to the governing authorities. Paul more than makes that clear in his letters. He was writing from Rome, so I am guessing he knew a little bit about corrupt societies, and their officials. He still made the statement.

My citizenship is elsewhere, means exactly that: My sonship and calling is from above, through Christ Jesus. I am an ambassador of heaven, to the earth. Many times that means that it causes a logical conflict: The argument of self-interest vs. the interests of the kingdom of God.

It's a hard pill to swallow. When I want to bewail the fate of America, I have to look at what that accomplishes in the grand scheme of things. Yes, I can pray for our leaders, our government, the people of the USA. If they choose a different course than what God dictates, I can do nothing more. I can speak for righteousness, but if no one listens, it is of very little comfort.

With that in mind, one has to look at what God has foretold about the world system. We can clearly see it falling apart, from man-made structures, like the stock market, to organic structures like fault lines and geological plates.

Wars and rumours of war have begun to reach our ears, with the revolutions taking place in Africa, war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and civil unrest becoming an everyday thing in South and Central America.

I believe that we are approaching the time where, according to scripture, "men's hearts fail them for fear, because of the things coming upon the earth." Is it because bad things are happening in America that I feel this way? I have to say, that honestly, I would be lying if I didn't say that it has an impact as to how I view the times.

However, the most important timepiece of civilization as a whole, is Israel. When I look at how nations, even my own, are departing from support of Israel, I find ample support for my suspicions that what was foretold in John's vision of the Apocalypse(Unveiling) of Jesus Christ, is about to come to pass.

Israel has been abandoned to the point, that the only friend they will have left is God. And this is the timepiece. My nation is a part of Biblical prophecy, in the sense that we, by electing a leader who is in the process of abandoning Israel, are abandoning Israel as a nation.

The United States has been Israel's closest friend, in the natural sense of the word. Once all of her friends have left her, the only one left to love this nation is God.

What does that mean? Very soon, Christ Jesus, who was died, buried, and rose again, will come again for his saints, and to set up His government upon the earth. He will set nature, government and the heavens at harmony with each other, and take his place as rightful King of the Earth.

I am a citizen of Heaven. I will rule and reign with Him on the earth. Not because I am a good person. Not because I have been particularly compassionate or kind. Because of the blood that he shed for our sins, on the cross, and my acceptance of that fact.

I don't have to depose the kings of the earth. I don't have to be violent. I just have to accept the sacrifice of Jesus, and what he has done for me on the cross. Will you do that? Do you want to be forgiven for the things you have done on this earth? Humble yourself, and ask Jesus to be your king. Let your citizenship be elsewhere, so that you are not subject to the confines and dictates of this earth, and the whims of nations.

About the Author: Kurt Hartman came to know Jesus at a very early age. He asks that you accept Christ as your Savior as well. In his regular job, he sells OTR Tires, at http://www.otrtiresupply.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

 

Salvation - Why You Need To Get Saved Immediately

By Philip Christopher Jones

Not Saved? 2 Real Good Reasons Why You Need to Get Saved Immediately

1. Why do you need to be saved immediately? Maybe this scripture in Revelation 20:15 will put the fear of God in you to get saved immediately: "And whosoever was not found written in
the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

2. You need to get saved immediately because you have no guarantee you will be here 5 seconds from now. If your life was suddenly terminated without being saved you would instantly go to hell and eventually end up in the lake of fire. And you have an enemy, Satan, working around the clock to try to harm and kill you so you will do just that, end up in hell. Right now the only thing keeping you from dying and going to hell is the grace of God. But how long will God's patience with your rebellion last? Please don't test His patience.

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2b KJV).

How do you make sure you're saved and your name is written in the Book of Life?

Your sins must be cleansed by the shed blood of Jesus Christ by receiving Him as your Lord and Savior. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:22b that "without shedding of blood is no remission (forgiveness)." It also states in Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Then in Romans 6:23 it says "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Receive God's free gift of eternal life now and have your name instantly written in heaven so you will not spend eternity in the lake of fire.

Pray this Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I admit I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried and was resurrected on the third day. With your help I turn from all sin and now invite Jesus Christ into my heart. Help me to obey your Word as I follow Jesus Christ, the Lord of my life.

If you prayed that prayer and were sincere then you are saved and your name is written in the Book of Life in heaven. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV).

What would God have you do now?

1. Read and obey God's Word daily.

2. Develop your relationship with God by spending a quite time with Him daily. Also set aside a time of thanking, praising and worshipping Him.

3. Share your love for Jesus Christ with others.

4. Be baptized in water and be baptized in the power of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues according to Acts 2:4.

5. Thank, praise and worship the Lord with other believers in a bible believing church.

6. Above all, love God more than life and walk in love towards others and forgive others as Jesus Christ forgave you.

May you now understand what "Why You Need to Get Saved Immediately" really means.

Like a closer walk with God?

Click "Closer Walk" link below for FREE eBook.

About the Author: Closer Walk -
http://www.holypowerwalk.blogspot.com Want to know how to live by faith? Click http://www.overcomingfaithworkshop.blogspot.com. Philip C Jones writes Christian online articles.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

 

Are You Alone? Is God Alone?

by: Christine Breese, Ph.D.

You are not alone. We are all here together and all you have to do is reach out to others and they will be there for you. You'll have to make yourself available to others or you won't be able to have "right fellowship." Go to the spiritual circles in your area, go to events and gatherings where you think you'll find the kind of friends you would like to have. You cannot sit in your house and still accomplish having friends. If you don't want to be alone, then you have to get out more! You also have to be willing to talk to people and risk putting your heart out there.

On one hand, really, we are all alone. We are born alone, and when we die we do that alone too. No one can go with us exactly where we go when we die. We go there alone. However, we find friends on the other side just like we have them here. Death is only a set change and you just continue your adventures, albeit with a bigger identity.

The real question is: "Is God alone?" If we are all Godself and it is one being having many lives, then we are alone. It is a great terror to face, the deep aloneness that is within us all. I invite you to feel that terror and face it fully, let it devour you, and then see what is left. After all the emotional fallout and fear, after all the layers and thoughts that go through you, there is peace when you accept the great aloneness that is in God.

However, God does not fear being alone. God is in deep meditation having all these adventures in its mind, imagining everything that is happening here, there and everywhere in the universe, imagining you and your life. So being alone isn't so bad for God. There’s a lot to do! Does God have some buddies? Well, we don't know about that, and probably won't while we're here in the human form, but it seems to me that God must have some buddies, and maybe the universes that God's friends imagine are quite different from the universes that this God imagines, the God you are an expression of.

Well, there's some fodder for the ol' brain, eh? In the meantime, just be willing to make yourself available to others. Don't sit in your room all the time and wonder why you're alone. Go out and mingle with all the other humans and don’t be afraid of being hurt by them. Most people fear mingling because they don’t want to get hurt. Well, you probably will be hurt by some and loved by others. Just accept that and be brave and get yourself out there where the other people are. Make friends, and when you're with them enjoy them, and when you're alone in your house be at ease. You’ll be hanging out with someone else the next day.

When you’re alone, be fully alone. Enjoy the aloneness. Don’t fear being alone. It’s exactly what you need if you want to get to know your true nature better. When you don’t fear being alone anymore, you are no longer alone. You are filled with Godself. Aloneness is only a perception, anyway. God does not feel alone, even though God may well be the only one of its kind!

About The Author

Christine Breese, Ph.D. is the founder of University of Metaphysical Sciences, Wisdom Of The Heart Church, and Starlight Journal. Breese travels discussing consciousness, enlightenment, and awakening. A charismatic speaker, she brings humor to an otherwise serious subject. You can view Christine Breese video satsangs at youtube.

How to Forgive Yourself

No matter what the occasion, we often find ourselves looking for the best gift possible to give those we care about. We want to find some token of our affection to give them that says, “I care about you.” Of course, the best gifts to give those around us aren’t those that can be bought in any store. To show how much we love others, we need to let go of the hurt and pain that they have caused and forgive them. Love and forgiveness along with second chances are the best gifts we can possibly give to others.

But what about yourself? Have you thought about giving yourself the gift of forgiveness this year? Are you ready to be free and ready to move ahead into a life of graciousness and love in the future? If you are, you must forgive yourself for the mistakes you’ve made – and that can be a difficult thing to do! It’s easy to try and hide our mistakes and not think about them, but what we hide has power over us; it can sit there in the back of our minds and fester, eating away at our self-assurance and our sense of God’s love for us, making us wonder if we are truly worthy. We have to let go of our mistakes and forgive ourselves just as God forgives us. And He does forgive us, completely and with no reservations!

“You are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful.”

Nehemiah 9:17

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Luke 6:37

When you are ready to forgive yourself, there are six steps that I’ve found very helpful in helping me on the path to self-forgiveness. Perhaps they will help you in your struggle to let go of you past mistakes and embrace forgiveness:

Six Steps Toward Forgiving Yourself

1. Take out a sheet of paper and write your name at the top. Now take some time to think about all of those things you’ve never let go of in your past that you haven’t forgiven yourself for.

2. Write down what those transgressions are and who you hurt; how you hurt them, etc. Was it verbal or physical abuse? Dishonesty? Neglecting someone you cared about? Betrayal? Rejection? Theft? Rape? Lying? Addiction? Adultery?

3. Write down how you feel about yourself because of these unresolved feelings over your past mistakes. Be very honest with yourself. Although you may have made amends or been forgiven by others, do you still feel unworthy? God knows how you feel and He sees your heart. Express on paper how you feel and let the emotions flow – release them!

4. Decide to forgive yourself. Forgiveness is not a feeling but a decision of the will and one of the greatest Gifts from God. He has told us to forgive and that He will give us the power to do so – but it all begins with the decision to do so.

5. Take your list to God and acknowledge your forgiveness to Him. “Lord, I come to You today and give up my unforgiveness. I forgive myself for ____________________. At this moment, I choose not to hold these offenses against myself, but put them into Your Hands. God, heal my emotional wounds and help me to be able to move forward without regrets and help me to let go of the past and start fresh. God give me the ability to offer upliftment and comfort to someone else with the same comfort you have given me. I release my past sins of ____________into Your Hands.”

6.Destroy the list in private. This visual exercise can be very freeing. Whether you decide to shred it, burn it or tear it up and scatter it in the trash, imagine your past mistakes being destroyed and floating away in the same manner.

This is what it means to be “born again.” The Lord doesn’t want us to dwell on what has happened before – our lives as Christians are about who we are now and in the future, walking in forgiveness and love. So give yourself a wonderful gift that is free of charge and yet priceless this year – forgive yourself!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Alone with You in this moment of meditation and prayer, I release any unresolved feelings of resentment or regret.

Help me through this process of healing.

I release to you any unresolved feelings that I have toward myself. I understand that not forgiving myself is disobedience toward you.

Forgive me for any pain that I have caused in the lives of others. Forgive me for not letting go of the past and moving forward in love.

I experience now the relief of forgiveness to the depths of my being.

Heavenly Father, I acknowledge and give thanks for Your love that strengthens me, comforts and soothes me emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.

In the complete fullness of Your Love, I can and do forgive myself.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for healing my heart and bringing Joy and Meaning back into my life.

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

This is a new beginning releasing the past and embracing forgiveness. Forgiveness opens the door to the enrichment of all our relationships so that they flourish with understanding and love. With the forgiveness we express today we open the way to a brighter future.

Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=397046&ca=Religion

* About Rob Moment

Robert Moment is an innovative forward-thinking Christian business and marketing coach, speaker and author of newly published book, God Will Always Be There for You. Robert is passionate about empowering individuals on how to experience God's love, power, joy, peace and prosperity. Visit http://www.ChristianInspirational.org and sign up for the FREE Christian Living e-course. Follow me on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/ChristiansFaith.

The Righteous And The Fall (The Concluding Part) (The Travelling Seminary Preacher Series)

Excuse me sirs and madams, it is not your place to disqualify yourselves from the ministry. It was not out of your merit that the call of God came upon you.

" And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron...." Heb 5:4. kjv

There is nothing pious about you leaving the pulpit and don't let the devil convince you that you are doing the right thing. Yes, submit yourself to discipline as it has been written or agreed upon by whatever ministry or church organization you find yourself (even if it is you that founded it). These are actions that have been designed to restore a 'fallen' brother or sister. You are not too big for it because you too are also part of the body.

The pride in this attitude shows itself in many facets. Don't become like those who think and even say that you are different i.e. with different rules to guide you. Yes we know that to whom much is given, much is expected, but it is the same Father that gave that one son who shed His blood for all. He didn't die for the laity and the clergy separately.

Please ignore the example being peddled about of those who on 'falling' turned away from the ministry willingly, it is God that calls not man or you i.e. you didn't call yourself. If He wants you to leave the ministry, He will inform you just as He called you (even definitely, without mincing words). Go to God before you are deceived into short changing yourself. Yield yourself to Him and to church discipline. You don't fight for the pulpit, but remember that He saved you first then called you afterwards gave you a pulpit. The pulpit came later and He is able to give you another pulpit or restore you even to the one you submitted to.

Everything should be balanced, don't fight for the pulpit or ministry i.e. even if you 'founded' it. It is not yours but God's. Rather subject yourself willing to whatever discipline that is meted but as long as your spiritual authority has not been withdrawn you are still God's minister even though a pulpit has been withdrawn presently.

The righteous will rise seven times. It is also saying your position is in God's hand and not in yours or men. It is saying your relevance is in the eyes of God and not yours or men.

It is also saying God is able to keep you from falling. That is, even if you fail as we all define falling, yet you are still standing as far as God is concerned. What did Christ tell peter?

" when thou art converted.." Lke. 22:32 kjv

And since all scripture is meant for us, He is also saying to you 'when you are restored'. It is not an 'if' but a 'when' so there is a definite promise of restoration. Don't allow the devil through self and the expectation of men i.e. both the world and the church to cheat you off your reward. There are those who have not just left the pulpit or ministry because of their 'failures' but eventually and sadly left the faith. And as you are being sent unto that field, learn from their grave errors and walk as one who can't fall because you are in the hands of the Everlasting Arms. Amen.

(Bukisa ID #137879)

Content Source: The Righteous And The Fall (The Concluding Part) (The Travelling Seminary Preacher Series) - Bukisa.com

The Righteous And The Fall (The Concluding Part) (The Travelling Seminary Preacher Series)

Excuse me sirs and madams, it is not your place to disqualify yourselves from the ministry. It was not out of your merit that the call of God came upon you.

" And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron...." Heb 5:4. kjv

There is nothing pious about you leaving the pulpit and don't let the devil convince you that you are doing the right thing. Yes, submit yourself to discipline as it has been written or agreed upon by whatever ministry or church organization you find yourself (even if it is you that founded it). These are actions that have been designed to restore a 'fallen' brother or sister. You are not too big for it because you too are also part of the body.

The pride in this attitude shows itself in many facets. Don't become like those who think and even say that you are different i.e. with different rules to guide you. Yes we know that to whom much is given, much is expected, but it is the same Father that gave that one son who shed His blood for all. He didn't die for the laity and the clergy separately.

Please ignore the example being peddled about of those who on 'falling' turned away from the ministry willingly, it is God that calls not man or you i.e. you didn't call yourself. If He wants you to leave the ministry, He will inform you just as He called you (even definitely, without mincing words). Go to God before you are deceived into short changing yourself. Yield yourself to Him and to church discipline. You don't fight for the pulpit, but remember that He saved you first then called you afterwards gave you a pulpit. The pulpit came later and He is able to give you another pulpit or restore you even to the one you submitted to.

Everything should be balanced, don't fight for the pulpit or ministry i.e. even if you 'founded' it. It is not yours but God's. Rather subject yourself willing to whatever discipline that is meted but as long as your spiritual authority has not been withdrawn you are still God's minister even though a pulpit has been withdrawn presently.

The righteous will rise seven times. It is also saying your position is in God's hand and not in yours or men. It is saying your relevance is in the eyes of God and not yours or men.

It is also saying God is able to keep you from falling. That is, even if you fail as we all define falling, yet you are still standing as far as God is concerned. What did Christ tell peter?

" when thou art converted.." Lke. 22:32 kjv

And since all scripture is meant for us, He is also saying to you 'when you are restored'. It is not an 'if' but a 'when' so there is a definite promise of restoration. Don't allow the devil through self and the expectation of men i.e. both the world and the church to cheat you off your reward. There are those who have not just left the pulpit or ministry because of their 'failures' but eventually and sadly left the faith. And as you are being sent unto that field, learn from their grave errors and walk as one who can't fall because you are in the hands of the Everlasting Arms. Amen.

(Bukisa ID #137879)

Content Source: The Righteous And The Fall (The Concluding Part) (The Travelling Seminary Preacher Series) - Bukisa.com

A True Servant of God

What is a servant of God, and what does one gain as a true and faithful servant? What does God look for in those who serve Him? Our true, one and only God, by His own acts, has over the centuries, proved that He is a God of love and grace, exercising perfect justice and judgment, and extending mercy to those seeking to serve Him. (Ex 34:6-7) Even to the ungrateful and wicked He has expressed kindness. (Matt 5:45) God delights in the fact that His sovereignty is administered in love. (Jer 9:24)

Accordingly, to the one being a servant of God, He desires people in His universe who serve Him because of love for Him and for His fine qualities. As a servant we must love first God and, second, our neighbor. (Matt 22:37-39) We must love God's sovereignty; we must desire it and prefer it over any other. (Ps 84:10) We must be the kind of Christian that, even if it were possible for us to become independent, would choose His sovereignty because, we as true Christians know that His ruler ship is far wiser, more righteous and better than any other. (Isa 55:8-11; Jer 10:23; Rom 7:18)

As to being a servant of God, we serve Him not merely because of fear of His almightiness nor for selfish reasons, but out of love of His righteousness, justice and wisdom and because of having the knowledge of God’s greatness and loving-kindness. (Ps 97:10; 119:104,128,163) God's servants exclaim with the apostle Paul: Oh, the depth of the riches both of wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?" Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?” For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. (11:33-36)

As a true servant of God, one comes to know Him, and really knowing Him means to love Him and stick to His sovereignty. Concerning the true servant, the apostle John writes:Everyone remaining in union with Him does not practice sin; no one that practices sin has either seen Him or come to know Him." And, "He that does not love has not come to know God, because God is love." (1 John 3:6; 4:8)

Just as the farmer sows his seed with love and care, the faithful servant of God spreads His Word with the seed of peace and love, not with wrangling, strife, tumult and the use of force. And the servants doing the sowing are servants of peace, not quarrelsome, belligerent or riotous. Therefore peaceful conditions must exist in Christians in order for their sowing to produce fruitage of righteousness. (Jas 3:18)

As a true servant of God, one must exercise self-control as Jesus did. He set the example for us to follow, for Jesus exercised self-control in all His works. The apostle Peter, when calling to the attention of house servants the need to be in subjection to their owners, wrote: For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps; who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth"; Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. (1 Peter 2:21-23)

In the "last days" lack of self-control was to be one of the characteristics marking those who would not be practicing Christianity as a true servant of God. (2 Tim 3:1-7) However, since Christians are to be imitators of God and of His Son (1 Cor 11-1; Eph 5:1) they should strive to cultivate self-control in all things. (1 Cor 9:25) The apostle Peter stated: "Supply to your faith virtue, to your virtue knowledge, to your knowledge self-control, to your self-control endurance, to your endurance Godly devotion, to your Godly devotion brotherly affection, to your brotherly affection love. For if these things exist in you and overflow, they will prevent you from being either inactive or unfruitful regarding the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:5-8)

Concerning the faithful servant of God, such ones are chosen by God to be joint heirs with His Son, to receive incorruption and immortality. In order to obtain the heavenly body, one must die, giving up the body of flesh, to receive the new body by a resurrection, just as a seed planted "dies" disintegrates, and is of an entirely different form and appearance from the plant that results. (Rom 6:3-5) (1 Cor 15:35-53)

It is evident throughout the Bible that the hope of a true servant of God has been to receive everlasting life at God's hands. This hope has encouraged God's servants to maintain faithful. The apostle John quotes Jesus as saying: "For God loved the world so much that He gave His only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in Him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

For the true servant of God to get life, the individual must keep his mind fixed "on the things above, not on the things upon the earth." (Col 3:1-2) To the servants of God to whom are the hearers, Jesus said: "He that hears my word and believes Him that sent me has everlasting life, and he does not come into judgment but has passed over from death to life." (John 5:24; 6:40) Also John says that a Christian knows he has passed from death to life, if he loves his brothers. ( 1 John 3:14)

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Why Bad Things Happen To Good People

Free will. It’s that simple. Man was created with a free will, which is exactly how we got in the mess that we are in now as a human race.

For those who believe, when man was created he was given free will. He could do anything he wanted but because all he knew was how to do good, that’s all he did. He was given a command not to eat from a particular tree that was in the middle of the Garden of Eden which God called the tree of knowledge. It’s full name actually was the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

God told the man not to eat from the tree because in the day that he ate from it he would die. Well, he didn’t die physically (at least not on that day), he died spiritually in that, the moment that he ate from the tree he felt a detachment from God’s Spirit.

He no longer felt like he was one with God. In fact, he felt like he was all alone although he wasn’t but he felt that way anyhow. At that moment he immediately became conscious of a new awareness that he hadn’t known before. He realized he was naked which he had not known before because his mind was always on God before, but now his mind was on himself and he saw he was not clothed.

He immediately sought something to cover himself up with and hid from God because he felt ashamed.

He was ashamed that he had disobeyed God and ashamed that he now knew things that he should not have known.

The reason that Adam (the first man) was able to end up in this situation was that he had free will. In other words, God did not restrict his actions. Why? Because Adam was made in the image of God. He was a reflection of God in the earth and since God had a free will, man was made just like God with a free will to do whatever he wanted. The thing was, however, he only wanted to do what God asked him to do until he ate from the forbidden tree which gave him knowledge of other things that he could do.

Why was the tree there? That is a question for god himself but I think I may have an answer.

No matter what the situation or condition, God always gives us a choice. Even if one of the choices is a bad one. Why? (you’ve got a lot of questions don’t you) Because God doesn’t want robots that do exactly what he wants them to do because they don’t have a choice to do anything else. God wants people to follow him who truly WANT to follow him not people who follow him because they have no choice in the matter.

This may sound strange but if you think about it for a while it will make sense to you. Would you want someone following you because they didn’t have any other choice? (now, there’s my question)

The answer is no.

You want people around you who themselves want to be around you not because you left them no other choice. God is no different. How would he know that Adam really wanted to obey him if he was not given a choice to not obey him?

Simply he wouldn’t know.

Well, man failed the test and plunged mankind into a swampland of misery an pain but before he even decided to disobey God, God had a plan to rescue him.

So why do bad things happen to good people?

Free will. The ability to do what you want when you want without God stopping you. Why doesn’t he stop a person who is about to do something horrible? Because once God makes something it stays that way forever or until he chooses to end it’s existence.

Mankind was made with a free will for God to interfere with a man’s free will, God would be violating the very essence of what he made man to be…. A free acting individual. In essence he would be violating his own nature.

Because man was made like God, he had a piece of God in him. He has a piece of the very nature of God in him. When the scriptures say that God breathed life into the nostrils of the man, it was his own breath that he put in him.

Man had a piece of God in him. He had God’s life force in his lungs and all through his being.

From your science classes you know, oxygen is throughout the body. It’s in every part of you, literally god is in every part of you. So for him to interfere with your free will would be to him like interfering with himself.

When the Devil tempted man to eat from the tree God told him not to, he was tempting him to be “his own man.” In essence to be his own God (the same thing that got Satan put out of heaven, trying to assume the seat of God. Now he was tempting the man to do the same thing). We know this because he said to him “you shall be like gods knowing good and evil.”

God knew man was going to disobey him but he let him do it anyhow because that’s the way he made him, a free being. And just like today he knows when people are going to do something they shouldn’t and he doesn’t stop them either.

Neither does he stop you.

Have you ever done anything wrong? Have you ever done anything bad? Of course you have. Did God stop you? No he didn’t. So why should he stop someone else because we think their bad thing is worse than ours. And who is to judge who’s deeds are worse than somebody else’s?

God is totally fair. He gives everyone the same freedom. It’s the only way to treat everyone justly. If he were to stop people in the middle of doing something wrong there would be a lot of strange looking situations in the world.

Man’s free will is the reason why bad things happen to good people and unfortunately it’s going to stay that way until Jesus comes and changes everything back to being good again. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Revelation 21:4

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What is God Teaching You During This Recession

We’re living in challenging economic times. Some of us have lost our jobs or have to take on second jobs to make ends meet. Many of us are now cutting corners, cutting back and even cutting our own hair to try and save money so that we have enough to pay the bills at the end of the month. It is during times like this that we can learn an important lesson about God and His love for us.

We can’t blame God for our financial burdens. He did not cause the current economic crisis, and recessions are brought on by man’s many mistakes and various world events. But God isn’t surprised by the recession, either. He is the beginning and end of all things and knows the past, present and future. Through it all, He also knows our real needs, not the need of money and possessions that have gripped most of us in the past. Fortunately, He is always there for us and reminds us:

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence,’ The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man to do me?’”

Hebrews 13:5-6

This is such a powerful Bible verse because it holds so much we can hold onto during a recession. First, it reminds us that we must not give in to the love of money. The more we obsess possessions and success, the farther we remove ourselves from God’s loving presence. If we worry constantly about what our financial future holds, we are short-changing God, because if we truly believe in Him and trust in Him, we don’t have to worry at all!

All we need to do to ride out the recession is put our faith fully in God’s plan for us. He will give us all that we need in this life, and eternal life in the next one. But to get these rewards, we must ask for God’s guidance and protection. We must turn away from being discouraged or fearful.

“They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.”

Psalm 112:7

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

Psalm 46:10

The Psalms tell us clearly that we need not worry or fret. We simply need to “be still,” and let the Holy Spirit provide for us and give us peace. How do we do this in troubled times? We remember who God is and His amazing power to transform our lives. With the Lord granting us forgiveness of our sins and promising us eternal life in the next world, how can we be afraid of what we are facing in this world? We can be content knowing that the Lord will provide what we need in this world and will prepare us for glory in the next. Know these things, how can we help but be content with our lives, knowing that we have everything that we really need, and so much more!

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About Rob Moment

Robert Moment is an innovative forward-thinking Christian business and marketing coach, speaker and author of newly published book, God Will Always Be There For You. Robert is passionate about empowering individuals on how to experience God's love, power, joy, peace and prosperity. Visit http://www.ChristianInspirational.org and sign-up for the FREE Christian Living e-course. Follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/ChristiansFaith.

THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE FALL- part 1 (THE TRAVELLING SEMINARY PREACHER SERIES)

All scripture quotes are from the King James Version of the bible except otherwise stated.

It is a good thing we are gathered here today with this one verse in mind.

“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief".Pr 24:16 kjv

This is an important scripture that speaks about a very critical issue that every seminary student would do well to lay to heart i.e. falling. Looking at this scripture some things easily comes to mind. Things like falling as it has to do with being a spiritually low point in a moment or point in time. Falling as it has to do with sin.

For the preacher man, the former seems to carry more weight than the later. No man or woman of the pulpit wants to 'fall'(in quote). We say in quote here as it has to do with this particular interpretation of falling. The preacher man who has come to some level of success or desires to come to any level of success does his or her utmost to keep from falling. This particular scripture talks of the righteous falling seven times but nobody wants to fall even once! Yet the import of this scripture when viewed in this perspective sheds a great light into the error many walk in today’s ministry.

Pastors in training, much has been written and said about integrity, character, holiness, even image. That is, as it has to do with the minister of God Much has been said about this and for good reasons too. This is because the world (the visible church inclusive) and life in general can be most unforgiving to one whom sitting in this office (the office you are all training to assume) should 'fall'.

There are some professions where it is not given a second glance when there is one character failure or the other. In fact, there are some professions where is presumes or expected! You know some that would readily come to mind. And it would be thought to be suspiciously strange if one (in that profession) goes through it and at the end of the day(maybe on retirement) still come out as clean as a whistle i.e. without one scandal tainting his or her name. Frankly, people will just presume that he or she did some things but either he (or she) hid it well or let's just say knew the right people.

Then there are other professions (we are not going to say politics) where lying, subterfuge, betrayal etc is just a matter of expediency and management (and every thing else in between).

In this profession you are about coming into, some one can loose an office for being seen in front of a brothel (just a picture of him or her in front of one will do. But in some other, even after being found out to have committed murder (or any other heinous crime) can by good management, political expediency etc still win another term in office.

However, the profession you are about coming into is not really so. It is such that just a suggestion of doubt or a question mark on your person can cost you so, so much. Ministers know this, and you should very well put it in mind. So all the emphasis in integrity, character, and image is very well justified.

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Content Source: THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE FALL- part 1 (THE TRAVELLING SEMINARY PREACHER SERIES) - Bukisa.com

Children's Bible Stories

Kids can be absolutely serious in their telling of the Bible's stories, and it's often during these story-telling times that teachers become aware of how well the children understood the story. It's hard to find a way to present a story so that children will understand it, especially since they're busy trying to learn all sorts of new things about the world in which they live. But teachers can rarely get exasperated with the children when the stories are told like this:

"David was a king skilled at playing the liar."

"Moses died before he reached Canada"

"Moses led the Hebrews to the Red Sea, where they made unleavened bread, which is bread without any ingredients."

"Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Republicans."

"In the gospel of Luke, they named Jesus Enamel."

"Jesus healed many leopards and preached to some Germans on a mount."

"Samson slayed his enemies by pulling down the pillows of the temple."

"Jesus gave the golden rule which says, 'Do one to others before they do one to you.'"

"One of Jacob's sons, Joseph, gave refuse to the Israelites."

"Jesus followers were called the 12 decibels."

"The worst of the disciples was Judas Asparagus, and he was so bad they named a terrible vegetable after him."

"The greatest miracle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him."

If you have spent much time teaching kids, I'm sure you could lengthen this list quite a bit with your own stories of children's interpretations. Although it may be hard at times for children to grasp the meaning or importance of the Bible stories, one story must be conveyed in such a way that they won't be confused, and that is the Gospel story. Without a doubt, when they understand the full impact of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, they will be eager (as children can be) to share the Bible with others. And that eagerness will show up in their desire to better understand all of the Bible's stories.

But, how can you help children develop their understanding of the Bible's stories? Is there any specific approach that might help? Well, there is one way that I have found to be very helpful, and that is to tell the Bible stories in order from Creation to Christ, showing them how that God promised to send Jesus from the time of Adam all the way through the Old Testament, and how He took care of the problem of sin.

During a sleep-over, one young girl shared the Gospel with her friend, and as a result, that friend believed in Jesus. Isn't it exciting to see children eager to see their friends saved, and making an effort to share Jesus' love with them? This doesn't happen unless the children understand the importance of the Bible's message. They will be disinterested, and not see the importance of sharing if they don't understand. This is a challenge to all adult believers to make sure kids know what the Gospel is, and also help them see the importance of sharing it with others.

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* About Aleena Denison

Aleena Denison has a heart for seeing the message of the Bible presented in a clear way,and is dedicated to sharing Jesus with the lost and helping believers see their responsibilities in evangelism, discipleship, and Bible study. For more information and free downloads, see http://www.goodseed.com