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Comment by ALCEDES JONES on February 28, 2011 at 12:24pm

Sermon Notes 02/27/2011 Having A Form of Godliness but Denying the Power Thereof

by LaShawn Eley on Monday, February 28, 2011 at 10:07am

Sermon 02/27/2011               Having A Form of Godliness but Denying the Power Thereof

 

Outward supposed piety and inward evil, you're like a nicely groomed tomb.  Outside it's trimmed, pretty, nice looking, but inside it's sinking, rotting, decayed flesh.  These people are hypocrites.  Outside you appear to be in Christ, but inside you deny the power of God (having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof).  The Bible says pure religion is doing good to the helpless.  But people think because they got on their knees and prayed all night they can come out with an attitude and they are absolved.  If you really communed with God, you should want to be the most sweet, gracious, grateful sweetest person on earth.  That evil acting person, they show a form of godliness but deny the power thereof.  Temperance, goodness, faith, those are the things of God.  You can't fake godliness because it's going to run out eventually.

 

II Timothy 3:1-3

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

                Perilous times will come in the last days.  We are in the last days now.  From the cross until now has all been the last days.

 

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

                Men will want everything that is best for them, lovers of money coveting things that everybody else has.  You see people on the music videos and wonder why you can't have that stuff.  That's because you are a lover of yourself more than you are a lover of God, and you are covetous.  Church-goers, Bible lovers, you should not be shocked by anything you read today.  This is talking about people in the church.  But when we look at this list, you wouldn't think this should be talking about church people. Covetous-- longing to possess/wanting to possess the things that others have.  Boasters--to speak with excellence of one's self.  Proud--having an unduly high opinion of one’s self or merits.  Blasphemers--people use Jesus' name as slang or say "God damn".  We laugh at it with comedies.  People blame God for their sin, and say things like, who put this nature in me, ignoring the fact that He gave us a proper way to express it.  Yes, God put the inclination in us to be sexual, but He also gave us marriage.  Disobedient to parents--a gross ignoring of the respect you should have for your parents.  Every child defies their parents at some point, but this is talking about when a child makes disrespecting their parents a way of life.  Unthankful--ingrates.  You do something and people just have no gratitude.  Unholy--to be unholy is to be anything from what God says we should be.  An example, if you fast and then you walk around grumpy and evil with fasting as your excuse.  The Bible says you should go on with your day as normal, if anything be nicer so that God gets the glory and not you.  But not walking around using fasting as an excuse for being unpleasant.

 

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

                Without natural affection, this means unloving.  People won't love their parents, children, siblings, people who you naturally love.  Trucebreakers--not keeping your word.  If you say you'll do it, you should do it.  It doesn't even take a promise; you are supposed to keep your word, whatever you said you will do.  False accuser

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on February 27, 2011 at 5:30pm

MATTHEW HERNY COMMENTARY ON 1THESSALONIANS 4:13-18

Verses 13-18

In these words the apostle comforts the Thessalonians who mourned for the death of their relations and friends that died in the Lord. His design is to dissuade them from excessive grief, or inordinate sorrow, on that account. All grief for the death of friends is far from being unlawful; we may weep at least for ourselves if we do not weep for them, weep for own loss, though it may be their fain. Yet we must not be immoderate in our sorrows, because,I. This looks as if we had no hope, v. 13. It is to act too much like the Gentiles, who had no hope of a better life after this; whereas we Christians, who have a most sure hope, the hope of eternal life after this, which God who cannot lie hath promised us, should moderate all our joys and our sorrows on account of any worldly thing. This hope is more than enough to balance all our griefs upon account of any of the crosses of the present time.II. This is an effect of ignorance concerning those who are dead, v. 13. There are some things which we cannot be ignorant of concerning those that are asleep; for the land they are removed to is a land of darkness, which we know but little of and have no correspondence with. To go among the dead is to go among we know not whom, and to live we know not how. Death is an unknown thing, and the state of the dead, or the state after death, we are much in the dark about; yet there are some things concerning those especially who die in the Lord that we need not, and ought not, to be ignorant of; and, if these things be really understood and duly considered, they will be sufficient to allay our sorrow concerning them.1. They sleep in Jesus. They are asleep, v. 13. They have fallen asleep in Christ, 1 Co. 15:18. Death does not annihilate them. It is but a sleep to them. It is their rest, and undisturbed rest. They have retired out of this troublesome world, to rest from all their labours and sorrows, and they sleep in Jesus, v. 14. Being still in union with him, they sleep in his arms and are under his special care and protection. Their souls are in his presence, and their dust is under his care and power; so that they are not lost, nor are they losers, but great gainers by death, and their removal out of this world is into a better.2. They shall be raised up from the dead, and awakened out of their sleep, for God will bring them with him, v. 14. They then are with God, and are better where they are than when they were here; and when God comes he will bring them with him. The doctrine of the resurrection and the second coming of Christ is a great antidote against the fear of death and inordinate sorrow for the death of our Christian friends; and this doctrine we have a full assurance of, because we believe that Jesus died and rose again, v. 14. It is taken for granted that as Christians they knew and believed this. The death and resurrection of Christ are fundamental articles of the Christian religion, and give us hope of a joyful resurrection; for Christ, having risen from the dead, has become the first fruits of those that slept; and therefore those who have fallen asleep in him have not perished nor are lost, 1 Co. 15:18, 20. His resurrection is a full confirmation of all that is said in the gospel, or by the word of the Lord, which has brought life and immortality to light. 3. Their state and condition shall be glorious and happy at the second coming of Christ. This the apostle informs the Thessalonians of by the word of the Lord (v. 15), by divine revelation from the Lord Jesus; for though the resurrection of the dead, and a future state of blessedness, were part of the creed of the Old-Testament saints, yet they are much more clearly reve

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on February 25, 2011 at 1:55pm

CON'T OF CONTROLLING SINFUL APPETITES

• When you have surrendered to the Lord’s will in the past, what have been the results? Try to give a specific example.

 

• What would surrender to Him look like in your current situation?

 

Address the root problem

Prayerfully analyze why you indulge certain appetites. For the most part, sinful behavior has its root in legitimate needs, such as loneliness, sadness, exhaustion, insecurity, discomfort, etc. (For example, stress might trigger a desire to binge on junk food.)

• After his affair with Bathsheba, another man’s wife, David’s real need was for God’s forgiveness. Instead of turning to the Lord with his guilt, how did he attempt to hide his sin (2 Sam. 11:6-25)? 

 

• According to Psalm 32, written by David, what are the consequences of failing to ask God’s forgiveness? What are some benefits of confession? 

 

• What are the root problem(s) that prompt you to give in to sinful appetites? If you’re unsure, pray that God would reveal them to you.

 

Find a replacement

In general, the more a person focuses on not giving in to a temptation, the more he or she will want to indulge that particular sinful appetite. The solution is to ask the Lord for healthier ways to respond to life’s challenges. (For instance, God may lead an anxious person to call a friend and pray instead of turning to unhealthy snack food.)

• What advice did Paul give believers in Colossians 3:12-17?

 

• Choose one command from the passage that could impact how you resist temptation. How would taking that advice change the way you react to life’s stressors?  

 

• What do you think the Lord would have you do instead of indulging your appetite(s)? You will probably have different solutions for each need.

 

Worship

Humans are designed to worship. Either we will live for the Creator, or we will passionately sacrifice for possessions, people, power, accomplishment, appearance, comfort, or something else. As believers, we are not immune to this tendency.  

• Read Romans 12:1-2. What does it mean to be a “living sacrifice”?

 

• How can you worship God in practical ways as you go throughout your daily routine?

 

• Read Psalm 16:11. Why does worship fill a person with joy and pleasure?

 

• Contrast the way you feel after worshipping and praising the Lord with how you feel after overindulging an appetite.

 

• Why do you think believers continually fall into the same sin when its fruit is always bad?

 

Prayer: In your time of prayer, confess any areas where your appetites are out of balance. Ask God to open your eyes to the emptiness and dissatisfaction sin brings. Pray for His help in breaking the unhealthy patterns you have developed. When you surrender fully to the Lord

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on February 25, 2011 at 1:45pm

Controlling Sinful Appetites

Appetite can be defined as “a strong desire or urge.” While we typically associate it with food or drink, this word refers to any powerful wish, including the longing for security, a craving for wealth, or a sexual desire.

Most of our appetites, in their purest forms, are God-given. The problem arises when we allow them to usurp His rightful place on the throne of our hearts.

• Aside from the ones listed above, name some appetites that can get people into trouble.

 

• Which of your desires sometimes get out of control?

 

God’s Path to Freedom

According to worldly wisdom, the way to overcome unhealthy desires is by adhering to a series of rules and guidelines. Although moral absolutes do provide us standards for behavior, they are not the means to godliness. God wants us to depend on Him to find relief from our fixations. Here are a series of helpful steps in addressing any appetite that gets out of control.

Confession

Admit before God that indulging a wayward appetite is disobedience. Agree with Him that not only are the effects of sin painful, but the sin itself is a risky and ineffective way to attempt meeting your needs.

• In explaining how believers should treat one another, what does Ephesians 4:32 imply about the way God treats us?

 

• What reassurance does Romans 8:1-2 give about your relationship with Christ despite your weaknesses?

 

Take a moment to confess your sin and receive God’s forgiveness.

Surrender

You must admit that you can’t conquer a harmful appetite on your own. Ask the Holy Spirit to provide the strength you need to resist it.

• Why do you think Paul says that rules such as “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch” are of “no value against fleshly indulgence” (Col. 2:21, 23)?

 

• Jesus said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing” (John 5:30). Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). Is there a contradiction in these two statements? Explain.

 

• Believers are “crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20). Since we are still alive physically, what do you think this means (see also Luke 9:23-24)?

 

• Why does weakness give us an opportunity to be strong (2 Cor. 12:9-10)?

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on February 22, 2011 at 10:16am

ThoughtstoPonder] Adultery...

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It is a fact that the human mind can't comprehend God in His fullness, however, I think sometimes we make it too hard to understand Him, or don't even really try. What I mean by that is that I think we get so taken by the fact that He is God and His thoughts are so far above us and His ways are so far above us that we give up and don't realize that at least in some areas He has given us pretty clear pictures of His thoughts and His ways.   God often uses word pictures so that we can understand Him. We have emotions, such as joy, sadness, jealousy, and anger among others. Well God gave us those emotions and He often uses them to explain His ways and likes and dislikes, because we can understand them, and thereby in at least some small way understand Him.   In the Old Testament God calls Himself the husband of Israel:   Isaiah 54:5     For your Maker is your husband--         the Lord Almighty is his name--     the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;         he is called the God of all the earth.  [NIV]   In the New Testament the Church is called the Bride of Christ. These are meant to convey to us how God looks at our relationship with Him. He is our Lord and our God, our Master and our Savior, and yet He tells us that He wants a marriage relationship with us.   I want to look at this marriage relationship because it will tell us a lot about who God is and what He expects of us. In looking at this I think we also see why Satan hates human marriage so much and has tried and continues to try to pervert it and destroy it. God instituted marriage:   Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.  [NIV]   Because marriage has been weakened even in the Christian community to the point where it is disposable to many people, let me show you what traditional Jewish thought was on marriage:   In traditional Jewish literature marriage is actually called kiddushin, which translates as "sanctification" or "dedication." "Sanctification," indicates that what is happening is not just a social arrangement or contractual agreement, but a spiritual bonding and the fulfillment of a mitzvah, a Divine precept. "Dedication," indicates that the couple now have an exclusive relationship, that involves total dedication of the bride and groom to each other, to the extent of them becoming, as the Kabbalists state, "one soul in two bodies." (Quoted from http://ohr.edu/1087)

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on February 17, 2011 at 4:40am

Add Prayer to Your Everyday Routine

Inspiration   >  Add Prayer to Your Everyday Routine

Add Prayer to Your Everyday Routine
by Norman Vincent Peale

 

“Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17) doesn’t literally mean to pray constantly, but rather to be in a continuous attitude of prayer. By investing even the smallest and most routine details with spiritual meaning you will profoundly increase your spiritual development.  How do you do this?  Try the following suggestions to bring faith to your everyday routines.

1. Be a Channel of God's Grace.
When you learn about an account of sorrow and tragedy in someone’s life, in a newspaper, through a co-worker or friend, pause and pray for that person. In this way, you compassionately identify yourself with the human sorrow and become a channel through which God’s grace may be extended.

2. Be an Instrument of God's Will.
When you read or hear of critical conditions in national or international affairs, especially those emphasizing potential negatives, counter those projections with the affirmation of a positive attitude. Ask that God’s will be done in all human affairs. And offer a prayer that God may use you as an instrument of His will.

3. Employ Spiritual Strategy.
Before writing a letter or email say a prayer, “Lord, help me to say what You want me to say.” As you stamp and seal or hit send, bless your message in Christ’s name, and bless the person to whom it is addressed. When you pay a bill, thank God for material blessings, and bless the store owner and the clerks, too.

4. Send Up Sincere Prayer.
While driving your car, if you become annoyed by impolite and careless actions on the part of another driver, instead of reacting in kind, remain affable and send up a sincere prayer for that driver. You can never know what pressures motivate his actions. Perhaps your prayer will reach his problem. One thing is certain, it will reach you.

5. Bless Your Home.
When working around the house, “sprinkle” some love and faith on the clothes you are laundering. Put a dash of both into the meals you cook. And as you go through your daily chores, bless every room with the peace of God. This is a most effective way to improve the atmosphere of the home.

Comment by Logan Beverly on February 12, 2011 at 1:21am

Thanks Edwin for your comment. ( =

Comment by Logan Beverly on February 10, 2011 at 9:55pm

On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand. This line comes from a song that is based on the bible verse about the wise man building his house on the rock.

Comment by Logan Beverly on February 10, 2011 at 9:40pm

The Prophet Jeremiah said “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.” This prophecy was full-filled when Judas Iscariot returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. Judas realized that he was wrong to betray Jesus for money, so he wept and threw the thirty silver pieces at their feet. The chief priests and the elders took the money, but realized that putting it in the treasury goes against their laws because it was blood money. Instead of putting it in the treasury they took counsel, and decided to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers.

They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. (A Psalm of David Psalm 22:18). This prophecy was full-filled in (Matthew 27:35) And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Psalm 22:18 foretells what will happen to the Messiah and Matthew 27:35 talks about what happens to Jesus. In John 19:23-24 it states: When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier, also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” Now if you look at Psalm 22:18 and compare it to Matthew 27:35 you realize that they’re pretty much the same, so it’s not hard to come to the realization that Jesus is the Messiah.

And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy and rebuild the temple in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” (Matthew 27:39-40) While they tried to cut him with their words they failed to realize that the Messiah’s death was foretold as being death through the piercing of the hands, and feet. Another matter of significance is the prophecy stating that the Messiah's legs would be unbroken and that he would be pierced in the side. Jesus's legs weren't broken because the soldiers realized he was already dead, and the only reason they broke the legs of those they crucified is because it would quicken their death. One of the soldiers decided to pierce Jesus's side with his spear and so Jesus full-filled another prophecy. They failed to realize that at that very moment Jesus was full-filling the prophecy only the True Messiah could full-fill. They failed to realize that at that very moment the True Messiah was dying for their sins, my sins, your sins, and the entire world’s sins. At that moment he was dying for past, present, and future sins of the world.

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on January 24, 2011 at 12:13pm

 

OUR DAILY WALK by F. B. Meyer

January 24 UTTERMOST SALVATION "He is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them."-- Heb  7:25. THE ATTRACTION of the Divine Nature. We draw near because we are drawn. As the sun is ever exerting a drawing power on each planet and each particle of stardust in the solar system, so God is ever attracting us to Himself. To all eternity we shall be ever drawing nearer to Him, though there will be ever an infinite distance to traverse. When Jesus was lifted up on the Cross He began to draw all men unto Himself, and that magnetic attraction has continued through the centuries. There is no reason for us to be afraid of God. He is Love! He is a consuming fire to our sin, but His Nature is essentially lovely. Moses exceedingly feared when he ascended Sinai, amid the trembling of the mountain and the heavy clouds that enclosed the Divine Light. But, as we learn from the 12th chapter of this Epistle, when we approximate to God, we encounter three circles. The innumerable Hosts of Angels, including the Cherubim and Seraphim, with their burning love and purity! The Church of the First-born, the purest and noblest of elect spirits! The Spirits of the Just made perfect, inclusive of our own beloved ones that have passed over. Surely where these are, we may venture without fear. The God in whom they live and move and have their being cannot be other than infinitely beautiful to know and love. Lord, Thou hast been the dwelling-place of all generations, and Thy secret place shall be our home for ever. "Draw us, and we will run after Thee!" Our fears are met by the Risen and Living Saviour. First, He will ever live to make intercession for us; but next He will go on sanctifying us lower down, even to the uttermost. To the depths of our nature, He will carry His gracious work. Salvation has three stages. It begins with deliverance from the penalty of the past. Our sins are blotted out. The penalty is remitted or turned to benediction. Then we are saved lower down. The process of purification goes deeper and deeper into our nature. Finally, our body is renewed through the resurrection-grace of Christ. And surely there is a sense in which the grace of Christ will ever sink deeper, giving us a profounder realisation and participation in the things that will open before us in the eternal progress. Here we see in a glass darkly, there face to face. Here we know in part, there we shall develop in the knowledge and love of God. Salvation to the uttermost! PRAYER I draw near to Thee, Almighty and Ever-living God, in the Name of Jesus Christ, my High Priest and Mediator, who hath passed into the heavens, where He ever liveth to make intercession for sinners. Forgive and accept me for His sake. AMEN.

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