God wants to take you places ~ Jack Graham






“Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?”
-- Amos 3:3
Something wonderful happens in our relationship with God when we get into agreement with him. That’s why I love today’s verse of Scripture. You see, when we are in agreement with God, our walk becomes progressive.

God isn’t satisfied just to stroll with you casually through life. He wants to take you places. He wants to shape your life for the future he has planned for you—one that will give you tremendous satisfaction and joy! And the way he does this is to walk with you as a participant in your life. 

Look at today’s verse. It’s saying if you are going to walk with him, you have to agree to meet! That makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? You and I make agreements with our friends just like that every day.

The next thing God wants is for you to take a step of agreement about another aspect of your life, and then another. For instance, the Lord wants you to agree with him about how you’re going to spend your time and your money. He’s looking for agreement from you on how to run your business, how to support your church, and how to treat your family.

Do you think there’s room for improvement in your walk with God? Are you ready to let him move you forward his way? If you are, I’ll tell you how to do it.

Get into agreement with God. Trust him and walk faithfully with him. That’s your calling as a Christ-follower. And he will bless your steps!


GOD ISN’T SATISFIED JUST TO STROLL WITH YOU CASUALLY THROUGH LIFE. HE WANTS TO TAKE YOU PLACES!

Return to Me ~ Kay Arthur


How well do you know the Old Testament?

How well do you know what God has to say about Israel?

Sometimes I‟m amazed, and other times I‟m amused as I watch the presidents and the heads of other countries try to achieve peace in the Middle East. Believe me, Beloved, according to the Word of God it will never be lasting peace until Israel itself returns to God. He says, “„Return [to Me]…[and] I will heal your faithlessness.‟”(Jeremiah 3:22)

Our study this week is focused on Jeremiah chapter 3 and chapter 4. And in Jeremiah, He cries to them, “Return to Me.” Over and over again He says, “„Return [to Me] O faithless sons, [and] I will heal your faithlessness….‟” (Jeremiah 3:22) We‟re looking at eight precepts for returning to the Lord. I‟ve given you one of them.

We‟re going to pick them up as I take you through Jeremiah chapter 3, where I left off, all the way through Jeremiah chapter 4 because that‟s our procedure. Our procedure is not to just bring you a message from Jeremiah, but rather to take you through a book of the Bible verse-by-verse so that you see exactly for yourself what God is saying. And as we do that, you need to remember that [His Word is truth, and His Word sanctifies them.] (PARAPHRASE, John 17:17) As you go through the Word of God like this, Jesus‟ prayer for you is being answered because

He prayed for all of those who would believe on Him, not that God would take us out of the world, but that He would keep us from the evil one.] (PARAPHRASE, John 17:15) He says this in John chapter 17. And then He says, [Father, sanctify them, set them apart consecrate them through Thy truth Thy word is truth.] (PARAPHRASE, John 17:17)

Jesus also said when the devil tempted Him in Matthew chapter 4—He turned to the devil, and He said, “„It is written, „Man… [doesn‟t] live [by] bread alone, but…,‟” now listen carefully, “„…[by] every word that [comes] out of the mouth of God.‟”(Matthew 4:4) And so as we go through a book, I want you to hear every word that has come out of the mouth of God because it‟s important. As we do this then we pick up these eight precepts.

Now the first precept of the eight about returning to God is to recognize that God wants you to return. It‟s not that, “If I come back to Him, will He take me?” Oh no. He is the one that wants you to return. So as you go through Jeremiah 3 and Jeremiah chapter 4, you are instructed—if you‟ve got your study guide and you‟re studying along with us—you are instructed to mark every reference to “return.” So I can look down at my Bible immediately and see every time He says return.

Now if you have not gotten a study guide you really need to do this.

You need to go online to preceptsforlife.com, and get our study guide. Also you need to go on there and e-mail me. I love to get your e-mails; they just absolutely thrill me and encourage me. And I want to know what God is doing in your life, but I also want to know the questions that you have.

So that, it is really a wonderful relationship that you and I can develop through the internet in talking to one another as we do a study. So I want to thank all of you that have e-mailed me. I piled up in bed; I read 2,000 of ‟em. And just was praying and thanking God, and rejoicing, and feeling like I got to know you better.

So that is just wonderful, absolutely wonderful, and I thank you. Just know I want it to be a two-way relationship even as God wanted a two-way relationship with Israel. Well, I left you in verse 10. And if you will remember what I said, after Solomon had sinned and his heart turned away from God, God divided the kingdom into two parts: the Northern Kingdom called Israel, the Southern Kingdom called Judah. Israel played the harlot. The Northern Kingdom played the harlot from the very beginning. (See 1 Kings 11:1-13) They started with an idol that Jeroboam set up, a golden calf, in Bethel and in Dan. (See 1 Kings 12:25-33)

And they never had a good king. They never had a godly king. God sent them prophet after prophet, Hosea, others, but they would not listen. And so God took them into captivity under the Assyrians because they played the harlot. They turned to Assyria; they turned to Egypt for help instead of turning to God. Just like, in a sense, Israel does today. I know, because I know some members of the Knesset. I have friend in Israel.

We have a ministry in Israel.

I go to Israel every single year—you don‟t have to be afraid. I mean, they‟ll let you know if you‟re not to come, but you don‟t have to be afraid. So anyway, I go, and one of the things that as I go I hear, is that Israel is afraid of what the United States is going to think. Israel is afraid of how the nations are going to respond. How are the nations going to respond when they went into Gaza? Because all the press that comes against Israel makes Israel really look like the enemy. If an Israeli is killed you hardly see it, but if a Palestinian is killed then it is all over the place. Now what‟s going on?

We‟re trying to get peace in the Middle East, but it‟s not going to happen until Israel returns to the Lord. Israel is walking in unfaithfulness.

They are seeking the favor of the nations. And so He says this, “„Because of the lightness of [our] harlotry…,‟” verse 9 of chapter 3, “„…she polluted the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. Yet in spite of all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but rather in deception,‟ [says] the LORD.” (Jeremiah 3:9-10)

They acted like it, but they really didn‟t do it. I thought, “Oh my goodness, what would happen if Benny Elon would stand before the Knesset. What would happen if he would say, „We must repent. We must return”? That is his heart, but his people won‟t listen to him. His people won‟t listen to him. He says, “And the LORD said to me, „Faithless Israel has proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. Go and proclaim these words toward the north...,‟” it says, “„…and say, “„Return faithless Israel….‟” (Jeremiah 3:11-12)

Now why would He say, “Go and turn to the North?” Well, think of the map of Israel. And, and as you look at Israel, and you go to the north, and that‟s the way you have to go because if you went to the east there is a desert. So any enemy that is going to come into Israel is either going to come from the south, like Egypt, or they‟re going to come from the north. And so He says, “Go and proclaim…toward the north….” (Jeremiah 3:12)

All right, Assyria is to the north. It was Assyria that took them captive. And He says, “„…Return, faithless Israel…I will not look [on] you in anger. For I am gracious,‟ [says] the Lord; „I will not be angry forever.‟” (Jeremiah 3:12) I will not be angry forever, so I want you to return.

All right, now how does He want her to return?

This is the second principle that I want you to see, the second precept for returning to the Lord, you have to do it with your whole heart. You have to do it with your whole heart. You cannot say, “Okay, I‟ll return. I‟ll return.” No. You‟ve got to do it with your whole heart. It‟s just like 2 Corinthians chapter 7.

If you will go to 2 Corinthians chapter 7, in that chapter what God is doing through the apostle Paul is He‟s talking about two kinds of sorrow. He‟s talking about a godly sorrow, and then he‟s talking about a worldly sorrow.

A worldly sorrow is this, he says, “[Now I] rejoice…,” he says, “…not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance…;” repentance is a returning. It is a turning from evil and turning to good, “…for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything…. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret…,” a turning around, “…leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:9-10)

And so if you‟re going to return it can‟t be a half-hearted thing. It has to be a whole heart. So He says, “She did not return to Me with her whole heart.” And that‟s why He‟s saying, “Listen, faithless Israel is better off than faithless Judah.”

So the third thing that I want you to see is found in verse 13. And this is what He says, “„“Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the LORD your God and [you] have scattered your favors to the strangers under every green tree…,”‟” (Jeremiah 3:13) If you are going to return to God and be healed of your faithlessness you have to number, know, number one, that God wants you to return.

Number two, you have to learn that it is a matter of the whole heart. It can‟t be this worldly sorrow; it‟s got to be brokenness. So number three, you‟ve got to acknowledge your sin. If Israel would stop right now and get on their faces and acknowledge their sin, I mean, God would move on their behalf. You know what? I‟ve written a novel called “Israel, My Beloved.” It‟s a true story in novel form. And in that book you see what it finally takes to bring Israel back to their knees, and to true and godly sorrow, and to repentance.

When you pray for the peace of Jerusalem, you‟re praying for the return of the Messiah. You‟re returning—you‟re praying for His return, for His coming, His second coming because that‟s when they are going to repent. But that‟s another story we‟ll have to look at later. But right now, you‟ve got to take a break, and I don‟t want you to miss this message. And I‟ll be right back.

Acknowledge your evil. This is the way that you return to God. He says, [If you return to Me, I will heal your faithlessness.] (PARAPHRASE, Jeremiah 3:22) All you have to do is come that way, but when you come you must do what He tells Israel to do. Now watch what happens, “„“Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the LORD your God… [You‟ve] scattered your favors to strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice‟….” (Jeremiah 3:13)

Doesn‟t that remind you of 1 John chapter 1, verse 9? That if we confess our sins. If we name them for what they are, if we say, “I‟ve transgressed against You,” then God will heal us. God will heal us. God will accept us. So “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive… our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, KJV) He says, “„“Return, O faithless sons,‟ declares the Lord; „for I am a master to you, and I will take you from [one] city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.”‟” (Jeremiah 3:14)

Now what He‟s doing is He‟s pointing to the future. He says, “„Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding. „It shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land,‟ declares the Lord, „[that] they will no longer say, „the ark of the covenant…,‟ And it will not come to mind, nor will they remember it, nor will they miss it, nor will it be made again.‟” (Jeremiah 3:15-16)

This verse makes me even wonder if they are ever going to find the Ark of the Covenant. But I can assure you from this passage that at the end of time, when Jesus Christ comes back, they‟re not going to need the Ark of the Covenant. Why? Because Jesus is going to sit on the throne of David, and the Ark of Covenant represented the throne of God, the presence of God with them.

And Jesus is going to be with them, the Messiah, Mashiah, is going to be there with them. Now what is this going to bring? This is going to bring peace. Listen to what He says, “„At that time they will call Jerusalem „The Throne of the LORD,‟ and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of the LORD; nor will they walk anymore….‟”(Jeremiah 3:17)

They‟re not going to walk after the stubbornness out of their own heart. Not anymore because we‟ll have returned, and He will heal their unfaithfulness. Because at that point they will acknowledge their sin, they will weep, and they will mourn over their sin. Zechariah tells us this. (See Zechariah 12:10) And then He says, “„In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers as an inheritance.” (Jeremiah 3:18)

In other words, when Jesus comes back then what‟s going to happen is the people are going to come out of the land of the north, the Jewish people, and they‟re going to return to their own inheritance. It will not just be the people of Judah, but it will be the people of Israel. And this is what Ezekiel teaches. Ezekiel talks about two sticks, two sticks that represent the North and the South and how they come together. (See Ezekiel 37:15-23) God is a restorer, a restorer of His people and that‟s why He says, “„Return, O faithless sons, [and] I will hear your faithlessness….‟” (Jeremiah 3:22)

“„Then I said, “How I would set you among My sons and give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful inheritance of the nations!” And I said, “You shall call Me, My father, and [will] not turn away from following Me.”‟” (Jeremiah 3:19)

You‟ll never walk again away from Me. You‟ll never roam again. You‟ve got to know this, Precious One, that as His children we are not free to roam from Him. We are to be faithful; and this is why He is saying, “Return to Me.” So He‟s pointing them to the future, a future that they want now, a future that they desire now. They want peace in the Middle East. The nations talk about it. The United States of America sends over secretaries of state to say, “Hey, peace in the Middle East.”

It would really be a coup for us if we could get it. But I want to tell you something, if you study the Scriptures you know that peace in the Middle East, lasting peace, is not going happen until Israel returns to God. And when they return to God, and Messiah comes, then He is going to take away their sins in one single day. All right, now listen to what He says, “„Surely, as a woman treacherously departs from her lover, so you have dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel….” (Jeremiah 3:20)

There is a deceit. There is a wickedness. There is a treacherousness about their behavior. And, you see, we need to see that to turn away from God is to deal treacherously with God. In verse 21 it says, “A voice is heard on the bare heights, the weeping and the supplication of the sons of Israel; because they have perverted their way, they have forgotten the LORD their God.” (Jeremiah 3:21)

Why are they weeping? Why are they wailing? Why are they crying out on the bare heights? Bare heights that could be lush, and full, and have lots of trees. It‟s because of their sin. And then He says in verse 22, “„Return, O faithless sons…,‟” I‟ve quoted it to you over and over again, “„…I will heal your faithlessness.‟” (Jeremiah 3:22)

What is God saying to you today, Precious One?

“Return. Return. I don‟t care where you‟ve been. I don‟t care what you‟ve done. You come to Me the way you are right now. You hear My call, humble yourself before Me. You confess your sin. I want you to come with your whole heart, and I will meet you there. And I will heal your faithlessness.” He says, “„…Behold, we come to You; for You are the LORD our God.‟” We come to you. For You are the Lord our God. “„Surely, the hills are a deception, a tumult on the mountains. Surely in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.‟” (Jeremiah 3:22-23)

The salvation of Israel is not going to be in any covenants, in any treaties with any nations. It is only going to be in returning to God. And I want you to know that no matter the deals you make, no matter the things that you do, if you don‟t return to God there will be no healing.

Which brings me to number four; the fourth precept for returning to God and that‟s this, you come to Him not to anyone else. Not to a church, not to a denomination, not to anyone else, not to the arm of flesh, you come to Him because in God alone is salvation. There is salvation in no other. As it says in Acts chapter 4, “…There is [no] other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12, KJV) And that is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And Jesus means, “Yehshua,” and our Savior and Christ means, “the Promised One.”

It says, “„But the shameful thing has consumed the labor of our fathers since our youth, their flocks…their herds, their sons…their daughters. Let us lie down in our shame, and let our humiliation cover us; for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth [until] this day…we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD Our God.‟” (Jeremiah 3:24-25) And that‟s why there is shame, humiliation, pain, death, devastation, crying and tears, and loss because they wouldn‟t return to the only One that could heal their faithlessness.

Don‟t be like Israel.

Do you have alliances that are mutually beneficial? (87-4) ~ Barry Werner


Do you have alliances that are mutually beneficial? (87-4)

Effective leaders use all their strength by recognizing, developing and utilizing the people around them. They know how to develop healthy relationships and healthy alliances with those on their own team and those on other teams. Read 1 Samuel 19:1-23:18.

In the dark days when David scrambled from cave to cave to escape death at the hand of King Saul, he turned to his friend Jonathan for strength and encouragement. At great risk to himself, Jonathan warned David and told him to hide out from his father’s wrath for a time (19:2). Each time Saul’s animosities against David resurfaced, Jonathan would again risk his life to help his friend David. Even though Jonathan knew God had chosen David – and not him – to rule Israel, even though he was the king’s oldest son, Jonathan remained faithful to his friend until the very end of his life.


David possessed the foresight to know that he couldn’t go it alone. He worked to build trust and friendship into his leadership. David’s friends and later his forces were loyal to him.

Effective leaders possess the unique ability to build alliances with people on their team. What alliances do you now have that are mutually beneficial? What do you do to foster them and encourage their growth? Can you think of any alliances – professional or personal – that are having a negative impact on you or others on your team? What actions do you need to take to make all your alliances mutually beneficial and positive?
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Are you an effective encourager? (87-5)

Hebrew Calendar ~ Dry Bones

   


  • Hebrew Calendar (1994)
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Hebrew Calendar (1994)

Hebrew Calendar (1994)

(1994) Dry Bones cartoon: Sukkot and the Hebrew Calendar.
Today's Golden Oldie is a Dry Bones cartoon done 15 years ago for Sukkot in 1994.
Back then folks were beginning to get excited about the dawn of a new century (on the civil calendar). In 1994, the holiday fell in August. This year it begins at the end of next week, on Friday evening October 2.

Born of God overcomes the world ~ Bob Caldwell











5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
For every believer, being born of God holds a hope and glory that is as deep and rich as God Himself. Held within our born again spirits is a "genetic pool," (spiritually speaking) that makes the scriptural declaration that Christ is within us our collective hope of glory. John has already described this new life, as being capable of freeing us from sin's bondage and being our source to love others similar to the way Christ loves us. Here John continues to expand our legitimate hope and expectation of what has been birthed within us. First, he tells us this new life is the result of faith and faith alone. It is not the result of some special mystical experience of those who have earned this rich, new life. It is a gift received by faith in Christ and is not based in any way on the efforts of those who receive it.
This amazing new life creates within us not only a love for God but also a love for all those who have been born of God. This is a test of the legitimacy of being born of God that is not often respected by those who claim to be Christians. It is a mark against those who believe in Jesus that the world around us seldom declares that they know we are followers of Christ because of our love for one another. It is vital that we, therefore, take personal responsibility to nourish and develop this life, lest it become dormant and unfruitful.
The love we should have for one another begins when we first love God and thereby keeping His commandments (v. 3). As we love God and His will, we will have the spiritual resources within us to genuinely love one another.
We are also taught here that those born of God have by faith the capacity to overcome the fallen world in which we must still live. This is, of course, is no small hope. Once we are born of God, it becomes very clear how out of place we become in this world. Our hearts yearn for things that we once had no interest in, and we begin to grow a dislike for the pleasures of sin for which we once would have died. Therefore, do not underestimate what can happen when faith ignites a new spiritual genetic force within you. Love and victory will be its result. This new life within you has the capacity to genuinely love God, love one another, and find victory over a fallen world of sin!

1 John 5:1-10
 1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
The Certainty of God's Witness
6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.

1 John 5:1-10
v. 1 Whoeverpas (Gk.) each, every, any, all; some of all types. This is an open invitation, excluding no one and including everyone who believes. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.
Believespisteuo (Gk.) to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in. True faith is not just something that happens in your head. Biblical belief occupies the mind, affects the heart and influences one's actions.
Jesus is the Christ – The word Christ here means anointed one. This title was understood by every well-informed Jew to be the promised Messiah. The Old Testament scriptures are full of details describing what the Messiah would be like and what He would do. Therefore, to believe that Jesus is the Christ would mean that you believe Jesus to be the Savior God has been promising would come. It also means that you believe that all the descriptions of the Messiah in the Old Testament apply to Jesus Christ. For example, if you believe Jesus is the Christ according to the Old Testament Prophecies, you also believe:
  • He is virgin born, Immanuel (God with us). – Isaiah 7:14
  • He is the sacrifice for the sins of the world. – Isaiah 53
  • He resurrected from the dead. – Psalm 16:10
  • He is the Son of God. – Psalms 2:7-12
  • He will someday rule all nations as the Mighty God. – Isaiah 9:6-7
  • He is that one, most important Prophet and that following Him is a matter of life or death. – Deuteronomy 18:15-19
Born of God – This is a phrase describing one who has not only been born of man according to the flesh, but born of the Spirit (John 1:12-13). Jesus said that unless you are born of God or born again you cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). For more, see John 3:3-19 and 1 Peter 1:18-23.
Him who Begot – Begot means to be the cause and father of. Him who begot refers to God the Father.
Also Loves Him Who is Begotten of Him – Everyone who truly loves the Father will also love the one born of the Father. This refers first of all to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Secondly, it refers to all those who are born of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
v. 2 By This We Know – This is the last of 8 times this phrase is found in 1 John (2:3, 5; 3:16, 19, 24; 4:6, 13; 5:2). There is a way to verify and validate if there is truly love in someone's heart for God. This evidence is thoroughly explained in the rest of this chapter. This verse is not given that we might judge others. It is a verse given that we might judge ourselves and examine our own faith.
When We Love God and Keep His Commandments – To love God is actually synonymous with keeping His commandments (John 14:21). To claim to love God and at the same time live in open sin is contradictory. The person who can consistently live in this manner does not love God and is living a lie. This is the standard John gives us that we might check our own hearts rather than to seek to judge others with (John 14:23).
v. 3 His Commandments are not Burdensome – The commandments that come from God through Jesus are not unreasonable, extreme or grievous. Consider Jesus' summation of God's commandments in Matthew 22:37-40: "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." If we are walking in love, it is not burdensome or difficult to walk in obedience to God's commandments. On the other hand, those who do not have the love of God dwelling in them would find God's commandments burdensome, unnatural and impossible to keep.
v. 4 Whatever is Born of God Overcomes the World – John is declaring here that anyone born of God, no matter how seemingly weak or vulnerable they may be, overcomes the world! John is saying that because of the Spirit of God Who is dwelling in us through new birth we have the power to overcome every temptation (1 John 4:4).
v. 5 Jesus is the Son of God – John now summarizes what he has been saying with one slight change of words. Instead of stressing belief in Jesus as the Christ, he now stresses belief in Jesus as the Son of God. This is an emphasis upon the divine nature of Jesus.
v. 6 He Who Came by Water and Blood – Speaking of Jesus Christ, John declares that He came by these natural, earthly elements. This again conflicts with the heretical Gnostic view of the phantom Jesus who did not have a real body of flesh and was totally disassociated from the material world.
Not Only by Water – If Jesus came by water alone He would not have been able to atone for our sins. Even if He was a perfect man living a perfect life of obedience, that would not be enough to save us. For without blood sacrifice there can be no forgiveness of sin (Lev. 17:11, Eph. 1:7, Heb. 9:22-28).
Water and Blood – Again John stresses here the earthy elements that describe the true Jesus Christ. Adding blood to this formula makes all the difference in the world. For without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin (Heb. 9:22). The blood of Jesus is a crucial part of God's plan of salvation. Remove the blood and you remove forgiveness of sin (1 John 1:7).
The Spirit Who Bears Witness – Notice that the Spirit is a Who. Christian cults either deny that the Holy Spirit of God is a person or they claim He is another distinct god but not part of the Triune Godhead (Col. 2:9). Thus, a trait of most cults is they will deny the Trinity (Matt. 28:19). For a brief study on the deity of the Holy Spirit, see John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13, and Acts 5:3-4.
The Spirit is Truth – God cannot lie. Therefore the Sprit of God can only speak truth. Also see John 15:26, 16:13 to read Jesus' explanation of the Spirit of Truth.
v. 7 Three that Bear Witness in Heaven – To bear witness means to testify to the truth just as a witness in a courtroom would bear witness to the facts to verify evidence in that case. The following three are undeniable witnesses in heaven:
The Father – This is a clear and obvious reference to God the Father (Gal. 1:3; Eph. 5:20, 6:23).
The Word – This is the Word of God, a title given to the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:14, Rev. 19:13).
The Holy Spirit – Just as the Father is a living personality and the Word is a living personality, so the Holy Spirit is a living personality. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. He is testifying of the truth in heaven (Matt. 28:19).
These Three Are One – These three are literally one. This word one in the Greek is the word heis which can also be translated same. In other words, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the same God. The doctrine of the Trinity can be supported here as well as many other texts of scripture. The Trinity is a mystery, although difficult to understand, it is clearly spelled out in the scriptures over and over again. It is worth noting that this verse is a controversial text because the words the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit are not found in most of the newer translations and are not supported by the earliest Greek and Latin manuscripts.
v. 8 Three that Bear Witness on Earth – Now John will point out the three specific ways people might know the truth on earth. The following are three witnesses testifying to the true identity of Jesus Christ.
The Spirit – The only way we can know the truth about God is through the Holy Spirit of God. Though the Holy Spirit often uses people and scripture to enlighten us, He is really the only way one can truly know God (1 John 5:6; Matt. 28:19; John 15:26; Rom. 8:1-16, 1 Cor. 2:11, 12:3, 14:2.
The Water – Either refers to the testimony of water baptism or the water that flowed when His side was pierced on the cross. All of these point to faith in the Savior.
The Blood – This is an obvious pointing to the shedding of Jesus' blood for us. The fact that Jesus blood was shed testifies to His being a real man of flesh and blood as well as to His ministry of atonement.
These Three Agree as One – Notice that unlike the previous statement (v. 7), John doesn't say that these three are one or the same. Instead he says that these three are in agreement. In other words, the Spirit, the water, and the blood are all saying the same thing about Jesus. They all testify of Jesus' coming as a man and his sacrificial death.
v. 9 the Witness of God is Greater – Men have varying opinions about Jesus. What John is telling us here is that we better listen to what God says about Jesus rather than what man says.
This is the Witness of God – John wants to make clear that of all the voices testifying of who Jesus is, in this writing John is clarifying what God says about Jesus.
v. 10 He Who Believes in the Son of God Has the Witness in Himself – When a person puts their faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, he receives the gift of the Holy Spirit. That very Spirit dwelling in him testifies of God's truth (1 John 4:13, Eph. 1:13, Rom. 8:16). John again purposely uses the term Son of God to emphasize the Deity of Jesus.
He Who Does Not Believe God has Made Him a Liar – Those who don't believe the testimony God has given concerning His Son are calling God a liar.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. –1 John 5:4
What amazing words we read today, God! Whatever is born of You overcomes the world. We, who are re-born as Your children, can overcome the world. Let us take this to heart today. We are already victorious because we have been born again through Jesus Christ. We are already victorious!

 Worship Ministry
So many times getting to church on Sunday morning can be so stressful. It's such a blessing to walk into the sanctuary and hear the worship music. I just let it lift my heart to Christ and let the stress of the morning wash away.
Prayer Points
  • for the worship musicians, that they would be guarded by protection from any harm the enemy seeks to do them
  • that all those who hear the worship music will stop and take the time to feel the music and seek to worship at the cross of Christ

Judge for yourselves whether it is right ~ Mark Balmer


Based on “Under His influence – Cowards No More” 
by Pastor Mark Balmer;



“Passion”


Preparing the Soil (Introduction):   I know a guy who, a few years ago, was all about meeting new people and constantly bringing up Scripture and application every time he was talking. Lately, I have not seen that passion. Oh, he still has a passion, and I hear him talk about it often. However, it is for the ministry he is currently serving in. All of his conversations now seem to just focus on that ministry. It is no longer about what God is doing or can do.

Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): “One of the greatest sins in the church today is that we have made it ok to sit and do nothing and still call ourselves followers of Christ.” Ed Stetzer.

This is a powerful statement and something we should take note of, but, just because we are busy doing ‘church’ does not mean we still have it right. Serving in a ministry needs to be about meeting the needs of people, and Christ needs to be our passion, not a church or a ministry. Doing good things at church is not a substitute for serving Christ every day.

Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): I have heard it said that whatever you are passionate about you will talk about. What is your passion? Football, shopping, politics, etc? When was the last time you told one of your unbelieving coworkers about what God is doing or has done in your life? Sharing Jesus is not a formula, though they can sometimes be helpful. How did the disciples do it?

But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."  (Acts 4:19-20) 

Paul said: For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

The woman at the well:  Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" They came out of the town and made their way toward him. ……Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." (John 4:28-39)  

 Start thinking today of all the times God has come through for you in your life. Be specific and write them down: forgiveness, restoration, finances, relationships, meaning. These are all things that unbelievers need help with as well.

Look for open doors to share what God is doing in your life.

If there has not been anything recently, take a few minutes and examine your relationship. Make sure nothing has become your #1 passion except the Lord.

Have you been having your quiet time, listening for His voice? 

Let Jesus be your #1 passion and talk about Him.

Cultivating (Additional Reading):  Deuteronomy 4:9; Psalm 20

Your love for Him and your love for people ~ David McGee


2 Kings 17:7-8
"For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and they had feared other gods, and had walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD had cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made."
NKJV
Life Lesson
Allow God, His Word, your love for Him and your love for people be your spiritual compass in this ever-changing world.
---------------------
What is your spiritual compass? What is your moral compass? I am not asking if you do everything right but I am asking where do you go to figure out what is right?
Do you go to the news or the internet? Do you go to other people or look to the culture? Public opinion and world culture - these things are always shifting and stuff within culture (trends, styles, fashions and the world's opinion on what is right and what is wrong) will always be changing.
If you depend on the world, then you will always be changing.
Why does a compass work? A compass works because it points North. The compass does not decide to base its reading off East because that is what is comfortable or it is the new fad. If you use a compass correctly, you will always know the direction in which you are headed. Too many Christians allow the things of this world to be their spiritual compass and all they have to show for it are messed up worldly lives.
Allow God, His Word, your love for Him and your love for people to be your spiritual compass in this ever-changing world. Then, you will never be lost.
Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. Please forgive me for times when I have wandered off. Thank You for Your Word and help me remember to always keep it at the forefront of my mind. In Jesus' name, Amen.

the things which God has prepared for those who love Him ~ Mike MacIntosh


Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.
1 Corinthians 2:9

How sad to see this world running in circles, looking in all the wrong places for joy and happiness and love. Love and joy are two tremendous powers that come from God. Both of these profound powers reach into the deepest, darkest area of your soul to turn on the healing lamp of God. Joy flows from the well of love.

You see, a vast amount of our hurts come from the lack of love and joy.

But just mix these two elements into our recipe of living, and there isn't much in the area of hurt, pain, and suffering that can linger too long. The fact is, the joy of God heals.

I know this may sound too simplistic, too easy. Most of us, in our more cynical moments, have questioned the sincerity of those who tell others to "have a nice day." One lady was overheard saying to someone who told her to have a nice day, "I have other plans."

May I ask you, What are your plans? Are you ready to take your hurts to God and allow Him to heal you? If you are simply ready and willing, He wants to heal your hurts by imparting love and joy. He has been in love with you for years. He's seen your smiles and He's seen your tears. Let God heal you of your hurts. He's ready to do it, you know! His love has the wonderful power to heal you today.

Proverbial Tweets from Rick Warren


  1. Every group has 1 EGR person:Extra Grace Required=irritating manners/poor social skills.If u cant think who it is-it’s you!
  2. "When the number of disciples was MULTIPLYING,there arose a MURMURING" Acts6:1 Growth=complaints For quiet-do nothing!
  3. @samuelwon Yes,I follow seminary students back 2. Anybody in ministry or headed 4 it! "those who bring good news" Isa.52:7
  4. J,at17 I knew Id never b smartest or cutest.So I decided Id try 2b themost generous.Id never let anyone outlove/outgive me,Try it!
  5. Christ gave us the Ministry of Reconcilation”2Cor5:18 You doing it? Hear experts on forgiveness Fri LIVE http://bit.ly/pQL3Y
  6. History is God’s brilliant choreography of biography& geography.He's got the whole world in his hands.What a God! Acts17:24
  7. Planters:U reach WHAT U ARE,not what u wish.Exception:IF u have missionary gift. 2reach all ages&people-staff strategically
  8. Committees discuss what others should do.Ministries just do it! No committees at SaddleB.400+ lay ministries!Read PDChurch!
  9. Never judge a book by its movie. Especially the Bible.
  10. @MarcosWitt 's Papa Holder died tonight."Precious inthe sight of theLord is thedeath of his saints" Ps116:15 Send love!
  11. http://twitpic.com/is9gz - "The secret of GREAT WRITING is LOVE!"-Ray Bradbury,friend,89 Fri.Had PDL on his home desk!
  12. Paul’s devotion 2doctrine didn’t(reduce) his magnificent tolerance.He was more interested n the message than mannerofpresentation-Machen
  13. I’ve been notified a malicious party is trying to hack my acct.Authorities are on it. So if u get anything goofy...FYI
  14. I must change for things to change.Only changed people change the world."Change your life,not just your clothes"Joel2:13mes
  15. U can learn from ANYONE if u ask wise questions"Good advice lies deep within a person's heart &the wise draw it out"Pr20:5
  16. The history of progress is innovation, not merely conservation.
  17. All leaders r learners.The moment u stop learning,u stop leading I learn asmuch as Ican,from asmany as Ican,asoften as Ican
  18. RT @jeremydelrio Classy leadership transition:Saddleback shows how2do it right when staff leave http://tinyurl.com/l5rjup
  19. http://twitpic.com/io93j - You'll ALWAYS need mentors.I have 6 who help me.JohnStott,birdwatcher,sent this Saddleback Bird painting!
  20. "This is the day the Lord has made!"=Simple "Have a nice day!"=Superficial & Shallow. Not the same. Be simple,not shallow.

Defiance ~ Chuck Swindoll


The Downward Spiral of Defiance
by Charles R. Swindoll
 

Proverbs 5:21-23

Talk about going from bad to worse.

Defiance is the classic illustration. First, defiance begins with carnal attitudes. Long before there are carnal actions, there are carnal attitudes. It can happen to adults just as quickly as it can to teens or kids. Perhaps it would help if I spelled out a few of the attitudes by describing some actual thoughts in the minds of the defiant.


The first thought says: "I want my own way." Those who are defiant aren't interested in your way, or God's way. "I want my way." That is an attitude of selfishness.


The second thought says this: "I won't quit until I get it." That is an attitude of stubbornness. "I want my way, and I want it when I want it. I will not quit until I get it." That's just plain obstinance; that's stubbornness.


Third: "I don't care who it hurts." In other words, "I want my way. I won't quit until I get it, and I don't care who it hurts---husband, wife, peers, parents, kids, the team, my church---I don't care. I'm gonna get my way." That is an attitude of indifference.


Fourth: "I refuse to listen to counsel." Obviously, that is an attitude of resistance. "I know God has something to tell me, but I don't want to hear what He's got to say." Or, "I know what He's going to tell me---I know what that Book says. I don't want to listen to God's counsel." That's resistance.


Fifth, and finally: "I am not concerned about the consequences." That's contempt. Pushed to the wall, this extreme reaction includes ignoring the consequences---a total lack of concern for the results.
"I want my own way. I won't quit until I get it. I don't care who it hurts. I will not listen to counsel. I am not concerned about the consequences." Those are the words of a defiant person. And they can come from our lips just as readily as from a person without Christ. They represent selfishness and stubbornness and indifference and resistance and contempt. As I mentioned earlier, defiance begins with carnal attitudes.


Continuing the downward spiral, the second inescapable reality about defiance is this: Defiance leads to personal misery. The defiant person wants freedom, but he finds himself captured. He wants his own way, but he finds himself ensnared by the restrictions that misery brings.


Look at Proverbs 13:15 and you'll see a pretty good illustration or statement of that kind of misery. I want to examine two particular terms:
Good understanding produces favor,
But the way of the treacherous is hard.

The word treacherous is translated from the Hebrew verb that means "to deal treacherously or defiantly." The way of one who deals in defiance is hard. Interesting term. It means "to be perpetual, steady, constant, ever enduring, rugged." The etymology of the term finally leads to "ruggedness." The way of the person who deals in defiant thoughts and actions is perpetually rugged, hard, and miserable. Defiance leads to personal misery.


There is a third stage on this downward spiral:
Defiance results in inescapable bondage. Those most defiant are most bound, not free.
For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD,
And He watches all his paths. (Proverbs 5:21)

That's quite a thought. But the next two verses complete the picture:
His own iniquities will capture the wicked,
And he will be held with the cords of his sin.

He will die for lack of instruction,
And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.

Look at that! The "cords" from one's own defiance will wrap themselves around the victim and will cause him or her to be inescapably bound up. In the margin of my mind I have written "Samson," who was literally bound with the cords of his own sin---unconquered lust.


Frankly, I'm much more concerned about "acceptable" defiance than bold defiance. Why? Because that's what happens more often than not. We cover up. We hide our defiance. We sit on the lid. But, sure enough---given sufficient pressure---something eventually snaps.


Your defiance will come out in the most amazing ways: a battered child; a crime of passion; a blistering tongue-lashing; running away from home; an illicit pregnancy; an ugly, caustic line of profane words; an affair; domestic disharmony; a ruined testimony. I charge you before God to deal severely with this giant. It may be slumbering right now---but I warn you---not for long.


I would like you to think about your life for just a few moments. I'd like you to trace your actions and attitudes back a day or two, or maybe several weeks. Take a long, straightforward look at where you are. Are any signs of defiance there? "I want my own way. I won't quit till I get it. I don't care who it hurts. I refuse to listen to counsel. I'm not concerned about consequences."


My friend, those are dangerous words. If they are there in your head, you're on a powder keg that's going to explode. Your stress fracture will soon become a compound fracture. I ask you to find the hope of forgiveness in Jesus Christ. He is there, and He awaits your turning all that turmoil over to Him . . . that hot cauldron of resentment. The longer it boils, the more lethal it could become.

Don't rationalize and say, "Well, that's just the way I am." 

Call it what it is and say, "Lord, I come to You in my need. I need You to take it, take it now."

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