Sunday, June 21, 2009

A Love Letter from Our Heavenly Father

When asked by His disciples to teach them how to pray as John's disciples prayed, Jesus gave them this prayer as a model. Luke 11:1-2 "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen." Matthew 6:9-13

When you read the Bible, you are not just reading one book, instead you are reading a compilation of sixty six books. I like to think of them as sixty six love letters from the lover of our soul, our Father in heaven. On this Fathers Day, I would like to present a love letter, from our heavenly Father to us.

My child, you may not know who I am, but I know everything about you. I know when you sit down and when you rise up, and what you are thinking. I am familiar with all your words and your ways, Psalm 139:1-4 I even know how many hairs are upon your head. Matthew 10:29-31 For you were made in My image, Genesis 1:27 and in Me you live, move and have your being. You are My offspring Acts 17:28 whom I knew before you were even conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5 Do not think that you were a mistake or made by chance, because I personally knitted you together in your mother's womb so that you would be fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13-16 On the day of your birth when I brought you forth, Psalm 71:6 I not only knew the exact time of your birth and where you will live, Acts 17:26 but I also know when you will die. Job 14:5 & Ecclesiastes 3:1

Those who do not know Me have misrepresented Me, John 8:41-44 but let Me assure you that I am neither distant nor angry. Fact is, I am the complete expression of love, 1 John 4:16 and it is My desire to bestow My love upon you. I do this simply because you are My child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1 And because I am perfect, Matthew 5:48 I can offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11

I am the One who provides all your needs, Matthew 6:31-33 all the good gifts that you receive come from My hand. James 1:17 My plan for your future has always been filled with hope, Jeremiah 29:11 because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 My thoughts toward you are countless as the sands on the seashore, Psalms 139:17-18 and I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 While showing you great and marvelous things Jeremiah 33:3 I will never cease from doing good to you, Jeremiah 32:40 because you are My treasured possession. Exodus 19:5 If you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me. Deuteronomy 4:29 Delight in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart, Psalm 37:4 because it is I who gave those desires to you. Philippians 2:13 I am your greatest encourager 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 and I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18 Like a shepherd who carries a lamb, I will carry you during your times of and frailty and hold you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11 Then one day soon, I will wipe away every tear from your eyes Revelation 21:3-4 and take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4 As I said, I am your Father, and I love you even as I love My own Son Jesus, John 17:23 in whom My love for you is revealed. John 17:26

You see, My Son is the exact representation of My being, Hebrews 1:3 and He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31 He also assured you that if you believe in Him I will not count your sins against you. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 because He would pay the price for all the people. John 1:49-51 My child, I love you so much that I do not wish to condemn you but instead I gave My only Son for you, John 3:16-17 so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death is sufficient to cover all your sins, 1 John 4:10 and if you accept, and receive My Son, then you shall also receive Me. 1 John 2:23

It is my promise that nothing will ever separate you from My love again, Romans 8:38-39 and that the good work I began in you, I will perform it until the day My Son returns. So come home to Me now, and I will throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7 I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15 My question to you is, "Will you be My child?" John 1:12-13 Come, I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear His voice and call upon the name of the lord Jesus Christ.

Amen

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Relavent Christian Magazine Article Redirect



Sorry for the mistake,
I posted the wrong link for
this is article. It should have been linked to,

"The Relevant Christians Magazine"
 facebook page.

Please follow the
 link below for the rest of the article,
 

Saturday, June 6, 2009

"Light Of The World"

When a person thinks about light, usually the first thing that will come to mind is the sun. We have been taught that the sun is the center of the solar system and thus it is the light of the world. This ball of fire that life on earth depends upon, is so massive in size that it contains 99.85% of all the matter in the Solar System, or 332,800 times that of earth. The distance from earth to the sun is 93,000,000 miles, which would take you 71 years to travel going 150 mph. The sun creates energy by burning several hundred million tons of hydrogen per second, converting it to helium by nuclear fusion. This process causes the surface temperature to be about 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and scientists have calculated that there is nothing which can stop the light emitted by this fireball from expanding outwards forever. So taking all these factors and other information into consideration you would think that the sun is the light of the world but that is not what the Scriptures tell us. In Genesis we learn that God created light on the first day, (Genesis 1:4-5) but he did not create the sun until the fourth day. (Genesis 1:16-17) Now I could argue with scientists and cosmologists over their understanding of creation and my understanding of the Bible, but that is not the subject of today's message. Today's message is about Jesus being the “Light of the World” and how His followers should be a reflection of His light for the world to see.

We know the bible says that light was created on the first day, but then we read in John's Gospel that Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness, and that light comes from God, and the light is God. (John 1:1-5) Later in John's Gospel we read that Jesus Himself declares that He is "Light of the World", and that whoever follows Him shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life. (John 8:12) He also said that as believers, we are to be the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14) Let us consider what Jesus meant when He said he was “The Light”. Well, He certainly did not mean that He was a glowing light bulb walking around like some illuminated spirit. Remember, while Jesus walked and taught among His disciples 2000 years ago, He was as John testified, a real man. (1 John 1:1-3) Now the Bible does describe heavenly beings as angels of light, as was the angel in Acts 12:7 who released Peter from prison. However, Jesus was specifically speaking of what he came to do, and when He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath in His hometown of Nazareth He tells us what that is. Reading from the book of Isaiah Jesus told the men that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him and that He was anointed to preach the good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners, recover the sight of the blind, release the oppressed, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:16-18)

Essentially, the life of Christ on earth was all about bringing life to mankind as described in John 1:4, "In him was life, and that life was the light of men." This means he brought hope and restoration to a world of hopelessness and broken-ness. He freed some from the prison of sickness, others from the loneliness of being an outcast or low class, and a few from the grips of death itself. The teaching of Jesus freed people from their ignorance concerning God, His kingdom, the meaning of obedience, and the way of salvation. He also freed the lost from their sins by granting forgiveness, but the most important lesson we learn from the life of Jesus is His sacrificial act of offering himself on the cross to take away the sin of the world. John the baptist declared, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John. 1:29), and Jesus says of himself, "For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many". (Mark 10:45)

Jesus came to display all the goodness of God through His caring acts toward people. He came teaching truth, and to bear the punishment for our sin. In all these ways Jesus is the light of the world, and as the light, He calls for His followers to reflect His light on the world while we still live in it. Like Moses, whose face glowed after being in the presence of God, we shine because we have the light of Jesus in our lives. (Exodus 34:29-35) His presence helps us fight the battle against darkness by bringing truth to the blind, and hope to those burdened by sin. We bring acceptance to the forgotten and unloved, joy to the sad, reason and calmness to the impatient, and to those confused about life we bring God’s word. This is the light that Jesus promised those who follow and obey Him, and this is the way the light can and should affect us. (John 8:12)

This light also attracts others indwelled with the Light of life, and together we form the church that Christ promised would stand the test of time. When Christians stand together we can shine as bright as the sun, and our light will reach as far as infinity. Those who do not understand us will be effected by the glow of our love and truth in a positive way. Kevin Roose was effected in this way when he decided to go to Lynchburg, Va., and enroll at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. Roose pretended he was an evangelical Christian while he attended summer classes so that he could blend in and get the scoop about Jerry Falwell's extreme radical Christian University. Roose would eventually include the lessons he learned about the School and the students who attend it in a book called , “The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University.”

So what was the biggest result of this young man's experience you may ask? Well after the semester was over Kevin came away with a change of mind and a change of heart towards what he used to think about Christians, and Liberty University. First he made friends with Christians to the point where they became some of his best friends. This is a direct result of the light Christ spoke of when he said, "You are the light of the world... let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven". (Matthew 5:14-15) These young Christians allowed the light of Christ to shine in the presence of Kevin. Even more significant was the change that Kevin realized in himself. He discovered that, as a person, he has a spiritual side that includes the idea that God exists and that talking to God is not only a worthwhile experience but a meaningful, powerful and beautiful one.

When Kevin had to came forth with the truth of his undercover charade, he was sure that all the friends he has made would turn on him. However he learned one more lesson about God and His children, a true Christian holds no grudge and hates no man. Now that Kevin is back at Brown University, he has gotten back to doing almost everything the way he used to. However, there is one little thing that Kevin has picked up from his semester at Liberty University that he says he will never stop doing. Kevin tries to pray to God everyday, and he has come to the realization that praying to God has changed him, and in turn he changes things around him. See, Kevin was touched by the light of Christ that was shining from the students of Liberty University, and it is my prayer that Kevin allows that light to grow within him until it becomes the center of his spiritual solar system.

I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear His voice and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen