Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Nearer My God To Thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.
E'en though it be a cross,
That raiseth me
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.
Though like the wanderer,
The sun gone down
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone,
Yet in my dreams I'd be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.
There let the way appear,
Steps unto heaven
All that Thou sendest me,
In mercy given
Angels to beckon me,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.
Then with my waking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I'll raise
So by my woes to be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.
Or if on joyful wing,
Cleaving the sky
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee!
Nearer to thee.
E'en though it be a cross,
That raiseth me
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.
Though like the wanderer,
The sun gone down
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone,
Yet in my dreams I'd be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.
There let the way appear,
Steps unto heaven
All that Thou sendest me,
In mercy given
Angels to beckon me,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.
Then with my waking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I'll raise
So by my woes to be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.
Or if on joyful wing,
Cleaving the sky
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
What has been on my MIND lately...
I am not yet sure or convinced that Pre-trib (my congregation adheres to pre-trib!) or Pre-wrath is the more scriptural position, although they are pretty similar.
I am convinced about divine election... absolutely! I have not "fully", I guess you could say, formed an opinion if election is:
1) Corporate election meaning the church (the called out ones). "You", as in 'you' plural in being corporately "in Christ" and therefore the elect of God or 2) individual election ex. God has chosen "you" in Christ singularly to be saved? We are dealing with what God thought here ladies and gentlemen... HOLY GROUND!!! Seriously though, these are honest questions from my heart (a heart God knows more than I do)...
Question: are the words like "you", "us", and "those whom" refer to the Church (corporate) or me (as individual) only? Or, is the answer to this like many other doctrines simply "yes"!?
I just started reading a book dealing with this subject called, "Perspectives" -five views on Election.
I also have not formed a solid position on whether or not the gift of tongues has ceased... again, looking into that (although my assembly teaches that they have ceased and are no longer in operation) with another book by zondervan on the different (4) views about this question.
When dealing with how God operates, I am aware of these passages...
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Is. 55:8, 9.
Deut. 29:29, "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
Interesting that the verse in Deut. 29:29b says, "...but the things that are revealed belong to us..."
Is this a "hidden" thing for us, or something that the Lord has "revealed" in His Word for us? Hmmm?
Well thanks again for listening,
In Christ,
Jake.
Phil. 3:10
I am convinced about divine election... absolutely! I have not "fully", I guess you could say, formed an opinion if election is:
1) Corporate election meaning the church (the called out ones). "You", as in 'you' plural in being corporately "in Christ" and therefore the elect of God or 2) individual election ex. God has chosen "you" in Christ singularly to be saved? We are dealing with what God thought here ladies and gentlemen... HOLY GROUND!!! Seriously though, these are honest questions from my heart (a heart God knows more than I do)...
Question: are the words like "you", "us", and "those whom" refer to the Church (corporate) or me (as individual) only? Or, is the answer to this like many other doctrines simply "yes"!?
I just started reading a book dealing with this subject called, "Perspectives" -five views on Election.
I also have not formed a solid position on whether or not the gift of tongues has ceased... again, looking into that (although my assembly teaches that they have ceased and are no longer in operation) with another book by zondervan on the different (4) views about this question.
When dealing with how God operates, I am aware of these passages...
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Is. 55:8, 9.
Deut. 29:29, "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
Interesting that the verse in Deut. 29:29b says, "...but the things that are revealed belong to us..."
Is this a "hidden" thing for us, or something that the Lord has "revealed" in His Word for us? Hmmm?
Well thanks again for listening,
In Christ,
Jake.
Phil. 3:10
Friday, September 12, 2008
GOD'S AGAPE LOVE
I only love God in return, because He lavished His love upon me. He showed it to me and gave it to me...
I think of those verses that say this (italics added):
"We love because he first loved us." 1John4:19.
"We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" 1John 3:16, 17.
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us." 1 John 4:7-12.
I love my Lord. I love the Lord Jesus Christ because He loved me first. I love Him because of Who He is and What He has done and continues to do!
Remember, "we love (Him), because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19. Nearer my God to thee!!!
In Christ,
Phil. 3:10.
I think of those verses that say this (italics added):
"We love because he first loved us." 1John4:19.
"We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" 1John 3:16, 17.
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us." 1 John 4:7-12.
I love my Lord. I love the Lord Jesus Christ because He loved me first. I love Him because of Who He is and What He has done and continues to do!
Remember, "we love (Him), because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19. Nearer my God to thee!!!
In Christ,
Phil. 3:10.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
I woke up this morning, meditating on a few verses...
Psalm 86:12-13 "I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell."
"O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy." Psalm. 107:1, 2.
For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" Romans 10:12-15.
And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." Mark 16:15.
Don't you thank God you're spared!!!!?
Always remember, the gospel is about Christ (1Cor. 15:1-4).
Christ is the glory of God (see Rom. 3:23, 2Cor 4:6).
Our motivation is the love of Christ (2Cor. 5:14), our love to Christ (Lk. 7:37-38), and Christ's love in us (Rom. 9:1-3).
REMEMBER!!! ITS ALL ABOUT CHRIST AND NOT YOU: "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD." 1Cor. 1:30-31.
Father, I pray for no boasting in my heart. Forbid it Lord that I should boast, "except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.." May you ALONE be glorified in this body "whether by death or by life." Thank you for loving us first Lord, I pray this all in your Son's lovely name! Amen.
"O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy." Psalm. 107:1, 2.
For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" Romans 10:12-15.
And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." Mark 16:15.
Don't you thank God you're spared!!!!?
Always remember, the gospel is about Christ (1Cor. 15:1-4).
Christ is the glory of God (see Rom. 3:23, 2Cor 4:6).
Our motivation is the love of Christ (2Cor. 5:14), our love to Christ (Lk. 7:37-38), and Christ's love in us (Rom. 9:1-3).
REMEMBER!!! ITS ALL ABOUT CHRIST AND NOT YOU: "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD." 1Cor. 1:30-31.
Father, I pray for no boasting in my heart. Forbid it Lord that I should boast, "except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.." May you ALONE be glorified in this body "whether by death or by life." Thank you for loving us first Lord, I pray this all in your Son's lovely name! Amen.
Monday, August 25, 2008
From "Revival Hymm"
"You're sitting behind the wheel and you're saying to God 'Give me power so I can go'. "No, it'll never do. You got to get in the back seat."
And I could see him leaning over and grabbing the wheel...
"No," I said. "It'll never do in the back seat." I said "Before God will do anything for you, you know what you gotta do?" And he said, "What?" I said, "You gotta get out of the car, take the keys around, open up the trunk lid hand the keys to the Lord Jesus, get inside the trunk, slam the lid down, whisper through the keyhole, 'Lord, look, fill her up with anything You want and You drive, its up to You from now on."
(-Paris Reidhead "Ten shekels and a shirt.")
Amen.
More On: Paul's Conversion... God's Agape Love... I Woke Up This Morning... You Have A Testimony? I sure do... Nearer My God to Thee... Outreach
And I could see him leaning over and grabbing the wheel...
"No," I said. "It'll never do in the back seat." I said "Before God will do anything for you, you know what you gotta do?" And he said, "What?" I said, "You gotta get out of the car, take the keys around, open up the trunk lid hand the keys to the Lord Jesus, get inside the trunk, slam the lid down, whisper through the keyhole, 'Lord, look, fill her up with anything You want and You drive, its up to You from now on."
(-Paris Reidhead "Ten shekels and a shirt.")
Amen.
More On: Paul's Conversion... God's Agape Love... I Woke Up This Morning... You Have A Testimony? I sure do... Nearer My God to Thee... Outreach
EVANGELICAL DILEMMA by William MacDonald
THERE IS A CURIOUS PROBLEM TODAY in the evangelical world-one that poses sobering questions for the church and for the individual believer. The problem in brief is this: a great army of personal soul-winners has been mobilized to reach the populace for Christ. They are earnest, zealous, enthusiastic, and persuasive. To their credit it must be said that they are on the job. And it is one of the phenomena of our times that they rack up an astounding number of conversions. Everything so far seems to be on the plus side.
But the problem is this. The conversions do not stick. The fruit does not remain. Six months later there is nothing to be seen for all the aggressive evangelism. The capsule technique of soul winning has produced stillbirths.
What lies at the back of all this malpractice in bringing souls to the birth? Strangely enough it begins with the valid determination to preach the pure gospel of the grace of God. We want to keep the message simple—uncluttered by any suggestion that man can ever earn or deserve eternal life. Justification is by faith alone, apart from the deeds of the law. Therefore, the message is "only believe."
From there we reduce the message to a concise formula. For instance, the evangelistic process is cut down to a few basic questions and answers, as follows:
"Do you believe you are a sinner?"
"Yes."
"Do you believe Christ died for sinners?"
"Yes."
"Will you receive Him as your Saviour?"
"Yes."
"Then you are saved!"
"I am?"
"Yes, the Bible says you are saved."
At first blush the method and the message might seem above criticism. But on closer study we are forced to have second thoughts and to conclude that we have oversimplified the gospel.
The First fatal flaw is the missing emphasis on repentance. There can be no true conversion without conviction of sin. It is one thing to agree that I am a sinner; it is quite another thing to experience the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit in my life. Unless 1 have a Spirit-wrought consciousness of my utterly lost condition, I can never exercise saving faith. It is useless to tell unconvicted sinners to believe on Jesus-that message is only for those who know they are lost. We sugar-coat the gospel when we de-emphasize man's fallen condition. With that kind of a watered-down message, people receive the Word with joy instead of with deep contrition. They do not have deep roots, and though they might endure for a while, they soon give up all profession when persecution or trouble comes (Matthew 13:21). We have forgotten that the message is repentance toward God as well as faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
A second serious omission is a missing emphasis on the Lordship of Christ. A light, jovial mental assent that Jesus is Saviour misses the point. Jesus is first Lord, then Saviour. The New Testament always places His Lordship before His Saviourhood. Do we present the full implications of His Lordship to people? He always did.
A third defect in our message is our tendency to keep the terms of discipleship hidden until a decision has been made for Jesus. Our Lord never did this. The message He preached included the cross as well as the crown. "He never hid His scars to win disciples." He revealed the worst along with the best, then told His listeners to count the cost. We popularize the message and promise fun.
The result of all this is that we have people believing without knowing what they believe. In many cases they have no doctrinal basis for their decision. They do not know the implications of commitment to Christ. They have never experienced the mysterious, miraculous work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration.
And of course we have others who are talked into a profession because of the slick salesmanship techniques of the soul-winner. Or some who want to please the affable, personable young man with the winning smile. And some who only want to get rid of this religious interloper who has intruded on their privacy. Satan laughs when these conversions are triumphantly announced on earth.
I would like to raise several questions that might lead us to some changes in our strategy of evangelism.
First of all, can we generally expect people to make an intelligent commitment to Christ the first time they hear the gospel? Certainly, there is the exceptional case where a person has already been prepared by the Holy Spirit. But generally speaking, the process involves sowing the seed, watering it, then sometime later reaping the harvest. In our mania for instant conversion, we have forgotten that conception, gestation, and birth do not occur on the same day.
A second question: can a capsule presentation of the gospel really do justice to, so great a message? As one who has written several gospel tracts, I confess to a certain sense of misgiving in even attempting to condense the good news into four small pages. Would we not be wiser to give people the full presentation as it is found in the Gospels, or in the New Testament?
Thirdly, is all this pressure for decisions really scriptural? Where in the New Testament were people ever pressured into making a profession? We justify our practice by saying that if only one out of ten is genuine, it is worth it. But what about the other nine — disillusioned, bitter, perhaps deceived en route to hell by a false profession?
And I must ask this: is all this boasting about conversions really accurate? You've met the man who solemnly tells you of ten people he contacted that day and all of them were saved. A young doctor testified that every time he goes to a new city, he looks in the phone book for people with his last name. Then he calls them one by one and leads them through the four steps to salvation, Amazingly enough, every one of them opens the door of his heart to Jesus. I don't want to doubt the honesty of people like this, but am I wrong in thinking that they are extremely naive? Where are all those people who are saved? They cannot be found.
What it all means is that we should seriously reexamine our streamlined, capsule evangelism. We should be willing to spend time teaching the gospel, laying a solid doctrinal foundation for faith to rest on. We should stress the necessity for repentance, a complete about-face with regard to sin. We Should stress the full implications of the Lordship of Christ and the conditions of discipleship. We should explain what belief really involves. We should be willing to wait for the Holy Spirit to produce genuine conviction of sin. Then we should be ready to lead the person to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
If we do this, we'll have less astronomical figures of so-called conversions, but more genuine cases of spiritual rebirth.
But the problem is this. The conversions do not stick. The fruit does not remain. Six months later there is nothing to be seen for all the aggressive evangelism. The capsule technique of soul winning has produced stillbirths.
What lies at the back of all this malpractice in bringing souls to the birth? Strangely enough it begins with the valid determination to preach the pure gospel of the grace of God. We want to keep the message simple—uncluttered by any suggestion that man can ever earn or deserve eternal life. Justification is by faith alone, apart from the deeds of the law. Therefore, the message is "only believe."
From there we reduce the message to a concise formula. For instance, the evangelistic process is cut down to a few basic questions and answers, as follows:
"Do you believe you are a sinner?"
"Yes."
"Do you believe Christ died for sinners?"
"Yes."
"Will you receive Him as your Saviour?"
"Yes."
"Then you are saved!"
"I am?"
"Yes, the Bible says you are saved."
At first blush the method and the message might seem above criticism. But on closer study we are forced to have second thoughts and to conclude that we have oversimplified the gospel.
The First fatal flaw is the missing emphasis on repentance. There can be no true conversion without conviction of sin. It is one thing to agree that I am a sinner; it is quite another thing to experience the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit in my life. Unless 1 have a Spirit-wrought consciousness of my utterly lost condition, I can never exercise saving faith. It is useless to tell unconvicted sinners to believe on Jesus-that message is only for those who know they are lost. We sugar-coat the gospel when we de-emphasize man's fallen condition. With that kind of a watered-down message, people receive the Word with joy instead of with deep contrition. They do not have deep roots, and though they might endure for a while, they soon give up all profession when persecution or trouble comes (Matthew 13:21). We have forgotten that the message is repentance toward God as well as faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
A second serious omission is a missing emphasis on the Lordship of Christ. A light, jovial mental assent that Jesus is Saviour misses the point. Jesus is first Lord, then Saviour. The New Testament always places His Lordship before His Saviourhood. Do we present the full implications of His Lordship to people? He always did.
A third defect in our message is our tendency to keep the terms of discipleship hidden until a decision has been made for Jesus. Our Lord never did this. The message He preached included the cross as well as the crown. "He never hid His scars to win disciples." He revealed the worst along with the best, then told His listeners to count the cost. We popularize the message and promise fun.
The result of all this is that we have people believing without knowing what they believe. In many cases they have no doctrinal basis for their decision. They do not know the implications of commitment to Christ. They have never experienced the mysterious, miraculous work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration.
And of course we have others who are talked into a profession because of the slick salesmanship techniques of the soul-winner. Or some who want to please the affable, personable young man with the winning smile. And some who only want to get rid of this religious interloper who has intruded on their privacy. Satan laughs when these conversions are triumphantly announced on earth.
I would like to raise several questions that might lead us to some changes in our strategy of evangelism.
First of all, can we generally expect people to make an intelligent commitment to Christ the first time they hear the gospel? Certainly, there is the exceptional case where a person has already been prepared by the Holy Spirit. But generally speaking, the process involves sowing the seed, watering it, then sometime later reaping the harvest. In our mania for instant conversion, we have forgotten that conception, gestation, and birth do not occur on the same day.
A second question: can a capsule presentation of the gospel really do justice to, so great a message? As one who has written several gospel tracts, I confess to a certain sense of misgiving in even attempting to condense the good news into four small pages. Would we not be wiser to give people the full presentation as it is found in the Gospels, or in the New Testament?
Thirdly, is all this pressure for decisions really scriptural? Where in the New Testament were people ever pressured into making a profession? We justify our practice by saying that if only one out of ten is genuine, it is worth it. But what about the other nine — disillusioned, bitter, perhaps deceived en route to hell by a false profession?
And I must ask this: is all this boasting about conversions really accurate? You've met the man who solemnly tells you of ten people he contacted that day and all of them were saved. A young doctor testified that every time he goes to a new city, he looks in the phone book for people with his last name. Then he calls them one by one and leads them through the four steps to salvation, Amazingly enough, every one of them opens the door of his heart to Jesus. I don't want to doubt the honesty of people like this, but am I wrong in thinking that they are extremely naive? Where are all those people who are saved? They cannot be found.
What it all means is that we should seriously reexamine our streamlined, capsule evangelism. We should be willing to spend time teaching the gospel, laying a solid doctrinal foundation for faith to rest on. We should stress the necessity for repentance, a complete about-face with regard to sin. We Should stress the full implications of the Lordship of Christ and the conditions of discipleship. We should explain what belief really involves. We should be willing to wait for the Holy Spirit to produce genuine conviction of sin. Then we should be ready to lead the person to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
If we do this, we'll have less astronomical figures of so-called conversions, but more genuine cases of spiritual rebirth.
Rescue Mission Outreach
I was at the Life Rescue Mission on Michigan ave. in Detroit. We had a little outreach and there was many a men. Margie, the lovely pianist played wonderfully, one dear brother of ours gave out a few old hymns about the old cross, and then after asked the men for a favorite. One of their all time favorites is "In the garden."
The preaching was on "the different trees in the Bible.":
Months before, I remembered it was the tree of life (in the garden of eden) and another time after that it was with Zaccheous (the sycamore tree). Then, tonight is was THE tree...about the altogether lovely one, the Lord Jesus Christ "Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1Peter 2:24).
What a Saviour!!! Words do not and cannot express who He is and what He has done on the Fathers behalf and for us. I am in complete awe of Him!
Abba Father, thank you for yourself, thank you for your Son... we love you! Stir our hearts to a more love and adoration to the One who alone is worthy! We pray for those men at the mission. You know their situation, you know their disappointments, you know their heartaches. May they be sick of their sin and condition and turn from that to you to be saved. We ask, in your Son's lovely name, our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
God is awesome!!! What a joy to be a slave of the king of kings and Lord of Lords!
Please, brothers and sisters, pray for the men's salvation at the rescue mission.
In Christ alone,
Jacob.
Phil. 3:10.
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
I'd stay in the garden with Him
'Tho the night around me be falling
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
The preaching was on "the different trees in the Bible.":
Months before, I remembered it was the tree of life (in the garden of eden) and another time after that it was with Zaccheous (the sycamore tree). Then, tonight is was THE tree...about the altogether lovely one, the Lord Jesus Christ "Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1Peter 2:24).
What a Saviour!!! Words do not and cannot express who He is and what He has done on the Fathers behalf and for us. I am in complete awe of Him!
Abba Father, thank you for yourself, thank you for your Son... we love you! Stir our hearts to a more love and adoration to the One who alone is worthy! We pray for those men at the mission. You know their situation, you know their disappointments, you know their heartaches. May they be sick of their sin and condition and turn from that to you to be saved. We ask, in your Son's lovely name, our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
God is awesome!!! What a joy to be a slave of the king of kings and Lord of Lords!
Please, brothers and sisters, pray for the men's salvation at the rescue mission.
In Christ alone,
Jacob.
Phil. 3:10.
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
I'd stay in the garden with Him
'Tho the night around me be falling
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Paul's conversion in the book of Acts
If you read Paul's testimony in Acts, you see there in Acts 9:3b, that suddenly, "there shined round about him a light from heaven" Then it goes on to say in Acts 22:13 where Paul now describes his conversion experience as not just "a light", but "suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me".
Now, even later, in Paul's life he describes his conversion experience: "At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me..." Acts 26:13.
In other words, Paul says, "how glorious a salvation, but how much more glorious to me now, as I continue my Christian life its 'above the brightness of the sun!!!!!!!!!!!'"
If someone has truly trusted Christ as their own Personal Lord and Saviour, you are different! You are Changed!! That's all there is to it!!
I love that word "conversion." Conversion means "CHANGED", or "TURNING".
Anyways, the Lord has laid this upon my heart so... other than that, I Love Him, because He first loved me!!! 1Jn. 4:19.
Now, even later, in Paul's life he describes his conversion experience: "At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me..." Acts 26:13.
In other words, Paul says, "how glorious a salvation, but how much more glorious to me now, as I continue my Christian life its 'above the brightness of the sun!!!!!!!!!!!'"
If someone has truly trusted Christ as their own Personal Lord and Saviour, you are different! You are Changed!! That's all there is to it!!
I love that word "conversion." Conversion means "CHANGED", or "TURNING".
Anyways, the Lord has laid this upon my heart so... other than that, I Love Him, because He first loved me!!! 1Jn. 4:19.
You have a testimony? I sure do!!
The shortened version...
I am a sinner saved by the sovereign grace and mercy of God.
I had rejected the gospel many times. It wasn't until later in my room on July 16 2004 the Lord Jesus Christ saved me by recalling my attention to a certain passage in Romans 10:13 (which is now my life verse), "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." The Bible says, "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" Romans 2:4.
The weight of guilt, because of my sin was heavy upon me. As God's Word says, that "because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed." Romans 2:5.
My heart cried.... "I can be saved!? Me!?"
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13.
I cried out for mercy that night and that big weight was lifted off me by Him and I have never, ever, ever been the same since! Jesus paid it ALL! ALL to Him I owe...
It was very dramatic for me but that's the way it went down...ya know?
How about you? The Bible says "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8.
If you have never asked The Lord Jesus Christ to save you from your sins, you desperately need to, before its too late.
Admit you are a sinner, believe Jesus is God. In John 8:24, the Lord Jesus says,"I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins."
Turn from sin in order to turn to trust Christ alone for your salvation...there is nothing more important! There is no other way (See John 14:6). Without Christ, you will spend eternity in hell when you die...
Please, if God is getting your attention then get a Bible, read over these verses, and read the gospel of John. Look up John 6:37: "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out." God will receive you.
I pray that this was a blessing to you...
If you need help with this, please, send me your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Your friend,
Jake.
I am a sinner saved by the sovereign grace and mercy of God.
I had rejected the gospel many times. It wasn't until later in my room on July 16 2004 the Lord Jesus Christ saved me by recalling my attention to a certain passage in Romans 10:13 (which is now my life verse), "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." The Bible says, "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" Romans 2:4.
The weight of guilt, because of my sin was heavy upon me. As God's Word says, that "because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed." Romans 2:5.
My heart cried.... "I can be saved!? Me!?"
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13.
I cried out for mercy that night and that big weight was lifted off me by Him and I have never, ever, ever been the same since! Jesus paid it ALL! ALL to Him I owe...
It was very dramatic for me but that's the way it went down...ya know?
How about you? The Bible says "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8.
If you have never asked The Lord Jesus Christ to save you from your sins, you desperately need to, before its too late.
Admit you are a sinner, believe Jesus is God. In John 8:24, the Lord Jesus says,"I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins."
Turn from sin in order to turn to trust Christ alone for your salvation...there is nothing more important! There is no other way (See John 14:6). Without Christ, you will spend eternity in hell when you die...
Please, if God is getting your attention then get a Bible, read over these verses, and read the gospel of John. Look up John 6:37: "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out." God will receive you.
I pray that this was a blessing to you...
If you need help with this, please, send me your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Your friend,
Jake.
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