Good Works!
April 3, 2011
"He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?" Luke 13:6, 7
Every tool that is necessary for us to produce fruit, otherwise known as good works, is given unto us, in fact Ephesians 2:10 reads, “For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” We are created for a purpose and when we are not producing that desired and expected result, then we come under God’s righteous consideration and judgment. God considers in a sort of cost/benefit analysis if we need more time to produce or additional training, or if we should be pulled from that purpose in which we are called to do. The idea of cutting down things is pretty harsh, but God is able to do all that He desires and is righteous in all that he decides. This passage is for us a great teaching to utilize when we examine our endeavors and our works because it sets for us limitations and expectations and also gives us a course of action should our works prove to be unproductive. It is better that we examine these things and take the appropriate actions then to allow things to continue to not produce in our life. If you have something that is not producing good things in your life it is wise to lay aside those things and make room for those that will produce.
"He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?" Luke 13:6, 7
Every tool that is necessary for us to produce fruit, otherwise known as good works, is given unto us, in fact Ephesians 2:10 reads, “For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” We are created for a purpose and when we are not producing that desired and expected result, then we come under God’s righteous consideration and judgment. God considers in a sort of cost/benefit analysis if we need more time to produce or additional training, or if we should be pulled from that purpose in which we are called to do. The idea of cutting down things is pretty harsh, but God is able to do all that He desires and is righteous in all that he decides. This passage is for us a great teaching to utilize when we examine our endeavors and our works because it sets for us limitations and expectations and also gives us a course of action should our works prove to be unproductive. It is better that we examine these things and take the appropriate actions then to allow things to continue to not produce in our life. If you have something that is not producing good things in your life it is wise to lay aside those things and make room for those that will produce.
on May 7 2011
Let's get to work!
12:36 pm ~ Faith
www.souls-for-christ.com
May 7, 2011
"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:12
Typically when we hear the word slothful we think it's referring to someone being physically lazy and not wanting to work. The reason we tend to think this is because this word is almost always used when describing a physical activity and rarely a spiritual one. Can I say that many people today are slothful? Most are not physically slothful, as slothful is described, but many are spiritually slothful! This passage is referring to the spiritual and not physical, it doesn't say, "followers of them who through their hard physical labor inherited the promises" instead it reads, "followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Some things can never be gained by physical strength and labor. Heaven is one of them! We cannot obtain entrance into heaven by works, we must believe and accept through faith, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior. Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;" Hebrews 12:2a, has given to us all, a measure of faith and teaches us to build our faith and grow spiritually into a mature Christian. Often this building of our faith is difficult. It requires a steadfast and daily effort of denying ourselves and waiting patiently for the promise to come. Sounds like very little effort at all, but try it, you'll find it to be a challenging task. Follow Jesus, building your faith and walking with him being patient in all things.
Our work is to follow Jesus, to increase in faith, and to wait on Him patiently. The slothful or lazy will skip this step and believe that they can hurry things along and do it without Jesus. Not true! Be not slothful, no cutting corners allowed it won't work! Get to work spiritually, increase your faith through the word today!
"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:12
Typically when we hear the word slothful we think it's referring to someone being physically lazy and not wanting to work. The reason we tend to think this is because this word is almost always used when describing a physical activity and rarely a spiritual one. Can I say that many people today are slothful? Most are not physically slothful, as slothful is described, but many are spiritually slothful! This passage is referring to the spiritual and not physical, it doesn't say, "followers of them who through their hard physical labor inherited the promises" instead it reads, "followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Some things can never be gained by physical strength and labor. Heaven is one of them! We cannot obtain entrance into heaven by works, we must believe and accept through faith, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior. Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;" Hebrews 12:2a, has given to us all, a measure of faith and teaches us to build our faith and grow spiritually into a mature Christian. Often this building of our faith is difficult. It requires a steadfast and daily effort of denying ourselves and waiting patiently for the promise to come. Sounds like very little effort at all, but try it, you'll find it to be a challenging task. Follow Jesus, building your faith and walking with him being patient in all things.
Our work is to follow Jesus, to increase in faith, and to wait on Him patiently. The slothful or lazy will skip this step and believe that they can hurry things along and do it without Jesus. Not true! Be not slothful, no cutting corners allowed it won't work! Get to work spiritually, increase your faith through the word today!
on Apr. 27 2011
You have it! Don't hide it!
04:31 am ~ Evangelism
Share Jesus!
April 27, 2011
"No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light." Luke 8:16
"Ye are the light of the world." Mathew 5:14a Why are you the light? Because you have something that the world needs. If you're in a desert place with several other individuals and there is a great need for water, but you are the only one that has it, then you have become very important! You are able to quench the thirst of others and to save lives! If you're driving in a car with several others that are riding with you, and the car is soon to run out of fuel, but no one but you has any money to purchase that fuel, you now have become very important! You have the money to pay for fuel that everyone needs. It's the same in this world. People need Jesus. You have him, and you are surrounded by many that don't have Jesus, so now you have become very important, now you can quench their thirst, you can bring peace to their hearts and minds, now you can lift up and encourage the downcast, now you can bring fuel to their life, and now you can lead them to Jesus who will save their soul. See, you are very important! You have what the world needs! Jesus in you, the light of the world, the water in the desert places, the fuel in this life's journey. You have it! Don't hide it! Share with those that do not have what you have.
Imagine being in these places and you are the one that has a need, but someone else is the only one around you that has what you need, what would it be like if they refuse to share it with you! What would it be like if you will die if you can't get it? What will it be like if you couldn't go one more day or one more mile without it? How would you feel towards that person that has it, but doesn't care enough to share?
"No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light." Luke 8:16
"Ye are the light of the world." Mathew 5:14a Why are you the light? Because you have something that the world needs. If you're in a desert place with several other individuals and there is a great need for water, but you are the only one that has it, then you have become very important! You are able to quench the thirst of others and to save lives! If you're driving in a car with several others that are riding with you, and the car is soon to run out of fuel, but no one but you has any money to purchase that fuel, you now have become very important! You have the money to pay for fuel that everyone needs. It's the same in this world. People need Jesus. You have him, and you are surrounded by many that don't have Jesus, so now you have become very important, now you can quench their thirst, you can bring peace to their hearts and minds, now you can lift up and encourage the downcast, now you can bring fuel to their life, and now you can lead them to Jesus who will save their soul. See, you are very important! You have what the world needs! Jesus in you, the light of the world, the water in the desert places, the fuel in this life's journey. You have it! Don't hide it! Share with those that do not have what you have.
Imagine being in these places and you are the one that has a need, but someone else is the only one around you that has what you need, what would it be like if they refuse to share it with you! What would it be like if you will die if you can't get it? What will it be like if you couldn't go one more day or one more mile without it? How would you feel towards that person that has it, but doesn't care enough to share?
on Apr. 19 2011
Profit or Penury!
12:23 pm ~ Gain
www.souls-for-christ.com/id33.html
April 19, 2011
"In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury." Proverbs 14:23
Very popular films such as, Eight Mile starring Eminem or The Green Mile with Tom Hanks will never compare to the most popular film The Passion of The Christ starring Jesus Christ because of the distance that he traveled to save our soul. There is a vast distance between penury (poverty) and gain (profit). In Mark 8:36, 37 it reads, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul. Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Talk is cheap and leads to poverty when our works do not coincide. James said "Faith without works is dead" James 2:17 and he questioned us saying, "For what doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?" James 2:14 See, there is a huge distance between labor and laziness, profit and poverty, the comfy couch and the cross, hell and heaven, and death and life. This huge distance is made near to us by the work that Jesus has done on the cross to save our soul. This is the mile, "The Red Mile" or "The 40th mile" if you will, that is the most popular of all times, it was his blood that made the difference between poverty and gain and the cross or the 40th stripe that takes us the distance that we need to go.
Ask Jesus into your heart today and take it upon yourself to go the distance to the cross where forgiveness and mercy waits for you! In this you will profit for eternity!
"In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury." Proverbs 14:23
Very popular films such as, Eight Mile starring Eminem or The Green Mile with Tom Hanks will never compare to the most popular film The Passion of The Christ starring Jesus Christ because of the distance that he traveled to save our soul. There is a vast distance between penury (poverty) and gain (profit). In Mark 8:36, 37 it reads, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul. Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Talk is cheap and leads to poverty when our works do not coincide. James said "Faith without works is dead" James 2:17 and he questioned us saying, "For what doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?" James 2:14 See, there is a huge distance between labor and laziness, profit and poverty, the comfy couch and the cross, hell and heaven, and death and life. This huge distance is made near to us by the work that Jesus has done on the cross to save our soul. This is the mile, "The Red Mile" or "The 40th mile" if you will, that is the most popular of all times, it was his blood that made the difference between poverty and gain and the cross or the 40th stripe that takes us the distance that we need to go.
Ask Jesus into your heart today and take it upon yourself to go the distance to the cross where forgiveness and mercy waits for you! In this you will profit for eternity!
on Apr. 13 2011
Rejoice!
11:52 am ~ Joy
www.souls-for-christ.com
April 13, 2011
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting knothing."James 1:2-4
Joseph was made a slave, Moses was chased in the desert, Sampson was captured by the Philistines, David was pursued by Saul, Eli's sons were put to death, Solomon turned from God, Elijah was chased by Jezebel, Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, Shadrack, Mishak, and Abednego was thrown into the fiery furnace, Jesus was hunted by Herod, Steven was stoned to death, John the Baptist was beheaded, and John the Revelator was sent to the Isle of Patmos. This list could go on and on, but the message today is about pressing forward despite adversity. One of the best examples that we have of this is the Gospel itself! The word of God has endured and continue on, pressing forward regardless of circumstances, historical afflictions, and outright bold-faced wars against it! With all that has attacked the Christian faith, the Christian has prevailed and will continue to do so for eternity! What is the Christian's power you ask? Simply put, their power is the JOY of Jesus! Joy through it all. O how it destroys our enemy! Joy through it all. O how it keeps you and me!
Be filled with joy when it seems that you can't anymore! Joy will even the score! Victory is at your door! So smile like never before!
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting knothing."James 1:2-4
Joseph was made a slave, Moses was chased in the desert, Sampson was captured by the Philistines, David was pursued by Saul, Eli's sons were put to death, Solomon turned from God, Elijah was chased by Jezebel, Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, Shadrack, Mishak, and Abednego was thrown into the fiery furnace, Jesus was hunted by Herod, Steven was stoned to death, John the Baptist was beheaded, and John the Revelator was sent to the Isle of Patmos. This list could go on and on, but the message today is about pressing forward despite adversity. One of the best examples that we have of this is the Gospel itself! The word of God has endured and continue on, pressing forward regardless of circumstances, historical afflictions, and outright bold-faced wars against it! With all that has attacked the Christian faith, the Christian has prevailed and will continue to do so for eternity! What is the Christian's power you ask? Simply put, their power is the JOY of Jesus! Joy through it all. O how it destroys our enemy! Joy through it all. O how it keeps you and me!
Be filled with joy when it seems that you can't anymore! Joy will even the score! Victory is at your door! So smile like never before!
