Christian Basics Archives - Page 6 of 7

Lips or Life?

On October 29, 2014 / Bible, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, Faith, God's Will for Me, Victory

We talk with our lips. We talk to people, the people in front of us, the people behind us, the people on the phone, the people in our family, to friends, to strangers, we even talk to our enemies.

We project our feelings with our lips; we even reveal our minds and what we think of ourselves.
And with our lips we also lie to ourselves, to the rest of the world, and create conflict.

But it is our daily lives that scream out our character, our goals, and our God – or our gods. Therefore remember:

make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, (1 Thessalonians 4:1)

I (the Lord) deal with each person according to how he has behaved. I give them what they deserve based on what they have done. (Jeremiah 17:10 NET)

Spiritual Values

On October 28, 2014 / Bible, Christian Basics, Christian Values, Endurance, Faith, God's Will, Heavenly Witness, Suffering, Trials

Things Above Thoughts (TAT)
Spiritual Values

Have you ever considered what God thought about Job?

When Job was rich and had a wonderful family and was “the greatest lf all the men of the east” God thought:

“There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” (1:9)

When Job was dirt poor, with no family and probably the least of all the men of the east God thought:

“There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil.” (2:3)

After Job had verbally rebuffed his friends and spoken about his confusion with how God had dealt with him God thought:

Job was His servant and had spoken what was right about God! (42:7–8)

No where in the book of Job does God think any less of Job because of his physical situation or his mental confusion and honest examination of God. God only thinks about Job’s righteousness.

What do you think about? What does God think about you?

Pitiful Me

On October 27, 2014 / Christian Basics, Endurance, Eternal, Faith, God's Will for Me, Suffering, Trials, Victory

Things Above Thoughts (TAT)

Pitiful Me

Linda Ronstadt sings a sang “Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me” it always reminds me of American Christianity. Yes, the Lord has shed many blessings on us but most American Christians still seem to fall into the “Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me” category. If we are only seeking a blessing from Him this week we probably fall into the “Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me” category. Why is that?
Consider these two points:

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
(1 Corinthians 15:19 NIV)

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV)

So are you looking for a blessing – this week – or for those that will last – for all eternity?

Our Great Witness

On October 26, 2014 / Bible, Christian Basics, Darkness & Light, Endurance, Faith, God's Will, God's Will for Me, Heavenly Witness, Kingdom, Saints, Suffering, Trials, Victory

Whether any person sees us or not each thought we think and each action we take is observed! Our words and our lives are always a present witness. This is what the Lord revealed in Ephesians 3:8–10:

To me (Paul)– less than the least of all the saints– this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan– a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things. The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church (God’s spiritual family) the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. (NET Emphasis added)

Our smallest thoughts and actions are always observed in heaven and have huge affects on certain heavenly rulers and authorities for all eternity!

Therefore it can be said that the results of what we say and do today will precede us into heaven and accompany us throughout all eternity. So I say: “Let us watch the small pieces of our lips and lives, they are more important than we know.”

gETTING lOST iN tHE wORLD

On October 25, 2014 / Bible, Christian Basics, Endurance, Faith, God's Will, God's Will for Me, Kingdom, Suffering, Trials, Victory

Monday, for most, the first day in the work week; why are you going to work?
Are you working to earn a living? Are you Living?
Are you working to support your family? Are you Supportive?
Are you working for your retirement? How does His Retirement look?
Are you working because it’s expected of you? Are you meeting His Expectations?
Are you working for worldly reasons or for His Heavenly Reasons?

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
(Matthew 6:33)

Holding Fast

On October 18, 2014 / Bible, Christian Basics, Endurance, Faith, God's Will, Suffering, Trials, Victory

“What, if anything, helps Americans grow in their faith? When the Barna Group asked that question, people offered a variety of answers—prayer, family or friends, reading the Bible, having children but church did not even crack the top 10 list.

Although church involvement was once a cornerstone of American life, U.S. adults today are evenly divided on the importance of attending church. While half (49%) say it is “somewhat” or “very” important, the other 51% say it is “not too” or “not at all” important. The divide between the religiously active and those resistant to churchgoing impacts American culture, morality, politics and religion.” (barna.org or barnagroup.org)

Are people leaving the church or is the church leaving accurate Bible teaching and His disciples are seeking other sources of teaching? Today is a call to arms:

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:22–25 NASV)

Trust No One

On October 13, 2014 / Christian Basics, Darkness & Light, Endurance, Faith, God's Will for Me, Saints, Victory

“Trust no one, not even the finest saint who ever walked this earth, ignore him, if he hinders your sight of Jesus Christ.” (Oswald Chambers, March 29)

How does the finest saint who ever walked this earth hinder my sight of Jesus Christ? Why would such a godly person even think about hindering my sight of Jesus? They don’t and they wouldn’t! It is not the godly saint who hinders my sight of Jesus it is my focus on the godly saint that hinders my vision. We all have the tendency to look at others, to depend on others, and even to expect, require, and at times even demand that others act godly toward me.

I think Mr Chambers had it right: “If your are looking off unto Jesus, . . . setting your heart on what He wants, . . . when He appears . . . you will be the only one who is ready.”

Healthy Heart

On October 11, 2014 / Bible, Christian Basics, Darkness & Light, Endurance, Faith, God's Will for Me, Kingdom, Suffering, Victory

We are not going to be eternal beings; we already are eternal beings.

As this week crushes in on you with the pressures of this world, work, family, or inescapable boredom do something healthy for your heart:

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:20–21)

Glory to God

On July 31, 2014 / Bible, Christian Basics, Darkness & Light, Faith, God, Satan, Suffering, Victory / Leave a comment

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Do we really believe this?

When you get in a dispute with your spouse, your children, your boss, your friend, or a complete stranger do you stop in the middle of that dispute and think of Ephesians 6:12 and realize that there is more going on than just a dispute with another person? One of the reasons we are here is to have a witness to the heavenly host (Ephesians 3:10; 6:12; Job chapters 1–2). Our struggles can start in the heavenly places but always glorify God in the heavenly places (Job).

In the book “from a DARKNESS to the LIGHT” the door to this situation begins to open and His light is shed on this long ignored biblical truth.

Devoured by Satan

On June 23, 2014 / Bible, Christian Basics, Darkness & Light, Faith, God, Satan, Victory / Leave a comment

Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

Where does it say that Satan is a defeated foe? If he is defeated why did the risen Christ tell Paul “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God,” (Acts 26:18)? If he is defeated why does God the father say: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20)?

Turn your back on a roaring lion and he will devour you.
Poke fun at him and he will devour you.
Make believe he does not exist and he will devour you.

In the book “from a DARKNESS to the LIGHT” the only defense against Satan that God has provided is broken down into five (5) simple actions. These actions are taken from the books of James, Ephesians, 1 Peter, and Hebrews. May God bless you as you read and have victory.

If you think that since you are a Christian you don’t need to worry about him then you have already been devoured and you more than anyone else need to read this timely book.

Archive for the Christian Basics Category