This is a great article by Chuck Colson hope you check it out.
Link to Townhall.com::The Real Skinflints::By Chuck Colson
04
Jan
2007
Faith
19
Dec
2006
Messianic Prophecy
Last night we saw the Nativity Story for the 2nd time.
I cried through most of it the first time and last night I got to really think about the whole story. It was done so well, aside from a couple of minor things. Like the wimpy little angel.
I thought of so many things like did Mary and Joseph know about the prophecies? I know that they were looking for a Messiah but did they know all of the OT prophecies. So I started looking and found some great stuff. This is my fovorite stat concerning Messianic Prophecy:
Messianic Prophecy Odds Without God
1. Jesus would be a descendant of David. 104 (1 in 10,000)
2. Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. 105 (1 in 100,000)
3. Jesus would be a miracle worker. 105 (1 in 100,000)
4. Jesus would present Himself as King
riding on a donkey. 106 (1 in 1,000,000)
5. Jesus would be betrayed by a friend
for 30 pieces of silver. 106 (1 in 1,000,000)
6. Jesus would be crucified. 106 (1 in 1,000,000)
7. Jesus would first present Himself as
King 173,880 days from the decree of
Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem. 106 (1 in 1,000,000)
Total Probability (without God) 1038 (1 in a 100 billion, billion, billion, billion)
Thank God that His word is true and His council is perfect. We are so blessed.
Source: Messianic Prophecy
18
Dec
2006
The Promises are yours.
The other day I opened my bible to Galatians and starting reading. Before I knew it I was finished and God opened things up to me again.
Chapter 3 got me so excited.
Vs. 6-9 says:
Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
Then 13 & 14 says:
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
I got so excited being reminded that through faith we are sons of Abraham and heirs of the promise (Gal 3:29) and vs 13 & 14 say that Christ has redeemed us from the curse. So when you read Deuteronomy 28; the blessings apply (1-14) and the curses (15-68) do not. Provided we are “of the faith” and appropriating the promises through faith.
Vs 18 reminds us that it is through the covenant promises of God not anything we do, except believe, that makes the blessings and promises of God alive in us. Also 5:6 says that Faith working through love is what makes the difference.
Then Paul finishes up by talking about sharing one anothers burdens, being generous, doing good, and to glory only in the cross. He caps everything off by saying in 6:16,
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
I love that Paul calls us the Israel of God.
This Christmas remember that the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 12:1-3, Gen 15) says we are blessed to be a blessing and that all of the promises of God are “yes and amen”. (2 Cor 1:20).
And they apply to you!
Merry Christmas.
31
Oct
2006
Where is your faith?
Why were the disciples often rebuked for there lack of faith when a Roman Centurion a syrophoenician woman and others who did not walk with Jesus get what they asked because of there faith.
Was it because of familiarity? arrogance? They were uneducated men so it shouldn’t have been to much head knowledge although Luke was a physician which assumes some education.
It strikes me as odd that the men who saw Jesus heal the sick, cast out the demons in the demoniac when they couldn’t, feed five thousand and four thousand, walk on water, raise people from the dead, were rebuked for there lack of faith. When those who probably only had a second hand knowledge of these things were full of faith.
In Matt 8:10 Jesus said of the centurion “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Isreal!” The centurion certainly wasn’t following Jesus around he had surely only heard of the things Jesus was doing.
In Matt 17:20 when the disciples asked why they couldn’t cast out the demons Jesus answered “because of your unbelief”.
I would love to hear your thoughts. I have to go to work so I will pick this up later.
04
Oct
2006
Faith
The other day while I was reading Hebrews 11 I ran across this quote from Warren Wiersbe:
“Life is built on character, character is built on decisions, decisions are based on values, and values must be accepted by faith.”*
Hebrews 11:24-29
Just something to think about.
* Wiersbe, W.W. (1996, c 1989) The bible Exposition Commentary. “An exposition of the New Testament Comprising the entire “BE” Series” – Jkt. (Lk 6:20). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books
02
Oct
2006
Releasing the Provision
I have been away awhile but God has been showing me so much.
I was thinking about the fact that God has pre-ordained our lives. For example:
Ps 139:16
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
Strongs #3335
to frame, pre-ordain, plan (fig. of divine) purpose of a situation) to be predetermined, be pre-ordained
And:
Eph 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
I started thinking that if God pre-planned our lives and our calling then He surely would prepare the provision for the plan. Then I saw this:
Eccl 3:15
That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past
Strongs #01245
to desire, demand, to require, exact, to ask, request
This speaks of stewardship of something given. Then I thought of this:
2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
Strongs #2222
of the absolute fulness of life, life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted, to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world
So I came to some conclusions:
If God has already pre-planned the path of our lives and if God has already laid up the resource we need to accomplish what He has spoken over us;
If we have lack it is because of one of three things:
1. what we are doing, or not doing, (Joshua 7:7-11, Matt 13:22)
2. something we have authority over, (Matt 28 18-20, Eph 1&2)
3. something we must contend for. (Dan 10:12-13, Gen 25:20)
The other thing we can do is to sow:
Gen 8:22
“While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer,
And day and night Shall not cease.”
Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
2 Cor 9:6-12
He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written:
“He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower , and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
However our heart behind the gift must be right.
Phil 4:17-18
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
1 Cor 13:3
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
There is more but this is a good start.
What do you think?
07
Sep
2006
He "Is"
Recently I have been thinking about how we pray in terms of what we ask for. I often pray God give me something. Then I realized that most of the things I ask for I already have and I just need to learn how to use them. Like faith, grace, provision, etc. etc.
I recently realized that the bible often doesn’t say God has but more often says He is. for example:
I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward (Gen 15:1)
The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation (Ex 15:2)
I am your portion and your inheritance (Num 18:20)
My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; (2 Sam 22:3)
He is the tower of salvation (2 Sam 22:51)
He is their strength (Ps 37:39)
He is my defense; (Ps 62:2)
He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; (Ps 62:6)
He is my refuge and my fortress (Ps 91:2)
He is a shield (Prov 2:7)
The name of the LORD is a strong tower (Prov 18:10)
The LORD God is my strength (Hab 3:19)
God is love (1 John 4:8)
The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6)
So when we pray for God to give us one of these things; we need to realize is He is, not He has, all of those things and what we actually need is to Draw near to God (James 4:8).
What do you think?
06
Sep
2006
God’s Provision
I was just having a conversation about how we pray. I have always prayed for God’s provision and that God would increase my faith. As a matter of fact just this morning I was praying that God would put into me everything I need to accomplish what He has called me to do. Then in mid-sentance I stopped.
Ps 139:16 NLT says “You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
and Eccl 3:15 NKJV says ” That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past.”
and 2 Peter 1:3-4 NKJV says “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness , through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
So let’s unpack this: if God laid out everyday before a single day passed, and if God called me, and if He has given me everything I need for life, then where is the breakdown.
I mean if that is all true, and it is, then why is there lack in my life. It either has to be me; or something I have authority over. I am either walking in doubt and unbelief, or I have something in me personally that is holding back the provision or it is something that I have authority over. (Matt 28:18, Luke 9:1, 10:19)
Gods promises are not automatic they must be appropriated and sometimes contended for (Dan 10:12-13, Gen 25:20). So my prayer now is “God please bring out those things that You have put into me, show me what I am doing or not doing that is holding back the provision in my life or show me what I need to take authority over and contend with to release what You have already set aside for me.
It’s a small difference that makes a huge difference. What do you think?
04
Sep
2006
Faith is the Fuel
Posted by Gary on April 7, 2006
As I used to think about faith I would look at Hebrews 11:1, now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen, and think, ok, faith is substance, faith is evidence, but what is it? What does it look like?
Then I read Mark 11:24, Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
As I was considering this whole concept it hit me. Faith is. Both, FAITH is, and faith IS. When you are standing in faith for something and someone says “I thought you were believing for healing, why are you still sick?” you can say “my faith is the evidence.”
I know it’s a hard concept and one you have to get personal revelation on. I have been thinking about this for years. Maybe I’m just thick headed.
Here is another way it works:
You can put money in the offering or you can sow a seed.
You can say something nice to someone or you can speak life into their soul.
You can speak words into the air or you can pray the prayer of faith.
The difference is when we add our Faith.
Darlene Zschech once said “the faith journey is not cross your fingers and hope for the best. It is real, the fullness of Christ locked into us that we can use.” You see faith is not the shallow “hope” something good will happen. Faith is being fully convinced and persuaded of a thing. No doubt.
James 1:6-7
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
You must settle in your heart that the very DNA of God is generosity and faithfulness and that he wants you to have good things. Romans 8:32
Mark 11:23
I assure you that you can say to this mountain, ‘May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,’ and your command will be obeyed. All that’s required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart.
In my mind it all comes back to two things. II Corinthians 5:17 and Romans 12:2 I’ll let you look those up and think about those two things for awhile.
Thank you again for your consideration. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
04
Sep
2006
Eternity
Posted by Gary on March 15, 2006
I know I promised something else but we were talking about this today and I thought it would be good to post it:
Jesus talked about 2 ages: this present evil age (Gal 1:4) which is the kingdom of satan and the age to come (Mt 12:32, Mk 10:30), Paul talked about “the powers of the age to come (Heb 6:5) which is the kingdom of God. Theologians call it the now and the not yet. The two ages are separated by “the day of the Lord” (Joel 2:1-2, Acts 2:20) when Jesus returns.
Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is here (Mt 3:2) talking about himself. Every time someone is healed or raised from the dead or any miracle it is a piece of eternity where there will be no sickness or tears. We are living in the now, Mt 3:2, and the not yet Mt 12:32).
All I was saying is if you think about it eternity is not that far away. It is one second from right now. So when we pray by faith we are bringing eternity into the now (Mt 6:10).
It is a matter of the prayer of faith. Faith sees, faith speaks, faith acts, faith stands, faith gives praise, and faith rests. We have to settle things in our hearts. We can’t be tossed by every wind and wave (James 1:6-7) we have to come boldly by faith to the thrown of grace (Heb 4:16). Having a picture of eternity and what it means to live in the now and the not yet helps faith to see; which is the beginning of the whole process.
I would love to hear your thoughts.
Gary
