Here is another Bible reading plan that is more challenging but highly recommended. It is a system designed by Prof. Grant Horner and you may find it at www.worshipmatters.com, in a Dec. 29 entry entitled "Why I'm Reading the Bible in Ten Different Places". I came across this one today (Dec. 30) and may decide to use it instead of M'Cheyne's plan.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Read the Bible in 2011
For your joy in Jesus, refreshment in spirit, equipment for battling sin and living fruitful, Christ-magnifying life, growth in God's grace and His gospel, and depth of prayer and intercession (and more!), I encourage you to read through the Scriptures in 2011. There are many excellent Bible reading plans available on line, including many for use with the English Standard Version.
I have used the ESV Study Bible and find it very helpful, and this year I will use the "M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan" (one I've not followed before). You may find this and nine other plans at the ESV resources website-- www.esv.org/resources/
Monday, December 27, 2010
Christmas Poem, 2010
Of Christmas Angels in the Gospel of Luke
Adorning our indoor trees and lighted lawn displays
are fancified, winged silhouettes, ashine—
Symbols of God’s angels sent to earth
right on time to speak His glorious praise;
to announce God’s Son Incarnate, sublime—
down from heaven’s throne for his humble birth.
In Herod’s days, an old priest—his name, Zechariah—
Was chosen to serve God in the holy place—
A thrill he’d anticipated for years!
By the incense altar, Zechariah saw
The Lord’s angel looking him right in the face!
Zechariah’s body shook, his frame draped in fear.
The angel spoke, “Don’t be afraid; your prayers God has heard.
Elizabeth, your precious wife, and you
Will have a boy named John, though you’re very old.
Many will rejoice as he works to spread the word
About Messiah, heaven-sent Truth,
To make ready a people, as prophets foretold.”
But Zechariah said, “How shall I know this? We’re old enough to die.”
“I’m Gabriel, I stand in God’s presence,
And He sent me to bring this great news!
Behold you will be silenced until John cries
When he’s born just a few months hence.
This will be fulfilled when the time is due.”
Later Gabriel was sent by God—this angel of great fame—
To Mary, a virgin girl in Galilee,
And Joseph was her man to marry.
“Greetings, God’s favor is with you,” Gabriel’s words came.
She was troubled…What could this be?
The angel helped, “God chose you; don’t be wary.”
“You will be God’s Son’s mother and Jesus will be His name.”
“Wait, I’m a virgin, how can this be?”
“The power of the Most High will come upon you;
Holy will be the newborn child’s name.
Look, old Elizabeth is pregnant, see?”
And Mary said, “I’ll be the Lord’s servant, too.”
In David’s town Mary’s time came and she birthed him--
--Her firstborn son, swaddling him secure,
And bedded him in a cow shed manger,
Because no rooms were vacant in the inn.
Amazing! Heaven’s prince born in a stable poor,
With Mary and Joseph, unaware of future danger.
That night, in close-by hills there were shepherds guarding their flock,
When quiet broke and an angel appeared—
And all around them God’s glory burned bright!
Terrified, the men were frozen with shock!
The angel said, “Behold, you’ve no need to fear.
Good news I bring for all people’s great joy and delight!”
“Unto you is born this day a Savior, there in town,
And He will be called Christ the Lord!
A sign for you is this: A baby you will espy
Lying in an ordinary manger, in swaddling rags wound.”
Suddenly a host of angels joined to praise God and adore,
“Peace among those with whom God is pleased; Glory to Him on high!”
Glorious, fearsome, bright, exotic—angels are awesome!
Some fixate on the mysterious and heavenly.
But let us take care to guard our hearts,
Recalling always and now when Christmas comes,
That angels play supporting roles; Christ’s the One to see!
Yes, Jesus is the Star and angels play smaller parts.
As messengers of heaven’s King, angels set the stage
For the Son who came to earth a man,
To turn many hearts to God their Lord.
They prepared Jesus’ mother to turn life’s page
And give life to Him, the Son of Man,
Whose body would be shattered and life-blood outpoured.
So let us join the angel-ranks and serve our Lord with praise,
Using all our life to magnify our King and…
“Hail the heav’n born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings, ris’n with healing in His wings!
Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.
Hark the Rocky Family (sings and speaks and lives), ‘Glory to the newborn King.”
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
God's Only Begotten Son, Born of a Virgin
Must We Believe the Virgin Birth?
In one of his columns for The New York Times, Nicholas Kristof once pointed to belief in the Virgin Birth as evidence that conservative Christians are "less intellectual." Are we saddled with an untenable doctrine? Is belief in the Virgin Birth really necessary?
Kristof is absolutely aghast that so many Americans believe in the Virgin Birth….
read moreTuesday, December 21, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
The Incarnate Son, Heaven's Missionary to the world, blesses His Word, mission, and missionaries! Does this article remind you of an RBBC missionary family and people group?
Published on Challies Dot Com (http://www.challies.com)
God's Greatest Gifts
By Tim
Created 12/15/2010 - 8:59am
Gracious Father,
One of the great promises of heaven, a promise that I long to see fulfilled, is that what gets old and tired in this world will always remain new and fresh and exciting in the world to come. Niagara Falls will send chills down my spine every time I see it; the Grand Canyon will cause me to gasp in delight, not just once but for all of eternity; the night sky will move me to praise you for your greatness each and every time I look up. Nothing will get tiring, nothing will get old, nothing will be just the same time after time after time.
What is it that causes us to grow weary of things that are good and even things that are so very good? How could we build up such hardness, such spiritual resistance to your greatest gifts?
You called Adam to name each of the animals, and paraded them in front of him one by one. He saw two of this animal, two of that, two of another, and through it all realized that there was no helper fit for him. He could not have been lonely, living there in that perfect world. And yet he realized that he was incomplete. You caused him to fall into a deep sleep and there, when he awoke, standing before him, was the perfect complement to him, the perfect mate. In wonder he exclaimed, "This at last is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh." He praised you for your marvelous provision.
But then Adam sinned. He allowed his wife to lead him astray, he fell for the deception of the devil. And when you called to him he turned on that woman, he turned on that gift and said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." He turned on that gift, hated it, and in that moment hated the one who gave it.
Your Son called Peter to be one of his disciples. Jesus simply said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." And Peter followed. For several years he followed, walking in the steps of the man who claimed to be the Messiah. He followed him all the way to Jerusalem, even proclaiming, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
But then danger came. Suddenly that Savior did not seem so mighty. And when the people said to Peter, "You were with Jesus of Nazareth," he cursed and swore "I do not know the man!" He turned on that gift, hated it, and in that moment hated the one who gave it.
Why are we like this? Why do we marvel at something for a time and then grow weary of it, grow complacent toward it and even come to despise it? How do good gifts become old and tired gifts?
Father, I learned recently that you have seen fit to take your Word to some of your children, to some of my brothers and sisters who live almost a world away from me. Until recently the Kimyal Tribe in Papua, Indonesia have had only a portion of the New Testament available in their language. They loved that Word, they memorized it, they fed upon it. But like Adam after he named the animals and saw no helper fit for him, they knew that what they had was incomplete. But now, Lord, now you have given them the entire New Testament, all four gospels in which they can read about the life of your Son, Acts which allows them to study the earliest days of the earliest church, all those epistles in which your apostles tell us how we are to live in this world for your glory, those pastoral letters that will encourage the men in church leadership to hold fast the precious deposit that has been given them, and Revelation which beautifully describes that which is to come.
Their joy is remarkable. They overflow with it. They weep with the emotion of holding in their hands your precious Word. They throw a feast in an attempt to give back of the firstfruits. They dance and celebrate and act like this is the greatest thing that has ever happened to any of them. And that may just be the case. They have been waiting for two thousand years to hear from you. And now at last, in your perfect timing, you are speaking to them in their own language. And oh, how they rejoice.
I weep to see them celebrate. I weep with joy for them. I am grateful to you on their behalf, grateful to the ones whose long labor of love translated that Bible. But I also weep with shame and sorrow for me. How can my heart have grown so cold to your Word when these people, your children in the Kimyal tribe, are just now receiving those words for the first time? How could I grow so hardened to the gift you've given me? I sit in an office surrounded by Bibles—I can count 7 without even turning my head and I know there are many more downstairs and a whole box in the basement. And I say, "I'm tired. I don't feel like it. It all feels the same. It just doesn't seem exciting today." My dancing has turned into mourning, my celebrating into complaining.
Father, I need you to renew my love for your Word. I need you to keep my heart from growing cold toward your greatest gifts. I need you to keep me from looking to my wife and seeing only those things I think she isn't, only those things she doesn't do; I need you to keep me from denying you, perhaps not in my words but too often in my actions, in the orientation of my heart. And I need you to keep me from being complacent toward your Word, from assuming that I know enough about it, from regarding it as a chore rather than an honor, a responsibility rather than a delight. Stir my heart as you've stirred the hearts of so many of your people when they read your Words for the very first time. And let even this remind me of the greater joy that is to come on that great day when you wipe away my tears of sorrow, when you take away every ugly complacency.
As they say in the Kimyal language:
Al weig buna' ag bulamlange
"To him who sits on the throne,
ab Domba Me ab se,
sig aga meibna' ab,
gibna' ab, bebnag ab, migib ab,
unum-unum se ulamla.
and to the Lamb, be blessing
and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."
To the Father, to the Son, to the Holy Spirit be glory for ever and ever. Amen!
Note: Here is the pastor's prayer upon receiving the New Testament:
The month that you had set, the day that you had set, has come to pass today. Oh my Father, my Father, the Promise that you gave Simeon that he would see Jesus Christ and hold Him in his arms before he died. I also have been waiting under that same promise, O God. You looked at all the different languages and chose which ones will be put into Your Word. You thought that we should see Your Word in our language. Today, the day you had chosen for this to be fulfilled, has come to pass. You have placed it here in our land. And for all this, O God, I give You praise.
Spiritual Zombies, They Are All Around Us
| Please read this powerful post form Russell Moore, and pray for and carry the gospel to "zombies" you know. | |
| Zombies and the Gospel Source: russellmoore.com | |
Monday, December 6, 2010
Pray for Your Pastors and Teachers Please
Please pray for your pastors and teachers. Pray for us when we are "on a roll" and when we are struggling and always! Your help in this way is crucial. Upheld by the prayers of his people
Source: thegospelcoalition.org
The Prince of Peace
With His life's blood (thank God for the Incarnation of our Savior!) Jesus purchased peace with God and the peace of God for all His people. Therefore, we have rest in Him. What a great, sweet thought that is! I love one of the hymns Pastor Carey Dean led us in on Dec. 5 (the second Sunday of Advent) as together we prepared to receive Christ this Christmas time, focusing on our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Here is that hymn:
Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting
Jesus, I am resting, resting, in the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid my gaze upon Thee, and Thy beauty fills my soul.
For by Thy transforming power, Thou hast made me whole.
Refrain:
Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
O, how great Thy loving kindness, vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness, lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved, know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise, and have made it mine.
Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless, satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings, meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings: Thine is love indeed!
Ever lift Thy face upon me as I work and wait for Thee;
Resting;neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus, earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory, sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting, fill me with Thy grace.
Amen.
Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting
Jesus, I am resting, resting, in the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid my gaze upon Thee, and Thy beauty fills my soul.
For by Thy transforming power, Thou hast made me whole.
Refrain:
Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
O, how great Thy loving kindness, vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness, lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved, know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise, and have made it mine.
Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless, satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings, meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings: Thine is love indeed!
Ever lift Thy face upon me as I work and wait for Thee;
Resting;neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus, earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory, sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting, fill me with Thy grace.
Amen.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
A family project idea that will encourage our deployed troops.
Send a letter from the heart...make it a family project!
Over 700 young men and women deployed from Hurlburt Field & Eglin AFB
need your kindness this holiday season.
Here is how you can help:
Write a short letter or card of encouragement and gratitude then drop it
off at the Niceville Chamber of Commerce office or stop by and write it there, they have all the
supplies. The Chamber will do the rest, making sure it gets to the troops
this holiday season!
Letters must be turned in by November 30th.
Our lives are all impacted by these brave young men and women who defend
our freedom on a daily basis so reach out with a word from home to let
them know they are appreciated. Please help to make a difference as they
spend time away from home.
Over 700 young men and women deployed from Hurlburt Field & Eglin AFB
need your kindness this holiday season.
Here is how you can help:
Write a short letter or card of encouragement and gratitude then drop it
off at the Niceville Chamber of Commerce office or stop by and write it there, they have all the
supplies. The Chamber will do the rest, making sure it gets to the troops
this holiday season!
Letters must be turned in by November 30th.
Our lives are all impacted by these brave young men and women who defend
our freedom on a daily basis so reach out with a word from home to let
them know they are appreciated. Please help to make a difference as they
spend time away from home.
_______________________________
Niceville Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce
The Center of Business
1055 East John Sims Parkway
Niceville, FL 32578
(850) 678-2323
www.nicevillechamber.com
The Center of Business
1055 East John Sims Parkway
Niceville, FL 32578
(850) 678-2323
www.nicevillechamber.com
Monday, November 15, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Here's An Example of Standing Up for Life
An Abortion Debate - Senator Daylin Leach vs. Scott Klusendorf
http://takeyourvitaminz.blogspot.com/2010/10/abortion-debate-senator-daylin-leach-vs.html
http://takeyourvitaminz.blogspot.com/2010/10/abortion-debate-senator-daylin-leach-vs.html
Monday, November 1, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Vote Prayerfully and Carefully
The Lord Jesus said, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21). He was saying, "Pay your taxes and live under the authority of God-appointed governing powers" (Titus 3:1). By extension, I take this to mean that we ought to vote. This is a great privilege for us as American citizens. So vote, but guard your heart against banking your hope on election results. Participate in the election process, yes, but do not put your hope in that which is temporal, "for the present form of this world is passing away" (1 Cor. 7:31). Rather, hope in God! (Psalm 39:7)
And pursue righteousness as you vote (1 Tim. 6:11). I will not endorse candidates for you, but I strongly urge you to not vote for any one who is pro-abortion. The fact that infanticidal elimination of hundreds of thousands of babies is legally practiced in our nation is a vicious, grievous, wholly unrighteous, despicable affront to God! Sounds like I'm a single issue voter, doesn't it? So be it. I am amazed that God so patiently withholds judgment on us.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Revelation 7:9-10 Is True!
"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
People from every people group in the world will be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! God's promise is sure! Let us share in the joy of Mike and Libby Wild and their sons and their teammates, and that of spiritually dead Wano people who been made alive and saved by the power of the gospel! The Wano tribe is no longer an unreached people group!
You will love reading the testimonies sent by the Wilds found below! Keep on praying for an outpouring of God's Spirit on the Wano, and for rest for the Wilds.
This past Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, we presented the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.It was a strange feeling to be presenting the "end of the story" after many years of preparation and 3 months of daily teaching. The Wano language that has taken so much work to grasp, was now being spoken freely by us, and God's gospel of grace was being communicated clearly.
We did not use any gimmicks, flashy technology or big props-only the written Word of God, spoken in the power of the Holy Spirit.
God opened many blind eyes and darkened hearts to respond in simple faith to the completed work that Jesus Christ did on the cross at Calvary. It is so sweet to see that He is a lover of all types of people, old and young, murderers, the polygamous, loners, warriors and widows alike have believed.
It is an amazing work that Yahweh is doing, and it is such a privilege to see first hand the joy and happiness in the hearts of some of these people. In many ways our work is just beginning as we take on the task of discipling the new believers. They are already asking if there is more to Yahweh's talk and when they are going to hear it.
The last few days have been spent talking to individuals and groups. There are some who are still unsure or confused, but we feel confident that we have about 30 new brothers and sisters in Christ. There are still more that we have not had a chance to talk to yet.
We will be heading out for our annual NTM conference on Friday and will then spend a couple of weeks in town to relax and stock up on supplies. The Ingles will be staying here in the village to be with the new believers. Thank you again for rallying behind us these last weeks.
with thankful hearts,
Mike and Libby
Here are a few testimonies from some that we have talked to...
From Morgan's email - One of my friends (Weton) was talking to me today about how Jesus died on the cross for are sins. He was confused and so I explained to him how the Israelites killed lambs to cover up there sins. then I explained how Jesus was our final lamb and that if you believe that he died for you, you become his child. At that moment I believe he became God's child. He said that he believed and that he was happy!!!!!!
Akila - I was in my front yard and he came over to where we were sitting. His eyes were glowing and he was smiling like I have never seen him before. He is usually a quiet guy but he opened right up when I asked him what he thought about the morning message. He said very confidently, “I am an ancestor or Adam. He was the ancestor of my parents and of me. I was born into Satan’s hand. But today I have heard the end of the story of the great thing that Jesus did. He died, and his death paid fully my own sin debt. That is the job that he completed for those that believe. And I believe that he died and paid my sin debt and now I am a child of Yahweh. I am now an old man and so I am very happy that I have heard this talk. Thank you, my son for bringing this talk.”
Igarowe - “Today I have heard the great thing that Jesus did by dying and shedding his blood. I am an evil man, but Jesus, in his death, has paid for my whole sin debt. When Yahweh ripped the temple curtain from the top down to the bottom, he showed me that I now have a way to join back with Yahweh and it is through the work that Jesus did to pay my full sin debt. I am now a child of Yahweh and that is all I have to say”
Malam - I have never seen this man smile in 3 years. His wife committed suicide years ago, and I have heard that he at times would become possessed by a demon and he would do super human feats-like one time he jumped off of the big rock in front of our house dropped 20 feet and keep on going. Yesterday, he was over in my yard (for the first time ever) and he had a smile on his face. I noticed it and told Libby that evening. This morning after the teaching, Malam came down soon and sat close and was listening to Liku, Temi, the boys and I talking about the teaching. After a while I asked him what he thought, and after some probing, he said that he believed that Jesus had paid his sin debt. I asked him if he was a good man or if he could do anything to make himself right with God. He said no, but that he believed that Jesus paid his sin debt. I asked him if that was the case, then was he a child of Yahweh, and then he said “Yes, Jesus has paid my sin debt and I am a child of Yahweh”. It was as simple and matter of fact as that. He was smiling and had a sparkle in his eye. It was the most I have ever heard the man ever say. So for a man of little words, the words he chose to speak had a lot of weight to them. A little later on, out of nowhere, he said to me, “We Wano people here were living in the very dark place, but you have told us this talk, and now we are very happy. Thank you”
Ndamianut - I am a very bad man. I have done very many evil things. Can it be true that Jesus could pay my whole sin debt, even if I have sinned so much?” I told him that it was true. If he put his faith in the completed work that Jesus did on the cross, then Jesus has already paid for his full sin debt. He was amazed by this talk-as if it was too good to believe. I then went through the main points of what we had learned over the previous 3 months. God, man, sin, payment for sin is death, Old Testament sacrificial system, how the blood of sheep and lambs covered the sin of old test saints. And then about Jesus, that He was God, came to earth to save Yahweh’s sheep. And how Jesus paid the sin debt and fully satisfied Yahweh. Ndamianut knew all these points well, and answered questions, and even finished some of my statements for me. He said that, he was believing on what Jesus did for him. That Jesus paid his sin debt, and that because of that he was a child of Yahweh.
Ndameci -had been faithfully coming to almost all the sessions. He had told me in the past how he really wanted the teaching. He was also very fearful of his sinful state before Yawe. Over the months he consistently showed concern for his sinfulness and faithfully listened every day. He is a man of very few words, and so I was really happy to hear what came out of his mouth. He told me this morning, “Inyabua (my wano name), I believe this talk. I understand it now. As you have been teaching, I have been confused about how I could be born again and joined with Yahweh. I know I have done many bad things. But now I am understanding this talk. Jesus, has paid my sin debt in full. He has paid for my sin debt fully, and now because I believe on what Jesus did, and because I am leaning on him, I am a child of Yahweh. I am very happy. Not just a little happy, but very happy. That is what is on my heart, and that is all I have to say.”Landun – clearly understood and gave a crystal clear testimony of Christ’s blood making the complete payment for his sin debt. He did have one question though, and that was that they have been told many times that people who have killed other people can never join up with God. He told me that a long time ago he and three guys killed one guy and then later, he was involved in killing three ladies thinking they were witches. He said that the whole time he has been listening to the teaching his heart has felt like crying because he didn’t think he could ever join up with God. However, he now realizes that Jesus paid his complete sin debt, even that of killing other people. He said that Jesus’ blood made the way for us to join up with God and that he believes the talk.
Tionggen – “Back before you guys came here we were always being told that having two wives, or having killed someone, smoking and chewing betelnut that we were Satan’s children but the religious people who didn’t do those things were God’s children. We were in complete darkness but you guys came and brought the light. You guys told us God’s true talk and we now understand that there is no way for us to join up with God because we are all sinners. Only God can save us and Jesus paid the punishment for our sins with his blood when he died on the cross.”
Madukumi – “I had already died (been very sick) but God’s power brought me back (healed me) to life and Jesus paid the penalty for my sins. I am a very old lady and my bones should have already been burned in the cremation fires, but I have heard the talk and God has saved me”
Ira – “I live way down river but God brought me here in order for me to hear this talk. We have heard some of God’s talk with a little bit from here and a little bit from there, mixed with man’s talk but the whole story was never told to us. We didn’t know the true talk but now because God brought me here, I have heard it. We are sinners and we can’t do anything to join up with God but Jesus, in His pity for us, placed our sin debt for us. He did an amazing thing for us”Orobeka - her husband told Mike the other day that whether she was in her garden or in the house she was talking about Yahweh's talk. Monday after the teaching. She came over to where I (Libby) was standing by the chronological pictures. She was looking at the pictures of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane, of him being brought before Pilate, and on the cross. She kept wiping the tears away as she was saying "He did that for me. He did that for me."
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Going to Israel
Rynette and I are traveling to Israel on October 8 for ten days with friends from RBBC-- a very sweet gift to us! We are anticipating God's blessings on His Word as Baruch tours with and teaches us. I am deeply grateful for Pastor Carey Dean, Pastor Travis, our elder and deacons and many others who minister in our body. Pray for them please, and also pray for us while we are aware. We love you!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
How to Do What You Were Made For-- Here's a Very Good List
How Can I Glorify God?
Source: thegospelcoalition.org
Monday, October 4, 2010
Keep praying for the Wilds, their teammates, and the Wano people, that Light will dawn in the utter darkness of sin and death! Please read how you can pray.
Wano Update
I know I have written this before, but being here in Wanoland at this time is such a privilege. To see God working, His Spirit active and moving in the hearts of people that have previously not had a chance to understand truth is truly an amazing thing. The Bible says that His sheep will hear His voice and will come to Him. We are seeing God's promise of those not yet in His fold hearing His voice and responding to truth. God is not slow in keeping His promises but instead He is patient willing that none of them would perish. He foretold so long ago that people from every tribe, tongue and nation would know Him and He had the Wano people in mind.
This week during the teaching, Christ's life and ministry continued to unfold. This morning after Tim taught the lesson on the parable of the sower, Mike got a chance to sit and talk to a man named Wetenut. This man, to my knowledge, has not missed a lesson. He sits right up front, literally soaking up every word. This morning as he and Mike were chatting about the different types of soils (different types of hearts), Mike said that he was glad to see how Wetenut was listening and so interested in the teaching. After Mike said this, Wetinut said to Mike with tears in his eyes, "I was in Satan's hand, but because you have come, now I am hearing God's true talk." He was really choked up and it was so clear to Mike that he is ready to put his faith in what Christ did at the cross.
Not for our sake, but for the sake of these people, do not grow weary in praying for them. We have about 11 more teaching days left until we present the Gospel. I have compiled a list of families in our areas, if you would like this list to be praying specifically by name respond to this email and I will send it to you.
with love from Wanoland,
Libby for the Wilds
Wetenut
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Don't Grow Weary in Well-Doing! Stand for Life, against abortion, and pray and vote and do something about it.
Blog: Life Training Institute Blog
Post: A Morally Untutored President [Scott]
Link: http://lti-blog.blogspot.com/2010/09/morally-untutored-president-scott.html
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Case for Life-- Are you able to articulate why abortion is immoral?
Learn about S.L.E.D. in this fine video.
http://takeyourvitaminz.blogspot.com/2010/09/heres-why-unborn-human-beings-are-as.html
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Ask Yourself, "Am I A Pseudo-Sovereign?"
Please read this article by Paul Tripp and consider: "What is it that you really want out of life? What is it that you want from God's hand? What is the true dream for which you have been working? What are the joys that captivate your eyes and control your heart?
http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-gracious-rescue-of-surprise
Monday, September 20, 2010
And More on Walking in Fear and Comfort
I deeply appreciate Charles Spurgeon's ability to make much of God's grandeur! "The splendours of his love and of his grace are as amazing as the terror of his sovereignty." Please read the rest.
His perfect justice
http://www.thedailyspurgeon.com/2010/09/his-perfect-justice.html
http://www.thedailyspurgeon.
Walking in Fear and in the Holy Spirit's Comfort
I'm still meditating on Acts 9:31. "And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it [the church] multiplied." This quote from Spurgeon is great!
http://www.thedailyspurgeon.
http://www.thedailyspurgeon.
Yom Kippur and God's Son, the Lamb
Yom Kippur was September 18. Here is a powerful video that provides depth of meaning to Scripture passages describing the sacrifice of the precious Lamb of God. Parents, I recommend viewing it yourselves first before deciding whether or not to show your it to your children.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
And Walking in the Fear of the Lord
"And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, [the church] multiplied" (Acts 9:31). In my sermon last Sunday (Sept. 5) I said that I was not satisfied with what I expressed about the meaning of this descriptive statement about the church in Judea, Galilee and Samaria. I think it should not be taken as a formulaic statement for numerical church growth because I'm quite sure Luke didn't think that way. But it is a description of believers in Christ in healthy, reverent, awestruck relationship with the Lord who, when they obeyed the Great Commission out of reverence for Him and suffered because of it, lived in the comfort of the Spirit promised by Jesus Christ.
I'm still trying to think more deeply about these great words for Christian "walking" and I invite you to join me in searching the Scriptures about this. For example, I read 2 Corinthians 7:1 and saw that walking in the fear of the Lord connects with holiness-- "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of the Lord." What do you find in the Word about "walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit?
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
An Important Reminder for Parents and Students-- Please read this!"
“And Then They Are All Mine” — The Real Agenda of Some College Professors
On many campuses, a significant number of faculty members are representatives of what has been called the “adversary culture.” They see their role as political and ideological, and they define their teaching role in these terms. Their agenda is nothing less than to separate students from their Christian beliefs and their intellectual and moral commitments.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The Light of Jesus Christ
On Sunday morning, August 15, I preached from Acts 9:1-19, that stunning record of Saul’s conversion from enemy to lover of Christ. When Jesus appeared to Saul as he traveled to carry out systematic persecution of believers in Damascus, “suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him” and he fell to the ground! A light…Saul was in spiritual darkness and blind, and the Light invaded his life! Don’t you just love that? Join me in giving praise to the Lord for piercing the darkness of sin and death in us and being our Light!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:1-5).
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12).
The Lord Jesus Christ “is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in approachable light…” (1 Timothy 6:16.)
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
What God Commands, He Empowers and Provides for!
In my sermon on August 8th, "The Gospel: On to Africa" (Acts 8:26-40), I included this proposition: "What God commands (His Commission), He empowers and provides for! Then I spoke of ways in which the Lord does this. You may want to be reminded of these five points as they are posted here in the next several days. Here is the first one:
* God positions His gospel-people (sometimes in extraordinary ways). vs. 26-27a
He positioned Philip and He positions you. How do you respond to this?
- Do you live in awareness that, as a gospel-person, the Lord positions you to be His witness-- workplace, TDY assignments, home, school?
- Are you willing to go where the Lord sends you, to a desert place, to hard places? On mission? A change in career, perhaps? Abandonment of the American dream? To be used in pursuit of completion of the Great Commission, for the glory of Christ?
I am praying for all of us, including myself, that we would love Christ and His glory and His gospel and lost people so much that we be willing and compelled to obey as He positions us, especially among the people-groups of the world and the hard places around us.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Overruling Biblical Truth: Judge Defines Marriage
Don't miss this important article by Dr. Al Mohler.
Click this link to read the article
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
IT'S WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY'S COMING
Tomorrow morning will you "take up your cross" and follow Jesus, whatever the cost?
Lord, enlarge my heart for lost people!
From Charles Spurgeon: "If you have no wish to bring others to heaven, you are not going there yourself."
Invite Someone to Church with You!
I learned this on Sunday: 80% of the unchurched in the U.S. say no one has ever invited them to church, yet 86% of people come to church because someone invited them.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Please read about a counter-offensive from abortion supporters and providers-- and pray.
Coming to a Doctor’s Office Near You? The New Abortion Strategy
Thursday, July 1, 2010
A Stunning, Troubling, Evil Case for Abortion
When Feminism Kills — Abortion As ‘The Lesser Evil’
“If you are willing to die for a cause, you must be prepared to kill for it, too.” That statement, published for all the world to see, perfectly distills the inescapable logic of the abortion rights argument. It is based on a willingness to kill — and on the horrifying audacity to call this killing “the lesser evil.”From www.albertmohler.com
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The Fear Factor
Let's be transparent, shall we? Does fear and anxiety well up in you when you think of speaking Christ and the gospel to others?
I've been thinking a lot about Stephen in Acts 6 and 7, and now Philip in Acts 8. We know that Stephen unequivocally declared the Lord Jesus Christ and was killed because of it! And I'm sure that Philip's obedience in carrying the gospel to Samaria was risky, too. These were bold men, very bold. What made them so? How can I get some of that boldness? How can you?
In his highly recommended book, Marks of the Messenger, J Mack Stiles wrote, "Boldness is not a lack of fear. It is faith in something bigger than our fears so that we appear fearless. Confidence in something bigger than our fears gives us strength to do the right thing in spite of opposition or persecution."
That helps me. Fill up on God and His Word. Pray hard. And trust Him. Take Jesus at His Word when He says, "When the time comes for you to speak, I will give you words." ("I will give you a mouth and wisdom..." Luke 21:15) Do we believe Him?
Going hard after Jesus and praying for boldness, with you,
Pastor Carey
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Book Recommendation:
John Piper's DESIRING GOD made a huge impact on my life and I recommend the book to you. Please read and enjoy the quote below--
http://takeyourvitaminz.blogspot.com/2010/06/why-does-god-command-praise.html
Monday, June 21, 2010
Especially for Dads
Ray Ortlund: Christ Is Deeper Still
Posted: 21 Jun 2010 12:00 AM PDT
Years after I was grown, mom told me how dad came home at the end of the day. After giving himself wholeheartedly all day, his blood sugar low, as he walked up the back steps and just before he opened the door, he shot up a prayer: “Lord, I need a little extra energy. Please give me something more right now, to give my family.” God answered that prayer.
His pattern was, first, to go give my mom a huge, borderline-embarrassing kiss, and then he’d turn to me and say, “Come on, Skip, let’s wrestle!” He and I went out to the front room and got down on the floor and wrestled and tickled and had fun being guys together. Then it was dinner time.
I can never remember my dad coming home with nothing to give.
Memories of my dad: 2 is a post from: Ray Ortlund
Posted: 20 Jun 2010 01:50 PM PDT
This being Father’s Day, let me tell you a few stories about my dad. I hope you will be encouraged.
First memory. Every now and then, when dad felt that he and I hadn’t had enough time together, he would take me out of school. His day off was Monday. So on Sunday night he’d say, “Want to skip school and go to the beach?” Off we’d go the next morning and surf and goof off and just be together.
On Tuesday morning, he’d write a note for me, I’d take it into the school office, and they would mark my absence “unexcused.” I guess they saw no excuse for a dad spending time with his son. Dad didn’t care. He didn’t feel imprisoned within their technicalities. He wanted me to do my best in school, of course. He told me so. But being a dad was too real to him to be held back by the formal disapproval of the system. I felt loved by him. I still do. And that too is education.
More memories this week, as Jani and I are away at an Acts 29 retreat in Colorado.
Memories of my dad: 1 is a post from: Ray Ortlund
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
We Don't Drift Toward Holiness.
Please read 1 Peter 1:15-16 and this article from D.A. Carson.
Sanctified Terms for Our Drifts from Holiness
Source: thegospelcoalition.org
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Please read this simple suggestion from Donald Whitney.
Please keep praying for your Romans 10:1 Five. And, do you wonder about how you begin talking about the gospel and Christ with unbelievers?
Six Words as an Opener to the Gospel
Source: thegospelcoalition.org
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
JOY AND SUFFERING
"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, the church." Colossians 1:24
In my communion message on Sunday morning, May 2, I mentioned that Dr. John Piper's chapter about suffering in his book DESIRING GOD is worth the price of the book because it gives a quite thorough, God-exalting, Biblical perspective on the subject. Here is another recommended book: SUFFERING AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD, edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor. It contains chapters by Mark Talbot, Stephen Saint, Carl F. Ellis, David Powlison, John Eareckson Tada, Dr. Piper, and Justin Taylor. And it is recommended by Jerry Rankin, President of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
PRAYING FOR REVIVAL
Last Wednesday evening during our the New Members class I mentioned the Saturday morning prayer meeting we have at Rocky, and said that in that gathering we often ask that God would favor our church with revival. A student asked what I mean when I talk about revival--a good question. In response I called attention to Isaiah 57:14-15, a wonderfully encouraging passage.
“And it shall be said, ‘Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people’s way.’ For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.’”
I love these verses because they are jam-packed, telling us a lot about God! We read:
- about who He is! The One “who is high and lifted up…whose name is Holy…”
- about where He lives; He “inhabits eternity” and “dwell(s) in the high and holy place…”
- that He also dwells “with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit…” What love and grace!
- that one of His purposes is “to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
So God designs to revive His people and there is a condition placed on us, contrition and lowliness before Him. In a word, humility. It is very encouraging to me that God purposes to revive, revitalize and renew His people. He means to pour out His power on us, and grant us a keen awareness of His presence and power, and use us to bring others to Jesus Christ, and experience deliverance from love for sin and idols, and grant us great joy and bold faith, and glad desperation in prayer, and passion for His Word, and zeal for His glory in all things.
God is working these ways in His people individually all the time, renewing us in Him. Revival comes when He does it on a large scale—church wide, community wide or nation wide.
Please join me in asking the Lord to revive us at Rocky and in our community and nation. My friend John Piper called upon his church family to pray with him for awakening among them like this:
“Would you pray with me for a great awakening that results in hundreds coming to Christ, marriages being reconciled and renewed, wayward children coming home, long-standing slavery to sin being conquered, spiritual dullness being replaced by vibrant joy, weak faith being replaced by bold witness, disinterest in prayer being replaced by fervent intercession, boring Bible reading being replaced by passion for God’s Word, and lukewarm worship being replaced by zeal for the greatness of God’s glory?”
Will you pray for our church like that? And will you pray that God will grant what He requires of us—contrition and brokenness over sin, and humility before Him?
And you are invited to join us for our Saturday morning prayer gathering at 9:00 A.M. We usually meet in the worship center.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Joy and Suffering?
On Sunday morning, April 25, the sermon came from Acts 5:33-42 and the attention-grabbing words in the text were, "Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name." As I said on Sunday, most people do not associate joy with suffering but there they are, "joy" and "suffering" together in the Word. That's why I believe the Lord is leading me to study and preach further about this subject before going on to Acts 6. Please pray for me as I choose a text for May 2. Romans 5:1-5? Colossians 1:24? Matthew 5:11-12? 1 Peter 4:12-14? Yes, there are depths of truth to explore here and let us expect to find that, yes, in Christ there is joy even in suffering. He is that great!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
After a Funeral and a Memorial Service
Last week I was blessed to speak at David Shafer's funeral and the memorial service for Pauline Brown, both followers of Jesus. And Colossians 3:3 is recurring in my mind this week: "For you have died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." I know that Paul is addressing believers who are still alive in this life and have "with Christ...died to the elemental spirits of this world" (2:20). But I am deeply moved to know that, by God's grace, we who belong to Him are "hidden with Christ in God" in this life and forever. Praise be to God!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Babies as Consumer Products
NewsNote: Aborting the “Wrong” Baby?
What is the real scandal here — that this doctor was ready to kill a baby with Down syndrome, or merely that he aborted “the wrong baby?” The answer to that question will tell us all we need to know about the conscience of the age.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
REMEMBER THIS AND REJOICE!
On His cross "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us-- for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'-- so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:13-14).
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
He Could Have Saved Himself, But Didn't Try , By Andrew Lisi
He was exactly who they said he was. He had the power to save others and he did. He had the power to save himself and he didn't. I am blown away by this. The thought is not profound, but Jesus' action, or rather inaction, is. By his unwillingness to save himself, I am saved...The criminal's words echo through my head: "Save yourself and us." Little did he know that if Jesus had, all would be destroyed. Jesus proved himself to be exactly who they said he was not by succumbing to their spiteful commands, but by remaining silent, fulfilling the will of his Father.
He could have saved himself, but didn't try. Now, by his grace, I don't have to either. By his grace.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
It Is Not Lawful
Those who killed Jesus were meticulous about keeping the temple treasury clean— murderers with a sanitary bank account!
“Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and and the elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ They said, ‘What is that to us? See to it yourself.’ And throwing down the pieces of sliver into the temple, he departed, and went and hanged himself. But the chief priests taking the pieces of sliver, said, ‘It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.’” Matthew 27:3-6
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Looking ahead to Good Friday: The Curse of the Cross
Galatians 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.”
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 “And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God.”
What great grace and mercy to us— Christ cursed for us on the cross!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
GLEANINGS FROM READING THROUGH THE BIBLE
I have come to Deuteronomy, Psalms, Matthew and Romans in my Scripture reading and will share some verses and thoughts that leaped out at me during the last couple of weeks. I find that recording these things helps me retain and meditate on the Word and these gleanings are posted on Going Deeper to encourage you to write as you read the Bible.
Numbers
· God faithfully provided manna for the people and they complained. “Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving…Oh that we had meat to eat!” (11:4). Lord, may I be content with your provision and never be counted among the rabble!
· Moses, what a relationship he had with the LORD! God said, With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD” (12:8)
· Over and over the people complained and questioned, displaying self-centered mistrust of God and His appointed leadership. They even preferred slavery or death in Egypt to God’s promise! “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in the wilderness! Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” (14:1-3)
· There’s a huge difference between speaking to a rock and striking it! God told Moses to tell the rock to produce water; he struck it with his staff. The LORD still provided water (mercy!) even though Moses disobeyed. And look at why this is so serious—because obedience upholds God’s holiness! “And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them’” (20:12). Do people see God as holy because of how you live?
· Phineas: “He was jealous for his God” (25:13).
· “Barbs in your eyes!” Disobeying the Lord should give me the “wooshies”! “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides…” (33:55).
· God was faithful to His people, obstinate and whiny and disobedient as they were. “These forty years the LORD your God has been with you”Deut. 2:7)
· Don’t mess with God’s Word! “You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it…” (Deut. 4:2).
· “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, lest they depart from your heart all the days of your lives. Make them known to your children and your children’s children” (4:9)… “Gather the people to me…that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so” (4:10).
· Why battle idolatry? “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” (Deut. 4:24)
Psalms
· Why God answers when we call. “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify me” (50:15).
· Forget God? May it not be! “Mark this, then, you who forget God…” (50:22)
· Here is why God gave us tongues and lips: “My tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise” (51:14b-15).
· God’s name trilogy: “I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly (52:9). “O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might” (54:1). “I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good” (54:6).
· Comforting words: “You have kept my tossings, put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” (56:8) Tossings? The ESV study note shows “wanderings” as an alternate translation.
· I’ve been meditating on fearing God a lot and seeing it many places in the Word, especially last Sunday from Acts 5. And here in Psalm 60:4 is a beautiful blessing for fearing Him. “You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow.”
· This slight change in wording is cool in Psalm 62: “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation” (v. 1)… “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence. For my hope is from Him” (v. 5).
· When you wake at night and cannot sleep, get satisfied in the Lord. “My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night” (63:6).
Matthew
· The highly educated Sadducees were really ignorant of the Scriptures and were blind to the power of God, even when God Incarnate stood before them. “But Jesus said to them, ‘You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (22:29).
· The God-glorifying promise that motivates risk-taking go-ers and sacrificing senders to pursue global missions: “And this gospel of the kingdom will proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, but then the end will come” (24:14).
· The words of Christ are forever! “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (24:35)
· Be ready! “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only…Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (24:36,44).
· “Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver Him over to you?” (26:14) Is there any sum or worldly pleasure that would buy my denial of Jesus? I pray, “None, never!”
Romans
· A great calling! “Set apart for the gospel of God…” (1:1)
· Equipment for and goal of gospel ministry: “…Grace…to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among all the nations…” (1:5)
· A good reason to assemble with other believers—mutual encouragement of faith. “…that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine” (1:12).
· Wow, hear these superb “for” statements: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith…For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men…” (1:16-18).
· God is mercifully revelatory, isn’t it? “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them” (1:19).
· The awfulness of sin and depravity: Futile thinking and foolish, darkened hearts (1:21); a deadly exchange of God’s truth for a lie (1:25); creature worship (1:25).
· Real rescuing faith leaves no room for human boasting. “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (4:2-3).
· Want peace? Trust Christ! “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:1).
· Hallelujah! “But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many” (5:15).
· Christ, our hope for waging war against the flesh and growing in sanctification! “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (7:24-25)
· How much condemnation is there for those in Jesus? A little? “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (8:1).
· Feeling weak? Read this! “…The Spirit helps us in our weakness…And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (8:26,28).
· The astounding, amazing, gracious scope of my salvation! “Those who He predestined he also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified” (8:30).
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