TURNING INTO THE WIND
On a sailboat we depend on the wind for our strength. If there is no wind, we have no propulsion. We are, to speak a familiar phrase, dead in the water.
When the wind does blow... View MoreTURNING INTO THE WIND
On a sailboat we depend on the wind for our strength. If there is no wind, we have no propulsion. We are, to speak a familiar phrase, dead in the water.
When the wind does blow, we have to deal with it as it comes. We cannot say, “Blow from this direction, Wind,” or, “Blow from that direction, Wind.” It comes from the direction it will, without regards to what we want it to do.
To the inexperienced, the only option seems to be to run with the wind. That means to let the wind blow us the direction it chooses. Running with the wind is fast, too, and it gives us a sense of thrill, as if we’re going somewhere and getting there very quickly.
And we are, too. The only question is whether the wind is taking us where we need to go.
Experienced sailors know how to turn into the wind. Trim the sail this way, adjust that line to its most advantageous length, and we can sail directly into the wind.
This world is the wind. It will try to blow us the direction it will, without regards to where we need to go. We have to learn to turn into the wind, to tack back and forth, and to find the path God wants us to travel.
Let’s look at five verses that give us clear instructions on how to turn into the wind:
Tacking Maneuver #1 – Spend time with God-fearing believers.
1 Corinthians 5:11
“But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”
Tacking Maneuver #2 – Keep our eyes focused on Christ.
2 Timothy 4:1-2
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
Tacking Maneuver #3 – Compare what we’re taught against the Bible.
2 John 1:10-11
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.”
Tacking Maneuver #4 – Make new believers feel at home in our churches.
Romans 15:7
“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”
Tacking Maneuver #5 – Show the love of Christ to everyone we meet.
Colossians 3:12-14
“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
The winds of this world will blow against us. Walking with Christ will not change that. Our goal is to use those very same winds to tack toward Christ, and to set an example the world will want to follow.
When we turn into the wind, we turn towards Jesus. In the midst of our troubles, we will find him every time.
#5 14 Signs, Disease Epidemics. Rev. 6:7--8 Deut. 28:15, 22, 27--28
9/29/23
"this man's blood"
#5
GOD'S SEVEN BLESSINGS
When our children are disobedient, we cannot bless them with the bounty we would like. They haven’t proven they can accept the responsibility that goes with the blessings.
Howe... View MoreGOD'S SEVEN BLESSINGS
When our children are disobedient, we cannot bless them with the bounty we would like. They haven’t proven they can accept the responsibility that goes with the blessings.
However, obedient children earn the right to enjoy all the blessings we can shower upon them. We know they will handle them wisely.
God feels the same way. In fact, in Deuteronomy 28:1-14, God gives us seven blessings that will come our way if we obey his Word.
Blessing #1:
He will give us honor among the people around us.
The only condition for this honor is to observe all the commandments he has given us in his Word.
Blessing #2:
We will not be able to escape all the good things he wishes to give us.
When we listen to the voice of God, his blessings will come and find us wherever we may happen to be. They will literally chase us down, whether in our homes, at our jobs, or as we travel the most remote areas of the globe.
Blessing #3:
Everything we touch will prosper.
Our children will make us proud. We will be successful at our place of employment. Our pantries will be packed, our gas tanks filled, and our bank accounts solvent.
Blessing #4:
We will never know the end of all God wants to do for us.
The Scriptures tell us that we will be blessed when we come in, and we will be blessed when we go out. As we live out our lives, his blessings will continue to flow through everything we do.
Blessing #5:
God will fight our battles for us.
Not only will God be our champion, the enemy will be so frightened at God’s majestic power that he will come at us head on, but at the sight of God, the enemy will scatter in seven different directions.
Blessing #6:
The Father will oversee all that he has given us.
He wishes to make us his holy people, and his hand on us will be an example to the world. Everyone will see us and be afraid to go against us, for they will know God’s blessings are upon us.
Blessing #7:
He will make us the head and not the tail.
The treasures of heaven will shower us, and we will channel our blessings to those around us. We will be givers of advice to those without direction; we will be the face of God before all people; and they will know his majesty through us.
God’s bounty knows no limits. When we follow his commands, the windows of heaven are opened, and he showers his blessings on us.
Copyright © 2013 MyChurchNotes.net
TIT FOR TAT
What goes around comes around; live and let live; do unto others what you would have them do unto you.
These are all phrases for equality; for fair treatment of our fellow man; for livin... View MoreTIT FOR TAT
What goes around comes around; live and let live; do unto others what you would have them do unto you.
These are all phrases for equality; for fair treatment of our fellow man; for living well, yet not living well at another’s expense.
Tit for tat. I’ll give unto you what you gave unto me.
Normally used in a vindictive mien, this three word phrase’s connotation is that of equivalent retaliation. Often used in game strategy, it simply means to respond in kind.
We see this in business with the handshake given in greeting. I reach out—tit—and you reach back—tat—in a warm and congenial manner.
However, if the meeting does not go well, and I treat you unfairly, you are justified in also treating me unfairly. For example, I strike a fair deal with you, yet months later, I undercut your pricing structure. In tit for tat, you are free to then undercut my pricing structure, and so on.
In true tit-for-tat fashion, I even expect you to do so.
Gas stations do this all the time, one lowering prices, knowing the station on the opposite corner will soon follow suit. And airlines. Anyone who flies frequently is aware of the power of the major players, from baggage fees to food service. Even daily fares for every airline can drop radically if only one offers severe discounts.
Tit for tat is biblical, and directly from the mouth of Jesus. We can find his words in Matthew 7:12, Mark 12:31, and Luke 6:31, all telling us to play fairly.
Tit for tat.
Even under the rigid constraints of the Old Covenant, Leviticus 19:18 says not to bear a grudge or take your vengeance on another, but to love that person as you do the one who looks back at you out of the mirror.
Paul addresses this issue very specifically in Colossians 4:1. He is speaking to slave owners, but his words are to us.
The masters of slaves in Paul’s day owned them hoof and hind; there were few laws restricting how they were to be treated. Only the most heinous and brutal treatment was condemned.
A Roman slave could not even speak up for himself in a court of law.
Yet Paul encourages tit for tat. Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.
Paul says it this way: Masters, give unto your servants good and fair treatment…
Yet, those words only give us the tit. Certainly, it is right and good that the master treat his slave well, but where is the benefit for the master?
That brings us to the tat.
Paul continues: Remember, you also have a master, one who resides in heaven.
Tit for tat. What goes around comes around. Live a life well-ordered and full of mercy, and let those you interact with each day have the opportunity to live in the same manner. Treat your business partner; your neighbor; your spouse; and your children in the way that you would want to be treated.
The Word of God goes so far as to offer us some suggestions:
#1:
Be positive. Hebrews 10:24.
Tell those around us at least one good thing they’ve done each day. If they live far away, text it to them.
#2:
Be patient and kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
Count to three, then don’t say it. Then ask if there’s anything you can do to help. Then help.
#3:
Show respect. 1 Peter 2:17.
Imagine that the person next to you is your grandmother. How would you treat her?
#4:
Be sympathetic and tenderhearted. 1 Peter 3:8.
Just listen. Then don’t offer advice. Listen, cry along, and let them come back and do it again. For free.
#5:
Be merciful. Ephesians 4:32.
Put on their shoes. Have a meal with them. Get to know the person who’s offended you. Then decide if you want to punish them. Finally, remember, you are wearing their shoes.
#6:
Be generous with those in need. 1 John 3:16-19.
Once a month, leave a $50 tip. In ten years, you will not remember, but that waiter always will.
#7:
Honor one another. Romans 12:10.
Cook a cake for a neighbor, simply because they live next door. Meet the postman with a water bottle. Smile, and say, this is because you are special.
If the only rule we live by is the Golden Rule, then we will live well.
Copyright © 2014 MyChurchNotes.net
OUR OPEN DOOR
An open door is an invitation for anyone or anything to walk into our household. Flying insects, stray dogs, or even the occasional traveling salesman. If our door is open, they will fi... View MoreOUR OPEN DOOR
An open door is an invitation for anyone or anything to walk into our household. Flying insects, stray dogs, or even the occasional traveling salesman. If our door is open, they will find us in our homes.
What do we want coming through our open door?
#1. We must invite household unity through our open door.
In 1 Samuel 27:3 David was on the run from Saul. Yet the scriptures tell us he did not run alone. While David resided for a time at Gath, not only did his faithful men have their families and retainers with them, David had both of his wives at his side.
Even when life comes at us with all barrels firing, God expects us to keep our families together. If we allow our families to become fractured, the rest of everything we have and do is wasted.
#2. We must bar arrogance and dissention from our open door.
In 2 Samuel 6:20 David had been preparing a permanent home for the Ark of the Covenant. He returned, dancing with joy and praise, with plans to include his household in his exultation, only to be mocked by his first wife, Michel, the daughter of Saul.
For her insolence Michel was cursed with a barren womb until the end of her days.
When we allow dissention to infiltrate our households, bad feelings will build up, and we will not have unity. Without unity, our families will collapse, and our efforts will be wasted.
#3. We must invite a good work ethic through our open door.
Proverbs 31:27 speaks to us from the writings of Solomon. A good wife is one who watches over all the doings of her household. She does not allow her hands to become idle, for that leads to disaster.
When the members of a household keep busy in well-doing, there is no room for arrogance and bitterness to creep in. Michel considered herself above the rejoicing God expected of David, and it brought her to a bad end.
#4. We must invite God through our open door.
Ephesians 2:19 gives us a new slant on where we stand with God, for when we step through God’s open door, we become not strangers to him, but part of his household.
We become a family bound together by our faith in God. Whatever comes at us, if our Christian family is one in purpose and love, the Body of Christ will be strong in the face of all adversaries.
#5. We must invite compassion through our open door.
Galatians 6:10 reveals how to keep our relationship with our Christian family strong. As the opportunity arises, we are to do good to others, especially to those who are members of the household of Faith.
When we let Jesus come through our open door, he will give us a new family, one bound into a right relationship by his love and understanding, and they will be our support and comfort in everything we do.
Copyright © 2013 MyChurchNotes.net
FIVE STEPS OF BETHESDA
We all need a place of healing. The question is how to find it.
Joni Eareckson Tada has one of the most amazing stories of anyone out there today. At 17 she was an amazingly a... View MoreFIVE STEPS OF BETHESDA
We all need a place of healing. The question is how to find it.
Joni Eareckson Tada has one of the most amazing stories of anyone out there today. At 17 she was an amazingly adept young woman who had it all taken away in a diving accident. She lost the use of all four of her limbs, and yet, she found a type of healing through the grace of God.
How did she find her Pool of Bethesda? How did she make it to the waters as they were touched by the angel?
Let’s look at the history of the pool.
The Pool of Bethesda traditionally had five porticos, or porches in some translations. Some ancient manuscripts invite us to believe these covered porches were protected areas where people waited for their healing. Their cure could only come when an angel “troubled” the water. The first person in received his or her healing.
In John 5:1-17 the Bible relates the story of Jesus healing a man at the pool who had been bedridden for many years.
Let’s look at Jesus’ intervention in five steps.
Step #1: Expectation.
The lame man wanted to be healed. He had waited for 38 years for his hope to become real, and he hadn’t given up. He was filled with expectation.
Step #2: Timing.
It was the Sabbath, so of course, under Jewish law, no healing could be done on that day. Yet, that was exactly when Jesus stepped into the man’s life and held out his hand. When the timing was right, he was ready.
Step #3: Acceptance.
Jesus said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The lame man replied, “It’s beyond my ability.” When Jesus told him to take up his bed and walk, he did so, accepting the word of Jesus as truth.
Step #4: Searching.
When questioned, the man who was healed didn’t know who had come to his rescue. It was only later in the temple that Jesus revealed himself to the man.
Step #5: Sharing.
The Word tells us the man told everyone that it was Jesus who had healed him.
Finally, let’s look at the core of who Jesus is.
We sometimes forget one vital thing in our walk with the Lord. He cares about us body and soul, but he is spirit, and he comes to us in spirit. When our bodies are not healed, has he failed us? Or is it not yet in his timing? That’s hard for us to accept.
Joni Tada says she finds her faith in a fellowship of suffering that draws her ever closer to Christ. She’s nailed Step #5 directly on the head. She’s spent her life sharing the magnificent love of our almighty Lord.
When Jesus comes to us, we must be ready to respond to him in the moment of his passing.
Copyright © 2015 MyChurchNotes.net
Gospel Moments
5/26/23
“What If?”
#5
CHUNKIN' PUNKINS
There is a sport that takes pumpkins—the Halloween kind—and sees just how far we can toss those round, orange fruits.
The competition is so fevered, some teams resort to building ma... View MoreCHUNKIN' PUNKINS
There is a sport that takes pumpkins—the Halloween kind—and sees just how far we can toss those round, orange fruits.
The competition is so fevered, some teams resort to building massive trebuchets to send their orange bombs as far into the field as possible.
Why trebuchets? Simply, there is a bucket or loop on one end to hold the little orange beastie, and the weight on the other end can be wound as tightly as desired to build up as much force as possible. Then, when the trebuchet’s giant arm swings around, launching the pumpkin forward, it flies through the air with the greatest of ease.
Now, some people might read this and think, “Oh, what a waste of a good pumpkin!”
True. However, pumpkins are grown in massive quantities, and if they are not used in a timely manner, they spoil and become a smelly nuisance. A rotten pumpkin is something no one wants around.
What are the rotten pumpkins we fail to load into our trebuchets as Christians? Ah, now we’re to the meat of our article. There are things we need to cast as far from us as possible, because they will pollute our walk with Jesus.
Let’s look at seven examples from the Word of God:
Example #1:
Psalm 37:8 tells us: “Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.”
Chunk that punkin!
Example #2:
Proverbs 14:29 reminds us: “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”
Chunk that punkin!
Example #3:
James 1:20 cautions us: “For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
Chunk that punkin!
Example #4:
Ecclesiastes 7:9 is our guide: “Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.”
Chunk that punkin!
Example #5:
James 1:19 directs us: “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”
Chunk that punkin!
Example #6:
Proverbs 15:1 is all about our tongue: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Chunk that punkin!
Example #7:
Ephesians 4:31 lays it out for us boldly and without question: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”
Chunk that punkin!
What pumpkins does God wish us to load into our trebuchets? Our anger, of course. If we fail to get it as far from us as possible, our anger will rot within us, and we will become a sour stink in the nostrils of God.
When we’re chunkin’ punkins, we’re sending our anger as far from us as possible. Then we win, God wins, and our fellow man also wins.
Copyright © 2014 MyChurchNotes.net
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