Working Our Faith Out

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Comment by a servant (Chris) on January 30, 2012 at 1:46pm

GOD is wanting us to obey HIM.  We are called to do HIS Will.  Now is the time, many have begun, some have just been waiting, others are wanting to know what to do.  

READ THE WORD!  PRAY, PRAY,PRAY...Pray for others, Pray for your sight, for your hearing.  Allow the Courage of HOLY SPIRIT to over take you. And STAND for the LORD!  STAND for others!  STAND and prepare, make ready!  THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE!!! REJOICE, REJOICE, REJOICE, and be Glad in it...Allow the Lord to show you, give the Spirit Freedom as never before.  Unleash the hounds.. The LORD is MOVING. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! 

Comment by a servant (Chris) on January 30, 2012 at 1:35pm

WELCOME TO THE NEW MEMBERS!!!  WE ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE YOU HERE.  I am blessed that everybody is here .  Glory to God!  We are going to find out, what we are to do for the GLORY OF THE LORD!!!

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on January 29, 2012 at 7:28am

GRACE AND PEACE ,FAMILY OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER ,I JUST RECEIVED THIS AND THOUGHT IT MIGHT  BE OF HELP TO SOMEONE LOVE ALL

Unmet Expectations
Theme of the week: God Shines Light into Our Darkness
Sunday, January 29, 2012

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Who Said It … Frank Viola

Frank Viola is a leader of the house church movement, a frequent conference speaker, and the author of numerous books on the Christian life and church renewal. His writings include Reimagining Church, the best-selling From Eternity to Here, Finding Organic Church, and Revise Us Again. Frank and his family live in Gainesville, Florida.

What he Said … Unmet Expectations

When the Lord doesn't act according to our expectations, our faith gets tested. Some people fall away. Note the words of Jesus about this: "God blesses those who do not turn away because of me" (Luke 7:23). Here's the context. John the Baptist had just been put in prison. John's prison experience caused him to doubt that his cousin was the Messiah. So John sent emissaries to Jesus, asking him, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" (Luke 7:19, NIV).

Jesus' reply comes straight from Isaiah 61: "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor" (Luke 7:22, NIV).

Jesus, however, leaves out one phrase from Isaiah 61, the one John would have expected to hear: to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.

John never left the prison.

"Blessed are those who do not fall away from me, especially when I do not meet their expectations."

Key Study Passage: Psalm 88

Adapted from Revise Us Again (David C. Cook, 2011) by permission. All rights reserved by the copyright holder and/or the publisher. May not be reproduced.

Copyright © 2012 by Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Heavenly Father, I praise you for being in control of all situations and circumstances; help me to know that even in the darkest of times you are doing transformational and redemptive work.

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on January 28, 2012 at 5:01am

food for thoughts

Question: "What is predestination? Is predestination biblical?"

Answer: Romans 8:29-30 tells us, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Ephesians 1:5 and 11 declare, “He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” Many people have a strong hostility to the doctrine of predestination. However, predestination is a biblical doctrine. The key is understanding what predestination means, biblically.

The words translated “predestined” in the Scriptures referenced above are from the Greek word proorizo, which carries the meaning of “determine beforehand,” “ordain,” “to decide upon ahead of time.” So, predestination is God determining certain things to occur ahead of time. What did God determine ahead of time? According to Romans 8:29-30, God predetermined that certain individuals would be conformed to the likeness of His Son, be called, justified, and glorified. Essentially, God predetermines that certain individuals will be saved. Numerous scriptures refer to believers in Christ being chosen (Matthew 24:22, 31; Mark 13:20, 27; Romans 8:33, 9:11, 11:5-7, 28; Ephesians 1:11; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Timothy 5:21; 2 Timothy 2:10; Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1-2, 2:9; 2 Peter 1:10). Predestination is the biblical doctrine that God in His sovereignty chooses certain individuals to be saved.

The most common objection to the doctrine of predestination is that it is unfair. Why would God choose certain individuals and not others? The important thing to remember is that no one deserves to be saved. We have all sinned (Romans 3:23), and are all worthy of eternal punishment (Romans 6:23). As a result, God would be perfectly just in allowing all of us to spend eternity in hell. However, God chooses to save some of us. He is not being unfair to those who are not chosen, because they are receiving what they deserve. God’s choosing to be gracious to some is not unfair to the others. No one deserves anything from God; therefore, no one can object if he does not receive anything from God. An illustration would be a man randomly handing out money to five people in a crowd of twenty. Would the fifteen people who did not receive money be upset? Probably so. Do they have a right to be upset? No, they do not. Why? Because the man did not owe anyone money. He simply decided to be gracious to some.

If God is choosing who is saved, doesn’t that undermine our free will to chose and believe in Christ? The Bible says that we have the choice—all who believe in Jesus Christ will be saved (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10). The Bible never describes God rejecting anyone who believes in Him or turning away anyone who is seeking Him (Deuteronomy 4:29). Somehow, in the mystery of God, predestination works hand-in-hand with a person being drawn by God (John 6:44) and believing unto salvation (Romans 1:16). God predestines who will be saved, and we must choose Christ in order to be saved. Both facts are equally true. Romans 11:33 proclaims, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!”

Recommended Resource: Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer.

Comment by Russell Tassett on January 26, 2012 at 8:33am

The life of the soul must be denied (Matt. 16:24-25), but the faculties of the soul----the mind, will, and emotion----must be renewed and uplifted by being subdued (10:4-5) so that they can be used by the spirit, the person of the inner man [2 Cor 4:16] that walks by faith, not by appearance.....Amen

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on January 25, 2012 at 1:19am

Walk Through TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me...” (Psalm 23:4, NKJV) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria Have you ever gone through something and felt like it was the valley of the shadow of death? During the tough times, it’s easy to get discouraged. But I love what it says in today’s verse, “though I walk through...” No matter what you are facing today, know this: you are not alone, and you are just walking through. You don’t have to stop and live in the tough times! They are only temporary. I encourage you today; don’t allow fear to paralyze you in the middle of “the valley of the shadow of death.” Remember, God is with you. He is walking beside you. He is strengthening you. He is making a way of escape for you. He is lining up people and situations to bring you out of that tough place into a place of strength and victory. Today, don’t give up! Press on and walk through! Start to get a vision of your life on the other side. See yourself more loving, more faithful, stronger and more blessed than ever before. As you keep moving forward and walking through, you will get to the other side and walk in the victory God has prepared for you! A PRAYER FOR TODAY Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. Thank You for walking with me even in the hard times. I trust that You are taking me through my circumstances to a place of victory and strength in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on January 25, 2012 at 12:51am

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		Printer version   Proverbs 3:5-8 (5) Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (7) Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. (8) This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. New International Version   Change Bible versions These verses contain the first principle upon which all our work and hope depend. In every aspect of life, we must take God into account. We should seek His counsel regarding our home, community, work, and play. This is not an elective but an absolute necessity, so the relationship established through Jesus Christ influences our conduct to the point that it is according to His will. This requires humility, but if we remember that He made us, and we are dependent upon Him for everything, the proper attitude comes easier. If we do not do this, we are foolishly failing to acknowledge the One whose thoughts and ways are higher than heaven is above the earth. All of our ways are in the hand of this Almighty Sovereign; success and safety are of the Lord. We of all people do not want to end up fighting the Almighty when He causes changes in civil government or in the church. They may appear on the surface to be working against us, but who is ruling? Recall some examples from the Old Testament: Nimrod attempts to build a tower and unite all of mankind under one government, but God sweeps it away by the simple expedient of making communication too difficult. Esau burns with anger against Jacob, but when next they meet, he weeps for joy at seeing his brother. Joseph goes into Egypt a slave and spends time in prison based on a false charge, but as a result of God's blessing, he ends his life reconciled and reunited with his family and second in command of all Egypt. Israel is a slave people in Egypt, the most powerful nation on earth at the time, but God devastates it through supernatural occurrences—Israel is freed without "firing a shot." Balaam is hired to curse Israel, but God compels him to bless. Haman builds a gallows for Mordecai, but is hanged from it himself. Jonah resists God's command to preach to the hated enemy, the Assyrians, but God prepares a great fish just for him! Understanding this, David writes: Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us." He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure. . . . "You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." (Psalm 2:1-5, 9) God is infinitely stronger than even the greatest of confederacies, and He will blow away the most extensive and vigorous efforts to overthrow His plans like so much dust. He laughs at man's puny attempts to rule without considering Him, their Creator, in whom they live and move and have their being. Will He who repulsed the attacks of Satan's mighty angelic host be put in fear of more limited men? John W. Ritenbaugh Excerpted from: The Sovereignty of God: Part Five

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on January 23, 2012 at 5:23am

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, today I surrender my thoughts and mind to You. Help me retrain my thoughts so that they are in line with Your Word. I choose to have an attitude of faith and expectancy and thank You for empowering me to live the life You have for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Comment by Hamm on January 22, 2012 at 11:20am

Please God shine light on this child so they can be found, without harm and any effects.

Please God bring comfort and courage to the parents and confidence that they child will be protected by God and Jesus.

Please God reunite child and parents in your glory and love, very quickly. Please please do it now Lord. Please Lord GOD SHINE ON THIS MATTER.

AMEN SO LET IT BE DONE THANK YOU GOD.

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on January 22, 2012 at 4:57am

JOHN 10:24-39
24The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. 26“But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29“My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30“I and the Father are one.”

      31The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. 32Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” 33The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” 34Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I SAID, YOU ARE GODS’? 35“If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37“If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” 39Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.

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