Thursday, September 25, 2008
Acts 7:54-60
54 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep.
When people are confronted with their own sin and their own fears they can become aggressive, trying to make themselves feel better about their condition. They sometime will try to destroy those around them to make themselves feel better and eliminate the problem. When we are confronted with a sin issue, we need not run, hide, or lash out, we need to examine ourselves in front of God and to his Word. If we are in sin we should repent and turn away, ask for forgiveness and seek God in our lives more.
Another lesson from this is when you go and share the Gospel with people, it doesn't always come out the way you want it. You have to do it with a pure motive and with the Spirit, but understand that we do not change the minds of men, God is the one that does that, we can only do what God wants us to do. In this lesson we see that Stephen went and shared, he showed them his faith and the reason for his faith. They rejected him, they also killed him. This probably was not his intention when he went to speak to these men, but God had a bigger plan. Stephen became the first martyr for Christianity, his heart those was for those people and he held nothing against them. We cant be made at those who hate us, just continue to desire for them to have a relationship with Christ. The other lesson is that God has bigger plans. One was for Saul (Paul) who was there when Stephen was killed, he was in Gods plan for starting the Church. God does greater things than we can understand, do what you are suppose to do in front of people, even when they persecute you, because you never know who you are influencing.
JR
When people are confronted with their own sin and their own fears they can become aggressive, trying to make themselves feel better about their condition. They sometime will try to destroy those around them to make themselves feel better and eliminate the problem. When we are confronted with a sin issue, we need not run, hide, or lash out, we need to examine ourselves in front of God and to his Word. If we are in sin we should repent and turn away, ask for forgiveness and seek God in our lives more.
Another lesson from this is when you go and share the Gospel with people, it doesn't always come out the way you want it. You have to do it with a pure motive and with the Spirit, but understand that we do not change the minds of men, God is the one that does that, we can only do what God wants us to do. In this lesson we see that Stephen went and shared, he showed them his faith and the reason for his faith. They rejected him, they also killed him. This probably was not his intention when he went to speak to these men, but God had a bigger plan. Stephen became the first martyr for Christianity, his heart those was for those people and he held nothing against them. We cant be made at those who hate us, just continue to desire for them to have a relationship with Christ. The other lesson is that God has bigger plans. One was for Saul (Paul) who was there when Stephen was killed, he was in Gods plan for starting the Church. God does greater things than we can understand, do what you are suppose to do in front of people, even when they persecute you, because you never know who you are influencing.
JR
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
A Little Advice...
Pop that colla SON!!
Thanks Trinity College....
Be smart with your money!! Get the taquito
ACTS 7
ACTS 7
Is filled with the story of the history of our faith, it goes through the Old Testament in 50 verses. Yet when I look and I see the story there is a common theme that Luke is trying to present, that being that the story of how we became who we are is more than just coincidence, that God's hand has been with us since the beginning. The start of faith by Abraham is not something that should be taken lightly and the following 3000 years until the time of Christ was filled with the people of the world, including God's people fighting against Him. There were so many times when the messengers of God were treated as if they were the enemy. This just proves that the message of God may not always be something that you want to hear. That those who think they are in a good place with God might NOT want to hear. We have to be constantly challenging ourselves, our preconceived notions and our presuppositions. These are the things that can cause us to fall into complacency. Yet we should always rely on God to provide the light and the way, he will not let the truth that is in him and through him to continually be challenged, there will be people who he will use to rise up and change the current view of things. Sometimes he uses other nations to judge those who have fallen away from what they believe, and it is then when they come back. God Loves his people so much he is willing to see them suffer for their own good. Look for truth, seek the face of God and know what truth is.
Is filled with the story of the history of our faith, it goes through the Old Testament in 50 verses. Yet when I look and I see the story there is a common theme that Luke is trying to present, that being that the story of how we became who we are is more than just coincidence, that God's hand has been with us since the beginning. The start of faith by Abraham is not something that should be taken lightly and the following 3000 years until the time of Christ was filled with the people of the world, including God's people fighting against Him. There were so many times when the messengers of God were treated as if they were the enemy. This just proves that the message of God may not always be something that you want to hear. That those who think they are in a good place with God might NOT want to hear. We have to be constantly challenging ourselves, our preconceived notions and our presuppositions. These are the things that can cause us to fall into complacency. Yet we should always rely on God to provide the light and the way, he will not let the truth that is in him and through him to continually be challenged, there will be people who he will use to rise up and change the current view of things. Sometimes he uses other nations to judge those who have fallen away from what they believe, and it is then when they come back. God Loves his people so much he is willing to see them suffer for their own good. Look for truth, seek the face of God and know what truth is.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Acts 6:1-7
"1Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith."
(1) The Apostles were continuing to teach, and continuing to make even more disciples. We as leaders in the church should never stop on our calling to continue to make disciples, this should be a process that is ongoing and constant. While this is happening there are things going on in the church that the Apostles are not aware of. (2)This shows that the Apostles and leaders although they are doing what God has called them to do, can not be everywhere and there might be things going on that are not good and there might be people who are being hurt and neglected(3). The job of the Leader is to preach and teach and train people to be disciples (4). This is where the leaders need to step up and delegate responsibility to (5) Godly people who are full in their faith and mature in their relationship with Christ. This is going to be key for the ongoing growth of the Kingdom. The leaders need to be able to put people in charge of necessary responsibilities without having to constantly monitor them so that they can do the work they were intended on doing. This ability to delegate responsibilities to the Right Individuals will be beneficial to all involved. This will produce growth in the Kingdom of God. The lack of ability to recognize the right people, people who have been discipled and are full in their faith, who have been with the leader for a significant time and show that they are "full of faith and the Holy Spirit", fully committed to the cause of Christ at all cost and not just for personal gain, can cause a disorder and stint growth in the church. This is why leaders need to spend significant time with those they want to put into leadership, discipling them and making sure they are ready for the kind of responsibility they are going to in store for. Continue to pray for all of the leadership.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith."
(1) The Apostles were continuing to teach, and continuing to make even more disciples. We as leaders in the church should never stop on our calling to continue to make disciples, this should be a process that is ongoing and constant. While this is happening there are things going on in the church that the Apostles are not aware of. (2)This shows that the Apostles and leaders although they are doing what God has called them to do, can not be everywhere and there might be things going on that are not good and there might be people who are being hurt and neglected(3). The job of the Leader is to preach and teach and train people to be disciples (4). This is where the leaders need to step up and delegate responsibility to (5) Godly people who are full in their faith and mature in their relationship with Christ. This is going to be key for the ongoing growth of the Kingdom. The leaders need to be able to put people in charge of necessary responsibilities without having to constantly monitor them so that they can do the work they were intended on doing. This ability to delegate responsibilities to the Right Individuals will be beneficial to all involved. This will produce growth in the Kingdom of God. The lack of ability to recognize the right people, people who have been discipled and are full in their faith, who have been with the leader for a significant time and show that they are "full of faith and the Holy Spirit", fully committed to the cause of Christ at all cost and not just for personal gain, can cause a disorder and stint growth in the church. This is why leaders need to spend significant time with those they want to put into leadership, discipling them and making sure they are ready for the kind of responsibility they are going to in store for. Continue to pray for all of the leadership.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
A change of perspective
So tonight during the High School Bible Study on Revelation it hit me, something that I had never thought about before. The idea that Satan hates us as Christians is not a new concept, nor is it unaparent in the scriptures or in my personal life. One thing that i was aware of was that Satan had the ability to come into the presence of God (Job 1:6)and that he has conversations with God talking about God's people. One things that I never thought of was that Satan, who hates us, sits in front of God and taunts God with the misdeeds of God's people. When we as followers of Christ sin, go against God, disobey God we are giving amunition to Satan to mock God for his chosing of His people. This hurts me, this aches my heart. I am a loyal person and when i stand up for someone or something i back it with all i have. Don't mock my God or what he has done or who he is, DO NOT MOCK MY GOD. When i realize that i have done this my heart sank, i was so disapointed in myself. I challenge you as well as myself to not disapoint our God, don't give the evil one amunition to mock our great God.
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