8/8/18 – note three 8’s Can the Lord talk to you in only one way? Or in any way He so chooses? He can speak to us in what way He finds the most effective for each individual! For the past couple of year to me and many of you the Lord has been showing
Disunity & Discord According to the Bible There’s an unnoticed reason in a church’s growth that most people overlook – church unity. God blesses a united church. Many churches have tremendous potential, but they never achieve what God desires because the members spend all their time fighting with one another. Money, heaven or
As far as I can tell GAMBLING is not directly forbidden in the Bible, but there are biblical principles which tell us that GAMBLING is a sin. Right now before we go any farther, stop and pray! Ask the Father in the name of Jesus Christ by His Holy Spirit to teach us and
“The Die is Struck” CD#105 (6 Examples of the Believer) From the start let me say that this study is for encouragement to keep working for the Lord! We have been told by your flesh, by the world, and by Satan himself that there are certain things we can’t accomplish. The Lord God Almighty would
Maintaining your Salvation!
New Converts Class Lesson #3
(Transcript of Tape #104)
We have shown from the previous lessons that we are saved and adopted into God‘s family. WE can take comfort in the fact that no one can snatch us out of our Father’s hands but we must “maintain” this new relationship so we will not “backslide”. Let’s look at those verses in John 10 that we have covered in the past 2 lessons:
John 10:27-29 says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
Here we have the promise that no one can snatch us out of our Father’s hand. We must learn how to maintain our walk with Him daily. Maintenance is something we do everyday in our personal appearance before mankind how much more should we maintain ourselves before the Lord! Just as we entered into a new relationship with our spouses we must enter in with our Father. We took time to get to know our spouses in every way possible, there likes, and dislikes, goals and expectancies!
Forget the Past
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
“YOUR ASSURANCE OF SALVATION”
(Transcript of Tape #102)
New Convert’s Class Week 1
How To Be Saved!
Acts 2:37 says, “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Acts 2:38 says, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
“Repent,” mean to think differently! We must start fresh and learn to think according to the Lord!
“Baptism” is an outward symbol of an inward change. From the original text it means total immersion. When one submits in obedience to the conditions of the gospel they by the grace of God are forgiven. Evidence of that forgiveness is not based on some miraculous sign or an emotional feeling, but upon the promise of God.
Acts 2:39 says, “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
Acts 2:40 says, “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”
Acts 2:41 says, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
“Save yourselves” only you can make this life-giving, life-changing decision.
Acts 2:42 says, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
OVERCOMING VICES!
Define vice.
Let me describe firstly a vice from my experience being a self-employed truck driver. I have a vice in my shop that I use for many various chores. A vice is a device that winds tighter for the purpose of firmly holding an object by squeezing. Some might say that’s not the subject but I would have to disagree! A worldly vice is an immoral practice or habit that holds us down in the miry clay, the sins of this world and it squeezes the life out of us! As we move through this study we’ll see that habits are the start of or the fuel for vices!
We all have habits, both good and bad. Speaking of habits, define a habit. A habit is anything you do automatically without consciously thinking about it, or without specifically deciding to do it, is a habit. Good habits or practices–such as tidiness, courtesy, good manners, being positive, etc. are a real blessing. But when the habits you’ve picked up are BAD or DESTRUCTIVE, and you find them hard or almost impossible to change, they are known as VICES.
There’s a true story about a man who owned an eagle, and for many years had chained him to a stake. Over the years, the eagles had walked around and around that stake so much on the end of his chain that he’d worn an actual rut in the ground. Finally, he was getting old and his master felt sorry for him and thought, “These are his last days, so I’m going to set him free!” So he took the metal ring off the eagle’s foot, took him up in his hand and tossed him into the air. But what do you suppose happened? The old eagle had almost totally forgotten how to fly! He flip-flopped right back down to the ground, walked back over to the old rut and started walking around the rut like he had done for years! No chain or bird-band held him! –Just the habit! He had been chained in the habit for so long he wouldn’t even try to fly! I have heard of the same being done with a baby elephant to the point that a very small rope will hold the elephant when it is grown. AS a baby the elephant could not break the chain so, as a massive strong adult elephant would not even try to break the rope!
“Servitude”
CD#100
Servitude is a condition of a slave, to serve another.
Servant #1401 doulos, (doo’-los) a slave lit. Or fig., involuntary or voluntary frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subservience.
It’s no longer our life, our life was death and destruction but with the price of Jesus Christ we were bought! Our life is hid in Him and by Him we have life so we should follow His example of servitude!
Here we have Jesus Christ’s example set forth as our blueprint for building on the foundation of the Rock! Jesus Christ gave His life freely on the Cross and He bared much fruit! By His death we now have our life, life to serve Him so others can come to Him! Jesus Christ bought us to set us free to serve Him. Jesus Christ came that we might have not just life but abundant life!
“Faith & Obedience”
CD#93
Have you ever noticed how hard it is for some people to be “obedient”? We all have different strengths and different weakness. “Obey” is something the flesh want to avoid unless it’s what it wants to do or accomplish! Some might say that problem is only with children and not adults. I would argue with that point simply from hearing the vows, wedding vows of today. In most weddings today you either have new vows or the word “obey” is left off from love & honor.
In today’s study let’s look at what God Almighty has to say about obedience. Firstly let me quickly add that obedience must come from the inside, from the heart. Later on we’ll see where some had a “form” of obedience from the outside. In that case Jesus gave them strong warning of taking care of the inside.
Obedience is a battle that is won or lost in our minds and our hearts. Satan wants to cause to doubt God and lead us to disobedience. Let’s document that from our instruction manual:
You and I can not ever be “obedient” on our on strength. So many times in my past I have lost a battle and in my mind I said, “I won’t” do that again. Time past and before I knew it the enemy attacked and I failed again. Our Father knows we’re weak and He has made a way for us to walk and live in victory! Our weapons through God our Father are “mighty”. Mighty was translated from the Greek word “dunatos” (doo-nat-os’) meaning powerful or capable, it’s from the prim meaning to be able or possible. All things are possible by God “if” we only believe and exercise our faith! “Pulling down” was translated from the Greek word “kathairesis” (kath-ah’ee-res-is) meaning demolition; fig. Extinction! Whatever strong holds Satan has in your life with you exercising your faith it can become extinct! Next verse shows us more:
Last Stop before Home!
(Transcript of Tp#92)
Can you imagine, picture this it’s holiday time and you’re on your way “home” to see all of your family and friends. Your tired and you have traveled so very far but the bus has to make a pit stop, the plane has to stop to pick of other passengers.
All along this trip you have been faithfully, anxiously waiting to make it back home. While you are waiting during this stop something or someone gets your attention. Before you know it or even realize it your so enamored that you can’t “hear” the call back to your transportation home! Getting home had been #1 on your mind but in a wandering moment you have been robbed at the “last stop” of the day. All of this could be the backdrop for a Hollywood movie but sadly it’s not.
You and I as Christians are traveling “back home” and Satan wants to get our attention and distract us at the last stop! Sound ridiculous it shouldn’t because it has happened before and history repeats itself in one way or another! This is why God Almighty has given us the Old Testament for our instruction. He wants us to learn from our forefather’s mistakes so we will not make the same mistakes!
Let’s document the before turning to the Old Testament. Open your Bible to 1 Corinthians please:
