https://soundcloud.com/sarah-stankiewicz/these-are-children
The link above is a song that our oldest daughter Sarah has written and entered it into a contest having to do with songs about children for a chance of publication. Please listen to the song then like it and share it forward so she can get credit in the count. I know that it will bless you. I would like to support my daughter in her ministry of writing meaningful Christian music.
Thanks you for your participation.
Love
J&E
Monday, September 29, 2014
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Grace, Faith
Faith is the "conduit" for grace.
One cannot receive grace lest one believes in the One who give's grace.
The more a person believes (has faith) the more that person can receive grace because he is convinced His help is in God.
Grace is God's "unconditional Love toward us."
Unmerited favor.
Rely on this:
When adversity comes,
God's grace is sufficient for those who believe.
One cannot receive grace lest one believes in the One who give's grace.
The more a person believes (has faith) the more that person can receive grace because he is convinced His help is in God.
Grace is God's "unconditional Love toward us."
Unmerited favor.
Rely on this:
When adversity comes,
God's grace is sufficient for those who believe.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Applying Love to life........my practices.
I woke up this morning then looked around, took in a deep breath then exhaled a grateful prayer, turned to my left and watched my wife sleeping while taking in the preciousness of her being my "help meet", planned carefully for the day then stretched my legs out and swung them towards the floor.
"Thinking life" is good falls short of being grateful for a "good life."
Love is the main ingredient of a "good life."
Christ has taught me the deep intimate meaning of the word "Love", and has revealed it's application to me for all souls. Family, Friends, everyone can be shown Love and needs Love.
Love is the answer to every question and the building block to all foundations.
Love cannot fail.
God is Love.
God (and His Christ) cannot fail (they are one).
If Love is not the foundation of all your relationships tear down what you have now and start over using Love as the building blocks and mortar.
If you do this you will: sleep better, weep more tenderly, speak more kindly, act more passionately, and be more complete.
Life will no longer be "mundane" or tiresome, but fresh and full of grace everyday, worth getting up for and living.
Those around you will be blessed and so will you.
Love
J&E in Tn
"Thinking life" is good falls short of being grateful for a "good life."
Love is the main ingredient of a "good life."
Christ has taught me the deep intimate meaning of the word "Love", and has revealed it's application to me for all souls. Family, Friends, everyone can be shown Love and needs Love.
Love is the answer to every question and the building block to all foundations.
Love cannot fail.
God is Love.
God (and His Christ) cannot fail (they are one).
If Love is not the foundation of all your relationships tear down what you have now and start over using Love as the building blocks and mortar.
If you do this you will: sleep better, weep more tenderly, speak more kindly, act more passionately, and be more complete.
Life will no longer be "mundane" or tiresome, but fresh and full of grace everyday, worth getting up for and living.
Those around you will be blessed and so will you.
Love
J&E in Tn
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Faith the foundation of Scripture: How about you?
Milk is the common fair for most of the Christian Church.
Meat is for the mature and full of age (faith) growing Christian.
Without faith we cannot please God...........because without faith in His word, we say we know Him in His word with our lips and mind but deny Him in our hearts.
How can that be?
We are saved by faith correct?
We claim by faith our Salvation in Christ and His finished work: death and Resurrection.
But the very same Scriptures we "pull" that Truth out of we deny the rest of the "whole" of Scripture that it is real or valid for today.
He saves us but there is no practiced application of the healing promise.
He promised us that "we shall do these things that I do and greater" but that has been dispensated also.
He sent "them" out to heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons, but "OUR" churches are made of brick and mortar, immobile, not "full of the Spirit, with a heart ready to "Go"!
We say we have "The Holy Ghost" and speak in enough tongues to fill up the world, but bury our dead without even a whispered prayer to know God's will about the matter.
Our own pride and "show" disallow the very commands that Jesus gave not only his disciples but "for those afar off, as many as may come."
"Only believe" were the Words of Christ to many of those who sought His "miraculous" help.
"According to your faith" was His catch phrase that proceeded "a miracle."
I challenge "YOU" to at this time "renew" in your mind your thoughts on this.
Here is one of the few times I will quote something that is not from Scripture, but it begs the question needed to be asked here: "is you with us or is you aint?"
I don't know if anyone has ever mentioned to you that "the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us for a while". If that is true of Christ and His salvation then what about the rest of the Word that made Him up? "Not one dot or one tittle" means "ALL" the written Word: Jesus Christ! One Word, one Man, one God, one Hope.
Do you see now why you don't have hope when you need it? Why it is so hard to "stand" after having done all?
Are you really looking for "from whence your hope comes from?"
Are there dots and tittles missing from your faith?
Is Christ incomplete because it's just too hard to believe......"everything" in scripture?
Who's responsibility is it to wean you from milk to meat?
The pastors? (If he is still on milk: "it is enough for the student to be as his master", right?
The Sunday school teachers? Again "it is enough."
I do disagree that these two are very important for the teaching of doctrine, but if they are not "full of faith and the Holy Ghost" you have a one course meal instead of a Spiritual Banquet.
The only God ordained Minister of His Word "IS" the Holy Spirit.
Is it a surprise to you that "with the witness of 2 or 3 shall all things be established"?
So here is a question that begs answering: "Should a Bible Study be new revelation or a "confirmation" to what the Holy Spirit has already seeded in your heart?
Another question: Are there jokes or tales in Scripture? Did Jesus or His disciples need to "put the crowd at ease", or cozy up to them for them to listen?
The Scriptural way to "get the crowds attention" is to "HEAL THE SICK, RAISE THE DEAD, AND CAST OUT DEMONS!"
It is Scriptural to do this in churches and in public preaching.
Did you catch that?
Preaching the Word is the prerequisite to performance by the Holy Spirit. Does God move because you have a "great come on" or because you have "THE TRUTH"? Does the Holy Spirit manifest God's power because you have a "reputation" as a great preacher? Or because you have a Great God to preach about.
By the way: Is preaching about elegance and ability or about anointing and humility?
Doesn't the Scriptures say: "He uses the simple to confound the wise?"
Is preaching about Phd's or an anointed calling and election? "Not many wise........have been called" is the slap in our faces and the faces of all those who, through all time, have waived a banner of righteousness and support of man to "prove" our "preach worthiness."
FAITH, FAITH IN GOD'S WORD (JESUS CHRIST AND HIS WRITTEN WORD) is what it takes to "get saved", "get filled with the Holy Spirit", and "get going to the "anointed" work of God with signs and wonders following.
Only faith can "deliver the whole "God presentation" the way God ordained it "in the beginning."
Abraham is the "Father of Faith". Why? Because "he believed God!" Period. He believed His "every Word" having not known Him "from the beginning". He heard the Word and without question "believed" acting on what he was told.
There is no difference for the believer today. "Today if you here my voice," unites all of us to the "full" Word of God in every venue and time of history up until the "return" of Christ.
That means that there is not a "time stamp" on Scripture to vindicate it or disallow "one dot or one tittle." God is His Word! He is "eternal in the heavens" thus so is His Word (Scripture, Christ), eternal, without beginning of time or end of the same.
So as His Word is eternal so are the blessings and curses, commands and rebukes, actions and accounts that are in it, (Him).
If they are eternal then they are repeatable by those who BELIEVE! Even His Resurrection will be repeated by those who have passed on before at His coming. Yes as He died even we will die (except for those who are taken in the rapture), and those who will rise to meet Him in the sky will be changed from their mortal body into an immortal body, resurrected.
So with this little prep work lets get on to the meat:
"COMPLETE FAITH", mature faith, God honoring and God relying on faith.
Do you know that there is no action on earth who's response is not covered in the Scriptures?
Do you know that "if it be God's will for you" He will replicate any action that He has revealed in His Word for you, to manifest His glory and to prove His Truth.
If we have faith and "hear His Voice" life as a Christian would be very exciting in God's will and timing.
Does that mean that "all things are possible for those that believe?" Yes absolutely. But to the mature Christian a recognition is given to "according to God's will." Sometimes God's will is different than what we know or imagine. Does that make the asking wrong........absolutely not. Some time the disciples "seen that he had faith to be healed" other times "according to your faith", other times "this was done for the glory of my Father in Heaven". I would rather say "in Jesus name" than walk away not knowing for a certainty that the bondage couldn't be broken. In such a matter I have no pride in how it will look if God's answer is not what I asked for. He is Omniscient and has a reason for all timing of all things, I am hopeful for a Divine intervention for the better of the one oppressed. That's the true application of faith. He commands/empowers we pray and act on His commands. The rest is in His hands.
Can you just envision what God could do in us, for us, and through us if we just believed (without excuse) the Scriptures?
Praying to stop the rain for years.
Calling down fire on an alter to manifest the reality of a One True God.
Having fire fall from the sky to eliminate those set against you. (Old and New Testament verses.)
Raising the dead.
Healing the sick.
Casting out demons.
Multiplication of food.
Walking on water.
Experiencing the hand of God to deliver in self deference or better yet sending an angle to "put to rest those who would surround you.
Pouring the last of your oil into jars till you ran out of vessels to hold it.
Fishing for your taxes.
Casting over on the right side of the boat to get a fill that you need help pulling in.
Commanding the storm to "be still."
Have an angel sent to instruct you.
Be translated from place to place.
Having a vision.
Jesus appearing to you.
Praying in the Spirit when no one else is there to be impressed.
And the best one yet:
"you will do all these things and more because I go to My Father."
There is no end of possibility for "THOSE WHO BELIEVE" and ask in Jesus name according to God's will.
How do we know God's will? We hear His voice! If we don't know or hear we still obey His commands "which are not grievous" and let the rest to Him.
This is just a scratch and sniff of what the possibilities are :
FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE.
Be encouraged
God is alive and moving in His people of faith and maturity.
God bless and keep.
Love
J&E
Meat is for the mature and full of age (faith) growing Christian.
Without faith we cannot please God...........because without faith in His word, we say we know Him in His word with our lips and mind but deny Him in our hearts.
How can that be?
We are saved by faith correct?
We claim by faith our Salvation in Christ and His finished work: death and Resurrection.
But the very same Scriptures we "pull" that Truth out of we deny the rest of the "whole" of Scripture that it is real or valid for today.
He saves us but there is no practiced application of the healing promise.
He promised us that "we shall do these things that I do and greater" but that has been dispensated also.
He sent "them" out to heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons, but "OUR" churches are made of brick and mortar, immobile, not "full of the Spirit, with a heart ready to "Go"!
We say we have "The Holy Ghost" and speak in enough tongues to fill up the world, but bury our dead without even a whispered prayer to know God's will about the matter.
Our own pride and "show" disallow the very commands that Jesus gave not only his disciples but "for those afar off, as many as may come."
"Only believe" were the Words of Christ to many of those who sought His "miraculous" help.
"According to your faith" was His catch phrase that proceeded "a miracle."
I challenge "YOU" to at this time "renew" in your mind your thoughts on this.
Here is one of the few times I will quote something that is not from Scripture, but it begs the question needed to be asked here: "is you with us or is you aint?"
I don't know if anyone has ever mentioned to you that "the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us for a while". If that is true of Christ and His salvation then what about the rest of the Word that made Him up? "Not one dot or one tittle" means "ALL" the written Word: Jesus Christ! One Word, one Man, one God, one Hope.
Do you see now why you don't have hope when you need it? Why it is so hard to "stand" after having done all?
Are you really looking for "from whence your hope comes from?"
Are there dots and tittles missing from your faith?
Is Christ incomplete because it's just too hard to believe......"everything" in scripture?
Who's responsibility is it to wean you from milk to meat?
The pastors? (If he is still on milk: "it is enough for the student to be as his master", right?
The Sunday school teachers? Again "it is enough."
I do disagree that these two are very important for the teaching of doctrine, but if they are not "full of faith and the Holy Ghost" you have a one course meal instead of a Spiritual Banquet.
The only God ordained Minister of His Word "IS" the Holy Spirit.
Is it a surprise to you that "with the witness of 2 or 3 shall all things be established"?
So here is a question that begs answering: "Should a Bible Study be new revelation or a "confirmation" to what the Holy Spirit has already seeded in your heart?
Another question: Are there jokes or tales in Scripture? Did Jesus or His disciples need to "put the crowd at ease", or cozy up to them for them to listen?
The Scriptural way to "get the crowds attention" is to "HEAL THE SICK, RAISE THE DEAD, AND CAST OUT DEMONS!"
It is Scriptural to do this in churches and in public preaching.
Did you catch that?
Preaching the Word is the prerequisite to performance by the Holy Spirit. Does God move because you have a "great come on" or because you have "THE TRUTH"? Does the Holy Spirit manifest God's power because you have a "reputation" as a great preacher? Or because you have a Great God to preach about.
By the way: Is preaching about elegance and ability or about anointing and humility?
Doesn't the Scriptures say: "He uses the simple to confound the wise?"
Is preaching about Phd's or an anointed calling and election? "Not many wise........have been called" is the slap in our faces and the faces of all those who, through all time, have waived a banner of righteousness and support of man to "prove" our "preach worthiness."
FAITH, FAITH IN GOD'S WORD (JESUS CHRIST AND HIS WRITTEN WORD) is what it takes to "get saved", "get filled with the Holy Spirit", and "get going to the "anointed" work of God with signs and wonders following.
Only faith can "deliver the whole "God presentation" the way God ordained it "in the beginning."
Abraham is the "Father of Faith". Why? Because "he believed God!" Period. He believed His "every Word" having not known Him "from the beginning". He heard the Word and without question "believed" acting on what he was told.
There is no difference for the believer today. "Today if you here my voice," unites all of us to the "full" Word of God in every venue and time of history up until the "return" of Christ.
That means that there is not a "time stamp" on Scripture to vindicate it or disallow "one dot or one tittle." God is His Word! He is "eternal in the heavens" thus so is His Word (Scripture, Christ), eternal, without beginning of time or end of the same.
So as His Word is eternal so are the blessings and curses, commands and rebukes, actions and accounts that are in it, (Him).
If they are eternal then they are repeatable by those who BELIEVE! Even His Resurrection will be repeated by those who have passed on before at His coming. Yes as He died even we will die (except for those who are taken in the rapture), and those who will rise to meet Him in the sky will be changed from their mortal body into an immortal body, resurrected.
So with this little prep work lets get on to the meat:
"COMPLETE FAITH", mature faith, God honoring and God relying on faith.
Do you know that there is no action on earth who's response is not covered in the Scriptures?
Do you know that "if it be God's will for you" He will replicate any action that He has revealed in His Word for you, to manifest His glory and to prove His Truth.
If we have faith and "hear His Voice" life as a Christian would be very exciting in God's will and timing.
Does that mean that "all things are possible for those that believe?" Yes absolutely. But to the mature Christian a recognition is given to "according to God's will." Sometimes God's will is different than what we know or imagine. Does that make the asking wrong........absolutely not. Some time the disciples "seen that he had faith to be healed" other times "according to your faith", other times "this was done for the glory of my Father in Heaven". I would rather say "in Jesus name" than walk away not knowing for a certainty that the bondage couldn't be broken. In such a matter I have no pride in how it will look if God's answer is not what I asked for. He is Omniscient and has a reason for all timing of all things, I am hopeful for a Divine intervention for the better of the one oppressed. That's the true application of faith. He commands/empowers we pray and act on His commands. The rest is in His hands.
Can you just envision what God could do in us, for us, and through us if we just believed (without excuse) the Scriptures?
Praying to stop the rain for years.
Calling down fire on an alter to manifest the reality of a One True God.
Having fire fall from the sky to eliminate those set against you. (Old and New Testament verses.)
Raising the dead.
Healing the sick.
Casting out demons.
Multiplication of food.
Walking on water.
Experiencing the hand of God to deliver in self deference or better yet sending an angle to "put to rest those who would surround you.
Pouring the last of your oil into jars till you ran out of vessels to hold it.
Fishing for your taxes.
Casting over on the right side of the boat to get a fill that you need help pulling in.
Commanding the storm to "be still."
Have an angel sent to instruct you.
Be translated from place to place.
Having a vision.
Jesus appearing to you.
Praying in the Spirit when no one else is there to be impressed.
And the best one yet:
"you will do all these things and more because I go to My Father."
There is no end of possibility for "THOSE WHO BELIEVE" and ask in Jesus name according to God's will.
How do we know God's will? We hear His voice! If we don't know or hear we still obey His commands "which are not grievous" and let the rest to Him.
This is just a scratch and sniff of what the possibilities are :
FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE.
Be encouraged
God is alive and moving in His people of faith and maturity.
God bless and keep.
Love
J&E
Monday, August 11, 2014
What I love
Know this:
I love my wife Elise A. Cavasin
I love all my family,
I love a good salami,
I love a challenge,
I love hard work,
I love good food,
I love a busy day followed by a nap,
But don't ever perceive that I love any of these things above God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, faith, hope and joy.
These last are the foundation that my "heart" is built on and all the rest find place (with passion) after the "first" foundation is built and made sure. Because of Christ as a foundation; wife, and all that compose my application of life have order and precedent with an excellent application for success.
If what drives your life is not Christ and His Word then you are driven by uncharted winds, and, at best, your destination is unknown.
Those that journey with Christ as their "tillerman" travel a known course with a sure destination.
Love
J&E in Tn
My fb page is open to the public.
You can find all these applications mentioned on there at random times.
You might also find practices that would offend some Christians, such as the mention or picture of a glass of wine. If so don't be offended, don't go there.
Some of my friends will use foul language in their posts, but on my site but I believe that "the whole need not a doctor."
Some of my posts have nothing to do with God, Christ or the Holy Spirit but have to do with making salami, capicola or sausage, possible some project that I am currently trying to get done. If that offends: don't go there. I have preached the gospel without cost for as many years as I have been saved with signs and wonders following. I boast not but would encourage all that God is still the same as He was in the Book of Acts. Sinful Apostles and disciples were obedient to God's voice and calling and had the same results. So can you!
I am a sojourner in a strange land looking for a city whose builder and maker is God.
I posses the land that I am given until a new and better land is acquired by the hand of God.
I am not so "spiritually minded that I can't be of any earthly good." In all I do I lift up Christ so that He can call all people unto Himself.
I make no excuse for my current state for "I am a work in progress." Being conformed into the image and likeness of Christ.
Life is good..........because "GOD IS BETTER" for in Him is Life Eternal.
Because God is "most excellent" my life shall reflect excellence in all practices there of.
Everything in Christ should be done excellently..............He is worthy of the effort. He told Moses: "what do you have in your hand", even a staff used by God becomes excellent for His purpose.
You are who you are today because He is molding you for His purpose for tomorrow. "Today is the day", if you hear His voice today and obey, then "If the Lord wills" that you are here tomorrow, you will be meet for His use.
Take this all in and "let go and let God."
Love
J&E
I love my wife Elise A. Cavasin
I love all my family,
I love a good salami,
I love a challenge,
I love hard work,
I love good food,
I love a busy day followed by a nap,
But don't ever perceive that I love any of these things above God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, faith, hope and joy.
These last are the foundation that my "heart" is built on and all the rest find place (with passion) after the "first" foundation is built and made sure. Because of Christ as a foundation; wife, and all that compose my application of life have order and precedent with an excellent application for success.
If what drives your life is not Christ and His Word then you are driven by uncharted winds, and, at best, your destination is unknown.
Those that journey with Christ as their "tillerman" travel a known course with a sure destination.
Love
J&E in Tn
My fb page is open to the public.
You can find all these applications mentioned on there at random times.
You might also find practices that would offend some Christians, such as the mention or picture of a glass of wine. If so don't be offended, don't go there.
Some of my friends will use foul language in their posts, but on my site but I believe that "the whole need not a doctor."
Some of my posts have nothing to do with God, Christ or the Holy Spirit but have to do with making salami, capicola or sausage, possible some project that I am currently trying to get done. If that offends: don't go there. I have preached the gospel without cost for as many years as I have been saved with signs and wonders following. I boast not but would encourage all that God is still the same as He was in the Book of Acts. Sinful Apostles and disciples were obedient to God's voice and calling and had the same results. So can you!
I am a sojourner in a strange land looking for a city whose builder and maker is God.
I posses the land that I am given until a new and better land is acquired by the hand of God.
I am not so "spiritually minded that I can't be of any earthly good." In all I do I lift up Christ so that He can call all people unto Himself.
I make no excuse for my current state for "I am a work in progress." Being conformed into the image and likeness of Christ.
Life is good..........because "GOD IS BETTER" for in Him is Life Eternal.
Because God is "most excellent" my life shall reflect excellence in all practices there of.
Everything in Christ should be done excellently..............He is worthy of the effort. He told Moses: "what do you have in your hand", even a staff used by God becomes excellent for His purpose.
You are who you are today because He is molding you for His purpose for tomorrow. "Today is the day", if you hear His voice today and obey, then "If the Lord wills" that you are here tomorrow, you will be meet for His use.
Take this all in and "let go and let God."
Love
J&E
Preaching
There are two types of preaching the way I see it:
1. Prophetic........which is the Word of God uninterpreted, pure, undefiled.
2. Cosmetic........which is the Word of God for a personal following. Basic Truth without real meat. Milk that never allows for responsibility on the part of the believer, never challenging, without spirit. Relying on the promise that "My words shall not come back void" as an only hope, not the "promises" of Christ that come with preaching the Word.........
You are what you eat:
1. My flesh is real meat, or: Christ without "being made in His image and likeness."
2. My blood is real drink, or: ''never hungering and thirsting after righteousness.''
You are what you believe by faith. "Faith without deeds is dead".
Run from "old wives tails and endless arguments" and "sciences", but become simple and teachable by the Holy Spirit. "He will teach you and remind you all things that I (Jesus) have said." You can't go wrong with that.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, spirit, and soul and then be set free by Truth.
Love
J&E
1. Prophetic........which is the Word of God uninterpreted, pure, undefiled.
2. Cosmetic........which is the Word of God for a personal following. Basic Truth without real meat. Milk that never allows for responsibility on the part of the believer, never challenging, without spirit. Relying on the promise that "My words shall not come back void" as an only hope, not the "promises" of Christ that come with preaching the Word.........
You are what you eat:
1. My flesh is real meat, or: Christ without "being made in His image and likeness."
2. My blood is real drink, or: ''never hungering and thirsting after righteousness.''
You are what you believe by faith. "Faith without deeds is dead".
Run from "old wives tails and endless arguments" and "sciences", but become simple and teachable by the Holy Spirit. "He will teach you and remind you all things that I (Jesus) have said." You can't go wrong with that.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, spirit, and soul and then be set free by Truth.
Love
J&E
Sunday, August 3, 2014
More on faith............
Most people would claim some association with religion, The strength of their commitment will be rated on the scale of faith with which they practice.
To some it's just the hope of "escaping eternal damnation", not really sure but hoping that what they believe and practice will get them a "fire pass." All the while living life like there were no tomorrow or judgement for their actions.
Some have a literal faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, His blood, His death and Resurrection which "promises" eternal life after death in a place prepared for "all who believe" in heaven. Because of this promise many who believe on this scale actually hold precious the practice of worship. Daily thankful for all the blessings God (Our Father) has bestowed on them both seen and unseen.
But what about this third group? Who believe on the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, enter into not only the profession of that work, but also into the worship that it inspires, while praying all the time that He would manifest His promises through them and "Glorify His Name."
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Faith in what? Faith in Who?
All the above questions can be answered in this one name: Jesus Christ. Why? Because He is the "what", "the Word" (who became flesh), He is the "Who", because He gave us precious promises while He was alive on several occasions: "Ye shall do these things I do and greater", and "these signs shall follow those who believe."
James said that "Faith without works is dead".
Many "believers" look for the church to "manifest" the works of God not realizing that "they" make up the church body that they look to for these things to take place.
Here is a clue to the question "why"? What you don't do in your personal, private walk you cannot add to the manifestation of God in the service. If all in the church do "nothing" in the preaching of the Gospel and performance of the promises, then when all come together the whole body will be weak and unable to encourage the "babes" in Christ as to inspiring growth and maturity.
"According to thy faith" is the defining command here.
Does your faith follow Scripture? Or does it follow "what you believe?" And that of what? Your own carnal practices or thoughts unsupported by the Scriptures. Or there is always the "do as I say not as I do" philosophy.
Most of us readily see where we are at and whether we add to the church. it's gathering together as a service, or it's personal representation of strength and truth in the public eye. Must we be reminded that all the miracles of Jesus and His followers were public or at least before multiple members of His disciples.
Faith is a mustard seed (that can move mountains), to start with, then grows into a tree that "the fowl of the air can rest in." That means that if our faith produces "nothing" it is smaller than a mustard seed and we are at best "worshipers with lips as our hearts are far from Him."
God meant for the church to be a grove of trees that give hope and deliverance to the "lost and dying", as we have claimed it to be for us.
Have a "worshipful" Sunday and enjoy the Word and presence of God.
God bless and keep.
Love
J&E
To some it's just the hope of "escaping eternal damnation", not really sure but hoping that what they believe and practice will get them a "fire pass." All the while living life like there were no tomorrow or judgement for their actions.
Some have a literal faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, His blood, His death and Resurrection which "promises" eternal life after death in a place prepared for "all who believe" in heaven. Because of this promise many who believe on this scale actually hold precious the practice of worship. Daily thankful for all the blessings God (Our Father) has bestowed on them both seen and unseen.
But what about this third group? Who believe on the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, enter into not only the profession of that work, but also into the worship that it inspires, while praying all the time that He would manifest His promises through them and "Glorify His Name."
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Faith in what? Faith in Who?
All the above questions can be answered in this one name: Jesus Christ. Why? Because He is the "what", "the Word" (who became flesh), He is the "Who", because He gave us precious promises while He was alive on several occasions: "Ye shall do these things I do and greater", and "these signs shall follow those who believe."
James said that "Faith without works is dead".
Many "believers" look for the church to "manifest" the works of God not realizing that "they" make up the church body that they look to for these things to take place.
Here is a clue to the question "why"? What you don't do in your personal, private walk you cannot add to the manifestation of God in the service. If all in the church do "nothing" in the preaching of the Gospel and performance of the promises, then when all come together the whole body will be weak and unable to encourage the "babes" in Christ as to inspiring growth and maturity.
"According to thy faith" is the defining command here.
Does your faith follow Scripture? Or does it follow "what you believe?" And that of what? Your own carnal practices or thoughts unsupported by the Scriptures. Or there is always the "do as I say not as I do" philosophy.
Most of us readily see where we are at and whether we add to the church. it's gathering together as a service, or it's personal representation of strength and truth in the public eye. Must we be reminded that all the miracles of Jesus and His followers were public or at least before multiple members of His disciples.
Faith is a mustard seed (that can move mountains), to start with, then grows into a tree that "the fowl of the air can rest in." That means that if our faith produces "nothing" it is smaller than a mustard seed and we are at best "worshipers with lips as our hearts are far from Him."
God meant for the church to be a grove of trees that give hope and deliverance to the "lost and dying", as we have claimed it to be for us.
Have a "worshipful" Sunday and enjoy the Word and presence of God.
God bless and keep.
Love
J&E
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)