No Other Gods

An old adage goes, “God created man in His own image, and man has been returning the favor ever since”.

Credit for the following story goes to Ray Comfort with Living Waters Ministry:

“A preacher was once given free tickets to the rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar. The cast had extended the invitation, insisting that he attend, so for their sake he went. After the show he was invited to meet the cast. He told the talented singers that he enjoyed their performance, but that the Jesus they portrayed was not the Jesus of the Bible. The woman who played Mary Magdalene replied, ‘But we are making Jesus acceptable to the twentieth century’.”

“Her statement was true. Man has always tried to make God acceptable to himself. He prefers to try to change God rather than change his own sinful ways. It is called ‘idolatry’ - making a god in your own image.”

“I am the Lord your God, which has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:2,3)

Man has always made false gods. Some gods are made of wood and stone while others are just made up in a man's mind. Any time you make a god to suit yourself you will be sure that he likes the things you like and hates the same things you hate. Whenever you make a god to suit yourself it is called idolatry, and people that is sin! When we are worshipping the One, True God of the Bible it is we who must change in order to conform to His image...not God conforming to ours. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Dying With Christ

Here is a trick question. Have you died yet? I am not talking about a near-death experience. I am talking about a theological statement made in the Bible and what it means. In short, if you are a Christian, you have died. Please consider the following Scriptures: "Now if we have died with Christ..." (Rom. 6:8); "If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world..." (Col. 2:20); "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3); "It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him" (2 Tim. 2:11).
Our death in Christ is a death to the old self, the old ways, the sinful life. It is a reality and a hope. It is truth as well as life. Jesus so completely represented us on the cross, that when He died, it is said that we died. This is why Paul says in Col. 3:5, "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry." You are to mentally reckon, intellectually acknowledge, meditate on, think in such a way as to consider yourselves dead to sin.
Of course, we Christians know that we struggle with sin, that it is not dead in us, that we fail, and continually come to the Lord Jesus and ask for forgiveness. We Christians know what we are inside. We know we are not perfect and that many of the thoughts of our mind would terribly embarrass and shame us if they were publicly spoken. Such is the reality of our fallen selves. Yet, we are to consider ourselves dead to sin. We are to think of ourselves as dead to sin.
The reason we can do this is because of Jesus and what He did on the cross. Only through Jesus can we be delivered from sin. Only through the shed blood of God the Son can our lives be made right before God the Father. The reality of the crucifixion and of Jesus' bearing our sins, all of them, in His body, is realized in the acknowledgement of our deadness to sin. This is an important truth that God wants us to understand. But, understanding it isn't enough. You must practice it. This does not mean, however, that you ignore your sins, or say you have none, or claim perfection. Rather, it is an admission that you are saved by the sacrifice of Jesus and that you are "in Christ" and reckoned as dead to sin because of Jesus. Your mind is an important battleground in the war of sanctification and it begins with your own death. If you are a Christian, then you have died to sin because of your relationship with Jesus. Therefore, consider yourselves dead to sin and alive in Christ. Turn from the deeds of the flesh and seek Jesus.

Dying With Christ by Matt Slick at www.carm.org/devotions/dying.htm

Jesus, Our Only Hope

Yesterday I was blessed to have the opportunity to speak and minister to about 100 boys and girls at the Oakley Training School in Raymond, MS, several of whom were graduating that day. These young people appeared to be mostly between 13 to 17 years old and are there because they have gotten into trouble with the law. I was told that their reform training usually lasts at least 10 weeks. I asked one of the staff members if many of them end up returning after they’ve gone back home. I was told that several have been back seven or eight times. The problem is that they are usually returning home to an environment with the same problems and without any hope or encouragement. God allowed me to minister to these young people out of Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans that I have for you…plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” I pray that they will call on God. His Word promises that if we will seek Him with all of our heart we will find Him. These boys and girls need the Lord in a big way. Man’s way to bring change is always an attempt from the outside in, but only God can give us a new heart and cause us to become a new creature. When the Lord Jesus Christ is sought and found He will change our lives like no one else ever can. He will set us free from the bondages of sin and addictions. I believe that households and neighborhoods will be changed when one person truly repents and puts his trust in Jesus Christ. Please pray for these young people, their families, and also for the staff at Oakley. The folks that I met there were encouraging to me in that they know how much these kids need God. I am very thankful that I was allowed, and encouraged, to preach Jesus without compromise in this public institution. Praise be to God!

Four Simple Laws

God is holy and just:

Ecc 12:14 "For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. "

The wages of sin is death:

1Jn 3:4 "Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness."

God is rich in mercy:
Eph 2:4 "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us..."

Eternal life is in Jesus Christ:

Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. "

Act 17:30 "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,
because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness"

A Model Prayer of Repentance

God, please forgive me for sinning against You.

I understand that, according to Your law, I deserve to go to hell.

However, You are not willing that I should perish.

Thank You that Jesus suffered and died for me

and rose again on the third day.

I now repent and yield myself to Him to be my Lord and Savior.

I will read Your Word daily and obey what I read.

In Jesus' Name I pray,

Amen.

The Sword of the Lord

If you do not already have a good Bible study software program then I would like to recommend that you check out e-Sword on the link to the left. I've used it for several years and found it to be a very helpful computer Bible and study aid. It includes free downloadable Bible translations as well as many great references and resources to help in your study of Scripture. In addition to the fact that it is free, I've found it to be user friendly and the quality excellent. Check out the many great features of the "Sword of the Lord with an electronic edge".

2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

Blog Intro

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

This blog is being initiated to act as a journal for my thoughts, readings, studies, and insights into the Word of God. It is my hope and fervent prayer that, as I begin this process, it will be beneficial to my own relationship with God and will offer encouragement, challenge, and thoughts to ponder for others as well. It is my true hope that some will even be lead from darkness into light by the Spirit of God through these writings. I don't profess to be a skilled writer or a theologian for that matter. I just have a heart for God, a desire to know Christ, to become more conformed to His image, and to be transformed by the renewing of my mind through the power of His Word. I encourage you as a reader to participate with me by submitting your own comments or questions to help keep us all sharp as Proverbs 27:17 states "Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."