1.Virgin Birth
Why was the virgin birth significant?
a. The miracle confirms salvations comes from the Lord, and not man
b. It declares the hypo-static union of God.
1. Jesus was fully God and fully man
c. Jesus did not inherit mans sins. The line of Adam was interrupted.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Sometimes, we must rest our faith on others
So take heart men, I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.(Acts 27:25)
Paul already had warned the Pilot, Centurion, and crew members not to sail to Crete, but they failed to listen. The consequences became devastating, so much so, that all was lost except lives.
At this point in the narrative, Paul is not able to visit synagogues, nor is he able to stir up any Jewish assembly with the truth. One might think that he is in some kind of limbo state of ministry, sitting instead of preaching, resting instead of laboring. Not so however. Just because there are times of pause, it does not mean that God is not moving on your behalf. Paul the evangelist, preacher, testifier, now becomes a prophet, foretelling the dangers ahead with divine wisdom.
It takes great faith to walk with the Jesus. It takes a perpetual faith. A faith that has the potential to move mountains, uproot trees, heal the sick, sustain us in darkness and give to others when fear and doubt abound.
R Kent Hughes tells the story of not having the faith once to continue with what God had asked him and his family to do. He had become nearly paralyzed by his circumstances; and felt as if he could go no further. Whatever had been going on in their lives had taken a hard toll on this man of God, and, in his fragile state, he began to doubt.
Then his wonderful bride, a woman of substance and grace spoke to him in that moment of desperation saying, “Hold on to my faith-we will get through this!”
Mrs. Hughes had just enough faith to keep them sustained. Certainly, it was not her faith that was humanly produced or manufactured, but a gift given to her at the precise moment of time, and, she was able to share the gift with her husband.
First call out to the Lord and He will save you- trust in His Word, and not on any person, place, or object. While this process is taking place, find a brother or sister whom you can link arms with, who just may have enough sustainable strength for the both of you, and together you can share your dependency upon God ‘side by side’. You will make it to Heaven. This is true Christian community at it’s best.
Paul already had warned the Pilot, Centurion, and crew members not to sail to Crete, but they failed to listen. The consequences became devastating, so much so, that all was lost except lives.
At this point in the narrative, Paul is not able to visit synagogues, nor is he able to stir up any Jewish assembly with the truth. One might think that he is in some kind of limbo state of ministry, sitting instead of preaching, resting instead of laboring. Not so however. Just because there are times of pause, it does not mean that God is not moving on your behalf. Paul the evangelist, preacher, testifier, now becomes a prophet, foretelling the dangers ahead with divine wisdom.
It takes great faith to walk with the Jesus. It takes a perpetual faith. A faith that has the potential to move mountains, uproot trees, heal the sick, sustain us in darkness and give to others when fear and doubt abound.
R Kent Hughes tells the story of not having the faith once to continue with what God had asked him and his family to do. He had become nearly paralyzed by his circumstances; and felt as if he could go no further. Whatever had been going on in their lives had taken a hard toll on this man of God, and, in his fragile state, he began to doubt.
Then his wonderful bride, a woman of substance and grace spoke to him in that moment of desperation saying, “Hold on to my faith-we will get through this!”
Mrs. Hughes had just enough faith to keep them sustained. Certainly, it was not her faith that was humanly produced or manufactured, but a gift given to her at the precise moment of time, and, she was able to share the gift with her husband.
First call out to the Lord and He will save you- trust in His Word, and not on any person, place, or object. While this process is taking place, find a brother or sister whom you can link arms with, who just may have enough sustainable strength for the both of you, and together you can share your dependency upon God ‘side by side’. You will make it to Heaven. This is true Christian community at it’s best.
Held by providential design (Acts 24: 23-27)
The Holy Spirit had warned this once freed man, that going to Jerusalem would be full of adversity. He had great privileges of travel and fellowship, encouraging the saints and being led by the Spirit. The brethren begged him to remain with them, but he refused.
As expected, he was captured, beaten and held, and escorted by soldiers, in order to escape death. Now, he has become locked up and held by providential design.
On many occasions however, he had been able to share with the Governor about faith, righteousness, self-control, and judgment.
Paul did not talk about Faith in Faith- but Faith in Christ having identified our need to live by Faith (Romans 1 ). He also needed to explain why Jesus was the one to have Faith in. This would take a careful examination of Jesus and His Tri-une nature.
Now once the deity of God is explained, then, Paul explains His righteousness being imputed upon sinful, unworthy people whom come when they are called.
The evidence of Justification and righteous imputation brings forth a self-control aided by the Holy Spirit. A self-control that cannot be mastered in this life but rather perfected by the Master in His righteousness. Now that we’ve covered all the essentials, we can now discuss penal substitution that allows the righteous to be freed from the impending judgment of a holy God. For those whose sins are not covered are commissioned to death and hell.
A perfectly orchestrated message for his audience which alarmed Felix the Governor. For two years Paul neither wooed or persuaded Felix or his wife into the Kingdom of God. Paul knew it must be the work of the Holy Spirit to accomplish that, because He alone is our deposit unto Salvation.
Paul planted, and worked along with his companions for just two people for two years.
And sometimes we think we are not effective unless we have a great audience.
I confess I have become guilty of this, Have you?
As expected, he was captured, beaten and held, and escorted by soldiers, in order to escape death. Now, he has become locked up and held by providential design.
On many occasions however, he had been able to share with the Governor about faith, righteousness, self-control, and judgment.
Paul did not talk about Faith in Faith- but Faith in Christ having identified our need to live by Faith (Romans 1 ). He also needed to explain why Jesus was the one to have Faith in. This would take a careful examination of Jesus and His Tri-une nature.
Now once the deity of God is explained, then, Paul explains His righteousness being imputed upon sinful, unworthy people whom come when they are called.
The evidence of Justification and righteous imputation brings forth a self-control aided by the Holy Spirit. A self-control that cannot be mastered in this life but rather perfected by the Master in His righteousness. Now that we’ve covered all the essentials, we can now discuss penal substitution that allows the righteous to be freed from the impending judgment of a holy God. For those whose sins are not covered are commissioned to death and hell.
A perfectly orchestrated message for his audience which alarmed Felix the Governor. For two years Paul neither wooed or persuaded Felix or his wife into the Kingdom of God. Paul knew it must be the work of the Holy Spirit to accomplish that, because He alone is our deposit unto Salvation.
Paul planted, and worked along with his companions for just two people for two years.
And sometimes we think we are not effective unless we have a great audience.
I confess I have become guilty of this, Have you?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
To turn a blind eye
And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful Titus 3:4-8
We find here in our text Paul’s last instructions given to Titus. This entire Epistle is all about good works performed by the regenerated Christian. Paul has already laid the foundation in chapter 3:4-8 on the basis of our good works, and now he commands Titus to insist on keeping the rules of engagement.(v8)
To often we become complacent in our Christian walk with God, and enamored at times by the pressing needs of our own circumstances we fail to help others. However,the very heart of the gospel is about others, and how often do we turn a blind eye?
The good works before God is to remember the poor any way that we can help, to give assistance to the widows who are really widows, and to provide homes and love to orphans and to the fatherless.
This is the social call of Christianity, and we must devote ourselves to these very causes.
The danger comes when we spend to much of our efforts on the social side of ministry only to neglect the proclamation of the word, which is the greatest means of help. Preaching converts the soul, heals past wounds, gives direction, hope and humility, then the good works follow, in that order.
Jesus said, “to him that has an ear, let him hear”. The same could be said about eyes. If you have heard the Word, now pray God gives you the eyes to see the needs around you. Pray for Jesus’ heart and ask Him today to give you the opportunity to be a difference maker.
Jesus served people and spoke truth into their lives. This was His mission, and it should be yours as well.
Don’t turn a blind eye.
We find here in our text Paul’s last instructions given to Titus. This entire Epistle is all about good works performed by the regenerated Christian. Paul has already laid the foundation in chapter 3:4-8 on the basis of our good works, and now he commands Titus to insist on keeping the rules of engagement.(v8)
To often we become complacent in our Christian walk with God, and enamored at times by the pressing needs of our own circumstances we fail to help others. However,the very heart of the gospel is about others, and how often do we turn a blind eye?
The good works before God is to remember the poor any way that we can help, to give assistance to the widows who are really widows, and to provide homes and love to orphans and to the fatherless.
This is the social call of Christianity, and we must devote ourselves to these very causes.
The danger comes when we spend to much of our efforts on the social side of ministry only to neglect the proclamation of the word, which is the greatest means of help. Preaching converts the soul, heals past wounds, gives direction, hope and humility, then the good works follow, in that order.
Jesus said, “to him that has an ear, let him hear”. The same could be said about eyes. If you have heard the Word, now pray God gives you the eyes to see the needs around you. Pray for Jesus’ heart and ask Him today to give you the opportunity to be a difference maker.
Jesus served people and spoke truth into their lives. This was His mission, and it should be yours as well.
Don’t turn a blind eye.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
God wants to work through you
The Gospel Coalition...
Our unbelief does not come out and say an honest No to God. We know better than to be so blatant. Our unbelief cloaks itself in evasions. But faith is decisive, clear, definite, blunt, wholehearted. A. W. Tozer, The Counselor (Camp Hill, 1993), page 116, defines the difference:
“Unbelief says: S0me other time, but not now; some other place, but not here; some other people, but not us. Faith says: Anything He did anywhere else He will do here; anything He did any other time He is willing to do now; anything He ever did for other people He is willing to do for us! With our feet on the ground, and our head cool, but with our heart ablaze with the love of God, we walk out in this fullness of the Spirit, if we will yield and obey. God wants to work through you!”
Wherever you and I are today, God is here. He wants to work through you and me. Let’s call out our evasions as unbelief, let’s forsake the script we thought God would follow, let’s offer ourselves to him for his purpose. Right here, right now, is holy ground. Let’s yield and obey and see what only God can do.
Our unbelief does not come out and say an honest No to God. We know better than to be so blatant. Our unbelief cloaks itself in evasions. But faith is decisive, clear, definite, blunt, wholehearted. A. W. Tozer, The Counselor (Camp Hill, 1993), page 116, defines the difference:
“Unbelief says: S0me other time, but not now; some other place, but not here; some other people, but not us. Faith says: Anything He did anywhere else He will do here; anything He did any other time He is willing to do now; anything He ever did for other people He is willing to do for us! With our feet on the ground, and our head cool, but with our heart ablaze with the love of God, we walk out in this fullness of the Spirit, if we will yield and obey. God wants to work through you!”
Wherever you and I are today, God is here. He wants to work through you and me. Let’s call out our evasions as unbelief, let’s forsake the script we thought God would follow, let’s offer ourselves to him for his purpose. Right here, right now, is holy ground. Let’s yield and obey and see what only God can do.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
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