Alderwood Community Church
November 23, 2008
Giving Thanks in Uncertain Times
Ephesians 5:1-4, 20
1. As Children of God our lives are to be characterized by giving thanks. Ephesians 5:1-4
A. Giving thanks is one of our distinguishing traits, setting us apart from the rest of the world.
"Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk of coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving." Ephesians 5:4
"For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." Romans 1:21
B. Thanksgiving is to be offered at all times.
"Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20
This would mean in all circumstances!
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
(see also: James 1:2-4, Job 1:21)
C. Thanksgiving is to be offered for everything.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights." James 1:17
"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." Psalm 103:2
2. We need to understand the things that can rob our attitudes of thanksgiving.
A. Our self-centered attitude of entitlement.
B. The culture that we live in.
C. Comparing ourselves with others.
D. Circumstances
3. We will become more content and increase our thankfulness by developing the following daily habits.
A. Rehearse the Scriptures and build your trust in God and remind you of His goodness.
(Isaiah 40:28-31; Jer. 32:17; Prov. 3:5-6; Matt. 6:26; 7:11; James 1:17)
B. Practice seeing God's hand in everything. Psalm 92:4
C. Practice giving thanks everyday! Psalm 100
Monday, November 24, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
THE FORGIVENESS OF GOD
"In whom we have . . . the forgiveness of sins." Ephesians 1:7
Beware of the pleasant view of the Fatherhood of God - God is so kind and loving that of course He will forgive us. That sentiment has no place whatever in the New Testament. The only ground on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the Cross of Christ; to put forgiveness on any other ground is unconscious blasphemy. The only ground on which God can forgive sin and reinstate us in His favour is through the Cross of Christ, and in no other way. Forgiveness, which is so easy for us to accept, cost the agony of Calvary. It is possible to take the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and our sanctification with the simplicity of faith, and to forget at what enormous cost to God it was all made ours.
Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace; it cost God the Cross of Jesus Christ before He could forgive sin and remain a holy God. Never accept a view of the Fatherhood of God if it blots out the Atonement. The revelation of God is that He cannot forgive; He would contradict His nature if He did. The only way we can be forgiven is by being brought back to God by the Atonement. God's forgiveness is only natural in the supernatural domain.
Compared with the miracle of the forgiveness of sin, the experience of sanctification is slight. Sanctification is simply the marvellous expression of the forgiveness of sins in a human life, but the thing that awakens the deepest well of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven sin. Paul never got away from this. When once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vice, constrained by the love of God.
HT: My Upmost of His Highest
Beware of the pleasant view of the Fatherhood of God - God is so kind and loving that of course He will forgive us. That sentiment has no place whatever in the New Testament. The only ground on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the Cross of Christ; to put forgiveness on any other ground is unconscious blasphemy. The only ground on which God can forgive sin and reinstate us in His favour is through the Cross of Christ, and in no other way. Forgiveness, which is so easy for us to accept, cost the agony of Calvary. It is possible to take the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and our sanctification with the simplicity of faith, and to forget at what enormous cost to God it was all made ours.
Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace; it cost God the Cross of Jesus Christ before He could forgive sin and remain a holy God. Never accept a view of the Fatherhood of God if it blots out the Atonement. The revelation of God is that He cannot forgive; He would contradict His nature if He did. The only way we can be forgiven is by being brought back to God by the Atonement. God's forgiveness is only natural in the supernatural domain.
Compared with the miracle of the forgiveness of sin, the experience of sanctification is slight. Sanctification is simply the marvellous expression of the forgiveness of sins in a human life, but the thing that awakens the deepest well of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven sin. Paul never got away from this. When once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vice, constrained by the love of God.
HT: My Upmost of His Highest
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Submission to the Authorities
Regardless who was elected into office this is what God's Word says about submission to that position. Keep pressing for the Lord, Keep praying for Obama!
Romans 13:1-2
1Let every person(A) be subject to the governing authorities. For(B) there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
Cross references:
A. Romans 13:1 : Titus 3:1; 1 Pet 2:13
B. Romans 13:1 : John 19:11; Dan 2:21
Romans 13:1-2
1Let every person(A) be subject to the governing authorities. For(B) there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
Cross references:
A. Romans 13:1 : Titus 3:1; 1 Pet 2:13
B. Romans 13:1 : John 19:11; Dan 2:21
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Obama in office by prayer? Not so!
People, even some Christians claim God has answered their prayer. They prayed to God that Obama would become the next president, and from a glance it looks as God has delivered. Just turn the news on and you will see all types of human race screaming from the streets...Hallelujah, Hallelujah God is so good, He has answered "my prayer!" But is that really the case?
As a Christian I understand God's sovereignty, royal power, and His dominion over all government powers. As His Word says He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and disperses them. So God fully ordained Barack Obama to be the 44th President even before you casted your vote. I would proclaim that it was God's sovereignty that placed Barack Obama in the Presidency seat, not your prayer.
Preceding the election we had our choice who we wanted to cast our vote for. See God did not make you vote for Obama or McCain, we as citizens of America had a choice. This would be part of our freewill. I'm sure God would have preferred for us to vote with the intent of advancing His will and His agenda. But when people act off of their emotions and feelings, and not based off of what God's Word says then it's easy to be deceived as many Christians where who casted votes for Obama on election day. I'm not sure about you, but how can a Christian vote for Obama when he is pro-abortion & pro-gay marriage, things that are clearly not of God.
This morning I found myself in Romans 1-3. What I find in the text is God giving the people the desires and lusts of their hearts. And Paul makes it clear the desires and lusts where not of righteousness and pure things, but things that where devoted to the flesh and destruction. And then we end up in our present day with this same picture being played out. We have become a nation that desires the things of the flash and destruction, not the things of God. We have not only turned our backs on God, but shut Him out completely. And now He has giving our nation what it has desired, a leader that loves to rally with man.
When we claim to be Christian our identity is found in Christ. We find it nowhere else. We find truth in God's Word. We find God's love and forgiveness in Christ!
Please continue to pray for Barack Obama and his new leadership team. Pray that he will make good wise choices, one that would glorify God and not man. Pray his heart would embrace the truth that is in God's Word. Also pray for our nation as a whole. That people would walk out of the darkness that so keeps us captive, but walk into the light of Jesus Christ. That we would be a nation of repentance. Keep pressing, Keep praying, stay strong in the Lord!
As a Christian I understand God's sovereignty, royal power, and His dominion over all government powers. As His Word says He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and disperses them. So God fully ordained Barack Obama to be the 44th President even before you casted your vote. I would proclaim that it was God's sovereignty that placed Barack Obama in the Presidency seat, not your prayer.
Preceding the election we had our choice who we wanted to cast our vote for. See God did not make you vote for Obama or McCain, we as citizens of America had a choice. This would be part of our freewill. I'm sure God would have preferred for us to vote with the intent of advancing His will and His agenda. But when people act off of their emotions and feelings, and not based off of what God's Word says then it's easy to be deceived as many Christians where who casted votes for Obama on election day. I'm not sure about you, but how can a Christian vote for Obama when he is pro-abortion & pro-gay marriage, things that are clearly not of God.
This morning I found myself in Romans 1-3. What I find in the text is God giving the people the desires and lusts of their hearts. And Paul makes it clear the desires and lusts where not of righteousness and pure things, but things that where devoted to the flesh and destruction. And then we end up in our present day with this same picture being played out. We have become a nation that desires the things of the flash and destruction, not the things of God. We have not only turned our backs on God, but shut Him out completely. And now He has giving our nation what it has desired, a leader that loves to rally with man.
When we claim to be Christian our identity is found in Christ. We find it nowhere else. We find truth in God's Word. We find God's love and forgiveness in Christ!
Please continue to pray for Barack Obama and his new leadership team. Pray that he will make good wise choices, one that would glorify God and not man. Pray his heart would embrace the truth that is in God's Word. Also pray for our nation as a whole. That people would walk out of the darkness that so keeps us captive, but walk into the light of Jesus Christ. That we would be a nation of repentance. Keep pressing, Keep praying, stay strong in the Lord!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Proper Position of Hope
Where is it that you place your hope? What is it that you hope for?
The Vine's concise dictionary of the Bible defines hope as:
elpis (1680), in the NT, "favorable and confident expectation." It has to do with the unseen and the future, Rom. 8:24,25.
1 Peter 1:3-9 says:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Our only hope is found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior of our life.
Our hope does not belong to:
The Vine's concise dictionary of the Bible defines hope as:
elpis (1680), in the NT, "favorable and confident expectation." It has to do with the unseen and the future, Rom. 8:24,25.
1 Peter 1:3-9 says:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Our only hope is found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior of our life.
Our hope does not belong to:
- Our Government
- Barack Obama
- The World System
- The Stock Market
- Scientology
- The Koran
- The Book of Mormon
- Roman Catholicism
- The Watchtower Society
- Your Job
- Your Paycheck
- Your Church
- Your Pastor
- Your Title
Hope in those things, will only bring destruction. In the end all these things will fail you. You hope in those things and your headed straight for Hell. Jeremiah 17:5 says: Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD.
Our hope has only one proper position and that is in our Lord Jesus Christ. The King of kings and the Lord of lords. Every knee will bow and every tougue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!
May today be the day you humble yourself before God, repent and turn to Him in faith through Christ. Stop putting your hope in useless things. Your hope in Christ is your one and only shot!
Acts 4:12 - Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Acts 3:19 - Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
The turn of a new page....
HT:Growing in Faith-My brother posted this on his blog, I couldn't agree more.
We have a new President, and for the first time in USA history it is an African-American. I am excited to be apart of such history.
This was the first time I took upon myself the civic duty to vote, and I really had a good time with it. While I did vote for McCain, I am still thankful for the new President that God has put into office for us.
The Bible makes it very clear that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings are to be made on behalf of all men (1 Tim. 2:1-2), and that includes new President Barack Obama. The Bible also says, "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." (Romans 13:1)
Regardless of who you wanted for President or didn't want we must pray for our new President Barack Obama. We must thank God for him (1 Tim. 2:1-2), because all government authority comes from God and God is the ultimate authority, not Obama. We must also respect and honor Barack Obama (Rom. 13:7; 1 Pet. 2:17)
Only when the government tries to force a Christian to do what is against the law of God explicitly stated in Scripture, should he refuse to submit (cf. Acts 4:18–20; 5:28,29; Titus 1:6; 3:1,2). (John F. MacArthur, Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible, (Dallas: Word Publishing) 1997.)
We have a new President, and for the first time in USA history it is an African-American. I am excited to be apart of such history.
This was the first time I took upon myself the civic duty to vote, and I really had a good time with it. While I did vote for McCain, I am still thankful for the new President that God has put into office for us.
The Bible makes it very clear that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings are to be made on behalf of all men (1 Tim. 2:1-2), and that includes new President Barack Obama. The Bible also says, "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." (Romans 13:1)
Regardless of who you wanted for President or didn't want we must pray for our new President Barack Obama. We must thank God for him (1 Tim. 2:1-2), because all government authority comes from God and God is the ultimate authority, not Obama. We must also respect and honor Barack Obama (Rom. 13:7; 1 Pet. 2:17)
Only when the government tries to force a Christian to do what is against the law of God explicitly stated in Scripture, should he refuse to submit (cf. Acts 4:18–20; 5:28,29; Titus 1:6; 3:1,2). (John F. MacArthur, Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible, (Dallas: Word Publishing) 1997.)
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