Walk in Wisdom

Nine principles for making wise decisions.

Spiritual Considerations : How will this decision affect my relationship with God?

1. Will this bring glory to God? 1 Corinthians 10:31

2. Is this a decision Jesus would make? 1 Peter 2:21

3. Will I be proud of this decision at the judgment seat of Christ? Romans 14:10

Relational Considerations : How will this decision affect my relationship with other people?

4. Would I want this done to me? Romans 13:8-10

5. Could this appear wrong even when it is really OK? 1 Thessalonians 5:22

6. Will this cause a brother or sister in Christ to struggle spiritually? Romans 14:13-21

Internal Considerations : How will this decision affect who I am and what I am becoming?

7. Will this bring me under the power of anything that might enslave me? 1 Corinthians 6:12

8. Can I do this with confidence that this is right? Romans 14:22-23

9. Am I breaking any previous commitments? James 5:12

Good stuff for the growing Christian! Enjoy and keep pressing!

Check out www.walkintheword.com 1.888.581.WORD for other cool tools to help you grow!

Growth in godliness & freedom of sin

Christians should always be aware of the growth they are experiencing in Jesus Christ. The more you walk with the Lord, the more your growth in godliness should be noticeable to those around you, including yourself. A genuine disciple of Jesus Christ will abide in His Word's!

Jesus said: "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

You say, "free from what? What kind of freedom do genuine disciples experience?" First, true believers have freedom from the power of sin. If Jesus is setting you free because you are abiding in Him, then you are being freed from the power of sin. Sin is a powerful thing.Our inclination to do wrong is very strong. In and of yourself, you cannot overcome your tendency to do wrong. You can't. Some of you reading this booklet are not genuine disciples, and you are trying by the power of your own will to do what's right. You can't. I can't either. You can only do tight because of the power of Christ in your life. If He is setting you free, then He is setting you free from the power of sin. You can now do what is right.

Friend, the truth shall make you free. Certainly, genuine Christians do sin. They do struggle. But they persevere, and they see as the pattern of their lives an increasing growth in godliness. It's an ongoing precess. Here's a little tip:

IF...

...your heart fro God is the same as it was two years ago, five years ago, ten years ago;
...you're not more in love with Him;
...you're not a better husband or a better wife;
...you're not a more honest business person;
...you're not growing;
...you're not changing;

THEN you may not be a Christian, because He's not in the process of setting you free.

Jesus said it. "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." This is no game. The subject that we're discussing is your eternal destiny. Will you go to a real place called heaven, or will you go to a real place called hell? Are you a genuine follower of Christ?

Don't be deceived!

Here are some sermon notes from the message James MacDonald preached on the 5th.

He preached from 1 John 2:18-27. The title of the message was "Don't be deceived!"

1A) Don't be deceived: we are in the last hour. v. 18-19
last hour: meaning the final period of time in human history. The time from when Christ finished the work on the cross, until the earth will pass away. We as Christians should be living as this was my last moment, my last breath.

v. 18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming,
Here are 4 things about the anitchrist.

1. The antichrist was predicted by Christ. Matthew 24:24 - a person who will rise up to deceive the nations.


2. Called by other names. (antichrist, man of lawlessness, the beast)


3. He will be promoted by a false prophet


4. This person will rule the world

Here is a list of 5 books that have messages that will deceive you. The end of these books is empty promises. If you own them I recommend you have a bonfire right now!

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

The assertion is made that Christ's deity was an invention of Constantine in the 4th century. Quoted in the book "Jesus establishment as the Son of God was officially proposed and voted on by the counsel of Nicaea, until that moment in history Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal man." Basically a great and powerful man but a man non the less. By endorsing Jesus as the Son of God Constantine turned Jesus into a deity or a God.

This message is basically telling us Jesus is not God. The Bible tells us in 1 John 5:20 that Jesus is the true God and eternal life.

The Third Jesus by Deepak Chopra

This message argues that we need to move beyond the historical Jesus of the Bible and we need to move beyond the Divine Jesus invented by Christian Theologians. Deepak says we need to get onto the third Jesus, the cosmic jesus who is for all humanity.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

Quoted from pg. 164 "You are god in physical body, you are eternal life expressing itself as you, you are all power, you are all wisdom, you are all perfection.

Later Rhonda adds the earth turns in its orbits for you, the oceans Eben flow for you, the birds sing for you, the sun rises and sets for you. None of it can exist without you, no matter who you thought you were know the truth who you really are. You are the master of the universe.

That is straight up blasphemy against God.

The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

Quoted from this book, Tolle says there is only one absolute truth and all others truths emanate from it. You are the truth. If you look for it elsewhere you'll be deceived every time. The very being that you are, is truth. Then horrifically, blasphemy Tolle tries to pull Jesus into his message. Saying Jesus tried to convey this when He said I am the truth. Jesus speaks of the inner most I am the essentials of identity of every man and woman and every life form when each person obtains this state of godhead. Tolle says the world will be transformed.

So this message is not denying the Deity of Christ, but His uniqueness.

The Shack by William P. Young

Quoted from pg. 110 Young writes all three members of the Godhead become incarnate not just the Son. In another place Young's Jesus says I am not the way, the truth, and the life. He quotes Jesus, he puts these words in our saviors mouth. In the book Jesus says I'm not the way, the truth, and the life, I'm just the best way.

Then he goes on to say..Those who love me from every system that exist weather Buddhist, Mormons, or baptists, Muslims, Democrats or Republicans, Americans or Iraqis, Jews or Palestine's, I have no desire to make them Christian. I just want them to join in the transformation into sons and daughters of my pappa.

This message is universalism. What it says is Jesus is a good way, Jesus is even the best way, but not that He is the only way. But Acts 4:12 says: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

2A) Don't be deceived: You can know the Gospel. v. 20-23. The truth is in God's Word. You can know the truth yourself. The message of the Bible is in the Bible. We all have insight into God's Word.

v. 22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son.

People we are in the last hour. Maybe more like 10 minutes to the hour. Don't be deceived by false messages that lead you astray. It not a good time to be far from the cross of Christ!

Repent! Turn to Jesus! That is the only way for salvation!

Acts 3:19 says Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

10 Choices

10 Choices - A proven plan to change your life forever!

Choice #1: I Choose God's Love
Choice #2: I Choose God's Forgiveness
Choice #3: I Choose Jesus Christ as Lord
Choice #4: I Choose the Bible as God's Word
Choice #5: I Choose to Forgive
Choice #6: I Choose to Trust
Choice #7: I Choose to Love my Family First
Choice #8: I Choose to Be Authentic
Choice #9: I Choose to Serve
Choice #10: I Choose to Stand

The ten most important choices will also help you:
*Know your limits
*Set your priorities
*Reveal your character
*Establish a legacy
*Change your life forever

Get this book today!

You can use this link to order your copy today:
10 Choices - A proven plan to change your life forever. By James MacDonald

These are choices I have made in my life! I pray you consider them for yourself as well!

Keep pressing, Keep praying, Choose to draw closer to God and He will draw closer to you!

Deuteronomy 30:19
I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life.

Why suffer for the cause of Christ???

Why would it seem that most Christians don't want to suffer? I see a lot of people that have a backwards view on how God deals with His children. Most Christians want the glory, good health, great wealth, happiness, pretty simple they just desire a painless life.

They want the crown without the cross....

They want the gain without the pain....

That's how a lot Christians think, that's not God's interest though.

God is the author of our salvation!

Hebrews 2:10 says: In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

God's love is not a pampering love, it's a perfecting love!

Following Jesus Christ is going to cost you everything, even your life!

Sources: John MacArthur, James MacDonald, The Holy Bible