Pondering what to write for this week’s blog, I was led to the above phrase as it relates to God’s invitation to humanity. It is God’s desire that all be saved and He invites all to come to Him without money, or any other baggage that could hinder the unsaved from receiving salvation.
What this phrase is saying that God in His love will do the cleansing through regeneration, sanctification, and justification for all who accept His gift of salvation, but the unsaved must first admit that they are a sinner and is in need of a Saviour. Repenting of ones sin the new convert becomes a born again believer in Christ as this is his/her spiritual birth through regeneration. The new convert becomes a new creature in Christ who has given his/her life to Christ and has been transformed from a life of sin to a new life in Christ.
Sanctification in the new convert’s life is a process where the believer is made holy, consecrated, or separated from the world and all ungodliness. Being sanctified the believer has the ability to live holy lives unto God and love Him with all their heart and soul. More importantly, the new convert achieves sanctification by faith (Acts 26:18) and is in union with Christ in His death and resurrection (John 15:4-10; 1 Corinthians 1:30) and by the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7-9).
During the cleansing process the new convert is justified, which being acquitted or found not guilty of ones sins before God. Justification is a gift of God as no one can make himself or herself right before God as this was seen in Old Testament times.
In closing this dialogue, the invitation “come as you are” is powerful in that God will perform the cleansing getting us ready to spend eternity with Him. More importantly, this invitation speaks to God’s love for all humanity. This reminds me of the prodigal son where the lost son did not have to clean himself, just admit his wrong doing and return to his father. The same principle applies to all lost souls-- God awaits for your return.
Come---God will wash you clean with the blood of Jesus.
Author’s contact:
wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
white3285@sbcgloba.net
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Memorial Day
May 20, 2009
Memorial is designated as a time of remembering or reflecting, and as we approach this holiday day weekend, I felt it necessary to take time out to wish everyone a safe, happy and relaxing weekend.
Many will spend the day /weekend reflecting and paying tribute to love ones and our fallen soldiers who have given so much for this country; for this I say my prayers and love are with the families and the soldiers both past and present alike, and well as the families who pay tribute to love ones who have made their transition they too are us in my heart. For those who will spend time together with family and friends, I say love and peace.
Family time together is a beautiful portrait of love, happiness, mutual respect and unity.
Author’s contact:
Emails: wwhite@goodshpeherdwritingandpublishing.com
white3285@sbcgloal.net
Blog: http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
Website: www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
Memorial is designated as a time of remembering or reflecting, and as we approach this holiday day weekend, I felt it necessary to take time out to wish everyone a safe, happy and relaxing weekend.
Many will spend the day /weekend reflecting and paying tribute to love ones and our fallen soldiers who have given so much for this country; for this I say my prayers and love are with the families and the soldiers both past and present alike, and well as the families who pay tribute to love ones who have made their transition they too are us in my heart. For those who will spend time together with family and friends, I say love and peace.
Family time together is a beautiful portrait of love, happiness, mutual respect and unity.
Author’s contact:
Emails: wwhite@goodshpeherdwritingandpublishing.com
white3285@sbcgloal.net
Blog: http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
Website: www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
Thursday, May 7, 2009
The Holy Spirit
In preparation for the release my next book (June 2009), An Exposé of the Holy Spirit, I decided that this was an opportunity to provide a brief introduction to the book by looking at the word Pheuma and its meaning and then who He is in relationship to the other members of the Godhead as He is the third person that make up the Trinity.
The study of the Pheuma is Pheumatology which is the study of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Pheuma is a Greek word for spirit which is sometimes translated as ghost, but it simply means spirit (Foundational Doctrine Dr. Harry E. Carr). The Holy Spirit is a deity just as the Father, and the Son as the three makes up the Godhead. Upon closer examination of the Holy Spirit, He is cop-equal with God the Father and God the Son as there is but one God operating as three distinct persons. In 1 Corinthians 3:16 referrers to Him as the Spirit of God and in Philippians 1:19 He is referred to as the Spirit of Christ. In Ephesians 4:4 He is referred to as the one Spirit as this scripture talks about unity in the Spirit as each of us has one body but many members that make-up the body as we are one in the Spirit.
Often times the Holy Spirit is referred to as “it” as this can be contributed to false teaching or the lack of understanding of the Trinity, but the Holy Spirit is a person with an intellect, a will and emotions.
For a brief moment let us look at the intellect of the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 2:10 states that “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God.” With that being said, then the Holy Spirit has the ability to think, reason, plan and know as He is God as this is how He can teach all things to mankind. If a person has a will he or she has the power to choose and the power to act on that choice; in Acts 13: we see a choice being made and acted upon with the separation of Barnabas and Saul as they were to preach the gospel of Christ to other nations. Lastly, what are emotions; they are feeling and the ability to respond to those feeling. Therefore, just as humanity has feeling so does the Holy Spirit, as He can be grieved over humanity’s unconfessed sins and we are encouraged not to grieve the Holy Spirit. (See Ephesians 4:30).
In my book I look at the many titles/names, emblem, ministries and works of the Holy Spirit that is associated with Him and supports each with scripture references. In next week’s blog I will provide more insight from the book as it takes an in-depth look at the Holy Spirit in an effort to give a better understanding of who the Holy Spirit is and His interaction in man’s life from creation to the end as the book is designed for good reading, to enlighten, to gain a better understanding about the Holy Spirit, as well as it can be used as study guide, but more importantly it designed for both believers and non-believers.
Author’s contact:
Emails: white3285@sbcglobal.net
wwhite@goodshepherdwritigandpublishing.com
Website: www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
Blog: http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
The study of the Pheuma is Pheumatology which is the study of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Pheuma is a Greek word for spirit which is sometimes translated as ghost, but it simply means spirit (Foundational Doctrine Dr. Harry E. Carr). The Holy Spirit is a deity just as the Father, and the Son as the three makes up the Godhead. Upon closer examination of the Holy Spirit, He is cop-equal with God the Father and God the Son as there is but one God operating as three distinct persons. In 1 Corinthians 3:16 referrers to Him as the Spirit of God and in Philippians 1:19 He is referred to as the Spirit of Christ. In Ephesians 4:4 He is referred to as the one Spirit as this scripture talks about unity in the Spirit as each of us has one body but many members that make-up the body as we are one in the Spirit.
Often times the Holy Spirit is referred to as “it” as this can be contributed to false teaching or the lack of understanding of the Trinity, but the Holy Spirit is a person with an intellect, a will and emotions.
For a brief moment let us look at the intellect of the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 2:10 states that “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God.” With that being said, then the Holy Spirit has the ability to think, reason, plan and know as He is God as this is how He can teach all things to mankind. If a person has a will he or she has the power to choose and the power to act on that choice; in Acts 13: we see a choice being made and acted upon with the separation of Barnabas and Saul as they were to preach the gospel of Christ to other nations. Lastly, what are emotions; they are feeling and the ability to respond to those feeling. Therefore, just as humanity has feeling so does the Holy Spirit, as He can be grieved over humanity’s unconfessed sins and we are encouraged not to grieve the Holy Spirit. (See Ephesians 4:30).
In my book I look at the many titles/names, emblem, ministries and works of the Holy Spirit that is associated with Him and supports each with scripture references. In next week’s blog I will provide more insight from the book as it takes an in-depth look at the Holy Spirit in an effort to give a better understanding of who the Holy Spirit is and His interaction in man’s life from creation to the end as the book is designed for good reading, to enlighten, to gain a better understanding about the Holy Spirit, as well as it can be used as study guide, but more importantly it designed for both believers and non-believers.
Author’s contact:
Emails: white3285@sbcglobal.net
wwhite@goodshepherdwritigandpublishing.com
Website: www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
Blog: http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
Friday, May 1, 2009
A call to repentance
Zephaniah 2:1-3; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Romans 12:2
In light of the daily distressing news, I felt the need to reiterate the call for repentance. I say reiterate because this was the title of my April 30th devotional reading and many didn’t receive the booklet.
American and the whole world need to repent and I make this statement because America and the world are experiencing financial and health crises which is due mainly because of sin in one form or the other. America has been a blessed nation all of its young history and as God blessed America it began to drift farther and farther away from God and this displeased Him. Racism has been a thorn in America’s side that has and continues to cause strife among its citizens and many say there are Christians. How can this be when the Bible says if we say that we love God whom we have never seen and hate our brother who we see daily then we are a liar? Also, America has become so puffed up in its self until it implies that it no longer need to put God first in all that it does. Why? Because America wants to remove the wording “In God we trust” from our monetary system, which raises this question, if we do not trust God then who do we trust? Is it that we have become so modern until we feel that God has no place in our lives? Have we replaced God with our gods? However each person answer, it is God who we must place our trust in because He is supreme and always will be.
Other sinful acts that has brought God’s wrath upon America and the world in that America is allowing same sex marriages, greed is running rampant and self-centeredness has taken center stage in many of our lives. In short man has gone against the Will of God and He is angry.
In this writer’s opinion God has taken a health issue, the swine flu and fanned it across the world like a raging wild fire and it is raging out of control, and only God will put out this fire through His grace and mercy. People, God is angry and unless man repents of his sins we will continue to experience unimaginable pestilence far worse than what were are witnessing. This brings into focus our scripture verses; in Zephaniah 2: 1-3 we see the prophet Zephaniah calling on the nation of Israel to repent and return to God before His pronounce judgment. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God issued a call to repentance where God asked His people return to Him as God ask mankind to do four things which are (a) Humble themselves, (b) Pray, (c) Seek my face, and (d) Turn from their wicked ways and if man does these four things then God will do three things, which are (a) hear, (b) forgive, and (c) heal. The call remains open for all humanity.
Fellow believers the time has come for an earthly revival which must begin in the hearts and minds of all mankind and through the sincere prayers of God’s people there can and will be a change (a return to God) which is badly needed. It is prayer time.
Believers join me in prayer.
Father God I make this petition on behalf of all mankind, Father I see Your anger and Father I am asking You to touch the hearts and minds of all mankind as we have sinned against You and only You and for this I am asking for forgiveness. Man’s pride, greed and his disobedience has brought Your anger upon this land and Father if You just blow Your breath of healing upon Your created earth, there will be a healing of physical and spiritual sickness on all humanity. Father, I know You can and I believe that You will for this I thank You and will forever give Your name the praise and glory You so richly deserve. In Jesus name Amen!
In light of the daily distressing news, I felt the need to reiterate the call for repentance. I say reiterate because this was the title of my April 30th devotional reading and many didn’t receive the booklet.
American and the whole world need to repent and I make this statement because America and the world are experiencing financial and health crises which is due mainly because of sin in one form or the other. America has been a blessed nation all of its young history and as God blessed America it began to drift farther and farther away from God and this displeased Him. Racism has been a thorn in America’s side that has and continues to cause strife among its citizens and many say there are Christians. How can this be when the Bible says if we say that we love God whom we have never seen and hate our brother who we see daily then we are a liar? Also, America has become so puffed up in its self until it implies that it no longer need to put God first in all that it does. Why? Because America wants to remove the wording “In God we trust” from our monetary system, which raises this question, if we do not trust God then who do we trust? Is it that we have become so modern until we feel that God has no place in our lives? Have we replaced God with our gods? However each person answer, it is God who we must place our trust in because He is supreme and always will be.
Other sinful acts that has brought God’s wrath upon America and the world in that America is allowing same sex marriages, greed is running rampant and self-centeredness has taken center stage in many of our lives. In short man has gone against the Will of God and He is angry.
In this writer’s opinion God has taken a health issue, the swine flu and fanned it across the world like a raging wild fire and it is raging out of control, and only God will put out this fire through His grace and mercy. People, God is angry and unless man repents of his sins we will continue to experience unimaginable pestilence far worse than what were are witnessing. This brings into focus our scripture verses; in Zephaniah 2: 1-3 we see the prophet Zephaniah calling on the nation of Israel to repent and return to God before His pronounce judgment. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God issued a call to repentance where God asked His people return to Him as God ask mankind to do four things which are (a) Humble themselves, (b) Pray, (c) Seek my face, and (d) Turn from their wicked ways and if man does these four things then God will do three things, which are (a) hear, (b) forgive, and (c) heal. The call remains open for all humanity.
Fellow believers the time has come for an earthly revival which must begin in the hearts and minds of all mankind and through the sincere prayers of God’s people there can and will be a change (a return to God) which is badly needed. It is prayer time.
Believers join me in prayer.
Father God I make this petition on behalf of all mankind, Father I see Your anger and Father I am asking You to touch the hearts and minds of all mankind as we have sinned against You and only You and for this I am asking for forgiveness. Man’s pride, greed and his disobedience has brought Your anger upon this land and Father if You just blow Your breath of healing upon Your created earth, there will be a healing of physical and spiritual sickness on all humanity. Father, I know You can and I believe that You will for this I thank You and will forever give Your name the praise and glory You so richly deserve. In Jesus name Amen!
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