A Call to Worship

Psalm 96:1-13

Sing unto the Lord, bless his name, shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; fear before him, all the earth. Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth; the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved; he shall judge the people righteously. Let heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein; then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice.
If all of nature can worship God why can't you and I? He is worthy.

The Blessing of Salvation

Romans 1:16; John 3:16; 1 John 5:13

In today's discussion we will focus on the blessing that come from being saved; let us reflect on what is salvation? Salvation is being delivered safely from harm or danger. The question now becomes, What harm or danger were we delivered from? All who believe is delivered from the danger of being eternally separated from God because of sin that enslaved us to Satan and his demonic destructive powers and being delivered to a life of eternal fellowship with God and spending eternity with Him.
Salvation is a free gift from God of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. This was done because of His love for all humanity. In order for us to received God's free gift of salvation we must accept His Son Jesus as our personal Savior in faith (John 3:16). It is noteworthy to say that the only way back to God the Father is through His Son Jesus Christ as the separation was brought on by sin. Isn't it wonderful that God would not allow humanity to remain in a fallen state-eternally separated from Him? Believe and accept your free gift.
The specific blessings that occur from being saved are (a) all who believe are redeemed through the blood of Jesus; therefore, our sin debt is marked paid in full. This means we do not have to die for our sins, but die to sin with Christ. (b) All who believe have been justified-made right with God and declared not guilty before God. (c) Lastly, all who believe have been sanctified-set aside or consecrated for service for God; therefore, all believers become ambassadors for God.
If the question were raised, What assurances do we have as believers? Several scriptures provide answers that give the assurances of our salvation; some are (a) 1 John 5:13 sates in part "that you believe on the name of the Son of God." There is no eternal life or assurance of salvation without true faith in Jesus Christ. (b) 1 John 1:1 gives another assurance of salvation, (c) then there is John 1:1-4, 14 as both scriptures depicts Christ as the "Word of God." (d) Lastly, there is the Holy Spirit who dwells in each believer to guide, teach, protect, and lead us in the righteousness of God and He keeps us as He is our sealer. Thanks God for Jesus salvation is mine.
Comments are welcome
Author's contact
wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

Ambassadors for Christ

II Corinthians 5:20

While conversing with many of my sisters and brothers in Christ across this nation and around the world as I do through technology, the central theme of our conversation is God and His impending wrath. The general consensus is that God is tired of mankind's waywardness and wickedness and is displaying His displeasures through nature. We have seen the many destructive forces of nature in diverse places as we have witnessed in the last few years. Case in point, the crippling snow falls in the south when this section of our country rarely get snow, and other parts of the world that was crippled by snow. The many other forms of devastations that were witnessed, such as the flooding Queensland Australia, Brazil, and even certain sections of our country and other parts of the world that is being ravaged by nature, and even earthquakes in this country where they rarely occur. Notice the forms of plagues that have been seen just last year, for example the Bed bugs that ripped this and other nations, the dead birds that seemly fell from the sky and the deluge of frogs closing Egnatia highway in Langadas Greece New York Times May 26, 2010 .
What are we to do? In light of the devastation we are to pray for a healing of the land, because through prayer things change. Through modern technology collective and individual prayers are being sent forth. Case in point, just this week in one of my prayer groups the focus was binding the strong man and all evil, demonic and satanic forces regardless of where it resides (paraphrased). Another example of Christ's ambassadors working to bind the strong man and combat evil and immorality is this minister and his group filed a lawsuit to repeal the legality of same sex marriages in DC, but the judge threw the case out. As ambassadors we are to keep working and praying because in this spiritual warfare prayer is our offensive weapon and the remainder of our body armour are our defensive weapons (Ephesians 6:10-18).
In this battle when it appears that evil has won remember we are more than conquerors, because Christ won the battle and victory is our. So, join with me as we continue to pray for a healing of this land which results in binding the strong man and all his demonic tactics because the Jesus in each of us is greater than he who is in the world-Satan. In the words of Dorothy Norwood we can sing "Victory is mine, victory today is mine. I told Satan to get thee behind me. Victory is mine."

Lack of Sound Doctrine

Colossians 2:8

Beware least any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Earlier this week we discussed the importance of Biblical Training for Believers; in today's discussion we will take a comparative look at unsound doctrine (humanistic teachings) that is being taught today. In Paul's day he warned the Colossian believers to be aware of the philosophies, religions and traditions that emphasized humans' existence and functioning independently from God. In many ways the same type teaching is prevalent in today's society because man feels that he can deface his body with what they term as body art without acknowledging the fact that the body is the temple of God. This speaks to the issue of the false teaching that was prevalent in Paul's day as it is today in attempting to replace Christ's centrality and His supremacy in creation, revelation, redemption and the church. John 1:1-4 authenticates Christ's beginning and who He is. Humanistic philosophers try as they may to refute the deity of Christ being the Son of God and even the existence of God Himself as well as the fruit of the Spirit in the lives of believers once in Christ. Their teachings will fail every time because the Bible is God's Word and will last forever.

Let's look at their secular humanism (theory of evolution) and their teaching and compare the truth according to God's Word.
(a) They believe/teach that the universe and all that exist is made of matter and happened by chance, but the Bible teaches that there is a God who has existed from the beginning of time and is the creator of all that exist both seen and unseen. He is Alpha and Omega. It is noteworthy to say that more of scientists and writers are beginning to witness that there is a God who created all things. Why I say this is because in reading the Trumpet Magazine one of their writers wrote about the vastness of the Universe and there must be a God who holds everything in place.
(b) To teach that man is the product of evolution is to refute that God is infinite, He is love while down playing the idea that the Bible were written by inspired men of God (II Timothy 3:16), and outlines its specifics purpose that benefit man. Furthermore, Genesis 1:26 authenticates God creation of man and he did not evolve.
(c) Secular humanism teaches that "knowledge come from human discovery and that human reason determines the appropriate ethics of society, therefore making humanity the ultimate authority as it relates to moral choices. While stating the moral choices are not absolute but relative and is determined by what makes people happy and bring them pleasure or seems good for society according to the goals set by its leaders, thereby rejecting Biblical values and morals set by God Himself. The question now becomes, is this why we see many states approving same sex marriages and allowing the adoption children? Does their teaching refute or disregard with Genesis 1:26-28?
(d) Humanistic philosophies maintain that people should learn to cope with difficulties and death in life without believing or depending on God. What is this saying for God when He states in 1 Peter 5:7 "cast all your cares on Him"? Is this denying the fact that Jesus Christ is God's Son who gave His life on Calvary's cross for the sins of the world and all who accept His atoning work is assured of eternal life? What is humanistic belief on life after death? Whatever their beliefs are all mankind will spend eternity with God or separated from Him.
Biblically sound doctrine that is based on Jesus Christ is what must be taught beginning with our children and is to be continued throughout life, because Biblically sound doctrine and its truths will last.

Comments are welcomed.
Author's contact
wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

iblical Training for Believers

II Timothy 2:2

Why is Biblical training necessary for believers? It is important for all believers to know God and have the ability to separate fact from fiction and it is the church's responsibility to teach these truths. It is very important for all Christians to know biblical trues because scripture warns of false teachers as it is their purpose to hinder the building of God’s kingdom. Also, it is important for believers to know sound doctrine so believers can “commit these trues to others without compromise or corruption” (KJV).
1. The Bible outlines the following reasons for Biblical and or theological training for Christians in the home, school and church (Partial paraphrase). The following important points on biblical training are:
a. Biblical training is to entrust the gospel of Christ to faithful believers in order that they may know (II Timothy 3:15), guard the truth (II Timothy 1:14), teach the true biblical faith (I Timothy 4:6; II Timothy 2:2), and righteous standards (Romans 6:17; I Timothy 6:3).
b. Biblical training teaches students the necessity of contending for the faith which was once delivered to the saints (Jude3, partial paraphrase). Biblical training gives believers the necessary weapons to defend against false doctrines and theologies (Acts 20:31, Galatians 1:9; I Timothy 4:1; 6:3-4; Titus 1; 9 false teachers).
c. Bible training lead students into a continual growth in character through godliness (I Timothy 6:3; cf Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2-3; 119: 97-100; Matthew 28:20; John 17:14-18; I Thessalonians 4:1; I Timothy 1:5; 4:7,16; 2 Timothy 3:16).
d. Bible training equips students with the necessary strength for themselves and the maturity to bring others to Christ, so together they may reflect Christ’s image in the home, church, school and in the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16).
e. Bible training give students a deeper understanding of God, His kingdom while here on earth and the conflicts that are waged against Satan’s powers (Ephesians 6:10-18).
f. Bible training motivates students to wholeheartedly commit to evangelizing to the lost and preaching the gospel to all nations as commanded in Matthew 28:20; Mark 16:15-20).
g. Bible training deepens the students experience of Christ’s love, personal fellowship and the gift of the Spirit (John 17, 21, 26; Ephesians 3:18-19). Also, biblical training encourages students to follow the Holy Spirit which leads to baptism in the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14).

2. It is very important that Biblical training be done by those who are faithful to God. Scriptures are God’s inspired Words (2 Timothy 1”13-14, Ezra 7:10). The Holy Spirit and His ministry provides truth, righteousness and power to the faithful (2 Timothy 1:14). Why so, because only those who are truly committed to God’s Word will seek to know and teach the truth as teaching is a calling by God. More importantly, teaching God’s Word lacks self aggrandizement.
3. Lastly, true Biblical training emphasizes true righteousness, which is (knowing, being and doing) as oppose to being apprehensive of Biblical truths. Scripture has revealed that doctrinal teachings are redemptive truths, not academic in meaning, whereas the heart is essential in Biblical training.
True Biblical training is vital to Christian growth.

Comments are welcome.
Author's contact:
wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

Has America Lost Its Moral Compass

The above stated question is the result of our discussion earlier this week on How do we heal our land? If the land needs healing begs the question on how did we get to this point when America was founded on trusting in the Almighty God. Well, the argument can be made that God in His bountiful blessing that we have taken our eyes off the source of our blessing and placed them on the blessing. In doing so we have left our first love-God, and when that happens we begin to feel that humanity is the ultimate authority. Wrong! Wrong!

Therefore, the question now becomes, How did America lose its moral compass? America lost it moral compass by accepting the smallest sin and compromising with it. Also, accepting wrong for right and allowing right to become wrong.

Let me highlight some of the wrongs that are being accepted as the norm; we see same sex-marriages being legalized by the high courts in some states, and many other states recognizing same sex-marriages as civil unions. Did these decision makers ever consider the institution of marriage being implemented by God according to Genesis1:27? We see from scripture God instituted marriage between Adam and Eve and not Adam and Steve or Eve and Ethel. In addition, we see God implementation of the family structure as man, wife and then the children. God created man first, then Eve and instructed them to be fruitful and multiply; from this union their children were born (Cain and Abel named in the Bible). Two men do not constitute a family or two women and then incorporating the child constitutes a family. Is man (mankind) leaning to his own understanding instead of consulting scripture for what is right in the sight of God or is man forsaking the knowledge of God in order to live by his own standards and not God’s moral laws? We see in Romans 1:18-32 the sins man was committing and God’s reactions. God gave them over to a reprobate mind, meaning it was a primary sign of God abandoning His prized creation. These questions come to mind which are, is modern day society (America) following in the foot steps of the people recorded in the Bible? Does America believe the Bible, or does America feel that since God has sent His Son Jesus to redeem man that no harm will befall him and he can live anyway he wants? What happened to the principles that this country was founded upon which was “In God we trust”?

Our society is witnessing other wrongs that appear to be the norm or right such as greed; just forget the little guy. By this I mean corporate geed when executives and some politicians are earning huge salaries while their company or government teeters on the brink of bankruptcy resulting in both jobs and pensions being lost. What happened to love thy neighbor as thyself and or caring for the poor, those with incomes less than $200,000? Reflect on the negative rap music that is filling our air ways and some TV shows that are pushing the homosexuality envelope. Let's not forget the move to remove the Ten Commandments from the court house. The Ten Commandments are the foundations for our laws.

America, let’s remember our morals which this country was founded upon; more importantly, right is right and wrong is wrong. That’s the way it is and will remain so.

Fellow believers, join me in sincere prayer for the moral decay of this country. As ambassadors for Christ we must be examples for immoral America of what is right and right will always be right and wrong cannot become right.

For the full article with same title is available upon request.
Comments are welcomed.
Author's contact
wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpublsihing.com
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

How Do We Heal Our Land?

II Chronicle 7:14

Our land can be healed through Jesus Christ. We can begin our healing process through true repentance if we do the following: (a) humble ourselves (b) pray, (c) seek my face, (d) turn from their wicked ways;
God promised to do three things if we meet the above listed four conditions, and we know God always keep His promise. God promised includes the following (a) then will I hear from heaven, (b) He will forgive (be forgiven), and (c) their land will be healed. What a spiritual revival that will be? God is waiting to heal our land.