What Does Water Baptism Represent?

Mark 1:8

I indeed baptize you with water; but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

The word baptism in itself means immersion, submersion (Romans 6:1-4); however the representation of water baptism is the individual has died to the old life and being raised to a new life in Christ. According to Mark 10:38-39 and Luke 12:50, baptism represents the suffering and death of Christ our Lord. Christians baptism gives witness to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and all who believe and have accepted Him as his or her personal Savior identifies with Him (Romans 6:3-6; Galatians 3:27) as all believers have died with Him to sin and rose with Him to a new life of righteousness.
Let me close this discussion on a personal note of what water baptism means to me is that on the day I gave the pastor my hand I announced to the world that I believed that Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose for my justification I was telling the world of what had occurred between me and God. As stated in our discussion text it is Jesus Christ who baptized me and all believers with the Holy Spirit into His body.
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white3285@sbcglobal.net
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
www.shepherdministries.info.com

Trust

Psalm 37:3

Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

In Tuesday's discussion we discussed faith and its pivotal role in salvation, but today's focus is trust. With that being said, these questions come to mind, Do you trust God in all situations? Are you taking God at His word when He asks us to cast all our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7)? Have you ever been in a situation and there were two sets of footprints in the sand and as the situation became worse there were only one set of footprints and you asked God why did He leave you only for Him to answer "my child I carried you the rest of the way." If so this proves that God will never leave nor forsake His children. It is far better to trust God than man. God is trustworthy; He changes not and cannot lie.
Trust in God who never fails.
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white3285@sbcglobal.net
http://willie-writing.blogspot.
www.shepherdministries.info.com

Faith And Salvation

Romans 10:9-10, 17

So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God

Much have been written and discussed regarding faith and its essentiality to salvation and the Christian life, but for today's discussion our focus is on the word, work, and walk of faith.
Let's examine these three perspectives of faith;
(1) The word of faith is the hearing of the gospel of Christ and believing that Christ is God's Son who died for the sins of the world (you and I) and on the profession of that faith/belief we then are saved. How does one hear the gospel message? The gospel is spread through preaching, teaching and witnessing Christ (Acts 11:14; Matthew 25:18-20).
(2) The work of Faith is the convicting work of the Holy Spirit who convicts the unbelieving heart of the need for salvation and the promise of God that all believers will be partakers in His divine nature-righteousness (2 Peter 2:4). Christians then are born again into the body of Christ through His atoning work and convicting work of the Holy Spirit.
(3) The walk of faith is made possible by the word and work of faith which allows all believers to walk this Christian journey (2 Corinthians 5:7). How is this so? The Christian prospect must first hear God's Word then believe in his or her heart what he or she has heard while allowing the Holy Spirit to have His way, and then the faith walk journey begins.
Without faith there is no salvation.
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Unwavering Faith

…..Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me to come unto thee on the water. And He said Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sin, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Today's discussion depicts what we can do with just a little faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. The moment our faith wavers we begin to sink and need saving, but we must cry out to the Lord like Peter and Christ in His unwavering love for us will immediately extend His saving hand catch us from our drowning situation.
With that being said, the boisterous winds can be likened to life's many challenges that we will face and especially while on this Christian journey. Many of life's challenges will shake us to our very core, but we must remain steadfast in our faith and keep our eyes focused on Jesus for we are never alone.

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white3285@sbcglobal.net
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
www.shpehierministries.info.com

Sin's Condemnation

Mark 5:25-30

..A certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment. For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be made whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

In a comparative look at the woman's physical condition in our scripture text to that of sin we see the following:
a) Her physical condition was a blood disorder that the doctors had failed in their attempts to heal. Sin is a spiritual condition that can only be healed by Jesus.
b) The woman's blood disorder had condemned her to death, because it grew worse. Sin condemns us to death and grows worse if left unchecked.
c) When the woman heard of Jesus she had confidence that He would and could heal her of her condition. Jesus can and will heal anybody who seeks Him in faith and with a repentant heart.
d) Upon touching the hem of Jesus' garment her blood disorder was completely cured; the same is true of all unbelievers who touches the hem of Jesus' garment in faith they are cured instantly of their sin disorder.
e) The woman knew in the consciousness of her mind and body that she was healed; the same applies to sin and the unbeliever.
The woman had a strong desire to be healed of her condition, so must all unbelievers; seek Jesus in faith and be healed of your sinful condition.
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white3285@sbcglobal.net
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
www.shepherdministries.info.com

The Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8

But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Who is the Holy Spirit and what is His purpose and the reason? The Holy Spirit is God in the third person who was promised by Jesus Christ as He was preparing to return to heaven, and on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:2-4) He came and three thousand souls was added to the church. His primary purpose is to give power to witness Christ the world over as He lives in each believer. This power isn't physical power but authoritative power to continue the mighty work of kingdom building through the believer's witnessing.
Being empowered with the Holy Spirit's power believers can boldly witness Christ beginning in our own Jerusalem and continuing until every lost soul has heard the Word and have the opportunity to come to Christ and be saved.
Believers, we have great power in the Holy Spirit.
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white3285@sbcglobal.net
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
www.shepherdministries.info.com

God's Love

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

If someone told you that John 3:16 is the sweetest story every told what would you say? Would you say explain how so? Let me explain the story from a love point of view in that God's love is so great that it included all humanity-whosoever. His love is the source of our salvation. God loved us first when we didn't love Him (1 John 4:19). His love causes forgiveness. Lastly, His love caused Him to sacrifice His only Son Jesus Christ who became the human sacrifice to pay humanity's sin debt. What love!
God asked humanity to do one thing, believe in His Son and doing so God gave two promises (1) we would not perish and (2) we would have everlasting life. What a promise!
Given the blessings of salvation I don't have an argument that John 3:16 isn't the sweetest story ever told.
The sweetest story and a true story-God's love!
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Fruit Of The Spirit

Galatians 5:22-25

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance, against such there is no law, And they that are in Christ have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

In Tuesday's discussion our focus was being empowered by Christ, but today's focus is a continuation in that the spirit of Christ lives in us manifests spiritual fruits for the world to see Christ in us. Our discussion text outlines the ingredients for living a spirit-filled life.
Comparing the lifestyles of the non-spirit filled person to persons living a spirit-filled life we see two different lifestyles. Non-spirit filled lives consists of strife, idolatry, envy, emulations and etc while a spirit-filled life that is one that is in harmony with God. There is no law against such living as God's law rules supreme. This brings a question to mind; if you are a believer which lifestyle are you living? Being empowered by Christ we have the ability to live a spirit-filled life.
A spirit-filled life is portray in motion.
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white3285@sbcglobal.net
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
www.shepherdministries.info.com

Empowered By Christ

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me

I bring you greetings for the New Year speaking positive thoughts into the universe of love, peace, joy, prosperity and happiness while recognizing that we are empowered by Christ to do His will in the ministry to which we have been called.
Being empowered by Christ who or what can stop us from achieving our respective goals in ministry, mission as we minister to others? Nothing! Nothing!

Empowered by Christ all things are possible.
Comments are welcome
Author's contact
white3285@sbcglobal.net
http://willie-writing/blogspot.com
www.shepherdministries.info.com