All Scripture is God-Breathed
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16
"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:20-21
The word of the Lord will stand forever and it is flawless. (2 Samuel 22:31) The word is from the very mouth of God. It is not something that man conjured up on his own. Every word is perfect and true and was written in the power of God's Holy Spirit. We have everything we need to live this life beginning in the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation.
God tells us in His word that He does not change. (Malachi 3:10) Because of this truth, God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Every word in the Bible is important. We cannot just pick and choose the verses that are pleasant to us. There are preachers in the world who unfortunately only preach that God is love and He is good. While this is true, God is also a God of justice and righteousness. He cannot even look upon sin-and there is no one who does not sin. (1 Kings 8:46) In fact, God will not even listen to our prayers if we have sin in our hearts. (Psalm 66:18)
There are many people in the world who want the benefits of being a Christian, or a ticket into heaven, but they don't want to sacrifice anything. Jesus is very clear when it comes to being His disciple-we are to carry our cross and follow Him. (Luke 14:27) This may mean severing an unhealthy relationship. It may mean sacrificing something you want, in order to meet someone else's need. It may mean giving of your time helping at a homeless shelter. Like the rich, young ruler Jesus spoke to, it may mean selling all that you have and following Jesus. God may call you to go overseas and preach the gospel. But even if you aren't called to go overseas, Jesus does call each of us to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20
So what does this look like in everyday life? You can start in your own family serving them and putting them above yourself. Show them the love of Christ and live a life that points them to Jesus. For those of you who work outside the home, think about the people at your job who need Jesus. Develop a relationship with them and introduce them to the One who changed your life and made you a new creation. Opportunities are all around us. Jesus did not come and die and give us life so that we could keep it to ourselves. God had a purpose in mind when He created you and me and that purpose was to glorify Him in all we say and do. "You did not chose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last." (John 16:16)The fruit that lasts is work for the kingdom of God. And friend, we do not do this in our own strength, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. Even when we are willing, our spirit is weak (Matthew 26:41), so we must rely always on God and His strength.
As a follower of Jesus, when we stand before Him at the judgment seat of Christ, the only thing that will matter is what we did for Him. What would you say to God right now if He asked you the question, 'What have you done with My Son, Jesus?' Friend, is your life showing the world that you are a Christ follower? Is your heart clean and pure before the Lord? Many may have head knowledge about Jesus and be very "religious," but do you have a relationship with Him? Do you know Him? NOW is the time to examine your heart to see if you really are in the faith or are you simply going through the motions. Take some time right now to see if you really know the Lord Jesus intimately or is it just head knowledge? It is not about keeping rules and a checklist for God. Has your life changed since you met Him? Do you have a hunger for Him and a passion for the broken, needy and the lost? Do you stay in His word and desire more and more of Him? I pray that God's Spirit will show you the truth.
"But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:16-18)
"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:20-21
The word of the Lord will stand forever and it is flawless. (2 Samuel 22:31) The word is from the very mouth of God. It is not something that man conjured up on his own. Every word is perfect and true and was written in the power of God's Holy Spirit. We have everything we need to live this life beginning in the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation.
God tells us in His word that He does not change. (Malachi 3:10) Because of this truth, God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Every word in the Bible is important. We cannot just pick and choose the verses that are pleasant to us. There are preachers in the world who unfortunately only preach that God is love and He is good. While this is true, God is also a God of justice and righteousness. He cannot even look upon sin-and there is no one who does not sin. (1 Kings 8:46) In fact, God will not even listen to our prayers if we have sin in our hearts. (Psalm 66:18)
There are many people in the world who want the benefits of being a Christian, or a ticket into heaven, but they don't want to sacrifice anything. Jesus is very clear when it comes to being His disciple-we are to carry our cross and follow Him. (Luke 14:27) This may mean severing an unhealthy relationship. It may mean sacrificing something you want, in order to meet someone else's need. It may mean giving of your time helping at a homeless shelter. Like the rich, young ruler Jesus spoke to, it may mean selling all that you have and following Jesus. God may call you to go overseas and preach the gospel. But even if you aren't called to go overseas, Jesus does call each of us to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20
So what does this look like in everyday life? You can start in your own family serving them and putting them above yourself. Show them the love of Christ and live a life that points them to Jesus. For those of you who work outside the home, think about the people at your job who need Jesus. Develop a relationship with them and introduce them to the One who changed your life and made you a new creation. Opportunities are all around us. Jesus did not come and die and give us life so that we could keep it to ourselves. God had a purpose in mind when He created you and me and that purpose was to glorify Him in all we say and do. "You did not chose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last." (John 16:16)The fruit that lasts is work for the kingdom of God. And friend, we do not do this in our own strength, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. Even when we are willing, our spirit is weak (Matthew 26:41), so we must rely always on God and His strength.
As a follower of Jesus, when we stand before Him at the judgment seat of Christ, the only thing that will matter is what we did for Him. What would you say to God right now if He asked you the question, 'What have you done with My Son, Jesus?' Friend, is your life showing the world that you are a Christ follower? Is your heart clean and pure before the Lord? Many may have head knowledge about Jesus and be very "religious," but do you have a relationship with Him? Do you know Him? NOW is the time to examine your heart to see if you really are in the faith or are you simply going through the motions. Take some time right now to see if you really know the Lord Jesus intimately or is it just head knowledge? It is not about keeping rules and a checklist for God. Has your life changed since you met Him? Do you have a hunger for Him and a passion for the broken, needy and the lost? Do you stay in His word and desire more and more of Him? I pray that God's Spirit will show you the truth.
"But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:16-18)
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