SPEAKING TRUTH
1 Corinthians 14:13-25
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=1+Corinthians+14:13-25
Dear Father, God of intelligibility and peace,
Let our praying, singing, and preaching be aimed at informing the
minds and spirits of others, that they may be built up and respond,
"Amen."
Give us the attitude of Paul, who said, "I would rather speak five
words with my mind, in order to instruct others, than ten thousand
words in a tongue."
Let us be babies when it comes to evil, but not in our thinking.
In our thinking, may we be mature, and may we speak your message in
such a way that those who hear will be called to account, will have
the secrets of the heart disclosed, will fall on their faces to
worship you, and will declare that you are really among us.
Submitting to your commands of peace and order, I ask this in
Jesus' name. Amen.
Friday, April 30, 2010
How the Characteristics of Grace Appear
How the Characteristics of Grace Appear
And we have such trust through Christ toward God.. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6)
We have been considering some characteristics that God wants to develop in our lives by His grace: namely, triumphant living, a fragrance of Christ, godly sincerity, and becoming living letters of Christ. How do these appear in our lives in an ever-increasing manner? As Paul wrote on these wonderful descriptions of godly living, his heart was stirred to ask, "And who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Corinthians 2:16). Paul fully realized that man cannot produce these realities. Human resources are inadequate.
These heavenly traits grow in us as we live by the terms of the new covenant (humbly trusting in God, not in ourselves).. "And we have such trust through Christ toward God." Paul's confidence in exhibiting these spiritual qualities of life was directed toward God, based upon the relationship that is available in Jesus Christ. This is not self-confidence; it is God-confidence. God must produce these characteristics.
There is no room for believers to trust in themselves. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves." We are not the source of any of these wonderful traits of godly living. They must all come from God at work in us. "Our sufficiency is from God." When we live in humble dependency, the Lord's supply becomes our needed sufficiency. "Our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant."
Yes, new covenant servants live by the grace of God. Consequently, their sufficiency is what the Lord Himself supplies! This is precisely what God promised of old through His prophets. "I will make a new covenant …I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts" (Jeremiah 31:31, 33). God inscribes these spiritual traits upon the inner man (the heart and the mind) by His grace. The results are that these characteristics of godliness develop in our lives.
Again, we are looking at living by humility and faith. "God… gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). Also, faith accesses grace: "through whom [the Lord Jesus Christ] also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand" (Romans 5:2).
O Holy Father, I long to grow in these godly traits. I am not sufficient to produce them by my resources. My only hope is to be changed by You from the inside out. I humbly bow before You. With confidence in You, I ask that You pour Your grace upon my heart and mind, as I seek You in Your word. Through Christ my Lord, I pray, Amen.
And we have such trust through Christ toward God.. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6)
We have been considering some characteristics that God wants to develop in our lives by His grace: namely, triumphant living, a fragrance of Christ, godly sincerity, and becoming living letters of Christ. How do these appear in our lives in an ever-increasing manner? As Paul wrote on these wonderful descriptions of godly living, his heart was stirred to ask, "And who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Corinthians 2:16). Paul fully realized that man cannot produce these realities. Human resources are inadequate.
These heavenly traits grow in us as we live by the terms of the new covenant (humbly trusting in God, not in ourselves).. "And we have such trust through Christ toward God." Paul's confidence in exhibiting these spiritual qualities of life was directed toward God, based upon the relationship that is available in Jesus Christ. This is not self-confidence; it is God-confidence. God must produce these characteristics.
There is no room for believers to trust in themselves. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves." We are not the source of any of these wonderful traits of godly living. They must all come from God at work in us. "Our sufficiency is from God." When we live in humble dependency, the Lord's supply becomes our needed sufficiency. "Our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant."
Yes, new covenant servants live by the grace of God. Consequently, their sufficiency is what the Lord Himself supplies! This is precisely what God promised of old through His prophets. "I will make a new covenant …I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts" (Jeremiah 31:31, 33). God inscribes these spiritual traits upon the inner man (the heart and the mind) by His grace. The results are that these characteristics of godliness develop in our lives.
Again, we are looking at living by humility and faith. "God… gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). Also, faith accesses grace: "through whom [the Lord Jesus Christ] also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand" (Romans 5:2).
O Holy Father, I long to grow in these godly traits. I am not sufficient to produce them by my resources. My only hope is to be changed by You from the inside out. I humbly bow before You. With confidence in You, I ask that You pour Your grace upon my heart and mind, as I seek You in Your word. Through Christ my Lord, I pray, Amen.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
All Your Getting, Get Together
All Your Getting, Get Together
By Lloyd Owens
This week's topic: Racial Reconciliation
If you glance at the title of this devotional, it would seem that I have misquoted a very popular passage of scripture found in Prov. 4:7, but in all sincerity, I may have said exactly what needs to be said.
It is time for the church, His Bride, You and I, to finally...get together. Not for our sakes, but for the sake of the Kingdom. Can "we" possibly move beyond our unhealed wounds, neglected symptoms of falsehoods and denial? Can the body of Christ ever lead in this charge?
Every Sunday morning, our families gather together in their Sunday's best, place their Sunday smiles on and head out to their "local" church. We belong to a local body of Christ that looks just like us. The diversity in our churches often consist of the one or two members that for no other reason than being lost, ended up at your church, and stayed.
So why is that so bad? Is there anything wrong with this picture? Who's complaining?
It is amazing to me that we can listen to one another's music, attend one another's concerts, play sports with one another, go to games with one another, work with one another, but we cannot seem to sit and Worship the one true God collectively. So, yes something is wrong! Matthew 5:23-24 calls us to be 'reconciled to one another' before bringing an offering of any kind before the altar.
The word reconcile means: to win over to friendliness; cause to become amicable; to compose or settle; to bring into agreement or harmony; to reconsecrate; and to cause (a person) to accept or be resigned to something not desired. The church has been commanded to love, not tolerate! We must begin to look past our differences, our past, our faults and unhealed scabs to seek His face as one body, with one heart.
We must bring into agreement and harmony before we will be able to offer our gifts at the alter. If we are to heal as a nation, the church must lead the charge, and not be the poster child for the most segregated time of the week. We must first see this as a problem, as an issue the affects our services, our children,and our future.
We must cast vision larger than our comfort zone. We must challenge ourselves to ask the questions, create the debate, and dig deep into the well to create solutions. We must be the example if we are to live outside of racial boundaries, stereotypes and exclusion.
Scripture Of The Day: "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." - Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV)
Lloyd Owens is a devoted husband and father, and the Lead Pastor of The Peculiar Place, a new church plant soon to be located in Atlanta, Georgia. You can find Lloyd blogging at http://www.therstblog.com.
By Lloyd Owens
This week's topic: Racial Reconciliation
If you glance at the title of this devotional, it would seem that I have misquoted a very popular passage of scripture found in Prov. 4:7, but in all sincerity, I may have said exactly what needs to be said.
It is time for the church, His Bride, You and I, to finally...get together. Not for our sakes, but for the sake of the Kingdom. Can "we" possibly move beyond our unhealed wounds, neglected symptoms of falsehoods and denial? Can the body of Christ ever lead in this charge?
Every Sunday morning, our families gather together in their Sunday's best, place their Sunday smiles on and head out to their "local" church. We belong to a local body of Christ that looks just like us. The diversity in our churches often consist of the one or two members that for no other reason than being lost, ended up at your church, and stayed.
So why is that so bad? Is there anything wrong with this picture? Who's complaining?
It is amazing to me that we can listen to one another's music, attend one another's concerts, play sports with one another, go to games with one another, work with one another, but we cannot seem to sit and Worship the one true God collectively. So, yes something is wrong! Matthew 5:23-24 calls us to be 'reconciled to one another' before bringing an offering of any kind before the altar.
The word reconcile means: to win over to friendliness; cause to become amicable; to compose or settle; to bring into agreement or harmony; to reconsecrate; and to cause (a person) to accept or be resigned to something not desired. The church has been commanded to love, not tolerate! We must begin to look past our differences, our past, our faults and unhealed scabs to seek His face as one body, with one heart.
We must bring into agreement and harmony before we will be able to offer our gifts at the alter. If we are to heal as a nation, the church must lead the charge, and not be the poster child for the most segregated time of the week. We must first see this as a problem, as an issue the affects our services, our children,and our future.
We must cast vision larger than our comfort zone. We must challenge ourselves to ask the questions, create the debate, and dig deep into the well to create solutions. We must be the example if we are to live outside of racial boundaries, stereotypes and exclusion.
Scripture Of The Day: "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." - Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV)
Lloyd Owens is a devoted husband and father, and the Lead Pastor of The Peculiar Place, a new church plant soon to be located in Atlanta, Georgia. You can find Lloyd blogging at http://www.therstblog.com.
All Your Getting, Get Together
All Your Getting, Get Together
By Lloyd Owens
This week's topic: Racial Reconciliation
If you glance at the title of this devotional, it would seem that I have misquoted a very popular passage of scripture found in Prov. 4:7, but in all sincerity, I may have said exactly what needs to be said.
It is time for the church, His Bride, You and I, to finally...get together. Not for our sakes, but for the sake of the Kingdom. Can "we" possibly move beyond our unhealed wounds, neglected symptoms of falsehoods and denial? Can the body of Christ ever lead in this charge?
Every Sunday morning, our families gather together in their Sunday's best, place their Sunday smiles on and head out to their "local" church. We belong to a local body of Christ that looks just like us. The diversity in our churches often consist of the one or two members that for no other reason than being lost, ended up at your church, and stayed.
So why is that so bad? Is there anything wrong with this picture? Who's complaining?
It is amazing to me that we can listen to one another's music, attend one another's concerts, play sports with one another, go to games with one another, work with one another, but we cannot seem to sit and Worship the one true God collectively. So, yes something is wrong! Matthew 5:23-24 calls us to be 'reconciled to one another' before bringing an offering of any kind before the altar.
The word reconcile means: to win over to friendliness; cause to become amicable; to compose or settle; to bring into agreement or harmony; to reconsecrate; and to cause (a person) to accept or be resigned to something not desired. The church has been commanded to love, not tolerate! We must begin to look past our differences, our past, our faults and unhealed scabs to seek His face as one body, with one heart.
We must bring into agreement and harmony before we will be able to offer our gifts at the alter. If we are to heal as a nation, the church must lead the charge, and not be the poster child for the most segregated time of the week. We must first see this as a problem, as an issue the affects our services, our children,and our future.
We must cast vision larger than our comfort zone. We must challenge ourselves to ask the questions, create the debate, and dig deep into the well to create solutions. We must be the example if we are to live outside of racial boundaries, stereotypes and exclusion.
Scripture Of The Day: "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." - Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV)
Lloyd Owens is a devoted husband and father, and the Lead Pastor of The Peculiar Place, a new church plant soon to be located in Atlanta, Georgia. You can find Lloyd blogging at http://www.therstblog.com.
By Lloyd Owens
This week's topic: Racial Reconciliation
If you glance at the title of this devotional, it would seem that I have misquoted a very popular passage of scripture found in Prov. 4:7, but in all sincerity, I may have said exactly what needs to be said.
It is time for the church, His Bride, You and I, to finally...get together. Not for our sakes, but for the sake of the Kingdom. Can "we" possibly move beyond our unhealed wounds, neglected symptoms of falsehoods and denial? Can the body of Christ ever lead in this charge?
Every Sunday morning, our families gather together in their Sunday's best, place their Sunday smiles on and head out to their "local" church. We belong to a local body of Christ that looks just like us. The diversity in our churches often consist of the one or two members that for no other reason than being lost, ended up at your church, and stayed.
So why is that so bad? Is there anything wrong with this picture? Who's complaining?
It is amazing to me that we can listen to one another's music, attend one another's concerts, play sports with one another, go to games with one another, work with one another, but we cannot seem to sit and Worship the one true God collectively. So, yes something is wrong! Matthew 5:23-24 calls us to be 'reconciled to one another' before bringing an offering of any kind before the altar.
The word reconcile means: to win over to friendliness; cause to become amicable; to compose or settle; to bring into agreement or harmony; to reconsecrate; and to cause (a person) to accept or be resigned to something not desired. The church has been commanded to love, not tolerate! We must begin to look past our differences, our past, our faults and unhealed scabs to seek His face as one body, with one heart.
We must bring into agreement and harmony before we will be able to offer our gifts at the alter. If we are to heal as a nation, the church must lead the charge, and not be the poster child for the most segregated time of the week. We must first see this as a problem, as an issue the affects our services, our children,and our future.
We must cast vision larger than our comfort zone. We must challenge ourselves to ask the questions, create the debate, and dig deep into the well to create solutions. We must be the example if we are to live outside of racial boundaries, stereotypes and exclusion.
Scripture Of The Day: "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." - Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV)
Lloyd Owens is a devoted husband and father, and the Lead Pastor of The Peculiar Place, a new church plant soon to be located in Atlanta, Georgia. You can find Lloyd blogging at http://www.therstblog.com.
ORDER OUT OF CONFUSION
ORDER OUT OF CONFUSION
1 Corinthians 14:1-12
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=1+Corinthians+14:1-12
Dear Father, God of intelligibility and peace,
Thank you for reversing the curse of Babel when you poured out
your Holy Spirit on believers in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost.
Even in the confusion of many tongues you proclaimed your Good
News to every tribe and nation under heaven, with every person
hearing it in his or her own language.
Thank you too for the gift of prophecy in the common language,
believers speaking to one another for their mutual encouragement
and consolation, a gift greater than tongues (unless the unknown
language is interpreted), because understandable speech builds up
your church.
Help us to manifest your Spirit in all things. Help us to strive
zealously for whatever builds up the church.
In submission to you and in Jesus' name, I ask. Amen.
1 Corinthians 14:1-12
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=1+Corinthians+14:1-12
Dear Father, God of intelligibility and peace,
Thank you for reversing the curse of Babel when you poured out
your Holy Spirit on believers in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost.
Even in the confusion of many tongues you proclaimed your Good
News to every tribe and nation under heaven, with every person
hearing it in his or her own language.
Thank you too for the gift of prophecy in the common language,
believers speaking to one another for their mutual encouragement
and consolation, a gift greater than tongues (unless the unknown
language is interpreted), because understandable speech builds up
your church.
Help us to manifest your Spirit in all things. Help us to strive
zealously for whatever builds up the church.
In submission to you and in Jesus' name, I ask. Amen.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
THE QUALITIES OF LOVE
THE QUALITIES OF LOVE
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=1+Corinthians+13:4-7
Dear Father, give me love!
May I one day possess fully all the qualities of love, as did your
son, Jesus, the Messiah!
May I be patient and kind, not jealous or boastful, not arrogant
or rude, not insisting on my own way, not ever irritable or
resentful.
May I rejoice always in what is right, never in anything that is
wrong.
Help me to bear all things and endure whatever I must, to trust in
all circumstances, and to be hopeful in all trials.
By Jesus's authority I come to you, asking. Amen.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=1+Corinthians+13:4-7
Dear Father, give me love!
May I one day possess fully all the qualities of love, as did your
son, Jesus, the Messiah!
May I be patient and kind, not jealous or boastful, not arrogant
or rude, not insisting on my own way, not ever irritable or
resentful.
May I rejoice always in what is right, never in anything that is
wrong.
Help me to bear all things and endure whatever I must, to trust in
all circumstances, and to be hopeful in all trials.
By Jesus's authority I come to you, asking. Amen.
Godly Sincerity Concerning God's Word
Godly Sincerity Concerning God's Word
For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:17)
Godly sincerity concerning God's word is another characteristic with which the Lord desires to mark us by His grace. "For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity…we speak." The manner in which we relate to the word of God is a high priority to our Lord. In the early church, some were already relating wrongly to God's word: "peddling the word of God." They were using the Scriptures for self-gain.
The Bible warns us about the temptations people face concerning inappropriate uses of the word. "There are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain" (Titus 1:10-11). Titus was warned of many in the church world who were rebelling against the message of God's word. They were into the meaningless chatter and religious deception that came from the legalists, who loved to coerce people by means of the law. It was necessary that these men be silenced with the truth, because they were undermining the spiritual well-being of entire families. They were teaching things that were biblically unacceptable. Their motivation was the financial advantage they could acquire by peddling deceptions. So many today are tempted to go after the material gain that can be obtained from those who will embrace religious schemes.
Paul also warned about others who would be motivated by the power and influence that a cleverly distorted message might produce. "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves" (Acts 20:29-30). True disciples follow the Lord Jesus. Furthermore, a true disciple wants to assist others in their quest to follow Jesus. These deceivers wanted others to follow them. This threat would be two-fold. Ruthless unbelievers would "come in" from outside the church. Also, "from among yourselves," men with an adulterated message would arise inside the church.
Godly sincerity is to characterize our treatment of the Scriptures. We are to proclaim the truth. "But as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ." We are to proclaim the biblical message that is from God, and do it in genuineness, knowing our God is watching.
Lord, I do not want to be careless in message or dishonest in motives concerning Your word. Mark me with godly sincerity regarding the Bible, in Jesus' name, Amen.
For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:17)
Godly sincerity concerning God's word is another characteristic with which the Lord desires to mark us by His grace. "For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity…we speak." The manner in which we relate to the word of God is a high priority to our Lord. In the early church, some were already relating wrongly to God's word: "peddling the word of God." They were using the Scriptures for self-gain.
The Bible warns us about the temptations people face concerning inappropriate uses of the word. "There are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain" (Titus 1:10-11). Titus was warned of many in the church world who were rebelling against the message of God's word. They were into the meaningless chatter and religious deception that came from the legalists, who loved to coerce people by means of the law. It was necessary that these men be silenced with the truth, because they were undermining the spiritual well-being of entire families. They were teaching things that were biblically unacceptable. Their motivation was the financial advantage they could acquire by peddling deceptions. So many today are tempted to go after the material gain that can be obtained from those who will embrace religious schemes.
Paul also warned about others who would be motivated by the power and influence that a cleverly distorted message might produce. "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves" (Acts 20:29-30). True disciples follow the Lord Jesus. Furthermore, a true disciple wants to assist others in their quest to follow Jesus. These deceivers wanted others to follow them. This threat would be two-fold. Ruthless unbelievers would "come in" from outside the church. Also, "from among yourselves," men with an adulterated message would arise inside the church.
Godly sincerity is to characterize our treatment of the Scriptures. We are to proclaim the truth. "But as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ." We are to proclaim the biblical message that is from God, and do it in genuineness, knowing our God is watching.
Lord, I do not want to be careless in message or dishonest in motives concerning Your word. Mark me with godly sincerity regarding the Bible, in Jesus' name, Amen.
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