They go back to their early beginnings and how they battled and struggled to keep their family together by maintaining their faith in Jesus Christ.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Here's an interesting video of Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame, as he shares his testimony, along with family members Kay, Jep and Reed.
They go back to their early beginnings and how they battled and struggled to keep their family together by maintaining their faith in Jesus Christ.
They go back to their early beginnings and how they battled and struggled to keep their family together by maintaining their faith in Jesus Christ.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
For many reasons and from many enemies and deceived people, the fact that Jesus Christ created the heaven and the earth has been brought into question in the minds of those who believe in Jesus Christ, or at least claim to.
If you're uncertain, you have to go nowhere other than to the first 10 words of the Bible (King James Version) to rid yourself of all doubt concerning the reality of God creating all things.
As the title of this post says: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." It's as clear as that. There is nothing that can be added or taken away from it. God created it.
Here's how Colossians 1:16, 17 says it:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Again, there is no ambiguity as to the fact that Jesus Christ created everything. The "all" in verse 16 confirms again there is nothing that was made that didn't come forth from the person of Jesus Christ.
In John 1 we have these words affirmed again. Here is how John declares and reveals it:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Here we have same revelation that "all" things were made by Him, and reiterates the fact that there was absolutely nothing made.
The reason people attempt to distort Christ as creator is it is an attempt to convince themselves and others there is no final judgement. If there is no creator, there is no one that will hold any of us accountable for our sins.
Paul dealt with this in the first chapter or Romans, saying this:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
What the Holy Spirit reveals through Paul is that these people that assert these lie really know the world has been created by God, but the creation itself is a testimony against them.
It's the magnificence and awesomeness of creation that declares God, and those who say differently are considered to be without excuse because the invisible things of God are clearly revealed and seen in the creation.
Don't believe anyone that lies about evolution or the latest flavor of anti-creation assertions. The physical creation demands people acknowledge it came from the invisible and eternal God, and by extension to put their faith in Jesus Christ.
Everything that is (outside of evil and sin) were created by Jesus Christ. To deny that is to deny our creator. To deny our creator is to invite the wrath of God that comes on those who as an excuse live in ungodliness and unrighteous; not accepting the righteousness of Jesus Christ offered through His death and resurrection.
If you're uncertain, you have to go nowhere other than to the first 10 words of the Bible (King James Version) to rid yourself of all doubt concerning the reality of God creating all things.
As the title of this post says: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." It's as clear as that. There is nothing that can be added or taken away from it. God created it.
Here's how Colossians 1:16, 17 says it:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Again, there is no ambiguity as to the fact that Jesus Christ created everything. The "all" in verse 16 confirms again there is nothing that was made that didn't come forth from the person of Jesus Christ.
In John 1 we have these words affirmed again. Here is how John declares and reveals it:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Here we have same revelation that "all" things were made by Him, and reiterates the fact that there was absolutely nothing made.
The reason people attempt to distort Christ as creator is it is an attempt to convince themselves and others there is no final judgement. If there is no creator, there is no one that will hold any of us accountable for our sins.
Paul dealt with this in the first chapter or Romans, saying this:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
What the Holy Spirit reveals through Paul is that these people that assert these lie really know the world has been created by God, but the creation itself is a testimony against them.
It's the magnificence and awesomeness of creation that declares God, and those who say differently are considered to be without excuse because the invisible things of God are clearly revealed and seen in the creation.
Don't believe anyone that lies about evolution or the latest flavor of anti-creation assertions. The physical creation demands people acknowledge it came from the invisible and eternal God, and by extension to put their faith in Jesus Christ.
Everything that is (outside of evil and sin) were created by Jesus Christ. To deny that is to deny our creator. To deny our creator is to invite the wrath of God that comes on those who as an excuse live in ungodliness and unrighteous; not accepting the righteousness of Jesus Christ offered through His death and resurrection.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
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| source: wikipeida |
Many Christians aren't aware that the Bible reveals some of what Christ and the Godhead were doing and thinking before the act of creation. I'm not going to get into the specifics of that because I want to focus primarily on the importance of thinking in terms of pre-creation and God, rather than what was actually going on in eternity.
Why it's imperative to think in terms of there being a period when there was nothing but God, is it points to something that was happening that brought out the physical creation; something was motivating it. Something stirred or was birthed in the Godhead which demanded that it be expressed in a physical manner. Even the previously non-existing physical creation is part of what was being envisioned by God.
What's important is the fact God (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) were interacting in a way that produced what we see all around us. A world (albeit a tainted one now), that expressed through its physical presence the grandeur and character of God Himself.
This means intelligence, passion, motive, purpose and love were in existence in God before anything we recognize, and of course the human race, was created. In other words, there are invisible things that are eternal, that are expressed in physical form, although the eternal remains separate from the seen, as the seen or created can never be eternal, as it has a beginning. That which has a beginning is not eternal.
The implication is we exist because God had something in His heart and mind before creation, and what He had was based upon His very character and the meaning of His character, i.e., who He was.
Christ just didn't conjure up some unrelated theoretical world and than speak it into existence. No! What He did was knowingly take who He and the Godhead were and spoke creation into existence based upon that. For that reason we can see elements of God in the physical creation, as well as His very image in man. Again, keep in mind, other than the man Jesus Christ, all of this is under a curse and tainted; so outside of Christ we don't see a clear picture of the image of God, but one that expresses bits and pieces of Him imperfectly.
When extending this to the church of God, it brings out the purpose of her existence, which is to be a representation and revelation of who Jesus Christ is. This is the new creation; one that is birthed from God rather than spoken into existence outside of Him. Only that which is born of God is of God.
So when reading the creation account in Genesis and when creation is mentioned in other parts of the Bible, keep in mind that there is a tremendous purpose behind it all that was hidden in creation, but is now being revealed in Jesus Christ. This makes those who are truly born from above participants in this extraordinary purpose.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
In this article I want to look at the church as it is today, contrasting it to a legacy system. When talking about a legacy system, I'm referring to what most people consider with computers or technology, where an old system is maintained and/or kept in service beyond its usefulness. That is what has happened in regard to the majority of the way we practice church and Christianity today.
Jesus mentioned this to the Jews He ministered to while He was on the earth, saying new wine required new wineskins. While this referred to the outward types and shadows associated with the Old Testament, it also refers to the same during the New Testament times, where we've largely gravitated towards an outward and ineffective practice of Christianity because we've focused on outward rituals and forms which have little, if any use today.
Before we get into that, let me say from the beginning that I'm not talking about the foundational truths of Christianity which many have abandoned.
Many adherents of the so-called "Emergent church" have done that to the degree that they embrace outright heretics and sin which are clearly forbidden in the Holy Scriptures.
So while there is always a move of Satan to counterfeit the real, we can't retreat to past practices even though there are those that abuse the insights Christ is giving us. There will always be the ignorant and unlearned among us who distort the scriptures. We don't stop reading and believing in the scriptures because of that. In other words, even though the wine never changes, meaning the life of Christ Himself, the wineskins are always changing and adapting as new life is revealed and
made to be understood in the Scriptures. We may see it within, but it will never conflict with what the Scriptures reveal concerning Christ and His people. Never!
Some of the reasons most believers retain the practices of modern Christianity, even though it can't be found in the scriptures, is it's all they have ever known, and it is assumed by most that this is simply the way it should be done. Very few know the history of current church and Christian practices, so simply go along as if this is how it was from the beginning. The majority are unaware that there are alternatives, and that many throughout church history have taken steps to explore them.
Another reason for not wanting or looking to change is the embeddedness of the existing church system in the fabric of society, which makes it very difficult to change it, as it can appear it is an attack upon Christianity, when in fact its an attempt to release the followers of Jesus Christ into a deeper walk; one that isn't hindered by outward forms, which can deceive people into believing they're following Christ just because they participate in some meetings at a building wrongly identified as a church.
The idea of relying upon outward systems is a substitute for Christ and an inward walk with Him. It also gets in the way of walking together in Christ daily with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
When the letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament refers to Christ shaking all things so that which can't be shaken remains, it is a reference to those who continue to rely on things that are institutional and outward, rather than eternal and based upon Jesus Christ.
Even though it was an obvious nod towards the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem and the old wineskin of Judaism, the principle remains in place, which is Christ is done with types and shadows and institutionalism, and now is forming the reality of Himself in people through real, daily fellowship with Himself and one another.
Other than the fact many Christians are unaware of the various believers outside the institutional Church who are living in a daily walk together, the other major reason for remaining in the institutional church is the time and energy it'll take to make the shift out of it.
Let's make it clear. There is no reforming of the existing church system. The outward practices have become a weight on believers seeking Christ rather than helping them. It's a weight because it gets in the way of the God-given passion to share life in Christ together on a daily basis.
Since it is almost impossible to see the alternative while participating in the existing structures of Christianity, it is imperative that we share and communicate the realities of what Christ is desires and is doing outside the walls of the buildings and services featuring a main speaker and a few gifted musicians. After all, if this really worked, we wouldn't see Christianity in the state it is today, and even the call and prayer for revival is a worthless and meaningless one if all that is desired is for people to fill up these buildings and continue on as before.
That's not to say just because people leave church buildings and weekly services they are more spiritual if they meet in homes, because many times all that happens is people move from a building to a home and continue things on as they were before.
This is a radical, surgical cut that needs to excise the existing mentality of institutional Christianity into one that brings us into a daily walk with Christ and one another.
Only those willing to embrace the cross and die to themselves can successfully navigate these waters, as it is more demanding, but also more rewarding, than the type of Christianity practiced by most today.
We must allow God to do whatever He wants with us. We must continue to hold onto the foundations of the faith that have been handed down to us in the Holy Scriptures, while at the same time living them out daily, while also looking for more insight and light concerning who Christ really is.
Just because the practices of Christianity have been around for centuries doesn't mean that's how they started, or that it's how God wants things to continue.
All we can do is ask Him to open our hearts to see Him and what He wants, and seek for those who have a similar passion to see Christ and His people released from the confines of outward religion to a real and living fellowship together.
Jesus mentioned this to the Jews He ministered to while He was on the earth, saying new wine required new wineskins. While this referred to the outward types and shadows associated with the Old Testament, it also refers to the same during the New Testament times, where we've largely gravitated towards an outward and ineffective practice of Christianity because we've focused on outward rituals and forms which have little, if any use today.
Before we get into that, let me say from the beginning that I'm not talking about the foundational truths of Christianity which many have abandoned.
Many adherents of the so-called "Emergent church" have done that to the degree that they embrace outright heretics and sin which are clearly forbidden in the Holy Scriptures.
So while there is always a move of Satan to counterfeit the real, we can't retreat to past practices even though there are those that abuse the insights Christ is giving us. There will always be the ignorant and unlearned among us who distort the scriptures. We don't stop reading and believing in the scriptures because of that. In other words, even though the wine never changes, meaning the life of Christ Himself, the wineskins are always changing and adapting as new life is revealed and
made to be understood in the Scriptures. We may see it within, but it will never conflict with what the Scriptures reveal concerning Christ and His people. Never!
Some of the reasons most believers retain the practices of modern Christianity, even though it can't be found in the scriptures, is it's all they have ever known, and it is assumed by most that this is simply the way it should be done. Very few know the history of current church and Christian practices, so simply go along as if this is how it was from the beginning. The majority are unaware that there are alternatives, and that many throughout church history have taken steps to explore them.
Another reason for not wanting or looking to change is the embeddedness of the existing church system in the fabric of society, which makes it very difficult to change it, as it can appear it is an attack upon Christianity, when in fact its an attempt to release the followers of Jesus Christ into a deeper walk; one that isn't hindered by outward forms, which can deceive people into believing they're following Christ just because they participate in some meetings at a building wrongly identified as a church.
The idea of relying upon outward systems is a substitute for Christ and an inward walk with Him. It also gets in the way of walking together in Christ daily with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
When the letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament refers to Christ shaking all things so that which can't be shaken remains, it is a reference to those who continue to rely on things that are institutional and outward, rather than eternal and based upon Jesus Christ.
Even though it was an obvious nod towards the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem and the old wineskin of Judaism, the principle remains in place, which is Christ is done with types and shadows and institutionalism, and now is forming the reality of Himself in people through real, daily fellowship with Himself and one another.
Other than the fact many Christians are unaware of the various believers outside the institutional Church who are living in a daily walk together, the other major reason for remaining in the institutional church is the time and energy it'll take to make the shift out of it.
Let's make it clear. There is no reforming of the existing church system. The outward practices have become a weight on believers seeking Christ rather than helping them. It's a weight because it gets in the way of the God-given passion to share life in Christ together on a daily basis.
Since it is almost impossible to see the alternative while participating in the existing structures of Christianity, it is imperative that we share and communicate the realities of what Christ is desires and is doing outside the walls of the buildings and services featuring a main speaker and a few gifted musicians. After all, if this really worked, we wouldn't see Christianity in the state it is today, and even the call and prayer for revival is a worthless and meaningless one if all that is desired is for people to fill up these buildings and continue on as before.
That's not to say just because people leave church buildings and weekly services they are more spiritual if they meet in homes, because many times all that happens is people move from a building to a home and continue things on as they were before.
This is a radical, surgical cut that needs to excise the existing mentality of institutional Christianity into one that brings us into a daily walk with Christ and one another.
Only those willing to embrace the cross and die to themselves can successfully navigate these waters, as it is more demanding, but also more rewarding, than the type of Christianity practiced by most today.
We must allow God to do whatever He wants with us. We must continue to hold onto the foundations of the faith that have been handed down to us in the Holy Scriptures, while at the same time living them out daily, while also looking for more insight and light concerning who Christ really is.
Just because the practices of Christianity have been around for centuries doesn't mean that's how they started, or that it's how God wants things to continue.
All we can do is ask Him to open our hearts to see Him and what He wants, and seek for those who have a similar passion to see Christ and His people released from the confines of outward religion to a real and living fellowship together.
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