As a believer you are a light, and light should be put on top of a hill to show light to others. So a believer should be on top. An example is a model, something fit to be imitated. For you to be a model Christian, you must be an ardent follower of Christ. As a Christian does your life de-populate the kingdom of darkness. As believers we might find ourselves in situations where the children of darkness would oppose our ministry, and the expansion of the kingdom of God. We can also find ourselves in the situation in 1 tim 4:1-2. That some leave the faith does not mean they leave the church, and they still teach and teach their evil doctrine. But in all these we must still be examples of a believer. In the churches we see idol worshippers, faith deserters and all manner of evil. Yet, we must still shine and be example of a believer, that when people see us or watch us they see Jesus.Therefore believers should heed what the Spirit says expressly.
Some people are going through the motions but are not in the Book of Life. As a believer we have to do a daily check of ourselves, by cross examining with the word of God. As believers people are watching us for different reasons some to catch you fall, to emulate you, or see if you can follow through.
As a believer we ought to make sure our foundation is sure in Christ. We are the bible some people read, so we should be a replica of the bible. If you want to serve GOD, you have to serve Him on His terms not yours. If you want to serve Him on your terms, forget it. As an example to be imitated, we must be far from iniquity. Run from all appearance of it. Apostle Paul commended Timothy to be diligent in his following of Christ, so as to save himself and those he preaches to. Do not let any one despise your youth, (in Christ, in age, in experience) or your past or any experience in your life. When God wants to use you He does not look at the events that has occurred in your life, for He uses the foolish things to confound the wise.
An example means a model or pattern that is to be imitated or avoided. In what areas are we to be examples. How to be an example:
In words: that includes your words and the Word of God. Josh 1:8 as a believer we must always have command of the word of God. We must study to show ourselves approved to God. When we pray and when we confront the unjust and immoral idolaters and faith deserters. We must also be examples in what we say and how we say. According to James he who can bridle his tongue can control his whole body. We must be truthful in our words. We need to pray for grace to have our words seasoned with truth. We should not use ambiguous answers. Let our yea be yea and nay be nay. Our words matter Eph4:29. What we say as believers the world uses to judge us, let our speech distinguish us. If you use the world's language we can never be examples to them. Col 4:6, Titus 2:8, we ought to have sound speech, what topic of discussion do we contribute to?
In our manner of life: we must not only keep away from iniquity but we must learn to live well, and do well. Some christans are righteous but very prickly that others cannot live with them. Where are you found or what are you seen doing outside the church? Our icons should not be from the world, if you don't break from the cause, you cannot get rid of the symptom. We must be examples in our lifestyle and conversations. 1 Pet 1:14, 1 Pet 2:12
In spirit: when people meet you do the see you are spiritual, do you worship in spirit and work in the spirit? As a worker we should stir up the gift of God in us and bear fruits of the spirit. Bear ample fruit of the spirit. You should also live a spiritual life at all times, we worship God in spirit and in truth. Be not carnal in your conduct.1 pet 2:5, if we are spiritual, we can offer acceptable spiritual sacrifice. As a spiritual believer you know where to handle things that do not work in the physical
In charity and love : we should be examples in love. That is both in your love for brethren and God. Love God passionately with all you are that the world can tell. Love the work of Go the minstry. Be committed and not ashamed of the word and work of God. Love your brethren, because by it the world can tell that you belong to God. 1 pet 1:17. Owe no man nothing but love. Rom 12: 9-10, 18; 13:8
In faith: Be an example in faith learn to believe without seeing. Heb 11:6, do not give up, walk by faith. Be an example because people watching you who might lose faith, would hold on because your faith inspires them to believe. And people must also have faith that you can build their faith in difficult situation.
In prayer: we must pray about everything, Phil 4:6, luke 18:1. Always pray without ceasing, but offer prayer that is acceptable to God. We should not just pray 'gimme' prayers but also learn to stand in the place of intercession on behalf of others. Also we must never pray pretentious prayers, or prayer to hurt others.
In working: we must be dilligent in our work, and be faithful in whatever task given. We must work comprehensively and cover all grounds, and do any work left undone. We must work continously. Prov 22:29, Phil 1:6. We must not put forth anything that is not our best, in our workplaces. Like Daniel we can evangelize and be examples by just doing what we ought to. Do not work with the attitude that 'the business is not your so therefore...' you give mediocre service, but as the bible says "whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord". Do not wait to be bribed to do what you are already being paid to do.
In giving: 2 Cor. 9:6-9 to succeed as believers we must be good givers, give our time, resource and money. We should not just give when we are abounding in abundance, but also when things are tight. That is sacrificial giving, like David and the widow we should give GOD something that costs us a lot. Also give with a cheerful heart like Abraham, who was going to give a great sacrificial offering to God but did not grumble at all about being asked to give his all. In giving attitude is everything.
In purity: 1 pet 2:11-12 we must be examples in purity, both your work and walk must be pure before God. We must be people of intergrity, and purity to always walk in righteousness. 2 tim 2:19,22, 1 tim 4:12. The world does not read the bible, but your good works which is what influences them. 1 john 3:1-3, to be like Christ we must purify ourselves like Christ is pure. We must be sexually pure but also physically pure. We must take our cleanliness personal and also extend it to the house of God.
Good Friday and Easter
Phil Wickham - True Love (The Wall) from DanStevers.com on Vimeo.
Today’s video is a song from Phil Wickham, called "True love". This video, originally produced for an Easter service, depicts the spiritual wall that was removed by the death and resurrection of Jesus. It finishes with an invitation to “come close & listen to the story”. Share this video with your friends with this invitation in mind. Lets us celebrate and rejoice, because He is Alive!
SIN CONCIOUSNESS vs. GOD CONCIOUSNESS
We tend to be more sin conscious than we are God conscious, that is we are a lot more aware of our probability to sin, than we are aware of God’s presence. This is something am also guilty of, we tend to think that by feeling bad and beating ourselves over the head for whatever sin we committed; that God will see how bad we feel and forgive us. However, the truth is this; Jesus has died once and for all for the sins of this world. Romans 8 vs. 1 says THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit (AMP).
We wake up each day thinking of the possibilities of sin we might run into, some just let the sins of the past get a better hold in their life. Hence, the sin takes root and torments us with guilt, making us feel less worthy of God’s love. Whenever we find ourselves in this situation we should never forget 2 Corinthians 5 vs. 17-19: This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation (NLT). You are now a new creation HALLELUJAH!
We should also remember that we did not choose God, but God chose us, so Philippians 1 vs. 6 says God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won't stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns (CEV). So even if you fall, do not stay there and wallow in self-pity, ask God for forgiveness (1 john 1:19), get back on your feet, and move on.
Refuse to let the devil get a better hold in your life, because you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, the daughter or son of Zion. Matthew 7 : 18 says if you are in Christ, then you a good tree, and a good tree cannot produce bad fruits, just as an orange tree can’t bring forth an apple. You are dead to sin and have the fruits of the spirit. So put to work those fruits of the spirit meditate on them day and night. Deuteronomy 30: 19 says we have been given two options death and life, blessing and curse, it also urges us to choose life that we may live the life we have been called to live.
So make up your mind to live a guilt free life.
Prayer: Thank you father, for I know am dead to sin. I know my life is hidden in you, so I put my hands in your hands, my feet in yours and let my motives and intentions bring glory and honour to your Holy name. In Jesus name. Amen
I will be putting up more posts on this site, Keep living a God filled life.
Blu Amber.
Image if from http://www.bible.ca/marriage/sin-guilt-causes-body-pain-sickness.gif
La Vérité: A costly gift that we do not apprecitate
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
For God so LOVES the world that he gave his one and ONLY Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. Titus 3:5a
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice... “My Father, my Father, why have you forsaken me?” Mark 15:34
Shalom, Maranatha.
Inlovwitchrist.
La Vérité: So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 1 Cor 10:12
We are now in what we call the end times. As young people in this time how do we stand fast in the faith, given all the pressures of what the society and our peers say is the norm. Do we stand as rebels against the flow or follow as the world goes? The Bible says in Romans 12:2
New International Version (©1984)
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
New Living Translation (©2007)
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Even the world says "Stand for something or fall for anything", so either we stand for GOD or we fall for anything that comes our way. One thing to know as a christian is that GOD never promised us a smooth sail but rather HE said in Psalms 34:19
New Living Translation (©2007)
The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.
English Standard Version (©2001)
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
The world will always come after us no matter what, because as heaven celebrates the conversion of one single soul, hell also rages at the loss of one soul. Seeing as the devil is the prince of this world, they definitely will be against us both physically and psychologically. So I ask, how can we stand firm in these days of great adversity? The Bible says in Hebrews 10:25
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Daily fellowship with fellow brethren because iron sharpens iron, and a daily study of the word to renew our mind and clear out all the garbage we are feed daily by the media and society. Believe me the Bible said daily because the devil and the world always bombard us daily. We are also encouraged to pray without stopping in 1Thessalonians 5:17
New International Version (©1984)
pray continually;
New Living Translation (©2007)
Never stop praying.
English Standard Version (©2001)
pray without ceasing.
We also overcome and can stand by our testimonies in Revelations 12:11
English Standard Version (©2001)
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony,
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony,
And also more importantly we must put on the whole armor of GOD as instructed in Ephesians 6:10-17, then verse 18 goes on to tell us what to do when we are at our wits end
New International Version (©1984)
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26
So brethren though the days may be evil we must stand firm, because HE said that
"To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God...I will not be hurt at all by the second death...I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it."
"To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'--just as I have received authority from my Father. He will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give him the morning star...he will be clothed in white, I will never erase his names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine...I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name...I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."
So for this glory set ahead of us let us strive to overcome and run this race victoriously like Paul who said "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful." 2 Timothy 4:7.
Till next time my fellow youths in Christ Shalom, Maranatha.
InlovewitChrist.
New International Version (©1984)
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
New Living Translation (©2007)
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Even the world says "Stand for something or fall for anything", so either we stand for GOD or we fall for anything that comes our way. One thing to know as a christian is that GOD never promised us a smooth sail but rather HE said in Psalms 34:19
New Living Translation (©2007)
The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.
English Standard Version (©2001)
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
The world will always come after us no matter what, because as heaven celebrates the conversion of one single soul, hell also rages at the loss of one soul. Seeing as the devil is the prince of this world, they definitely will be against us both physically and psychologically. So I ask, how can we stand firm in these days of great adversity? The Bible says in Hebrews 10:25
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Daily fellowship with fellow brethren because iron sharpens iron, and a daily study of the word to renew our mind and clear out all the garbage we are feed daily by the media and society. Believe me the Bible said daily because the devil and the world always bombard us daily. We are also encouraged to pray without stopping in 1Thessalonians 5:17
New International Version (©1984)
pray continually;
New Living Translation (©2007)
Never stop praying.
English Standard Version (©2001)
pray without ceasing.
We also overcome and can stand by our testimonies in Revelations 12:11
English Standard Version (©2001)
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony,
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony,
And also more importantly we must put on the whole armor of GOD as instructed in Ephesians 6:10-17, then verse 18 goes on to tell us what to do when we are at our wits end
New International Version (©1984)
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26
So brethren though the days may be evil we must stand firm, because HE said that
"To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God...I will not be hurt at all by the second death...I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it."
"To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'--just as I have received authority from my Father. He will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give him the morning star...he will be clothed in white, I will never erase his names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine...I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name...I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."
So for this glory set ahead of us let us strive to overcome and run this race victoriously like Paul who said "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful." 2 Timothy 4:7.
Till next time my fellow youths in Christ Shalom, Maranatha.
InlovewitChrist.
