Book Report - Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala (5-5-14)

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala (5-5-14)

One of many things God showed me through my time of training in Guatemala was that a personal testimony is powerful. Anyone can try to debate someone over the existence of God, the historical accuracy of the Bible, or whether Jesus actually rose from the grave. What cannot be debated, however, is the saving power of Christ and the work the Holy Spirit has done in one’s own life. I love that in his book, Pastor Jim Cymbala shares a lot of his testimony and how God has worked through him and his wife, Carol.

The title of his book, “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire”, describes how the church today lacks the Holy Spirit’s leading and power. It is not that the Holy Spirit has left, nor even that believers aren’t filled with the Spirit - it’s that the Church as a whole has become so consumed with intellectualism and self-reliance that we have stopped feeling the need to follow the Spirit’s leading. 

Pastor Jim said “The devil is not terribly frightened of our human efforts and credentials. But he knows his kingdom will be damaged when we lift up our hearts to God.” We know that we’re not saved by our works, but by grace and through faith - it is the gift of God. Pride is the biggest struggle mankind has ever known - “I deserve the best” (coveting, stealing, adultery, lying, murder), “I know best” (dishonoring parents, not remembering the Sabbath), and “I am the best” (having other gods, idolizing self, committing blasphemy). 

Getting rid of pride is simple in theory, hard in action. Being broken before the Lord and surrendering our will is the most difficult thing to do - to die to self. This is not a once-upon-salvation thing, this is a day by day (if not moment by moment) struggle that will continue until our last breath. Lifting our hearts up to God is such a freeing experience. We try to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, but Jesus says “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

I have asked many times in my life (as I’m sure a lot of people have), “God, why aren’t you speaking to me?” and “I don’t understand Lord, why are you doing this?”. The answer to the first one has always been “I have been speaking to you - I have convicted you of the habitual sin in your life, and you have ignored Me.” The answer to the second has always been “Trust Me. I see the beginning and the end. I hold the world in My hands. I am faithful even when you are not. I love you and have perfect plans for your life. Follow after me with all your being and I will take care of the rest.” 

Are we going to trust Him with our lives? Do we want to be on fire for our Savior? How do we do this? The question is not whether we are worthy of being filled with the Spirit because the answer will always be no - we are worthy of eternal death in hell. Rather, the question is whether we will allow ourselves to be emptied of our will and allow the Spirit to fill us with Him. He is a Gentleman - He won’t come where He’s not welcomed. Jeremiah 29:12-13 says “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” To be filled with the Spirit is to be completely submitted to His Will, to fervently desire to be led by Him and to be in constant fellowship with Him.

IBS for the book of Jude (4-5-14)

Inductive Bible Study Method for Jude 

Theme: Contend Earnestly for the Faith Key Verses: 3-4

Section 1:

Introduction (vs 1-2)

Verse 1 -

Observation:

Jude, bondservant of Jesus, brother of James, to those called, sanctified by God, preserved in Jesus.

Interpretation:

Jude was writing to those who were called, which was the Church. He said that he was a bondservant of Christ, he was sanctified by God and preserved in Jesus.

Application:

Just as Jude was a bondservant of Jesus, so we should willingly choose to surrender our will to our Master. We are justified once at salvation, but we’re in the constant process of being sanctified. Jude was preserved in Jesus, he knew he was safe and secure in Christ. We can have this assurance because Jesus says He will never leave us nor forsake us in Hebrews 13:5.

Verse 2 -

Observation:

Mercy, peace, love, multiplied to you.

Interpretation:

Jude was blessing those he was writing to by asking God to multiply their mercy, peace and love.

Application:

Not only should we be praying that God increase our mercy, peace and love, but we should also be praying that God bless our brothers and sisters with these fruits and virtues.

Section 2:

Reason for Writing (vs 3-4)

Verse 3 -

Observation:

Beloved, I was diligent to write, concerning common salvation, exhorting you, contend earnestly for the faith, which once for all delivered, to saints.

Interpretation:

Jude was writing about salvation, but also to encourage them to fight for the Gospel which was once for all given to those who believe on Christ.

Application:

We need to exhort and encourage one another to declare the Gospel at any cost. 

Verse 4 -

Observation:

Men crept, unnoticed, who were marked for condemnation, ungodly, turn grace into lewdness, deny the Lord.

Interpretation:

There were ungodly men who went into the Church, perverting grace and denying Christ.

Application:

The Church didn’t even realize these men were coming into their church. It’s so easy to let our guards down - especially around those we fellowship with. We should be being Bereans, seeing if things people say line up with Scripture. 

Section 3:

Teaching (vs 5-23)

Segment 1 of Section 3:

Old Testament Examples of Sin (vs 5-7)

Verse 5 -

Observation:

Remind you, you knew this, Lord saved people out of Egypt, afterward destroyed, those who did not believe.

Interpretation:

Jude reminded them of how God rescued His people from Egypt, but then wiped out the people who didn’t have faith in Him.

Application:

God lets the rain fall on the just and on the unjust - so people won’t necessarily get consequences for their sin here on earth. Everyone will have to stand before their Maker when they die, so He will have the final say in the end. Are we prepared to meet our Maker? Are those around us prepared?

Verse 6 - 

Observation:

Angels did not keep their domain, but left their abode, He has reserved in chains, for the judgement of the great day.

Interpretation:

There were angels who left the confines of God’s Authority to act of their own accord. He has put them away and will use them on the day of judgement.

Application:

Angels were created perfect, we were born sinful - how could we think we’re above sinning if they aren’t even above it? It all stems from pride and the idea that we can be as God. This was the cause of not only Adam and Eve’s fall, but also Satan’s fall. The only way to walk humbly before God is to surrender to Him and admit that nothing good can come from us.

Verse 7 -

Observation:

As Sodom and Gomorrah, and cities around them, given over to, sexual immorality, gone after, strange flesh, set as example, suffering vengeance, eternal fire.

Interpretation:

Sodom, Gomorrah, and the surrounding cities were set as an example, showing what will happen when people go against God’s commands. Those people are suffering in eternal fire because they wouldn’t turn to God.

Application:

In the perspective of eternity, anything we do on this earth that’s not glorifying to God is worthless. For those who live for their flesh, life is short - so live like there’s no tomorrow. Sin is definitely pleasurable for a season, but everyone has a debt to pay in the end. Everyone has the choice to believe on Christ - to give their debt to Him in exchange for living their life for Him instead of living it for themselves. Even as believers, we still live for ourselves. Can we truly say we’ve surrendered our will to Him?

Segment 2 of Section 3:

False Teachers (vs 8-16)

Verse 8 - 

Observation:

Likewise, dreamers defile flesh, reject authority, speak evil.

Interpretation:

Dreamers are likened unto those condemned to eternal fire. They discard authority, dishonor themselves and talk badly about those in power over them. 

Application:

Dreamers are those who live in a fantasy world. Usually when a person fantasizes about something, they are imagining things that give them delight and pleasure. If we are living in a fantasy world, then we’re going to only care about ourselves. We need to be extremely careful to live with our eyes open to what’s really going on around us. This will ensure that we are honoring to God, others and ourselves.

Verse 9 -

Observation:

Michael the archangel, contending with devil, disputed about Moses, not bring accusation, “Lord rebuke you”.

Interpretation:

Michael was battling Satan, and the question was brought as to where the body of Moses was buried. Michael didn’t argue with Satan, he left it in God’s hands.

Application:

If the archangel didn’t even take on Satan, why do people think that they can? We are to be sober and vigilant because Satan is seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8), but we are not to take him into our own hands because God is our strength and defense.

Verse 10 - 

Observation:

These speak, evil of, whatever they do not know, whatever they know, they corrupt themselves.

Interpretation:

Jude brings it back to the dreamers - they put down what they don’t know, and they pervert what they do know. 

Application:

The comparison here is that Michael knew that his Authority was God, whereas the dreamers don’t care who their authority is, speak evil of them, and disobey them. We should strive to please God, proclaim His awesome Name, and obey Him.

Verse 11 - 

Observation:

Woe to them, run greedily, in error for profit, perished in rebellion.

Interpretation:

Those who had been greedy and willing to do anything for profit ended up perishing in rebellion. 

Application:

When we put greed, profit, and the love of money and possessions above everything else in our lives, we end up being destroyed - not necessarily physically, but definitely spiritually. 1 Timothy 6:10 says “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed form the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” God needs to be number One in our lives, and everything else will follow according to what He wants for us. 

Verse 12 - 

Observation:

Spots in love feasts, without fear, serving themselves, clouds without water, carried about, trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled by roots.

Interpretation:

There were those who defiled the love feasts and only looked out for their interests. They were like clouds without water and trees without fruit - they didn’t serve the purpose of existence, which is to glorify God. Twice dead and pulled up by the roots is dying both a physical and spiritual death. 

Application:

If we aren’t serving God, then there’s no way we can truly serve others - the only one left to serve is self. What is a cloud without water? Nothing. What are we without Christ? Nothing. We need to find our identity in Christ and hide ourselves in Him.

Verse 13 - 

Observation:

Waves of sea, foaming shame, stars reserved, darkness forever. 

Interpretation:

They were like the sea, foaming up their own shame, and wandering stars for whom the blackness of eternal darkness was reserved for. 

Application:

When you’re so full of something, it’s going to end up coming out - their shame came out because they were full of unrepentant sin. When you have nothing to live for, you’re forever wandering. They didn’t put their faith in Christ and repent of their sin, so God has no choice but to judge them righteously and place them in hell - eternal blackness and darkness. Are we wandering or full of shame? Are we truly saved? If so, we need to repent of our sins, we need to have Christ as our reason for living.

Verse 14 - 

Observation:

Enoch prophesied, about these men, the Lord comes, with His saints.

Interpretation:

Enoch was the seventh son from Adam. He foretold of these wicked men. He also foretold of the Lord coming with ten thousands of saints.

Application:

Enoch got word from God about the evil to come, yet that didn’t stop the evil from spreading. Even though God tells us about consequences that will happen as a result of our actions, we usually ignore Him and have to learn the hard way. 

Verse 15 - 

Observation:

Execute judgement, convict ungodly, deeds committed, things spoken, against Him.

Interpretation:

The Lord will come with ten thousands to judge the ungodly. Every single human being ever to have lived has sinned - all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). The ungodly are those who committed ungodly deeds in an ungodly way and spoke badly against Jesus. 

Application:

The only difference between believers and unbelievers is Christ’s blood. We need to see that we are no better than anyone else - that it’s nothing we did to save ourselves, and it’s everything Christ did to save us.

Verse 16 - 

Observation:

Grumblers, complainers, walk to lusts, swelling words, flattering to gain advantage. 

Interpretation:

Those whom the Lord will judge are listed. I’ve never seen or heard of a person who hasn’t been selfish, except Christ. These people walked according to their lusts, whereas Christ walked according to the Spirit.

Application:

We should be walking in the Spirit. We are called to be set apart from the world - to be in the world but not of it. How are we supposed to let our light shine before men if we’re acting just like them? If we’re truly walking in the Spirit, our attitudes and faces will show it.

Segment 3 of Section 3:

Exhortation to believers (vs 17-23)

Verse 17 - 

Observation:

Beloved, remember words, spoken by apostles.

Interpretation:

Jude is asking the called to keep the apostles’ words in mind. 

Application:

If you’re not remembering, you’re forgetting, plain and simple. 

Verse 18 - 

Observation:

They told, be mockers, who walk, according to lusts. 

Interpretation:

Jude is reminding them, once again of the evil that would come into the Church. These people lived only to please themselves. 

Application:

If something is repeated in Scripture, it must be important. These mockers would come in the last time - that time is pretty near! We need to be on the lookout for these people, and have discernment so that we don’t fall into sin.

Verse 19 - 

Observation:

Sensual persons, cause divisions, not having Spirit.

Interpretation:

These people did not have the Spirit, which meant that they weren’t saved. The most crucial thing for these people would not be to condemn them, but to give them Jesus.

Application:

God is not the Author of confusion - when people are divided over something, it’s because they’re not putting God first. Salvific issues need to be fought for, non-salvific issues need to be agreed to disagreed on, and everyone should have God as the center of their lives. 

Verse 20 - 

Observation:

Beloved, building up, holy faith, praying in Spirit.

Interpretation:

Jude encourages the believers to keep building themselves up in their faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.

Application:

The only way to build our faith is to be in communion with the Lord. We do this by praying in the Spirit, reading the Word and fellowshipping with believers. We should be walking with the Lord and encouraging others in their walk. Our lives as Christians is not just to have a relationship with Jesus, but to have relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Verse 21 - 

Observation:

Keep in, love of God, looking for mercy, unto eternal life.

Interpretation:

Keep yourselves in God’s love - His love is never failing, so there’s no way we can get out of His love. However, we can burn our consciences and thereby numb ourselves to Him. There’s only one place we can find mercy - this is at the Cross in Christ’s atoning blood.

Application:

How do we keep ourselves in the love of God? He wants to be in a deep relationship with us, so there needs to be a willingness to submit to Him instead of disobeying Him. We are to cast ourselves upon His mercy, knowing that it’s only through Him we can have eternal life with Him. 

Verse 22 - 

Observation:

On some, have compassion, distinction.

Interpretation:

To make a distinction is to have more of a sensitivity to some than to others. Some people need more of a gentle approach than others. 

Application:

We are to have compassion on every human being, but even more so for some people. We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading in order to know how to minister to each individual we come in contact with. 

Verse 23 - 

Observation:

Others, save with fear, pulling out of fire, hating garment, defiled by flesh.

Interpretation:

The other side of being gentle is to be firm in a loving way. Some people need more of an emphatic, earnest approach. 

Application:

Again, being sensitive to the Holy Spirit is key. No one should be scared into salvation, but they do need to know of the impending judgement. Any witness we have is useless if it’s not in love. Hate the sin, love the sinner.

Section 4:

Closing (vs 24-25)

Verse 24 - 

Observation:

Him Who, keep from stumbling, present faultless, presence of glory, with joy.

Interpretation:

God keeps us from stumbling and presents us faultless with joy in His presence. 

Application:

God won’t let satan tempt us beyond anything we can bear and He won’t intentionally cause us to stumble. If we ever think we’re above sinning, there’s a good chance we will fall in that area. We can’t stay strong without Him - we need to rely on the Holy Spirit in all things. He can present us sinless to the Father because His blood washed our sins away. Are we joyful in this amazing truth?

Verse 25 - 

Observation:

To God, Who is wise, be glory, majesty, dominion, power, now and forever.

Interpretation:

God our Savior is wise, deserving of all praise, eternally.

Application:

I often catch myself wondering if God really knows what He’s doing. He knew what my life would look like before He laid the foundations of the earth. He deserves above and beyond what I could ever offer Him and I am so enthralled that we’ll be worshipping Him forever. I need to have faith that He knows what He’s doing and always praise Him - in the good times, and in the bad times. He is Lord of all no matter what.

Book Report - You Were Made For More by Jim Cymbala (3-12-14)

You Were Made For More - Jim Cymbala (3-12-14)

Everyone in life is wondering if there’s more. If you’re yearning for a fuller and richer spiritual life, you aren’t alone. God has plans for us, to give us a future and a hope - He wants us to call on His Name and rely on Him for all our needs. God has a specific and perfect plan for each person’s life. He desires for us to have a deep, personal relationship with Him. The Lord wants more than just one or two days a week, He wants all of us - all the time. God equips those He calls and will provide for us so that we can accomplish His Will.

When we desire to walk in His Will, we need to: look back before we move forward, not move forward in disobedience, and remember that the Blood Sacrifice must always remain the purpose of our mission. These lessons were already learned by the Israelites when they were in Gilgal - so we can learn from them in order to prevent repeating these mistakes. We are powerless to break our chains, only by Christ’s blood can we be set free. God will bless us when we give all the glory to Him instead of taking it for ourselves. 

The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and then comforts us when we repent. He is often overlooked when people think about the Trinity - yet He is the Voice that leads us to repentance. He gives a passion to believers when we allow Him to change our hearts. He challenges us to live a pure life for Christ and gives us the heavenly resources needed to walk worthy of the Gospel we preach.

Why do some believers love the Head (Christ), but don’t respect the Body (Church)? Regardless of age, sex, race, income, or language - Jesus died for everyone. Being discriminatory to certain believers is NOT walking worthy of the Gospel because Jesus desires for ALL to come to know Him. We need to stop treating others badly, and start treating others the way we want to be treated.

When we learn to rely on God to meet all our needs, and are loving everyone with Christ’s love, we also are gaining spiritual discernment. Satan is a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He leads blatant attacks at times, but more frequently he is sneaky and crafty. This is why we need to continually renew our minds with the Word and be discerning with everything in our lives - constantly being on alert.

“I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” So often, people remember the first part about themselves, but not the last part about it being only through Christ’s strength. We try to do things by ourselves, instead of relying on God. We can only throw ourselves whole-heartedly into living for God once we’ve surrendered fully to Him, and we can trust Him to take care of us.

When we go through trials and hardships, it’s easy to question God. Hardships produce patience, perseverance, trust and faith in God, and a testimony to God’s power in our lives. I was really touched by the simple account of a man who wanted to be free from his drug addiction. Pastor Cymbala asked for people in the congregation to pray for this man who could attest to Christ’s changing power in their drug addictions. Dozens of men came forward to lay hands on him. Our testimony is what shows the world the power for Christ that saved us from our sin.  

Every day, every moment, everyone is tempted with sin by our flesh. There are definitely spiritual attacks from demons, but there are many more attacks from our sinful desires. We always have the choice to either give into our flesh or depend on God to fulfill our needs. As believers, we are no longer enslaved to sin because Christ gives us power over our cravings and lusts, and we can live by the Spirit.

When we feel God calling us to do something, we usually object because of our lack of ability to carry out His plan. This is our flesh and Satan trying to render us useless. We feel unworthy and unprepared, yet it is through our weakness that Christ strengthens us. If we accomplished His Will in our own strength, God wouldn’t get any of the credit. God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. God’s plans are not our plans and He desires for us to be faithful, even in the little things. 

God gives a peace to His children - His peace that passes all understanding. His peace gives us protection against the attacks from Satan, gives us love for those who have wronged us, takes away the worry we have about our futures, and renews our mind by taking away the garbage that infiltrates our thoughts. He gives us a calm heart during the storms.

God promises that those who follow Him won’t be put to shame. God made us for more than just being saved and going to Heaven - He wants to us to seek His Will for our lives and then go out there and DO IT.

IBS Luke 5:31-32 (5-4-14)

Inductive Bible Study Method for Luke 5:31-32 (5-4-14)

“Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

The scribes and Pharisees asked the disciples why Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners. I find it comical that instead of the disciples replying, Jesus instead answers them. He told them that He came to call the sinners to repentance and to heal the sick. I love how Jesus defies all the cultural expectations - He rebuked the self-righteous Pharisees. He associated Himself with the most hated people in society - the prostitutes, tax collectors and sinners. His love surpassed caring about how people looked, smelled or carried themselves. He had compassion on the sick and healed them - He TOUCHED lepers. 

These Pharisees and scribes felt no need for a Savior - they believed themselves to be better than everyone else. In the context of the Law, they actually were better than everyone. Jesus challenged them to look at their inward appearance rather than their outward appearance. Matthew 15:11 says “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” Jesus said that if someone hated someone, they commit murder - and if someone lusts after someone, they commit adultery. Jesus made sin about the heart, not about actions.

Only when a person sees their sin for what it really is and sees God for Who He really is, can they cry out to Him to save them. It is when a person is at their lowest that they either harden their heart completely against God or throw themselves on His grace. Every follower of Christ has experienced complete brokenness in order to become a believer. After that, it’s a matter of living in a constant cycle of sin making us prideful then becoming humble before Jesus - or else we are just living in rebellion whilst being saved. 

I know for a fact that I’ve been justified, but am I allowing God to sanctify me? I know that the process of sanctification takes a lifetime and I want to allow the Holy Spirit to mold me into a more godly person. Am I priding myself on my abilities, talents and spiritual growth? I know that God has given me gifts, but these are solely given to be used for His glory. When I do things in my own strength or for recognition - not only do I feel like I haven’t accomplished anything, but I have also just forfeited my reward I could have gotten in heaven. When I try my best, I have to take a step back and evaluate my motives. Who am I doing this for? Myself? Other people? Or God? If it’s for anyone else beside my Savior I repent, dedicate my service to Christ, and finish out what I started. 

Do I see myself as righteous because of my own efforts, or do I see my righteousness as a result of Christ’s blood cleansing my sins? During my devotions each morning, I want to ask God to show me any sin I may be harboring and repent of it. I desire to be that sick person - constantly in need of the Lord’s strength - not the self-righteous person - not needing anyone but myself. 

IBS Acts 2:46-47 (4-3-14)

Inductive Bible Study Method for Acts 2:46-47 (4-3-14)

“So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

Being in one accord means to be in complete agreement or with one mind. There are lots of times that I’ve disagreed with someone over something stupid, and it really wasn’t essential that we agree on it, yet I look at them in a different light after. It’s almost as if I’m offended that they don’t believe the exact same things I do. This is something I really need to work on, we are to love one another - even if we don’t agree on everything.

They broke bread, going from house to house. I once went over to someone’s house for dinner, and they said that they didn’t usually have people over who could give them the same kindness. What’s the point of giving to someone who can repay you? We are to give to someone with a cheerful heart and out of love, not in order to get something in return. I’m convicted about this - I really need to evaluate my motives when I give to people, whether it be my time, my stuff or something else. I should give to someone because I want to, not because I feel like I have to. 

They ate with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. I am glad a lot, but when’s the last time I did something with simplicity of heart? I really want to have that peacefulness and simplicity, yet so often I’m making things way too complicated. I need to remember that walking with the Lord isn’t confusing, it’s just difficult. It’s a matter of being broken before God, repenting of sin, and asking Him to fill me with His Spirit.

The Lord added to the church daily. How awesome is that? I realize that some people never see the fruit of their labor, but I long to see people coming to Christ. It’s only by His working in their hearts that they can see their sin, but we, as believers, are called to bring the Gospel to all the earth. 1 Corinthians 3:6 says “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” I am often scared to share Christ because I’m afraid of what they’ll think of me, and that I’m afraid I won’t say the right things. I need to keep in mind that if I have the Holy Spirit leading me, I can’t say the wrong thing. It’s our job to tell them about Jesus, then it’s in their hands. 

I am going to take 30 minutes during my On the Mount time to focus on praying specifically for my team, that we would be in one accord. 

IBS Acts 2:44-45 (4-2-14)

Inductive Bible Study Method for Acts 2:44-45 (4-2-14)

“Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.”

These believers were together, had all things in common, and shared everything. They gave to anyone who had need. This was not “taking from the rich and giving to the poor”, this was everyone selling everything and dispersing it among themselves. There wasn’t anyone taking advantage of anyone else - they were all equal and everyone profited. 

If the essentials of the Christian faith are agreed upon (Jesus being fully Man and fully God, dying on the Cross, rising from the dead 3 days later, salvation being repentance and putting faith in Christ, etc.), and if you’re able to agree to disagree about nonessential things - then there should be a togetherness that happens. We should love one another as Christ loves the church and give to anyone who is lacking the necessities. 

In the book we read (Calvary Road), there was a chapter devoted to the relationship between fellow believers. What I got out if it was that if a believer does not have fellowship with other believers, he is cutting himself off from having a deeper relationship with God. You’ll only get to a certain level of intimacy with our Father if you aren’t partaking in the community of His other children.

Philippians 2:1 says that we are to have fellowship in the Spirit. 3:10 says that we have fellowship in Christ’s sufferings. 1 John 1:6-7 says that we are liars if we walk in darkness yet say we have fellowship with Christ, and that we can have fellowship with one another because Jesus’ blood cleanses our sin. All this to say that we are all the body of Christ because we’ve been cleansed by Christ’s blood and been filled with the Spirit, so we need to have fellowship and walk in the light together.

How am I striving to maintain fellowship with my brothers and sisters? Am I making an effort to build relationships with others? I am going to continue to pray with people on the spot when they ask for prayer or when I feel the Holy Spirit leading me to pray with them. I made a list the first week we got here of the people living here/involved in ministry here, and wanted to pray for them often. I’ve slacked off in that, so I want to pray for all the people on that list every day. 

IBS Acts 2:43 (4-1-14)

Inductive Bible Study Method for Acts 2:43 (4-1-14)

“Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.”

There are a lot of people who do not have a healthy fear of God. It’s usually one extreme or another. Some people are afraid that God will strike lightning down from the sky if they make one wrong move, and others have a cocky boldness that makes them think they can bargain their way into heaven. We need to have a reverence and respect for God, as He is our Creator. 

Romans 14:11-12 says “For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Everyone will have to answer for everything they’ve done, said and thought. Even those who deny God’s existence will bow at His feet in worship. God is a loving and righteous judge - He can’t be in the presence of sin, so those unwashed by Christ’s blood will be sending themselves to hell. He isn’t unloving for denying access to heaven - if someone hates God, why would they want to worship Him for all eternity?

Many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Everyone knows Philippians 4:12 “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” The sole reason the apostles could perform these wonders was because the Holy Spirit dwelt in them - and the sole purpose for these signs was to bring glory to Christ. If they had been trying to do the miracles to glorify themselves, God would not have blessed them by enabling them. 

My purpose for being on this earth is to glorify my Maker. Anything I do out of selfish ambition will not be blessed by God. I used to do things because I had to, not because I got to. I’m learning to pray before doing anything, give thanks to God for letting me serve Him, and do everything wholeheartedly for Him. I’m going to write “It’s all because of Jesus I’m alive” on my arm to remind me to do everything with a cheerful heart, as unto the Lord.