20/20 vision but ZERO insight

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus saith unto Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” Jesus answered, “Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.” John 3:3-6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

If you know someone who’s not a Christian, don’t try to argue with them. Nobody was ever argued into the kingdom of Heaven. Anything someone can argue you into, you can be argued out of. The problem is, they cannot see.  Would you scold a blind man for not seeing? On the other hand, a blind man would be foolish to say there’s no light just because he cannot see it.

There is light, but man needs more than light. He needs sight. “...Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of Heaven.” He may have 20/20 sight, but spiritually he’s blind. “Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:18). The eyes may be fine, but the heart is blind.

There are people you have shared the Gospel with—perhaps even members of your own family—but they haven’t a clue as to what it’s all about, and they never will, until the Holy Spirit opens their understanding.

ACTION POINT:

It takes more than preaching to get somebody saved; it takes the work of the Holy Spirit of God. Pray: “O God, open the eyes of those who have been blinded, that the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the image of God, might shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Before I ever preach, I get on my knees and pray, “O, God, for those who need Jesus Christ, give them sight.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Praying the Sinner's Prayer

How can something so simple become so inflated with a purpose that supposedly leads to salvation? How cunning is Satan? To lead people to believe that praying a designated prayer leading to salvation is true and real. By taking the emphasis off Christ the Savior, the only author of salvation, the one true living God, the giver of everlasting life! While prayer for deliverance from sin is part of salvation, we must know that it is what Christ has done alone that brings salvation. It is by our obedience to Christ and His teaching that we are given this gift. We can not earn it nor can we reimburse payment to Christ through works. That is the power of the Cross!! How can you know Christ? You must read His Word to know who you serve. He reveals the truth to you if you seek Him with your whole heart. What is baptism? It is obedience to Christ, passing from old life to new, an outward act of death to self and resurrection to new life following Christ. Your regeneration comes from hearing the Word and allowing the indwelling Spirit of Christ control of your all! What does that look like? Turning from sinful things, being obedient to Christ, prayer, love of others, searching the scripture for truth, repentance, peace and joy, just to name a few. I did not say that the trials of life would pass you by or that you would be monetarily set for life. When trouble comes, you will have your feet set on a Rock (Christ) and you will not be moved. It has a cost! Deny self and follow! Some think this a joke, but eternity is real and souls will live in Heaven or Hell. Who can obtain salvation? Those whom the Lord calls!

Heb.9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment

Lord, open eyes and hearts to the majesty of You. You supply our every need according to Your mercy and by Your power we are saved from Hell. Amen

Acts 4:11-12

11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." 


1Tim.2:3-6 

3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 
4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Col.2:12-14 

12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 

14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Romans 9:14-16

14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 

15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 

16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

Rev.22:17 The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

It Was In Your Heart

1 Kings 8:18 But the LORD said to David my father, 'Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.
1Kings 8:23 and said, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart


Is He in your heart? Do you thirst for the true knowledge of God? Do you proclaim His glory to the world? He holds the universe in His hands! He holds you in His hand! Do you know the fear of falling into the hands of the living God?

1 Kings 8:37-40 
37 "If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 
38 whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house, 
39 then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind), 
40 that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers.


If, in your heart, you ask for mercy, God forgives!

1Kings 8:57-61, 9:3 
57 The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us, 
58 that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers. 
59 Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires, 
60 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other. 
61 Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day."
3 And the LORD said to him, "I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.


Faith, mercy and patience...


Heb.11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

1Tim.1:16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

Awesome God of my heart, forgive us! We do not really grasp Who You Are!! Give us a thirst for You that can not be satisfied! Help us to teach and show you to the world! Amen

His Pursuit Of You

How do you become a Christian? To be a citizen of the kingdom, you must be a child of the King. Conversion consists of turning from yourself and trusting in the Father. Be humble before the Lord.


Matt.18:3-4

3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 

4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus calls His disciples to humility of heart, not childishness of thought.

Loving the Church...
We protect one another from sin.
We are selflessly concerned about each others holiness.
We are radically committed to our own holiness.
We love one another. In light of the Father's angelic provision of His children. In light of the Father's individual pursuit of His children.


Ps.91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.


Ps.91:14-16 

14 "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 

15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 

16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Dan.6:22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm."

We restore one another.
The process of church discipline and restoration...
Step 1 Private correction
Step 2 Small group clarification
Step 3 Church admonition
Step 4 Church excommunication


Matt.18:15-16 
15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 
16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

God's promises a midst church discipline and restoration...
He has given us His authority
He has granted us His support.
He has guaranteed us His presence.


Matt.18:18-20 
18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 
19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." 

We forgive one another.
In Christ, we have received extravagant grace.
As Christians, we now extend extravagant grace.


Matt.18:21-22,33,35 
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" 
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'

35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." 

I and the Father are One...

John 10:24-30 

24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 

25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 

26 but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. 

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 

28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 

29 My Father, who has given them to me,is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 

30 I and the Father are one."

Thanks Pastor!  

Holy God, may we ever be mindful of our wicked tongue. Help us to keep our eyes on You. May we only speak Your truth out of love and receive the truth of chastisement with a glad repentant heart. Teach us to stand for Your ways and to teach others Your commands. Amen

The Spirit is Willing but the Flesh is Weak

Mark 14:38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

If you are a believer, you are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was sent to us after Christ died and rose again. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. Therefore, having the Holy Spirit living in us, it grieves our Spirit when we sin.  Christians are not always living righteous lives, even though we want to be. Paul seems to have schizophrenia as he describes the struggle between the spirit and the flesh.

Romans 7:15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

Romans 7:18-19 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

Our spirit and flesh are in conflict!

Galatians 5:17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

From the beginning, we have been wicked!

Gen.6:5-6 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

Eph.4:30-32 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander; along with ever form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Lord, I pray this for all Christians that they would be forgiving and would love each other. I also ask for us to driven to deep faith in You alone, in the knowledge that You are faithful and just! Amen

But what about the unrepentant sinner who does not have the Holy Spirit indwelling in them? Do they have a moral compass, to discern right from wrong? In a sense they do because when God created man, He put in him a sense of what is true. But with this rebellion comes judgment! Even from a child, you knew what was naughty, but with wild abandonment, you did it anyway! Even as a child, you would wonder who made the earth and all that is in it!

Romans 1:18-22 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood by what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Salvation in Christ:

Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.

How Do You Become a Christian

Easter Sunday Teaching, dead to sin alive to God:
Romans 6:4-11 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. We identify with Christ in His crucifixion.He died as your substitute.You die to your sin.You turn from yourself.You trust in Christ as your Savior.You participate with Christ in His Resurrection.He rose as Lord over the grave.You rise to live with God.You are now free from sin. You have no fear in death.Thank You Father God for Jesus Christ. He is worthy , we are not. We are rebellious, He is not. We are sinners, He is not. We can do nothing to please You, He did everything! Amen

I Feel You

In my heart, I feel you. All of you who are searching for the truth, the ones God is calling. I know you may be in  lands, far away from me, but remember this, you are oh so close to the Lord, just look around and see His creation. I too know that feeling of being lost. The feeling there is something more to life than just this day to day living, with all it's ups and downs. Be open to His word and receive His gift of eternal salvation, brought with a price by God's only Son, Jesus. You are that special, that precious, that He would pay your debt with His blood.
John 1:12-14 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Eph.1:4-9 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, acording to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ Eph.2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. Col.1:13-14 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Lord, help me to speak Your word in truth, to captivate the lost with Your word as You have captured my heart. Teach me as You teach them through Your word. Lord God, you are powerful, You are mighty, You are King, You are Judge, have mercy on us. By Your will and power, save the lost. Amen Rev.21:6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

The Word and the Holy Spirit

Bless my pastor for his sharing of the word and how he is able to give clarity to it! Lord, Your word is good and a blessing to us, it teaches us, it brings peace to us, it exposes sin and tells us about You. Open Your word to us and bury it deep within us. Amen
1 Cor.12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
Your body, the temple of the Spirit: 
1 Cor.6:19-20  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
We are baptized in/by/with the Holy Spirit at our conversion.
Matt.3:11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Eph.1:13-14 him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,to the praise of his glory.
Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

Are You Just Called Or Are You Chosen?

Matt. 22:14 ESV For many are called, but few are chosen."
When I read this verse this morning for about the 10th time, I was just astounded! It really sunk in what it meant! Only some will except Jesus even though they have been called by Him to be His! I got a really sick feeling in my gut because people, like me who are saved by grace, may not have ever really listened to this verse. It will effect the way we look at people. It is possible to know about Jesus but not except Him and follow Him. Lord, I pray for eyes to be opened to Your word today, for we may not have a tomorrow. Today is the day of salvation. Amen
Lord, Your word says: Rev.22:17 KJ And the Spirit and the bride say ,Come. And let him that heareth say ,Come . And let him that is athirst come . And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
This is a general call of repentance to all who hear the gospel, we who respond are the chosen.
God's internal call or effectual call is a supernatural drawing to Him. 
John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 
Although we are chosen to enter the kingdom, it is only because of the grace of God and His drawing of us to Himself, that allows us the privilege to enter His presence .
Definition of grace: God’s unmerited favor,-unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification
I would like to say one thing about grace. While grace is free, with it comes a responsibility of repentance. We must try to live a holy life and when we fail, go on our knees and ask for forgiveness.
Titus 2:11-12, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;"
Lord, help me follow Your commands and help me to teach others. Lord God, forgive us when we fail You. Amen

Saul, Saul, Why Are You Persecuting Me?

Acts 9:1-19 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."  The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened.
So, you think you are too terrible for God to use? This bible truth lets you see God can change and use anyone from any background!! Saul persecuted the believers. He wanted them all thrown in prison, men and women alike. God struck him blind to get his attention and then used him, till his death, to multiply the church.

Gracious Lord, have mercy on us. Mold us for Your glory. Use us to share the hope we have found in Christ Jesus. Lord, help us teach repentance as an never ending part of being a Christ follower. For if we say we have no sin, we lie. Amen

Peter's Denial

Definition of denial: disbelief in the existence or reality of a thing, refusal to recognize or acknowledge.
All the gospels give an account of Peter's denial from different points of view with the same outcome of mercy shown to undeserving sinners.
Matt.26:69-75 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean." And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders,"This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again he denied it with an oath: "I do not know the man." After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you." Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
Mark 14:66-72 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you mean." And he went out into the gateway andthe rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them." But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, "Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know this man of whom you speak." And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him,  "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.
Luke 22:54-62 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, "This man also was with him." But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him." And a little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, "Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him,  "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
John 18:25-27  Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You also are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
While we all are horrified at Peter's denial of Christ, are we not also guilty in some thought or deed? Our sin nature leaves us open to denying Christ but we receive, upon repentance, mercy just as Peter did. Our flesh is weak but we are under divine grace. The book of Luke alone records that Jesus made eye contact with Peter after his denial and then Peter remembered and wept bitterly. We may not see Jesus looking us in the eye, but we stand accused all the same, for his conviction of our sin remains with us until we are forgiven by His grace. The thought of seperation from Him pierces the heart and leaves a cold despair. 
Definition of despair: to loose all hope. Sweet Lord, convict us of our sin. Help us to fall on our knees to You with regret for our denial of You and Your majesty. Forgive us, teach us and remember us in mercy. Amen