This is from The Credo ministry at Morning Star Community Church
This is the first teaching (John Chapter 1)
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I think possibly the most difficult thing about being a pastor is getting people to believe God created them for greatness—I’m not saying that there won’t be tragedy or defeat; but to paraphrase Paul in Ephesians, we aren’t saved by good works but for good works!
This week I was teaching from the book of Ruth, chapter 4. Here we see Big Bad Boaz going to the city gates to redeem Ruth. We notice people are praying for Ruth, praying that she would be great like Rachel and Leah. This is the cool part—Ruth brings nothing to the table. She isn’t even present during the redemptive transaction, but yet we see her transitional change from Moabitess to Matriarch due fully and solely to her relationship with the Redeemer.
I challenged the class to grasp onto this redeemed concept and start living as though this is true—to move beyond the elementary principles (such as repentance from dead works) and start focusing on allowing our good works to bring glory to God.
During the small group discussion time, I posed the following question: “What good work or works are going to do this week in recognition of your redeemed position? Or in other words, what is one thing you are you going to do this week to acknowledge that you were created in Christ for good works?”
As I listened to people speak, I couldn’t help but overhear some committing that their good work would be to quit cussing for the week or to quit speaking with sarcasm for the week. . .
Arrgh!!! When will we learn? The old man will not pass away until we put on the new man. We are never told that we will be without sin on this side of heaven, but that remains to steal our focus. We are commanded to love one another, but instead of striving for this, we focus on our own shortcomings. We get stuck. We focus on the things we need to quit doing, dwell on the things we’ve failed at, and fixate on the things we’ve fallen short in. We were created for greatness, yet we refuse to embrace it.
Posted in Christianity | Tagged , Bible, Doug Murphy, ruth, salem church | 2 Comments »
Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. Psalm 144:1
David was a man skilled in war. From his days as a shepherd boy to the days of serving in Saul’s army to leading his own army, David learned to be a skillful warrior. How does one become a skillful warrior?
The only way one can become a skillful warrior is to be trained and placed in the middle of the battle. It is only when we are placed in the furnace of battle that we truly learn to fight the real battles. Practice doesn’t make you battle ready. War games won’t prepare you for facing your real enemy in the battlefield. The stark reality of being in the midst of the battle makes us effective warriors.
Simply reading your Bible will not make you a warrior for the Kingdom. Knowledge without experience is mere folly. Only when you are placed in situations where there is nothing or no one who can save you but God will you learn the lessons of warrior faith. This is the training ground of God, which will make you into a soldier for Christ. Consider it to be suicidal faith-faith that says I want to be dead to anything that keeps me from fulfilling God’s purposes for my life. It is when your efforts can do nothing to change your circumstances and you are at the mercy of God. These are the real training grounds of God. Do not shrink back from the battle that God may be leading you to today. It may be a training ground that is necessary for the calling He has on your life.
If you can trust Him in these times, you’ll know that you have gained a faith that will move mountains and will sustain you in the most difficult of circumstances. “Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.”
Blessing to all. I wanted to share this awesome writing by Os Hillman with you.
Posted in Christianity, Life | 3 Comments »
In what might prove to be the crowning achievement of an illustrious
Career in ministry, the 87-year-old evangelist, Billy Graham shocked the
16,300 in attendance at the Celebration of Hope Crusade in New
Orleans Arena, Sunday Night. Touted in advance as possibly his last
evangelistic crusade, Graham invited the packed house of evangelical
Christians and the hundreds of new converts to join him on the one mile walk
from the arena to New Orleans’ infamous Bourbon Street.
“While we have seen God do tremendous things here the past couple of
evenings, yes, it is true that a great healing and a great many salvations
have occurred within the confines of this auditorium. Still yet,
there lies a great mountain in this city which needs to be conquered.”
Then taking from the Biblical Book of Joshua, Chapter 14, he read, “I am
this day, eighty-five years old. As yet, I am as strong this Day as on the
day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength
for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this
mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day,” his voice suddenly sounding
more forceful than during his 22 minute sermon.
“I last preached in the City of New Orleans in1954 and I felt then that
there was some unfinished business. Tonight, in what very well might be my
last evangelistic service, I aim to finish that business and lead as
many of you that would follow me to the multitude of lost souls that fill
Bourbon Street tonight. That is my mountain !
That is where we shall see the harvest!” said Graham as the stadium
erupted in cheers that lasted the next several minutes. Utilizing a waiting
mobility scooter, the elder Graham joined his son and heir to the ministry,
Franklin across the Arena floor and through the opened doors leading towards
the French Quarter. In a show of solidarity and determination reminiscent of
civil rights marches of the 1960′s, nearly the entire capacity crowd joined
in the 20 minute trek while singing, “When the Saints Go Marching In”.
As the march crossed Canal Street and headed northward towards Bourbon
Street, many onlookers stood in stunned silence as the massive crowd of
people began singing in unison the Christian hymn, Amazing Grace.
Upon entering the west end of Bourbon Street, Billy Graham was soon
recognized by partiers.
Soon, those joining in the march began to approach those partying on
Bourbon Street with the Gospel message that they had heard preached just a
half hour before. Graham himself joined with a group of local street evangelists in ministering to a man who had survived Hurricane Katrina in the lower 9th Ward.
Within 30 minutes, the entirety of Bourbon Street was packed with
Christians and the once blaring music of nightclubs and strip joints had
been replaced by weeping and worship as people poured out their drinks and
sought prayer from the Christians who were now reaching out to them.
“I have never seen anything like this in my life,” said 20 years New
OrleansPolice Department veteran, Tom Phillips. “This is unbelievable! We
thought a riot was going to break out, but this looks more like a revival
than a riot!”
Two hours later, a glowing Graham sat back down on his scooter and
smiled. “Now I know how the Apostle Paul must have felt at the end of his
ministry. Do the work of an evangelist; make full proof of thy ministry. For
I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I
have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”
Hours later, hundreds of Christians remained on the street ministering to
the many people eagerly waiting to receive prayer and ministry. New Orleans
will never be the same.
And the press remained mute on this “news item?”
Did anyone see it on TV/hear it on radio/read it in the paper?
Well, unfortunately you didn’t see it because it didn’t happen. As you read the above story, didn’t you think, that is just awesome? I truly believe the only thing keeping an amazing event like this from occuring is us. Let’s get off the side line of being spectators and become God’s players in the game.
Posted in Christianity, Life | 3 Comments »
Is this it? Is this the Question that Secular Humanism has for the theistic community?
The long and short of Sam’s article is this: if the Bible were true and inerrant, then the Bible would have the cure for cancer in its pages. It would also be a reference book for DNA, mathematics and it would lay out the specifics of prophecy.
First, I will assume that since Sam Harris is an educated individual, he has been informed that many of our history’s scientists have sought out answers and been amazed by information supplied in the Bible, specifically in the fields of hydrology, geology, astronomy, meteorology, biology, and physics. I am SURE it is not as complete as Sam Harris would like it to be… In reading his article it sounds to me that he is looking for a text book.
As far as the specifics of prophesy for things with regard to the internet: this is trivial to God – our hope and salvation is not. This is why He gives gives us even greater details than you would have asked. See Daniel 9 (crazy specific).
Here is how I see it - what Sam is doing would be the same as if I were a great Hydrologist who had to move to Alaska to provide research for global warming. If, during my visit, I wrote love letters to my beautiful wife and you, or Sam, happened to capture these letters – you would potentially find scattered details of my daily whereabouts or the research and findings that I was working on. But, if you took this love letter as the proof needed to validate or discredit global warming – the proof you wanted would not exist. You may even say that I was wasting my time there. Or, you might even go so far as to question my qualifications as a hydrologist. The reason is because hydrolology or the proof of global warming is not the intent of my letters. They are to express the love and longing I have for my wife. The desire to see her again and the plans I have for her when we are re-united.
I would challenge Sam Harris and his followers to go back and read the Bible for what it is. A love letter to mankind. The story of the Redeemer. Sacrificing Himself for our insufficiencies, that we may be together.
In Mark 8, the Pharisees come to Jesus and ask Him for a sign from Heaven to prove Himself. He denies them. Why? First, Jesus’ motive throughout the Bible, with regard to His miracles, was not to prove who He was. His motive was to provide mercy and hope for the people. Had a sign been what these men needed to truly believe, they would have more than likely received it. Unfortunately, they were only trying to disprove who Jesus was. They were not asking with a sincerity or desire to be convinced. We must examine our own hearts, what is it that we are really asking when we investigate Jesus. Are we seeking truth – wherever it takes us – or to only strengthen our own beliefs and positions.
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Sam Harris is the author of the New York Times best sellers, “Letter to a Christian Nation” and “The End of Faith.” He also recently wrote an article that was published in Newsweek, A Dissent: The Case Against Faith.
When I first read the article in Newsweek, I initially thought ‘here is a guy that is not only bitter – he is either uneducated or ignorant on Faith’. And to be honest, I didn’t think this article would cause much stir. Well, as the weeks have gone by, I have heard more than a few people discussing Sam Harris and his writing. So, I thought, why not take a trip or two down memory lane and see what Sammy is talking about…
Sam’s first point: A Full Century of Scientific Insight
To say this is an uneducated statement would be kind. If you have searched the Internet, or attended a local university, it is easy to see the immense reemergence of creation science. It is becoming obvious that as science develops, there is a greater recognition of the signature of a Creator.
Sam’s second point: a 6000-Year-Old Universe – Light Created En-Route
I can only think that Sam was just trying to bring as much criticism as possible to Creation theories. The age of the earth is a mystery to most and age isn’t as important as its origin. There are some fantastic creation scientists, as well as theologians, who indicate a broad potential range for the age of the earth. I am personally a believer of the 10 –12k year range, which has a tremendous amount of scientific evidence behind it.
Sam’s third point: The First Members of our Species were Fashioned out of Dirt and Divine Breath
Here is the funny part: take away the divine breath and Sam Harris would have no problems with the theory. Sam, is it really easier to believe that we happened by chance out of nothing without causation? Or, maybe you believe that aliens brought us here?
The foundation for the belief or faith, as Sam Harris ascribes, is not science – but an unfounded belief that no God exists. It is from here, this faith in ‘self’, that Humanism seeks to develop a foundation against God’s creation. Here is a Question: does anyone really think we would really be any better without the existence of faith — even theistic faith? Many noted philosophers and theologians have espoused the idea that faith is the basis of all knowledge. One example is St. Augustine of Hippo. Known as one of his key contributions to philosophy, the idea of “faith seeking understanding” was set forth by St. Augustine in his statement “Crede, ut intelligas” (“Believe in order that you may understand”). This statement extends beyond the sphere of religion to encompass the totality of knowledge. In essence, faith must be present in order to know anything. In other words, one must assume, believe, or have faith in the credibility of a person, place, thing, or idea in order to have a basis for knowledge. Check out some of the following links:
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