s8nfighter

To me this passage is what keeps me going in times of doubt. This passage when coupled with (I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.) (NIV) I think about John the Baptist and how he kept going. Never promising great wealth if you send in money, never promising a miracle healing for a donation, never accepting the perks of the world for his calling; he just kept on going. He didn't have a radio, television, or the inter-net; just a lone voice in the middle of the dessert proclaiming the the Christ. In times of criticism and threats he just kept on going. John the Baptist never looked back thinking of the things which might have been only of the things to come. Economists talk about planning for the future (forward thinking); talk about a man ahead of his times. John the Baptist was the ultimate forward thinking person. Talk about planning for your future; there is no better future than the Kingdom of Heaven. Forceful is not weapons of destruction, it is believing the word of God, and living a life that draws the curiosity of others to such an extent that they want what you have.

Self is the only thing which can hinder the production of fruit. When I become self-indulgent I an not producing the fruit which is beneficial to the kingdom of God. The fruit of 30, 60, and 100 is not the amount of people who come to our church. It is not the amount of return from our tithes and offerings but it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is the increase of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Darrell

I think that riches is the most dangerous of all these. Why? Because of the three it is the most acceptable wrong of all. We live in a country of abundance in the U.S.A. and most would not give from their abundance. What a contrast from that of the widow who gave from her necessity. Proof. Last year I read an article in the news paper where the WSU staff was given a choice to either take what resulted in a small pay cut or to lay off forty of their co-workers. How do you think the vote turned out? Now keep in mind we live in a country where 80% claim to be Christian. Where 80% love God with all their mind, body, and spirit. Where 80% love their neighbor as themselves and would do as much as they could for them. Well there is forty people wondering who their neighbors are. I guess we all know the story of the Good Samaritan but forget how it ends. It ends with Jesus saying, "Go and do likewise." I find it odd that there is so many people rallying around the likes of Glenn Beck. Here is a guy that has found the best way to get rich is to judge everybody else. He not only judges but falsely accuses only for his own gain and so called Christians rally around him. Proof: Interview with Phorbes Magazine, "With a deadpan, Beck insists that he is not political: "I could give a flying crap about the political process." Making money, on the other hand, is to be taken very seriously, and controversy is its own coinage. "We're an entertainment company," Beck says. Jesus doesn't say judge others if it will profit you but he does say, "What will it profit me if I inherit all the world and lose my soul?" The American Dream is to inherit the world, it is so acceptable that it is sermonized in many churches, especially on T.V. I guess that is why Jesus says, "You cannot serve two masters." Darrell

Baptism is like a wedding ceremony. When I got married to Marie I made a public vow to love, honor, and Cherish her. We all know what happens if wedding ceremony takes place without being fully committed to one another. Baptism of the Holy Spirit brings forth that full commitment to God.. Darrell

I think the most evident thing that happens when people adopt the Christian faith without true repentance is "NOTHING". The only change is that nothing now happens in different places. Nothing happens in church. Repentance is more than just quitting doing the things that are wrong; it is quitting doing the things that are wrong for the right reason. It is best explained in Isiah chapter 58 and I see the resemblance to the fast with what is happening in our churches today. God says if we take our eyes off ourselves and look to the needs of others, ("Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?) then and only then will we be able to call out to the LORD and He will answer, "Here I am." I think the price is too high for most people to be true Christians, especially here in America where we have so much. It seems like our faith is not in God but in the things God has so richly supplied for us. Jesus points to this in Mark chapter 10 (24The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.") A good example of this is the battle over health care reform. Thirty some million people unable to afford health care and we wage a war over it. I often wonder how much money has been spent to advertise lies and half truths to wage this battle. Is it not to share your food with the hungry and provide for others? And then when you call out to the LORD, He will answer, "Here I am." And the answer to the last question, "What percentage?", is few. Darrell

There is thin ice here unless we continue on with the reading. "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day." What part of the law is Paul referring to. There are several categories of the law. The respect and honor we show for God, the respect and honor we show for others, and the respect we show for ourselves. Jesus tells us that the two things we must do is to "love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. And the next is like the first; love your neighbor as yourself." Then he says that all the law and all the prophets hang on these two principles. We have all been found guilty and forgiven. But for what purpose? To continue in sin? No!! We have been forgiven so that we have a new relationship with God and the family of God in respect to judgment. Darrell

"The society which scorns excellence in plumbing because plumbing is a humble activity, and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because philosophy is an exalted activity, will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy. Neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water." John W.Gardner We have a problem in the church today of too many philosophies. The theory that only their way, by either baptism, rule following, membership, or speaking in tongues can save is contrary to what the truth is. These philosophies; wrong as they are, are not as harmful as the prosperity preaching of some. 1 Timothy 6 "If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain." How many millions of copies of "The prayer of Jabez" were sold, how many millions of dollars have been sent into empty churches "as seen on tv"? I don't understand how we can give to an empty promise and at the same time ignore our neighbor in need.. Darrell

The way I see this is our life is like a chalk board with our actions and the reasons of our actions written on it. We all have sinned and continue writing our sinful actions on the chalk board. When we turn to Christ, he takes the eraser and removes the history of our sinful actions. He then gives us back the chalk to continue writing. The question is what are we writing. Faith is not an idle word, it is an action word. The mistake most people make is that knowledge and faith are the same thing. Knowledge in itself is a waste, knowledge of God's word put into action is faith. When the actions of the executives of Enron Corporation were exposed a pastor of a church said, "These people are good Christians, who attend church." The only problem is; they forgot that stealing was wrong. They for got the big little word, "IF" you continue. "IF" you love me you will keep my commands. "IF" you obey all my commands I will keep you. If we, who are forgiven, continue in our sinful nature it is like saying that the faith God took in sending His Son for our sake was wasted.. Paul says to add to our faith, all kinds of action that will keep us on track. When I was a child I liked to sit in my dad's car and pretend like I was driving. I didn't get anywhere but it was fun moving the steering wheel around. Faith which is not in motion is like sitting in a car that is parked. Darrell

To count or recon that we have died to sin means simply that; that we are to live as if we had actually died to sin. To live as if sin no longer had control over our lives. I died to the sins of alcohol, once doing so I never thought that it had control ovrer me again. Stopped, quit, finished, final.., not one day at a time but forever.. Is it hard to do the right thing all the time? Yes it is. Paul even thought so. But he said he put away the things of this world, counted them as worthless, as nothing so that he might gain the prize that awaits all who believe. The question is not is it true, rather it is, do we want it??? Darrell

Yes Paul is referring to a figurative death to sin. He is also referring to an actual point in personal history. To say that I have never died to sin and been reborn to Christ is to say that I have no point in time that I "believe" and therefore have no future. If I had not been born again of the heart, mind, and soul my desires of the flesh, my thoughts, and my purpose would have remained the same. With these three things remaining the same my destination would also remain the same. But with a rebirth of the way I think, the things I desire, and the goals I set I am now heaven bound. Darrell

When speaking of baptisms most people overlook the most important aspect. I say this is the most important not because it is my belief alone but also John's, as seen in this verse: "Mark 1:4.And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5.The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6.John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7.And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8.I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Jesus also refers to this more powerful baptism when he scolds the pharisees in Matt. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean." In the book of Jeremiah the Lord also makes referance to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, at least the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit Jeremiah 4:4."Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts, you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done-- burn with no one to quench it." Darrell