by Maison Tiradoegas | Mar 24, 2017 | Thoughts about the Bible
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes”
– Ephesians 6:10-11
In our lives, we have an enemy and his name is Satan. 1 Peter 5:8 says he is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. His goal is to steal, kill and destroy and he would like nothing more than to bring destruction in our lives. This is why Paul exhorts us to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power so that we can stand against the enemy.
He even gives us an entire armor so we can protect ourselves against his schemes. While we do not have to be afraid of the devil (one of his tactics is fear), we still need to keep an alert or sober mind so that we do not fall for his tactics. The best way to do this is to be strong in the Lord and to do that, we have to spend time in his word, in prayer and with other strong believers who edify and build us up in the Lord.
God speaks to us through His Word, in prayer and through other believers so trusting his word and engaging community helps believers grow stronger in the Lord. Jesus fought the enemy using the word of God by submitting to God’s word in his life and through his life he had people around him who poured into him. Since Jesus modeled how to defeat the enemy using the word and community, we are to do the same by walking by faith in Christ. Through the word of God, one can defeat the enemy anytime and be strong the Lord.
by Nick Curtis | Mar 22, 2017 | Thoughts about the Bible
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
2 Timothy 2:19
When working for a company, one thing that is important to that company is its image. This is why when NFL players break the law they get penalized by the commissioner because they are giving the NFL a bad name, especially the team they play on. When one works for someone, they are in effect conducting themselves in a manner worthy of them and their business. It is the same way with God. When we give our life to Christ and we claim to know him personally, we are to demonstrate that by living a Godly, sober and righteous life.
Multiple times in Paul’s letters, one is to live up to the gospel of Christ, especially in Philippians 1:27, Ephesians 4:1 and 2 Corinthians 5:15. Since one has died with Christ, buried with Christ and risen with Christ according to Romans 6:3-4, one should walk in newness of life. Christians ought to live to worship him and obey his commandments since that is the whole duty of man.
Since Jesus Christ is Lord, a believer should live a life surrendered to Him in every way so that one can have a close relationship with God and not live in constant sin. Christians are God’s ambassadors, so since they represent him, and wear his name, they are to depart from wickedness by living according to his grace, which teaches them to deny ungodly lusts and live soberly, righteous and holy in this present world (Titus 2:11-12). Be sure to wear God’s name well today!
by Maison Tiradoegas | Mar 26, 2014 | Thoughts about the Bible
“I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.” Luke 6:47-48
There is a problem going on in America and many places all over the world today that was also going on 2000 years ago: Lukewarm Christianity. While studying, learning, and going through the Gospel of Luke for Press Bible’s next book, I have seen more than ever Jesus’ passion for His followers to truly follow Him. For it to be more than talk, more than a religion box that we check; more than a Sunday morning or a Wednesday night. Speaking through John in Revelation 3:15-19, Jesus even says that He would rather us be cold than lukewarm. In other words, He would rather us not live for Him and say we don’t, than proclaim to be a Christian and our lives not reflect it.
How do we obey His commands? How do we live a life reflecting the character of God? How do we dig deep and stand on solid rock? How can floodwaters rise, tragedies happen, temptations come our way, and we stand firm?
We have to be well built. What does it mean to be well built?
Being well built doesn’t mean we never mess up, Paul addresses this internal struggle in all of us in Romans 7:21-25. So it doesn’t mean we never sin, but it doesn’t excuse us from actively striving towards Christ. Being well built means we must discipline ourselves to run our race well 1st Corinthians 9:24-26. In light of Luke 6:47-48, Jesus likens this idea of being well built to, “[Someone who is] listening to my teaching and then [who] follows it.”
So we must follow His commands. Following His commands is not something we do to just be good, but something that happens when we act out our geniune love towards our God and others.
Have you tried to tell someone that they need to follow God’s commands and hear, “Were are not bound by the law, not by our works by His Grace, Ephesians 2:7-10. We shouldn’t use the amazing gift of grace to excuse the standard that Jesus has set. Also, James 1:20-25 instructs how must live as well.
I have noticed the inconsistencies in my life results when I take His Grace for granted—“Cheap Grace.” Living in a constant state of “Cheap Grace” is how I define “Lukewarm Christianity.”
So how can we get past this “Lukewarm Christianity” problem?
Once we get past behavior modification and see our actions as an act of love towards our Savior and others, then our choices will begin to change. I know in my life when I’m near to God, when I spend time in His Word, when I pray to Him daily, when I pursue Him with all that I am, when I talk with other believers, and when I give my time to others, obeying His commands come more naturally. It comes out of the overflow of my life, which then helps me follow Jesus’ teachings, resulting in the ability to, “stand firm when the floodwaters rise and break against the house,” ultimately resulting to being “hot” spiritually. Sorry for the long run-on sentence!
So I pray that we might continue to live a life built on a solid foundation, a life attracting people to Jesus. That we transition out our natural bent to be complacent and lukewarm. I pray that if your foundation is about to collapse that you would start building—begin praying, reading His Word, or asking a friend for help. It’s not easy to remain steadfast in our faith, but by His “Costly Grace” there are new mercies every morning and we have God who is redeeming, unfailing and He, is the master builder.
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