Trials and Pain Help Us Grow

Read about A. W. TozerDecember 9

Trials and Pain: It Works!

...Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. --2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Ten thousand enemies cannot stop a Christian, cannot even slow him down, if he meets them in an attitude of complete trust in God. They will become to him like the atmosphere that resists the airplane, but which because the plane's designer knew how to take advantage of that resistance, actually lifts the plane aloft and holds it there for a journey of 2,000 miles. What would have been an enemy to the plane becomes a helpful servant to aid it on its way....

If this should seem like a bit of theorizing, remember that always the greatest Christians have come out of hard times and tough situations. Tribulations actually worked for their spiritual perfection in that they taught them to trust not in themselves but in the Lord who raised the dead. They learned that the enemy could not block their progress unless they surrendered to the urgings of the flesh and began to complain. And slowly, they learned to stop complaining and start praising. It is that simple--and it works! We Travel an Appointed Way, 32-33.

"Lord, I wish I could more readily 'stop complaining and start praising.' I pray for Your grace to work within me that I might allow the trials to lift me aloft rather than press me down. I'll do it in Your strength today. Amen."


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Today's "Insight for Leaders" is taken by permission from the book, Tozer on Christian Leadership, published by WingSpread Publishers

Sharing the Gospel at the Homecoming Parade

This past October 3, I went to the Homecoming Parade of my alma matter, Sissonville High School, to share the Gospel. I was able to talk to several young people one2one about where they will spend eternity. One young man who was kind enough to talk with me had his face painted in the Sissonville colors and admitted that he was concerned that if God judged him by the 10 commandments that he would spend eternity in hell seperated from God. From what he told me, it sounds like he is being raised in a Christian home with a Christian monther, but has not yet repented and believed in Christ for Salvation. I hope that since our conversation, Terey, has repented and trusted in Christ as his Savior. I hope I spelled his name correctly. I had it written down, but misplace it.

If anyone else reading this post doesn't know Christ, please visit www.NeedGod.com to learn how to know Him and to know how to spend eternity with Him. There is nothing more important than that.

The Kind of Reformation the Church Really Needs

I found the A.W. Tozer devotional for today to be especially relevent to the church right now, so I decided to post it here at my blog. Rick Warren, Leonard Sweet, Brian McLaren and the other proponents of the emerging church are talking about a reformation that is really no reformation at all. They preach a different gospel than the real Gospel of Jesus Christ, don't be taken in or deceived by something that sounds close to the truth. Study your bible and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into all Truth. He will be faithful to do it. Here is the devotional:


Revival: Doing the Will of God

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. --1 John 5:2-3

We urgently need a new kind of reformation throughout our Christian churches--a reformation that will cause us not only to accept the will of God but to actively seek it and adore it!...

The reformation we need now can best be described in terms of spiritual perfection-which reduced to its simplest form is no more and no less than doing the will of God! This would expose us all at the point of our need, no matter how sound we think we are in doctrine and no matter how great our reputations.

I long for the positive and genuine renewal which would come if the will of God could be totally accomplished in our lives. Everything that is unspiritual would flee, and all that is not Christlike would vanish, and all that is not according to the New Testament would be rejected....

Do we voluntarily and actively observe God's commandments, making positive changes in our lives as God may indicate in order to bring the entire life into accord with the New Testament?

That is the active aspect of the will of God that I would own as reformation in the church, and it would surely result in revival.

Today's "Insight for Leaders" is taken by permission from the book, Tozer on Christian Leadership, published by WingSpread Publishers

www.lmi.gospelcom.net/

This is a previous post from my other blog, but I wanted to post it here also because I believe it has a very important message.


Passion For Personal Holiness

I want to share one the devotions that I read yesterday. It is from “Reflecting God: Devotions for Holy Living”. The scripture reference is 2 Tim. 2:20-21.

Being passionate for personal holiness is an attitude that develops in a person because they “seen God’s heart” on the issue of personl holiness (Isa. 1:1-8). How can a deeper passion to “cleanse ourselves” be developed?

First, realize that personal purity comes from living according to God’s Word (see Ps. 119:9). Second, memorize and meditate on God’s Word consistently so you do not sin (see Ps. 119:9). Third, realize that personal purtiy is not a once for all experience, but rather a daily discipline that requires keeping your body and mind under the Spirit’s control (see 1 cor. 9:27).

You cannot decide you will be pure for the rest of your life and then never think about it again. It is a daily passion you must nurture. Today, ask God to break your heart over the things that break His heart when He sees what is happening in our world. Get angry in your spirit at sin when you see it, but love the peole who are involved in it. Pray for them, “that they will come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil” (2 Tim. 2:26). “Cleanse yourself and become an instrument for noble purposes!”–Rev. larry McKain

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is found in 2 Timothy. It is chapter 2, verse 19, and it says: “But the firm foundation of God Stands, sure and unshaken, bearing this seal: The Lord knows those who are His, and Let everyone who names himself by the name of the Lord give up all iniquity and stand aloof from it.”

We are called to live a holy life unto the Lord. So, please do not call yourself a Christian unless you are willing to imitate Christ. It is no small thing. You won’t fool the Lord, He knows who are His. You are only fooling yourself and that has severe consequenses for eternity.

"I Will Strengthen Thee"

I enjoyed this Spurgeon devotional so much I printed it out and keep it in my Bible to read it from time to time for encouragement. I hope it will encourage you also.


“I will strengthen thee.”

Isaiah 41:10
God has a strong reserve with which to discharge this engagement; for he is able to do all things. Believer, till thou canst drain dry the ocean of omnipotence, till thou canst break into pieces the towering mountains of almighty strength, thou never needest to fear. Think not that the strength of man shall ever be able to overcome the power of God. Whilst the earth’s huge pillars stand, thou hast enough reason to abide firm in thy faith. The same God who directs the earth in its orbit, who feeds the burning furnace of the sun, and trims the lamps of heaven, has promised to supply thee with daily strength. While he is able to uphold the universe, dream not that he will prove unable to fulfil his own promises. Remember what he did in the days of old, in the former generations. Remember how he spake and it was done; how he commanded, and it stood fast. Shall he that created the world grow weary? He hangeth the world upon nothing; shall he who doth this be unable to support his children? Shall he be unfaithful to his word for want of power? Who is it that restrains the tempest? Doth not he ride upon the wings of the wind, and make the clouds his chariots, and hold the ocean in the hollow of his hand? How can he fail thee? When he has put such a faithful promise as this on record, wilt thou for a moment indulge the thought that he has outpromised himself, and gone beyond his power to fulfil? Ah, no! Thou canst doubt no longer.

O thou who art my God and my strength, I can believe that this promise shall be fulfilled, for the boundless reservoir of thy grace can never be exhausted, and the overflowing storehouse of thy strength can never be emptied by thy friends or rifled by thine enemies.

“Now let the feeble all be strong,

And make Jehovah’s arm their song.”



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http://www.ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/morneve.d1222am.html

Don't Talk to Snakes

A coalition of groups led by Soul force is targeting six U.S. mega-churches in an effort to foster dialogue about Christian views on homosexuality. Caleb Price with Focus on the Family says the campaign by the homosexual advocacy group has a friendly façade that belies the agenda of the group -- and that the churches targeted need to be on guard…

"As with any temptation to disregard God's clear word on any given matter, this attempt by Soulforce and their allies is a classic example of what we see in Genesis Chapter 3, when the serpent tempts Eve by [asking] 'Did God really say ...?'" says Price. "And I think perhaps the biggest lesson we can take from that account is it's best not to talk to snakes. Scripture clearly teaches that there will be a great falling away in the last days and there will be wolves in sheep's clothing who will try to enter into the fold and deceive even the elect.

You can read the entire article at One News Now by clicking the link below.

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Driving Goats Not Herding Sheep

I found this article today. It was written by a gentleman named Dr. Don Boys. I hope you will click on the link below to read the entire article.



Megachurch Leaders: Driving Goats Not Herding Sheep!
Ringgold, GA 30736 January 4 2008
Megachurch Leaders: Driving Goats Not Herding Sheep!

Don Boys, Ph.D.

Megachurch leaders such as Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, and Robert Schuller have principles like the elastic in an old woman’s drawers: It will stretch to fit almost any shape! They have problems with principle. It seems their ambition has outrun their character.

In deciding right and wrong, character does not consider friends or foes, personality or position; family or faith; reputation or riches, but will apply absolute truth that comes from the Scripture.

The above three leaders of aberrational Christianity are very careful to never offend anyone with such “barbaric” teachings as personal sin, repentance, judgment, hell and the like; but they are not careful about their attacks upon Bible believing Christians, especially fundamentalists! Fundamentalists are people mushy evangelicals love to hate. Strange isn’t it! The above trio (and their long list of desperate wannabes) tells us to be tolerant of homosexuals, Muslims, even Liberals yet they refuse to be tolerant of Bible-believing Christians! That shows inconsistency and lack of character.

Click the link below to read the entire article and get more information about Don Boys, Ph. D.

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COMING PERSECUTION! ARE YOU READY?

I read this article recently and I think it has an important warning for the Church in America.


Ministry founder: U.S. Christians 'absolutely not prepared' for persecution
Allie Martin
OneNewsNow.com
December 31, 2007

The founder of Gospel for Asia says while persecution is increasing worldwide for Christians, he believes it will soon impact believers in America -- and K.P. Yohannan says they need to get ready for it.

Click on the link below to read the entire article.

http://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/ministry-founder-us-christians-absolutely-not-prepared-for-persecution/

Click here