Archive for the 'Spiritual Growth' Category

CHEW ON IT - Tick’d - Part 3

Published on September 6, 2010 in Spiritual Growth and Tick'd. 0 Comments Tags: Anger, Chew on It, Tick'd.

Who is in your DANGER ZONE?

Leviticus 19
17 “Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.
18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 5
21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say, if you are even ANGRY with someone, you are subject to judgment!

We TARGET OURSELVES

SELF ANGER is STILL ANGER

We are all messed up

Jesus loves us and died for us BEFORE we cleaned up our act

Romans 5
8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.

Romans 8
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

Ephesians 2
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

1 Timothy 1
15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

Philippians 3
13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it (perfection), but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Psalm 103
12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

Isaiah 1:18
18 “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.

Isaiah 44
22 I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.”

We target GOD

Jonah 3
24 I cannot eat for sighing; my groans pour out like water.
25 What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true.
26 I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest; only trouble comes.”

Job 2
9 His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”
10 But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.

Job 1
22 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

UNLOCKING our LAMENT

Boldly pray, “God, change my circumstances!

Revelation 6
11 Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them.

Remember, God is exercising far greater patience than us!

FOCUS on your promise!

Philippians 3
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

You can become a PRIEST for a world in PAIN

Romans 5
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

CHEW ON IT: FACELIFT Part 6

Published on August 16, 2010 in Facelift and Spiritual Growth. 0 Comments Tags: Chew on It, Facelift, purpose, Spiritual Growth.

Luke 9
51 As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

Isaiah 50
6 I offered my back to those who beat me
and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard.
I did not hide my face
from mockery and spitting.
7 …Therefore, I have set my face like a stone,
determined to do his will.

OUR PURPOSE: Leading EVERYONE to experience a PASSIONATE life in Christ!

John 3
17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

PRIORITY always TRUMPS our PREFERENCES

Luke 9
52 He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. 53 But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54 When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 So they went on to another village.
57 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”
59 He said to another person, “Come, follow me.”
The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

I WILL FOLLOW… BUT FIRST__________

Luke 9
54 When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them.

Luke 12
49 “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! 50 I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished.

Luke 9
60 But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”
61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”
62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

CHEW on IT - FACELIFT - Part 5

Published on August 9, 2010 in Facelift and Spiritual Growth. 1 Comment Tags: Chew on It, Facelift, Glory, Spiritual Growth.

CHEW on the scriptures from Part 5 of the FACELIFT series on GLORY.

Psalm 3
3 But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.

Exodus 34
28 Moses remained there on the mountain with the Lord forty days and forty nights. In all that time he ate no bread and drank no water. And the Lord wrote the terms of the covenant—the Ten Commandments—on the stone tablets.
29 When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the Lord. 30 So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses’ face, they were afraid to come near him.
33 When Moses finished speaking with them, he covered his face with a veil. 34 But whenever he went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord, he would remove the veil until he came out again. Then he would give the people whatever instructions the Lord had given him, 35 and the people of Israel would see the radiant glow of his face. So he would put the veil over his face until he returned to speak with the Lord.

Psalm 8
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

2 Corinthians 3
7 The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. 8 Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? 9 If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! 10 In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. 11 So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever!

Romans 3
23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God- ESV

2 Corinthians 3
12 Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. 14 But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.

2 Corinthians 3
16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Acts 6
15 At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s.

Acts 7
55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”
57 Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him 58 and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.

CHEW ON IT - FACELIFT - PART 4

Published on August 2, 2010 in Facelift and Spiritual Growth. 0 Comments Tags: Bitterness, Chew on It, Facelift, Spiritual Growth.

COUNTENANCE KILLER #3: BITTERNESS

Genesis 31
1 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.” 2 And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before. -NKJV

Are you MEDITATING on a WOUND?

Hebrews 12
14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

YOU’RE NUMB

YOU’RE ANGRY

Ephesians 4
26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

YOU FANTASIZE ABOUT JUSTICE

Deuteronomy 32
35 I will take revenge; I will pay them back.
36 “Indeed, the Lord will give justice to his people

You don’t FORFEIT JUSTICE, you GUARANTEE IT!

YOUR RELATIONSHIPS ARE SUFFERING

Hebrews 12
15…Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

Romans12
17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”
says the Lord.
20 Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”
21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Ephesians 4
2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

1 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

STOP wishing for a better past

Once you set your prisoner free…You’ll realize that the prisoner was you

Romans 6
16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.

CHEW ON IT - FACELIFT - Part 3

Published on July 26, 2010 in Facelift and Spiritual Growth. 0 Comments Tags: Chew on It, Facelift, Fear, Spiritual Growth.

Ecclesiastes 8
1…A man’s wisdom makes his face shine,
and the hardness of his face is changed.

FEAR is a COUNTENANCE KILLER

Daniel 5
1 Many years later King Belshazzar gave a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. 2 While Belshazzar was drinking the wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver cups that his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem. He wanted to drink from them with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. 3 So they brought these gold cups taken from the Temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 While they drank from them they praised their idols made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
5 Suddenly, they saw the fingers of a human hand writing on the plaster wall of the king’s palace, near the lampstand. The king himself saw the hand as it wrote, 6 and his face turned pale with fright. His knees knocked together in fear and his legs gave way beneath him.

2 Timothy 1
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Behind every FEAR there is an UNHEALTHY emotional connection to something OTHER than God

The FEAR of MAN

Proverbs 29
25 The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe. -ESV

Isaiah 51
7 “Listen to me, you who know right from wrong you who cherish my law in your hearts. Do not be afraid of people’s scorn, nor fear their insults.

God does not want you to live AFRAID of others

Matthew 10
28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul.

Hebrews 13
6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

When Jesus is BIG, our fears are not

BIG GOD = BIG COURAGE
SMALL GOD = SMALL COURAGE

Proverbs 1
33 But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm

Psalm 34
4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.

1 John 4
18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.

Psalm 56
3 But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

Replace your SINFUL FEAR with a HOLY FEAR

Hebrews 4
15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Psalm 111
10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.

Psalm 112
1 Praise the Lord!
How joyful are those who fear the Lord
and delight in obeying his commands.

Proverbs 14
26 Those who fear the Lord are secure

Ezekiel 34
25 “I will make a covenant of peace with my people and drive away the dangerous animals from the land. Then they will be able to camp safely in the wildest places and sleep in the woods without fear.

Micah 4
4 Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, for there will be nothing to fear. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has made this promise!

2 Timothy 1
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

CHEW ON IT: FACELIFT Part 1

Published on July 12, 2010 in Facelift and Spiritual Growth. 0 Comments Tags: Chew on It, Facelift, Scriptures, Spiritual Growth.

CHEW on the SCRIPTURES from Part 1 of FACELIFT

Nehemiah 2
2And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. 3I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

Leviticus 19
32 “You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man

Exodus 3
6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

YOUR COUNTENANCE COUNTS!

1 Timothy 4
8 “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

1 Corinthians 15
53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written. “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.-esv

Are you trying to apply EXTERNAL FIXES to INTERNAL PROBLEMS?

Ecclesiastes 8
1…A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

1 Samuel 16
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Psalm 3
3But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

CHEW ON IT! - UNSTOPPABLE Life-Change

Published on June 28, 2010 in Baptism, One Prayer and Spiritual Growth. 0 Comments Tags: Baptism, Chew on It, Life-Change, Spiritual Growth.

CHEW on the scriptures from the message UNSTOPPABLE LIFE-CHANGE

Acts 2
41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

Matthew 28
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Mark 1
9One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and he was baptized by John in the Jordan River.

Matthew 28
19Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2
38Peter replied, “Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8
36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

Baptism is a Sign

Galatians 3
27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Acts 19
1While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior provinces. Finally, he came to Ephesus, where he found several believers. 2″Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we don’t know what you mean. We haven’t even heard that there is a Holy 3″Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” 4Paul said, “John’s baptism was to demonstrate a desire to turn from sin and turn to God. John himself told the people to believe in Jesus, the one John said would come later.” 5As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Baptism is a Symbol

Romans 6
3 Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Colossians 2
12For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:55
O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

Galatians 2:20
20I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

John 10
10The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

CHEW ON IT! One Prayer 2010 - Unstoppable Experiences

Published on June 21, 2010 in One Prayer and Spiritual Growth. 1 Comment Tags: Chew on It, One Prayer 2010, Spiritual Growth.

Chew on the scriptures from the message Unstoppable Experience from the One Prayer 2010 message series.

Psalm 84
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
2 I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord,
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
7 They will continue to grow stronger,
and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.

When the church unites, there are UNSTOPPABLE EXPERIENCES!

Hebrews 11
33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.

Ephesians 2
19 …You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.

1 Corinthians 3
9 …You are God’s building.
16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

ACTS 2
41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Hebrews 10
25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

UNSTOPPABLE EXPERIENCES are preceded by UNSTOPPABLE SACRIFICE

Hebrews 11
35…But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

Malachi 3
8 “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

ACTS 2
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

James 1
27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

1 John 3
18…let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

CHEW on IT! Seven Churches - Laodicea

Published on May 31, 2010 in Seven Churches and Spiritual Growth. 0 Comments Tags: Chew on It, Laodicea, Seven Churches, Spiritual Growth.

Chew on the Scriptures from Part 6 of the Seven Churches message series. This message is about the letter to the church at Laodicea.

Revelation 3
2 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains

Revelation 3
14 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginnings of God’s new creation:
15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!17 You say, `I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.
20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.
22 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”

Matthew 5
3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Genesis 3
7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

Genesis 3
21 And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.

Luke 4
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

2 Corinthians 4
4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

2 Peter 1
9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

God will go to great extremes to awaken you from INDIFFERENCE

Luke 1
51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
52 He has brought down princes from their thrones
and exalted the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands.

Matthew 11
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Matthew 13
24 Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. 25 But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. 26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.
27 “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’
28 “‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. “‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.
29 “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”

CHEW on IT - Seven Churches - Sardis

Published on May 25, 2010 in Seven Churches and Spiritual Growth. 0 Comments Tags: Chew on It, Sardis, Seven Churches, Spiritual Growth.

Chew on the scriptures from the message on the church at Sardis in the Seven Churches message series.

Revelation 3
1 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:
“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. 3 Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.
4 “Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.
6 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

Genesis 12
2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 …All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

Deuteronomy 4
5 “Look, I now teach you these decrees and regulations just as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy. 6 Obey them completely, and you will display your wisdom and intelligence among the surrounding nations. When they hear all these decrees, they will exclaim, ‘How wise and prudent are the people of this great nation!’ 7 For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on him?

Isaiah 55
3 …I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
4 See how I used him to display my power among the peoples.
I made him a leader among the nations.
5 You also will command nations you do not know,
and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey,
because I, the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”

Titus 3:5
he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.