tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59022970325385665192024-02-20T06:31:15.261-08:00Be Thou An ExampleBe Thou An Examplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03186276029663577116noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902297032538566519.post-7908128331999809732019-07-31T18:43:00.001-07:002019-07-31T18:43:10.855-07:00Revalation 2:10 (commentary)<p dir="ltr">“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">The second and third chapters of the book of Revelation are letters to the Seven churches of Asia. These letters were pinned by the apostle John, but Jesus is the one speaking to them (Revelation 1:11). The letter of our text was written to the church of Smyrna. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The book of Revelation was God’s final inspired book of His word. It has one theme that rings out through the whole book, victory. Christ’s intent in the letters to the churches was to encourage the congregations on what they were doing and to rebuke them on the things that they were not doing. He also used these letters to warn congregations about what they were going to be going through, which is what another main point of Revelation is. It was written around AD 96 on the island of Patmos. Many will say that this book is hard to understand, but if you go into it logically and study honestly and diligently, it can be easily understood.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer”. This is Christ’s warning to this flock in Smyrna that they will be suffering soon. With this warning, He gives encouragement when He tells them not to fear. Fear is often a reaction people go to when they start going through difficult times, but we know that God has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). Jesus also makes a similar statement in Matthew 10:28 when He said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell”. Suffering is something that we go through while we are on this earth. Paul even says that we groan while we are in this tabernacle or fleshly body, because we are burdened (2 Corinthians 5:4). We need to have the same attitude as Christ when we suffer in this body as He had when He was suffering (1 Peter 4:1)</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall receive tribulation ten days”. Here, Jesus tells them what type of suffering they will be going through. While we see from the Bible that the church was going through persecution soon after it was established, we see from secular history that it was going to get much worse. Rome was going to persecute the early Christians more than they have ever been persecuted. Jesus wanted to make sure they knew that they knew what was going to happen. Christians were never promised an easy life on this earth. He said in John 15:18, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you”. The apostle Paul, who once persecuted the church, said that we will receive persecution when we are living godly (2 Timothy 3:12). Peter also talks about being tried and tested. He says that it makes our faith more precious after it has been tried by fire (1 Peter 1:7). It is difficult going through sufferings, especially when it is heavy persecution, but Jesus gives us hope and a promise.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life”. This is a promise from Jesus Christ. He often gives hope to those going through persecution that they should be happy and they will gain Heaven through the persecution, if they are being persecuted for righteousness sake (Matthew 5:10-11). Jesus also tells His disciples how to handle persecution when it arises (Luke 6:22; Matthew 5:44). The word ‘unto’ here is ‘achri’ in the Greek and is defined in the Strong’s dictionary as, “up to, even unto, as far as”. This shows that when Christ told them to be faithful unto death, He meant be faithful until you die, but also be faithful even if it means your death. The persecution they were going to be facing was going to be some that would cost them their lives, so this is a lesson they needed to hear and learn.</p>
<p dir="ltr">While this letter was not written to us and we don’t face the persecution today like they did, there are still things we can take from it and apply to our lives. The hope that Jesus gives to the Christians at Smyrna is the same hope that we have today. No matter what we go through in this life, we will receive a crown of life if we are faithful to God unto death. If we are faithful and do everything that God wants us to, we can know we have eternal life with Him and that we will receive our own crown. (1 John 5:13) We can have the same confidence Paul had at the end of his life in his last letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Be ready for it and endure.</p>
Be Thou An Examplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03186276029663577116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902297032538566519.post-49934869813132884662019-07-18T14:35:00.001-07:002019-07-18T14:36:44.294-07:00The Importance Of Christian Family<p dir="ltr">First of all, I wanna look at the importance of relying on our Christian family. As we see often, it is hard when our earthly families are not Christians. I feel like we all struggle with that to different extents. That is why it is so great to have a Christian family to help. Because in the long run, they are your true family, as in they are your family here and will be your family in Heaven.<br>
Hebrews 10:24-25<br>
This is just one of the reasons it is so essential that we are here. I know I’ve had weeks where I may be discouraged, but then after coming here and being around Christians, it helps me get through my week. <br>
Galatians 6:1-2 <br>
We need to be willing to reach out to Christians when we need help with our burdens and we need to be willing to help with other Christians struggles.<br>
1 Peter 2:17 Love the Brotherhood.<br>
1 John 4:11-12 <br>
We need to make sure we are truly showing that love to each other. Not just saying it, but showing it. <br>
Ephesians 2:19 <br>
We see here that we are fellow citizens and of the household of God. We are a family. We need to make sure that we treat each other like that. <br>
While there are many more things I could cover with this, I want to look at examples we see in the New Testament of the church showing that love and being a family.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Examples in the Bible.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Acts 2:44-47<br>
Even at the beginning of the church, we see how much they really care for and loved their fellow Christians that they were willing to sell their own possessions to make sure that their brothers and sisters in Christ had what they needed. They didn’t even know some of the people that they were selling their things for, but they showed that love to each other because of the bond they had. Paul talks about that in <br>
Galatians 6:10<br>
We also see how Paul feels about his Christian family,<br>
2 Tim 1:16-17 We see the friendship they had toward each other.<br>
Phil 1:3-6, 27<br>
The love he had towards different brothers and sisters in Christ and the way they were striving together is a great example of how we should be towards each other. </p>
<p dir="ltr">So in closing, I hope you have learned how to better love your Christian family and realize the importance of them. Not having family members there for you in life or especially in your spiritual life can be very difficult, but that is why it is so important to have a strong bond with your Christian family.</p>
Be Thou An Examplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03186276029663577116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902297032538566519.post-56862349256024990902019-06-01T13:37:00.001-07:002019-06-01T13:37:51.678-07:00Don't Worry, BE HAPPY!!!!<h2>
<u> Don't Worry Be Happy</u></h2>
Noah Olson<br />
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A title of a song that you all might know. Many tell you "oh don't worry, just be happy and everything will be ok." Something easier said than done. I want to look at how we as Christians can rejoice and how we can live a life of <i>less</i> worry. Notice I said less worry. We probably won't ever be free from worry until we gain Heaven, but today the goal of this devotional is to simply understand that we don't have to put our trust in the world but to God.<br />
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Firstly, to have a life of less worry and stress, we need understand that God will be with us and take care of us. Look at what Jesus had to say in Matthew 6:25-34. He is simply explaining to us that we need not worry, for God will be with us. Still easy to tell, hard to do. God will be with us for nothing can separate the love of God from us (Romans 8:38-39). We need to acknowledge that God will be with us even through the hard times and will take care of us for we are worth far more than anything God has created (Matthew 6:26)<br />
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Secondly, we Christians have much to rejoice in. We have the hope of Heaven for one (1 Jn 5:13). We can know that we have Heaven and should rejoice because it is ours if we want it. We have so much to rejoice in:<br />
Family and Christian friends<br />
The Word of God<br />
Elders and Deacons<br />
Free from condemnation if we are faithful<br />
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We are so blessed with many things why do we worry? Because the devil tempts us with doubt. We need rejoice in the Lord alway and keep on doing it. (Philippians 4:4)<br />
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Our last point today, is ironic. Above I just told you to not worry but rejoice. Now I'm going to tell you about something you should worry about. That is our soul! If we are to be selfish about one thing in our life, let it be your soul. Keep your soul. Guard your soul. Don't let anyone take it from you. We need worry where are soul is going. How can we fix that worry?? By obeying the gospel and living according to it. We can live a life less worry and a more happy one only if we obey God's will. Not saying it will be perfect, but the outcome is tremendously wonderful. <br />
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<br />Be Thou An Examplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03186276029663577116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902297032538566519.post-68015302744657231022019-05-16T08:43:00.001-07:002019-05-16T08:44:37.757-07:00Two Benefits of Being a Christian<h2>
<u>Two Benefits To Being a Christian</u></h2>
<u>Noah Olson</u><br />
<u> </u><br />
<u> </u><br />
Something that only Christians can expirience. Something that is of joy. Something we will talk about today. Today I have chosen two benefits we Christians have that the world cannot have. I want to focus on what the joys of being of the church are, and how maybe by those joys we can turn others to Christ.<br />
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Firstly and simply, we Christians are condemned to Hell no more. Now...... let us be careful with this phrase, for in more simpler terms only those who endure to the end will be saved. As Romans 8:1 says <b><span class="text Rom-8-1" id="en-KJV-28118">There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. </span></b><span class="text Rom-8-1" id="en-KJV-28118">Only those who live unto Christ Jesus will not go to Hell. Now this verse does not prove the doctrine of "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED" but simply tells us that we Christians if we are faithful UNTIL death will go be with God. A benefit that many do not have. Only those who are of God and do His will gain this. Sadly, those who live according to their own will reap corruption Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9</span><br />
<br />
<b><span class="text 2Thess-1-8" id="en-KJV-29658"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:</span></b><br />
<b> </b><b><span class="text 2Thess-1-9" id="en-KJV-29659"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;</span></b><br />
<span class="text Rom-8-1" id="en-KJV-28118"></span><b><span class="text Rom-8-1" id="en-KJV-28118"></span></b><br />
<u> </u>Are we living faithfully? Do we want to be condemned to Hell no more? The answer should be yes, and if we desire that, than we must live faithfully.<br />
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Another benefit we Christians have is the close relationships that are made whether that is when we meet on Sundays or Wednesdays; out at camp, or maybe by just saying HI. A benefit worldly people cannot and will not have. Friends in the church are so important and should be your best friends. Is it wrong to have friends of the world? NO of course not, but your best and closest friends should be of the church. Why? Let's look at three reasons.<br />
<br />
1) They will keep you accountable(Gal 6:1)<br />
2) They are there to bear burdens(Gal 6:2)<br />
3) They are your eternal family<br />
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Why should we have friends in the church? Because they are important and healthy. If we are in need we can go to them for almost anything because they are of the same mind and faith. Now let me ask you this. Would you go to one of the world and ask him about the Bible? NO of course not. You would go to your friends of the church. It is SO important to have friends that will ALWAYS be with you. A benefit not many have. <br />
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Something that many don't get to have. All can have it, but will they choose to have it. Christians may not have many earthly benefits, but do have many eternal ones. Let us always consider it a blessing to be a CHRISTIAN!<br />
<u> </u>Be Thou An Examplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03186276029663577116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902297032538566519.post-34869063729258040762019-05-12T11:16:00.001-07:002019-05-12T11:16:49.488-07:00Do you know THE Shepherd?<p dir="ltr">Do you know the Shepherd? Jesus speaks in parables many times, but I want to take a few short minutes to look at a particular one. If you look in John 10:1-18, He gives a parable about a Shepherd. While we can take many things away from these verses, I want to look at two.</p>
<p dir="ltr">First of all, are you of the sheepfold? We see that there is only one way to enter the sheep and be known of the Shepherd and that is through the door, which is Christ (vs. 7). We see in John 14:6 that Jesus says, “I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” Jesus is the only way to be added into the flock. We also see that the flock is the church and that the only way to be added into it is baptism (Acts 2:47, Galatians 3:27). Are we of the flock? And if we have been added to the flock, are we listening to our Shepherd? <br>
We see in the parable how obedient the sheep were to their Shepherd and didn’t listen when others tried to lead the sheep away. Are we living after God’s word alone and truly listening to the words of the Shepherd and no one else’s?</p>
<p dir="ltr">Secondly, do you know the Shepherd? We see from verse 14 of our text that the sheep know their Shepherd and the Shepherd knows His sheep. We see that the Shepherd leads, feeds, and takes care of His flock and even knows them by name. We know, if we have read the 23rd Psalm, who the Shepherd is. There is a story that I’ve heard many times and I never get tired of hearing it.<br>
“The time was the late 1800s. It was a time before most of our modern forms of entertainment - before movies, before television, before the internet, even before radio. Entertainment consisted of traveling groups of actors who went from town to town.<br>
One such actor went into a small midwestern town. The town hall was packed, the audience was wildly enthusiastic as the orator recited passages from great plays, poems, and literature. At the end of the performance, they shouted for more. The actor agreed to take a few requests.<br>
Immediately, a hand shot up. The hand belonged to an older man with a weather-beaten face and clothes that were clean but definitely patched and had seen better days. "Would you… could you…do the 23rd Psalm, please?" he asked.<br>
The actor thought for a minute, then said, "I’ll do it on one condition. After I have finished, you will come up and recite it, also." Puzzled, the old man agreed.<br>
The orator began, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…." As he went, he infused the words will all the tricks of his art. One by one, the phrases known and loved by all rolled off his tongue. "He leadeth me beside the still waters, he restoreth my soul…Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me."<br>
When all the words of the great beloved Psalm were delivered with great art, the audience gave the actor yet another enthusiastic ovation.<br>
Then the man who had requested the Psalm came up. His face was not handsome, and his voice was thick and uncultured. Yet, as he began to speak, his face took on a glow of joy, and the love almost leaped from his mouth with the words.<br>
When he concluded, "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in house of the Lord forever." the only sound in the hall was the rustle of handkerchiefs as they brushed away tears.<br>
The silence was finally broken when the actor stepped forward and said, "Now you know why I wanted him to follow me. It's just as I thought. You see, I know the Psalm, but he, he knows the Shepherd.”<br>
Now the question is yours to think on, Do you know the Shepherd? We see from John 10:14 that we can know the Shepherd, so do you?</p>
Be Thou An Examplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03186276029663577116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902297032538566519.post-43522305557463453932019-05-08T13:19:00.001-07:002019-05-08T13:26:34.181-07:00Questions On Denominations<h2>
Questions On Denominations</h2>
<u>By: Noah Olson</u><br />
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<h4>
Question: I want to ask you three questions about denominations. Please answer them with Biblical truth. </h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"> 1) Are there Christians scattered in various denominations?</span></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"> 2) What is wrong with denominations?</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"> 3) Is the Church of Christ a denomination?</span></h4>
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</h4>
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Answer: </h4>
I will answer them with the truth and only the truth. A very good set of questions that must be answered. Someone in the member of the church, said that we don't need to teach our children about the denominational doctrines because they might fall prey to them and follow them. But the preacher asks how will they know how to refute them and bring those people to Christ if they don't know their ways? We as Christians are commanded to preach the word(2 Tim 4:2) and when someone asks us about the Word of God, we are to tell them(1 PT 3:15). We need know why denominations exist today for they snatch So many people and simply lure them into sin. Let's look at the first question.<br />
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<b>1) Are there Christians scattered in various denominations?</b><br />
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A question that many fail to understand, but let us step back and see how one becomes a Christian.<br />
He must first hear and believe God's Word(Romans 10:17). He then must Repent of the sins he committed(Acts 2:38), Confess Christ before man(Matthew 10:32-33) and then must be baptized and buried with Christ(Romans 6:1-4). He then must live a faithful life(Rev 2:10) We now know what it means to become "Born Again" Christian. This is what the Bible says, so that settles it. But let's look at what some denominations believe on how one becomes "SAVED" as they would say. There is only one truth. Now if there is only ONE TRUTH how can their be Christians scattered among those denominations if there is division? God is not the author of confusion(1 Cor 14:33) The Catholics believe that indulgences is enough for salvation. The Mormons believe in "another perfect law of liberty" as they say, which is the Book of Mormon. And the Baptists believe in the doctrine of once saved always saved.There are SO many errors here.All of these doctrines don't match of with the TRUTH. So much division. So to simply answer the question, there are no Christians in the various denominations of the world. How can there be if God designed the one Church and asked for no division(MT 16:18, 1 Cor 1:10) God designed one Church, not many and only those who are of the one Church, get to go to Heaven. <br />
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<b>2) What is wrong with the various denominations? </b><br />
A very good question in deed. There are many errors in all the various denominations of the world. Paul warns us false doctrine in Galatians 1:8-9 in which he says <br />
<b><span class="text Gal-1-8" id="en-KJV-29066"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>But
though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you
than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.</span></b><br />
<b> </b><b><span class="text Gal-1-9" id="en-KJV-29067"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>As
we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel
unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.</span></b><br />
<b> </b><br />
We are warned not to obey any other gospel than that of the Bible. Denominations do not follow the Bible fully and truthfully. Their doctrines come from man. Man's ways lead to death(Prov 14:12)<br />
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<b>3) Is the Church of Christ a denomination?</b><br />
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If you look up Church of Christ on google, yahoo, or any internet browser, you will see that many categorized the church as a denomination. This is not the case. Denomination means division. We are not divided but of unity(<b> Eph 4:1-6) </b>The Church of Christ is all one. All the various congergations of the world are all one but scattered about the whole world in different states, countries, provinces, etc. The Church of Christ therefore cannot be a denomination for denomination means division and division is not what God is(1 Cor 14:33)<br />
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I hope you have attained a brief understanding of what was answered from the three questions on denominations. I urge all to study it out more, look at different false doctrines of each, and study how the Bible refutes them. <br />
<h4>
</h4>
Be Thou An Examplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03186276029663577116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902297032538566519.post-55866410043378055222019-05-07T18:51:00.000-07:002019-05-07T18:51:31.920-07:00Preach<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">People love to talk. Even the most quiet of people, when given the right topic, can gab on and on and on. Preachers are especially notorious for this phenomenon. When a preacher is given the opportunity to preach, he won’t stop until everyone’s left or fallen asleep! If you ask him why he preaches, he’ll quote you 2 Timothy 2:4, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” I guess preachers think it’s there job therefore to have their audiences suffer long!</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">The only reason you should be upset at a preacher is if: A) he is preaching false doctrine; or B) he is preaching truth and you are living in sin. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">In Acts 3 and 4, Peter and John preached and performed a miracle in the temple. Acts 4:1-2, “And as they spake unto the people,the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” The Jewish leaders despised the disciples for preaching Jesus. In verse 18, after they had arrested Peter and John, and after they had questioned them, and Peter preached to them again Jesus, the rulers “...called them, and commanded [Peter and John] not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. (19) But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. (20) For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Likewise, when preachers ramble on and on and on to the point where you either fall asleep or “have” to leave, you just remember this: “we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Sound preachers preach the truth because they HAVE to. In Mark 16:15, Jesus told his disciples, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” This call still resonates through the ages, and it is still our responsibility -regardless if we are called preachers or not- to go and preach the gospel in season, and out of season. People love to talk, but they don’t much care to listen. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">As Paul said again to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2-4, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: ".sfuitext-italic"; font-size: 17pt; font-style: italic;">their</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Most people will not listen to Christ, for they would rather hear reaffirmation of their individual sins instead of hearing truth. They do not comprehend truth (John 1:5), because they love darkness rather than light (John 3:19).</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Whenever you talk, and whenever you preach, and whenever you are ignored, be not dismayed; instead, be joyful that they are ignoring you rather than persecuting you, and when they persecute you, rejoice! In Acts 5:41, the apostles “...departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." We should be able to say, as Paul said in Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." And we should, therefore, preach.</span></div>
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Be Thou An Examplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03186276029663577116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902297032538566519.post-68963254829558093362019-05-07T11:06:00.000-07:002019-05-07T11:09:03.986-07:00Be Thou An Example Like Joseph<h2>
Be Thou An Example Like Joseph</h2>
<u>Noah Olson</u><br />
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One Biblical Character that I love to go to for an example is Joseph. Looking back at his life we can see that he was one who was faithful unto the almighty God. I want to look at 3 different things today. Temptation, Forgiveness, and Love. As we look at Joseph's example, let us try to mirror our example to one faithful character.<br />
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Joseph throughout his life was faced with many trials. He was faced with the hatred of his brothers, (Gen 37:4) the betrayal of his brothers by beating him and selling him(Genesis 37:12-36), and being asked to commit fornication twice.(Gen 39:7-12) But throughout all of this, he found grace in God's eyes.(Gen 39:4) With the examples shown, he resisted the temptation and followed what God would have him to do.. (Gen 39:9). Are we willing to face temptation like Joseph? Are we willing to resist the devil? We are tempted every day, but are we willing to resist it? Some do but many fail. We need never blame God for our failure(James 1:13-16) but ourselves. Joseph never blamed God for what happened to him. He trusted God would be with him even through the hardest of times(1 Cor 10:13). He faced temptation with God right beside him. We can but how? How can we resist the devil? Consider what James says in James 4:7<br />
<b><span class="text Jas-4-7" id="en-KJV-30345"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you</span></b><br />
<span class="text Jas-4-7" id="en-KJV-30345">We must submit to God, meaning study God's word and use it against the devil.It is effciant and works(Heb 4:12) Jesus did in Matthew 4:1-11. Joseph faced the temptations of this world by remaining steadfast and unmovable and always abounding in the work of the LORD(1 Cor 15:58)</span><br />
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<span class="text Jas-4-7" id="en-KJV-30345">Second and Thirdly, I want to look at the great Love and Forgiveness that Joseph showed his brothers. Years after being in Egypt and interpreting dreams(Gen 39-41) Joseph was made 2nd in all of Egypt(Gen 41:40). After all he had been through, he was exalted because he was humble. We see in Gen 42, that his brothers journeyed to Egypt. We see that they lacked food and asked for some from Egypt. Reading Gen 42-44 we can see that they encounter their brother, but no nothing of him and do not recognize his identity. We see that with the great power that Joseph had, he could have returned the favor of what they did to him many years ago. BUT, he would not. He forgave them for what they had done. Are we willing to forgive our erring brother? </span><span class="text Jas-4-7" id="en-KJV-30345">Do we show great forgiveness to our brethren? If we cannot forgive we cannot be forgiven(Matthew 6:14-15). What great love and forgiveness he showed unto them. God has done the same unto us. He sent His son to die for us(John 3:16) so that we might live with Him if we are faithful. If God has so forgiven us, why can't we do the same to our brothers and sisters? Why can't we show the great love that God has given us? We need remember that true forgiveness is forgetting (Is 43:25) although it is hard to do. Joseph is one example of forgiveness that all should consider and follow. </span><br />
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<span class="text Jas-4-7" id="en-KJV-30345">One biblical great that I love to look at. One who knew the truth and obeyed it. One who resisted the devil's temptations and showed love to his brothers even though they didn't deserve it. We don't deserve God's love, but it is through his grace and our obedience that we can be saved. Let us always look at God's Word for our knowledge, truth, and examples of faith. </span><br />
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<span class="text Jas-4-7" id="en-KJV-30345"> </span><b><span class="text Jas-4-7" id="en-KJV-30345"> </span></b> Be Thou An Examplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03186276029663577116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902297032538566519.post-7041803596509821082019-05-05T19:12:00.001-07:002019-05-05T22:13:10.631-07:00Focus of Purpose<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Thomas Edison once said “The secret of success is focus of purpose.” This is true for the Christian today. If we are going to succeed in religion, and if we are going to receive that crown of life at then end of our lives, then we must have a purpose -we must have a goal in our mind constantly. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">In Hebrews 12:1-2, the Hebrews writer said “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: ".sfuitext-italic"; font-size: 17pt; font-style: italic;">us,</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: ".sfuitext-italic"; font-size: 17pt; font-style: italic;">our </span><span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">The writer said again, “let us run ... the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus....” Whenever you drive at night, do you use your headlights? Whenever you drive in unfamiliar locations, do you use your Siri? Whenever we drive, we want to know where we are going, but so many people in the denominational world want to say, “Jesus take the wheel!” but why would he take the wheel when he’s given us a map (a Siri). Why would Jesus take the wheel when he’s given us headlights. As the Psalmist said, “thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” (Psalm 119:105). </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Our purpose and our goal in life is to get to heaven -it is to find eternal life. In John 8:12, Jesus said “...I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Jesus is the only thing that will get us into Heaven, because He alone has provided the only map and the only light that can direct us to Heaven. Mankind through the ages have tried to come up with their own guides to allow them to enter Heaven, but just as there is only one Heaven, there is only one way into Heaven. John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am THE way, THE truth, THE life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me,” (emphasis added). And where is God the father? Matthew 6:9, Jesus said to his disciples, “after this manner therefore pray ye: our father which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name.” God is in Heaven. Jesus is the only way into Heaven. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">If we focus on Jesus: The Way into Heaven, we will succeed in attaining life. Most of Thomas Edison’s quote was true, save this: “the secret to success is focus on purpose,” except that the secret of success is no secret at all. If you are lost and you want to be found, you pull out your Siri and flip on your headlights, and you FOCUS on getting FOUND. Likewise, if you are in sin, if you are dead spiritually, then you study the Bible, and you FOCUS on finding JESUS. More specifically, in order to have the forgiveness of sins and escape eternal death, you must come into contact with the blood of Christ. 1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">The crux of the matter is this: God/Jesus has done His part, now it is up to us. If we want to succeed, we cannot merely say “Jesus take the wheel!” We have to instead follow and obey Him. As Stephen, in Acts 7:56, saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God, so ought we to be, (not literally, but metaphorically). We need, in short, to focus on God, and then we will receive that crown on life (Rev.2:10)</span></div>
Be Thou An Examplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03186276029663577116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902297032538566519.post-59342155393153041102019-05-05T05:55:00.001-07:002019-05-05T05:55:19.223-07:00Are we giving all to God?<p dir="ltr">When we get baptized and become Christians, we gave ourselves fully to God.<br>
We sing the song at camp Pierce My Ear, “Pierce my ear, o Lord, my God. Take me to your door this day. For I will serve no other God. Lord, I’m here to stay.” . It comes from Exodus 21:2-6. That is an example of how we should be as Christians. When we make that commitment, much like the servant, it’s for life. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Some have said that Ivan the great went to go be married, under one condition, that he be baptized. When the 500 soldiers he took with him heard this, they decided to be baptized too, but they were unsure on what to do since they knew if they were Christians, they couldn’t carry on being the bloodthirsty warriors they were. So, they came up with a solution. When the priest went down into the water with them, the soldiers drew their swords and held them above the water. They wanted to give themselves to God, but not all of themselves. They didn’t wanna give up their past or the lives they were living. Psalm 119:10 If we are going to seek God, it has to be with our whole hearts. Joshua 14:8 We have to fully follow him.<br>
When we went down in the water of baptism, we died, were buried with Christ and was raised to live for Him. Galatians 2:20 <br>
We need to think seriously about this and make sure we didn’t leave anything out of the water when we were baptized. Whether it is our wallet or nowadays, our phones, nothing should come before God if we have given our lives to Him. <br>
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Be Thou An Examplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03186276029663577116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5902297032538566519.post-34581708053098089792019-05-02T18:07:00.001-07:002019-05-02T18:07:18.342-07:00Things we can learn from Zacchaeus <p dir="ltr">I think a lot of times we “water down” parts of the Bible because we teach them to children. Zacchaeus is one that I noticed recently I didn’t know much about. I knew stuff about him, but mainly just the stuff we sing in the song as kids. Even when reading through it, it seems like the mentality most times is that it’s just a “kid’s story” and miss out on a lot of the details we can learn from. <br>
(Luke 19:1-10)<br>
We see here that he was a tax collector. If you look back at how tax collectors were at the time, you see that they were hated among most, if not all, people. They were given what to tax the people by the Roman government and only they knew what that number was, so often times, they would overcharge people and keep the extra money for themselves. And seeing as it says that Zacchaeus was rich, that could have been what he did. We see that he still wanted to see Jesus. When Jesus saw him and said that He would come to his house, we see the reaction from the people in the crowd. They called Zacchaeus a sinner and judged Jesus for going to his house. <br>
(1 corinthians 6:9-11) We could probably find 2 or 3 words in those verses that would fit the description of a tax collector in those days. But it says “as were some of you”. Zacchaeus was truly trying to make his life right, but the people around him still called him a sinner and judged him for his occupation. We also see this in the chapter before Luke 18:9-14. We need to watch out as Christians that we are not doing this. We shouldn’t think more highly of ourselves because we are saved. We have the gospel, it saves, and we should be out teaching it. Whether it’s because of financial status, race, occupation, or anything else, no one is too far to be saved. Tax collectors at that time were some of the most hated and untrustworthy people, but they could still be saved. I’m sure there’s people in our lives that we can think of that we might say, “they would never listen” or “they would never become a Christian”, but that’s not what we see from the Bible. If we look at Saul, later changed to Paul, he was going around killing Christians. He was traveling all over persecuting them. But then when we think of him as Paul, he was the complete opposite. Even if you look to more recent times and into the case of Jeffrey Dahmer, it is said that before being killed by other inmates in prison, he expressed the need to be baptized. A church of Christ preacher went in and baptized him and it is said that he continued to try to faithfully until his death. Even some of the most notorious and wicked people can be saved if they are truly repentant. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. We are commanded to and we should want to be doing the same.<br>
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Be Thou An Examplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03186276029663577116noreply@blogger.com0