Monday, April 5, 2021
Life stories and lessons from the people of Genesis 29
Sunday, April 4, 2021
Genesis 28
Saturday, April 3, 2021
Principles for dealing with anger
- Anger is sometimes justified, sometimes not.
- Anger can cause sin to crouch at the doors of our hearts, desiring to overpower us, but we must master it by faith.
- Righteous anger should cause us to pursue justice, not vengeance.
- Continually strive for peace with everyone.
- Resolve issues causing anger as quickly as possible, so a poisonous root of bitterness does not ruin our relationship with God and others.
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Abraham's blessing is available to us today through Christ
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Jacob's blessing and Esau's "blessing"
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Does suffering distract you from God's will?
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Keep watch and work for rewards
The importance of the fig tree lesson for today
Saturday, March 13, 2021
Love the least
- Generosity- If you can provide something that someone needs, no matter how much or little you have, do it.
- Fairness- God doesn't require that we live in poverty, nor is he opposed to prosperity. But he does want us to be fair in our dealings with others.
- Honesty- A half-truth is a whole lie. Be honest with people. Don't make false accusations or try to cheat people.
Friday, March 12, 2021
Troubled hearts and Christ's promise to return
The times that I struggle most with a troubled heart are when I lose sight of the fact that righteousness comes by faith in what Christ has already done. If I measure myself by myself, then I become self-focused. That is what it truly means to fall from grace. It is not a state of sin one has fallen to in which there is no longer any hope for them. It is to actively trust in works as the means of salvation when it is by grace through faith.
I also notice that my heart is troubled when I first wake up in the morning. I get bombarded with negative thoughts and what-ifs when I first wake up. But as I begin going through my day and capture those thoughts, everything improves. When one has an eternal perspective, focusing on the hope that we have, no worldly trouble can defeat that.
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Perfection
Eternal judgment
The resurrection of the dead
The laying on of hands
Baptism
- Instruction- The first requirement for baptism was given by Jesus in the Matthew 28:19-20 passage I quoted above. Christ's command to teach new believers is given twice. They are to be taught before and after baptism. Sinners must first hear and receive the good news to become true believers. Before baptism, believers should receive enough teaching to understand its meaning. After baptism, they should continue to receive instruction to become mature Christians.
- Repentance- The second condition for baptism is repentance from sin. Peter stressed this during his sermon on the day of Pentecost. Conviction of sins is not enough. Action must be taken. The two commands Peter gave were repent and be baptized. Repentance comes before baptism.
- Belief- The requirement of believing faith is illustrated by Philip and the Ethiopian man he met on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza (Acts 8). Philip heard the Ethiopian read from the book of Isaiah. He joined him in his chariot to explain the Gospel. As they continued on their journey, the road led past water. Upon the Ethiopian's request and his confession of faith, Philip baptized him.
- A good conscience toward God- Peter compares Christian baptism in water to Noah's experience and his family, who were saved from judgment as they entered into the ark (1 Peter 3:21). Peter dismisses any idea that the purpose of baptism is any kind of cleansing of the physical body. He says the condition of Christian baptism is the inner relationship of the believer's heart toward God (AMES International School of Ministry).
- Christ's baptism of suffering- Jesus said, "I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished" (Luke 12:50 NLT). "You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with” (Mark 10:38 NLT)? Jesus was speaking of the suffering awaiting Him through His death for the sins of all mankind. He was to be immersed in suffering, buried in the tomb, and resurrected in a new body (AMES International School of Ministry).
- The baptism of John- John the Baptist's baptism is not the same as Christian baptism even though before are in the New Testament. It was a baptism of repentance that would point the way to Jesus. “And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins" (Luke 1:76-77 NLT). John the Baptist said, "I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire" (Matthew 3:11 NLT).
- Christian baptism- Jesus showed us the example of Christian baptism in Matthew 3:13-17. He didn't need to do it because he was perfect. But he did it to show us the example to follow. "Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy” (NLT).
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit-The baptism of the Holy Spirit is mentioned several times in the New Testament. John the Baptist said, "I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire" (Matthew 3:11 NLT). "I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire" (Luke 3:16 NLT). "I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit'" (John 1:33 NLT). Right before his ascension, Jesus said, "John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:5 NLT). Peter quoted Jesus in Acts 11:16. "Then I thought of the Lord’s words when he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit'" (NLT). The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:13, "Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit" (NLT).
- You must repent and be water baptized- Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of 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 2:38 NLT).
- You must believe it is for you. "This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God" (Acts 2:39 NLT).
- You must desire it- "On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory) (Acts 7:37-39 NLT).
- You must realize it is a gift- "Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:2, 5, 14 NLT).
- You must yield to God- And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability" (Acts 2:4 NLT).
- You should request the prayer of other believers (Acts 2, 4, 8-9, 10, 19).
- Some say that there doesn't need to be a second experience of Holy Spirit baptism after a person receives Christ because all true Christians have the Holy Spirit indwelling them. It is true that all Christians have the Holy Spirit, but it is not true that all Christians have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, including myself. The apostles believed in Jesus before they received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. "And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from Heaven" (Acts 24:49 NLT). John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:5 NLT). It wasn't until the Day of Pentecost after Jesus ascended that the Holy Spirit began baptizing believers. "And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability" (Acts 2:4 NLT). Later, there were some Samaritan believers who had believed and been baptized, but they had not received the Holy Spirit yet. "When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:14-17 NLT). The same was true with some Ephesian believers in Acts 19:1-6. "While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' he asked them. 'No,' they replied, 'we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.' 'Then what baptism did you experience?' he asked. And they replied, 'The baptism of John.' Paul said, 'John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.' As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied" (Acts 19:1-6 NLT). There is a difference between the Holy Spirit being with you and being in you. "He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you" (John 14:17 NLT).
- "Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not" (1 Corinthians 12:30 NLT)! This is not referring to whether some people are baptized in the Holy Spirit while others are not, but instead is talking about the exercise of certain spiritual gifts.
- Some worry that the physical sign of Holy Spirit baptism, speaking in tongues, is of demonic origin. For that reason, they dismiss the entire doctrine and experience. But this need not be so. Jesus said, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him." God will not give you anything that is not good for you.
- Some discount the Holy Spirit baptism experience because they say it is all about emotion. But being a genuine believer doesn't take away all room for emotion. "And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 13:52 NLT).