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Monthly Archives : October 2016

Honorable or Dishonorable, 2 Timothy 2:21, October 23, 2016
Therefore,  if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,  he will be a vessel for honorable use,  set apart as holy,  useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.  2 Timothy  2:21 ESV
 
 
     In the scheme of life would you wish to be a person of honor or dishonor?   In asking this question the assumption  is that there are those who are honorable and those who are not.  To whom are they honorable and to what cause?  In  a marriage it would be to one’s wife.  In one’s work it would be to the employer.  If it were to a benefit to help others, it would be to that cause.  Be assured in every venue of life that there are those who are honorable and those who are not.  So the question begs to be answered what type person would you wish to be?  
     
First, identify the cause and person to whom honor is due.  The cause is to make disciples and teach them in the way Jesus taught us to live.  The person is God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to whom honor is due.
     
Second, take responsibility  for your life.  While God is the one who sanctifies us, there is still personal responsibility in this process.  Let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely.  Hebrews 12: 1 ESV……   Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel.  Proverbs 25:4 ESV                                                            
     
Third,  Be useful in the Master’s hand to accomplish His good works.  Become a living tool in His hand with eternal purpose.  The honor of being used by God for His purpose would be greater than any thing else in life.  If you realize  this is not the desire of your heart, pray and cry out for mercy asking to be made a vessel of honor.  Ask God to accomplish this sanctifying /setting apart process in your life, so you will be useful in an honorable way: for every good work.        
     
Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David
Blessed and Forgiven, Psalm 32:1, October 16, 2016

        Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1

 

    Blessed people are happy people. Now before you take this thought too far, decide what it means to be blessed…..happy. Many would relate being blessed to material wealth, good health, a great job….etc. While these represent things for which we should be thankful, by themselves they will not produce lasting happiness. If these things could bring happiness, the majortiy of people in America would be truly happy. So what can bring perpetual happiness? Answer: living daily in the forgiveness of God!  Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin. Romans 4:7-8 ESV  Have you experienced forgiveness?

 

     Have you, as David, realized that you have sinned against God? I acknowledge my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” Psalm 32:5 ESV David sinned with Bathsheba and was rocking along pretty good until Nathan the prophet brought to his attention that God knew about his sin. When David acknowledged he sinned against God and repented, the words of Psalm 32:1 (ESV) were birthed. “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”

 

    Unconfessed sin will fester in the very soul of a person. Trying to experience happiness without God’s forgiveness would be like a fish trying to survive out of water. For a while the fish would live, but eventually it would die. As the fish swims in the waters God provides, may you swim in the forgiveness God made possible by the blood of His Son Jesus. “If we confess out sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9  Are you covered by the blood of Jesus? Then praise God from whom all blessings…happiness, flows!

 

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David