Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Ephesians 5:25
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You know I believe I've said this before, but I love how God has taught me and continues to teach me. See one thing I had so twisted and messed up is my perception and take on love. Worse off is how a family should work. My idea before Christ before Christ opened my eyes came from television and hollywood and believe me wrong and yes twisted. Friends the tv dads I have seen and remember don't exactly show me men willing to give themselves for their wives in fact most of them would more than likely put her in the way of harm. Friends sadly men have been made out to be fools and well, plainly not men. Praise God for Him opening my eyes and renewing my mind and my spirit. Praise God for showing me daily how to be a man through His Word.
Brothers while in this context in this passage it is talking about man who is married we who are single need to prepare by honoring other women. You may say now how does this prepare me for being a father someday. Friends if you can't learn to treat younger women as sisters with purity meaning you treat them with dignity and respect or by respecting the older women by honoring them( 1 Timothy 5:2 ) than how do you ever feel your going to be the head of your house. These acts giving honor to the older women, treating the younger women with purity, can't you see how they will they will translate into your married life. If you can't do it now then how do you expect to do it then.
You know I used to get real down about being single. In fact I'll be quite honest there are some tough days even now, but the great thing is daily I can see God using this time to prepare me and use me. See one thing people so often do and I've been guilty in the past of doing is looking at this time of singleness with gloom. Friends don't do that, look on it with joy. In addition I also want to say just because your single don't use this as an excuse not to be a man. Use this time God has given you to grow in Him. Granted you don't ever stop growing and learning, but use this time wisely. Don't waste it saying poor me. Use this time to get to know God and see how He wants to use you.
Feast on His Word and understand what it means when if by God's grace you do get married to love your wife as Christ also loved the church. Friends I can't begin to even put into words how God has dramatically shown me what love is. I thought I knew what it was before I knew Him, but then I met Him and then wow. Everyday I learn it runs so much deeper than I ever thought. If you really want to know love, get to know the very author of love, get to know God.
Brothers I send this as encouragement and a reminder that as Christ gave Himself for the church, so should men have this same kind of love for their wives. A deep love, a sacrificing love and this doesn't start when you get married it starts long before you get to the altar. Start today, don't wait be a man. Be the man who God calls you to be.
Good day and God bless,
John W. Whybrew III <><
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Realize Your A Fool And Then Become Wise ( 1 Corinthians 3:18-23 )
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
1 Corinthians 3:18-23
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It never ceases to amaze me how those who don't believe in God can find a Christian ignorant. Don't believe me? I've heard this from people with degrees and I'm thinking just one thing are you serious ? The one thing I have heard common among them is that we get suckered into this religious thing. Every time I hear that it just makes me laugh and reminds me of something the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans when he writes claiming to be wise they became fools( Romans 1:22 ). Need I say more? Friends I'm not saying having a degree or attaining knowledge is bad, but to glory in that knowledge above God is vain. To seriously think you can obtain a great knowledge of things of this world and know more than God is absurd and plainly arrogant. Like I will stress again I'm not discouraging learning in fact I am currently in college myself and believing learning is a good thing. The thing is we must understand that all understanding and truth comes from God and through it give Him the glory.
For example like I said I currently in college pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biology and through this knowledge I can give God glory. One way is it is amazing how diverse each animal is and how He designed them. How He gave them certain functions and certain systems to live just amazes me. When I get my diploma in 2011 I will be able to thank God. Like I've told other brothers and sisters the path He has me on at first seemed odd,but I know He has a purpose for me. He is using this time to teach me lessons, to grow, and use me in ways I may not see now,but look back and say wow. See sometimes God uses us and we may not see it then,but look back and say man that is awesome.
Another thing I'd like to point out is how people in this world get wrapped up in how much they know and how they can handle things. Then when something bad happens they turn to God, but my question is, is why is it only when things are going bad? Why is it they think they need Him sometimes ? Friends I know for me personally I need Him everyday from the time I get up till I lay down. In fact I go to bed with Him on my thoughts, why? Cause in Him I find rest. I may not be wise in things of this world as the "culturally cool" are,but who cares ? I am instead getting nourished in God's Word. I am instead being taught by God for He is my schoolmaster. So what if I don't know the latest car lingo or trends in society, I seek to know God deeper and deeper.
I spoke on this the other night, we should be pursuing God with all our hearts, all our souls, and all our strength. By this we need to be getting deeper in His Word. Don't just skim it or read a little. Get in and get to know Him. I encourage you seek true wisdom and true knowledge through reading His Word. So what if the world calls you weird, guess what the disciples where considered weird. Why ? They were devoted to preaching and teaching the words of Jesus. Believe me they met opposition read the book of Acts ,but still they served God with all that they were. They didn't let mocking or persecuting stop them. They continued all the way to death. So why I ask are we letting being considered weird or strange stop us? Friends when I say weird to the world they see us weird, to God He sees holy, same person two different views. Be willing to step out and be holy for He calls us to be holy.
Good night and God bless,
John W. Whybrew III <><
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
1 Corinthians 3:18-23
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It never ceases to amaze me how those who don't believe in God can find a Christian ignorant. Don't believe me? I've heard this from people with degrees and I'm thinking just one thing are you serious ? The one thing I have heard common among them is that we get suckered into this religious thing. Every time I hear that it just makes me laugh and reminds me of something the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans when he writes claiming to be wise they became fools( Romans 1:22 ). Need I say more? Friends I'm not saying having a degree or attaining knowledge is bad, but to glory in that knowledge above God is vain. To seriously think you can obtain a great knowledge of things of this world and know more than God is absurd and plainly arrogant. Like I will stress again I'm not discouraging learning in fact I am currently in college myself and believing learning is a good thing. The thing is we must understand that all understanding and truth comes from God and through it give Him the glory.
For example like I said I currently in college pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biology and through this knowledge I can give God glory. One way is it is amazing how diverse each animal is and how He designed them. How He gave them certain functions and certain systems to live just amazes me. When I get my diploma in 2011 I will be able to thank God. Like I've told other brothers and sisters the path He has me on at first seemed odd,but I know He has a purpose for me. He is using this time to teach me lessons, to grow, and use me in ways I may not see now,but look back and say wow. See sometimes God uses us and we may not see it then,but look back and say man that is awesome.
Another thing I'd like to point out is how people in this world get wrapped up in how much they know and how they can handle things. Then when something bad happens they turn to God, but my question is, is why is it only when things are going bad? Why is it they think they need Him sometimes ? Friends I know for me personally I need Him everyday from the time I get up till I lay down. In fact I go to bed with Him on my thoughts, why? Cause in Him I find rest. I may not be wise in things of this world as the "culturally cool" are,but who cares ? I am instead getting nourished in God's Word. I am instead being taught by God for He is my schoolmaster. So what if I don't know the latest car lingo or trends in society, I seek to know God deeper and deeper.
I spoke on this the other night, we should be pursuing God with all our hearts, all our souls, and all our strength. By this we need to be getting deeper in His Word. Don't just skim it or read a little. Get in and get to know Him. I encourage you seek true wisdom and true knowledge through reading His Word. So what if the world calls you weird, guess what the disciples where considered weird. Why ? They were devoted to preaching and teaching the words of Jesus. Believe me they met opposition read the book of Acts ,but still they served God with all that they were. They didn't let mocking or persecuting stop them. They continued all the way to death. So why I ask are we letting being considered weird or strange stop us? Friends when I say weird to the world they see us weird, to God He sees holy, same person two different views. Be willing to step out and be holy for He calls us to be holy.
Good night and God bless,
John W. Whybrew III <><
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Being Made Free, Became Servants Of Righteousness ( Romans 6:18 )
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Romans 6:18
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You know one of many things God has revealed to me is that I was a servant of sin. Before coming to Christ I would never have come out and said it,but I was. See that is thing sinners won't raise their hands and say yes I serve sin, but whether they want to admit it or not they are a servant of it. Let me give some examples and you see what I mean. Think about the man who does drugs and just can't quit. You ask him why don't you quit and his response is I can't. Another example is someone who lives to feed their sexual appetite. Sadly our society sees that as just "enjoying the most" out of life. To me I see it as God sees it and that is sin. See friends this person just as the man who is addicted to drugs have something in common they are serving their desires. They are not seeking to bring God glory in their actions.
So then when we meet Jesus those of us who are saved we then as the Apostle Paul writes here become servants of righteousness. We no longer seek to serve our flesh,but instead seek to please God in all that we do. You know its amazing,but I think if I told someone I was a servant of Christ they might get the wrong idea. See people's mindset of servant is not the right picture. See we serve Christ with a willingness knowing what He has done for us. As it states first we have been set free from sin. As it is written the wages of sin are death( Romans 6:23 ). Friends when I think of the very fact that He saved me, on that alone I am grateful. I am grateful to know that I am spared the second death and have been granted eternal life. So as servants of righteousness, remembering how grateful we are and what our calling is we need to seek His will through His Word and in communion with Him daily in prayer. Friends this doesn't we are perfect by any means. Sure were going to make mistakes,but here is the great thing through growth and correction(from God) we will learn. That is discipleship growing daily to be more and more like Him. Granted we won't be perfect this side of heaven, but that in no way should discourage us, but instead should encourage us to run this race with patience longing to see Him waiting for us at home in Heaven.
Friends be encouraged to serve God with all that you are. Be glad to be a servant of righteousness and that you no longer serve sin. Praise God for Him setting you free and making you dead to sin, but alive to Him( Romans 6:11 ). I know that you may struggle and war with your flesh,but know this that as long as you walk in the spirit you will not fulfill these desires( Galatians 5:16 ). I send this as encouragement to you my brothers and sisters.
Good night and God bless,
John W. Whybrew III <><
Romans 6:18
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You know one of many things God has revealed to me is that I was a servant of sin. Before coming to Christ I would never have come out and said it,but I was. See that is thing sinners won't raise their hands and say yes I serve sin, but whether they want to admit it or not they are a servant of it. Let me give some examples and you see what I mean. Think about the man who does drugs and just can't quit. You ask him why don't you quit and his response is I can't. Another example is someone who lives to feed their sexual appetite. Sadly our society sees that as just "enjoying the most" out of life. To me I see it as God sees it and that is sin. See friends this person just as the man who is addicted to drugs have something in common they are serving their desires. They are not seeking to bring God glory in their actions.
So then when we meet Jesus those of us who are saved we then as the Apostle Paul writes here become servants of righteousness. We no longer seek to serve our flesh,but instead seek to please God in all that we do. You know its amazing,but I think if I told someone I was a servant of Christ they might get the wrong idea. See people's mindset of servant is not the right picture. See we serve Christ with a willingness knowing what He has done for us. As it states first we have been set free from sin. As it is written the wages of sin are death( Romans 6:23 ). Friends when I think of the very fact that He saved me, on that alone I am grateful. I am grateful to know that I am spared the second death and have been granted eternal life. So as servants of righteousness, remembering how grateful we are and what our calling is we need to seek His will through His Word and in communion with Him daily in prayer. Friends this doesn't we are perfect by any means. Sure were going to make mistakes,but here is the great thing through growth and correction(from God) we will learn. That is discipleship growing daily to be more and more like Him. Granted we won't be perfect this side of heaven, but that in no way should discourage us, but instead should encourage us to run this race with patience longing to see Him waiting for us at home in Heaven.
Friends be encouraged to serve God with all that you are. Be glad to be a servant of righteousness and that you no longer serve sin. Praise God for Him setting you free and making you dead to sin, but alive to Him( Romans 6:11 ). I know that you may struggle and war with your flesh,but know this that as long as you walk in the spirit you will not fulfill these desires( Galatians 5:16 ). I send this as encouragement to you my brothers and sisters.
Good night and God bless,
John W. Whybrew III <><
Monday, May 11, 2009
Pursue God By Getting In Deep ( 2 Timothy 2:15 )
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
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You know just from the very first word you see the seriousness. What I mean is we as Christians need to be as I heard it put a man or woman of the text. We need to get in and get deep. Notice it doesn't start with read a little or skim through, but it says study. When you prepare for a test, that you need to pass would you barely look over the material? No! Sadly and I do say there are Christians going to church taking the college approach to knowing their bible. What do I mean by this. They are just getting by. They maybe read it when they are at church and who knows maybe a few times outside of church,but how many times more than that.Friends this can not be the approach we take. Granted God didn't say you need to read your bible this many times a day or for this many hours. The question then I ask is why is it people can't spend more time in His Word? Why can't they spend more time getting deep and getting to know God through His Word.
Believe me every bit is profitable for us to read. You know what everything thing you need is in there. How can we share the good news if we don't know it? How can we reach the lost if we aren't being obedient? Does it not say in this verse study to show thyself approved unto God? Friends whether your a pastor rightly dividing God's Word or a witness for God sharing His Word to others you should be in the Word. Studying God's Word is not limited to those in ministry.
When the Apostle Paul writes in this verse that we shouldn't be ashamed this goes hand in hand with studying. Friends when they ask for what do we hope we should have answer and not just Jesus loves me. Yes I know He loves, but so much deeper. I have hope in knowing that when my life ends that I have been passed from death into life( John 5:24 ) through the atoning blood of Jesus( John 3:16 ). Praise God I can share with them, that by grace through faith I have been saved and can only give praise to Him who saved me for I have nothing in myself to boast in( Ephesians 2:8-9).
Last I'd like to cover what it says at the end of the verse by rightly dividing the Word. Sadly I will say there are men in pulpits who are not doing this. Instead what they are doing is interpreting the scripture to fit how they want it. Friends when a man who is standing in a pulpit and not being faithful to delivering God's Word as it is he is doing a disservice. I venture to say if they are putting their own twist or just making it to tickle the ears of the congregation this is just adding to apostasy.
Friends a pastor's job is to rightly divide God's Word and since none of us(the pastor included) are perfect it should help us in our walk with God. So by a pastor not dividing God's Word rightly this is sad to say,but the people would have been better off not being there. This is why and friends know I say this with love, as I said the other night prove all things( 1 Thessalonians 5:21 ). This includes people and not to mention I believe it was the Apostle John who said to test the spirits( 1 John 4:1 ).
Brothers and sisters be encouraged to get deep in God's Word. Don't say I don't have time, instead make time. Believe me I can't tell you how much I love what God shows me through His Word. Even if I only get to read a chapter or two, to me that means a lot. God still speaks, we just need to listen and get deep. So once again I encourage you get deep.
Good night and God bless,
John W. Whybrew III <><
2 Timothy 2:15
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You know just from the very first word you see the seriousness. What I mean is we as Christians need to be as I heard it put a man or woman of the text. We need to get in and get deep. Notice it doesn't start with read a little or skim through, but it says study. When you prepare for a test, that you need to pass would you barely look over the material? No! Sadly and I do say there are Christians going to church taking the college approach to knowing their bible. What do I mean by this. They are just getting by. They maybe read it when they are at church and who knows maybe a few times outside of church,but how many times more than that.Friends this can not be the approach we take. Granted God didn't say you need to read your bible this many times a day or for this many hours. The question then I ask is why is it people can't spend more time in His Word? Why can't they spend more time getting deep and getting to know God through His Word.
Believe me every bit is profitable for us to read. You know what everything thing you need is in there. How can we share the good news if we don't know it? How can we reach the lost if we aren't being obedient? Does it not say in this verse study to show thyself approved unto God? Friends whether your a pastor rightly dividing God's Word or a witness for God sharing His Word to others you should be in the Word. Studying God's Word is not limited to those in ministry.
When the Apostle Paul writes in this verse that we shouldn't be ashamed this goes hand in hand with studying. Friends when they ask for what do we hope we should have answer and not just Jesus loves me. Yes I know He loves, but so much deeper. I have hope in knowing that when my life ends that I have been passed from death into life( John 5:24 ) through the atoning blood of Jesus( John 3:16 ). Praise God I can share with them, that by grace through faith I have been saved and can only give praise to Him who saved me for I have nothing in myself to boast in( Ephesians 2:8-9).
Last I'd like to cover what it says at the end of the verse by rightly dividing the Word. Sadly I will say there are men in pulpits who are not doing this. Instead what they are doing is interpreting the scripture to fit how they want it. Friends when a man who is standing in a pulpit and not being faithful to delivering God's Word as it is he is doing a disservice. I venture to say if they are putting their own twist or just making it to tickle the ears of the congregation this is just adding to apostasy.
Friends a pastor's job is to rightly divide God's Word and since none of us(the pastor included) are perfect it should help us in our walk with God. So by a pastor not dividing God's Word rightly this is sad to say,but the people would have been better off not being there. This is why and friends know I say this with love, as I said the other night prove all things( 1 Thessalonians 5:21 ). This includes people and not to mention I believe it was the Apostle John who said to test the spirits( 1 John 4:1 ).
Brothers and sisters be encouraged to get deep in God's Word. Don't say I don't have time, instead make time. Believe me I can't tell you how much I love what God shows me through His Word. Even if I only get to read a chapter or two, to me that means a lot. God still speaks, we just need to listen and get deep. So once again I encourage you get deep.
Good night and God bless,
John W. Whybrew III <><
Friday, May 8, 2009
Prove All Things, That Means Everything! ( 1 Thessalonians 5:21 )
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:21
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Prove all things, this means everything. This doesn't mean some things or a couple of things,but it includes every aspect of our lives. It really does amaze me how people can go to church on Sunday then watch or read such garbage. What I mean by garbage is stuff that in no means gives God glory,but somehow they feel they are mature enough to either watch it or it isn't too bad. Friends when the Apostle Paul wrote prove all things, he meant for us to test everything by God's Word. This means everything should be filtered by God's Word. Here is food for thought could you bring your bible with you in that movie? If the answer to that question is no then friends I urge you to not watch it. The bible is very clear when it says to guard our hearts( Proverbs 4:23 ). Whether people realize it or not, but what we watch does effect us and why I ask would you be wasting your time with such garbage. I will tell you personally since God has convicted me of this it may have limited what I watch, but it has in no way limited my joy. For friends I find my joy in God. So people may say your not cool cause you don't want to go see this or read that. I don't care, the Lord calls me to be holy for He is holy( ,Leviticus 19:2,1 Peter 1:16). Being holy is living a life separated and no I'm not perfect,but everyday I seek out to be like the one who saved me. I seek out to not be conformed to this world and instead deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him.
I love then what the Apostle Paul says in this verse as well hold fast to that what is good. So when we prove all things and find those that are good we hold fast to them that are good. To hold fast is to adhere to. Friends we know what is good through His Word. So what I can's understand is how there are those who call themselves Christians not adhering to what the Word clearly states. They are basically following some of the rules and if something doesn't fit in or feel good to them they just omit it. How they do this just doesn't make sense. God desire obedience and they feel somehow they can do what they want and everything is fine is not making any sense. God didn't give us all this grace so we could sin all we want. The Apostle Paul covered this in Romans chapter 6. My suggestion and I say this with love is to go back and reread it.
Friends be encouraged and know I speak to you in love. Be encouraged that as you walk with the Lord that you prove all things by His Word. This may not always be comfortable, but friends live a life pleasing to Him.Remember we were created to glorify Him.Let His desires become yours.
Good night and God bless,
John W. Whybrew III <><
1 Thessalonians 5:21
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Prove all things, this means everything. This doesn't mean some things or a couple of things,but it includes every aspect of our lives. It really does amaze me how people can go to church on Sunday then watch or read such garbage. What I mean by garbage is stuff that in no means gives God glory,but somehow they feel they are mature enough to either watch it or it isn't too bad. Friends when the Apostle Paul wrote prove all things, he meant for us to test everything by God's Word. This means everything should be filtered by God's Word. Here is food for thought could you bring your bible with you in that movie? If the answer to that question is no then friends I urge you to not watch it. The bible is very clear when it says to guard our hearts( Proverbs 4:23 ). Whether people realize it or not, but what we watch does effect us and why I ask would you be wasting your time with such garbage. I will tell you personally since God has convicted me of this it may have limited what I watch, but it has in no way limited my joy. For friends I find my joy in God. So people may say your not cool cause you don't want to go see this or read that. I don't care, the Lord calls me to be holy for He is holy( ,Leviticus 19:2,1 Peter 1:16). Being holy is living a life separated and no I'm not perfect,but everyday I seek out to be like the one who saved me. I seek out to not be conformed to this world and instead deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him.
I love then what the Apostle Paul says in this verse as well hold fast to that what is good. So when we prove all things and find those that are good we hold fast to them that are good. To hold fast is to adhere to. Friends we know what is good through His Word. So what I can's understand is how there are those who call themselves Christians not adhering to what the Word clearly states. They are basically following some of the rules and if something doesn't fit in or feel good to them they just omit it. How they do this just doesn't make sense. God desire obedience and they feel somehow they can do what they want and everything is fine is not making any sense. God didn't give us all this grace so we could sin all we want. The Apostle Paul covered this in Romans chapter 6. My suggestion and I say this with love is to go back and reread it.
Friends be encouraged and know I speak to you in love. Be encouraged that as you walk with the Lord that you prove all things by His Word. This may not always be comfortable, but friends live a life pleasing to Him.Remember we were created to glorify Him.Let His desires become yours.
Good night and God bless,
John W. Whybrew III <><
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Be Ready With Grace & Seasoned With Salt In Speech ( Colossians 4:6 )
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Colossians 4:6
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When speaking to those who have not come to the knowledge of Christ as Lord and Savior we should always speak with grace. By speaking with grace we show the mercy of sharing the great news, the best news about our Savior. As it is written blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy( Matthew 5:7 ). Ever heard the cliche of someone coming in scaring people into believing and sadly it sounds more like theater than evangelism. You don't have to yell and make a scene, just give them the reality of the Word and what it says. As it is written the law is perfect for converting a sinner( Psalm 19:7 ). I know personally and I thank God for Him changing me from the inside out and renewing me( Romans 12:2 ) and giving me a new heart( Ezekiel 11:19 ), one that desires Him and to please Him in all that I do.
In addition to our speech being filled with grace it must also be seasoned. As Jesus clearly said in His sermon on the mount we are to be the light and the salt( Matthew 5:13,16 ). To be seasoned is to have an effect on society as to preserve the good in society. Our very lives have an impact by the way we live for Him. You know it is amazing the effect you have on others. I'm not perfect,but by exhibiting my dependence on Christ has impacted others.
In the last part of the verse it says know how ye ought to answer every man. Now this doesn't mean you will have every answer. Granted sometimes you will have some awesome answers and that is great,but sometimes the best and most honest answer is I don't know. Friends a canned answer is not real and personally to me doesn't help anyone. Instead if someone ask you something and you don't know be real with them, but ask them if you can get back to them on by getting information on their question. Don't be afraid of not knowing something. Believe it or not your human. I think too often we want to have the answer.
Friends when you go out to witness don't worry about the words to say. God will provide exactly what you need to say. Granted you may not have all the answers and sometimes your response may be I don't know. Instead of being discouraged by it, use it as a further witnessing opportunity and ask if you can research their question more to give them an answer. Then ask if they would like to get a cup of coffee or hang out and talk more once you have gotten an answer. Granted this may or may not present itself don't be afraid, be bold, for we have not been given a spirit of timidity, but one of peace and power( 2 Timothy 1:7 ). Do remember to speak with grace , but make sure it is seasoned with truth, the Truth.
Good night and God bless,
John W. Whybrew III <><
Colossians 4:6
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When speaking to those who have not come to the knowledge of Christ as Lord and Savior we should always speak with grace. By speaking with grace we show the mercy of sharing the great news, the best news about our Savior. As it is written blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy( Matthew 5:7 ). Ever heard the cliche of someone coming in scaring people into believing and sadly it sounds more like theater than evangelism. You don't have to yell and make a scene, just give them the reality of the Word and what it says. As it is written the law is perfect for converting a sinner( Psalm 19:7 ). I know personally and I thank God for Him changing me from the inside out and renewing me( Romans 12:2 ) and giving me a new heart( Ezekiel 11:19 ), one that desires Him and to please Him in all that I do.
In addition to our speech being filled with grace it must also be seasoned. As Jesus clearly said in His sermon on the mount we are to be the light and the salt( Matthew 5:13,16 ). To be seasoned is to have an effect on society as to preserve the good in society. Our very lives have an impact by the way we live for Him. You know it is amazing the effect you have on others. I'm not perfect,but by exhibiting my dependence on Christ has impacted others.
In the last part of the verse it says know how ye ought to answer every man. Now this doesn't mean you will have every answer. Granted sometimes you will have some awesome answers and that is great,but sometimes the best and most honest answer is I don't know. Friends a canned answer is not real and personally to me doesn't help anyone. Instead if someone ask you something and you don't know be real with them, but ask them if you can get back to them on by getting information on their question. Don't be afraid of not knowing something. Believe it or not your human. I think too often we want to have the answer.
Friends when you go out to witness don't worry about the words to say. God will provide exactly what you need to say. Granted you may not have all the answers and sometimes your response may be I don't know. Instead of being discouraged by it, use it as a further witnessing opportunity and ask if you can research their question more to give them an answer. Then ask if they would like to get a cup of coffee or hang out and talk more once you have gotten an answer. Granted this may or may not present itself don't be afraid, be bold, for we have not been given a spirit of timidity, but one of peace and power( 2 Timothy 1:7 ). Do remember to speak with grace , but make sure it is seasoned with truth, the Truth.
Good night and God bless,
John W. Whybrew III <><
Monday, May 4, 2009
Are You Living A Life That Pleases God ? ( Colossians 1:10 )
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Colossians 1:10
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Are you living a life that is pleasing to God? Is your very walk worthy of whom called you? You know and this is just covering the first part of this verse. We need to be living everyday to please God in how we act and speak. What amazes me is there are people who call themselves Christians,but their walk is showing themselves otherwise. Friends the scriptures are very clear and state we shall know them by their fruits( Matthew 7:16 ). I know I'm not perfect,but I seek to please God in everything I do, everything from washing the dishes to even helping my mom with my grandmother. I know those seem like rather ordinary things,but its not about what we do...it's that we do it all for God's glory. As it is written do all things heartily unto the Lord( Colossians 3:23 ). I've learned through these simple acts to develop more of a servant's heart.
The apostle Paul concludes this verse with increasing in knowledge of God. Part of our walk with God and pleasing Him is we should be growing in knowledge in His Word. Remember as the scriptures say we need to study to show ourselves approved unto God( 2 Timothy 2:15 ). Friends daily we need to be in His Word growing daily. There isn't a certain amount,but I guarantee the longer you walk with Him the more you will desire and the more you will read. I know for me I can't get enough. The other day I couldn't go to bed without reading a few Psalms. Amazingly day by I am understanding more what David wrote in Psalm 42:1, about how his soul desire God as the deer panting after the brook. As you grow in spiritual maturity your hunger for the Word will grow too.
Friends our very lives should be to please God. We were created to worship and to glorify Him. Make every effort to seek to please Him. Even when times are rough give Him the glory. I've found that when the storms of life come and you praise Him, it amazing how much louder the praise in the calm becomes. Remember praise shall continually be on our lips( Psalm 51:15 ).
Good night and God bless,
John W. Whybrew III <><
Colossians 1:10
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you living a life that is pleasing to God? Is your very walk worthy of whom called you? You know and this is just covering the first part of this verse. We need to be living everyday to please God in how we act and speak. What amazes me is there are people who call themselves Christians,but their walk is showing themselves otherwise. Friends the scriptures are very clear and state we shall know them by their fruits( Matthew 7:16 ). I know I'm not perfect,but I seek to please God in everything I do, everything from washing the dishes to even helping my mom with my grandmother. I know those seem like rather ordinary things,but its not about what we do...it's that we do it all for God's glory. As it is written do all things heartily unto the Lord( Colossians 3:23 ). I've learned through these simple acts to develop more of a servant's heart.
The apostle Paul concludes this verse with increasing in knowledge of God. Part of our walk with God and pleasing Him is we should be growing in knowledge in His Word. Remember as the scriptures say we need to study to show ourselves approved unto God( 2 Timothy 2:15 ). Friends daily we need to be in His Word growing daily. There isn't a certain amount,but I guarantee the longer you walk with Him the more you will desire and the more you will read. I know for me I can't get enough. The other day I couldn't go to bed without reading a few Psalms. Amazingly day by I am understanding more what David wrote in Psalm 42:1, about how his soul desire God as the deer panting after the brook. As you grow in spiritual maturity your hunger for the Word will grow too.
Friends our very lives should be to please God. We were created to worship and to glorify Him. Make every effort to seek to please Him. Even when times are rough give Him the glory. I've found that when the storms of life come and you praise Him, it amazing how much louder the praise in the calm becomes. Remember praise shall continually be on our lips( Psalm 51:15 ).
Good night and God bless,
John W. Whybrew III <><
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