Knowing

It is so awesome that we can know that we are saved. In 1 John 5:13 John wrote "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.". John wrote this letter to assure believers that they are indeed secure in their salvation and to refute false teachings.

If we go back to verses 9-12 John writes, "We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."(emphasis mine). There it is plain as day. If you have the Son then you have life. We know we are saved because God has testified to it. Just as it says in probably one of the best known verses in the Bible:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Psalm 83

Recently a medieval book of psalms was found in a bog in Ireland. The book was found open to psalm 83. Psalm 83 starts out like this:

O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still.
See how your enemies are astir, how your foes rear their heads.
With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish.
"Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more." (Psalm 83:1-4)

Now I am not trying to get all doomsday and I am not gonna go running out in the street screaming "THE SKY IS FALLING". I just think it is a good reminder that we need to pay close attention to the events unfolding in Israel, especially now.

New location

Well I have moved the blog over to a new domain. I did this so I can expand the site in the future and have more than just a blog. I am still working out some the kinks.

God is calling

Lately I have been feeling a strong call to ministry. I am very excited since this is such new territory to me. I am not sure what type of ministry I should be serving in or to what capacity, but that will be revealed to me when the time is right. I plan on meeting with my pastor to discuss this and see where he thinks I would be most effective. I am currently doing as much research as I can on the Bible, theology, and apologetics. I have found some wonderful resources online and all of the links I have listed (on the right) have helped me greatly in my studies. I just can't wait to see what God has in store next.



Quick side note:
It is also been very interesting to see the varied information online. I encourage anyone who wants to do any online research to make sure what you read is in agreement with the Bible. Also it is a good idea to talk to your pastor about anything you find online that you are not sure of. There is a lot of false doctrine out there. As always pray about it.

1 John 2:3-6
"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."

I really like this passage because it is a very straight forward presentation on living the Christian life. Those who truly know Christ and have a relationship with Him will obey the word of God (His commandments). Jesus summed up the commandments by saying that we should love the Lord with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves( Matthew 22:37-39, Mark 12:30-31, Luke 10:27).

However, because of our sin nature there will be times when we slip up and don't follow God's word. This does not mean that we loose our salvation. We are saved by grace through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Once we accept Christ as our personal savior we are saved. What it does mean is that the relationship gets broken for a time. To restore that relationship we must acknowledge the sin and confess it to God ( 1 John 1:9). The moment we confess our sin to the Lord it is gone. God will never remind you of a past sin. Also we should confess our sins to each other ( James 5:16) so that others can intercede on our behalf with prayer to help keep us on the path of walking with Christ.

Having a relationship with God is a continuous process. We talk to Him through prayer and praise. We also need to remember to be still and listen for his voice. I urge anyone reading this to find some time during the day to talk to God. Tell him your hurts and worries. Ask Him to reveal to you anything in your life that is not pleasing to Him. If you do this with and honest and open heart your relationship with the Lord will become stronger.

Dying to Self

An anonymous poem:



When you are forgotten, neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting or hurt with the oversight, but your heart is happy being counted worthy to suffer for Christ;

That is dying to self.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinion ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence;

That is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus did;

That is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, and offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God;

That is dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or record your own good works or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown;

That is dying to self.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and you are in desperate circumstances;

That is dying to self.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit, inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart;

That is dying to self.

Spiritual Warfare

Sounds kinda weird doesn't it? Well I thought that too the first time I heard it. Most people are fine with the spiritual part but its the warfare that throws them. I will admit that it can sound a bit "out there" but it is biblicaly sound doctrine. Paul wrote about it in Ephesians 6:12: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Satan doesn't want us to have a personal relationship with God. He wants us to embrace our sin nature and rebel against God. Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) and one of his biggest lies to the world is that he, and his minions, are not active.

There is a line from the movie "The Usual Suspects" that goes like this: "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.". I think that if you would ask most people they would probably say that the Devil or Satan is just a concept and not an actual being. If we don't think he is really there then how can we resist him if he entices us? Satan loves to whisper lies to us. He knows what buttons to push to get us to believe those lies too. In the Bible we are instructed to "take captive every thought" ( 2 Corinthians 10:5 ) and "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy" ( Colossians 2:8). Did you know not every thought that comes into your head comes from you? Some thoughts come from outside influences like your spouse, friends, or the people you work with. Some thoughts come from God through the Holy Spirit. Other thoughts come from Satan. Keeping all of this in mind we also must remember that in the end we are responsible for our own actions. God has given us the ability to choose. We can choose to follow God and live in the truth of the Spirit or to believe the lies. We can't push the blame of our sins off on to society, Satan, or other people.

So all of this begs the question: How can I, a normal human, sort all of this supernatural stuff out? Well for starters we can pray and read the Bible. If you are active in a church you can talk to your pastor about these issues. Also if your are currently involved in a small group study you can discuss this there too.


Below I have listed some resource scripture that deals with this issue.


2 Corinthians 10:3-6
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.


Colossians 2:6-10
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.


Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.




Galatians 5:16-26
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.