To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616 Take the time and to find a quiet place where your heart and mind can be fully engaged without distractions. You will be blessed and challenged by biblically inspired, life-changing messages. Each feature promises to b…
There are probably no two words that could seem more opposite than "love" and "justice." It is natural for human societies to want love. Who wouldn't? And it is natural for human societies to want justice. Who wouldn't? Here lies the problem: who will define love and justice? In the gospel of Jesus Christ we have been given a life-giving definition of love and justice. The definition is so life-giving that it is called "eternal life." The definition is so important to all of human history that it is called "salvation." Here is one well-known verse that reflects the miraculous definition of love and justice: "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). God's love and justice meet at the cross of Christ. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
There are probably no two words that could seem more opposite than "love" and "justice." It is natural for human societies to want love. Who wouldn't? And it is natural for human societies to want justice. Who wouldn't? Here lies the problem: who will define love and justice? In the gospel of Jesus Christ we have been given a life-giving definition of love and justice. The definition is so life-giving that it is called "eternal life." The definition is so important to all of human history that it is called "salvation." Here is one well-known verse that reflects the miraculous definition of love and justice: "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). God's love and justice meet at the cross of Christ. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
How can a person be a success in this world, yet be a total failure in the eyes of God? The problem begins in how we calculate success. If we only value our own opinion we may find ourselves succeeding, not in success, but in failure. We might see ourselves succeeding in the opinion of this world, but in God's opinion we will be successful failures. Jesus told a parable about a man who was a success in his own eyes, but he was bankrupt before God. The man was on the world's pedestal, but to his surprise, the pedestal collapsed under the weight of eternal realities. God loves us and wants no one to be a successful failure. Jesus will get us on the fast-track to success according to HIS point of view as we bow to his will today and every day. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
How can a person be a success in this world, yet be a total failure in the eyes of God? The problem begins in how we calculate success. If we only value our own opinion we may find ourselves succeeding, not in success, but in failure. We might see ourselves succeeding in the opinion of this world, but in God's opinion we will be successful failures. Jesus told a parable about a man who was a success in his own eyes, but he was bankrupt before God. The man was on the world's pedestal, but to his surprise, the pedestal collapsed under the weight of eternal realities. God loves us and wants no one to be a successful failure. Jesus will get us on the fast-track to success according to HIS point of view as we bow to his will today and every day. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
If any of us were to approach a tomb where a dead body had been laid we would naturally expect the body to be in the tomb. However, what happened to Jesus was not natural. It was supernaturally planned ahead of time by God Almighty. It was no accident that that the Feast of Firstfruits was to be on the third day after the Passover Lamb was sacrificed. This was a promise of a future harvest. The Feast of Harvest (Ingathering) would take place seven weeks later on the fiftieth day. This was all planned and put in writing in the history of Israel and to be fulfilled in Christ. Jesus is our Passover Lamb and Jesus is our fulfilled the promise of a future harvest by rising from the dead. God is still harvesting people from this world until that Trumpet sounds. May more receive this miracle today. Amen. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
If any of us were to approach a tomb where a dead body had been laid we would naturally expect the body to be in the tomb. However, what happened to Jesus was not natural. It was supernaturally planned ahead of time by God Almighty. It was no accident that that the Feast of Firstfruits was to be on the third day after the Passover Lamb was sacrificed. This was a promise of a future harvest. The Feast of Harvest (Ingathering) would take place seven weeks later on the fiftieth day. This was all planned and put in writing in the history of Israel and to be fulfilled in Christ. Jesus is our Passover Lamb and Jesus is our fulfilled the promise of a future harvest by rising from the dead. God is still harvesting people from this world until that Trumpet sounds. May more receive this miracle today. Amen. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
There are 150 Psalms preserved in God's Word for us that are there for the picking. We pick - God harvests. He will harvest the blessing of encouragement from soil in our hearts labeled: "Impossible." God's Word is the Sword of the Spirit to penetrate the deepest part of our souls. Psalm 121 is called a Psalm of Ascents. It is one of those precious psalms that is designed to lift us up to the heights. "Gee, how can that happen when I feel so low?" That being said (or thought) we then go to the holy arsenal of God's Word. We select out the perfect weapon to engage in our spiritual battle. We take a few swipes at the enemy of our souls and find, that soon, all is well. We praise God for the blessing of the miracle of encouragement. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
There are 150 Psalms preserved in God's Word for us that are there for the picking. We pick - God harvests. He will harvest the blessing of encouragement from soil in our hearts labeled: "Impossible." God's Word is the Sword of the Spirit to penetrate the deepest part of our souls. Psalm 121 is called a Psalm of Ascents. It is one of those precious psalms that is designed to lift us up to the heights. "Gee, how can that happen when I feel so low?" That being said (or thought) we then go to the holy arsenal of God's Word. We select out the perfect weapon to engage in our spiritual battle. We take a few swipes at the enemy of our souls and find, that soon, all is well. We praise God for the blessing of the miracle of encouragement. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
The fifth chapter in Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth is a very encouraging passage of Scripture. We are encouraged and motivated into service to God. Service simply means that believers will now express their worship of God by serving him. We serve God by putting him first in our lives. Today, we will complete our study on motivation for service by highlighting the call that God has placed on our lives as his people. We are motivated by a message: He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors. 2 Cor. 5:19-20 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
The fifth chapter in Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth is a very encouraging passage of Scripture. We are encouraged and motivated into service to God. Service simply means that believers will now express their worship of God by serving him. We serve God by putting him first in our lives. Today, we will complete our study on motivation for service by highlighting the call that God has placed on our lives as his people. We are motivated by a message: He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors. 2 Cor. 5:19-20 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
Only God can take rebels and motivate them to willingly bow the knee in reverence to him. Only God can take a people who once cared only for selfish ambition and move them to reach out to others. The beauty of God's motivating power is that he motivates from within by new creation in all who have put their faith in him. Paul says that Christ's love compels us. Then Paul went on to say: He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again (2 Corinthians 5:15). Everyone can be motivated and everyone is motivated. The miracle of God's motivation is that he works from the inside. He transforms our hearts to be more and more like his. The love of Christ, who gave himself for us, compels us to give of ourselves. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
Only God can take rebels and motivate them to willingly bow the knee in reverence to him. Only God can take a people who once cared only for selfish ambition and move them to reach out to others. The beauty of God's motivating power is that he motivates from within by new creation in all who have put their faith in him. Paul says that Christ's love compels us. Then Paul went on to say: He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again (2 Corinthians 5:15). Everyone can be motivated and everyone is motivated. The miracle of God's motivation is that he works from the inside. He transforms our hearts to be more and more like his. The love of Christ, who gave himself for us, compels us to give of ourselves. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
People can be motivated by all sorts of things. We can be motivated by praise or by the fear of losing praise. We can be motivated by great and noble ambitions or by ambitions that are far from noble. All human beings can be motivated. To be motivated means to be moved. It means that we have an overriding desire that will move us to persevere even when faced with overwhelming obstacles. The beauty of the gospel is that God motivates his people by renewing their hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. God himself will move us to serve him. He will build us up to have confidence in his ways. Confidence means with faith. God will help us to have faith (confidence) to serve him more and more. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
People can be motivated by all sorts of things. We can be motivated by praise or by the fear of losing praise. We can be motivated by great and noble ambitions or by ambitions that are far from noble. All human beings can be motivated. To be motivated means to be moved. It means that we have an overriding desire that will move us to persevere even when faced with overwhelming obstacles. The beauty of the gospel is that God motivates his people by renewing their hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. God himself will move us to serve him. He will build us up to have confidence in his ways. Confidence means with faith. God will help us to have faith (confidence) to serve him more and more. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
The justice of God is a reality. It makes perfect sense. How could a good God allow sin to run rampant in this lost and dying world and not bring justice? The definition of justice is to make things right. God sent Jesus to enter time and bring God's perfect justice down to earth. Jesus paid the just price on the cross. Everyone in this world has a choice: to trust in themselves, or to trust in Christ. The Apostle Paul shined the light on this choice by stating the reality of the choice this way: "The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Cor. 3:6). The letter of the Law no one can keep all are guilty and all are accountable. Only Jesus can pay the just price God's justice requires. God is calling all people to choose Jesus and receive life while there is still time. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
The justice of God is a reality. It makes perfect sense. How could a good God allow sin to run rampant in this lost and dying world and not bring justice? The definition of justice is to make things right. God sent Jesus to enter time and bring God's perfect justice down to earth. Jesus paid the just price on the cross. Everyone in this world has a choice: to trust in themselves, or to trust in Christ. The Apostle Paul shined the light on this choice by stating the reality of the choice this way: "The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Cor. 3:6). The letter of the Law no one can keep all are guilty and all are accountable. Only Jesus can pay the just price God's justice requires. God is calling all people to choose Jesus and receive life while there is still time. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
The Gospel is good news. The Gospel is not fake news. The Gospel is truth. The Gospel is such a message of truth that there is a powerful, God-ordained word that can be attached to its message. And that word is "Amen." In Isaiah 65:16, God even called himself, "the God of truth." Literally, the God of Amen El-Amen. This is exactly what God would have all believers understand as they live and dwell in the midst of this miracle of truth God's Amen. The Apostle Paul wrote to encourage the church in Corinth that the Gospel is not "Yes" and "No." In other words, there is no doubt of God's truth. Paul went on to say that in Jesus, the Gospel has "always been 'Yes'" (2 Corinthians 1:19)! May we all learn and grow in God's "Yes" more and more. Amen. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
The Gospel is good news. The Gospel is not fake news. The Gospel is truth. The Gospel is such a message of truth that there is a powerful, God-ordained word that can be attached to its message. And that word is "Amen." In Isaiah 65:16, God even called himself, "the God of truth." Literally, the God of Amen El-Amen. This is exactly what God would have all believers understand as they live and dwell in the midst of this miracle of truth God's Amen. The Apostle Paul wrote to encourage the church in Corinth that the Gospel is not "Yes" and "No." In other words, there is no doubt of God's truth. Paul went on to say that in Jesus, the Gospel has "always been 'Yes'" (2 Corinthians 1:19)! May we all learn and grow in God's "Yes" more and more. Amen. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
A young man approached Jesus and was full of questions. Jesus answered the young man in a way that surprised him. This led to more questions. As the questions kept coming, the young man soon found that he didn't know as much as he thought he knew. He also found that Jesus knew him better than he knew himself. The young man would never be the same. There is a beautiful aspect to this account of Jesus and his dialogue with this young man. We can read in Mark's account that Jesus looked at him and loved him (Mark 10:21). Jesus answered this young man's questions with truths that would rock his world. Why would Jesus want to rock his world? The answer is so that he would trust in THE Rock. Let the questions in this story rock your world. You will never be the same. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
A young man approached Jesus and was full of questions. Jesus answered the young man in a way that surprised him. This led to more questions. As the questions kept coming, the young man soon found that he didn't know as much as he thought he knew. He also found that Jesus knew him better than he knew himself. The young man would never be the same. There is a beautiful aspect to this account of Jesus and his dialogue with this young man. We can read in Mark's account that Jesus looked at him and loved him (Mark 10:21). Jesus answered this young man's questions with truths that would rock his world. Why would Jesus want to rock his world? The answer is so that he would trust in THE Rock. Let the questions in this story rock your world. You will never be the same. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
Evangelical comes from two Greek words. Eu meaning good and angelos meaning message. For example, eulogy is a good word spoken and an angel is a messenger. So, evangel means good message. However, such is the nature of this world that it is in rebellion against this good message. We who have this message deep in our hearts should grow in our desire to get this message out into the world. We will want the miracle-working power of God to work in the hearts of those who have not yet accepted the message. One of the most powerful motivational forces to get us moving as evangelicals is to cultivate a deep sense of thankfulness. By the grace of God he has enabled us to receive his message of salvation. As our thankfulness increases, so will our desire to reach out to the lost. Amen. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
Evangelical comes from two Greek words. Eu meaning good and angelos meaning message. For example, eulogy is a good word spoken and an angel is a messenger. So, evangel means good message. However, such is the nature of this world that it is in rebellion against this good message. We who have this message deep in our hearts should grow in our desire to get this message out into the world. We will want the miracle-working power of God to work in the hearts of those who have not yet accepted the message. One of the most powerful motivational forces to get us moving as evangelicals is to cultivate a deep sense of thankfulness. By the grace of God he has enabled us to receive his message of salvation. As our thankfulness increases, so will our desire to reach out to the lost. Amen. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
Those who have been born again those who are believers in Jesus Christ are privileged. We have access to blessings to which the world is not privy. The rest of the world remains underprivileged while the believer enjoys untold blessings. We are more than privileged we are supernaturally privileged. We are off-the-charts privileged. Part of our life of faith is to learn to enjoy and utilize our privileged status. It might sound that we are basking in the glory of selfishness and pride, but the opposite is true. If we have such privilege it is so that we may use our position in Christ to bring others to Christ. We become servants with privilege, not lords of privilege. We are called to go out in this world as servants so that others may be blessed with the same privilege. Amen. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
Those who have been born again those who are believers in Jesus Christ are privileged. We have access to blessings to which the world is not privy. The rest of the world remains underprivileged while the believer enjoys untold blessings. We are more than privileged we are supernaturally privileged. We are off-the-charts privileged. Part of our life of faith is to learn to enjoy and utilize our privileged status. It might sound that we are basking in the glory of selfishness and pride, but the opposite is true. If we have such privilege it is so that we may use our position in Christ to bring others to Christ. We become servants with privilege, not lords of privilege. We are called to go out in this world as servants so that others may be blessed with the same privilege. Amen. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
There is a difference between the holiness that has been imputed to a believer for all eternity and the holiness that a believer must pursue daily. The holiness imputed is a free gift of God's grace through the work of another: Jesus Christ. Holiness that believers must now live out is our new work. What will protect us from imbalance and harm is the firm knowledge that we have no righteousness of our own. Exhortations of holiness are done in the midst of the loving grace of God We believers are challenged through the many exhortations in God's Word to live in godliness and holiness. The phrase, see to it, is often used. We are the overseers of our lives in the context of God's gift of salvation in Christ. We are called to grow more and more toward the high calling we have already received. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
There is a difference between the holiness that has been imputed to a believer for all eternity and the holiness that a believer must pursue daily. The holiness imputed is a free gift of God's grace through the work of another: Jesus Christ. Holiness that believers must now live out is our new work. What will protect us from imbalance and harm is the firm knowledge that we have no righteousness of our own. Exhortations of holiness are done in the midst of the loving grace of God We believers are challenged through the many exhortations in God's Word to live in godliness and holiness. The phrase, see to it, is often used. We are the overseers of our lives in the context of God's gift of salvation in Christ. We are called to grow more and more toward the high calling we have already received. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
The process by which the believer's faith grows is called: sanctification. We are first justified through faith in Jesus Christ. Next, based on our position of right standing before God (in Christ justified), we have a calling to grow and walk more and more in line with the holiness of God (sanctification). An amazing thing will begin to branch out because of this growth. God will be able to use us more and more to reach others in this lost and dying world. May God bring his revival and Great Awakening across the U.S.A. Amen. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
The process by which the believer's faith grows is called: sanctification. We are first justified through faith in Jesus Christ. Next, based on our position of right standing before God (in Christ justified), we have a calling to grow and walk more and more in line with the holiness of God (sanctification). An amazing thing will begin to branch out because of this growth. God will be able to use us more and more to reach others in this lost and dying world. May God bring his revival and Great Awakening across the U.S.A. Amen. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
The book of Hebrews is full of exhortations inspired by the Holy Spirit. These exhortations are designed with the intent of adding strength to our faith and to keep our faith alive. We all need encouragement. God knows this world wears us down, wears us thin and wears us out. Faith matters. Faith that is alive and growing matters all the more. Since our faith is so important, it is important to keep it alive. If our faith is alive, it will be growing. If our faith is growing, then our impact on those around us and our usefulness in the kingdom of God will increase as well. Our faith can increase and be strengthened through the Word of God. Scripture will feed our faith. Many become faith-starved due to their lack of involvement with God's Word. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
The children of Israel were in for a big surprise. Having just been rescued from Egypt, they had no idea of the full extent of God's power to bless. God could bless them even in the middle of a barren desert wasteland. The power of the blessing would come from God's covenant name: The LORD. This is what has become known as "The High Priestly Blessing of Aaron." Praise God that we now have a High Priest who has gone through the heavens on our behalf. Jesus Christ rose and ascended to heaven to be our Blessed High Priest. Jesus will place God's Name on us. That is a miracle in our lives today and forever. Amen. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
The world has a place for its servants. We have the servant's entrance, the servant's quarters and the servant's job description. The servants have a designated status that is very obvious: the last and the lowest place. After all, they are the servants. To have a servant would naturally imply that there must be a master. Both know their places well. It is interesting that the kingdom of God has the same hierarchy. Except for one thing: Jesus said, Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all (Mark 10:43-44). This does not sound like the world's idea of the typical master/servant relationship. Of course, it all depends upon who is the Master. When God is Master, and people are in HIS kingdom, there is a transformation that is not of this world. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 Most all of us are susceptible to discouragement. At one time or another we may have suffered from the "I'm-all-alone" syndrome. There is probably nothing worse than the discouraging thoughts that enter our minds when we feel that we are all alone in the midst of life's struggles. It is during these times that we need to lean, not on our own feelings, but on God's Word. God himself said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus said, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Jesus said, "I will give you another Counselor to be with you forever, the Spirit of Truth" (John 14:16). We have a triune promise of help and encouragement. The disciples had just experienced the horrendous events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus. Yet, God's grace revealed what was God's plan all along.
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 It is very common to think of Christianity as a religion. A religion can often be thought of as something we do, or something that we must orchestrate ourselves. If this is true, then we are the ones who are running things. What makes Christianity different is that we do not, and cannot, store it way with all the other religions of the world. We learn that there exists a Sovereign Lord of the universe who is separate from any religion that exists in this world. This Sovereign Lord calls people out of this world. Once so called, we no longer have a religion that is run by humanity. We have a relationship that is alive by the power of God. We are saved through the sacrifice of Christ and made alive through the power of the Holy Spirit.
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 Jesus entered our world under the authority of God Almighty. It was all planned and authorized from The Throne of God. God's number one plan is to bring salvation to all who are willing to receive. It is only natural for all people to want to rule and reign over their own lives. It all started in Genesis 3 and it still with us today. It's only natural. The number one environmental problem on earth is sin. Sin is so bad that it is very natural for this world to deny that sin even exists. One day time will cease to exist for every person. No one will live forever on this earth. This is why NOW is the time to receive God's gift of new life. God has authorized his salvation through Jesus Christ. This offer is a miracle available to all under the authority of God Almighty.
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 We have some interesting holidays on our calendar. We can get a little numb to them and not think much about them. We are born surrounded by holidays and we have grown up with them. Soon it becomes our turn to run the holiday program. It's that time of the year again - a holiday season. It is time for Thanksgiving. We have turkey, pies, candy and then, there's football. Thanksgiving is a disciple that is not often thought of as a discipline. But when circumstances do not go our way, the disciple of giving thanks might be the way to turn things around. God's Word has a little help to give our discipline of giving thanks a boost. "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:18).
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. There are 22 stanzas with eight verses in each. Every verse will begin with the same Hebrew letter that is assigned to that stanza. Every verse can be divided into two halves with each half reflecting back to the other half. Psalm 119 is a hymn to God's Word. Many terms are used for God's Word such as: commands, laws, precepts, promises, decrees and statutes. We started working our way through Psalm 119 about seven years ago. Today, we celebrate as we dig into the last stanza. The last verse could be said to sum up all the previous verses. It speaks of God's promise to bring his healing and his redemption to all who will turn to him in repentance. I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands (Psalm 119:176).
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 People have many ideas about Jesus Christ. The Mormons consider Jesus to be the spirit brother of Satan. This would mark Jesus and Satan as being equals. The Jehovah's Witnesses proclaim that Jesus is merely on of God's created beings. This would mark Jesus as being less than God. Muslims view Jesus as one of God's great prophets, but nothing more than human. Christian Science portrays Jesus as one who was keenly aware of his Christ-spirit a spirit that is within all of us. Many atheists believe that Jesus was just a regular fellow who happened to have the misfortune of getting on the losing side of some political unrest. The most reliable testimony to the true nature of Jesus Christ is the Bible. The Bible is a miracle of revelation for all who will humble themselves to search for the reality of God's holy truth in his Word.
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 When you are holding a Bible in your hands you are holding a miracle. Once a person becomes a believer in Jesus Christ the miracle of God's Word becomes their breath of life. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God has provided a way for anyone who belongs to him through Jesus Christ to have access to HIS breath of life. People lost at sea will cling to a life raft. God's Word is our life raft. People starving to death will long for just a taste of a tiny morsel of food. God's Word is our heavenly food. People lost and alone will rejoice at the chance of having fellowship restored. God's Word is our fellowship with the very Creator of all things.
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 It is interesting that we have five chapters in Paul's letter to the Galatians that carefully lay out our position in Christ before we are given admonitions on how we are to live. The care that God's Word gives to tutoring us in who we are in Christ should be a lesson to us. The lesson is that we must know who we are in Christ. We must be students of God's Word. It may be hard work, but it is worth the effort. Once our position is better understood, we will be better enabled and equipped to live properly in this fallen world. Under the supernatural inspiration of the Holy Spirit, keeping with the supernatural plan of God and purchased by the supernatural work of Christ on the cross, we may receive this admonition: Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 All believers are called to a battle that has already been won. We have the privilege of victory at the very beginning of our walk with the Lord. As we dig deep into God's Word we find that he has given us our walking papers. We are told how to walk in victory. We are given a very rare and priceless exhortation that can only be received by those who are in Christ: "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). Such an exhortation reveals our position in Christ. Our position in Christ is eternally secure and our calling is to walk in such a way that gives evidence of this fact. The more we yield to God, the more we will experience the fruit of the Spirit in our walk with him.
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 We are born with a twisted concept of freedom. We have difficulty understanding what freedom in Christ really means. This is why the Apostle Paul gives us this admonition under the supernatural inspiration of the Holy Spirit: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1). The world rebels at God's provision of freedom because it is deluded in its thinking that to be free FROM God is real freedom. Believers have found that it is just the opposite. Our prayer is that more and more people will come to realize that God indeed has done all he can. And our prayer is that they will look to Jesus to receive what God has done.
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 The book of Galatians is one gigantic, supernatural, prophetic love letter to the church. It has come from the very throne of God inspired by the Holy Spirit. God's love for us is found in the reality of the freedom we are privileged to possess in Christ. This freedom is a prophetic promise that was foreshadowed in the Old Testament. The circumstances surrounding the birth of Isaac were in prophetic anticipation of God's provision in the future. God PROMISED that he would provide salvation to the whole world through his prophetic offspring. Isaac served as a picture of the future fulfillment of God's promise. Jesus entered this world as the completed fulfillment of God's promise. All who put their faith and trust in Christ will now inherit eternal life. This is God's prophetic promise to all who will bow and receive.
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 The privilege of inheritance can be an amazing reality. Perhaps we might try to imagine the wealthy citizens of this world and what they might pass on to their children. We commoners will never know even the most basic privileges due to certain select family relationships in this world. There is a problem. We are born in sin and born separated from the life of God. This whole world displays the reality of sin and separation from God very clearly. And, on top of this, the very Law of God condemns us all. The good news (gospel) is that God promised to send a Redeemer. Please meditate on these two verses in God's Word: "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a women, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons" (Galatians 4:5-6).
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 God's laws were given to protect and to provide. Human freedom does just the opposite. One person's freedom can lead to another person becoming a victim. Human history has proved this to be true. We are free to ignore this reality if we so choose. However, God's laws are given to lead us to HIS reality. God's laws prod us and poke us to reveal our need. The laws of God's righteousness can be a way to get us to our knees. We will be moved to realize that we need help. "The law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24). Now we can put away our fig leaves and put our trust in Christ. The privilege of freedom is a God-given reality for all who are now in Christ. Amen.
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). People will often say, "The truth shall set you free," but leave out the qualifying statement given by Jesus himself. They leave out the part about holding to his teaching. Without the "if" there can be no "then." What is it to be truly free? Who is really free? Paul answers this question in his supernatural letter to the church in Galatia. If anyone is to be free, they must give up their freedom. True freedom can only come as people give their lives to Christ. We must give up our freedom and place our lives in the hands of God. Freedom is a miracle that is a gift of God through Jesus Christ. That's the gospel.
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 How free are we if Jesus is our Savior? All believers are considered crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20). In other words, it was as if we were on that cross 2,000 years ago. Jesus died in our place. When we received HIS work in our lives, we are beneficiaries of HIS work. Jesus rose from the dead. We, too, rise with him. We are alive with Christ and Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20). We have been born again. God's perfect justice was served at the cross of Christ. Jesus died to set us free from the guilt of sin. If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed (John 8:26). The Word of God gives PROOF that we are all free in Christ. In this courtroom the Judge of all the earth will give this good news to all will receive. That's the gospel.
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 Freedom is a God-send. God sent Jesus. Jesus said, "The truth shall set you free." Those listening to him didn't understand, "We've never been slaves to anyone. How can you say that we shall be free?" (John 8:31-33) What is it about human nature that can look the Son of God right in the face and claim to know more than he knows? It is because our fallen human nature makes us all slaves to sin. Freedom is a God-send. God sent Jesus. What is impossible for us, is possible for God. God saw to it. Jesus came to set us free from the crushing burden of slavery to the holy law that we cannot keep. Jesus took our place on the cross to pay the just price for our sins. Jesus will set anyone free who bows to him. This is the heart of the good news, the gospel.
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 Most Americans associate freedom with July 4, 1776. Freedom is in our blood. Actually, freedom is in the DNA of every human being. God put it there. Why do we struggle with the concept of freedom if it is so natural to human nature? There lies the problem: we have a fallen human nature. The freedom gained, as clearly shown in Genesis 3, did not set us free. Paul wrote to the church in Galatia warning them of the battle for the truth that Christ has set us free. "False brothers have infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ and to make us slaves" (Galatians 2:4). There will always be a battle for freedom. We, who have been set free by the finished work of Christ, must be on the alert for the false message that the work of Christ was not finished.
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 The gospel is a message sent from God to capture rebels to set them free. What the rebels of this world do not know is that they are all slaves to sin. It takes a miracle of God to reach deep into the hearts of those who want nothing of God. There must be a revelation revolution. God will penetrate the hardest heart and help those in rebellion against him to bow the knee. Then the revolution will begin: a revolution of freedom. We have the privilege of walking in God's freedom. We may still sin, but we have the covering of Christ which rescues us. We also have the new birth that enables us to draw close to God. Now, we can learn to walk more and more in his blessed path. Our prayer is that more rebels will be captured by the freedom that is in Christ.
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 God himself will put his name on us. We belong to him. We no longer belong to this world. As such, we now walk in this world with privilege. We have the privilege of new birth. We now have an inheritance that will never fade or spoil with time. We are locked into eternity with God in Christ. That's privilege. With such privilege comes a battle. We must fight the good fight of faith. It is astounding how easy it is for people to gravitate toward the slavery of a false gospel. There lies the battle. This world is primed and ready to turn God's gospel (good news) into a badspel (bad news). Paul will share his amazement of this fact in Galatians 1:6-10. We too will share in his amazement as we study his letter. We will find that, 2,000 years later, nothing has changed.
To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/616/29 Those who receive God's salvation are born into God's kingdom. As Jesus said, "you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world" (John 15:19). Now, we find ourselves as sojourners in a lost and dying world. Jesus closed his exhortation of encouragement with these words, "But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Anyone in Christ possesses a God-given freedom unknown to this world. This world reflects a freedom that often leads to slavery. All those in Christ have the blessing of the gospel that leads to freedom. God used Paul to write the message of salvation for anyone willing to receive it. Paul wrote, "Jesus gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age" (Galatians 1:4). All those so rescued may now live in the privilege of God's freedom paid in full by Jesus Christ.