Last week, we touched on the elements of a society not glorifying God as He is, the God of the bible. Not the god of our opinion, the god of what we think, or the god of how we feel, but the Creator, the Ruler, the Maker, the one in whose laws we abide by-that’s the God who should be glorified.
Romans 1:18 is God’s manifestation on all who suppress the truth-they know it’s wrong, denying God’s reality in order to live how they please. God has manifested His deepest intent to every soul. They all have equal opportunity to recognize Him. Last week we stated this fact; that as the scripture reveals in order for you to suppress the truth it was once delivered to you in some way.
God’s wrath is revealed because those who know what is right chose to reject this knowledge of who God is for other immoral and pleasurable deeds. The wrath of God is revealed when this type of behavior begins to defy His divine order. This wrath is not a temper tantrum; this wrath is not a fit of rage that is only for a moment; but this wrath is the releasing of the man or woman or that nation that is aware of who God is but are willing to roll the dice and reject His way of doing things.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
When God Turns You Over
Romans 1:24-32
There is an imaginative and humanistic force in our world today. A feeling of self-seeking and enjoyment is prevalent, where society is willing to violate Godly principles in order to live as they please. They are attempting to violate God’s divine principles for humanity in order to fulfill their desires. Even when we view the life of those who are professing believers, it makes you wonder sometimes if we use salvation as insurance, just in case heaven is real or for those who truly believe and live holy there is a feeling of assurance, confident of the reality of hell and heaven and the consequences of the life we live. Because far too often there are elements of a spurious life; one that is concerned with self glorification and missing the desire of the mind, soul, and body’s commitment to the cause of Christ. When I read the word in light of how we live, someone is lying.
We advance forward into a very graphic description of society’s declination. A description that is supported by evidence of man’s ills today is simply the statistics. Turn to the news and we can see a nation that lacks moral responsibility because they have rejected the only one who can provide it.
To Be continued......
There is an imaginative and humanistic force in our world today. A feeling of self-seeking and enjoyment is prevalent, where society is willing to violate Godly principles in order to live as they please. They are attempting to violate God’s divine principles for humanity in order to fulfill their desires. Even when we view the life of those who are professing believers, it makes you wonder sometimes if we use salvation as insurance, just in case heaven is real or for those who truly believe and live holy there is a feeling of assurance, confident of the reality of hell and heaven and the consequences of the life we live. Because far too often there are elements of a spurious life; one that is concerned with self glorification and missing the desire of the mind, soul, and body’s commitment to the cause of Christ. When I read the word in light of how we live, someone is lying.
We advance forward into a very graphic description of society’s declination. A description that is supported by evidence of man’s ills today is simply the statistics. Turn to the news and we can see a nation that lacks moral responsibility because they have rejected the only one who can provide it.
To Be continued......
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The Grace to Obey
Romans 1:5-7
Grace is the channel in which salvation springs from; grace is the channel in which we can impart the grace of God to others; grace is not the medium to live how we please, there is a righteous requirement with this grace. Philippians 3:9 tells me this, “and be found in Him (who, Jesus Christ), not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” The grace points to the giver and my life in Christ Jesus now reflects the giver of that grace.
The identifier of our faith has everything to do with Jesus. The commonality of our faith rests on our faith in and operation though Jesus. When we lose that aspect of our faith then our faith no longer has anything in common. No one should have to question where we stand; the common faith always points to His name. Our compass should point upward. Opinions don't matter, what I think and feel is replaced by my calling in Jesus Christ. Philippians 3 and verse 14 summarizes this thought, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Pastor Seymour Helligar
Heart of God Church
Heartofgodga.org
Romans 1:5-7
Grace is the channel in which salvation springs from; grace is the channel in which we can impart the grace of God to others; grace is not the medium to live how we please, there is a righteous requirement with this grace. Philippians 3:9 tells me this, “and be found in Him (who, Jesus Christ), not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” The grace points to the giver and my life in Christ Jesus now reflects the giver of that grace.
The identifier of our faith has everything to do with Jesus. The commonality of our faith rests on our faith in and operation though Jesus. When we lose that aspect of our faith then our faith no longer has anything in common. No one should have to question where we stand; the common faith always points to His name. Our compass should point upward. Opinions don't matter, what I think and feel is replaced by my calling in Jesus Christ. Philippians 3 and verse 14 summarizes this thought, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Pastor Seymour Helligar
Heart of God Church
Heartofgodga.org
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The Grace to Obey
Excerpts from exposition teaching from Romans
The Grace to Obey
Romans 1:5-7
The introductory portion of Romans typifies Paul’s greetings in his epistles. These formalities are not normal. As a bondservant of God he is submitted and subjected to the authority of his master, who is Jesus Christ. This should be the ultimate goal of every believer. Having a title is not the requirement but simply a desire to be like Him is the only requirement. It should be our goal to reflect His glory as vessels of clay. That I believe is truly the heart of a servant.
Then we noted in verse one that Paul was separated for the purpose of the gospel, a bearer of the good news of the gospel. Galatians chapter one and verse 15, he tells us that he was separated by God from his mother’s womb and called by this grace. We call this separation the process of setting the boundaries; the boundaries have been set-he knows who he is and his purpose and so he is now separated for the kingdom. That is another goal to strive for-that our life has boundaries for the sake of the gospel, that in everything we do, Jesus Christ is exalted. Nothing in our living is without the boundaries- set for the sake of the gospel.
In a discussion with a friend this week, I presented a statement that provoked his thinking and that statement stressed the importance of Christians establishing a reference point, a location that we call home base, boundaries that are clear and obvious. Our boundaries should be obvious. No one should have to guess whether or not we have been with Jesus. Where is our home in a spiritual sense? When we drift from thought to thought or opinion to opinion, where is the reference point? We are inundated with so much information from various speakers and ministers-from television to written resources but have we established a reference point that is biblical and foundational?
The Grace to Obey
Romans 1:5-7
The introductory portion of Romans typifies Paul’s greetings in his epistles. These formalities are not normal. As a bondservant of God he is submitted and subjected to the authority of his master, who is Jesus Christ. This should be the ultimate goal of every believer. Having a title is not the requirement but simply a desire to be like Him is the only requirement. It should be our goal to reflect His glory as vessels of clay. That I believe is truly the heart of a servant.
Then we noted in verse one that Paul was separated for the purpose of the gospel, a bearer of the good news of the gospel. Galatians chapter one and verse 15, he tells us that he was separated by God from his mother’s womb and called by this grace. We call this separation the process of setting the boundaries; the boundaries have been set-he knows who he is and his purpose and so he is now separated for the kingdom. That is another goal to strive for-that our life has boundaries for the sake of the gospel, that in everything we do, Jesus Christ is exalted. Nothing in our living is without the boundaries- set for the sake of the gospel.
In a discussion with a friend this week, I presented a statement that provoked his thinking and that statement stressed the importance of Christians establishing a reference point, a location that we call home base, boundaries that are clear and obvious. Our boundaries should be obvious. No one should have to guess whether or not we have been with Jesus. Where is our home in a spiritual sense? When we drift from thought to thought or opinion to opinion, where is the reference point? We are inundated with so much information from various speakers and ministers-from television to written resources but have we established a reference point that is biblical and foundational?
Monday, August 17, 2009
Thou Shalt Edify
Part II
What we say, blessing or cursing, words of life or words of discouragement, strength or defeat, hope or hopelessness, dirty jokes and suggestions, or expressions of the joy of the Lord establishes our identity and the world will judge us by that. They cannot identify with our ‘Christian’ jargon, you know, the seven seals, the 1000 year reign, dispensation of grace and all the other spiritual dialect we can throw at them. What they see is our talk and our walk. Is it true that what we say and do consistently reflects who we are or should be? We make a difference in the mindset of sinners when our life truly reflects the one who saved us and called us unto Himself.
The word of God makes it clear, edification is essential:
Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
No corrupt word-rotten or worthless words, words void of the quality that is reflective of a believer. This word corrupt is a derivative of a word that means the intent to speak evil; verbally malicious, calculated and cold. Ice water in you veins. Another word is the word derelict, you have abandoned the importance of using the right speech and your godly communication is in poor condition. You notice many believers can talk about everything but God. The struggle is because they have abandoned the good godly tradition of sound speech that cannot be condemned (Titus 2:8). Corrupt, mean, and hurtful words not only hurt others but they grieve the Spirit. Many will say, will I don’t feel bad, that is because you have accepted the consequences of your words. The fact that they are not carefully chosen and are released loosely is indicative of the dominance of the flesh. If that was not the case, the scripture would not align the value of our words with the quality of our faith and walk in the things of God.
Part II
What we say, blessing or cursing, words of life or words of discouragement, strength or defeat, hope or hopelessness, dirty jokes and suggestions, or expressions of the joy of the Lord establishes our identity and the world will judge us by that. They cannot identify with our ‘Christian’ jargon, you know, the seven seals, the 1000 year reign, dispensation of grace and all the other spiritual dialect we can throw at them. What they see is our talk and our walk. Is it true that what we say and do consistently reflects who we are or should be? We make a difference in the mindset of sinners when our life truly reflects the one who saved us and called us unto Himself.
The word of God makes it clear, edification is essential:
Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
No corrupt word-rotten or worthless words, words void of the quality that is reflective of a believer. This word corrupt is a derivative of a word that means the intent to speak evil; verbally malicious, calculated and cold. Ice water in you veins. Another word is the word derelict, you have abandoned the importance of using the right speech and your godly communication is in poor condition. You notice many believers can talk about everything but God. The struggle is because they have abandoned the good godly tradition of sound speech that cannot be condemned (Titus 2:8). Corrupt, mean, and hurtful words not only hurt others but they grieve the Spirit. Many will say, will I don’t feel bad, that is because you have accepted the consequences of your words. The fact that they are not carefully chosen and are released loosely is indicative of the dominance of the flesh. If that was not the case, the scripture would not align the value of our words with the quality of our faith and walk in the things of God.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Cyber Commandment Number 1
Thou Shalt Edify
Part I
Pardon my King James Version but the Ten Commandments just do not seem right without the’ thou shalts’. So the same applies for our cyber commands. We as God’s vessels, the ones He has called unto Himself; beloved saints, elect of God. Yes the ones who have within them His divine nature- we must edify. Proper reflection of the inner working of Jesus Christ is a natural spiritual process once a believer begins to cleanse themselves of the works of the flesh. One of the most important aspects of our life as believers is the authority God has granted to us in our speech and the power of our words. Sinners have this same authority but there is a manifested and evident connection with how our words associate with our belief system.
Along with our actions, our words are identifiers of our relationship with God. What we say speaks life or detriment to many. The apostle Paul tells us in Colossians chapter four and verse six that our words should always be with grace and I love the next part of that verse and how it describes how it should be prepared. Our words should be seasoned with salt. You see, it is easy to let a little joke go by and sneer at it or maybe even laugh at it because it was funny. But we are not just living for ourselves. In fact we should not be living for ourselves at all. The life a believer lives should be a life that exists by faith in Jesus Christ and our reflection should embody His resurrection power in us.
More on Commandment number one next time.
Thou Shalt Edify
Part I
Pardon my King James Version but the Ten Commandments just do not seem right without the’ thou shalts’. So the same applies for our cyber commands. We as God’s vessels, the ones He has called unto Himself; beloved saints, elect of God. Yes the ones who have within them His divine nature- we must edify. Proper reflection of the inner working of Jesus Christ is a natural spiritual process once a believer begins to cleanse themselves of the works of the flesh. One of the most important aspects of our life as believers is the authority God has granted to us in our speech and the power of our words. Sinners have this same authority but there is a manifested and evident connection with how our words associate with our belief system.
Along with our actions, our words are identifiers of our relationship with God. What we say speaks life or detriment to many. The apostle Paul tells us in Colossians chapter four and verse six that our words should always be with grace and I love the next part of that verse and how it describes how it should be prepared. Our words should be seasoned with salt. You see, it is easy to let a little joke go by and sneer at it or maybe even laugh at it because it was funny. But we are not just living for ourselves. In fact we should not be living for ourselves at all. The life a believer lives should be a life that exists by faith in Jesus Christ and our reflection should embody His resurrection power in us.
More on Commandment number one next time.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
How to Honor God in the Internet World
Recently I have witnessed the growth in the cyber world or what some call the Internet. The velocity in which data and communication travels has peaked my interest. Messages and emails changing hands in just a matter of seconds; answers can be found with just one click; communication to friends and loved ones even in a different country is possible, and the list goes on and on.
I have also noticed the thin line between believers’ exchange of information and that of the world or unbeliever; those who are not regenerated in their minds. I then looked at family websites shared by saved and unsaved and the confusion increased even more. Is there a difference?
Immediately a thought quickened in my spirit to present what I believe is a missing commodity today, and that is, a Christian’s approach to the world of technology. The reason why I call this a cyber commandment is because we have phones and computers in which we exchange information, messages and pictures. Times certainly have changed and the change in times should propel us to conduct ourselves in a way that reflects our Lord and Savior, regardless of the liberties we feel that we are entitled to. There must be a clear line the separates the called out ones and the unsaved. How will the unsaved know what “different” is if they see the same with us?
Some believers may be basing their walk solely on a Sunday morning rituals and leave the rest of the week for indulgences and entertainment. While it is not a sin to have a good time, the danger is when we compromise our manner of life with poor choices and damaging conversations. We are admonished in the book of I Peter chapter 1 and verse 15 of this, “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” Another translation replaces the word conduct with conversation. The Greek word for this word conduct is a form of another word that literally means to live in this principle, abide in this way, or to communicate in that manner. It does not matter the format, the place, or the means-all communication is reflective of your conduct and represents or confirms how your manner of life is established or governed.
In the weeks ahead, I will present one commandment for Christ-like cyber world communication with Scriptural support. During this time we will see that God’s word does have cyber guidelines which relay how His people should communicate to the world. Remember, what you put on paper or online can never be erased or replaced. We have the potential of amassing generation after generation of an information trail that cannot be deleted or quarantined. Let’s make the line apparent and conduct ourselves in a Christ-like manner.
Seymour
Pastor Seymour Helligar
Heart of God Ministries, Cummings GA.
I have also noticed the thin line between believers’ exchange of information and that of the world or unbeliever; those who are not regenerated in their minds. I then looked at family websites shared by saved and unsaved and the confusion increased even more. Is there a difference?
Immediately a thought quickened in my spirit to present what I believe is a missing commodity today, and that is, a Christian’s approach to the world of technology. The reason why I call this a cyber commandment is because we have phones and computers in which we exchange information, messages and pictures. Times certainly have changed and the change in times should propel us to conduct ourselves in a way that reflects our Lord and Savior, regardless of the liberties we feel that we are entitled to. There must be a clear line the separates the called out ones and the unsaved. How will the unsaved know what “different” is if they see the same with us?
Some believers may be basing their walk solely on a Sunday morning rituals and leave the rest of the week for indulgences and entertainment. While it is not a sin to have a good time, the danger is when we compromise our manner of life with poor choices and damaging conversations. We are admonished in the book of I Peter chapter 1 and verse 15 of this, “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” Another translation replaces the word conduct with conversation. The Greek word for this word conduct is a form of another word that literally means to live in this principle, abide in this way, or to communicate in that manner. It does not matter the format, the place, or the means-all communication is reflective of your conduct and represents or confirms how your manner of life is established or governed.
In the weeks ahead, I will present one commandment for Christ-like cyber world communication with Scriptural support. During this time we will see that God’s word does have cyber guidelines which relay how His people should communicate to the world. Remember, what you put on paper or online can never be erased or replaced. We have the potential of amassing generation after generation of an information trail that cannot be deleted or quarantined. Let’s make the line apparent and conduct ourselves in a Christ-like manner.
Seymour
Pastor Seymour Helligar
Heart of God Ministries, Cummings GA.
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