GospeLines Devotionals: 9/6/05 - 9/9/05
September 6, 2005
Holy "Guest"
All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a sinner." (Luke 19:6)
Jesus was in the house of Zacchaeus and His answer to the people's muttering was, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:9)
Many people today pray for salvation to come to their house. They pray to the Father in the name of the Son. Many pray to Mary, the Mother of Jesus or to those who, across the centuries, have been declared "Saints" because we believe they had a special relationship with the Lord. We know that Jesus came to save the lost and we pray to be counted in that number.
Most of you reading this are Christians and you believe that there is but one God, the Creator of all things - the Great I AM - our Heavenly Father. You also believe (but may not fully understand) that God has revealed himself as three distinct persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit being united in nature and substance as the one true God. This means there are three persons in one God, not three Gods. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have always existed as three separate persons. However, if you take away any one, there is no God. God has always been a trinity: "From everlasting to everlasting You are God." (Psalm 90:2)
Because we believe, we call out to our Father in prayer and supplication. We call on the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior. However, have you ever deliberately called out to the Holy Spirit? Do you seek His presence? We baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; but, do we really seek the Holy Spirit?
Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." (Mark 3:28-29) That sounds like we should take the Holy Spirit pretty serious.
Prophesy comes from the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:67; Acts 1:16). Revelation comes from the Holy Spirit (Luke 2:26). Joy comes from the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21). The Holy Spirit is a gift (Luke 11:13; Acts 2:38; Acts 5:32). The Holy Spirit is our teacher (Luke 14:26). Spiritual gifts come from the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). The Holy Spirit enables us to speak the Word of God boldly (Acts 4:31). The Holy Spirit will show us the Glory of God (Acts 7:55).
So, brothers and sisters, why are we not praying for the Holy Spirit as did the Apostles? "They prayed for them (The Christians at Samaria) that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 8:14-16) Jesus has returned to the Father to intercede for us; but, He has sent the Holy Spirit to help, teach and comfort us until His return. Seek the Holy Spirit; invite Him into your home and into your heart.
Paul wrote to Philemon, "Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers." (Philemon 1:22) Why not prepare a guest room in our heart for the Holy Spirit and pray that He will come live there...?
Ron KillenU
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."
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ron@gospelines.com
September 7, 2005
"Are you willing to lose your life for Jesus?"
There has to be a death before there can be a resurrection. Think about that statement and then read it again: There has to be a death... before there can be a resurrection...
Why am I talking about death and resurrection? Have you even known someone who had an extramarital affair? If that person has repented and asked for forgiveness, it's a cause to thank and praise God. However, have they put the affair behind them? Is that period in their lives truly dead? Because if its not, the evil one may be able to bring it back into their lives.
Have you ever known someone who has accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior; but, they still occasionally use "colorful metaphors" in their speech? James 1:26 tells us that "if anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." This person has not truly died to their old ways - they are not yet a "new creation"
If you have accepted Christ; but, you still allow the temptations of pornography to occasionally slip back into your life, you have not died to your old sinful self.
One of the saddest verse in the Bible is John 8:24: "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." Then, only a few chapters later, Jesus makes a statement that should give hope to all mankind: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die." (John 11:25-26)
If we were buried with Him by baptism into death; then, like Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, we also were resurrected and walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we also live in the likeness of His resurrection. (Romans 6:4-5)
Does this mean that we'll never allow those old ways to slip back into our lives? Not necessarily - The enemy is strong. However, it does mean that if we are new creations, dead to our old selves and resurrected in Christ, that when we do falter, we can immediately go to our Father and receive forgiveness and strength to walk in newness of live - cleansed and made righteous by His mercy to stand before His throne as His redeemed children.
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)
Brothers and sisters, if our old self is crucified with Him - dead - so that the body of sin has been destroyed, then we will no longer serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. (Romans 6:6-7) Now we are in Christ; we are new creations; the old is gone and the new has come. All this is from our Father who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ... (2nd Corinthians 5:16-18)
Do not fear the death of your old self, but look forward to a new life serving and following our Lord and Savior into eternity.
Ron KillenU
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."
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ron@gospelines.com
September 8, 2005
"Are we saved?"
We believe that salvation is available to all who accept God's Son as Lord of their Lives. When this happens, we are called "Christians." But after we become "Christians" we still sin! If we are saved and still sin, are we really saved?
Before we answer this question, let's review how one becomes a Christian and how we receive "salvation" and forgiveness.
A Christian is someone who has received the Jesus as their Lord and Savior (John 1:12, Acts 10:43, 1st Timothy 1:16), repented of their sins (Matthew 21:32, Mark 1:15, Luke 5:32, Luke 13:3), and accepted Jesus as their only path to salvation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). A person who has truly given their lives to Christ will strive to obey His commands (John 14:15) and to think like Christ or "have the mind of Christ" (Philippians 2:5). Jesus made this possible by leaving us a Teacher, a Comforter - the Holy Spirit - to guide our path. (John 14:26, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:4... 38, Acts 10:47).
Christians do not receive salvation because of anything we do (or could do) - our "righteous acts" are like filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6). We are saved (made righteous) in the eyes of God by the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus (Romans 5:18-19, 2nd Corinthians 5:20-22, 1st Peter 3:18). Christians do good deeds because we are Christians, not to become Christians. When Paul spoke of Abraham, he said the words "it was credited to him" were not written for him alone, but also for us - for us who believe Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:1-24)
Why do Christians still sin? Paul said, "...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life." (1st Timothy 1:15-16)
How patient is Jesus? When Peter asked, "How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22) In other words, as long as we repent and ask in faith, we will be forgiven.
Jesus knows that Christians struggle with their flesh. When Paul wrote the book of Romans, he was addressing Christians: "To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints." (Romans 1:7) These were people of strong faith. Paul told them that their "faith was being reported all over the world." (Romans 1:8)
Their righteousness (salvation) and ours is given (by God) to all who believe (have faith in) Jesus Christ. All sin (believers too) and fall short of the glory of God; but, we (believers) are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:22-24)
The Gospel (Jesus Christ) is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. The Gospel reveals a righteousness from God that is by faith from first to last (faith to faith) just as it is written: "The righteous will live (and be forgiven) by faith." (Romans 1:16-17) (Habakkuk 2:4)
If your faith in Jesus strong enough to lead you to obey His commands, you will see Him. "Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him." (John 14:21)
Ron KillenU
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."
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ron@gospelines.com
September 9, 2005
"Don't look back!"
Angels told Lot and his family, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere...! Flee... or you will be swept away!" (Genesis 19:17)
The Word of God tells us that our heavenly Father will: ...cast all our sins into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19); He will cast them as far as the east is from the west... (Psalm 103:12); and, He will forgive our wickedness and remember our sins no more. (Jeremiah 31:34)
Paul tells us that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2nd Corinthians 5:17) Again in Galatians 6:15 Paul says that "...what counts is a new creation."
Our God is the God of 2nd chances. Jesus made that clear when Peter asked Him how often he should forgive his brother who sinned against him. Jesus told Peter, "...not seven times: but, seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22 KJV)
However, Jesus also said that if you do not forgive men their sins (against you), your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:13-15) If you have forgiven those who have sinned against you and you have asked with a sincere heart and full assurance of faith for God to forgiver you, your heart has been cleansed from guilt and you can hold unswervingly to that knowledge because He who forgave you is faithful. (Hebrews 10:21-23)
If God forgives you, forgive yourself. Jesus said, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62) Stop looking back at your old life and look forward. When you are baptized, it is like the burial of Jesus; when you are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. You have been buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, you too are raised to live a new life. (Romans 6:4) Don't look back!
Ron KillenU
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
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ron@gospelines.com
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