Tuesday, December 27, 2011

The Christian in Complete Armour

We are challenged in God's Word to walk worthy of our calling. This requires that we learn God's ways in our battle against the world, the flesh and the devil.

We will be using The Christian In Complete Armour for our daily devotional in 2012 to assist us in the daily battle. You do not need to purchase the book but it will add depth to your daily study.
You may also down load the digital versions at Amazon for the Kindle or kindle reader on your phone or computer. The Nook version is also available at Barnes and Noble for about $3.00

The devotional is available by email or face book group at The Passionate Participation in God Project Group. http://www.facebook.com/groups/TPPIGP/

Please share this opportunity with your friends as well.

Book Summary
"The Christian In Complete Armour is a daily devotional written in the seventeenth century by Pastor William Gurnall. As a shepherd of God's people, Gurnall'sknowledge is extraordinary, yet his style is practical and to the point. Hecombines the sweet encouragement of the love and mercy of Christ with the vicious opposition of Satan and the impending judgment of God. His writings are thought provoking, heart searching, and thoroughly scriptural. ?"Cowards never won heaven. Do not claim that you are begotten of God and have His royal blood running in your veins unless you can prove your lineage by this heroic spirit; to dare to be holy in spite of men and devils." "The soldier is summoned to a life of active duty and so is the Christian."?Like a general challenging his troops in the midst of battle, Gurnall gives Christians eternal knowledge that can be embraced daily and used as an inspiring insight to help in us faithfully walk with God. Thanks to Moody Press for their assistance on this project. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617 

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Knowing When God is the One Speaking, 1 Sam 3:1-10

Dear Friends
At the beginning of 2011 we began a study of What God calls us when He calls our name or the names of the believer.
We have reached the end of that study. I am resending our first devotional and trust God has blessed you along the way as you have learned to know what he says about you.
After Christmas I will send you an email with the good news of what we study in 2012. It has been our delight to do these studies and to hear back how God has been working in you as a result of His truth growing in you. It has been our honor to be an encouragement to you.
Remember He is your source in every area of life, spirit, soul (mind will and emotions) and body. He provides His life and your provision in every area!
May God richly bless each of you!
Wayne Newcomb
Founder of Abba's Glory
1 NOW THE boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. The word of the Lord was rare and precious in those days; there was no frequent or widely spread vision.
2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had dimmed so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place.
3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was lying down
4 When the Lord called, Samuel! And he answered, Here I am.
5 He ran to Eli and said, Here I am, for you called me. Eli said, I did not call you; lie down again. So he went and lay down.
6 And the Lord called again, Samuel! And Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, Here am I; you did call me. Eli answered, I did not call, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord was not yet revealed to him.
8 And the Lord called Samuel the third time. And he went to Eli and said, Here I am, for you did call me. Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy.
9 So Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down. And if He calls you, you shall say, Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, Samuel! Samuel! Then Samuel answered, Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening. AMP_
Discerning the voice of God and His Spirit and knowing the difference between His voice and the voices of the world, our flesh or the devil is an important part of every believer’s life. One of the keys to discerning the voice of the Lord is knowing Him and knowing what He says about us. We will be able to enjoy the fullness of our salvation and life in the Kingdom of the Son when we better understand what God says about us throughout the Bible.
This week either on paper or on your computer make three columns and for the heading over the first write what others have said about you, for the heading over the second write what you say about yourself and for the heading over the third write what you think God says about you. To help keep this exercise short limit each column’s list to no less than three and no more than ten items that apply to the heading for that column.
Do the things in each column agree or are their differences between what others say or have said, what you say and what think God says?
Keep this list so that you may compare each week what you are learning about what God says about you, to what others have said, what you say and what your initial list of what you think God says.
(c) copywrite: Wayne Newcomb 2011, http://www.abbasglory.com/

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

WHO I AM IN CHRIST Conclusion

I am accepted...In Christ, I am completely accepted; I renounce the lie that I am rejected, unloved, dirty or shameful. God says to me
   ·         John 1:12 I am God's child.
   ·         John 15:15 As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
   ·         Romans 5:1 I have been justified.
   ·         1 Corinthians 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit
   ·         1 Corinthians 6:19-20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
   ·         1 Corinthians 12:27 I am a member of Christ's body.
   ·         Ephesians 1:3-8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
·         Colossians 1:13-14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
·         Colossians 2:9-10 I am complete in Christ.
·         Hebrews 4:14-16 I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.

    I am secure...In Christ, I am totally secure; I renounce the lie that I am guilty, unprotected, alone or abandoned.
·         Romans 8:1-2 I am free from condemnation.
·         Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
·         Romans 8:31-39 I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be Separated from the love of God.
·         2 Corinthians1:21-22 I have been established, anointed and
·         Colossians 3:1-4 I am hidden with Christ in God.
·         Philippians 1:6 I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
·         Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
·         2 Timothy 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind
·         1 John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

I am significant... In Christ, I am significant; I renounce the lie that I am unimportant, inadequate, incompetent or powerless. God says to me.
·         John 15:5 I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
·         John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
·         1 Corinthians 3:16 I am God's temple.
·         2 Corinthians 5:17-21 I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
·         Ephesians 2:6 I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
·         Ephesians 2:10 I am God's workmanship.
·         Ephesians 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
·         Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Thanks to Neil T Anderson for these great teachings.
These materials can be found at Neil T Andersons Web site. http://www.ficm.org/

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

I am significant

I am significant... In Christ, I am significant; I renounce the lie that I am unimportant, inadequate, incompetent or powerless. God says to me…
·         John 15:5 I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
·         John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
·         1 Corinthians 3:16 I am God's temple.
·         2 Corinthians 5:17-21 I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
·         Ephesians 2:6 I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
·         Ephesians 2:10 I am God's workmanship.
·         Ephesians 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.


Artwork, Welcome My Child

Monday, December 19, 2011

I am Secure In Christ

I am secure...In Christ, I am totally secure; I renounce the lie that I am guilty,unprotected, alone or abandoned.                                                   
·         Romans 8:1-2 I am free from condemnation.
·         Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
·         Romans 8:31-39 I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be Separated from the love of God.
·         2 Corinthians1:21-22 I have been established, anointed and
·         Colossians 3:1-4  I am hidden with Christ in God.
·         Philippians 1:6 I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
·         Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
·         2 Timothy 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power,and a sound mind.
·         1 John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.
 
These materials can be found at Neil T Andersons Web site. http://www.ficm.org/

Sunday, December 18, 2011

God's Household

1 Tim 3:14-15 Although I hope to come to you before long, I am writing these instructions to you so that, 15 If I am detained, you may know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and stay (the prop and support) of the Truth. AMP
Many large corporations publish what they call an "employee's guide" or an "employee's handbook." This manual provides detailed information about how the company operates. In essence, it serves as a kind of corporate rule book. The church has a similar manual. The New Testament outlines the principles by which the church is to operate. While the entire Bible has bearing on the life of the church, the pastoral epistles, including the book of 1 Timothy, provide specific instructions about its organizational structure, policies, and practices. According to 1 Tim 3:15, one of the reasons Paul wrote this epistle was so that Timothy would know how to conduct himself in the "God's household."
The Greek term that is translated "household" often refers to a dwelling place or house. The phrase "house of God" is frequently used in reference to the tabernacle and the temple (Ex 23:19; Deut 23:18; 1 Chron 9:13; Matt 12:4). It can also refer to a group of people. When it is used in this latter sense, it often means "family" (Gen 17:23; Acts 10:2). At times, both senses are combined. Heb 3:4-5 notes that, "every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything" and then characterizes Moses as being "faithful as a servant in all God's house."
In 1 Tim 3:14-15, Paul combines both ideas when referring to the church. It is the household, or family, of God. Consequently, many of the principles that are true of the family also hold true in the church. For example, those who exercise leadership in the church must also have a proven record of leadership in the home: "If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?" (1 Tim 3:5; cf. 3:12).
Like any family, God's household has an authority structure. Those who serve as elders ex- ercise "oversight" over God's people and "shepherd" them like a flock (1 Peter 5:1-2). As shepherds, the church's elders provide guidance for God's people. The typical member of the church is focused primarily on the present. The elder is interested in the present but is also equally concerned with the church's future. Without a clear sense of direction, the elder will be driven by the flock as it scatters in every direction.
The church's elders also provide protection. When Paul gave instructions to the elders of the church of Ephesus, he charged them: "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).
The elders protect the church from threats that come from the outside by guarding against false teachers and false doctrine. They also guard the church from threats that come from inside the church by holding the flock accountable. When they see God's people straying in their Christian lives, part of their responsibility is to guide them back to the proper path. At times, this can be a painful process. Just as the Palestinian shepherd had to use his staff to prod the sheep, the elder must sometimes use the Word of God and the process of church discipline to goad erring believers.
The work of an elder is difficult. It is time-consuming and can be discouraging. An elder often finds that God's people are unresponsive to his efforts to steer them back to a more biblical path of life. The danger in such circumstances is that the elder will develop a grudging spirit.
The apostle Peter warned elders not to shepherd the flock under compulsion but to accept the responsibility voluntarily. He also warned of the danger of approaching this task with mixed motives:
Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:2-3
Because spiritual leaders often have access to the church's funds, greed is a real danger. However, we might also expand this warning to include other forms of gain. For example, it could include those who aspire to positions of leadership in the flock because of pride or because they wish to control the church.
There is authority in spiritual leadership, but it is the authority of a servant. Those who serve as elders in the church function as caretakers rather than kings. They are to be examples rather than emperors.
The church is a family, but it is also a temple. In addition to being "the household of God," it is "the pillar and foundation of the truth." It is important to carefully note Paul's wording. He is not merely saying that the church is founded on the truth. The church is built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, who is the gospel proclaimed by the apostles (1 Cor 3:11; Eph 2:20). The gospel is called "the word of truth" (Col 1:5). In 1 Tim 3:15, however, Paul says that the church is itself the pillar and foundation of the truth. It could be said that the truth is as dependent upon the church as the church is upon the truth. The church is a support to the truth because it has been entrusted with the gospel and has been given the responsibility of preserving and communicating it.
The church is both the household of God and the house of God. Its members comprise God's family, and God Himself dwells in their midst. It is both the place where God is worshiped and the repository of divine truth. We cannot protect this truth if we refuse to live by it.
Heavenly Father, instruct me through Your Word so that I know what is expected of me as a part of Your household. Teach me by Your truth so that I can truly be its pillar and support. Amen.
Thanks to John Koessler for allowing us to publish his material.www.johnkosessler.com
  

John Koessler serves as chair and professor of pastoral studies at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He is married to Jane and has two sons, Drew and Jarred. John is the author of ten books and numerous articles. He also serves as a contributing editor for the Moody Bible Institute publication Today in the Word, where you can read his monthly “Theology Matters” column. You can contact John via email at John.Koessler@moody.edu or by phone at (312) 329-4077


Saturday, December 17, 2011

I Can Do All Things Through the Strength of Christ

I am significant... In Christ, I am significant; I renounce the lie that I am unimportant, inadequate, incompetent or powerless. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Phil 4:13-14  I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. 14 But it was right and commendable and noble of you to contribute for my AMP 

Adam Clarke's Commentary gives us these additional ideas.
'[I can do all things] It was not a habit which he had acquired by frequent exercise, it was a disposition which he had by grace; and he was enabled to do all by the power of an indwelling Christ. Through Him who strengtheneth me is the reading of some of the best MSS., versions, and fathers; the word ‎Christoo‎, Christ, being omitted. 
[Ye have well done] Though I have learned all these important lessons, and am never miserable in want, yet ye have done well in sending me relief in the time of affliction. '

It is refreshing and encouraging that this great well educated man of God was like us and needed God to give him the victory in everyday life.

Friday, December 16, 2011

I May Approach God with Freedom and Confidence.

I am significant... In Christ, I am significant; I renounce the lie that I am unimportant, inadequate, incompetent or powerless. I may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12

Eph 3:12 In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear). AMP

  The UBS New Testament Handbook Series gives us the following understanding.
In union with Christ represents the Greek phrase "in whom." The phrases in union with Christ and through our faith in him state the basis for the boldness which people may have in entering God's presence. This relationship is often expressed as a type of cause, for example, "because we are linked closely with Christ and because we have put our trust in him."
In the Greek text the two nouns "boldness" and "access" are governed by one article, and the meaning is "the boldness to enter"; for "access" see verse Eph 2:18; the Greek :noun for "boldness" is used also in verse 6:19 (and see the verb "to be bold" in verse 6:20); and the following phrase "in confidence" further strengthens the expression of boldness: "we have the boldness to enter confidently." TNT takes "boldness" in its more literal sense of "freedom in speech" and translates "we may confidently draw near to God and speak freely with him"; likewise NAB (and Westcott); this is possible, but the more general idea of boldness seems preferable. The sentiment expressed in this verse is the same as that in 2:18.
In place of the statement we have the boldness it may be better in some languages to say "we can be bold too." But in some instances a negative expression may be more satisfactory, for example, "we do not hesitate to" or even "we are not at all slow to."
The phrase with all confidence may be expressed as "being confident he will hear us" or "being confident that he will pay attention to us." It is often not enough to speak about "having all confidence," for one must indicate in what respect this confidence is applicable.
Through our faith in him represents the last clause of the verse in Greek, literally "through his faith" ; this is how the vast majority of commentators and translators understand the Greek, but Barth understands it to mean "because of his faithfulness." Instead of the noun faith, many languages will use a verbal phrase such as "know we trust (or, believe) in him." 

It is an amazing to me that God’s grace through the Life. Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ makes it possible for us who were previously barred from God’s presence because of our sin and rebellion toward God, that now we can freely and even boldly come into God’s presence as His deeply loved children!

WOW, talk about God’s goodness! I trust this truth will cause you to a renewed joy in your walk with God!
Artwork: 'See' by Grant

Thursday, December 15, 2011

I am God's Workmanship.

I am significant... In Christ, I am significant; I renounce the lie that I am unimportant, inadequate, incompetent or powerless. I am God's workmanship. Eph 2:10

Eph 2:10  For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), grecreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. AMP

Adam Clarke's Commentary gives us this understanding;
[For we are his workmanship] So far is this salvation from being our own work, or granted for our own works' sake, that we are ourselves not only the creatures of God, but our new creation was produced by his power; for we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works. He has saved us that we may show forth the virtues of Him who called us from darkness into his marvelous light. For though we are not saved for our good works, yet we are saved that we may perform good works, to the glory of God and the benefit of man.

[Which God hath before ordained] ‎For which God before prepared us, that we might walk in them. For being saved from sin we are made partakers of the Spirit of holiness; and it is natural to that Spirit to lead to the practice of holiness; and he who is not holy in his life is not saved by the grace of Christ. The before ordaining, or rather preparing, must refer to the time when God began the new creation in their hearts; for from the first inspiration of God upon the soul it begins to love holiness; and obedience to the will of God is the very element in which a holy or regenerated soul lives.

May these truths empower you today!