Gospel

Be like Anne!

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Daniel

I was reading the story of David and Saul to Ellie last night and was struck by Sauls response to David after he spared his life:

“You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.  And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule. Now swear to me by the Lord that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!” (1 Samuel 24:17-21 NLT)

(Read the whole story here)

“So what do we do when someone is mean to us and treats us badly?” I asked Ellie. “We treat them with kindness and we love them and maybe even bring them a gift”, I told her.

This reminded me of watching Anne of Green Gables awhile ago with my wife. I was so impressed with Annes zest for life and just how truly full of life she was. One scene that stuck with me was the transformation of one of Annes enemies. She was a jealous and bitter woman that worked with Anne at her first teaching job and made her life so difficult. At every opportunity Anne just responded with kindness and love and finally won her over earning her trust. She in turn became one of Annes dearest friends and “came to life” herself. It was beautiful.

I shared all this at my concert today and asked the group, “Wouldn’t it be awesome to see this played out in real life? In our own lives? Are there people in our lives who are mistreating us that we can respond with kindness, show love, or even give a gift?

How about you? Is there someone like that in your life? I know there is in mine.

I can’t wait to see what God will do and what former enemies will become dearest friends as we do as Jesus taught us:

 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!  In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5 NLT)

Let me know what happens when you respond like David did, repaying evil for good. Come back and leave a comment!

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Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ – Joseph Prince

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Daniel

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” – (John 1:17 NIV)

As you may have noticed from earlier blogs, I have been really blessed lately by the teachings of Joseph Prince. I feel that he speaks very eloquently of Grace and, as a recovering legalist, it is a message I certainly need to hear!

Here are a few notes and quotes from this teaching:

God is not about behavior modification, he is about heart transformation.

People worry that if you preach only grace, that people will have a license to sin. But have you noticed that people are sinning without a license? But this isn’t what Scripture says will happen if we preach grace:

“Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.” (Romans 6:14 NLT)

“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed (by this grace) to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.” (Titus 2:11-13)

No one in the church, it seems, teaches pure law, but a mixture of law and grace. But Jesus said you cannot put new wine (grace) in an old wineskin (law).

There has been a change in our relationship to the law since the cross.

The law condemns the best of us, but grace saves the worst of us.

God calls the law written in stone, the ministry of death. He is speaking of the ten commandments:

“Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?” (2 Corinthians 3:7-8 NIV)

Grace is the ministry of the Spirit!

You cannot be under water and not be wet any more than you can be under grace and not be holy.

UnknownThose who are loved best, love best. Those who know that are forgiven totally and completely, forgive others totally and completely.

Love is the fulfilling of the law. Grace is God’s unconditional love love for you completely independent of our performance. You can’t mess this up, for where sin abounds grace much more abounds.

“God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.” (Romans 5:20 NLT)

We love because he first loved us. We love God, and we love each other, as we are loved by God – as we allow his love to permeate our hearts. Are you letting yourself be loved by God?

Categories: Gospel | Tags: , , , | 2 Comments

Jesus Righteousness vs. Adam’s sin

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Daniel

“What Jesus did on the cross to make you righteous will always be greater than what Adam did in the garden that made you a sinner! So which will you be conscious of today? Be blown away as Joseph Prince shows how the superior work of Christ has won for you an everlasting righteousness that cannot be undone by your failures and mistakes. Get the truth also on what “sin unto death” and “obedience unto righteousness” really mean. These revelatory truths will empower you to break free from the grip of sin and reign in life!” – From JospehPrince.com

Get the full message at:
JosephPrince.com

Categories: Forgiveness, Gospel | Leave a comment

Jesus Plus Nothing Equals Everything!

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Daniel

Jesus plus nothing equals everything! This is one of the messages that changed my life. Tullian Tchividjian shares that Jesus is the message of the entire Bible and is all we could ever need or want.

Tullian Tchividjian – 20/20 Collegiate Conference 2012 – Session 3 from Southeastern Seminary on Vimeo.

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