Friday, February 28, 2014

God Thinking XLVI - Understanding Foreordained 1

"Romans 8:28-30

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.“ 

This promise is to whom?  “To them that love God”, right.
To them that love God is also “them who are called according to His purpose.” 

They are the same people.  And God called them “according to His purpose”, because they love God. 

If they did not love God, they would not be called according to His purpose, because they, (those who do not love God) do not pursue life according to His purpose.

Does that make sense so far?

Let’s read it again and move on.
Romans 8:28-30, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. “
Verse 29 “For whom He did foreknow...”  Just stop here for a moment.

Please let this truth sink deep and settle in - “For whom He did foreknow”.  This is a great truth about God.  God didn’t leave it to chance that you and I would come to know Him.  God did not leave it to chance that His children would pursue the purpose for which He purposed for them.

If God had left to chance, that you and I would come to Him and find our way, without having foreknown what we would do, we would be at the mercy of our own ability and intellect to accomplish any thing.  

The skeptics and unbelievers, the agnostic and the atheist all live out their existence without pursuing what God ordained for them.  They are convinced that their pursuits, based upon their own ability and intellect alone, fulfills their purpose in life.  

What a waste.   What a travesty.  What a loss."

Excerpt from God Thinking XLVI - Understanding Foreordained by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2014

Thursday, February 27, 2014

God Thinking XLV - Mirror Of Time 5

"There are three major states of being under God’s creation:
1     Those whom God has called and they answered YES to receive the free gift of salvation and all the benefits and privileges associated with becoming born-again and they are serving the Lord with all their heart and all their mind and all their strength. 
  • They are in love with the Master. 
  • They desire to be close to God and build a relationship of trust and allegiance. 
  • They seek time with God and find it. 
  • They love the Word of God and read it.
  • They commune with God and pray often. 
  • They simply know in their knowers that God is in control and they are in Him and He in them. 
This group is not perfect, but they know the one who is.  They fall down, but they get up. 

The second state of being under God’s creation is:      
2     Those whom God has called and they answered, YES to receive the free gift of salvation and all the benefits and privileges associated with becoming born-again and they are not serving the Lord with all their heart and all their mind and all their strength. 
  • They have lost their first love.  God hasn’t abandoned them; they have abandoned God.
  • They are satisfied to live outside of their calling. 
  • They know the Lord, but they stopped meeting with Him like they once did.  
  • In some cases  they fall so far away, they feel like they cannot get right with God again, inside. 
  • They forget who they are in the Lord. 
  • They forget that Jesus paid the price for their sin.
  • They stopped thinking things that please God.
  • They’ve let their mind be filled with many other things that don’t give God the glory; 
So they wallow in the mire of life, without enjoying the joy and the peace that comes with a daily relationship.
The third state of being under God’s creation is:  
3     Those whom God has called and they answered, NO.  They are those who have not received the free gift of salvation, nor any of its benefits or privileges associated with becoming born-again and they are not serving the Lord. 
  • They have not seen themselves as lost.
  • They have not surrendered their pride. 
  • They do not believe they need a Savior.
  • They have not believed what God has said about His Son.
If you have fallen away from serving God, NOW is the time to turn back and get in line with His perfect will for your life.
 
You can be renewed by asking your heavenly Father to forgive you and to seek His face again and be revived in the inner man.  Do it now.  Step forward and be renewed. 
 
If you have never accepted God’s free gift of salvation.  If you have never seen just how far the chasm is between God and your self, Now is the acceptable day of the Lord for you. 
 
By the power of the Holy Spirit, I pray you will answer God’s personal call to you, to be born again and made alive in Christ.

Excerpt from God thinking XLV - Mirror Of Time by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2014
 

 

 

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

God Thinking XLV - Mirror Of Time 4

"Why do you need a relationship with God, through Christ?
 
First of all, not everyone that thinks they are saved, are saved.
Secondly, the only way anyone can come to God is by His Son, and if you do not understand the importance and the urgency of this truth, you will make no real effective effort to reveal God to others [in you and through you].
 
Because of the lukewarm condition of the body of Christ and the depravity of the world system, (secular society), many people end up in church, (a church) (a fellowship) finding their experience to be quite fulfilling.  They are enjoying the benefits of Christianity, by participation and association, but some have never been converted.
 
Hear what God has to say about it:
Psalm 19:7 “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul.”
 
Matthew 18:1-3
“At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
V2 And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set Him in the midst of them,
V3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
 
Luke 22:31-32
“And the Lord said,”Simon, Simon, behold, satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
V32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
 
If you have any difficulty with understanding why the church (the body of Christ) seems so mixed up, just try to visualize this picture.  In many cases, the unsaved are teaching the unsaved how to get saved.  It doesn’t work.  The unsaved bring people into the church to play church without ever pointing them to reconcile with a holy God. 
 
Everything to do with God and man, God and you, God and me, is wrapped up in a personal relationship with God.
 
God is calling His people to reveal to the lost their need for a Savior.  
 
The church is growing much faster than the body of Christ, because the church has all but stopped exposing the depravity of man without Christ.  It’s not in vogue to talk about the lost as if they were really lost.  If not for God’s intervention.............. The gospel of Jesus Christ would be diluted until it had no power at all.  “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:18 
Excerpt from God thinking XLV - Mirror Of Time by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2014

 
                 

Monday, February 24, 2014

God Thinking XLV - Mirror Of Time 3

"The church today is made up of many people who want what God offers -

They want the benefits that the body of Christ offers.

They want the blessings of the covering the church offers.

They enjoy the fellowship that is indigenous to the assembly of believers.

They want the security of being around people they can trust.

They enjoy the moral fabric found among believers

           They want the opportunities that come from being a part of a group of believers.

They seek the positive teaching and spiritual references.

They are attracted to the kindness and generosity of born again believers.

But until you recognize your human condition without God.

  • Until you clearly see your state of lostness.
  • Until you see just how empty you are without Christ.
  • Until you recognize your total inability to attain unto righteousness on your own.
  • Until you come to the place where you understand that you are not grandfathered in.
  • Until you believe what God says about who you are without Christ, you will have no inclination to receive Christ.
But, once you do see your need for a Savior.

Once you see how empty life is without God as your comforter.

Once you see that without Christ you were enemies of God.

Once you believe what God says about who you are and who you can become, then you can receive Christ - get saved - become born again.

Hear the Word of the Lord.  John 6:44, “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw Him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Who called who?  God has called you out, by name, to receive Christ.  If you have accepted God’s invitation to receive His Son, you will receive the benefits and privileges associated with becoming an heir to the kingdom and joint heir with Christ. 

Let’s read Ephesians 2:1-9 together
“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
V2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
V3 Among whom also we all had our conversation, (which means manner of life) ion times past in the lusts of our flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
V4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,
V5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved:)
V6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
V7 That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
V8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
V9 Not of works, lest, (which means for fear that), any man should boast."

Excerpt from God Thinking XLV - Mirror Of Time by Keith C. Powell copyright 2014


 

Sunday, February 23, 2014

God Thinking XLV - Mirror Of Time 2

"They (those who do not think they have sin to be forgiven for) as well as many today believe they were saved through the seed of Abraham - a natural birthright that God promised to the seed of Abraham, by faith.  But without the, (by faith) part of the promise, the promise has no efficacy.   

Unless you have recognized that you were lost, you will never come to a knowledge of the truth, because it is the criteria for accepting Christ by faith.  Why would anyone seek to be forgiven for something they did not believe they needed forgiven for?   

Until you are convinced that you have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, you are not going to repent of sin.  You are not going to bow the knee before God and ask forgiveness. 

You will not answer the call of the Father to receive the Son.

And yet it was Jesus Himself, who, after spending forty days in the desert, fasting, praying, and standing firm in obedience to God, came out of the desert with a message for mankind.  Matthew 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 

As a matter of record, only 50% of all Christians in America believe it is necessary to repent of sins to be saved.   You are living in a time when people believe what they want to believe irrespective of the infallible Word of God. 

If you want to know why people don’t worship God with all their heart - They’ve never seen themselves as lost, there’s nothing to worship God for.
  • They’ve never seen the emptiness of being without God.
  • They’ve never seen their own internal sin.
  • They don’t fear God.
  • They don’t respect God.
  • They never saw themselves as headed toward a hell, a place without an end, a place deserved.
See, most people don’t believe they ever deserved to be sent to hell, so the thought of praising God for drawing us near to Himself and calling us out of the world, has never come to their mind. Until you have seen your sinful nature, you will not seek after a new nature."
 
Excerpt from God Thinking XLV - Mirror Of Time by Keith C. Powell copyright 2014
 

 

Saturday, February 22, 2014

God Thinking XLV - Mirror Of Time 1

"Why do you need a relationship with God, through Christ?
 
God has burdened me to discuss why it is so important to have a relationship with God.
 
First let’s see what God has to say about the human condition.
 
Romans 5:8-12
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
V9 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
V10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
V11 And not only so, but we also join in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
V12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”
 
John 3:17-18
“For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
V18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
  
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
 
Isaiah 30:1
“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of Me; and that cover with a covering, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin:”
 
1 John 5:9-13
“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His son.
V10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in Himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son.
V11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
V12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
 
I believe it is clear that mankind is lost without Christ.  To really see this truth, we need to look at just two things.
But before we do I want to mention an observation I have made.  The things of Christ aren't really on top of the new way that Christians seem to be going.  It seems (and you are welcome to correct me if I am wrong) that religion is on the upswing while following Jesus has been declared 'old-fashioned' and replaced with watered down truths and candy coated messages that make people feel good.
 
1     How lost you are or were without Christ.
and
2     How utterly impossible it is to redeem yourself without a Saviour.
 
You were very far from God before you believed in His Son.  
You were working against God, destined for eternity without God. 
Not only working against the things of God, but lost in this world also, following after whatever fulfilled the flesh and whatever suited the mind.

At one time you were not a living spirit, but a living body born of water, not protected by the blood of Christ.

Some of us were rebels, unaware.
Some of us in league with the prince of the air.
But all of us outside the gate, not working His righteousness, but working under the power of our own righteousness.

We were empty and void of God’s purpose for our lives, which is, to reveal His Son to the world in you and through you.

According to God, without a Savior, we were condemned already, because we did not believe what God said about His Son. 

I’ll tell you why so many of the people and leaders of Jesus’s day didn’t understand what Jesus was doing and couldn’t believe that He was the Christ.  They  could not see their own sin, so they could not find forgiveness for their sins through Christ.  It is the same reason many people today cannot see their sin and find forgiveness through Christ.  They never saw or do not see themselves as lost."
 
Excerpt from God Thinking XLV - Mirror Of Time by Keith C. Powell copyright 2014

Friday, February 21, 2014

God Thinking XLIV - Two Agendas 7

"John 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

Let’s rap this up with a word from Paul to the Philippians or we could say from God to us.  God cares so much that you and I know Him and hear His voice that He clearly gives us inside information about His plan and gives us the keys that unlock His will for us.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, what soever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  Phillipians 4:8

God Thinking is about thinking about what God says - deciding that, if God says it, I will do it, and getting on with it.

How can you be sure if what you are doing is of God?

How can you be sure if it is the voice of God that you are hearing?

Let Phillipians 4:8 be your guide for a season and see what happens."
 
Excerpt from God Thinking XLIV - Two Agendas by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2014

 

Sunday, February 16, 2014

God Thinking XLIV - Two Agendas 6

"God is calling you to believe what He says about the world system instead of what the world system says about God.   
  • Instead of humble adoration of His holiness.
  • Instead of grasping the mercy and grace of God
  • Instead of a lofty view of an Awesome God
  • Instead of a thankful and grateful heart
  • Instead of being broken into pieces at the presence of God
  • Instead of falling on our face before God
  • Instead of trusting God implicitly
  • Instead of commitment
  • Instead of an insatiable hunger for the Word of God
Instead of what God says is His plan for us
I believe, we opt for much less of God and much more of the world than we realize.  But if we decide to do something about it, we will find God to be very accommodating.

Hear God’s heart on the issue:
1 John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Jesus thinks so highly of you and me that He trusts us to reveal Himself to a lost and dying world.  It’s true, you and I are His choice to represent Jesus Christ.  God also chooses to operate His will in us and through us. 

Jesus thinks you and I are worthy to represent Him and to reveal the Father to the unbelieving world, by our actions and by our words.
 
Hear what He says in His own words.
Matthew 5:13-16 “Ye are the alt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted?  It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
V14 Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
V15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 
V16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
 
How can we be sure if what we are doing is of God?
  • Well, is it what God said to do?
  • Does it have God’s signature on it?  In other words, is it supported in the Word?
  • Does it bring God glory?
  • Is it good, wholesome and pure?
  • What is from God is good, wholesome and pure. 
  • Does it benefit us and those around us?
  • Does it look like, feel like, smell like, taste like or sound like the Word of God?
  • Does it reveal your relationship with Christ, because God wants His Son lifted up, not hidden.
  • Does it allow you to have peace in your heart?
 
How can we be sure if it is the voice of God that we are hearing? 
  • Is it helpful and encouraging?
  • Is it clear and easy to understand?
  • Is the voice calling you to a quiet and peaceful life?
  • Does it sound like the Word of God? 
  • Does it speak of Jesus? 
It is easy to discern what is of God and easy to recognize God’s voice if we become familiar with God and His voice.
 
Let me ask you, “do you know the sound of your daughter’s voice or your son’s voice or your father’s voice or your mother’s voice?  Why is that?  Because you are familiar with it or you know it." 

Excerpt from God Thinking XLIV - Two Agendas by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2014

Saturday, February 15, 2014

God Thinking XLIV - Two Agendas 5

"The voice of God isn’t riddled with difficult to understand concepts requiring a PhD in theology.  The voice of God is quiet, and sensible, reasonable and for anyone who will lend God an ear.  

The Word of God doesn’t keep you busy that you have no time for the high things of life:

Like eating dinner with your family.

Or enjoying a quiet and peaceful hour of silence.

Sitting and talking with your spouse, giving them your undivided attention.

Listening to what your children have to say to you, for an hour without interrupting.

Taking a ride to go absolutely nowhere except where you end up.

Sitting at the foot of God for an hour or two, without asking for anything, just listening.

And what is of God, isn’t ashamed of the things of God.
 
If you feel the struggle inside of being able to balance your life in a way that you believe will glorify God, it’s OK.  The Holy Spirit reaches you this way.  By bringing to your attention the imbalances that keep you from being all you can be, the Holy Spirit of God can help you: 

Enjoy life and be at peace. 

To retake your household for the Lord.

To major on the major and minor on the minors.

To find your place, not just in your job or home, but in God’s plan.

We have spent enough time, talent, energy and money building up the world, long enough.
It’s time to give God His rightful place in our lives.

I make no apology to speak to your mind, that the world has a stronghold on God’s people today."

Excerpt from God Thinking XLIV - Two Agendas by Keith C. Powell Copyright 2014