Stay focused to God's Truth or you will be corrupted

The Gathering

Wednesday October 25, 2011

“Stay focused to God’s Truth or

you will be corrupted”

Revelation 2:18-29

Theme Verse: Revelation 1:19

Author: John

Background: This book was intended to encourage Christians through the centuries, especially the Christians in the 1-3 centuries who faced the fiercest of persecution for their faith (death, homeless, etc). In the midst of these fierce persecutions, God had John write a letter to encourage all who read and give a better understanding of His plans.

Things which are

Church Age

(Present)

Background of city of Thyatira:

-1) Home place of Lydia, Paul’s first convert in Philippi

-2) Purple cloth was the cities major product

-3) Recognized for its trade guilds (Practiced idolatry)

-4) Belief that it was dangerous to read a Bible individually

-5) Thyatira actually taught false doctrines by church leaders v. Pergamos only allowed it to sink in the church

-6) Permitting “Jezebel” to institute Baal worship

(i.e. 1 Kings 16; 2 King 9)

“The church of Thyatira was a period of that emphasized the danger for individuals to have a Bible, or anyone to read the Bible to them, and that only the priests were capable of properly interpreting the Bible. Thus the church leaders ruled over the people in all spiritual matters, locking the people into spiritual darkness (Nicolaitans: clergy rule).”

--Abeka; p. 28

How do we as Christians stay focused on the Truth:

1) Don’t let the world catch us off guard

(1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 11:1-4)

2) No compromise

(2:20-22; 1 Corinthians 11:30)

          -World’s Morality v. God’s Moral Law

…the downfall of this corrupt movement in the church will be a wake-up for the morally lax in all the churches who hear about it…

3) Understand the source of Real Truth

          -Jesus claimed to be Truth (John 14:6)

          -The Word of God is Truth (John 17:17)

          (Psalm 117:2; 119:43; 142; 151; 160)

                   -Test of the truthfulness of the Bible

                   -Opinions come and go

         

Recognize:

1) Need to meditate God’s Truth (Psalm 119:15; Joshua 1:8)

2) Need to understand how serious sin is

3) Need to understand that Truth is a person

Who holds the keys of hell and death and determines the destinies of nations and individuals (Psalms 9:16; Acts 17:31).

Questions you have to answer yourself?

Do you believe in God’s Absolute Truth?

Are you becoming convicted by God’s

 wonderful Truth each day?

Have you compromised your faith this

week or week’s past?

Staying faithful

The Gathering

Wednesday October 19, 2011

“Staying faithful to Christ”

Revelation 2:12-17

Theme Verse: Revelation 1:19

Author: John

Background: This book was intended to encourage Christians through the centuries, especially the Christians in the 1-3 centuries who faced the fiercest of persecution for their faith (death, homeless, etc). In the midst of these fierce persecutions, God had John write a letter to encourage all who read and give a better understanding of His plans.

Things which are

Church Age

(Present)

Background of city of Pergamum:

-1) Known for the second largest library of the world

-2) Provincial capital of Asia

-3) First city to erect temples in honor of leaders and gods

-4) One of the gods was of “healing”

-5) It during the time of Constantine of no persecution

-6) Devoted to emperor worship, as noted above

-7) Two major doctrines indentified here: Balaam & Nicolaitans    

“Pergamos was in a time of no persecution, in fact it was in a time of being united with political power. It literally means “married to power”, which caused the worldly leaders of the Pergamos church to exalt themselves above the common people and to substitute man’s teachings for the Word of God.”

--Abeka Book

How do we as Christians remain faithful:

1) Understand God’s omniscience (v. 13)

          --He knows where you are at

          --He knows what you are experiencing

          --He knows your faithfulness (Gal. 6:9)

2) Be careful not to compromise with the world

(Balaamism) 1 Peter 2:11-12; Romans 12:2

          --You must refuse to commune with idols

          1 Cor. 10:14-22   

--You must separate yourselves from worldly practices

--You must stand against Satan’s authority

         

3) Call to repent and turn from the worldly worship

           

Recognize:

1) Need to give God our all in worship.

2) Need to call others to repentance that may be pulled away.

3) Need to worship God and not a person.

Who holds the keys of hell and death and determines the destinies of nations and individuals (Psalms 9:16; Acts 17:31).

Questions you have to answer yourself?

Is following God worth losing everything?

Is God calling you to repent of your worship?

What compromises, if any, have you made in your worship?

Friday October 14

I woke this morning quoting to Micah and Luke a passage from Lamentations 3:22-25. God's mercies and faithful love are new every morning. It is a great hope we can rest in. Everyday we can wake up with a fresh thought about how each day brings new things for us.

Yesterday we were told that Jonah could go home, but we decided to wait one more night being that he had only one day on the floor. Last night there was one irregular heart beat the whole night, and after some check this morning the specialist sees no major alarm. They will be hooking us up with a 24-hour monitor at his first follow-up visit. The one thing we must remember is that God is the ultimate physician that gives our medical techs the expertise. He is in charge. He gives us new mercies and fresh hope each day.

Today we are heading home to begin the road of recovery. God has a plan for Jonah and our family that will give us hope not to destroy us. A God-ward focus has to be the foremost thought of our lives.

Moving forward to Christ.

Praise Report 10/12/11

God has shown us his power through the prayer of many for the surgeons, nurses, and Jonah. Today the day cardiologist was talking to us as well as others how it is not likely that wires and meds come down this quick after such an extensive surgery. All I can do is reply "Go God".

We came this morning at 8:00am to find more lines pulled out and a great report from last night. God does hear the prayers of the righteous, and chooses to answer according to His awesome will. It is an awesome thing to have a place to serve the Lord in ministry that has such a high view of prayer as Shell Point Baptist. Don't ever be afraid to ask God for anything. He will hear and answer according to His good purposes.

We are now waiting for a bed on the floor to open up so that he can move from ICU.



 

Wednesday October 12

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. 

"They are plans for good and for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:11

In these verses God had remembered His covenant made in Deut. 30:1-10 for the restoration of the people of Judah, and was not going to terminate it. God had a plan for Judah, and most definitely has a plan for Jonah and our family. 

I have claimed this verse many of times in my life, but this week I claim it for Jonah. God does have a plan for this young boy. I count it a awesome privilege to be called his earthly father. I can't wait to see how this verse plays out for my family and as well as for Jonah. 

Through out the disappointments my family have experienced in some of our ministry experiences, we have maintain focus on what we believe God has called us to. We can't change the way people have thought or behaved, but we can rely on the One who has this wonderful plan for our lives. I don't know what God has for Jonah, but I am confident that it is just what He has planned for him at conception. I hold that same hope for the rest of my children and family. God is good.

We can only pray that we all remain obedient to the voice of God and keep His commandments from His Word. The promise is the wonderful deliverance of His awesome plan for our lives. It is my prayer that my family seek to follow the Lord our God with all their heart and soul.

Do we really crave for God's blessing on our lives as well as our families? Are we seeking with all our heart, soul, and mind for these blessings? The Bible says that it will come if we only obey and keep what is written in His wonderful word (Deut. 30:10).

Pressing On,

Russell

Jonah's Surgery

A close friend of mine spoke to me a while back about spending time with your boys as a priority. I have thought  about more than ever in the past months. Precious time with family is valuable. Jonah has had so many from SC & NC praying for him as he goes through this. Luke, his older brother, does not want to go to school tomorrow. He told me that he wanted to be here with Jonah. I understand that and appreciate that.

A passage I am claiming this time is found in Isaiah 40:29-31. We are told who gives us strength and who renew our strength. God is moving through the doctors.

Jonah's Surgery

It is one more hard thing to let your little one go into the hands of the creator God as he is in surgery. I know the great physician is there holding the hands of the the doctors. Even as I type this short blog, I am confident in prayer of the almighty Creator working a miracle on our little son Jonah. This is such an ordeal for him to go through at such an early age. I am prayerful that what the surgeon had wanted to do is going to come about. I can picture Jonah going to his room to read or running around with our dog "Packer".

God please touch Jonah's heart and the surgeons hands right now as they are beginning the surgery at 10:46am. I know he wants to be with his brothers playing and laughing. You can heal him of this. Thank you for hearing all these prayers. We love you Jesus.