Archive for January, 2016
THIRTY ONE DAYS OF BIBLE TRUTHS – DAY 29 (ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY)
Friday, January 29th, 2016
TRUTH: In Old Testament days, a sign of true repentance, shame and sorrow over sin was the “rending” (or ripping) of your upper body clothing and sitting in a pile of ashes, while pouring some over your head. It was a public sign of humility and complete openness of the individual before God that public or private sin needed to be confessed. When Jonah preached to the 100,000 people of Nineveh, they all put on sackcloth (uncomfortable clothing made from black goat’s hair), poured ashes over their heads and repented of all their sins corporately and individually. God saved each and everyone of them, from the King of Nineveh (now Mosul, Iraq) to the lowliest person.
– Joshua tore his clothes: so approach God in with an spirit of surrender and openness to His correction and direction.
– Joshua fell on his face: he approached God in complete reverence and awe as to Whom he was appearing before. We should do likewise.
– Joshua was before the ark: we should go immediately and directly to the Foot of the Cross and camp there until Holy Spirit releases us in complete forgiveness.
– Joshua poured dust on his head: he, and thus we, accepted responsibility, which is the first step to redemption and restoration.
GOD’S NOT DEAD 2 – MAKE YOUR STAND
Friday, January 29th, 2016
In theaters April 1st is the follow up to the blockbuster film, God’s Not Dead from Pure Flix entertainment, God’s Not Dead 2. This film is sure to inform Christians everywhere about the cultural issues that face Christianity in the the 21st century. The film will highlight the need for believers to take a stand for Christ no matter what the result may be. Considering the shape that the current Western culture is in and the growing hostilities Christianity is experiencing many are predicting that by the mid twenty-first century Christianity will be a thing of the past. However, true believers know that will never happen. But one thing seems to be very true, the lack of genuine Christian influence upon our societies is helping ungodly principles and actions to flourish. The time is now to come out of our cocoons take a strong public stand for the truth that is found in Christ.
Truly, one of the hardest passages for many believers to grasp concerns what Jesus meant when He said told the disciples the following: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (25) For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it 26) For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (27) For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works” (Matthew 16:24-27).
It’s not that it’s a difficult passage to understand but that the requirements contained in it are difficult to carry out. For one, to make the sacrifice of denying oneself and being willing to share in the sufferings of Christ one must truly know the value of having a solid intimate relationship with Christ. Every Christian should ask themselves: What does Jesus truly mean to me, my family, and my culture? If we cannot say everything and then back it with a sold out and obedient commitment to Christ we will fail every situation that garners the opportunity to bring glory to His name.