Sharing is Caring

  God’s chosen instrument     [Acts 9:10-19a]     Do you know about the Great Awakening, a spiritual revival movement that greatly influenced 18th-century American society?   It is also known as the First Great Awakening.   This movement provided light and hope in a tumultuous era.   Prominent universities, including Princeton, were established under the influence of this movement.   At the forefront of this movement stood Jonathan Edwards, a pastor and theologian born as the son of a congregational minister.   How was he able to shoulder the responsibilities of his time?   He renewed himself daily by confessing five resolutions.   Throughout his life, he exerted all his strength in living each moment to its fullest potential.   He never missed an opportunity, no matter how small, to adopt the most beneficial course of action.   He would never take something, no matter how profitable, if it would make him...

“Who are you, Lord?”       [Acts 9: 1 -9]       Are we truly changing?   The life of a Christian is one of transformation.   Faith is a willingness to change.   The church is a community of people who have not only experienced change, but also seek it (Internet).   However, there are times when we long for change, yet become disappointed and discouraged when we see our own habits persist.   Regarding this spiritual condition, author Robert Boyd Munger, in his book "A Pauper of a Prince?," says, ‘Many Christians today are despairing due to weakness, failure, and feebleness, unable to break free from the swamp of incompetence and helplessness.   Therefore, the author's desire is to give this amazing gift of a transformed life to us all.   The author's words, 'The amazing gift of a transformed life is more than forgiveness for the past or a promise for the future.'   This gift pertains to our current lives...

  Day 13: Luke 23, Romans 6:23       He ought not to live any longer       The Apostle Paul was an upright and blameless man.  However, he was marked as a man who out not to live any longer by all the Jewish crowds.  Governor Festus could not find any punishable offense in him, but the Jewish people branded him as someone not to be spared, treating him as if he were a condemned criminal.  When we look at him, we think of Jesus.  When accused, Pilate, even though he found no crime worthy of death in Jesus, allowed the Jewish crowd to crucify Him on the cross (Lk. 23).  How unjust a death was this?  Why did Jesus have to be put to death on the accursed tree of the cross?  The reason is to grant eternal life to you and me (Rom. 6:23).  Do you not desire to receive this gift of eternal life?  To receive it, you must believe in Jesus.  May God grant you the faith that leads to salvation. ...

Please join me in prayer in my fight         [Romans 15:30-33]     Why do you pray?   Are you not crying out to God because you are in a situation where you have no choice but to pray to God?   As I meditate on the words of Psalms 116:1-12, I am taught that we, too, must dedicate ourselves to prayer, just as the psalmist decided, “I will call on Him as long as I live” (v. 2b).   Now is the time for us to pray.   It is time for all of us to gather together and cry out to God.   And what we must keep in mind is that prayer is a battle.   Prayer is fighting our own old habits and fighting the old sinful instincts within us.   Also, prayer is fighting the sinful world, fighting those who oppose the gospel, and further fighting Satan.   The community of the church is a gathering of militant Christians who take the victorious Jesus as their captain and wage spiritual warfare.   In other words, you and I ...

"What a wretched man I am!"       [Romans 7:14-25]     Are you guarding your heart well?   Are you guarding your heart well when Satan's thoughts try to come into your heart?   There is a book called “Freedom From Sinful Thoughts” written by Pastor Heinrich Arnold, a Christian counseling pastor (Internet).   In this book, the author emphasizes the importance of fighting and struggling against the evil thoughts that come into us countless times.   The reason is because if we neglect and let them come into our thoughts, then the evil thoughts will grow and eventually bear the fruit of sinful actions.   The moment we voluntarily enjoy evil thoughts, we are being manipulated by the forces of darkness without even realizing it.   Because a change in behavior begins with a change in mind, we cannot enjoy true freedom in Christ unless freedom from sinful thoughts precedes it.   Indeed, how will we fight and overcome evil ...