I believe that it is important for all of us to set goals for ourselves.  Without goals, we have nothing to shoot for.

Scripture gives us some good starting points for setting personal goals.  In scripture we read, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)

Scripture tells us that Jesus grew intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially.

•  I believe that it is important for all of us, regardless of our age, to continue to grow intellectually and to increase in wisdom.

 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5 ESV)

•  I believe that it is important for all of us, to the best of our ability, to work at keeping our bodies healthy.

 …do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?   (1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV)

•  I believe that the number one priority for all of us should be continued growth in our relationship with God.

 Scripture tells us to “… love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, …” (Luke 10:27 ESV)

•  I believe that it is extremely important for all of us to love “our neighbors”.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)

 We should all have the desire to increase in wisdom
and in stature
and in favor with God
and man.

 As we think about goals for 2015 we need to:

• Set goals that will help us grow in our relationship with God.
• Set goals that will help us grow in our relationships with others.
• Set goals that will help us grow intellectually.
• Set goals that will help us stay healthy physically (as much as possible).

 Without goals, you have nothing to shoot for.

 Happy New Year’s Day

 Best wishes as you reflect on your personal goals for the New Year.

Check out “Whoever Believes….”

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How would you share Christ with someone who has little or no exposure to Biblical teaching?

Lessons from the book of Acts (#7)

We can get some good “pointers” from Peter who effectively shared the good news of Jesus Christ with a group of Gentiles.  This story is found in Acts, chapter 10 verses 34-43.

Peter begins by telling this group of Gentiles “that God shows no partiality.”  The Gospel message is for anyone, from any nation, who fears God and is open to hearing the good news.

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. (Acts 10:34-35 ESV)

• The first point that Peter made is that God is not partial to a particular group of people from a particular nation.

 For God shows no partiality. (Romans 2:11 ESV)

 … for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith…. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:26-29 ESV)

 The Lord is … not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

 Peter goes on to describe Jesus Christ as “Lord of all”. Peter tells the people that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.”

•  Peter’s second point: Jesus is the anointed one. God sent Jesus to earth to be the Savior of the world.

  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. (1 John 4:14 ESV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 ESV)

 Peter continues:  39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. (Acts 10:39-41 ESV)

• Peter’s point is that there is historical evidence of the life, works, death, and resurrection of Christ. Eye witnesses saw Christ being crucified and saw Him after he was resurrected from the dead.

 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:5-6 ESV)

•  Peter’s fourth point is that there will be a day of judgment and Jesus Christ will be the one who judges all people.

 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. (Acts 10:42 ESV)

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,      (Hebrews 9:27 ESV)

 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, (John 5:22 ESV)

•  Peter’s final point in this passage: Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.

To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10: 43 ESV)

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (John 1:12 ESV)

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13 ESV)

Try using these five points, used effectively by Peter, the next time you want to share the Gospel with another person or with a group of people.

 You may also want to check out “Whoever Believes….”

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This is a story that illustrates how the obedience of two men was used by God to change the lives of many other people.

Lessons from the book of Acts (#6)

There is an amazing story in Acts, chapter 10, that demonstrates how God orchestrates events in the lives of people.  This is a story of two men.  One of the men is a Roman centurion (a Gentile) and the other man is an Apostle (a Jew). When this story begins, these two men are 33 miles apart and neither man knows the other man.

The first man’s name is Cornelius.  He was “a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. (Acts 10:2-5 ESV)

Cornelius obeyed and sent two of his servants to get the second man (who you now know is Peter.)

As the servants of Cornelius were traveling to Joppa, a city approximately 33 miles away, Peter “went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he … fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” … Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, … stood at the gate and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” (Acts 10:9-20 ESV)

Peter obeyed.

The next day Peter went to Caesarea, with the servants of Cornelius, to meet with Cornelius.

Cornelius had gathered a group of his friends to hear the message that God had given to Peter to share with this group.

Peter was given the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with Cornelius and many other Gentiles. Many of these people believed what they heard and made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ and were saved.

Read Acts chapter 10 in its entirety to get all the details of this story.

A brief summary of this story:

• There were two men in the story. Their lifestyles were very different. One was a Gentile the other was a Jew.  One was a Roman soldier, the other was an Apostle.
• Both men were men of prayer.
• God had a plan and a purpose for both men.
• God approached both men separately, one with an angel and one with a vision.
• God asked both men to do something.
• Both men were receptive to the message from God.
• Both men responded in a positive manner (Cornelius more readily than Peter).
• God used both men in a way that resulted in the salvation of many other people.

Questions for reflection.

• Does your nationality, occupation, age, education, etc. keep God from being able to use you?
• Do you spend time with God in prayer?
• Do you believe that God has a plan and a purpose for your life? (Ephesians 2:10)
• Are you receptive to God’s leading in your life?
• If you knew God was asking you to do something, would you do it?
• Are you expecting God to use you in significant ways?
• Do you believe God can use you to impact the lives of others?

 **********

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)

Check out www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com for additional blogs.

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What causes fights and quarrels?

Lessons from the book of James (#12)

Whenever we are involved in a quarrel or fight, most of us are quick to blame someone else for causing the fight or quarrel.  In our minds, it is always the other person’s fault.  We often believe that we are right and the other person is wrong.  We fight to protect our “rights”.

In the end, fights and quarrels seldom resolve differences or disagreements, and frequently they put a real strain on relationships.

Fights and quarrels are clearly inappropriate behaviors for believers.  Discord is not God’s will for our lives.

James gives us some profound insights relating to fights and quarrels.

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?  (James 4:1 ESV)

Fights and quarrels come from desires that battle within us.  James is telling us that the root of the problem is in us, not the other person.

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:21-23 ESV)

You desire and do not have, so you murder. ( James 4:2 ESV)

We want to get our own way or we want things that we don’t have so we get upset and choose to hurt others to get what we want.  Most of us wouldn’t actually kill another person, but we allow hate, anger, and bitterness build up inside of us.

You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. ( James 4:2 ESV)

We covet, we want something that belongs to someone else, and we can’t get what we want, so we fight and quarrel.

You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (James 4:2 -3 ESV)

Instead of fighting or quarreling over things that we want, we should ask God for these things.

“Ask, and it will be given to you;  seek, and you will find;  knock, and it will be opened to you.  Matthew 7:7

If it is God’s will for us to have these things, He will give them to us.  If it is not His will for us to have what we are asking for, we are better off without them.

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.  (1 John 5:14-15 ESV)

The next time you “feel a quarrel coming on” examine your own heart and motives rather than focusing on the faults of the other person.  You will be amazed what God will reveal to you.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10 ESV)

 Check out www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com for additional blogs.

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… give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.                                                                                                             (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV)

Approximately 2700 years ago the prophet Isaiah foretold the birth of Jesus.

 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14 ESV)

About 700 years later this prophesy took place

She (Mary) will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:  “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:21-23 ESV)

Before the world was created, God knew that we all needed a Savior. God used Isaiah, and other prophets,  to foretell the coming of Jesus.  A little more than 2000 years ago this prophecy was fulfilled.

 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 ESV)

This is something to really be thankful for.  Thanksgiving (giving thanks) should never end for anyone who is a Christian.   Christians have something to be thankful for every day of the year.

… give thanks in all circumstances…

Be sure you have read  “Whoever Believes….”

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Happy Thanksgiving

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

(Psalm 118:1 ESV)

Visit the Seeking His Kingdom website at www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com

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Thanksgiving                               November 27, 2014

Let us worship and bow down.

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

For the LORD is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand. (Psalm 95:1-7 ESV)

Have a happy Thanksgiving.

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving.

 Check out “Whoever Believes….”

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Thanksgiving is a time to Give thanks.

Psalm 100

Always Remember to Be Thankful (#7)

A Psalm for giving thanks.

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!

 Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

 Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him;  bless his name!

 For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100 ESV)

Have a happy Thanksgiving.

Give thanks to the Lord.
His steadfast love endures forever.

Review previous posts for Psalm 100:

Psalm 100:1

Psalm 100:2 

Psalm 100:3 

Psalm 100:4  

Psalm 100:5 

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The Lord is good.

Always Remember to Be Thankful (#6)

Psalm 100 is a great Psalm for us to use when we want ideas of how to give thanks to the LORD.  This post will focus on Psalm 100 verse 5.

For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:5 ESV)

• Give thanks to the LORD for He is good and His steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.  Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.  Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; (Psalm 136:1-3 ESV)

• Give thanks to the Lord for He is faithful.

… the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.                                         (2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 ESV)

• Give thanks to God for His faithfulness endures to all generations.

Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. (Psalm 119:90 ESV)

• Give thanks to God always and for everything.

… giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Ephesians 5:20 ESV)

Have a happy Thanksgiving.

Give thanks to the LORD.

 Check out “Whoever Believes….”

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Coming into His presence.

Always Remember to Be Thankful (#5)

Psalm 100 is a great Psalm for us to use when we want ideas of how to give thanks to the LORD.  This post will focus on Psalm 100 verse 4.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Psalm 100:4 ESV)

We read, in the Old Testament, about people going to the temple to worship and give thanks to God.  The crowds would gather in the courts that surrounded the temple for a time of worship and giving thanks to the LORD.

Things are different for us today.  As New Testament believers, Jesus is our great high priest.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV)

We are able to come before the throne of grace with confidence knowing that God hears our prayers and praises.  We are able to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise” every time we pray, regardless of our location and regardless of the time of day.

The Lord is at hand; [6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:5-7 ESV)

We can personally praise God and thank God for everything He has done for us or we can gather with other believers and we can praise God and give thanks to God corporately

 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16 ESV)

Have a happy Thanksgiving.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Psalm 100:4 ESV)

  We will look at Psalm 100 verse 5 in a future post.

Check out “Whoever Believes….”

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