FAITH – A four letter word in many circles, something relegated to Sunday mornings for a couple of hours and nothing more. Faith is an activity, nothing more than an experience for those that are not educated enough to understand the real order of things or something that we were taught to do as kids and so out of some twisted sense of obligation and routine we continue to do, but try not to make too big a deal out of it so that our kids are spared the pain we had to endure. Faith, nothing more than a superstitious experience for a zealous minority… or is it.
For me faith is not a noun, it’s a verb, more precisely it’s the predicate in the sentence of my life. If I am the subject than faith accounts for everything else that exists. Faith fills in the blanks; it informs my opinion, shapes my thinking and guides my steps. Faith is not an abstract concept it is as real as the white lines on the highway or the principles of a political party. Faith keeps me in my lane, orders my steps, directs my path, focuses my energy and defines my existence. Faith is not something I do; Faith is what I am.
"All I have seen teaches me to trust in the Creator for all I have not seen." Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Faith is a higher faculty than reason." Henry Christopher Bailey
"The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge." Albert Einstein
"Faith is the continuation of reason." William Adams
"It could be that our faithlessness is a cowering cowardice born of our very smallness, a massive failure of imagination... If we were to judge nature by common sense or likelihood, we wouldn't believe the world existed." Annie Dillard
"Strike from mankind the principle of faith and men would have no more history than a flock of sheep." Mark Beltaire
Faith should not be marginalized or regulated to venues and locales of religious expression and thereby excluded from the everyday conversations of our life and times. The dialogue of faith is as meaningful as a conversation on philosophy of politics or the cultural of the global economy. Faith is not an additive or accessory something to be sprinkled on top of a larger discourse; faith has value in and of its self and must be positioned as an integral part of the human experience.
Some Lights Never Go Out
In the north east of the United States many families and homes are still recovering from the crippling pre-Winter snow storm that blanketed several states last Saturday. For north easterners the snow accumulation from this storm was no big deal, in fact most of the roads were clear within 24 hours of the storm's end, however what caught many of us by surprise was the impact of the heavy wet snow sitting on trees that still had their leaves would have. Because the snow hit the region late in the fall, as opposed to in the winter when all the trees would be bare, the tree covered leaves provided more surface area for the snow to accumulate and as a result the limbs themselves became very heavy, until eventually they broke. Trees across region particularly in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut broke and in the process fell across power lines and on top of transformers and other electricity generators. Within a few hours more than a million homes were without electricity, total darkness throughout much of the region. When there are no lights on the outside many of us were forced to find out what we were made of on the inside.
For some the extended power outage, which hasn't come to an end just yet as there are still homes without power, brought out their rugged resilience, they saw this as an opportunity to prove to themselves and this modern era that they could live without some of the electricity fueled conveniences of the modern era; although many of us were powering our portable devices at work and shelters, so we didn't have to completely unplug. But for some this darkness brought out the worst in them. Long lines at gas stations and extended waits to get food at a restaurants or grocery stores drove people to their breaking point. For followers of Jesus Christ though, when the electricity went out, the light that is always on inside of us, the light that is the love of Jesus, should have been glowing brightly. It is hard to see a flashlight in a room with all the lights on, if you look closely you may be able to make out a faint glow, however turn all the light out in that same room and the light from the flashlight can illuminate much of the darkness. Those of us that espouse the teachings and philosophy of Jesus Christ know that we are called to be the source of true light in a world of artificial light that masks the true darkness that exists.
For many people the last week exposed the darkness they have been living in, it was simply covered by artificial light. Marriages were strained, family relationships stressed, the "civil" nature of our society began to snap like some many tree limbs did just a few days earlier. All the advancement and achievement of mankind disappeared in just a few hours and what we were left with was what lives in our core. Some times we don't realize how dark a room is until we introduce real light into it. Maybe you were not directly impacted by the black out or maybe you are still without electricity, either way You Are More Than A Conqueror, because the true light of this world, the Lord Jesus, wants to live inside of you so that you will never in darkness again. If you don't have that light I encourage you to reach out to Jesus today, we can help you, we can pray with you. If you are looking to make that step today, please e-mail us at iammtc837@gmail.com and one of us will contact you. And if you already know Jesus be His light today, smile bright, don't despair as long as you have Jesus His light will never go out.
Botts Home Bible Study - 10.24.11
Tonight we studied the Holy Bible by looking at John Chapter 1, the fourth book found in the New Testament, focusing on the first 19 verses. Please review this presentation at your own pace and feel free to post comments or questions. I hope you find this inspirational and beneficial. Peace and Blessings.
MTC Quote
"Children look at a challenge and see all the opportunities for success,
Adults look at a challenge and see all the opportunities for failure." Jesus instructed his disciples to "become as little children" (Matthew 18:3) otherwise they would not enter the kingdom of heaven. I am more than a conqueror because I can exercise the faith of a child.
Adults look at a challenge and see all the opportunities for failure." Jesus instructed his disciples to "become as little children" (Matthew 18:3) otherwise they would not enter the kingdom of heaven. I am more than a conqueror because I can exercise the faith of a child.
Abomination
The word abomination appears 76 times in the KJV; of the 76 uses of the word abomination it is only used pertaining to homosexuality twice - Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. Deuteronomy 22:5 says a woman that wears something pertaining to a man or vice versa is an abomination. 1 Samuel 13:4 describes an occasion when Saul order his son Jonathan to betray a treaty Israel made with the Philistine in order to gain a military advantage; that betrayal is described as an abomination. The sons of Korah write in Psalm 88:8 that God has made them to be an abomination because of their current afflicted state. Proverbs 6:16 -19 describe seven things that are an abomination before the Lord; homosexuality is not listed among them. In Deuteronomy 25:15-16, Proverbs 11:1, 20:10 and 23 using divers measures is considered an abomination. Divers measures refer to dishonest and unjust business practices, fraud and dishonesty. The bible contains more scripture describing dishonest business practices as an abomination than it does homosexuality. Does this mean that homosexual relationships are acceptable to the Lord, no it does not. Romans 1:26-32 and 1 Corinthians 6:9 make it clear that same sex relationships are considered a sexual sin, however it is not something that in and of itself is so wicked that is worthy of special consideration, not more so than for example emphasis on the absolute need to be completely honest and forthright in our business practices and the management of our finances. God is as concerned with us not cheating on our taxes as he is the purity of our sexual relationships. As it pertains to abominations by far the two categories of sin characterized more than anything else in the Bible as an abomination are idolatry and eating that which was previously considered unclean, nothing else even comes close. God spends more time, particularly in the Torah or Old Testament, describing the need for a proper diet and avoiding the consumption of unclean things more than He does describing proper human relationship. Is this because God is not concerned with proper human relationship, certainly not, God is extremely concerned in fact He was so aware of our needs for community that after he created Adam, realizing that he would not do well on his own and there did not exist a proper companion for him amongst the animal kingdom God created a wife for Adam from Adam’s body to symbolize God’s desire to be intimate with humanity. There is no doubt that proper human relationship; the only environment for physical intimacy is between one man and woman, married to each other. However, before there can be proper and effective relationship with another person, there must be proper relationship between the created and the creator, between each individual and God. That is why idolatry and diet are so important to God. We must honor God and honor ourselves before we can hope to honor someone else. Our focus as the body of Christ should be on helping people establish an intimate relationship with God first and then to respect and honor their own mind, body and spirit.
More Than A Conqueror Devotional #18
John 3:14 – 15 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
The Old Testament tells a story of a curse that befell the people of Israel due to their sin. In the book of Numbers the 21st chapter we read the story of the Israelites traveling through the wilderness by way of the Red Sea, encompassing the territory of Edom. The Israelites are having a difficult time with the journey and are growing weary of the travel and are desirous of more variety in the diet, other than the manna the Lord has provided. The people of Israel begin to complain and speak vile of both God and Moses. As a result of their sin and rebellion the Lord sent many serpents into the camp of Israel and these serpents bite and kill many Israelites. The people humble themselves before Moses and beg him to beseech the Lord on their behalf to save them from the serpents. The Lord instructed Moses to fashion a brass serpent and place it on a pole and everyone that looks upon it will be saved and healed from the bite of the serpent; to say it another way they will be spared the penalty of death as a result of their sin. Moses obeys the Lord command and as a result everyone that was bitten who also looked upon the serpent was healed. (Number 21:5-8)
What an interesting illustration that Jesus would use during the course of his dialogue with Nicodemus. Having read the other three books of the Gospel that serve as the beginning of the New Testament we can conclude that when Jesus refers to the “Son of man being lifted up” that he is referring to his pending crucifixion and resurrection. However, to draw a parallel between himself and a brass statue that Moses constructed in the wilderness is a very curious illustration. Partly we can gleam that because of Nicodemus’ theological pedigree, being that was a Pharisee Jesus knew he would right understand the comparison. In order for the Israel to not be destroyed entirely they had to look upon this serpent that was raised up in the wilderness for their salvation and therefore in order for the world to be saved from the sin that has entered into it Jesus Christ must be raised up that all those that “look” upon him and believe will be saved from their sin. It wasn’t the brass statue that brought about the healing and salvation in the wilderness it was the belief the people of Israel had in their God to save them through whatever means He would see fit. Similarly Jesus being raised was is an awesome miracle and showed forth the awesome power of the Lord God Almighty, however many of have died in sin since Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, the power of salvation is not only in the miracle, but our belief in Jesus and his power to save.
We are more than conquerors today because God loved us all so much that he would come to earth by taking on the personhood of his only son, Jesus Christ that if we would only believe in the miracle of Jesus, the God man that was and only man to be fully God and fully man at the same time to be the propitiation for our sin. Jesus came for no other than to suffer a brutal death at the hands of those he came to save and to be raised up before the entire world so that if we would look upon him we could be saved. Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, will you choose to believe.
The Old Testament tells a story of a curse that befell the people of Israel due to their sin. In the book of Numbers the 21st chapter we read the story of the Israelites traveling through the wilderness by way of the Red Sea, encompassing the territory of Edom. The Israelites are having a difficult time with the journey and are growing weary of the travel and are desirous of more variety in the diet, other than the manna the Lord has provided. The people of Israel begin to complain and speak vile of both God and Moses. As a result of their sin and rebellion the Lord sent many serpents into the camp of Israel and these serpents bite and kill many Israelites. The people humble themselves before Moses and beg him to beseech the Lord on their behalf to save them from the serpents. The Lord instructed Moses to fashion a brass serpent and place it on a pole and everyone that looks upon it will be saved and healed from the bite of the serpent; to say it another way they will be spared the penalty of death as a result of their sin. Moses obeys the Lord command and as a result everyone that was bitten who also looked upon the serpent was healed. (Number 21:5-8)
What an interesting illustration that Jesus would use during the course of his dialogue with Nicodemus. Having read the other three books of the Gospel that serve as the beginning of the New Testament we can conclude that when Jesus refers to the “Son of man being lifted up” that he is referring to his pending crucifixion and resurrection. However, to draw a parallel between himself and a brass statue that Moses constructed in the wilderness is a very curious illustration. Partly we can gleam that because of Nicodemus’ theological pedigree, being that was a Pharisee Jesus knew he would right understand the comparison. In order for the Israel to not be destroyed entirely they had to look upon this serpent that was raised up in the wilderness for their salvation and therefore in order for the world to be saved from the sin that has entered into it Jesus Christ must be raised up that all those that “look” upon him and believe will be saved from their sin. It wasn’t the brass statue that brought about the healing and salvation in the wilderness it was the belief the people of Israel had in their God to save them through whatever means He would see fit. Similarly Jesus being raised was is an awesome miracle and showed forth the awesome power of the Lord God Almighty, however many of have died in sin since Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, the power of salvation is not only in the miracle, but our belief in Jesus and his power to save.
We are more than conquerors today because God loved us all so much that he would come to earth by taking on the personhood of his only son, Jesus Christ that if we would only believe in the miracle of Jesus, the God man that was and only man to be fully God and fully man at the same time to be the propitiation for our sin. Jesus came for no other than to suffer a brutal death at the hands of those he came to save and to be raised up before the entire world so that if we would look upon him we could be saved. Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, will you choose to believe.
More Than A Conqueror Devotional #17
Exodus 33:11 "And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face as a man speaketh unto his friend..."
What a great privilege and honor to be in communion with the Lord to such a degree that His conversance with you would be described as fact to face. This is what it means to be in relationship with the Lord; to commune with Him such that He would describe it as friendship. For many believers this is a foreign concept, to be “friendly” with God. All too often we are given a picture of the Almighty as this uncompassionate ruler that smites and punishes and judges when in fact what our God truly desires is a relationship. God is not spooky or aloof or distant in fact the psalmist describes Him as being a very present help when we are in need (Psalm 46:10). God is did not create humanity in His image and likeness so that He could draw away from us or keep us at arm’s length. No in fact just the opposite, God is so consumed with humanity that the angles cannot comprehend is obsession with us, they openly ponder “what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them” (psalm 8:4NLT). God is so utterly smitten by us that He willing participated in the human experience through His only son Jesus.
We are more than conquerors today because God is our friend. Like any good friend, God does not force Himself onto us. He does not demand our attention, rather stand arms open wide waiting for day when we will accept the free gift of His salvation offered through Jesus Christ.
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