True Faith · 266 days ago by New Beginnings Church
James 2:14-20 tells us the substance of true faith,
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
My favorite translation of this last verse is, “Faith without actions that correspond is dead.” Faith must have actions that correspond with it.
You can talk about catching fish, about what lures you are going to use, and how you are going to cook them after you catch them, but if you never throw a line in the water, you are not going to catch a fish.
Or it’s like the golfer who comes to a 3-par hole with a lake right in front of the green and says, “No problem, I can hit that green with my six iron.” Then he digs out an old ratty golf ball. If he truly believes he can hit the green, he will hit his brand new $3 golf ball!
For faith to be genuine, it has to have corresponding actions.
-Bayless Conley
Three Things · 267 days ago by New Beginnings Church
Eph 1:18-19 "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe"
Paul's letter to the Ephesians exhorts believers to experience three important things in their spiritual lives that he experienced personally. As a good mentor, he desires those he is leading to follow his example.
First, God wants you to have the eyes of your heart enlightened in order to know the hope to which He has called you. God has called each of us to a future and a hope. Some do not ever realize the dreams they envision for their lives. Paul prays they will experience this.
Second, God wants you to know there is an inheritance for each believer in Jesus Christ. There are riches to be had - not financial riches - but spiritual riches that are laid up for every saint. As you are faithful to His calling in your life, there will be a reward for your faithfulness.
Third, God desires you to tap into the power that is available to every believer. Paul often exhorted believers not to look at his persuasive words, but the demonstration of the power of God in his life. He wants you to know this same power is available to you. After all, Jesus said we would do even greater works than He did after He sent the Holy Spirit to us.
Pray that God reveals the hope that exists inside of you, be encouraged that there is an inheritance awaiting you, and know that you have power that resides in you that awaits those who exercise their faith to release it.
-Os Hillman
Are You Horizontal or Vertical? · 273 days ago by New Beginnings Church
Isaiah 5:21 "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight".
Many of us have been trained to make decisions and respond to problems in a horizontal way instead of vertical. Operating from a horizontal basis means we try to fix the problem through our own self-efforts by bringing greater pressure upon it through our reasoning or our natural skills. Operating from a vertical position means we are seeking God for the answer and waiting for him to impact the problem. Perhaps it is a spouse who fails to put their clothes away, or a boss who is overly critical, or an employee that you clash with. When we operate horizontally we attempt to shame or coerce the other to change their ways.
God knows the solution to the problem before it ever exists. Our responsibility is to ask God for help to solve the problem and to rely on Him for the outcome. The minute we take on the responsibility, God quietly stands by to let us experience failure until we decide to seek Him for the answer.
One of the best examples of the contrast between a vertical and horizontal dimension in scripture is that of King Saul and David (see 1 Samuel 25). King Saul thought the way to preserve his kingdom was to kill David. While in pursuit of him there were several occasions when David had the opportunity to kill Saul, but David chose to wait upon God's timing and await his own deliverance because he understood authority. David had such respect for those who had been put in authority by God over him that he would not take matters into his own hands.
Saul represents the exact opposite of this principle. He thought David was the problem and sought to get rid of him through force. As a result, he lost his kingdom because he chose to rule horizontally instead of vertically under God's rule in his life.
No matter what problem you face today, stay vertical with God.
-Os Hillman
Worship Him Every Day · 274 days ago by New Beginnings Church
John 4:24 HCSB God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
God’s Word makes it clear: we should offer our Creator the praise and worship He deserves—and we shouldn’t wait until Sunday morning to do so. Yet we live in a distraction-filled society that encourages us to make praise and worship a one-day-a-week activity.
If we allow the distractions of everyday living to interfere with the practice of regular worship and praise—or if we yield to the countless temptations of our world—we find ourselves engaged in a struggle between good and evil, a clash between God and Satan. Our responses to these struggles have implications that echo throughout our families and throughout our communities.
Do you take time each day to worship your Father in heaven, or do you wait until Sunday morning to praise Him for His blessings? The answer to this question will, in large part, determine the quality and direction of your spiritual life in good times and in turbulent times.
Every day provides opportunities to put God where He belongs: at the center of our lives. When we do so, we worship Him not only with our words, but also with our deeds, and that’s as it should be. For believers, God comes first. Always first.
I am of the opinion that we should not be concerned about working for God until we have learned the meaning and delight of worshipping Him.
A. W. Tozer
Worship is a daunting task. Each worships differently. But each should worship.
Max Lucado
To worship Him in truth means to worship Him honestly, without hypocrisy, standing open and transparent before Him.
Anne Graham Lotz
Developing a "Truth Filter" · 275 days ago by New Beginnings Church
2 Timothy 4:2-5 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry
Deception, half-truths, and “spin” are such an integral part of modern culture that separating fact from fiction can be difficult. Whether we’re listening to advertising, political discussions, or the TV news, we are wise not to automatically believe everything we hear.
Sometimes inaccuracies are blatant; other times they are hard to detect, especially when the claims are coming from a popular or charismatic personality. Since Christians—like anyone else—could easily be misled, it is critical to develop a strong belief system based on God’s Word. We should let all information we receive pass through the grid of this “truth filter” so that error will not settle well in our soul.
Though dishonesty can be disconcerting, we shouldn’t be surprised to realize how extensive the practice is—or to find ourselves among its targets. Second Peter 2:1-3 warned, “There will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies . . . In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money” (nlt).
But believers need not fear. Not only can we “program” our grid with the truth of Scripture, but we are also indwelt by the Holy Spirit, whom John calls “the Spirit of Truth.” When we yield to His control, He will help us discern reality from falsehood.
What you believe shapes your character and decisions. Don’t allow anything to infiltrate your soul except what is pure and righteous. It is not enough to listen to a pastor or to read books about the Lord; build your foundation of truth by spending time in God’s Word—and in His presence—every day.
-Charles Stanley
Testing for Obedience · 280 days ago by New Beginnings Church
Ps. 26:2 "Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind"
Throughout the Old Testament, we see many situations in which God tests His people in order to determine if they will follow Him or follow the systems of this world.
The nation of Israel was tested many times during the 40-year sojourn in the wilderness: "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands" (Deut. 8:2).
You might ask, "Why does God need to test us? Doesn't He know everything, including what we would do in every situation?" Yes, God knows - but we don't know ourselves! God doesn't test us in order to find out something He doesn't already know. He tests us so that we can learn about ourselves and His love, power and faithfulness.
In Genesis 22, God tested Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice his son Isaac on a mountain in the land of Moriah. Isaac was Abraham's only son by his wife Sarah - the son God had promised to Abraham. By demanding that Isaac be sacrificed, God seemed to be nullifying His covenant of making a great nation of Abraham. How could God's promise be fulfilled if Isaac was dead?
God tested Abraham to reveal whether or not Abraham truly trusted His promise. Yes, God knew what Abraham would do, but He wanted Abraham to know as well. So God put Abraham to the test, and Abraham passed. As Abraham raised the knife to sacrifice his own son, God stopped him and provided a sacrificial ram instead.
Every test involves obedience in one way or another. When God tests us, He reveals the true state of our hearts. Are we obedient to His will, or are we self-willed? We might think we know the answer, but we would never truly know unless we were tested.
-Os Hillman
God's Landmarks (Part Two) · 282 days ago by New Beginnings Church
Psalm 103:2-5 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit; who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
God provides other landmarks in the Scriptures so that we will "forget none of His benefits." Perhaps one of the oldest landmarks that God gives us is the rainbow.
After Noah survived the flood, God said that the rainbow would remind people of His judgment and mercy. He judged the earth by water and destroyed it, but He never would destroy it again by water. A rainbow, set there in the sky for us to observe, is a constant reminder of who God is.
One of the greatest traditions you could begin in your family would be to record spiritual landmarks in your lives. When God does something for you, write it down so that you can always remind yourselves of God's goodness.
Many years ago, Barbara and I took a trip to a conference, and we needed to raise about $1,300 for our ministry. We visited many people who invested financially in our work, and a number wrote us checks. When we arrived at the conference, we counted up the checks, and they totaled $1,378.
This is a story we tell our children to let them know that God provides. He meets our needs. When they grow up, they may tell that story to their children-and hopefully add some similar ones of their own.
God has been faithful to you in the past. Is there any reason to doubt He will not provide for you today?
-Dennis and Barbara Rainey
When you Feel so Alone · 286 days ago by New Beginnings Church
When you Feel so Alone
When I was growing up, I knew a lady who was going through a terrible time in her marriage. She was feeling the incredibly painful sting of betrayal and separation. Divorce seemed almost unavoidable. With a hurting heart, she would sing to the Gilbert O'Sullivan song, "Alone Again (Naturally)."
To think that only yesterday,
I was cheerful, bright and gay,
Looking forward to, but who wouldn't do,
The role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down,
Reality came around
And without so much as a mere touch,
Cut me into little pieces
Leaving me to doubt,
All about God and His mercy
For if He really does exist
Why did He desert me?
In my hour of need?
I truly am indeed,
Alone again, naturally
That depressing song was a HUGE hit in the 70's. While it does express the heart and feelings of one who is really hurting, the lyrics are filled with faithlessness and error.
The Truth
First of all, God does exist. Even though you cannot see Him, He is more real than the sun in the sky. Secondly, HE NEVER DESERTS HIS CHILDREN!
One of the greatest promises in all the Bible is found in Hebrews 13:5, "For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" As powerfully straightforward as that verse is in English, it is even more emphatic in the Greek as the Amplified Bible points out - "I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down relax My hold on you! Assuredly not!"
WOW! What a promise from the God who cannot lie and who always keeps His word.
Listen, if you have received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, He will never leave your side. He will be with you even when:
1. You sin terribly and temporarily turn your back on Him. Whenever we commit a sin that is very awful and shameful, we feel like God must hate us. Not so. He sticks with His children NO MATTER WHAT. If you don't believe me, just ask Simon Peter who cursed and swore and denied Jesus saying, "I don't even know the Man!"
2. You lose your job because of cutbacks or because of something you did or failed to do.
3. You get sick with cancer or some other disease.
4. Your spouse leaves you for another.
5. Your loved ones dies. even though you prayed for a different outcome.
6. You fall into a deep depression because tragedy strikes.
Praise is the Answer
When trouble comes into your life like a flood, don't sing the blues. Don't sing those songs that drive you to new depths of depression and make you want to curse God and die. Sing the truth. Fill your heart with praise. God is still with me!! The God who can do anything and forgive any sin and calm any storm is still with me. and He is going to see me through!
Remember, God is the One who is able to give beauty for ashes. He can take the worst of situations and turn them around for good. Regardless of the hurtful circumstances you may be facing today, in the midst of the pain, rise up and say with the Psalmist, "Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence" (Ps. 42:5).
By the way, that lady who was going through the terrible marriage problems, God did a miracle of reconciliation and she and her husband are happily married to this day, celebrating 56 years together.
Don't give up. Don't ever give up!! God has not forgotten you nor forsaken you. Keep trusting in Him!!
-Jeff Schreve
God's Landmarks (Part One) · 287 days ago by New Beginnings Church
Joshua 4:21-24 And he said to the sons of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?' then you shall inform your children, saying, 'Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.' For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed,...that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty."
If you've traveled around the United States you've noticed historical landmarks. In Williamsburg, Virginia, they have restored a community that was very significant in the founding of our country. When you sit where our founding fathers must have sat, you feel a sense of the events that took place there. Suddenly Patrick Henry's words "Give me liberty or give me death" take on a different meaning.
Landmarks like these remind us of our heritage as Americans.
I find it significant that God gave the Israelites landmarks as well. These landmarks caused the people to remember Him and His provisions for them.
The passage I quoted above tells of a spiritual landmark that is symbolic of the provision of God. Joshua 4 tells of how one man from each tribe took a stone from the middle of the Jordan River and created a memorial. Now, why do you think God did that? I think it's because we are forgetful, and children are curious.
Children ask great questions. "How big is high?" "How far away is a star?" I can almost picture a grandfather walking along the Jordan River with his grandson, and the little boy seeing that pile of stones barely poking from the surface of the water. "Grandpa, how did those stones get out there?"
"Well, let me tell you about that...."
And when the story is over: "Aw come on, Grandpa. You've got to be kidding me. The river stopped-in flood season? It was dry ground?"
"Well, how do you think the stones got there?"
A spiritual landmark was designed by God to remind us of how He has provided for His people in the past and to prompt us to believe Him today.
-Dennis and Barbara Rainey
Secure Hope · 289 days ago by New Beginnings Church
Psalm 42 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me-- a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?" My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?" Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
God wants us to be people with desires and expectations that are motivating and enriching. But the disappointment of unrealized hopes is inevitable while living in this fallen world. How are we to determine where to place our hope—and how to respond if it is not fulfilled?
Hope is secure when it is aligned with the Lord’s desires, which are revealed in Scripture. However, many of our expectations are based on wishes or feelings. We long for job promotions, good health, or quick solutions to our problems. Though these are things we want, we have no absolute promise from the Lord that they’re part of His will for us.
Disappointment with God can occur whenever our expectations do not coincide with His plan. Even when hope is based on a scriptural promise, the Lord may not fulfill it in the way or the time that we expect. Although God appears inactive, He is moving beneath the surface, preparing us for the future.
The key to contentment and joy lies in placing all subjective hopes under the umbrella of our ultimate hope in the Lord. God is sovereign and good. He always wants what is best for us and never makes a mistake. His ways are higher than ours and, in many ways, beyond human understanding.
-Charles Stanley