| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net Last time we talked about gardening which is something you either dread or anxiously anticipate. We talked about Jesus saying He had to die (like a kernel of wheat, and be planted - John 12) to bring forth fruit, and that that principal is directly applicable to Christians today. “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” 2nd Cor. 5:19. We are told we must “die to self” in Romans 6, and Gal. 2:20. It is God’s Strength through Weakness Principal where your inadequacy (or better yet, your recognition of such) is actually a desirable trait. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” 1st Cor. 1:27. Nugget: Ever feel weak or foolish? According to these verses, you are just what God is looking for. But first, you must allow God to “plant” you. “SO THAT’S ALL FINE AND WELL PREACHER, BUT HOW CAN I PRACTICALLY APPLY THIS TO MY LIFE ON A DAILY BASIS? HOW CAN I GLORIFY GOD? WHAT SPECTACULAR MIRACLE CAN I DO THAT FOLKS WILL NOTICE? Let’s turn the Spiritual Switch. Let’s go to the source (Jesus Himself) and see how close we can come to His miracles. What? Is this heresy? Jesus Himself said: “Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do..; because I go unto my Father.” John 14:12. How? - “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” Eph. 1:3. In short, Jesus says (in Him) you will accomplish these things, and are heavily armed to do so. Still don’t feel ready? Lets examine miracles. All of Jesus’s miracles fell into Three Categories: 1) To show compassion and meet human need. 2) To remove any doubt about His identity, and therefor His authority, and 3) To convey a Spiritual Truth - ie - when He fed the 5,000 then immediately preached a sermon on “The Bread of Life”. What about you? Can you show compassion? Can you meet human need? Do you do it in His name thereby removing doubt as to His identity, and Authority in your life? Do you share Jesus and His Word? “I’M ALREADY DOING THESE THINGS PREACHER.” Good on ya. “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matt. 25:40. Carry on. |
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