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“LAYING IT ALL DOWN”

11/30/2012

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us,” [1 John 3:16-24]

            The world is watching. Our greatest testimony to the love and grace of God is our ability to lay down our lives for one another. Giving sacrificially and loving one another is proof that we are Jesus’ disciples. Today, Saturday the 1st of December, we will (once again) begin the living nativity, “The Journey.” Projects like these are so wonderful because of the message that we are conveying: “Jesus, the Prince of Peace has already come to save us from our sins!” The primary story we are retelling is, “God loves you, lost and weary world.” But the secondary message that we send is this: “We love each other. We love one another because of what He has, is and will do for us.” Jesus lives in us, and we have the privilege, no, the obligation to tell others of His great grace and mercy. And our Message is loudest when we love one another with the same supernatural, out-of-this-world love that He has given us. This is the same love that caused Him to come into this world as a humble child, the same love that motivated Him to do His Father’s will perfectly and the same love that thrust Him to the cross. What a Wonderful Savior!

            If we were coming to honor him, as the Magi did, what gift would we bring Him? It is, after all, HIS birthday, right? Let’s remember, with all of our hearts, that we honor HIM. This is bigger than our church. This is bigger than all of us. If we can work together in unity, patience and love, then we will have honored Jesus and His Name by doing the Journey together.

            Pray for unity. Pray for peace. Pray that we might witness to the greatness of the Greatest God and King, THE LORD JESUS! Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Celebrating the Prince of Peace together!

George

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“REMAINING IN HIM”

11/23/2012

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“I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit -- just as it has taught you, remain in Him. And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of Him. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as He is pure,” [1 John 2:26-3:3]

            Christians are the chosen children of God. When we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, we were anointed by the Holy Spirit at our baptism (immersion). The word “anoint” comes from an ancient Hebrew word (mashach –from which we get the word Messiah) which means “to pour a liquid.” In the Old Testament, when the people of God wanted to dedicate something to the Lord, they would pour it out on the ground or on His altar to show that it was given over completely to Him. When people were dedicated to the Lord, they would be anointed with olive oil, a visible symbol of work of the Holy Spirit. Anointing, when accompanied by a supernatural sign (such as prophesying), authenticated God’s approval and acceptance of the dedication. The “anointed one” was the “chosen one.”

            When we read that God has “anointed us,” “chosen us,” “sealed us” or “poured out His love into our hearts,” this is all to remind us that God has indeed chosen and accepted those who have dedicated themselves to Him through His Son, the One and Only Anointed One, Jesus Christ. By accepting Christ, we become part of Christ, and thus become acceptable through His death –by His Holy blood. By accepting the Messiah (Christ) we become messiahs as well (Christians), anointed by the Spirit of God.

            This anointing remains in us as long as we remain in Christ. And our anointing, we are told, is all that we need to teach us! (1 John 2:27). It is the Spirit who continues to teach us by the Word of God. We are encouraged when we remember that the Spirit of God IS the Spirit of Jesus Christ –and the Word remains in us by our anointing. In other words, we have all that we need as Christians as long as we remain in Christ and never leave Him. But we cannot remain in Him and ignore habitual sins. If we remain in Him and look forward to His return, we are purified by His holiness; you cannot grow closer to God without desiring less sin in your life. The more we seek His presence and holiness, the closer we come to Him. As James said, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” And when Christ appears, all the struggles and impurities that still remain in us will be forever eliminated –because God has chosen us –and because we have chosen His Son.

            Never give up. When you are tempted to leave Him, remember that He is Life and He is not ashamed to call us His children, even though He hasn’t yet completed the work that He has started in us. Therefore, never be ashamed of Him and remain in Him, the Anointed One who anointed you with His Spirit too.



On the Solid Rock we stand!

George

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“HOLINESS”

11/16/2012

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“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world -- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does -- comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist -- he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us -- even eternal life,”

[1 John 2:3:25]

            Holiness is a word that many would rather not hear – unless of course we’re talking about God. When we speak of the saints of God, we are talking about Christians, people who have been set apart for God, rid of the world’s uncleanness and purified to the honor of God. We have no problems speaking of God as Holy. What we resist and have trouble accepting are the Words of God: “Be holy, for I AM is Holy.”

            Being holy seems like more than we could possibly accomplish. “It’s impossible,” we say. We are quick and careful to quantify how being unholy is perfectly normal and O.K. Yet the Word of God haunts us: “Be holy, for I AM Holy.” We’re even told in the book of Hebrews that “without holiness, it is impossible to see God.” But wait, didn’t Jesus make us holy?

            Yes, Jesus died and shed His perfect, holy blood as an atoning sacrifice to purify us from all sin. That’s a done-deal if we’ve become Christians. But here’s where we have difficulty: Remaining holy. While the reality is that in Christ we are holy, all that is passing away is still calling us back. There are those who like to have their cake and eat it too, thinking that they can accept Christ and be purified, and then go wallow in the mud. But the Word makes it clear that we absolutely cannot do this: “Shall I go on sinning so that grace may abound? By no means.”

            Our God is faithful to purify us from all sin, shame and guilt. The wonderful thing about God’s grace is that we haven’t earned it, but God gave it to us freely as a gift. Now that we have this gift, we can use the gift, or we can shelf the gift. But the Scriptures also make it clear to us that we can’t really shelf the gift. We cannot have Christ without Christ also having us! Because we have the Light of Christ and His Word lives within us, we continue to walk in the Light and seek to please the Father by doing His will. A perpetually unhappy Christian is usually an unfaithful Christian. I can’t stay in the Light if I hate my brother or sister Christian. I can’t remain in God if I make excuses for doing deeds of darkness. But a Christian who perpetually rejoices is also someone who continuously loves to please the Father.

            If we remain in God, then God remains in us and we have the promise of eternal life. So don’t be tempted to stray or reject the idea of holiness –it is good and wonderful. But also don’t forget Who makes us holy –we can’t do it on our own! This is why one of my daily prayers of late has been: “Father, please protect me from myself, and give me the strength to obey!”

On the Solid Rock we stand!

George

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“HIS WORD IN OUR LIVES”

11/10/2012

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“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched -- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense -- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world,” [1 John 1:1-2:2]

            God the Father is Light. There is no darkness in Him at all. John explains that the God of life is the One who gives us life. He gave us life when He created us. He gives us new life through Jesus Christ when we accept Him as our Savior. He gives us new, fresh life every day when we walk in fellowship with God and with one another. Walking in the Light and turning away from darkness purifies us. But we cannot claim to be in the Light and secretly love darkness. To love God means to walk completely in the Light as He is in the light.

            If we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another. Christians are unified by Light. The word of God, the blood of Jesus and the power of the Spirit makes us one. We are encouraged daily by knowing that the Light offers life right now for life every day. To love the Word means to consume the Word –and to let the Word consume you. The Scriptures speak of a time of famine from the Word of the Lord. Famine is a harsh reminder that only God can provide what we need. Isn’t it astounding, that in this technologically advanced age of information, people are starving from the Word of God. They are lost in darkness and aren’t walking in the Light.

            But the blood of Jesus is able to purify any and every person who seeks the Light. Christians hate sin. Christians hate to see the effects of sin in other lives. Christians walk in the Light and remain alert to the enemy’s schemes. But should the enemy entice us to sin and we stray form the Light, by confessing our sins and turning from darkness, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is more than able to purify us and bring us fully back to the light. By resisting sin and loving the Light, we become the Light of God. We shine like stars in the universe. Our tendency to sin is replaced by a hunger to succeed for God. We walk in the Light as He is in the light.

            Our Advocate is Faithful. Because Jesus offered Himself for our sins, we know how serious He is about getting us back on track when our spiritual lives have been derailed. John Newton, though a vile and serial rapist, came to accept Christianity, the very belief that he had repeatedly mocked. He repeatedly relapsed and fell into sin (even rape) many times. It was grace that finally won the victory when he decided to walk in the Light as He is in the light. When Newton realized the power and scope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, He wrote “Amazing Grace.”

            As you walk in the Light, as He is in the light, remember that God is on your side. He doesn’t look for occasions to abandon or rid Himself of you as people do. He is Faithful to cleanse you from everything that ensnares you and seeks to steal you from His Wonderful Light. If we are faithful to confess our sins and humbly admit that we need His help –every day, even when we fail, then He is more than faithful to restore us to life. Walk in the Light, as He is in the light. God is Life. And the blood of Jesus is exactly the remedy to our rebelliousness.

            Praise be to our God and Savior, Who knows our every need –even before we ask. And remember, it is the Light, the Word of God, that enables us to walk in fellowship with God and with one another. By Jesus’ stripes, we are healed. Therefore, walk in confidence –confidence that the Living God is for you, not against you.



On the Solid Rock we stand!

George

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“WE HEAR YOU, O LORD”

11/2/2012

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The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it? `Even now,` declares the LORD, `return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.` Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing,” [Joel 2:11-14]

“Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD,” [Haggai 1:12]

“I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong,” [Zechariah 8:13]

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God,” [Romans 15:5-7]

“…pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you,” [2 Thessalonians 3:1]

            When I was attending St. Louis Christian College in the early 90’s, I remember the severe flooding that the Mississippi River produced, causing severe damage. Incidentally, that was the time when river boat gambling was appearing all along the River. I’ll never forget hearing the interviews of people on the streets at the time; an elderly lady stated, “If they would just get rid of all those river boat casinos, this wouldn’t be happening.” Many scoffed at that response –even many Christians. After all, God doesn’t and wouldn’t do that to us… right?

            Earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes… they’ve all happened for millennia and they’re nothing to be concerned about… right? Or maybe we should pay closer attention. This past week we witnessed a “super-storm” that hit the east coast of the United States. It was in many ways a “perfect storm.” Just when there was hope that the storm may subside, other factors would appear that strengthened and prolonged the storm. Has anyone noticed that natural disasters are getting stronger and more frequent? Here’s a graph that deserves a little attention:

Notice that worldwide disasters are becoming more prevalent. And I think we can admit that we’ve had some pretty severe disasters over the last decade. But how quickly we forget.

            Here’s an interesting question: If God isn’t responsible for the disasters, and yet they happen, why would He allow them to happen? Isn’t He a Loving God? Yes, He is. That’s exactly why He allows natural disasters to happen. If He allowed us to continue on the course that we are currently on, then He wouldn’t be a loving God if He abandoned us to our sinful and destructive tendencies. But He does allow tragedy to shake us so that we might turn in repentance back to Him. As Ronald Reagan once said, “If we cease to be one nation, under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” How true. The United States of America dared to invoke God’s blessing on this unusual journey, knowing that without God, this nation would fail.

            God is sending calamities upon us to wake us up to our calling. The U.S.A. has been blessed beyond measure that we might be a blessing to the world. In recent years, while we have done some good benevolent work, our blessing is also mixed with an overwhelming curse. Our nation has become the predominant exporter of sin to the entire world. We will continue to see calamities against our nation, unless the Lord blesses us with revival –which He certainly will do that if we ask Him. In Christ, it is never too late –through Christ we can do all things.

            We are listing, Lord God. We know that You love the people of the earth and you want us to wake from our slumber and bring the Word of God to the lost. Bless us, Lord, again, that we might do just that. Forgive us of our sins. Forgive us for our failures. And replace our weakness with Your Strength. Some trust in the Chariot… WE TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, OUR GOD!

            When tragedy strikes, it’s mercy that speaks the loudest.



On the Solid Rock we stand!

George

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Kouts Christian Church

“LAYING IT ALL DOWN”

“REMAINING IN HIM”

“HOLINESS”

“HIS WORD IN OUR LIVES”

“WE HEAR YOU, O LORD”

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