10/2/10
TOPIC: Not By Works
Ephesians 2:8,9 says For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. It is important we stay focused on what made us believe and not get caught thinking it is about what I do. It says here we are saved by grace and not of works. Luke 18:18-27 A man came to Jesus and said,"what must "I" do to gain eternal life?" Jesus said" you know the commandments, do not steal, do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not lie, and honor you mother and father."The man said "all this I have kept since I was a boy." When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." We must understand that in and through ourselves it will be impossible to gain eternal life. The same thing that brought us to believe is the same thing we need to focus on to stay believing. Notice when you become a believer it's all about Jesus. Then because of wrong teaching we find ourselves jumping right back into "the what must I do to be saved?"I encourage you this day, stay focused on the reason you believed, which is Jesus and his blood, and let Him guide your steps. For nothing is impossible with God.
THE LEGEND SPEAKS
questions and comments: info@legendentgroup.com
10/1/10
TOPIC: Confess To Be Forgiven?
I believed when I sinned I had to confess to the world to be forgiven and show people I was. I would put my sin in songs. I would tell people just because. This was my way to prove I was forgiven and rid myself of condemnation. I wanted that public shame. I remember everytime I would sin or do one of the "big sins" I would beat myself up. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I didn't want to see anyone. I just wanted to post up in my room until "I felt" like I was right with God. Oh, what a waste of life!!! With that being said, it leads me to the topic of the day, "Do I have to confess my sin to be forgiven?" What do you think? Wait for it.....wait for it....wait for it....My answer is no! 1 John 1:9 says if we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is the Script that everybody uses. I even used it! The word confess (homologeo) means to "to speak the same thing" (homos, "same," lego, "to speak"), "to assent, accord, agree with. Look at it with me in context. If we confess, agree with, say the same thing HE says about our sin, HE is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. What does GOD say about our sin? Heb 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."As soon as you believe in Jesus and HIS finished work all your sin past, present, and future is forgiven and forgotten. We don't put faith in our confession of sin. We put faith in THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST which covers our sin FOREVER!! The just shall live by faith alone! And to back up what I said about 1 John 1:9 lets read to 1 John 2:1 it reads,"my little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if you do sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's but the sin of the whole world." What is an advocate? One who pleads another's cause, an intercessor, a lawyer in our defense. In this case Jesus is our advocate before GOD. We sin, Jesus is standing next to GOD like "HE believes in me and what I did on the cross, he's forgiven," not he didn't confess today, cast him out. Believe in what Jesus did through blood and don't rely on your confession. We confess what GOD says about our sin. We don't confess to be forgiven. Trust in the blood of Jesus which cleans us from all sin.
THE LEGEND SPEAKS
questions and comments: info@legendentgroup.com
9/30/10
TOPIC: True Repentance
I woke up with the thought in my head, "what is true repentance?" I went through the list of everything I had been taught and asked myself, "is it to be very apologetic for the wrong I had done?" Hmmm? been there done that! "Is it to vow to yourself and GOD never to commit what you know is wrong?!" I spent hours in my room and at the altar crying out to GOD "I'm finished sinning against you" while knowing I will do the same thing today or tomorrow. So I asked God, "what is true repentance?" He took me to Luke 19:1-10, the story of Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a tax collector, a very wealthy man the Scripts say.Tax collectors were known to be very dishonest. They taxed people more than what was owed so they could get rich. He probably was a man hated by the people. Then he heard about Jesus. Imagine all the people he was ripping off asking him, "have you seen or heard about Jesus? How HE heals the sick and opens blind eyes? How HE opens the deaf ear, walks on water, and calms the storm. How HE looks a person in the eyes and says "YOU ARE FORGIVEN!" Have you seen HIM?" Imagine, this probably sparked a lot of interest in Zacchaeus. He began to think to himself," I want to see Jesus." Then one day the people told him, "Jesus is coming!" Zacchaeus being a short man ran and climbed the tree in the direction Jesus was coming to get a good look at Him. As Jesus came closer, he heard Jesus say, "Zacchaeus come down immediately, I want to stay at your house today." And immediately he came down and welcomed Him. There were no thoughts of I'm not worthy, or I just ripped this person off earlier today. It was joy and gladness, this Jesus he heard about wants to come to my house! I REPENT!!! He changed his way of thinking so much, he said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." All because of this Jesus he heard about showed him love and compassion to him. Salvation came to him despite of the wrong he was doing and there repentance came. When you perceive who Jesus is and how He views you, it brings forth repentance. And when you change the way you think, your actions will follow.
Repentance-to think differently after-to perceive, to think, the result of perceiving or observing
Repent and Believe what GOD through Jesus says about you!!!
THE LEGEND SPEAKS
questions and comments: info@legendentgroup.com
9/29/10
TOPIC: Great Faith
There were two individuals in the Bible that Jesus said "had great faith," one a Roman centurion, the other a Syro-Phoenician homemaker. What made Jesus say they had great faith? Could it be the centurion understood authority so he knew the power of Jesus' words? But what about the woman, she wasn't a soldier she was a homemaker. What did they have in common? Hmmmm? They were both were Gentiles. They were not Jews. One was a Roman, the other a Canaanite. They weren't under the law of Moses and didn't disqualify themselves. They went to Jesus with no condemnation! It says in Galatians 3:12, the law is not of faith. It also says in Romans 4:14, For if those who are of the law are heirs,faith is made void and the promise made of no effect. It is important that we come to GOD in view of His grace and not of the law. It is only grace thay will qualify people to have faith and receive from GOD. I encourage you view GOD in His grace that came in and through Jesus and know there is nothing you can do of yourselves, but its all in JESUS!!!
THE LEGEND SPEAKS
questions and comments: info@legendentgroup.com
