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Sunday, January 31, 2010

Weekend Worship

The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Proverbs 18:10 KJV

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Weekend Worship

I Will Not be Moved!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

To Fellowship or not to Fellowship? That is the Question - Part Two

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 1:7

If we are truly believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have fellowship with each other. Whether or not that fellowship manifests itself in our life is up to us. If you never seek out a church home, if you never assemble yourself with other believers, you will always be missing that very important component of your new walk. There is no other way to have fellowship with believers than to hang out with them. Fellowship with believers is imperative to your walk being successful. You will always struggle through things until you get this right. The fellowship of believers is meant to prosper both the individual and the body; spiritually and practically. Fellowship with believers meets both spiritual and social needs.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Acts 2:46-47

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Romans 12:12-13

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25

God's intent for the church is that every believer be in fellowship with Him and with each other. In this, the believer's lifestyle is in balance and every area of need is met.

Fellowship with God and each other goes together. 1 John 1:6-7 (Look it up!) shows that we must have fellowship with God in order to have fellowship with each other. 1 John 4:20-21 (Look it up!) further illustrates the point that our love for fellow believers must accompany our love for God.

Next Post ---> Fell-NO-ship - Enter at Your Own Risk

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

To Fellowship or not to Fellowship? That is the Question - Part One

As a believer, there are two kinds of fellowship which are to be desired.

First, you must be in fellowship with God. Say "How does one do that?"

Thanks for asking. Fellowship with God takes place through prayer, praise, worship and obedience to God. Let's look at the Word:

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:3

Our fellowship is with the Father.

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:9

We are called unto the fellowship of His Son.

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies...
Philippians 2:1

We have fellowship of the Spirit.

Once fellowship with God is established, you must also be in fellowship with the body of believers. Fellowship must be a part of church life and every believer must be a part of fellowship. Becoming a part of a fellowship is not usually something we would jump at the chance to do. It involves, for a young believer, being vulnerable. No believer is perfect, therefore no church is either. But there are some real good ones out there. A new believer comes into fellowship with most of their baggage still attached. That's alright. There are seasoned believers in the fellowship to help you along the way. They have been down the same path you are on now.

We will look more at the fellowship of believers in the next post. In the meantime, do you have a church home?

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Weekend Worship

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Weekend Worship

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Fellowship

The word 'fellowship' is found many times throughout the Bible. In 1 Cor. 1:9, we are called unto the fellowship of Jesus Christ. The Word also admonishes us to refrain from fellowshipping with those that are not believers and are workers of unrighteousness. There are certain bonds that are formed through fellowship, therefore fellowship among believers is beneficial while a believing person's fellowship with non-believers can be very detrimental.

When I was in recovery, (hey, I wasn't always saved, ya know), one thing that I learned was that in order to truly get free from my addictions, I needed to change people places and things. As a new believer, I also learned that I needed to change my thoughts and ideas also. That was all part of fellowship. You become who you spend time with. Fellowship goes deep; it includes not only physical fellowship, but spiritual fellowship as well.

Now, you are going to have to learn some Greek. I do not need you to learn how to say these words. This is just to understand that in Greek, there are several different kinds of fellowship.

KOINONIA - Close association; communion; close relationship.

This is the word most frequently used in the Bible for fellowship.

METOCHE - partnership; a holding with; a sharing.
SUKGO - to be a joint partaker with.

Next post: "To Fellowship or not to Fellowship? That is teh Question."

Monday, January 18, 2010

Moving Forward - What do I do Now?

We're done discussing baptism. If you feel that you want to be baptized, you can contact us on facebook or ask your pastor. If you do not have a pastor, then this next set of teachings will be beneficial to you.

I want to remind you to really seek God through these teachings. He is able to speak to you in many ways. The Word says that He rewards them that seek Him diligently. If you doubt that, try it out and see what happens.

Anyway, this next set of teachings is about fellowship. Now I know felloewship is "christianese", so let me say it another way - hanging out with God and His people <-that's fellowship, basically. You'll see. Read this post first to get started and I'll see you in the next post.

Here are some other posts if you want to review the topics we've covered so far:

The Word
Repentance and Faith
Water Baptism

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Weekend Worship

Monday, January 11, 2010

...but what IS it really?

In baptism, the Word of God says we are baptized into the Lord's death.

Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
Romans 6:3

...burial

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:4

...and resurrection

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Romans 6:5

Even the act of baptizing someone (full immersion) resembles all of this scriptural truth. Going down into the water (death), going under the water (burial), coming out of the water (resurrection).

There are many doctrinal arguments as to whether someone should be baptized in the Name of Jesus or in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I think these kinds of differences between believers is neither pleasing to God nor beneficial to the Body. Albeit, i offer the following scriptural references:

Acts 2:38
Acts 8:12
Acts 10:48
Acts 19:5

In water baptism, we recieve the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and are clothed in Him.

For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ.
Galatians 3:27 AMP

A New Testament believer enters into a covenant relationship, which becomes tangible through water baptism. As the "old man" is cut away and buried, we experience a new life in Christ.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Weekend Worship

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Weekend Worship

Friday, January 8, 2010

Can I be Baptized?

Can I be baptized? Well, let's see if you meet the requirements that God has set forth in His Word.

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:40-41

It says here that the people heard the Word of God, received it and were baptized. Have you heard the Word of God and received it gladly?

If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:15

If you have in fact, received the Word of God with joy then you are willing to obey it. Are you willing to obey the Word of God?

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:37-38

Has the Word of God "pricked your heart"? Have you, by the Word preached and taught to you, been convicted of sin? "Convicted" - a conviction in your heart that sin is displeasing to God and there fore should be avoided at all costs. I know we speak Christianese sometimes. So, have you been convicted of sin?

Have you repented of that sin? Repentance is not just a change of heart, but a change of mind also. It is doing a complete 180 degree turn, stop going our way and start following God's way.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:16

Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?

So, can you be baptized?

Thursday, January 7, 2010

What Happens at Baptism?

Well, you go under the water. Besides that, let's see...

In baptism, there is an inward work that takes part in the heart of a believer. Public baptism, and all baptisms should be public in some way, are an acknowledgment of your faith in Christ. It is your testimony before the world that you are choosing to identify yourself with Him. In baptism, you are acknowledging that you have put off the old man and put on Christ. While it is an outward sign, there is also an inward change. The Holy Spirit performs a spiritual circumcision of the heart.

Circumcision in the Old Testament was a command (Gen 17:10). It was a foreshadowing of that which was to come.

Go check these passages:

Genesis 17:11
Genesis 17:13
Deuteronomy 30:5-6

And look at this one:
Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Deuteronomy 10:16

Circumcision of the foreskin was a sign of the covenant between God and man, so then is circumcision of the heart in baptism a sign of the New Covenant. The body of sin is 'cut away' with the old desires and lusts. the true sign of a believer in the New Covenant is a circumcised heart.

For he is not a [real] Jew who is only one outwardly and publicly, nor is [true] circumcision something external and physical. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and [true] circumcision is of the heart, a spiritual and not a literal [matter]. His praise is not from men but from God.
Romans 2:28-29 AMP

We must have a circumcised heart.

That circumcision without hands is performed at baptism.

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Colossians 2:11-13

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Water Baptism

More teaching on Baptism...

Peter commanded it. Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Acts 10:47-48

Paul baptized believers. In the following passage, Paul found people (disciples), who had placed their faith in Jesus Christ.

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.
Acts 19:1-7

Matthew Henry's commentary puts it very well:

"Paul enquired how they came to be baptized, if they knew nothing of the Holy Ghost; for, if they were baptized by any of Christ's ministers, they were instructed concerning the Holy Ghost, and were baptized in his name. 'Know you not that Jesus being glorified, consequently the Holy Ghost is given? unto what then were you baptized?

This is strange and unaccountable. What! baptized, and yet know nothing of the Holy Ghost? Surely your baptism was a nullity, if you know nothing of the Holy Ghost; for it is the receiving of the Holy Ghost that is signified and sealed by that washing of regeneration.

Ignorance of the Holy Ghost is as inconsistent with a sincere profession of Christianity as ignorance of Christ is.' ... They own that they were baptized unto John's baptism ... that is, as I take it, they were baptized in the name of John, not by John himself (he was far enough from any such thought), but by some weak, well-meaning disciple of his, that ignorantly kept up his name as the head of a party, retaining the spirit and notion of those disciples of his that were jealous of the growth of Christ's interest, and complained to him of it, (John 3:26).

Some one or more of these, that found themselves much edified by John's baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, not thinking that the kingdom of heaven, which he spoke of as at hand, was so very near as it proved, ran away with that notion, rested in what they had, and thought they could not do better than to persuade others to do so too; and so, ignorantly, in a blind zeal for John's doctrine, they baptized here and there ... in John's name, or, as it is here expressed, unto John's baptism, looking no further themselves, nor directing those that they baptized any further."


In short, the believers that Paul came across, although believing in Christ (as a soon coming Messiah), were baptized by persons and into a faith that did NOT have the full revelation of Jesus Christ.

That was my case. And that is why I chose to be baptized again; into Christ.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Water Baptism

The teachings get a little more serious from here on. Post any questions. I'll be happy to answer what I can.

Water baptism, as the New Testament teaches it, is the means by which a new believer is united with Christ. When I was saved, I had a concern as to whether or not I needed to be baptized. I had been baptized as an infant into the faith of my parents and did not know if that would 'carry over'. The counsel I received from my pastor at the time was that if I felt that my infant baptism was sufficient, then I did not need to be baptized again. That was a very clever answer. Without the full knowledge of what baptism truly represents, my original baptism would be sufficient. And that is how I left it. I eventually moved and therefore changed churches. I came, at some point, to an understanding of water baptism and decided to be baptized. OK, I'll teach it and you come to your own conclusion.

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:27-28

That is what baptism does; it unites you with Christ (you put Him on) and the body of believers (ye all are one). Take a look at verse 27 in the Amplified version:

For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ.
Galatians 3:27 AMP

Baptism is more that some sort of ritual or ceremony. Anywhere you find baptism in the New Testament, it is never spoken of as a singular act. It includes the entire redemptive work of the Lord.

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:38-41

The word 'baptize' means to dip or immerse. In order to be baptized, you must be dipped or immersed in water. A sprinkling is not the same, and as you follow this teaching, you'll see why.

Let's look at Jesus' teachings on baptism.

First, he goes to John to be baptized himself:

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
Matthew 3:13-14

John's like, "Wait a minute, Jesus. You've got this backwards. You're supposed to be baptizing me." I don't think John had a complete revelation of what he was doing. Here he is baptizing all these people and Jesus comes along and John tries to make Him do it his way. It's not really suggested that you try to make God fulfill your calling YOUR way. Listen up and see what He says and then do it HIS way. Look at how Jesus answers him:

But Jesus replied to him, Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for [both of] us to fulfill all righteousness [that is, to perform completely whatever is right]. Then he permitted Him.
Matthew 3:15 AMP

Jesus basically says that in order to fulfill ALL righteousness (which is what He came to do), that, first, Jesus himself must be baptized, and John himself must do it. Jesus clearly supported what John was doing, to him. It is then significant also, that both the Father and the Spirit put Their own stamps of approval on this event.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3:16-17

God has ordained baptism for all believers.

(to be continued)

Monday, January 4, 2010

Good Vibrations

Here is a great link for some good music to listen to while on the 'puter:

Elijah Streams Radio

Click on the 'Listen Now' button.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Weekend Worship

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Weekend Worship