Our family made a decision to go without television for sixteen days beginning February 24. This was prompted by one of our church families who does this annually adding an additional day each year. One of the primary reasons for doing this was to create more quality family time and personal spiritual time. I will let you know how it goes in the days ahead.
Author Archives: lamar
The word FAITH
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is…”
Faith is one of the most important and foundational words in Christianity.
“And now abideth faith, hope, and charity…” 1 Corinthians 13:13
The word faith is used 247 times in 231 verses in the King James Bible. I find it interesting that It is only found twice in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 32:20, Habakkuk 2:4) and while It is used throughout the New Testament it is not found in the Gospel of John, 2 John, or 3 John. It is used one time in 1 John 5:4.
- The use of the word “faith” in Habakkuk 2:4 in very important. It is found in the phrase “the just shall live by faith.” This verse is quoted three times in the New Testament: Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; and Hebrews 10:38. These passages are key and foundational verses in each of these letters.
- Even though the word “faith” is found only once in the Apostle John’s writings, its use in 1 John 5:4 is also fundamental. John says, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
FAITH is FOUNDATIONAL because without it…
- There is no Spiritual Life
- There is no Hope
- There is no true Love
- There is no Trust in God or God’s Word
We are SAVED by FAITH – Ephesians 2:8
We are to LIVE by FAITH – Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38
We can only PLEASE God by FAITH – Hebrews 11:6
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
By FAITH we SEE – Hebrews 11:1,3
By FAITH we UNDERSTAND – Hebrews 11:3
FAITH DEFINED…
Faith involves trust and belief in someone and/or something.
Faith involves acceptance that something said or done is truthful or true.
Faith is the exercise of an assured reliance in/on the character, ability, strength, and truth of the one true God.
I Resolve…
Resolution: A firm decision to do or not to do something. A bringing into focus fine details.
New Year’s is often a time of reflection and goal setting. We review the past year’s accomplishments and consider the possibilities of the coming year. I always find myself doing this very thing. I have even jokingly stated my resolution for this year is to make no resolutions. But, I cannot help myself…to be honest…I need improvement. Reflecting and making resolutions help me challenge myself to be a better individual, husband, father, business owner, and a believer in Jesus Christ. This process also challenges my desire to do and give more. Personally I have a desire to impact my generation, my community, and my world for the cause of Christ. I can do more. I can give more. I can make a difference. It is just hard for me to accept the average or think otherwise being a child of God and a student of the Bible.
I believe resolutions are a good thing. Hopefully, prayerfully, by God’s grace, and with resolve I will have made some forward progress by year’s end. Happy New Year!!!
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
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Great Bible App with Audio
A great Bible app with audio and reading plans is the YouVersion Bible. It is available for computer, tablet, and smartphone. I use it on my laptop, iPad, and iPhone. My use of this app is primarily for listening to the Bible (great while traveling), simple searches, and the Bible reading plans. I also like it because my settings are saved and the same across all of my devices. This does require
you to sign up for a free account and be logged in. While some apps require you to have a internet connection for reading, the YouVersion Bible app allows you to download the Bible for reading offline. Unlike E-Sword which has a massive amount of study tools and resources, the YouVersion app is more simplistic and designed for reading and listening. There are some tools for note taking and connecting with some of the social platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Overall this is a great app to have and best of all it is free.
YouVersion website LINK: www.youversion.com
iTunes App LINK: YouVersion Bible App
Annual Bible Reading Plans
There is an app for that! Reading your Bible on a regular basis is a good thing. Reading your Bible through in one year is a great thing. Now would be a great time to make that commitment since we are beginning a New Year. Bible reading plans are available in printed form, online, and apps. They are also available across all platforms: smart phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. Do an online search and find one that works best for you. One of my favorite Bible programs for my laptop and iPad is E-Sword. I have used this software for many years and love it. Recently an app for the iPad was made available, which I purchased for $4.99, and use almost daily (The computer version is free and loaded with an amazing amount of study resources). I am also a big fan of Pocket Sword, an app for the iPhone. Many of it’s features are similar to E-Sword. E-Sword comes with several daily Bible reading plans. This year I have committed to reading through the Bible chronologically. This means I am reading the Bible through in historical order. One of the greatest blessings for me was when I read completely through the Bible for the first time. It was a tremendous help in gaining a more complete understanding of God’s Word. Let me encourage you to find a reading plan that works for you and commit to reading through God’s Word in 2013.
Link to E-Sword: http://www.e-sword.net/
App Store Link to the E-Sword app for iPad: E-Sword iPad App
App Store Link to the Pocket Sword app for iPhone: Pocket Sword App
Meaning of Faith
Faith Defined: The very root meaning of faith is the acceptance of something that is true. Exercising faith in God is to accept what He says as the truth. Faith is taking God at His word. This is why the words trust and believe are often associated with faith. We are accepting something that we have not seen or heard for ourselves. We are trusting the word of another.
Bible salvation is dependent upon a person’s faith. The Bible declares that all mankind are sinners and in need of a Savior (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23). God’s Word also declares that salvation is only possible through the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. He paid for our sin debt on the cross of Calvary. Exercising faith means we believe what God says about our sin and the Savior. We take God at His Word and trust what He says as being the truth.
The gift of salvation was received when I took God at His word about my sin and need for a Savior. I had to agree with God about my sin and trust Christ to be my redeemer. I had never met Jesus Christ. I did not in person see His death on the cross at Calvary. But the Bible says that God loves me (John 3:16). The Bible says that I am a sinner and Jesus Christ paid my sin debt (Romans 6:23). I had to trust God and take Him at His Word. The moment I exercised faith God did what He promised – He saved me! He also gave evident in my heart that what He said was the truth. (Hebrews 11:1).
Consider…Jesus Christ
Hebrews 3:1-2 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
The Book of Hebrews is about the Lord Jesus Christ!!! It is filled with encouraging reasons why we should look to Him. Because of His love for us and the blessings He has bestowed – this should be a natural response in the life of the believer.
We live in a world full of things that capture our attention. These things can easily distract us from the most important things. We are being encouraged in Hebrews 3:1 to consider Jesus Christ. To be honest, the more I observe the things of this world, the more I understand my great need for the one who died for me on the cross. I am drawn to focus my attention on Him.
The word CONSIDER has in it the idea of observing fully, discovering, and perceiving. This is not referring to a casual look but a full examination of a subject. There are some things about the person of Jesus Christ we need to observe fully, discover, understand, and know. He impacts lives and there is no doubt He is worthy of our full attention!
May our FOCUS be the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 3:1-2
Hebrews 3:1-2 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
Christ is Faithful!!!
Christ has impacted our lives:
1) He has made us HOLY.
a) We are sinners and could never, in and of ourselves, be made holy.
b) But Christ, who was sinless, became sin for us so could be made holy.
2) He has made us FAMILY.
a) We all have by our physical birth a physical family.
b) Once saved we are made part of the family of God. We now have the blessing of being a part of an even larger spiritual family around this world.
3) He has made us PARTAKERS.
a) Have you considered the blessings God has given to His children???
b) We have the privilege of being “partakers” in those blessings!!!
When Jesus Sat Down – Hebrews 1:3
When Jesus Sat Down
Hebrews 1:3
“…when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
The Book of Hebrews paints an amazing picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the first three verses a very powerful description is given:
1) He is the Word of God
2) He is the Heir of all things.
3) He is the Creator of all things.
4) He is the Focus of God’s Glory.
5) He is the Face of God’s Love.
6) He is the Sustainer of all things.
7) He is the Sacrifice for mankind’s sin.
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
– Why mankind needs a Saviour?
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
– Behold the Lamb of God – Why the word Lamb is used.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
– Think about the meaning in those three words.
Hebrews 1:3 “…when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
When he = the “he” is Jesus Christ.
Salvation involves ONE MAN and ONE METHOD
When he had by himself = this is the ONE MAN
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
When he had by himself purged = this is the ONE METHOD
Hebrews 10:1-4, 11-12 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
1 John 1:7 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 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Salvation is in Jesus Christ and His shed blood – ALONE!!!
When he had by himself purged our sins, (HE) sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high
He returned to glory.
He returned to His former state.
The work was finished / completed.
The work was accepted.