John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."







Friday, March 30, 2012

THE LIABILITY OF TEACHING ACCORDING TO THE APOSTLE PAUL

HOW DO I BUILD UPON WHAT I HAVE LEARNED?

Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthian Church teaching them about their faith in Christ, who actually still were baby’s in their walk with Christ. Important issues of Christian conduct are taught by Paul in this Epistle to the Church in Corinthians. His teachings brings revealing light on a serious of problems that this community was facing. In  the third chapter we read:
1 Co. 3:10-16 “According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident ; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss ; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
Paul writes: according to the Grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid the foundation. Every Christian who is a servant of God must learn with Paul´s teaching which he received from God to be humble before our God, and to be wise in his conduct. Without God we can do nothing in God´s Kingdom. In John chapter 15 we read that without Jesus I can do nothing. None of us should try to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus in his own understanding, because than we build with wood, hay, straw. Paul shows us that we are responsible for as how we teach. Paul says that each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Paul was very careful to build on the solid foundations, which is Jesus, as he had received it from God. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident ; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.
We need to be careful how we build upon this foundation, if we claim to be of God than we are His Temple. Jesus and the Father came to live in us when we received Christ in our heart.  So if I may ask myself: “How does the Temple look and how welcome is the Father and Jesus in my acts, my conversations? Do I talk as my Saviour pleases? Is He able to say of me: “Well done my child”?
May God bless us that we can proceed as the apostle once said: “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. "I have been crucified with Christ ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Gl. 2:19-20
Miss. Antonina

Saturday, March 24, 2012

1st lesson =WALK UPON THE WATERS, KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS

WALK UPON THE WATERS, KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS. WALKING  BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT IS A CHALLENGE THAT ALL OF US NEED TO LEARN.




I want to share a thought with you, that came to my heart while meditating on this passage a few days ago. Read with me: "Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray ; and when it was evening, He was there alone.  But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves ; for the wind was contrary.  And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost !" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." And He said, "Come !" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind stopped."Matthew 14:22-32.
The fact that I want to share with you is: Jesus had told them to take the boat and go before him unto the other side. The fishermen know the sea, and are acquainted with the waves and it was their work environment, and in verse 24 says: "But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves ; for the wind was contrary," and it does not say here that they were afraid. You see it was a normal and natural scene of which they were accustomed, they all knew the safety that a boat gives them in full fury of the waves. The disciples were in the boat, but says they were not afraid in verse 24. Later when Peter was walking on the waters, the waves were the same as before, but why suddenly did he fear? Jesus gives a reply to him as he stretches his hand to Peter and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Jesus called him a men of little faith and I believe that the heart of the matter is as follows. The faith and confidence that we have while we are in a situation that is familiar to us is small compared to what we need to walk by faith in something that is known to us. Let´s compare this with the spiritual real where we are required to fully trust in Jesus. It is necessary to have a faith that projects our confidence on the fact that Jesus is in control and we can walk based on this fact in our lives.
Peter did not feel safe because he had never walked on water. He had been on the boat many times and he knew what he could expect while he was on the boat, but if it would tumble over he had to swim. Now Peter was forced to walk by faith and not by sight. Peter had to learn to trust that Jesus had the situation under control, because it was exactly what Peter said at the beginning: If it is you call me to walk upon the waters. While we are on safe ground, it is easy to have faith that we walk well. But, when God challenges us to move up to the step of faith, just walking by faith and not by sight, we fail. This just goes to prove that we are human beings. Peter asked Jesus to take him to a higher level in his walk with him. Jesus actually wanted to teach this to them. To trust when we are safe is not really trusting, in that case we see which is in front of us. Peter had observed Jesus perform miracles, and he understood that when Jesus said I will make you fishers of men, Peter knew that Jesus wanted to train them in the spiritual field.
I believe this was an excellent target to be achieved. What Peter wasn´t aware of the fact that there was something else included which he did not know yet. His faith was still too small for such an adventure. We see later in his life, after Pentecost that Peter learned his lesson well.
The most beautiful part of this passage is the fact that as Jesus took Peter by the han he was safe again. Walking beside Jesus in the same water in which he sank before. It says in verse 32: And when they climbed into the boat, the wind ceased. The wind calmed down only after they entered the boat. Jesus is Lord over the wind as we walk toward him, when we remove our from Him, when we cry out for help to Him, as well as when we return our eyes back to Him. Jesus is Lord always, but sometimes we don´t allow Him to rule in our walk. In Peter´s case, as he returned to the boat with Jesus he realized that we need to allow Jesus to be in control and not our fear. While Peter looked at Jesus and walked in faith that Jesus was in control, he did not sink anymore. This principle also rules your life and mine. Hallelujah. In our walk with the Lord, let´s submit to His Lordship, amen?

In the love of the Lord Jesus:
Miss. Antonina

Rev. Billy Graham