Dear Friends,
I wanted to give you and update on WATW. We have 11 students at this time. Three of our students Nikki Osborne, Nikki Geesling, and Jennifer Matthews will be graduating on October 23, 2010 at 4:00 pm at E.K. Baker School. Everyone is invited to attend. I don't think you will be disappointed as they share what God has done in them. Nikki & Nikki will be staying on for a 6 month internship. Nikki G. will start classes at Tennessee Temple University (online) through WATW. Nikki O hopes to go into nursing and wants to start in the winter. Jennifer will be going home to be with ther mother and two daughters. She will be living in the Hixon area. She needs to get her GED so she plans to work on that and look for a job. Nikki O has two boys and hopes to be one of the first to live in the new house for interns with children.
I am encouraged by her faith and praying God will do a quick work so she will be able to do that.
We are working on the sheet rock now. So much has been done but there is so much more to do. I got an email from a group from MS wanting to come and do some work. They have people who do cabinetry and we are very close to needing that. However, we are very low in funding. We will have enough to pay for the sheet rock but that will wipe us out. We really need about $10,000 for get what is needed for the group to come and have materials to work with. We need drop ceiling ($2500.00) , septic dug and septic tank because the one we have is cracked, paint, supplies for cabinets, counter tops, flooring, and land scaping. I am believing that since God has layed it on their heart to contact me He surely will provided the materials. Please prayfully consider helping and get the word out for this need.
On November 5th and 6th we are planning a rummage sale at Woodward COG, in Athens to raise funds for upcoming mission trip and building. Please pray we will do well. We also want to get the word to Churches that we will clean your church (the fee will depend on the size of the church). Other things we plan to do to raise money for mission trip and building are rake lawns, address christmas cards, wrap gifts, put up your christmas tree, cleaning homes or business. If you are interested in any of these services give us a call (423-745-0010).
Staff Carrie and Phoebe are on their way back from Israel and we all look forward to hearing about their trip. Two years ago Phoebe was barely able to put two sentences together due to 21 years in a methadone clinic and now she is on a trip to God's promise land. God truely is awesome and His plans are much more that we can ever dream of or even imagine.
Please continue to remember the staff and student at WATW in your prayers.
God Bless You all,
Robin Nation
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Ministry Update
This Week at WATW
September 5th through 10th
We started our week on Sunday by helping with the Crossover service of Clearwater Baptist Church. This is a service for people with disabilities and their families held the first Sunday of the month at 4:00 pm at the senior center in Athens. We always enjoy this time to worship with them and it is a blessing to us all.
New Students
On Tuesday we got a new student, Rachael. Rachael is from Knoxville. Please pray for her as she gets adjusted here. We got another new student on Thursday, Lilly. Lilly is from Crossville Tn. Pray for her also.
Set Free for Freedom
On Tuesday Lisa and I went to Crossville to meet with our graduates from that area. Carol, Joanne, Angel and Tiffany came to the meeting. The ladies shared what had been happen since they graduated. We started a Bible Study called “Having a Real Relationship with God”. Everyone seemed to be excited to get together and we look forward the next meeting on September 21st.
Choosing Freedom (Jail Ministry)
Thursday WATW went to the McMinn County Justice Center to do a service for the lady inmates. We had a good group of about 20 ladies. Our hearts were broken as we saw the anguish on each face. Please pray that these ladies will be willing to get the help they need. Sissy shared her testimony and quoted Job 11: 14-16 NLT which says:
14 Get rid of your sins,
and leave all iniquity behind you.
15 Then your face will brighten with innocence.
You will be strong and free of fear.
16 You will forget your misery;
it will be like water flowing away.
What an awesome verse to share with those inmates. One of our ladies has only been with us for one month and came from the jail and all the ladies that were in jail with her was so amazed at how great Kristi looks. We pray each one received hope and will be encouraged to press though to get the help they need. Many of the ladies in jail are participating in GED preparedness, Search for Significance, Parenting and Money Management classes with Sharon Pierce and Katherine Gladu each week. The goal of the Jail Ministry (Choosing Freedom) is to teach the women inmates biblical truth and life skills that could enable them to break out of the recurring patterns of failure that cause them to be incarcerated.
Tennessee Temple Connection
Holly, Lisa and I are doing online classes with Tennessee Temple. Lisa is the first person in her family to attend college. She cries with she tells people that. She feels like she is paving the way for more of her family members to attend college. She is so excited about what she is learning. Holly wants to get a degree in Psychology (Christian Counseling). I am working on a Master of Christian Education. I am very excited about this new option for our graduates.
Building Update
Home for our graduate interns with children
This week we passed the electrical inspection thanks to R.B. Dake. We have the insulation donated by Webb Plumbing. A water heater has been promised from Scott Ford of Holston Gas. A septic tank is being donated and the septic line will be dug next week. Stan Hammonds and other members of Mt. Harmony Niota are working on the siding. We need a front and basement door then we will be completely in the dry. We do not have any money in the building fund but God has provided what we need for each step. The next big item is the sheet rock.
Up Coming Events
• WATW will be doing services at the following:
• Fairview Worship Center of Cleveland September 12 @ 4:00
• Joy Christian Fellowship @ Walker Valley School Auditorium 10:30 September 19th
• Englewood Church of God Sunday September 26th at 6:30 pm
• Zion Hill Baptist church Wednesday September 15th at 7:00 pm
• October 2nd there will be a fashion show sponsored by The Lily Pad of Sweetwater and The Dinner Bell of Sweetwater. It will be at Niota School beginning at 10:00 am. Lunch is included in a $10.00 Ticket. If you are interested in a ticket please call the Well 423-745-0010. All the proceeds from the ticket sales go to the ministry.
• Our ladies will begin an 8- series called Boundaries led by Pastor Wayne Bryant on Wednesday September 22 here at the Well.
• A fashion show will be held at River Worship Center of Benton Tn to support WATW on September 18th. They will show you how you can buy from thrift shops and look nice.
• A foreign mission trip is in the works for the students in April. Our options are Portugal, Serbia, Czech Republic, Poland, Wales, Romania, South Africa, Swaziland, Jamaica, and Dominican Republic. We will go with TC Challenge Foreign Missions. I’m so excited about this and so are the students. We have got to work hard raising the funds for the trip.
• Staff member Carrie Watson and Phoebe Master’s will be going to Israel on a Biblical Tour Oct 3rd to Oct 14th .
• Our Banquet is planned for March 10th at Eastanallee Baptist Church
• A Seminar called “Beyond Abuse” for those who have a past of sexual abuse or those who want to know more about how to minister to those who have been sexually abused on January 15th 2011. The location has not been determined yet. WATW will be sponsoring this event led by the Author of Committed to Freedom Sallie Culbreth. Be sure and mark your calendar for this event.
There is so much more I could share with you but I’ll leave it for next time. Remember to Expect to see things you have never seen before and pressing on. Jeremiah 33:3 “Call on me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things you do not know.
May God bless and keep you,
Robin Nation
Executive Director and Founder
Saturday, May 8, 2010
What do you want Jesus to do for YOU?
What do you want Jesus to do for you?
James 4:1-3
4:1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions [1] are at war within you? [2] 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Several years ago I went to a service at a Penacoastal Church. As you know, I have been raised Southern Baptist and at that time had not had much experience with Charismatic services. God has given me many opportunities to go to all kinds of Gospel believing Churches and I can be at home almost anywhere. But like I said this was one of the first times to be a service like this one.
The preacher had an altar call and the lady I was with said will you go down with me for prayer? This was her church. I hesitated because there were a lot of people in the altar and it was quite rowdy for this little Baptist girl. But I went with her. I’m kind of like that I like to be where the action is and there was action there. The preacher came to us and he gently put his hand on her head said something in her ear and she fell to the floor. Leaving me there to fend for myself.
I knew I was in trouble when he braced himself by leaning back on one leg and lunging forward toward me. There I stood not knowing what to do. He looked at me and kind of in a loud voice said “What do YOU want Jesus to do for YOU?” (a perfectly legitimate question, since I did go up front for pray). I stood there frozen and stared at him and finally said “I Don’t Know” That must have angered him some what because he put his hand on my head and said something I don’t remember and pushed me backward and down I went. Since then I have been very careful not go down to the altar unless I know why I’m there.
We need to know what we want Jesus to do for us because He says “we have not because we ask not”. We can ask Jesus for all kinds of things, pay off debt, new car, salvation of our children, protection, healing for self and others, the list goes on. But I think Jesus likes it when we ask for things that will make us more like Him. I have a list of five things I want to ask Jesus to do for me. (This came from a sermon I heard this week where the preacher gave 15 things to ask for, all were good, but I choose 5 for this lesson.
1. I want the forgiveness of Jesus.
Eph. 1:7
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Acts 26:19 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
I want the forgiveness of Jesus and I want to give the forgiveness of Jesus.
Matthew 6: 12-15 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
2. I want the Wisdom of Solomon.
God says to Solomon in I King 3:5-9
5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 and your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this great people?” 10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.
Apparently when you ask for wisdom it pleases God. What a better thing to ask for than to ask Him to give you something that pleases Him. And immediately God answered his request because the next verse says “I have done according to your words”. I love it. Solomon asked and God gave.
Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
Psm 15:6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
The only way to get wisdom is to ask God for It.
3. I want the purity of Daniel.
Daniel 1:8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.
Lev. 11:44 For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground.
Lev. 19: 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
1 Pet. 1:15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
Doing what is good and right matters. No room for compromise.
4. I want the faith (obedience) of Abraham.
22:1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
Delayed obedience is still disobedience.
Abraham had faith, great faith; he did not delay in his response to God’s commands. I believe Abraham walked so closely to God that when God spoke God did not have to yell.
Look at what Abraham had already done in Gen 12: 1-4 12:1 Now the LORD said [1] to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” [2]
4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
Abraham believed the promise of God and He had great faith.
Heb 11: 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.
5. I want the devotion of Ruth.
Ruth 1: 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.
1 kings 60so (A)that all the peoples of the earth may know that (B)the LORD is God; there is no one else.
61"(C)Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day."
A person who is devoted has a good reputation that go before them. Look what Boaz had heard about Ruth.
Ruth 2:11Boaz replied to her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.
12"(A)May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, (B)under whose wings you have come to seek refuge."
How devoted was Ruth to Naomi? In Chapter 2 Ruth asked Naomi’s permission to go glean. She did not go off on her own but she stayed accountable to Naomi. Ruth took care of Naomi by bringing home the wheat she had gleaned to share with Naomi. In Chapter 3 Ruth was obedient to Naomi when Naomi told her what to do for Boaz. And Ruth brought Naomi great joy at the birth of Boaz. She also brought Naomi honor among her friends.
Ruth 4: 14-15 Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without(B) a redeemer, and may his name(C) be renowned in Israel! 15He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you,(D) who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him."
As we are devoted to God we stay obedient to Him, we stay close to Him, we do things His way and not our way, we take care of the things of God and we bring joy and honor to God. And others know we love Him.
There are so many more things we can ask Jesus for. Focus of Moses, patience of Job, the courage of Joshua & Caleb, self-control of Joseph, Obedience of Matthew, and persistence of Paul, Discernment of Jude, Praise of David, and the Fire of Elijah and so on. I think the important thing is to start asking.
James 4:1-3
4:1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions [1] are at war within you? [2] 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Several years ago I went to a service at a Penacoastal Church. As you know, I have been raised Southern Baptist and at that time had not had much experience with Charismatic services. God has given me many opportunities to go to all kinds of Gospel believing Churches and I can be at home almost anywhere. But like I said this was one of the first times to be a service like this one.
The preacher had an altar call and the lady I was with said will you go down with me for prayer? This was her church. I hesitated because there were a lot of people in the altar and it was quite rowdy for this little Baptist girl. But I went with her. I’m kind of like that I like to be where the action is and there was action there. The preacher came to us and he gently put his hand on her head said something in her ear and she fell to the floor. Leaving me there to fend for myself.
I knew I was in trouble when he braced himself by leaning back on one leg and lunging forward toward me. There I stood not knowing what to do. He looked at me and kind of in a loud voice said “What do YOU want Jesus to do for YOU?” (a perfectly legitimate question, since I did go up front for pray). I stood there frozen and stared at him and finally said “I Don’t Know” That must have angered him some what because he put his hand on my head and said something I don’t remember and pushed me backward and down I went. Since then I have been very careful not go down to the altar unless I know why I’m there.
We need to know what we want Jesus to do for us because He says “we have not because we ask not”. We can ask Jesus for all kinds of things, pay off debt, new car, salvation of our children, protection, healing for self and others, the list goes on. But I think Jesus likes it when we ask for things that will make us more like Him. I have a list of five things I want to ask Jesus to do for me. (This came from a sermon I heard this week where the preacher gave 15 things to ask for, all were good, but I choose 5 for this lesson.
1. I want the forgiveness of Jesus.
Eph. 1:7
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Acts 26:19 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
I want the forgiveness of Jesus and I want to give the forgiveness of Jesus.
Matthew 6: 12-15 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
2. I want the Wisdom of Solomon.
God says to Solomon in I King 3:5-9
5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 and your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this great people?” 10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.
Apparently when you ask for wisdom it pleases God. What a better thing to ask for than to ask Him to give you something that pleases Him. And immediately God answered his request because the next verse says “I have done according to your words”. I love it. Solomon asked and God gave.
Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
Psm 15:6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
The only way to get wisdom is to ask God for It.
3. I want the purity of Daniel.
Daniel 1:8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.
Lev. 11:44 For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground.
Lev. 19: 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
1 Pet. 1:15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
Doing what is good and right matters. No room for compromise.
4. I want the faith (obedience) of Abraham.
22:1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
Delayed obedience is still disobedience.
Abraham had faith, great faith; he did not delay in his response to God’s commands. I believe Abraham walked so closely to God that when God spoke God did not have to yell.
Look at what Abraham had already done in Gen 12: 1-4 12:1 Now the LORD said [1] to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” [2]
4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
Abraham believed the promise of God and He had great faith.
Heb 11: 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.
5. I want the devotion of Ruth.
Ruth 1: 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.
1 kings 60so (A)that all the peoples of the earth may know that (B)the LORD is God; there is no one else.
61"(C)Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day."
A person who is devoted has a good reputation that go before them. Look what Boaz had heard about Ruth.
Ruth 2:11Boaz replied to her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.
12"(A)May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, (B)under whose wings you have come to seek refuge."
How devoted was Ruth to Naomi? In Chapter 2 Ruth asked Naomi’s permission to go glean. She did not go off on her own but she stayed accountable to Naomi. Ruth took care of Naomi by bringing home the wheat she had gleaned to share with Naomi. In Chapter 3 Ruth was obedient to Naomi when Naomi told her what to do for Boaz. And Ruth brought Naomi great joy at the birth of Boaz. She also brought Naomi honor among her friends.
Ruth 4: 14-15 Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without(B) a redeemer, and may his name(C) be renowned in Israel! 15He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you,(D) who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him."
As we are devoted to God we stay obedient to Him, we stay close to Him, we do things His way and not our way, we take care of the things of God and we bring joy and honor to God. And others know we love Him.
There are so many more things we can ask Jesus for. Focus of Moses, patience of Job, the courage of Joshua & Caleb, self-control of Joseph, Obedience of Matthew, and persistence of Paul, Discernment of Jude, Praise of David, and the Fire of Elijah and so on. I think the important thing is to start asking.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Pursuit of Holiness
"For sin shall not be your master because you are not under law, but under grace." Romans 6:14
I recently read the book Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges, It's a very small book but very powerful. It is a challenge for every Christian to live Holy as God is Holy. Several points in the book touched my innermost being but chapter 15 Holiness and Faith may have change my direction and life. I would like to share some of the parts that stood out to me.
Holiness is for every Christian in every part of our life. We are commanded to Be Holy as God is Holy. In Leviticus it is repeated over and over. God really does require us to be Holy, fellow Christians. This includes when people are looking and when they are not.
Holiness is to be separated to God. Christians are to be different than the world. Several illustrations were given in the book about ways the Jerry Bridges was challenged to do the right thing even when no one would know the difference. I've had those too, I'm sure you have too. Times when you get too much money from the teller at the bank and you can choose to keep it or return it. To tell a lie would keep you out of trouble but you choose to be truthful and receive the discipline.
But what about watching that movie where sinful lifestyles are promoted. Laying in bed when you should be up having your quiet time with God. Saying "I'll pray for you" knowing you probably won't remember to do it. Making a commitment and not keeping it. Sharing the juicy bit of gossip in the form of a prayer request. Must I go on, you get the point.
The reason we fail so in holiness is because we do not take it serious. Sin is serious, all sin is serious. A Christian should know this. We can actually laugh about sin sometimes. We say I know this is wrong but...., the devil made me do it. No he didn't. We choose to sin or be holy. "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be Holy; without Holiness no one will see the Lord" Hebrews 12:14
Holiness is not an option. As Christians we can not be right in one area of our life and choose to sin in another. Our holiness will be evident to those who are around us. The story in Chapter 3 about the young man whose father had died and the young man was unsure of his father's salvation is a real eye opener. His father had went forward at an evangelistic meeting at age 10. But when asked the young man could not recall any evidence that his father was a Christian. We all know situations like this. Yes they were "saved", sprinkled, baptized, prayed a prayer, went to church, etc but how have they lived their life? I too did this. When to church off and on from age birth, walked the isle at a church, said a prayer I don't remember, got baptized, joined church, but lived for self not pursuing holiness. I did not think it was possible. Saw no need to do it. Wasted many years. God always pursued me. And this changed at age 28. I started to pursue God.
Jesus of course gave the ultimate example of how a person can live a holy life. Even though He had never sinned He choose to die for us. When tempted He did not sin. He showed us how to live holy. Hebrews 10:7 Jesus says "I have come to do Your will O God" . This is the example we are to follow. Choose to follow Jesus in doing the will of the Father. He says "I always do what pleases Him". Make that your goal to choose to always do what pleases Him.
There will be a battle to be holy. " So I find this law at work; when I want to do good evil is right there with me." Romans 7:21. The sinful nature has been defeated at the time of salvation but it tries to hang on. That is why the word of God is so important. This is how we battle the sinful nature. We keep reminding it of God's truth. This is a daily, hourly, minute by minute process. Memorizing the word is so important. Scripture is never so true to you than when you apply it to a situation in your life. Memorizing " For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for good and not evil to give you a future and a hope." Jer 29:11 is great but even better is when it looks like all heck has broke loose and nothing is going right and you remember God's plans for you is good and not even. You have a future and a hope. Somehow you can make it through just knowing that. Then you look back and say that was so true look what God has done. Fight the battle memorize scripture, read your Bible, but don't forget to apply it to your daily life.
"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature. Sexual immorality, impurity, lust evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." Colossians 3:5 Put sin to death. How do you do that. As God shows you sin in your life by reading His word or through a message or He may just point it out by the indwelling Holy Spirit, you apply the word to that sin. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sin He is faithful to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Repent. The continue to live in repentance by choosing to not sin every time. Frequent repetition. After time you will put it to death and you will not be so tempted to do it. Never say just one more time. That does not work. It must be over once and for all. You can not play with it. You must remove all temptations that may cause you to fail.
Then I come to Chapter 15 Holiness and Faith. A story about a farmer who choose to not work his harvest crew on Sunday even when a storm threatened really spoke to me. He choose to be obedient even when it looked like obedience would cost him. He proved to be the most prosperous in his area. Obedience in difficult times. Being obedient to the word when it looks like doing so is crazy. Abraham believed by faith in the promise. He was promised to be the father of many nations when he did not even have a child. God called him to leave everything he knew to a place he did not know. Because Abraham believed a promise from God he obeyed.
Noah too, "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." Heb. 11:7
A command and a promise. God gives a command and then He give a promise. Obeying the revealed will of God and trusting Him for the results. Recently, I believe I received a command from God. And I believe I received a promise from God with that command. Here it is. God told me to build a house for the graduates at WATW with children. He also told me to start the building and not to borrow money. If I start it He will provide the money needed for each stage. Just like He did with the main house. So I told the board we voted to do that. A site was picked out and plans were made. Nothing happened. Funds got low, very low. My faith faded, I started not believing the promise. A house adjacent to the property came up for sale. I thought well I guess I was wrong God must be wanting us to buy this house. We made an offer it was not accepted. Then as I was reading Chapter 15 God spoke to me. Remember the command and promise I gave you. Why have you not done it? I could say well God we had no money, that other house came for sale, I thought I heard wrong but I did not. I said Lord forgive me. I was wrong not to do what You told me to do just how You told me to do it. Help me get back on track. So I am back on track. I called an excavator and asked him to come and get the basement dug. We have just enough money for that. I'm calling Pastor Garry King tomorrow and asking him to help me. We are building a house with no money. Yeah, by faith. Thank you Lord for getting me back on track. Showing me how to be Holy as You are Holy.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13
I recently read the book Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges, It's a very small book but very powerful. It is a challenge for every Christian to live Holy as God is Holy. Several points in the book touched my innermost being but chapter 15 Holiness and Faith may have change my direction and life. I would like to share some of the parts that stood out to me.
Holiness is for every Christian in every part of our life. We are commanded to Be Holy as God is Holy. In Leviticus it is repeated over and over. God really does require us to be Holy, fellow Christians. This includes when people are looking and when they are not.
Holiness is to be separated to God. Christians are to be different than the world. Several illustrations were given in the book about ways the Jerry Bridges was challenged to do the right thing even when no one would know the difference. I've had those too, I'm sure you have too. Times when you get too much money from the teller at the bank and you can choose to keep it or return it. To tell a lie would keep you out of trouble but you choose to be truthful and receive the discipline.
But what about watching that movie where sinful lifestyles are promoted. Laying in bed when you should be up having your quiet time with God. Saying "I'll pray for you" knowing you probably won't remember to do it. Making a commitment and not keeping it. Sharing the juicy bit of gossip in the form of a prayer request. Must I go on, you get the point.
The reason we fail so in holiness is because we do not take it serious. Sin is serious, all sin is serious. A Christian should know this. We can actually laugh about sin sometimes. We say I know this is wrong but...., the devil made me do it. No he didn't. We choose to sin or be holy. "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be Holy; without Holiness no one will see the Lord" Hebrews 12:14
Holiness is not an option. As Christians we can not be right in one area of our life and choose to sin in another. Our holiness will be evident to those who are around us. The story in Chapter 3 about the young man whose father had died and the young man was unsure of his father's salvation is a real eye opener. His father had went forward at an evangelistic meeting at age 10. But when asked the young man could not recall any evidence that his father was a Christian. We all know situations like this. Yes they were "saved", sprinkled, baptized, prayed a prayer, went to church, etc but how have they lived their life? I too did this. When to church off and on from age birth, walked the isle at a church, said a prayer I don't remember, got baptized, joined church, but lived for self not pursuing holiness. I did not think it was possible. Saw no need to do it. Wasted many years. God always pursued me. And this changed at age 28. I started to pursue God.
Jesus of course gave the ultimate example of how a person can live a holy life. Even though He had never sinned He choose to die for us. When tempted He did not sin. He showed us how to live holy. Hebrews 10:7 Jesus says "I have come to do Your will O God" . This is the example we are to follow. Choose to follow Jesus in doing the will of the Father. He says "I always do what pleases Him". Make that your goal to choose to always do what pleases Him.
There will be a battle to be holy. " So I find this law at work; when I want to do good evil is right there with me." Romans 7:21. The sinful nature has been defeated at the time of salvation but it tries to hang on. That is why the word of God is so important. This is how we battle the sinful nature. We keep reminding it of God's truth. This is a daily, hourly, minute by minute process. Memorizing the word is so important. Scripture is never so true to you than when you apply it to a situation in your life. Memorizing " For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for good and not evil to give you a future and a hope." Jer 29:11 is great but even better is when it looks like all heck has broke loose and nothing is going right and you remember God's plans for you is good and not even. You have a future and a hope. Somehow you can make it through just knowing that. Then you look back and say that was so true look what God has done. Fight the battle memorize scripture, read your Bible, but don't forget to apply it to your daily life.
"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature. Sexual immorality, impurity, lust evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." Colossians 3:5 Put sin to death. How do you do that. As God shows you sin in your life by reading His word or through a message or He may just point it out by the indwelling Holy Spirit, you apply the word to that sin. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sin He is faithful to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Repent. The continue to live in repentance by choosing to not sin every time. Frequent repetition. After time you will put it to death and you will not be so tempted to do it. Never say just one more time. That does not work. It must be over once and for all. You can not play with it. You must remove all temptations that may cause you to fail.
Then I come to Chapter 15 Holiness and Faith. A story about a farmer who choose to not work his harvest crew on Sunday even when a storm threatened really spoke to me. He choose to be obedient even when it looked like obedience would cost him. He proved to be the most prosperous in his area. Obedience in difficult times. Being obedient to the word when it looks like doing so is crazy. Abraham believed by faith in the promise. He was promised to be the father of many nations when he did not even have a child. God called him to leave everything he knew to a place he did not know. Because Abraham believed a promise from God he obeyed.
Noah too, "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." Heb. 11:7
A command and a promise. God gives a command and then He give a promise. Obeying the revealed will of God and trusting Him for the results. Recently, I believe I received a command from God. And I believe I received a promise from God with that command. Here it is. God told me to build a house for the graduates at WATW with children. He also told me to start the building and not to borrow money. If I start it He will provide the money needed for each stage. Just like He did with the main house. So I told the board we voted to do that. A site was picked out and plans were made. Nothing happened. Funds got low, very low. My faith faded, I started not believing the promise. A house adjacent to the property came up for sale. I thought well I guess I was wrong God must be wanting us to buy this house. We made an offer it was not accepted. Then as I was reading Chapter 15 God spoke to me. Remember the command and promise I gave you. Why have you not done it? I could say well God we had no money, that other house came for sale, I thought I heard wrong but I did not. I said Lord forgive me. I was wrong not to do what You told me to do just how You told me to do it. Help me get back on track. So I am back on track. I called an excavator and asked him to come and get the basement dug. We have just enough money for that. I'm calling Pastor Garry King tomorrow and asking him to help me. We are building a house with no money. Yeah, by faith. Thank you Lord for getting me back on track. Showing me how to be Holy as You are Holy.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13
Friday, March 12, 2010
Banquet 2010 "Good Work"
After hearing the testimonies of our graduates tonight,
I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He who began a good work in them will continue until the day of Jesus Christ- right to the time of His return- developing (that good work and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in them.)
For it is right for me to feel this way about them all because I have them in my heart.
What good work has God began in them & when did it start?
I want to share with you that good work is the gospel of Jesus Christ & it began before the foundation of the world
Eph 1:4 …In His love He chose us-actually picked us out for Himself as His own-in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach before Him in love.
That good work continued as God Himself chose to leave heaven and be born of a virgin (Mary) and the bible says he grew and became strong in spirit.
As the ladies shared as they grew they were battered, abused, neglected, and abandoned their hearts grew cold & hard but His heart was strong in spirit and He never sinned.
That good work continued as He was beaten and abused and hung on the cross where He shed His precious blood. Blood that was without blemish. He who knew no sin became sin that we might be approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him by His goodness.
Even though these ladies had a hard heart and committed all kinds of sin and all kinds of sin were committed to them Jesus valued them so much He become their sin and died in their place.
We see that the good work continued as Jesus’ lifeless body was laid in a borrowed tomb. Buried, forgotten by many, all hope seemed to be gone. But Jesus on the 3rd day rose up out of the grave. ALIVE.
1 Cor. 15:55 says O death where is your victory? O death where is your sting… Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory making us conquerors-through our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 10:10 says the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy but Jesus came that they might have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance to the full, till it overflows.
Just at the moment when Satan thought he could strike a fatal blow and totally destroy their lives that good work continued and Christ arose. He was seen by many and ascended to heaven sat down at the right hand of the Father.
One day somewhere in jail cell or in a lonely motel room, standing in front of a judge, they came to their wits end and cried out Help Me God and He said I already have before the foundation of the world. Not only that I will give you my spirit, I will take out your hard heart and give you a new heart this will continue until the day of My return and these ladies will be with Him forever and ever. That’s the good work.
Now I must ask you, have you called out for help. Have you come to the end of yourself?
I want to take just a moment to offer you the best gift ever given which will be the most important thing we do tonight; the opportunity to give up and allow Jesus to begin that good work in you.
As I pray if you feel lead to pray with me and make this prayer your prayer.
Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I do not have the peace of heart and mind that I heard tonight from the testimonies of these ladies. I’m lost, hopeless and in great need of help. Tonight I am saying Help Me Jesus. I confess Jesus as Lord I believe the day He died on the cross it was for my sin and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. Thank you Jesus for beginning that good work in me before the foundation of the world. Tonight take out my heart of stone and give me a new heart. I choose to serve you and you only. Teach me our ways. In Jesus Name Amen.
If you prayed that prayer tonight we want to know. Give us a call. Tell someone who will help you about the decision you made.
At the first banquet Tommy invited a friend to set at his table. The friend said what’s it going to cost me to get in, Tommy said there is no cost to come to the banquet. Then the friend said well then what’s it going to cost me to get out.
This year we have had an increase of expenses, particularly due to an increase of students. However, our donations have stayed about the same. There have been some very close months. Each time God has proven He is faithful.
This next year we have the desire to expand our services. This has been on our hearts for some time. Many of our graduates have children and really need help getting back with their children. We would like to have a place for these ladies and their children.
We have two options one there is a house adjacent to the property for sale which we have made an offer on but our offer has been refused or we could build a house. Either way we need the money to get this done. And our monthly expenses will increase. I believe this is no problem for God. He already has what we need.
Offering taken
Thank you for coming tonight. God Bless you. Good Night
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Chapter 7 A Window to the Kingdom of God
After the first banquet things began to move along pretty fast. R.B. Dake began overseeing the project. The sheet rock has been hung and it was time to cover the walls. We had gotten a large pallet of industrial wallpaper from Appalachian Project in KY. I got in contact with Wanda Beck who in my opinion is the best at hanging wall paper. She agreed to do the job and if I would help her she said she would do it for half price. I agreed to help her and we started the project early spring 2001. She and I hung 12 rooms of wallpaper. It was quite a job. Hanging wallpaper especially industrial paper is hard work. I don't think I've done any wallpaper since nor do I plan on it.
About the time the walls were finished, R.B. had to have surgery. He had some difficulties with the surgery and lost a large amount of blood. He was out of commission for a while. We got the floors carpeted and in June 30th 2001 we moved the office from 104 E. Washington Ave Athens Tn. to 881 County Road 655, Athens Tn.
There was still a lot of finishing to be done. My brother-in-law Andy is an excellent finisher and I got him to do the finishing.
Those first days up on the hill in the office were very peaceful. Sometimes too peaceful. I wondered some days if anyone knew we were there. Around October 2001 the house was finished. That's when things really got interesting. There I was a finished house ready for the program and what do I do now?
I had been going to Teen Challenge in Chattanooga to volunteer for about a year and had made some very good friends on the staff down there. Roger Helle the director offered to let WATW come up under TC Chattanooga and he would help us get started. He really needed a Crisis Center and thought that might be a good way for us to get started.
A Crisis Center takes ladies right off the street or out of jail and gets them ready to go on to a long term program. This was not what we had been planning on doing but I thought it sounded like a good way to start.
The board and myself went down to TC to meet with Roger and tour the facility there. He explained to us how we would come up under the TC Chattanooga home. To me it sounded like the easiest thing to do. I was feeling the weight of getting the home going and frankly to pass it off would be a relief in some ways. That night on the way home the board had mixed feelings about the meeting. It would be the easiest way but it meant we would be Teen Challenge and we would be under the control of their board. Also, they would decide what was done with the program with our input but ultimately they would pay the bills and make the final decisions.
It's funny how I saw God do so many awesome things to get that house built but then when it came to the day to day operation I got fearful and could not see how we could do it. I spent a lot of time praying about the merger of WATW and TC. I asked Tommy what he thought. He said it would be easier for you to merge but I have to hear from God. The board members were not saying anything.
Finally, I was praying "in the bathtub of all places" and God gave me the answer. He simply said, Tommy said it would be easier if you merged and it will but I never told you it would be easy. The easy way is not the way for you. The house stays Women at the Well, I will tell you how to do it one step at a time. For me it was settled. Then God confirmed that with two things one was His word Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus...Thessalonians 5:24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
The other way God confirmed it was in a dream I had a few days after that. In the dream I was walking on a road by myself and then a man came along side of me and walked with me arm in arm then the man turned away and I kept walking on the road. As I walked on that road I could see women coming toward me at first a few and then more and more. It was a huge crowd of women as they came in front of me I touched them and they fail to the ground and then rose to their feet rejoicing. God showed me hundreds and hundreds of women rejoicing. Then I woke. I'll never forget that dream. I feel the meaning of the dream is this: At first I started this journey alone. Never really alone but I felt alone at times. Then God sent Godly people like those at TC to help me and encourage me. But in God's time I had to go forward alone again. He was always with me. The women that were coming toward me are the many many women that will come to WATW and will fall at the feet of Jesus and rise up out of their bondage and go their way rejoicing with a new life.
God has truly blessed me with an awesome life. He showed me that night just how awesome it was going to be. This was a glimpse in the window to the kingdom to come. The kingdom He is building with those women who will be restored by His mighty power.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
5 ways to know if you are losing your salt flavor
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
A warning for the year 2010 is that you may lose your salt flavor. Salt preserves food, and flavors food. Salt makes things desirable to eat. Without salt food becomes useless. Christians are compared to salt. We must keep our flavor to used this next year by God otherwise we will become useless. One way to keep our flavor is to stay in the Word of God. Each day must be fresh and new. People we see everyday need to be impacted by the presence of God. People need you to keep your flavor. The flavor for a Christian equals the Word of God.
Five Warning signs that you are losing your flavor:
1. You are losing your salt flavor if there is a severe decline in your appetite for spiritual things. If you do not have a hunger to read the Word of God and to study it you are in danger of losing your flavor. If you are interested in being in fellowship with other believers and sitting under Godly counsel you are in danger of losing your flavor. If you do not pray and spend quiet times with God you are in danger of losing your flavor.
2. You are losing your flavor if there is a serious decline in your sensitivity. If the offensive language on T.V. and movies does not affect you, you are in danger of losing your salt flavor. If you can participate in dirty or off colored jokes you are losing your salt flavor. If you do not see the harm in behaving immoral you are losing your flavor.
3. You are losing your salt flavor when there is a serious decline in you making decisions based on what the Bible says. If you can make a decision knowing full well that you have not asked God what He would have you do, you are losing your flavor. If you can make a decision that totally is in opposition to the Word of God you are losing your flavor.
These next to warnings are for the Church:
4. You are losing your salt if there is a serious decline in your Church. If your church does not draw in the lost and present Jesus to them. Your Church is losing it's flavor.
5. You will begin to see a decline in your ability to endure with one another. What used to be a small thing is now a big thing. If this happens you are in danger of losing your flavor. Salt can cover up a lot of undesirable taste. The same way a Christian with the salt flaver in their life can over love the unloveable.
What can we do if we see this happening to us?
The answer is in the Word
2 Chronicles 7:14 (New King James Version)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
First we are to humble ourselves. Agree with God you are wrong. Repent of your sin of disobedience and seek His forgiveness. Seek the very face of God. Tell Him you desire to do things His way instead of your way. Turn from the old ways. Don't be complacent about your Bible study and quiet times with Him. Dive in the Word and learn what God is really like. Don't participate in ungodly acts of disobedience. Set High standards of morality for yourself and intend to go by them. Don't compromise your faith or integrity. Ask God what is His goal for you this next year. Then God will hear you and He promises to forgive your and even your land will be healed. That means you will begin to see changes in your home, Church, ministry, and community.
Let's get serious and be the flavoring that the world needs in these difficult times. My heart breaks for the confusing in our world. It becomes more and more evident to me everyday and is in my own back yard. I commit to be a salt in a tasteless world. I refuse to be worthless like salt with no flavor.
You may be saying I never had flavoring. You may have never entered into a personal relationship with Jesus. You can start fresh and new in 2010 and do that now by reading and doing the following:
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."We all have sin in our hearts. We all were born with sin.
We were born under the power of sin's control.
- Admit that you are a sinner.
Romans 6:23a "...The wages of sin is death..."
Sin has an ending. It results in death. We all face physical death, which is a result of sin. But a worse death is spiritual death that alienates us from God, and will last for all eternity. The Bible teaches that there is a place called the Lake of Fire where lost people will be in torment forever. It is the place where people who are spiritually dead will remain.
- Understand that you deserve death for your sin.
Romans 6:23b "...But the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Salvation is a free gift from God to you! You can't
earn this gift, but you must reach out and receive it.
- Ask God to forgive you and save you.
Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His own love for us, in
that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!"
When Jesus died on the cross He paid sin's penalty. He paid the price for all sin, and when He took all the sins of the world on Himself on the cross, He bought us out of slavery to sin and death! The only condition is that we believe in Him and what He has done for us, understanding that we are now joined with Him, and that He is our life. He did all this because He loved us and gave Himself for us!
- Give your life to God... His love poured out in Jesus on the cross is your only hope to have forgiveness and change. His love bought you out of being a slave to sin. His love is what saves you -- not religion, or church membership. God loves you!
Romans 10:13 "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved!"
- Call out to God in the name of Jesus!
Romans 10:9,10 "...If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
- If you know that God is knocking on your heart's door,
ask Him to come into your heart.
Jesus said,
Revelation 3:20a "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him..."
- Is Jesus knocking on your heart's door?
Believe in Him.
Ask Him to come in to your heart by faith,
and ask Him to reveal Himself to you.
Open the Bible to the Gospel of John and read what God says about Jesus,
about you, and about being born again.
God will help you. He loves you.
You need to look for a local church where God's word is preached. The Bible says that we are to desire God's word like a newborn baby desires mother's milk.
Aren't you hungry to know the truth?
Water baptism is one of the ways you first show that you have been joined to Jesus. This is an action, and actions will not save you. However, it is an act of obedience and a symbol of commitment.
The symbolism is this:
When you go down in the water you show that You have been crucified and buried with Him, And when you come up out of the water you show that you have been raised to walk with Him in newness of life. (See Romans chapter 6)
You have been born again. (See John chapter 3) Your body has become God's temple. Your heart is where He lives.Forgiveness is yours in Jesus. And you belong to Him.
You were sin's slave. But now... You are a child of GOD!
John 1:12"As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name!"
This was what I got from the message today at Clearwater Baptist Church, Pastor Wayne Bryant
His Redeemed
Robin Nation
A warning for the year 2010 is that you may lose your salt flavor. Salt preserves food, and flavors food. Salt makes things desirable to eat. Without salt food becomes useless. Christians are compared to salt. We must keep our flavor to used this next year by God otherwise we will become useless. One way to keep our flavor is to stay in the Word of God. Each day must be fresh and new. People we see everyday need to be impacted by the presence of God. People need you to keep your flavor. The flavor for a Christian equals the Word of God.
Five Warning signs that you are losing your flavor:
1. You are losing your salt flavor if there is a severe decline in your appetite for spiritual things. If you do not have a hunger to read the Word of God and to study it you are in danger of losing your flavor. If you are interested in being in fellowship with other believers and sitting under Godly counsel you are in danger of losing your flavor. If you do not pray and spend quiet times with God you are in danger of losing your flavor.
2. You are losing your flavor if there is a serious decline in your sensitivity. If the offensive language on T.V. and movies does not affect you, you are in danger of losing your salt flavor. If you can participate in dirty or off colored jokes you are losing your salt flavor. If you do not see the harm in behaving immoral you are losing your flavor.
3. You are losing your salt flavor when there is a serious decline in you making decisions based on what the Bible says. If you can make a decision knowing full well that you have not asked God what He would have you do, you are losing your flavor. If you can make a decision that totally is in opposition to the Word of God you are losing your flavor.
These next to warnings are for the Church:
4. You are losing your salt if there is a serious decline in your Church. If your church does not draw in the lost and present Jesus to them. Your Church is losing it's flavor.
5. You will begin to see a decline in your ability to endure with one another. What used to be a small thing is now a big thing. If this happens you are in danger of losing your flavor. Salt can cover up a lot of undesirable taste. The same way a Christian with the salt flaver in their life can over love the unloveable.
What can we do if we see this happening to us?
The answer is in the Word
2 Chronicles 7:14 (New King James Version)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
First we are to humble ourselves. Agree with God you are wrong. Repent of your sin of disobedience and seek His forgiveness. Seek the very face of God. Tell Him you desire to do things His way instead of your way. Turn from the old ways. Don't be complacent about your Bible study and quiet times with Him. Dive in the Word and learn what God is really like. Don't participate in ungodly acts of disobedience. Set High standards of morality for yourself and intend to go by them. Don't compromise your faith or integrity. Ask God what is His goal for you this next year. Then God will hear you and He promises to forgive your and even your land will be healed. That means you will begin to see changes in your home, Church, ministry, and community.
Let's get serious and be the flavoring that the world needs in these difficult times. My heart breaks for the confusing in our world. It becomes more and more evident to me everyday and is in my own back yard. I commit to be a salt in a tasteless world. I refuse to be worthless like salt with no flavor.
You may be saying I never had flavoring. You may have never entered into a personal relationship with Jesus. You can start fresh and new in 2010 and do that now by reading and doing the following:
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."We all have sin in our hearts. We all were born with sin.
We were born under the power of sin's control.
- Admit that you are a sinner.
Romans 6:23a "...The wages of sin is death..."
Sin has an ending. It results in death. We all face physical death, which is a result of sin. But a worse death is spiritual death that alienates us from God, and will last for all eternity. The Bible teaches that there is a place called the Lake of Fire where lost people will be in torment forever. It is the place where people who are spiritually dead will remain.
- Understand that you deserve death for your sin.
Romans 6:23b "...But the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Salvation is a free gift from God to you! You can't
earn this gift, but you must reach out and receive it.
- Ask God to forgive you and save you.
Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His own love for us, in
that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!"
When Jesus died on the cross He paid sin's penalty. He paid the price for all sin, and when He took all the sins of the world on Himself on the cross, He bought us out of slavery to sin and death! The only condition is that we believe in Him and what He has done for us, understanding that we are now joined with Him, and that He is our life. He did all this because He loved us and gave Himself for us!
- Give your life to God... His love poured out in Jesus on the cross is your only hope to have forgiveness and change. His love bought you out of being a slave to sin. His love is what saves you -- not religion, or church membership. God loves you!
Romans 10:13 "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved!"
- Call out to God in the name of Jesus!
Romans 10:9,10 "...If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
- If you know that God is knocking on your heart's door,
ask Him to come into your heart.
Jesus said,
Revelation 3:20a "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him..."
- Is Jesus knocking on your heart's door?
Believe in Him.
Ask Him to come in to your heart by faith,
and ask Him to reveal Himself to you.
Open the Bible to the Gospel of John and read what God says about Jesus,
about you, and about being born again.
God will help you. He loves you.
You need to look for a local church where God's word is preached. The Bible says that we are to desire God's word like a newborn baby desires mother's milk.
Aren't you hungry to know the truth?
Water baptism is one of the ways you first show that you have been joined to Jesus. This is an action, and actions will not save you. However, it is an act of obedience and a symbol of commitment.
The symbolism is this:
When you go down in the water you show that You have been crucified and buried with Him, And when you come up out of the water you show that you have been raised to walk with Him in newness of life. (See Romans chapter 6)
You have been born again. (See John chapter 3) Your body has become God's temple. Your heart is where He lives.Forgiveness is yours in Jesus. And you belong to Him.
You were sin's slave. But now... You are a child of GOD!
John 1:12"As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name!"
This was what I got from the message today at Clearwater Baptist Church, Pastor Wayne Bryant
His Redeemed
Robin Nation
Friday, January 1, 2010
Knowing God
The following is my Sunday School lesson I am teaching on Jan 3, 2010
Philippians 3:10 (Amplified Bible)
10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[a]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
List some popular New Year’s Resolutions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How many of those have you actually kept over the years?
What should be our goal for 2010?
To know God better
Deuteronomy 4:29-31 NKJV) "But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
(1 Chronicles 16:10-11 NKJV) Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! {11} Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore!
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 NKJV) "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. {15} "Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
(Jeremiah 24:7 NKJV) 'Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.
(Hosea 10:12 NKJV) Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
Ephesians 1:17-21 NKJV) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, {18} the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, {19} and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power {20} which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, {21} far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
What are some things we need to know better about God?
1. His Character or Attributes (What is He really like) Jesus came to reveal the God of the Bible. And God has revealed Himself in His book. The Bible says to praise God for who He is, especially in prayer. Much of Psalms is a good example of this.
Unshared attributes = “Incommunicable” attributes: Those characteristics of God that are unique to him, and are not also characteristics of His creatures.
These include:
Self-existence; “Solitariness”; Independence; Unity; Trinity; Sovereignty; Unchangeableness; Infinity; Omnipresence; Omnipotence; Omniscience;
Shared attributes = “Communicable” attributes: The attributes that we share by being made in God’s image.
These include:
Spirituality; Knowledge; Wisdom; Truthfulness; Holiness; Love; Mercy; Wrath; Will; Freedom; Beauty;
Wisdom: “Wisdom is the ability to devise perfect ends and to achieve these ends by the most perfect means.” Romans 11:33: “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways!”
Infinitude: God knows no boundaries. He is without measure. This attribute by definition impacts all of the others. Since God is infinite, everything else about Him must also be infinite.
Sovereignty: This is “the attribute by which He rules His entire creation.” It is the application of His other attributes of being all-knowing and all-powerful. It makes Him absolutely free to do what He knows to be best. God is in control of everything that happens. Man still has a free will, and is responsible for his choices in life.
Holiness: This is the attribute that sets God apart from all other created beings. It refers to His majesty and His perfect moral purity. There is absolutely no sin or evil thought in God at all. His holiness is the definition of that which is pure and righteous in all the universe. Wherever God has appeared, such as to Moses at the burning bush, that place becomes holy just for God having been there.
Trinity: Though the actual word is not used in the Bible, the truth of God revealing Himself in three persons is included. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all called God, given worship as God, exist eternally, and are involved in doing things only God could do. Although, God reveals Himself in three persons, God is One and cannot be divided. All are involved completely whenever One of the Three is active.
Omniscience: “God possesses perfect knowledge and therefore has no need to learn. God has never learned and cannot learn.” Omniscience means all-knowing. God knows everything, and His knowledge is infinite. It is impossible to hide anything from God.
Faithfulness: Everything that God has promised will come to pass. His faithfulness guarantees this fact. He does not lie. What He has said in the Bible about Himself is true. Jesus even said that He is the Truth. This is extremely important for the followers of Jesus because it is on His faithfulness that our hope of eternal life rests. He will honor His promise that our sins will be forgiven and that we will live forever with Him.
Love: Love is such an important part of God’s character that the apostle John wrote, “God is love.” This means that God holds the well-being of others as His primary concern. For a full definition of love, read 1 Corinthians 13. To see love in action, study the life of Jesus. His sacrifice on the cross for the sins of others is the ultimate act of love. God’s love is not a love of emotion but of action. His love gives freely to the object of its affection, those who choose to follow His son Jesus.
Omnipotence: Literally this word means all-powerful. Since God is infinite and since He possesses power, He possesses infinite power. He does allow His creatures to have some power, but this in no way diminishes His own. “He expends no energy that must be replenished.” When the Bible says God rested on the seventh day, it was to set an example for us and our need for rest, not because He was tired.
Self-existence: When Moses asked who he was talking to in the burning bush, God said, “I AM THE ONE WHO ALWAYS IS.” God has no beginning or end. He just exists. Nothing else in all the universe is self-caused. Only God. In fact, if anything else had created Him, that thing would be God. This is a difficult concept for our minds since everything else we will ever encounter comes from something other than itself. The Bible says, “In the beginning, God.” He was already there.
Self-sufficiency: The Bible says that God has life in Himself (see John 5:26). All other life in the universe is a gift from God. He has no needs and there is no way He can improve. To God, nothing else is necessary. He does not need our help with anything, but because of His grace and love, He allows us to be a part of advancing His plan on earth and being a blessing to others. We are the ones who change, but never God. He is self-sufficient.
Justice: The Bible says that God is just, but it is His character that defines what being just really is. He does not conform to some outside criteria. Being just brings moral equity to everyone. When there are evil acts, justice demands there be a penalty. Since God is perfect and has never done evil, no penalty would ever be necessary; however, because of His love, God paid the penalty for our evil deeds by going to the cross Himself. His justice needed to be satisfied, but He took care of it for all who will believe in Jesus.
Immutability: This simply means that God never changes. It is why the Bible says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Mercy: “Mercy is the attribute of God which disposes Him to be actively compassionate.” Since God’s justice is satisfied in Jesus, He is free to show mercy to all those who have chosen to follow Him. It will never end since it is a part of God’s nature. Mercy is the way He desires to relate to mankind, and He does so unless the person chooses to despise or ignore God at which time His justice becomes the prominent attribute.
Eternal: In some ways, this fact about God is similar to His self-existence. God always has been and will forever be, because God dwells in eternity. Time is His creation. It is why God can see the end from the beginning, and why He is never surprised by anything. If He were not eternal, God’s promise of eternal life for those who follow Jesus would have little value.
Goodness: “The goodness of God is that which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men.” This attribute of God is why He bestows all the blessing He does on His followers. God’s actions define what goodness is, and we can easily see it in the way Jesus related to the people around Him.
Gracious: God enjoys giving great gifts to those who love Him, even when they do not deserve it. Grace is the way we describe that inclination. Jesus Christ is the channel through which His grace moves. The Bible says, “The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
Omnipresence: This theological term means “always present.” Since God is infinite, His being knows no boundaries. So, clearly He is everywhere. This truth is taught throughout the Bible as the phrase “I am with you always” is repeated 22 times in both the Old and New Testaments. These were even Jesus’ words of assurance just after giving the challenge to His disciples to take His message to the entire world. This is certainly a comforting truth for all who follow Jesus
How will I get to know Him better this in 2010?
1. Bible Reading
• Choose to read your Bible from cover to cover this year. There are many ways to do this. You can do it in 90 days or 365 days.
2. Bible Study
• Choose to get involved in a Bible study at church or with friend or on your own
• Go to Jan Bible study
3. Daily Devotions
• Find a daily devotion you like and get in the habit of spending quiet time each morning.
4. Make a basket with all the following in it:
• Study Bible
• Journal Book, pen pencil
• CD Player and worship CDs
• Favorite daily devotional
• Bible study helps
Choose how you will get to know Him better in 2010, how you do it is not as important as the fact that you do it.
Philippians 3:10 (Amplified Bible)
10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[a]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
List some popular New Year’s Resolutions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How many of those have you actually kept over the years?
What should be our goal for 2010?
To know God better
Deuteronomy 4:29-31 NKJV) "But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
(1 Chronicles 16:10-11 NKJV) Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! {11} Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore!
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 NKJV) "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. {15} "Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
(Jeremiah 24:7 NKJV) 'Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.
(Hosea 10:12 NKJV) Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
Ephesians 1:17-21 NKJV) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, {18} the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, {19} and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power {20} which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, {21} far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
What are some things we need to know better about God?
1. His Character or Attributes (What is He really like) Jesus came to reveal the God of the Bible. And God has revealed Himself in His book. The Bible says to praise God for who He is, especially in prayer. Much of Psalms is a good example of this.
Unshared attributes = “Incommunicable” attributes: Those characteristics of God that are unique to him, and are not also characteristics of His creatures.
These include:
Self-existence; “Solitariness”; Independence; Unity; Trinity; Sovereignty; Unchangeableness; Infinity; Omnipresence; Omnipotence; Omniscience;
Shared attributes = “Communicable” attributes: The attributes that we share by being made in God’s image.
These include:
Spirituality; Knowledge; Wisdom; Truthfulness; Holiness; Love; Mercy; Wrath; Will; Freedom; Beauty;
Wisdom: “Wisdom is the ability to devise perfect ends and to achieve these ends by the most perfect means.” Romans 11:33: “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways!”
Infinitude: God knows no boundaries. He is without measure. This attribute by definition impacts all of the others. Since God is infinite, everything else about Him must also be infinite.
Sovereignty: This is “the attribute by which He rules His entire creation.” It is the application of His other attributes of being all-knowing and all-powerful. It makes Him absolutely free to do what He knows to be best. God is in control of everything that happens. Man still has a free will, and is responsible for his choices in life.
Holiness: This is the attribute that sets God apart from all other created beings. It refers to His majesty and His perfect moral purity. There is absolutely no sin or evil thought in God at all. His holiness is the definition of that which is pure and righteous in all the universe. Wherever God has appeared, such as to Moses at the burning bush, that place becomes holy just for God having been there.
Trinity: Though the actual word is not used in the Bible, the truth of God revealing Himself in three persons is included. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all called God, given worship as God, exist eternally, and are involved in doing things only God could do. Although, God reveals Himself in three persons, God is One and cannot be divided. All are involved completely whenever One of the Three is active.
Omniscience: “God possesses perfect knowledge and therefore has no need to learn. God has never learned and cannot learn.” Omniscience means all-knowing. God knows everything, and His knowledge is infinite. It is impossible to hide anything from God.
Faithfulness: Everything that God has promised will come to pass. His faithfulness guarantees this fact. He does not lie. What He has said in the Bible about Himself is true. Jesus even said that He is the Truth. This is extremely important for the followers of Jesus because it is on His faithfulness that our hope of eternal life rests. He will honor His promise that our sins will be forgiven and that we will live forever with Him.
Love: Love is such an important part of God’s character that the apostle John wrote, “God is love.” This means that God holds the well-being of others as His primary concern. For a full definition of love, read 1 Corinthians 13. To see love in action, study the life of Jesus. His sacrifice on the cross for the sins of others is the ultimate act of love. God’s love is not a love of emotion but of action. His love gives freely to the object of its affection, those who choose to follow His son Jesus.
Omnipotence: Literally this word means all-powerful. Since God is infinite and since He possesses power, He possesses infinite power. He does allow His creatures to have some power, but this in no way diminishes His own. “He expends no energy that must be replenished.” When the Bible says God rested on the seventh day, it was to set an example for us and our need for rest, not because He was tired.
Self-existence: When Moses asked who he was talking to in the burning bush, God said, “I AM THE ONE WHO ALWAYS IS.” God has no beginning or end. He just exists. Nothing else in all the universe is self-caused. Only God. In fact, if anything else had created Him, that thing would be God. This is a difficult concept for our minds since everything else we will ever encounter comes from something other than itself. The Bible says, “In the beginning, God.” He was already there.
Self-sufficiency: The Bible says that God has life in Himself (see John 5:26). All other life in the universe is a gift from God. He has no needs and there is no way He can improve. To God, nothing else is necessary. He does not need our help with anything, but because of His grace and love, He allows us to be a part of advancing His plan on earth and being a blessing to others. We are the ones who change, but never God. He is self-sufficient.
Justice: The Bible says that God is just, but it is His character that defines what being just really is. He does not conform to some outside criteria. Being just brings moral equity to everyone. When there are evil acts, justice demands there be a penalty. Since God is perfect and has never done evil, no penalty would ever be necessary; however, because of His love, God paid the penalty for our evil deeds by going to the cross Himself. His justice needed to be satisfied, but He took care of it for all who will believe in Jesus.
Immutability: This simply means that God never changes. It is why the Bible says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Mercy: “Mercy is the attribute of God which disposes Him to be actively compassionate.” Since God’s justice is satisfied in Jesus, He is free to show mercy to all those who have chosen to follow Him. It will never end since it is a part of God’s nature. Mercy is the way He desires to relate to mankind, and He does so unless the person chooses to despise or ignore God at which time His justice becomes the prominent attribute.
Eternal: In some ways, this fact about God is similar to His self-existence. God always has been and will forever be, because God dwells in eternity. Time is His creation. It is why God can see the end from the beginning, and why He is never surprised by anything. If He were not eternal, God’s promise of eternal life for those who follow Jesus would have little value.
Goodness: “The goodness of God is that which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men.” This attribute of God is why He bestows all the blessing He does on His followers. God’s actions define what goodness is, and we can easily see it in the way Jesus related to the people around Him.
Gracious: God enjoys giving great gifts to those who love Him, even when they do not deserve it. Grace is the way we describe that inclination. Jesus Christ is the channel through which His grace moves. The Bible says, “The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
Omnipresence: This theological term means “always present.” Since God is infinite, His being knows no boundaries. So, clearly He is everywhere. This truth is taught throughout the Bible as the phrase “I am with you always” is repeated 22 times in both the Old and New Testaments. These were even Jesus’ words of assurance just after giving the challenge to His disciples to take His message to the entire world. This is certainly a comforting truth for all who follow Jesus
How will I get to know Him better this in 2010?
1. Bible Reading
• Choose to read your Bible from cover to cover this year. There are many ways to do this. You can do it in 90 days or 365 days.
2. Bible Study
• Choose to get involved in a Bible study at church or with friend or on your own
• Go to Jan Bible study
3. Daily Devotions
• Find a daily devotion you like and get in the habit of spending quiet time each morning.
4. Make a basket with all the following in it:
• Study Bible
• Journal Book, pen pencil
• CD Player and worship CDs
• Favorite daily devotional
• Bible study helps
Choose how you will get to know Him better in 2010, how you do it is not as important as the fact that you do it.
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About Me
- Robin Nation
- Athens, Tennessee, United States
- Married to Tommy. Two children Don & John. Two daughter's in love Alison & Lauren. One Grandson Clark(John & Lauren's) and a granddaughter Capri (Don & Alison's)
