Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Romans 12:14-16 NIV
The City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel. "Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations. You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. No longer will violence be heard in your land,nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightnessof the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. Isaiah 60:14-16, 18-20 NIV
Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:17-21 NIV
"Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD.
Today, Keynote Ministries -- national music & creative-media division of Campus Crusade International -- headquartered here in the metro area, invited our 'Indy Christian Geeks' up to their new studios in Westfield for pizza & conversation about new-media resources they're working on... as a resource for what any of us are doing with our blogs, videos, photos, etc... to accelerate the gospel.
Connect with some of the Keynote folks... @Zaugger@KickTheBall@KBLovesCheese@RandallPahl@PDGaither@KarlKranich@PaulSmithR[Leave a comment with more of your Twitter names.]. And of course @DrThomasHo our fearless @ICG leader. And connect with everyone else in the Indy Christian Geeks group in Facebook. [Hint: Consider posting your Twitter name very obviously on your Facebook page too.]
We also watched a clip from Gabe Taviano @GodsMac in Columbus OH who leads a group there and who's connecting and mapping to similar groups of 'Digital Disciples' in cities across the country...
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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus. Romans 15:4-5 NIV
But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs accordingto the promise. Galatians 3:22-29 NIV
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:32-34 NIV
Lord only knows if you'll get a better opportunity to share pizza and dialog with others who share a vision for using new-media tools to accelerate the Great Commission in our community. So come dialog and learn from each other this Friday, September 25th... NOON.
And here's the bonus... it's at the special invitation of Keynote ministries -- the music & creative media division of Campus Crusade, International. Keynote's national headquarters are right here on the northside of our metro area. So use this opportunity to visit their new 'East Street Studios', and hear about the roll-out of their new internet initiative.
Other great ministries will also be represented on Friday, including @WGNRfm , @FHLintrntnl and even some Life Centers folks who'll be carbo-loading for 'Walk (+Run) For Life' the next day. *smile*
All the pertinent details and map-link are at the Facebook event-page built for this occasion together... [continue for details]
[If you can't hit the Facebook page of details, you may RSVP by calling IndyChristian at 490-1255.]
A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to those he loves. Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate. Psalms 127:1-5 NIV
This morning, Dr. Charles Ware, President of Crossroads Bible College, and Nancy Fitzgerald, Anchors Away Ministries... team up with @WGNRfm moderator Ray Hashley... to present special on-air training for Christ-followers to be able to understand the importance of shaping their life worldview from a scriptural perspective.
A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. Proverbs 17:27-28 NIV
"Creation Evidence Expo 2009 will bring to light overwhelming evidence by leading creation scientists, Dr. Carl Baugh, Dr. Willie Dye, and Dr. John Whitcomb. Clearly shown to the audience will be the scientific creation evidence of the Genesis account of creation and the inaccuracies of the theory of evolution. Our creation scientists will answer all questions concerning the evidence presented, providing the audience with truthful information to make the choice between these two schools of thought.
The staff and guest speakers of Creation Evidence Expo 2009 hope that you will join us September 19 through the 23rd... at 2820 N. Meridian St. in Indianapolis, Indiana . It is our desire to inform you, educate you and let you decide what to believe concerning creation and evolution..."
Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we arefaithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13 NIV
[from this year's Indy Prayer Breakfast Chairman - Gary Kirschman, CBMC Indiana]
On behalf of the Host Committee for the 2009 Indianapolis Prayer Breakfast, I am happy to announce that the 17th annual Indianapolis Prayer Breakfast will take place on Thursday morning, October 29, from 7:30 – 9:00am, downtown at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. (For more info go to www.IndyPrayerBreakfast.com).
This year we are thrilled to have Serge LeClerc as our keynote speaker. Although you may not be familiar with his name, we guarantee that this is an incredible story of redemption that you will never forget.
Serge began life in absolute poverty (as a product of rape, he was born in an abandoned building to a young teenage girl) and became a youth offender, gang leader, drug kingpin and drug addict. He committed many acts of theft, fraud, drug smuggling, armed robbery, racketeering, bank heists and was even listed as Canada’s Most Dangerous Criminal.
But God got a hold of his life and he experienced an amazing transformation. After serving a total of 21 years in some of the toughest prisons Serge was paroled and then, incredible as it may seem, in 2007 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly which he currently serves in Saskatchewan.
We hope that you will not only join us for an amazing morning, but we hope you will take the opportunity to invite your friends, co-workers, family, etc. to hear this dynamic and compelling story of a man who went from “law-breaker to law-maker.”
Here’s a tip: Did you know that table assignments at the Breakfast are determined by the order in which the table reservations are purchased? In other words, seating is based on “first come, first served,” so be sure to get your reservations in early!
SAY WHAT?
“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.” - Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States of America
INDYPRAYER
If you would like to be part of a network of hundreds of people who pray regularly for the city of Indianapolis, just send your email address to IndyPrayer@cbmc.com. Once a week we will send you an email with four prayer requests directly to your inbox – all you have to do is set aside some time to pray for those requests during the week. It’s free... it’s uncomplicated... and prayer is the best way to have an impact on our city!
Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable thingssuch as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:17-21 NIV
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:1-4 NIV
Fouad Masri openly admits he once was consumed by hatred which did not discriminate.
Masri grew up in the war zone that was the Lebanese capital of Beirut in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His hatred was fueled by the constant death and devastation around him.
“I grew up hating Israelis and Palestinians,” Masri recalled. “My best friend died in a PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) bombing. I was of the opinion that if you got rid of both of them that would solve the problem.”
The brutal upbringing prompted him to declare himself an atheist and turn his back completely on God...
Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them? The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep. Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 NIV
USA (MNN) ― 09-11-2001 is a day everyone will remember as a day the United States was attacked. It was a day terrorism rocked the world causing many to begin a global fear of militant Islam.
Founder and president of the Crescent Project Fouad Masri says it shook him to the core. "In 1978, I was in high school, and five of my classmates talked about hijacking 10 planes over the United States; one of the places they wanted to target was the World Trade Center. So for me it shook me to the core that they got away with it."
It also affected him as a Christian. "It shows me again and again that we have a problem on this planet called sin," Masri said. "We have a problem that people are being raised to kill and hate and plan to kill others. As a Christian, it should heighten my responsibility to tell people about Jesus because Jesus is the only Savior."
Some Christians are afraid to share their faith with Muslims because many believe radical Muslims can't come to Christ. Masri disagrees. "Saul of Tarsus definitely was not winnable in the minds of many of the disciples of Jesus. It took a matter of faith for Ananias to talk to him about Christ. Saul became the Apostle Paul."
While this shook Christians, it also shook the faith of many Muslims. Many Muslims began asking...
Newest book: Keys to Kingdom Expansion FREE! Get yours now!
Newest book: Keys to Kingdom Expansion FREE! Get yours now!
Kingdom Saints,
The Keys to Kingdom Expansion series of posts has been compiled, tweeked, and edited into a pocket size 4x6 84 page perfect bound book. You can download the ebook immediately or pre-order (avail in 2 weeks) the paperback for FREE--just pay a modest shipping and handling charge (under $2 in continental US). Bundles of 10 are $1 each plus shipping. I have priced it to just barely cover my costs.
FYI: share the ebook with EVERYONE. I left the copyright wide open for mass distribution and translating into other languages. I did not write this to make money--but rather to expand the Kingdom!
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16 NIV
LIQUID is a leadership concept that will revolutionize the way you do ministry and the way you live life.
The Apostle Paul said "I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some." (1 Cor 9). To us that means that we must 'change' our style to meet the needs of those we lead. If you want to be a great leader, you must 'pour' your life into others. You must be fluid, pourable, adaptable... you must be LIQUID.
Craig Jutila has been providing leadership in ministry for over 20 years. He has served as the Children's Pastor at Saddleback Church for 13 years. He has also authored over 10 books on leadership and children's ministry.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. LORD, You have been favorable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob. You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. Selah You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger. Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your anger toward us to cease. Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, LORD, And grant us Your salvation. I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yes, the LORD will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before Him, And shall make His footsteps our pathway
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. Proverbs 17: NIV
Imagine someone robbing Mother Teresa -- taking money she'd use to feed the hungry. Something like that has happened to Pittsburgh banker Robert R. Lavelle and his family business.
Bank regulators shut his Dwelling House Savings and Loan and sold the assets to the large PNC regional bank. That decision ended a more than 50-year history of providing discounted loans that enabled low-income families to buy homes in the predominantly African-American Hill District of Pittsburgh.
For those of you that have appreciated the "Keys to Kingdom Expansion" series, I have discontinued posting the articles on this blog. The remaining several posts are all available at
In coming weeks, all 18 posts will be edited, beefed up, and finalized into a single 80 page 4x6 (pocket-sized) perfect bound book that will be made available in singles for the shipping cost only and in bulk (10 or 12) for about $1 each plus shipping. I will post in this tag when they are available.
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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say. To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesse
We excitedly announce the details for our fall RSI Seminar entitled, “Human Suffering and God’s Goodness” featuring Dr. Mark Talbot! The seminar will be at Second Reformed Presbyterian Church (maplink 4800 N. Michigan Rd, Indpls, IN 46228) on Friday, October 30, 2009 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 31, 2009 from 7:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Dr. Mark Talbot is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Wheaton College and speaks on this topic with authority and familiarity as he has been partially paralyzed for over forty years. He has authored many books, his current writing project being a book entitled, Unsought Gifts: Christian Suffering.
Please join us as we listen to sound, biblical teaching on a topic that is relevant to all of us during these times! Registration can be made by calling (317) 255-7557 or sending an email to office@secondrpc.org. Further details and registration information are contained in the attached brochure. Please feel free to distribute this brochure as well as the poster to individuals and churches in your community! If you would like a quantity already printed, please contact us at office@secondrpc.org and specify the amount, and we will gladly mail them to you.
The Right Spiritual DNA: Freedom we can Experience
Now the last post was certain to have created some heartburn. Because, most of us have come to believe that struggling with sin is the normal Christian experience, and anyone stating otherwise must be off the deep end. However, I want you to know that we have all been given opportunity for complete and total freedom from sin’s power, yet we fail to accept it. As stated earlier, we cling to the chains, all the while assuming the shackles are still on.
The phenomenon reminds me of how elephants are trained. They are attached to an immovable object for a time—they pull and pull and never break free. So after a while, they never pull again. They can be held with a tent spike from that day forward, because they are convinced their pulling will be futile. I think that is the bondage many believers face. This deceptive training concept also applies to northern pike captive in fish tanks. To prevent the large fish from eating their natural prey within the tank, a plexiglas divider is placed to prevent the pike from reaching the prey. A short time of running into the glass trains the pike to never try again. Even with the protective glass removed, the small fish live in safety, because the pike assumes they can never get the prey.
We oftentimes walk around in bondage as a result of similar training. We have tried for so long to escape some sin patterns, we become convinced we can’t and just stop trying. We have been deceived into thinking that the struggles we face are beyond our ability to overcome. The enemy keeps us clinging to the chains, when all the while, we have been granted freedom.
Now I do not want to belittle the enemy’s influence. In this post, I want to shed light on his methods and the root of his power in our lives. The big picture is this: we are in the center of a custody battle. There is a battle raging on between God and His foe, Satan, for the glory of men. We are in the middle of the battle, but are not the focal point. It’s all about them. As stated earlier, glory that rightfully belongs to God has been directed toward the devil and his works via out sin. God, through Jesus Christ, has restored glory to its rightful recipient by turning our allegiance to Him and transforming our lives. Anything less than full allegiance and radical transformation falls short of glorifying God—He is still mocked.
We see this dynamic in the book of Job. Job apparently gave his allegiance to God: he “signed the blank piece of paper.” God reveled in his glory, even boasting to Satan. Satan tested whether or not Job indeed “signed” by going after one line item on the sheet at a time. In the end, Job proved out that he surrendered full allegiance to God and glory was given to God, not the devil. Job was actually not the center of the story—God and the devil were. Nor are we the center of the epic battle for the glory due God.
Now before we give allegiance to God, all areas of our life are under the authority of the devil. Our sin invites him to operate freely within our lives. Let me illustrate this dynamic. Picture our life as a house. The door is wide open for him to roam freely within the home. Our sinful life grants him full dominion. We have sins in every room: unforgiveness, anger, sexual sins, idolatry in many forms, addiction, worldliness, and much more. These permeate our being and give him permission to have his way with us.
When we surrender to God, our repentance cleans the house through Christ. In fact, the house is outright purchased by God, and we are no longer even the rightful owners. The deed is in His name. In actuality, there is no permission for sin to enter that house. We actually don’t have authority to sin; yes, we still possess the ability to do so, but it is a violation of the house rules.
Now, what happens when we do not fully surrender? If there are items in a closet that we do not give to God, the devil still has our permission to operate in that area. Now legally it is God’s house, and illegally we have granted permission for an intruder to take from what rightly belongs to Him. Let me explain. What if there was lots of jewelry in the back closet in God’s house. Who in all creation has the power and authority to steal from God? That’s right, no one. But we, being tenants in the house can still open the door and let folks in and allow them to take things—even though they are rightfully the property of the owner, and not us the tenant. The closet can indeed be cleaned and the door locked, but we allow the devil entrance. That’s because the door can’t be locked until the house is clean, because Satan is still permitted to access those dark corners. By his so doing, he gets his grubby footprints in every room. That is why light needs to shed in all the dark closets, and those areas must be taken from the devil and given to God.
So what does this look like, practically speaking. A mentor must take a disciple through a spiritual inventory. Through much introspection and prayer, literally write down recurrent sins, past strongholds, areas of victimization, and so on. The disciple must repent to allow cleansing. Then, out loud (Satan can’t read minds), rebuke the enemy—take these from him by exposing light to them, command Satan to get out, and submit these things to God. State plainly that he no longer has permission or authority to operate in these areas. Then ask God for strength and protection—lock the door so Satan can’t get in. Then burn the list.
Now here is a tip. Teach the disciple to live moment to moment, not day to day. If someone struggles with smoking—they may light up and fail—but they can mid-drag rebuke the enemy, remind the devil that he has no authority over that stronghold, and put it out and throw away the pack. There is victory moment by moment. If day by day, we justify our sin saying “I’ll quit when this pack is gone.” Glory goes to Satan rather than God.
Now take the disciple through the same exercise next week. Some rooms really don’t get clean with one pass—carpet stains always come back a few times. The list will get shorter and freedom is the end—total freedom. God will be glorified in that life.
Now I wish I had unlimited space to deal with this subject, because it is so important for freedom from sin’s power. A radically transformed life can only occur when sin’s power is defeated entirely. However, I trust the Holy Spirit to finish where I have left off.
Lord, grant your people freedom from the enemy’s clutch. I rebuke the enemy and command him by the authority of Jesus Christ to stay away from your people. Free them from sin’s power and restore your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Freedom from sin’s power is a goal for all of us. However, for many of us it is elusive. I think a lot of that stems from our understanding of the process. We tend to “work” on ourselves for an extended period of time, slowly (and not so surely) improving ourselves. Evangelicals leverage secular philosophies that we try to Christianize (dubbed “Christian psychology.”) Oftentimes spiritual maturity is confused with sanctification. One would have to conclude that the Holy Spirit is insufficient to transform a life by the methods we utilize to restore a person to wholeness. Again, we believe in God’s power for salvation, but not for transformation.
One Christian teacher once shared a great analogy concerning the mystery of sanctification that has always stuck with me. I have always liked it because of its simplicity—not what you would find in all the classic Christian life resources! This little word picture has allowed me to live in and empower others into freedom from sin’s power with great success. The teacher compared our transformation to restoring a car. We work one part of the car at a time: undercarriage, engine compartment, body panels—all the while continuing to use it as a daily driver. Yes, parts are restored. However, continued use results in new dings, new scratches, wear and tear on the drive train, newly discovered rust spots, and so on. So even though we work it one part at a time, with sweat on our brow, we never get it done. The vehicle always has something that needs sanctification (sound like anyone you know).
He indicated the process should look more like this. We surrender to God, He takes the car, puts it in the crusher and makes a 2-foot cube of steel out of it and sends it to the scrap pile. Then Jesus pulls up in a stretched limo, opens the door and says, “hop in, from now on, you’re riding with me.”
Let’s read Romans Chapter 6 in light of this analogy.
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6, NASB)
We are dead to sin, having partaken in Christ’s death and resurrection. We are entirely freed—our old self is DEAD. We now have freedom from sin’s penalty and power over our life. We are no longer slaves to sin, but rather slaves to righteousness. We now walk in newness of life. Our freedom from sin’s power, results in sanctification, that leads to eternal life (verse 22, notice the consistency with my prior messages: no sanctification means no eternal life). Let no one deceive you otherwise. We are free indeed, and must receive that freedom.
Now there is one missing caveat. We are only free if we surrender everything. If we are kicking and screaming and clinging onto the old car as Christ tries to take it to the crusher, we will not gain our freedom. If we hold onto our chains even though the shackles have been released, it is a self-imposed bondage. The result, Satan can even convince us the shackles are latched even though it is simply our holding onto the chains (very common). What a grand deception. This robs God of His glory!
This subject of strongholds will be discussed in the next message.
Lord God Almighty, show us our freedom and empower us to lead others to freedom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
"'Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD."'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable."'Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion."'Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled.
Discussion groups are more likely to grow and least likely to decline
The data on lecturing classes is among the most puzzling data I have looked at. Here are the facts:
*Groups that use all lecture are the second most likely to be growing. *Groups that use all lecture are the most likely to be declining.
Such self-contradicting information begs an explanation. How could the same group be (almost) the most likely to succeed and the absolute most likely to fail? And that by a wide margin. All lecture groups are nearly three times more likely to be declining when compare with the rest of the group.
"A
centralized media site for Greater Indianapolis Christians. We connect & communicate among 'Driven-Christians in the Racing Capital of
the World' to accelerate the Great Commission!"
"If
you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from
his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one
in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but
in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not
only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus..." (Philippians
2)
'Indy Timeline' of Upcoming Events 
WGNR 97.9
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