Afraid? Of That?

In Sunday school yesterday our teacher left us with quite the challenge. He challenged us to search our lives to see if we are really leaving a witness to every one we meet. When we go in and pay for our gas, or buy groceries can the person behind the register tell we are different? Or when we get the opportunity to “give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (I Peter 3:15) do we “tuck tail and run”? I find myself so many times afraid of rejection. I wish I could say with the Apostle Pail that “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ” (Romans 1:16). He read a poem written for the persecuted Christians in China that really challenged me. Some people face beating, death, and torture all for the sake of Christ. What do I face? Maybe scoffing, rejection, possible slander?
“Dear Lord, please forgive me for being ashamed of you. I want to ask that you would help me, your weak servant, to overcome my fear of man and give me the courage to boldly proclaim your name. Amen”

Afraid? Of what?
To feel the spirit's glad release?
To pass from pain to perfect peace,
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
Afraid to see the Savior’s face,
To hear His welcome, and to trace,
The glory gleam from wounds of grace,
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
A flash - a crash - a pierced heart;
Brief darkness - Light - O Heaven's art!
A wound of His a counterpart!
Afraid? Of that?
Afraid? Of what?
To enter into Heaven's rest,
And yet to serve the Master blessed?
From service good to service best?
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
To do by death what life could not -
Baptize with blood a stony plot,
Till souls shall blossom from the spot?
Afraid? Of that?

The Wonder of Wonders

This Sunday in Sunday school, our teacher has us a sing a song about Jesus. I had never heard it before and it was really good. It really hit me how Unconceivable it was that God came to earth as a man. Amazing love. I think I will just post the lyrics for you to read. Hopefully it will reach you too.

THE WONDER OF WONDERS AS SHE LOOKED ON HIS FACE,
THAT THIS LITTLE BOY SPOKE THE WORLDS INTO PLACE.
THE STARS AND THE MOON SHINING BRIGHTLY ON THEM,
THE EARTH AND THE SUN WERE CREATED BY HIM.

THE WONDER OF WONDERS AS SHE LOOKED DOWN AND SMILED,
THAT HE WAS HER MAKER AS WELL AS HER CHILD.
HE CREATED THE WOMB THAT HAD GIVIN HIM BIRTH.
HE WAS GOD INCARNATE CAME DOWN TO EARTH.

THE WONDER OF WONDERS AS SHE HEARD HIS SMALL CRY,
THAT THIS VOICE HAD THUNDERED ON MT. SINAI.
THE SMALL HAND SHE HELD SO TENDERLY HAD
MADE A DRY PATH THROUGH THE MIGHTY RED SEA.

CHORUS: THE WONDER OF WONDERS ,OH HOW COULD IT BE,
THAT GOD BECAME FLESH AND WAS GIVIN FOR ME.
THE ALMIGHTY CAME DOWN AND WALKED AMOUNG MEN,
THE WONDER OF WONDERS, HE DIED FOR MY SINS.

You can hear it here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eY22ZTJOCs

As always, comments welcome. Merry Christmas and a Happy New year.

Sorrow for the lost

In the evening before I go to bed I have a devotional called the “Our Daily Bread” that I read. Last Saturday’s topic really challenged me, so I thought I would just copy it. Here is goes. “In our Bible-study class, we were reading Ephesians 4:17-24 out loud when Alyssa began to cry. Most of us were wondering why, when she quietly said, ‘I am crying because hearing this passage read aloud makes me see the condition that lost people are in. They’re separated from God and are bind to it! That breaks my heart’. One person in the class admitted later that he was embarrassed he had never felt that sad about nonbelievers and had in the past even talked excitedly about the judgment they would receive one day from God. The apostle Paul laid out the condition of the lost with these words: ‘(They have) their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God…. Because of the blindness of their heart’ (Eph. 4:18). He testified that he had ‘great sorrow and continual grief in (his) heart’ because his fellow countrymen had not yet come to know the love of Christ (Rom. 9:1-3). As we think about the condition of nonbelievers, we can remember God’s heart toward them: ‘The Lord is… longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance’ (2Pete 3:9). When we share the Word of God and pray earnestly for others, eyes will be opened to His love.” -Anne Cetas

Turtle on a Post

Last Sunday in church the preacher told a very convicting story. The story was about a successful business man who was asked to what he contributed his success. The wise business man took him into his office and showed him a picture on the wall. The picture was of a turtle on a post. He said, “every time I begin to get proud of my achievment I look at that picture, and I am reminded that I didn’t’ get where I am by myself. Somebody lifted me.” That was a challenge to me. Do I give all the glory to God for “my” achievements. I had to think of how Nebuchadnezzar took all the credit for the greatness of Babylon and God punished him with insanity. I think we are all turtles that were lifted up. Comments welcome.
“Thank-you All Powerful God for the gifts in
My life. I want to give all the credit for my
Achievements. I know I am nothing without
You. Amen.”

Whatever it takes

In school right now we are studying Matthew 5:30. The passage reads, “If thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of they member should perish, and not that thy whole body be cast into hell.” I don’t think Jesus was literally saying “if you sin with your hand cut it off”. If he had, not a signal person should have hands. I think he was showing us a picture of overcoming sin. We have to be willing to take extreme measure to conquer sin. In our school book it have a convicting analogy between an animal caught in a trap, and being caught in the deadly trap of lust. A racoon, when he realizes he is caught in a trap will gnaw his foot off. He will have to live with an everlasting reminder of were his curiosity got him, but he saved his life. A bobcat, on the other hand, rarely even pulls against the trap. He will sit down and hiss, sometimes only caught by a toe. So, he saved his paw, or maybe just his toe, but forfeits his entire life to the trapper. These examples are so true in our life. We need to be like the raccoon, willing to do whatever it takes to save our lives from hell, and to be willing to pay the consequences for where our lust has gotten us. It may be hard, but in the end way less painful. Don’t just sit and hiss when freedom is so close in Jesus.

As always comments are welcome

Faith like a child

I remember talking to my little sister one time, (listening to her talk better describes it) :) and she was telling me about how God is everywere at one time. (Proverbs 15:3). Out of curiosity, I asked her how He could do that. She looked at me as if I was confused and said, "Ben, God is Awesome, Awesome people can just do those things." Now we all laughed a little at her response, but I was thinking "Wow, what a great example of child-like faith." She didn't need some logical explanation, she just believed it sincerely. Sometimes I wonder how I am at having the faith of a child, like Christ asked us to. (Mark 10:15). Do I always have to understand how something in scripture is possible, or do I just believe that "all things are possible with God." (Matthew 19:26). I like the way Martin Luther put it, "If you cannot understand how this could have been done.... then grant the Holy Spirit the honor of being more learned than you are."

Study

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” II Timothy 2:15. I have read that verse so many times, but it never stood out to me like it did a couple of months ago when an atheist challenged me and I didn’t have an answer. It came to my attention again when someone asked why I didn’t do something I had a conviction about and I didn’t have an answer ready. Both of those instances made me a little embarrassed (ashamed). After that I realized why I must “study to shew myself approved”. I think that this verse is telling us that we need to be able to defend the bible and Christianity to an unbeliever, and to know what our convictions are and be able to defend them through the bible. If someone asks us, “how do you know for sure that God created the earth” or “why don’t you smoke”, and all you can say is “well… um…” this verse would say that God is grieved. So I want to challenge you to study, know how the bible and Christianity are accurate and real, and why you do what you do (or don’t do). I also want you to challenge me by leaving a comment asking me what is my conviction on ________ and why (you fill in the blank). I will either reply to you or make another post about it.

Revival!

Wouldn’t it be great to see a great revival in the United States. This is some thing I pray for quite often. Just imagine the power God could give “one nation under God” to evangelize the world! But how does a revival start? What are God’s instructions to us? Well, God indeed gave us some in 2nd Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Isn’t that exiting! Will you join me? Will you join me in daily humbling yourself before God, confessing you sins, seeking his face in scripture, and praying for revival? I like to personalize scripture. Like this, “If Benjamin, who is called by My name, shall humble himself, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from his wicked ways: then I will hear from heaven, and forgive his sin, and heal Benjamin’s land.” You try it. Wow, doesn’t that make it so much more powerful! I like the way Rev. John Wesley put it back during the Great Revival in Europe. When asked what was the secret to revival he stated, “You draw a circle around yourself, and ask God to revive those in the circle.” I hope this has been a challenge to you like it has been to me. As always comment are welcome.

The Biggest lie Christians believe

My Heart is deeply saddened by the fact that almost all Christians in America believe a lie . What makes this deathly lie so dangerous is that it is partially true, making it hard to recognize. Here is the lie: “If I ask God to come into my heart he surely will, and I am saved”. The problem with this is that God is perfect (Matthew 5:48) and we are most certainly not (Romans 3:23). Perfection can’t dwell with imperfection or it will be corrupted. If Christ is to live in us (I Corinthians 3:16) we must be perfect before him. But you know as well as me that we cannot be perfect, but we can be blameless perfect before God, which allows him to live in our lives. Psalms 103:12 is a beautiful picture of this, “as far as the east if from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions…” as well is 1st John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins…”. In Ephesians 2:8,9 we learn “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” We are not saved by being a perfect person (it is impossible) but by confessing our sins and accepting God’s grace. You see many people teach the Roman Road: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). But God commendeth His love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13). If thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved, For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9,10).” While the Roman Road is all true and vital to salvation, it leaves out a very important part of salvation, repentance. With out confessing our sins and turning away from them we will be cast into hell. Jesus Himself taught this in Luke 3:3&5, Luke 24:27, and again is appears in Mark 1:15. Not only does salvation require us to confess that Jesus is Lord and ask Him into our hearts but to turn away from sin (Romans 6:1). And it is plainly put in Revelations that only “him that overcometh” sin shall obtain salvation (Rev. 21:17). It is sad that many are blindly led by this partial truth and believe to be living with Jesus in there hearts. Rev. Paul Washer talks about this in a very powerful, convicting message. I put part of it in the audio box below. To hear this whole sermon go to http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=52906154239.
“Repent and be saved”

Ps. I would encourage you not to just read what I wrote above, but look up the verses I put up. I didn’t include all of them so save space. If you have any comments be sure to post them. I will review them and post them providing they are appropriate.

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my blog!
My name is Benjamin and I live in southern Georgia. God has been laying on my heart that I should start a blog to tell how He has been working in my life. I am kinda new at this and am trying to figure it all out. I can't promise that I will post regularly, but as often as possible. I will be posting thing God has been challenging my with, or just anything He lays on my heart. I would be delighted to here what y'all have to say, and will be happy to answer any questions. Thanks for visiting. God bless you and have a good one.
Ben