Gospel in the Garden

Gospel in the Garden

WRITTEN BY: ADMIN - FEB• 05•14

Genesis 3:15 (NASB): “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”

 

Many people mistakenly believe that the idea of a Messiah who would save mankind from our sins did not enter the mind of God until the New Testament. The truth is, though, that the Gospel, which means “Good News,” is first revealed in the Book of Genesis. Jesus dying on the cross for you and me was not God’s “Plan B” when man messed up. God knew from the beginning of time that we would need Jesus. And, when satan launched his attack against God’s own, in one powerful statement God gave satan a lethal warning and made mankind a loving pledge – a Redeemer is coming! Through His death, burial, and resurrection, Christ fulfilled the words of His Father (John 19:30); sealed the fate of satan (Revelation 20:10); and joined you and me with Himself for all eternity (Ephesians 2:6).

 

Share the Good News of our Redeemer today!

The Joy of Faithful Service – John MacArthur

The Joy of Faithful Service – John MacArthur

"Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:1).

The metaphor of Christians as slaves to Christ is common in Paul's writings. It is one his readers would have readily understood because of the prevalence of slavery in the Roman Empire.

Peter, James, John, and Jude used the same metaphor of their own ministries, as did Jesus in Mark 10:45: "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." In Philippians 2:7 Paul refers to Christ as a bond-servant who set aside the glory He was due and humbled Himself to the point of death.

The Greek word translated "bond-servant" in Philippians 1:1 was commonly used of those who, out of devotion to their masters, chose to remain as slaves when having the opportunity to be released. They were also known as love slaves because they served out of love, not compulsion.

That is a beautiful picture of the believer. We are God's bond-servants (Rev. 1:1), having been freed from sin and enslaved to Him (Rom. 6:22).

While slavery brings to mind deprivation and inhumane treatment of one's fellow man, slaves in the Roman Empire usually were treated with dignity and respect. Although most had no personal possessions, their masters supplied everything they needed for life and health. Additionally, many were entrusted with significant responsibilities in their master's home.

A disobedient or self-willed slave was of no use to his master, but faithful slaves, who set aside their personal interests to accomplish their master's will, were a precious possession.

Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work" (John 4:34). As God's bond-servant that should be your goal as well. Be faithful so God can use you mightily.

Suggestions for Prayer:

• Thank God for the privilege of serving Him.
• Seek wisdom to appropriate your spiritual resources as you perform the tasks God has entrusted to you.

A Cheerful Heart

A Cheerful Heart

WRITTEN BY: ADMIN - FEB• 03•14

Proverbs 17:22 (NIV): “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

 

When was the last time you laughed? The last time you smiled . . . big? We live in a serious world with serious issues. Just read the newspaper or watch the news on television, seldom is the information uplifting, and it often sets our minds with a worldly perspective on life. Even as children of God, filled with the Hope found in Christ Jesus, we can get caught in this vortex of negativity and allow it to bring us down and dampen our spirits. But, we need to remember who we are in Christ . . . more than conquerors (Romans 8:37), the beloved of God (1 Thessalonians 1:4), and joint heirs with Jesus (Romans 8:16-18). Let us go into this world as witnesses of the good Word. Let us do it with a smile on our face radiating with the joy of God’s love. Let us stand out because we are full of God’s Spirit and because we know that His strength flows through us. Close your eyes; take a deep breath; feel God’s love wash over you . . . now SMILE! What a great feeling! Let us take a cheerful heart into our homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces. After all, what do we have to be gloomy about? Our Lord has overcome the world, and the world could use a little “Christ-perspective” on life (John 16:33).

 

Spread good cheer today!

Do Over

Do Over

Colossians 2:14 (NIV): “having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”

Ever hear of a “do over?” It’s the chance to start over again and face no penalty for the previous attempt. When my kids were small and learning to hit a baseball if they swung and missed, they would yell, “do over!” In other words, “I want to try again…that first swing does not count.” Through the cross of Jesus Christ, we get a “do over” with God. When the blood of Jesus is applied to our sinful hearts, we get the chance to start a new life and face NO PENALTY for the previous attempt! Let that sink in. In Christ, the penalty for all of our mistakes, our unwise choices, our sinful thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors, and our attempt at independence from God are all as though they never existed. Jesus gives us a brand new heart. One that has new desires, new hopes, new drive, new dependence. One that is not fickle or easily tossed around by the winds and waves of the world, but is steadfast and purposeful. In Christ, the old has gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). With the power of the Holy Spirit on the inside, our “do over” becomes an eternal home run!

 

Walk in freedom today!

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Ladies, Grab your best girlfriends & come to the WOMEN IN TRUTH Conference -- March 1st. Don't Miss!! For complete details, click on the link below.

Women in Truth Conference

havenofrest.cc

A day of Word, worship, food, and fun — for Ladies Only! This event is for women of all ages. The day will consist of praise & worship; dynamic breakout sessions; a Truth-filled general session; merchandise booths; Chick-fil-a lunch; and plenty of opportunities to hang out with old friends and make…

AN ENTIRELY NEW SELF – Dr. Neil Anderson

AN ENTIRELY NEW SELF – Dr. Neil Anderson

 

Ephesians 5:8 

You were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light

 

Ephesians 5:8 describes the essential change of nature which occurs at salvation. It doesn't say you were in darkness; it says you were darkness. Darkness was your nature, your very essence, as an unbeliever. Nor does it say you are now in the light; it says you are light. God changed your basic nature from darkness to light. The issue in this passage is not improving your nature. Your new nature is already determined. The issue is learning to walk in harmony with your new nature.

 

Why do you need the nature of Christ within you? So you can be like Christ, not just act like Him. God has not given us the power to imitate Him. He has made us partakers of His nature so that we can actually be like Him. You don't become a Christian by acting like one. We are not on a performance basis with God. He doesn't say, "Here are My standards, now you measure up." He knows you can't solve the problem of an old sinful self by simply improving your behavior. He must change your nature, give you an entirely new self--the life of Christ in you--which is the grace you need to measure up to His standards.

 

That was the point of His message in the Sermon on the Mount: "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). The scribes and Pharisees were the religious perfectionists of their day. They had external behavior down to a science, but their hearts were like the insides of a tomb: reeking of death. Jesus is only interested in creating new persons from the inside out by infusing in them a brand-new nature and creating in them a new self. Only after He changes your identity and makes you a partaker of His nature will you be able to change your behavior.

 

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for rescuing me from the kingdom of darkness and transferring me into Your marvelous light. I choose to walk as a child of light today.

 

 

Sid Stewart

Executive Director

864 226-6193

www.havenofrest.cc

SALVATION IS REGENERATION – Neil Anderson

SALVATION IS REGENERATION – Neil Anderson

 

2 Peter 1:4 

He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature

 

What does the Bible specifically say about our nature? The Greek word for nature is used in this way only twice in the New Testament. Ephesians 2:1-3 described the nature we all shared before we came to Christ: "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins . . . and were by nature children of wrath." What was your basic nature before you were born again spiritually? You and every other Christian "were by nature children of wrath," dead in sin, subject to Satan's power, living completely to fulfill sinful lusts and desires. This is the condition of every unbeliever today.

 

The second occurrence of the word is in 2 Peter 1:4 describing our nature after we came to Christ: "He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature."

 

When you came into spiritual union with God through your new birth, you didn't add a new, divine nature to your old, sinful nature. You exchanged natures. Salvation isn't just a matter of God forgiving your sins and issuing you a pass to heaven when you die. Salvation is regeneration. God changed you from darkness to light, from sinner to saint. There is a newness about you that wasn't there before. If God hadn't changed your identity at salvation, you would be stuck with your old identity until you died. How could you expect to grow to maturity if you didn't start as a transformed child of God? Becoming a partaker of God's nature is fundamental to a Christian's identity and maturity.

 

We are no longer in Adam; we are in Christ. We can still choose to walk according to the flesh, but why should we want to? "You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him" (Romans 8:9).

 

Prayer: Lord, may my understanding of who I am in Christ grow today so that I may walk in the victorious life You secured for me.