The Secret To Revival Found In Christ’s High Priestly Prayer-”that the love you have for Me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Salvation, Sanctification, Revival, and Renewal of The Church are Not Dependent on Eliminating Evil But rather on Embracing God Through Christ.This is the most common mistake we make in our efforts to change ourselves and the Church.

The most troubling condition is present in America today. As I read ,”Tabletalk”,(June 2012 issue), R.C.Sproul, a man of God whom I greatly respect, wrote ,”The Church is One”, using John 17:26, in an effort to identify and correct our disunity in Christ.

Yet as he listed the issues to correct he omitted Christ as the answer.

I find no error in his comments, only in who he did not embrace as the answer.

Our answer is a who not a what, personal not mere intellectual assent, involving both the risen Christ and His truth, not one or the other.

All our problems represent an absence, and void within each of us who comprise the Church and our World.

And it’s not just R.C.Sroul! Tim Keller is doing a series of book reviews on the Gospel Coalition site about Renewal of The Church in America, and so far each book talks all about the problems we face and almost never mentions the only real solution, who is Christ in us!

By now you are saying, “who does this guy think he is!”

I feel like I’m some fool, who despite his obvious condition has been entrusted with the single most valuable thing ever imaginable. I am the antithesis of the mind of R.C. Sproul or the intellect, heart and reason of Tim Keller.

I assure you I’m nobody, but I know who my God and Father is and I know He has loved me with an everlasting love and I cannot but tell everyone I can how much He loves them and how much they need to know His love personally.

Starting with His Church, whom He gave His life to ransom.

Somebody who is really somebody, pick up this message and run with it!

Embrace Christ to displace death, and be saved, for He alone can save.

Embrace Christ to displace sin, because He alone, by His indwelling Spirit, can empower you overcome.

Embrace Christ to displace self,and become Christ like, for to attempt anything else would be nonsensical.

Embrace Christ to displace your desires, for He alone is the most beautiful entity in the universe to be desired and you will trade everything for more of Him.

Embrace Christ to displace all the things that entice the Church away from It’s first love, for Christ alone is worthy of all glory, power and praise!

Embrace Christ to change the world, for if any man is in Christ he is a new creation, old things are passes away, behold all have become new, and that is the only real social reform.

^{Christ’s ,”High Priestly Prayer”, ends with the following summary purpose for His prayer.}

 ^”I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17:26)

His love is the context for all our theology and that context was also not given preeminence by our Church Fathers when they made the Nicene Creed, comprised totally of truth, one, holy,catholic, (universal), and apostolic, but hardly making even indirect mention of the context for all truth which is God’s love.

Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
If Christ is no longer supreme in my heart and daily living, then I have lost the Way, neglected the Truth, and turned away from Life.
A very simple theology in the context of God’s love, for he indwells the true believer and love grows and shows.

Somebody tell me I’m not alone in my deep concern, that we must be one IN Christ, but we have become Ephesus.

 ^”Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” Revelation 2:4,5

Christ is our first love, and His arms are ever wide open to our full embrace.

http://christcenteredteaching.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/the-simplicity-that-is-in-christ/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/05/04/an-agenda-for-recovering-christianity-in-america/?comments#comments#comment-29950

What inspires you?

Reblogged from Passing moments:

Every day I look around at this great big world and I smile. God has given us so much! The trees, sky, grass, the ocean, family and friends. When I stop and look around I’m inspired. God has inspired me by His creation. This inspiration allows me to create stories and songs, and posts. I hope that I can inspire others. 

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Adrienne is the 50th follower for Christ Centered Teaching! In honor of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it is my sincere pleasure to reblog this post by Adrienne.

Thank you Adrienne!

Death…the one thing we cannot conquer, but don’t have to worry about.

Death…the one thing we cannot conquer, but don’t have to worry about..

And So Fulfill The Law Of Christ

Feeling the weight of it all?

This may help.

Encouraging words for Christians who are burdened.

God Bless!

C.C.T.

http://www.intouch.org/magazine/daily-devotional

Seeking Approval From God

 ”Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!”

(Galatians 1:10)

“I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.”

(Psalm 40:10)

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”

(Ephesians 4:15)

Greater Love Has No Man Than This

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

To all who live with the burden of the horrors of wartime, and to those who grieve the loss of loved ones to battle, thank you for your sacrifice.

May you find a measure of comfort in knowing that because of His great love for you,God also knows the pain of sacrifice. Amen

Who Authored Hebrews?- Why I Think it Was Barnabas

The question of ,”who authored the Bible book of Hebrews”, has been a subject of debate for almost two thousand years.

If you are a student of the Word of God and doctrine this is an important issue for one primary reason.

The author of Hebrews gives an ALMOST contradictory set of statements regarding Salvation by Christ alone. One is one of the most assuring and the other is very disconcerting. It is known  as a paradox. They only APPEAR to cancel each other. There is another truth that the simple explanation of makes sense of both.

So it really matters that we know and understand all we can about this author.

Tertullian, the third century Christian theologian, believed that Barnabas wrote the book of Hebrews.

I was glad to hear that because I had already come to the same conclusion before reading about Tertullian.

Here’s my reasoning.

First clue.

1. Most researchers agree that the book of Hebrews reads similar to the books that we are sure Paul wrote.

But a closer look by literary experts seems to conclude that it is somewhat like Paul’s style but not enough that it really could be him, given certain differences that stand out.

I think that Paul is the one who has a similar style of the author of Hebrews.

Take a look at the early days of Paul to see what I mean.

Barnabas and Paul had a traveling ministry to the Gentiles for a while.

Both spoke to the crowds regularly, and would have influence each other’s speaking and therefore writing styles.

If I’m right,the correct way to state the similarities is to say that Paul and Barnabas influenced each other and have similar styles of delivering a message.

Second clue.

2. Theological non- negotiable differences between Paul and Barnabas ,namely that of Grace and its rightful emphasis.

Paul never would have put things as ambiguous as the author of Hebrews in regards to salvation and the  fullness of the meaning of grace.  Nor did he endure it well when he and Barnabas were missionaries.

Here is an example of where Paul stood in regards to his grasp of God’s Grace through Christ as compared to Barnabas’ grasp of God’s Grace through Christ.

 ^”When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.” Galatains 2:12-13

It is also revealing to know that Galatians was written to Christians who got off path in regards to the purity of salvation by faith in Christ alone and sanctification by Christ alone. Paul pulled Barnabas back in line. Paul’s letters reflect the truth of the Gospel of Grace apart from works in it’s purity better than any other books of the New Testament both in clarity and content.

Paul’s appreciation for God’s grace ,and his understanding of it, served to save the purity of  the message for you and I.

And…

The scripture records that Paul and Barnabas split over a dispute regarding Barnabas’ nephew ,John Mark , who left them while they spread the Gospel to the gentiles.

I propose that John Mark was not enough reason for the parting of these two, and that this incident was only the straw that broke the proverbial camels back.”

I think Paul would have stayed with Barnabas if he thought the Gospel was going out in it’s fullness to the gentiles. He cared more about Christ and the Gospel than he cared about his own life.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Philipians 1:2  

And that was Paul’s last letter before execution.

Paul’s grasp of God’s grace was priceless.

And resting in those assurances makes Hebrews read a little better than that great book of the Bible already does.

The best preacher of the gospel by Theodore Cuyler)

Az evangélium legjobb hirdetője (The best preacher of the gospel by Theodore Cuyler).

The Cross - The Eternal Passion of God

Reblogged from christcenteredchristianity:

Have you ever woken up from a vivid nightmare in a cold sweat, your heart beating out of your chest, and your mind and emotions reeling from the intensity of the ordeal you just “lived” through? I have, and it is one of the worst experiences in life.

For some people who have lived through real traumatic life experiences, this can happen somewhat regularly.

Read more… 1,902 more words

” I believe it is without exaggeration to say that the cross, and the passion of God that is bound up with it, are more immense and profound than anything we have ever imagined them to be.” David Bolton

God Came Down (@GodCameDown) has shared a tweet with you

We are David. Our culture is Goliath.God has equipped us with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Who can stand against us? — God Came Down (@GodCameDown)

Freedom of Religion – Twitter Trial in The News

blasphemy trial http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18149575

Foundational Importance

” For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (NKJV ) I Corinthians 3:11

On Center Christ Centered Teaching – Mark Driscoll – An Example of What America And The World Needs

This  sermon was ON CENTER for Christ Centered Teaching. 

This message is for all people everywhere and contains the secret to victory and renewal.

Mark Driscoll, Pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle Washington, preached all out for Jesus Christ in this sermon till he almost lost his voice.

The Revelation of Jesus is the first of a series of sermons about the Seven Churches from the book of Revelation.

I don’t think end times eschatology is going to be mentioned at all in the series.

It’s all about Jesus. 

Done in his own style, Driscoll brings home the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a fresh, real, and powerful delivery.

56:40 long and preached 4-15-2012

Click on the link below. Enjoy

http://marshill.com/media/the-seven/the-revelation-of-jesus

Infinite Truth – Finite Reasoning

We can’t grasp all the infinite concepts of God with the finite reasoning of man.
We think within the limitations of our known existence.

God created the limits of our existence, but He is not limited.

Az egyszerű evangélium (The Simple Gospel by C. H. Spurgeon)

Reblogged from Fókuszban az Ige/The Word in Focus:

Amikor körülbelül 15-16 éves voltam, szükségem volt egy Megváltóra. Akkor történt, hogy hallottam az evangéliumot, amelyet egy szegény ember hirdetett nekem, aki azt mondta a Jézus Nevében, hogy “Nézzetek Rám, és megmenekültök, egész világ határai!” Egyszerű angolsággal szólt, s én megértettem, és engedelmeskedtem ennek – és nyugalmat találtam.

S az egész, azóta érzett boldogságomat ugyanennek az egyszerű igei tanításnak köszönhetem.

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Click on the link and scroll down to an English version     The Simple Gospel, Simply Presented, Is Simply Profound.

Moral Codes And The Death of Dumpster Fires

Reblogged from Chief of the least:

In some circles, a thought is posited as to cast a skeptical light on Scripture’s veracity as a moral authority/guide:

Many written moral codes predate the Bible and even the Ten Commandments (IE Hammurabi Code)

What’s interesting about this argument is that the Bible itself explicitly confirms it. The Bible account displays a moral code that predates its own writing and even predates the stone tablets of Mt Sinai.

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The Simple Gospel, Simply Presented, Is Simply Profound.

Then sings my soul

Reblogged from Charis: Subject to Change:

Photo: Taken on a walk with wonderful companions on my friend’s ranch this morning

(Click for larger version)

How blessed I am to have friends who love the Lord and love each other

-and don’t try to put each others doctrinal ducks in a row.

The Simple Gospel, Simply Presented, Is Simply Profound.

5/17/2012 -- Today's Blessing

Reblogged from faithfulnibbles:

Oh what a glorious day!!!!

The words of the song Glorious Day flow through my mind –

One day my Lord is coming and it will be a GLORIOUS DAY!!!

Although, the Lord didn’t come back today HE was very much present in this day — the day Casey came home!

In January 2012, I saw a newspaper article in our local newspaper about a young woman who lives in this area.

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The Simple Gospel, Simply Presented, Is Simply Profound.

I Need You!

Reblogged from Healing For The Nation:

I don’t know about you, but there are times in my life when I just need God! Sometimes it’s a pressing issue that I have no answer for. Other times it’s an assessment of life, and all of its ups and downs. These times cause me to realize just how much I do need God. It is sad to say, but many times it is these things pressing in, that makes me seek after God much differently than before.

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The Simple Gospel, Simply Presented, Is Simply Profound.

Leadership Courage

Reblogged from Rescuing Jesus:

• 

A leader is a fellow who refuses to be crazy the way everybody else is crazy and tries to be crazy in his own crazy way. ~ Peter Maurin

It takes courage to be a leader.  We often see farther ahead than anybody else can see. We can imagine something bigger and better than anybody else can imagine.  We envision possibilities beyond what anybody else can envision.  

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The Simple Gospel, Simply Presented, Is Simply Profound.

Book Review: Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl

Reblogged from the Ink Slinger:

• 

I’m going to start my review with a simple injunction: read this book. Comprende? Good.  Let’s move on.

I first become aware of Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl a couple years ago, but I never gave it more than a passing glance. In hindsight, I must say that’s really too bad – this is a book I wish I had read much sooner than I did.

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The Simple Gospel, Simply Presented, Is Simply Profound.