Pressing on Ed

Family Focus

2012-01-30T08:32:00.003-07:00

"If it isdisagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whomyou will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyondthe River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as forme and my house, we will serve the LORD." - Joshua 24:15

Long before Joshua other leaders have urged people to focus on theone true God. What’s new here is Joshua’s resolve to lead by example. In hishome there is only the One to follow. Is that true of your home or doessomething else stand in the way? Whether it’s work, entertainment, or evenrelationships, nothing should come between your family’s focus on God.

5 More

2012-01-28T08:07:00.004-07:00

"When you pray, you are not to be like thehypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the streetcorners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their rewardin full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, andpray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done insecret will reward you.” - Matthew6:5-6

Jesus assumes two things about you. First, you will pray. Second,your prayers will take some time. I pray you are spending more than just a fewminutes with God every day. Whatever you’re doing now, why not add five minutesmore and see how He will bless? He surely will.

Including You

2012-01-27T06:54:00.001-07:00

Let everything thathas breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! - Psalm 150:6

That word “everything” is pretty inclusive, isn’t it? All animals,all people, including you.

Act Your Level of Creation

2012-01-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

Genesis 1:26

We – mankind – are God’s greatest creation. Sin always prevents usfrom acting like it.

One Body

2012-01-25T07:10:00.001-07:00

For even as the bodyis one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though theyare many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were allbaptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and wewere all made to drink of one Spirit.
- 1Corinthians 12:12-13

There may be someplace on the continent ofAfrica a young girl who when she grows up will become an excellent Sundayschool teacher having been led to a trusting faith in Jesus by a missionary fromSouth Korea who was trained at a Bible college in Germany and seminary in theUS; those schools receive much needed donations from Christians from severalnations and prayer support from even more. Members of one body. What’s yourrole?

Thank and Praise God

2012-01-24T06:48:00.003-07:00

“Give thanks to theLORD, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make themremember that His name is exalted. Praise the LORD in song, for He has doneexcellent things; Let this be known throughout the earth.” - Isa 12:4-5

Just do it. Give thanks and praise Him more today than you didyesterday.

Fear God

2012-01-23T07:19:00.000-07:00

"I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of thosewho kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warnyou whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to castinto hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”- Luke 12:4-5

Fear God, Jesus is saying. He’s the only one who has authorityover your eternal destiny. This is an important fact for us to remember. It willlikely come in handy one day with one who has no fear of God. Be a witness forthe One to Be Feared.

Reason to Rejoice

2012-01-21T06:43:00.001-07:00

Beloved, do not besurprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing,as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that youshare the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelationof His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
- 1Pe 4:12-13

For a Christian two things are true about suffering. First, it isthe norm and you should not be surprised when it happens. Second, suffering isreason for rejoicing – the cause of Christ is being served. This suffering joywill enhance your joy at Jesus’ Second Coming. When was the last time yousuffered for your Lord? Remember and rejoice.

Wealth and Power

2012-01-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

As he had come nakedfrom his mother's womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing fromthe fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand. - Ecclesiastes 5:15

To focus on things of this world is simple wrong. Wealth and powerover others are not rewards in eternity. Let’s focus on influencing ourfamilies, friends, and co-workers with the spiritual wealth and power that Godprovides to all who will call on His Son’s Name.

Forgetting God

2012-01-19T10:47:00.003-07:00

Pride goes beforedestruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. - Proverbs 16:18

Pride – forgetting God’s role in your life – is an easy sin. When “Idid it” rules, God does not. Let’s remember God’s sovereignty especially in ourday-to-day lives.

Knowledge

2012-01-18T06:16:00.003-07:00

Wise men store upknowledge, But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand. - Proverbs 10:14

The whole section (verses 12-18) is quite an interesting study; ifI ever do a sermon series on Proverbs again I may start with this. Within thatcontext Solomon says that those who are wise (fear the Lord) foster peace and friendship,while the fool brings destruction. Read the whole passage; tell me what youthink.

Search for Him

2012-01-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

"But from there you will seek theLORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heartand all your soul." - Deuteronomy4:29

The “there” is the location of Israel’s exile – Babylon. Through Moses,God is warning them early about the results of its idolatry. However, God isfaithful and will be with those who turn their hearts back to Him, He says. Godalways has a plan – always. And his plan serves and rewards those who searchfor Him. Do you?

Praying for You

2012-01-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lordhas promised to those who love Him. - James 1:12

It goes without saying that I do not know what trial or temptation youwill face today. But I am praying that you will persevere. The reward for you is great.

Great Harvest

2012-01-14T06:16:00.002-07:00

And the seed whose fruit is righteousness issown in peace by those who make peace. - James 3:18

James has already said that man’s anger get him nowhere with God (James1:20) and here he extols the benefit of being a peacemaker. The yield is aharvest of God’s righteousness. Perhaps you could find some way to be apeacemaker today.

Rewards

2012-01-13T06:44:00.002-07:00

"So whenyou give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites doin the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. TrulyI say to you, they have their reward in full.” - Matthew 6:2

The reason for giving is in question by Jesus. Giving to the needy wasfor a Jew a pillar of faith but the religious leaders were giving to be praisedby others. Jesus says that is all they are getting. We Christians still havethe mandate to give. Where is your heart when you do so?

Know God

2012-01-12T06:46:00.001-07:00

"Let us choose for ourselves what isright; Let us know among ourselves what is good. - Job 34:4

Elihu – Job’s fourth friend to speak – chastises Job’s other friends fornot responding well to Job’s complaints (chapter 32). Then he criticizes Jobfor complaining (chapter 33). Chapter 34 is Ehihu’s encouragement to simplyrely on God’s justice and starts that by saying get to know God. Do you knowGod well? Seek Him out daily. Read about Him. Talk with Him and listen to Hisvoice. Know God and Make Him Known.

Needs

2012-01-07T07:04:00.004-07:00

The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing. - Psalm34:10

The “king of the beasts” will sometimes not have his needs met, but a seeker of the Lord will always have what his/her Creator says he/she needs. Proverbs says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart.”

Look for His Hand

2012-01-06T05:33:00.001-07:00

Behold, I will bring to it [the nation ofIsrael] health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them anabundance of peace and truth. - Jeremiah 33:6

Israel had been devastated by foreigners, disgraced in battle, andovercome by the sin of idolatry. God promises healing, good health to thenation, peace, and truth. A bit laterGod says the other nations “shall fear and tremble because of all the good andall the prosperity I provide for” the city of Jerusalem (Jer 33:9). God is alwaysfaithful. In the great storms surrounding our lives, He usually finds a way toprovide blessing and hope, peace and truth. Look for His hand during the trialsyou go through.

Focus!

2012-01-05T07:15:00.002-07:00

The steadfast of mind You will keep inperfect peace, Because he trusts in You. - Isaiah 26:3

I’ve been praying alot lately about people who have left the church (see note) altogether (andsome for those who left for other churches). In some reading and studying thisverse just popped out. It would seem they were not “steadfast of mind.” They walkedaway from their focus before they walked away from the church.

Are you focused on(that is, are your thoughts centered on) Christ and godly things? If so, Godtrusts you and you have perfect peace provided by Him. I love the way Isaiahexpresses this truth in a prayer to God who trusts him to communicate His Word.

Pressing on,Ed
Philippians 3:14

Note: I am not speaking about Christ’sBible Church specifically (although it does apply), but about the churches ingeneral.

Trust More

2012-01-04T07:15:00.002-07:00

“Isnot your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?” - Job 4:6

It amazes me how his three friends seem bent on accusing andfinding fault in the innocent Job. Eliphaz, the first to speak following Satan’sattack, starts by questioning the focus of Job’s trust. Do you recall the firstthing Job did after hearing the various tragedies? “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on theground and worshiped” (1:20). Wouldworship be your first thought in the face of a difficult situation or even tragedy?If not, learn to be like Job – trust God more.

Sustainer

2012-01-03T12:05:00.002-07:00

And He is the radianceof His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all thingsby the word of His power… - Hebrews 1:3

He is not only the Creator (yesterday’spost) He is also the One who supports and sustains all things. That meansthat without Him everything wouldcease to exist – even Cody.

Bow to the Creator

2012-01-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

He [the Word, Jesus]was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without himnothing was made that has been made. - John 1:2-3

These verses disprove any suggestion that the Word (or theSon, John 1:14) was created, for the Father would have had to do this byhimself, and John says that nothing was created that way, for withouthim was not any thing made that was made. How are you at bowingdown to this God in flesh, Jesus? He even created you.

Surrender

2011-12-31T07:25:00.000-07:00

If you love Me [Jesus],you will keep My commandments. - John 14:15

True love shows itself in surrendered obedience to our Lord.Are you a lover?

Resolution Possibility

2011-12-27T07:25:00.000-07:00

Seek the LORD and Hisstrength;
Seek His face continually.
Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done
His marvels and the judgments from Hismouth. - 1Chronicles 16:11-12

Every New Year we think about resolutions for bettering ourlives. Seeking more of God in your life would be a good one. Don’t you think?

Praise the Lord

2011-12-26T06:45:00.001-07:00

Let everything thathas breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! - Psalm 150:6

That includes you.

Immanuel Thoughts

2011-12-23T07:27:00.001-07:00

Therefore the LordHimself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear ason, and she will call His name Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:14

Immanuel – “God with us” (or literally, “with us is God”).For about 33 years He was with us. But He died for the believers' sins. God resurrectedHim and he lives today both physically in Heaven with His Father andspiritually in us; believers are in ChristPaul says repeatedly. All of it predicted and all of it fulfilled. Thank Godright now for His salvation.

It Came True

2011-12-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

"But as for you,Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity." (Micah 5:2)

When talking about God, a promised made is a promise kept.400 years before, through Micah, God revealed the “where.” It is the closest predictionabout the Messiah to the actual events. The oldest prediction would be rightafter the Fall recorded in Genesis 3:15. But all of them concerning Messiah’s deliverancefrom sin for all mankind have come true. His prophecies about the Second Comingof Messiah will also unfold precisely as stated in Scripture; I am certain. PraiseGod with me for His faithfulness.

Paid

2011-12-21T06:25:00.000-07:00

My little children, Iam writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, wehave an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; andnot for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. - 1John 2:1-2

The purpose of John’s letter is clearly stated. However, theletter cannot prevent sin – nothing can (Romans 3:23). And that is why Jesus came. To be the propitiation (the appeasementof God’s wrath) for yousin, brother and sister. I am praying specifically that during the Christmas Eve service onSaturday someone else will realize the peace with God since the Gift is for “thewhole world.” Please join me in that prayer.