2/11/2024 0 Comments How to Have Financial Peace*The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon titled Financial Peace. First, let me assure you that lessons on giving are not about God raising money. Lessons on giving are about the Christian reaching maturity. When we hear sermons on the topic of giving, we can sometimes become anxious. A commitment to giving can be scary when our budgets are tight. Rest assured that worrying about money is nothing new. Even in Biblical times, people worried about money. People have sought financial peace from the beginning of time, but the only way to reach financial peace is to become a giving Christian. Let's look at Matthew 6:19-24. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. How to Have Financial PeaceIn order to reach financial peace, let's ask ourselves a few questions. Who do I love?Do I love Jesus or do I love money? Who am I serving? Who is my master? I must serve the right Master. No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. - Matthew 6:24 When money rules us, it ruins us. We must not let money become our idol. The god of money will never give us the security we want. Have I been fooled?Let's read Matthew 20:1-16 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and to those he said, ‘You go into the vineyard also, and whatever is right, I will give you.’ And so they went. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ The workers who had been in the field all day long got the same pay as those who had been there only an hour. Now, when I first read this, I felt the same way the all day workers felt. In my fleshly attitude, I thought the workers who had been there all day long should have received more or at least the one hour workers should have received less pay. However, Jesus told this story to make a very important point concerning greed. First of all, all the workers received the payment agreed on between them and the wealthy farmer. Second, the workers who had been there all day should have been grateful to have been hired and gotten paid anything at all. They could have spent the entire day waiting to be hired only to have gone to bed that night without work or pay. Thirdly, when the all day workers saw the one hour workers getting paid, greed settled into their hearts. They wanted more. The amount they had agreed on was no longer enough to satisfy them. The enemy fooled them into thinking they deserved more than what they had originally agreed was enough. A financial breakthrough is a blessing, not something we deserve. Do not weary yourself to gain wealth; May I always see the goodness of God in my life so that I will never be fooled into thinking I deserve more. May the desire of my heart be to give more. Where is my treasure?Money is a great tool, but a terrible master. Nothing in this life is secure. Let us not be fooled by false securities. May we never sell our souls for treasures that will never last. If we always want more and more, then our love for money has already robbed us of financial peace. Sometimes material things are nothing more than gift-wrapped garbage. There is a story about a man who had trouble getting his trash picked up. I don't know if it is a true story or not, but the story is that this man was frustrated that his garbage wasn't getting picked up, so one day he decided to put all of his trash into boxes and wrap them up like gifts. The man wrapped all the packages in pretty paper and bows. Then, he set them out where he usually placed his garbage. When he did that, his garbage was picked up. Let's be careful to not treasure things that look like pretty gifts, but inside are nothing more than garbage to be thrown out. Whatever has our hearts has our money. Money flows effortlessly to that which is its god. - Tim Keller If God has my heart, then I will treasure what He treasures. When we treasure what God treasures, then we have peace. May I have eyes to see God's grace and may I turn my gratefulness into giving. Pin Me! You may also like:
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2/10/2024 0 Comments Giving Principles*The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon titled Giving Principles. Giving PrinciplesThe topic of giving sometimes makes people uncomfortable, but the first thing you should know today is that God wants to give to you. He wants to give you hope and life. Our Scripture passage for today is 2 Corinthians 9. For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; for I know your willingness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I have sent the brothers, in order that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you will be prepared; otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to mention you—would be put to shame by this confidence. So I considered it necessary to urge the brothers that they go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised generous gift, that the same would be ready as a generous gift, and not as one grudgingly given due to greediness. In the life of the believer, giving is a step of discipleship just like church attendance, Bible Study, and serving our communities. We give out of a changed heart. Biblical giving contradicts the enemy's selfish desires. Satan tells us to keep everything for ourselves. God tells us to give freely. I'm reminded of a song lyric I heard many years ago. I don't recall the entire song, but two lines of it has stuck with me for over 35 years. Freely, freely you have received. When we give, we are sowing seeds.Giving to others is an investment in the eternity of others. When we give, we are sowing seeds. In our focal passage, 2 Corinthians 9, Paul was writing to farmers. Farmers understood the value of sowing seeds. When a farmer buys and sows seeds, he doesn't count the cost of the seeds as a loss. He knows they are an investment in which he will reap a plentiful harvest. In the same way, when we give to others, we are sowing seeds that will result in advancing the Gospel message which will result in the saving of lost souls. We reap what we sow. Let's give and pray for a plentiful harvesting of lost souls. If we give with the hope of receiving more for ourselves, we will end up in Spiritual famine. When God gives more, it is not for ourselves, but for others - for the growing of His Kingdom. The harvest is for Kingdom work, not a new truck. When we give, we need a plan.Let's ask ourselves two questions: 1. What have I already decided in my heart to give? 2. What have I already decided in my heart to do? When we give, attitude is everything.Attitude matters. We must not give reluctantly. God loves a cheerful give. We should give out of conviction, not manipulation. When we give, God is our source.God is able and He takes care of His believers. He will meet every need, not every greed. He will meet our needs so we can meet the needs of others. When we give, it results in worship.Our giving is meeting someone else's praying. When we give, we profess the gospel. This defies worldly logic. Jesus was the greatest giver. We should give because He gives to us. Let's ask ourselves two more questions: 1. What step of obedience do I need to take today? Give? Give more? Be baptized? Join a church? 2. What is my next step? PIN ME! You may also like:
2/7/2024 0 Comments The Greatest GiverThe following post is based on my Bible study notes taken from my pastor's sermon titled "The Greatest Giver." One of my pastor's opening statements was this and I think it's something we need to remember. "A church should not be known for its SEATING capacity, but for its SENDING capacity." Our churches should be sending people out to share the gospel of Jesus with others. We, as Christians, should be giving to others, because God first gave freely to us. The Greatest GiverLet's look at 2 Corinthians 8:1-9. Now, brothers and sisters, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. Giving ChristiansHow can we receive all God has for us if we haven't giving our all back to God? God loves to give, but He wants us to be open-handed. Let's ask ourselves these questions . . . What have I not given back to God today? What do I need to release into His hands? How is God about to move in my life? Am I willing to be a giving Christian? What is my vision of God? How we view God determines everything. Our vision of God influences all of our decisions in life. God is a gracious giver. When we give to others, we are reflecting God's grace. We know that times are hard today. Things are expensive. Have you noticed your grocery receipts lately? Grocery prices are skyrocketing. Other things are expensive too. Our budgets are tight, so talking about giving can make us feel guilty. On the flip-side, we can sometimes be stingy. When we are stingy with our finances, we also feel guilty when we hear a sermon preached on giving. It is normal for Christians to give. When we are not giving to others in some capacity, something might be wrong in our hearts. The Macedonians were in a test of affliction. They were being ostracized. They were being martyred, but they were still giving. They were in extreme poverty, yet they were still giving. (2 Corinthians 8:1-2) The Macedonians gave on their own accord. They were not forced. No one should be forcing you to give. Giving is a matter of the heart. Paul did not beg the Macedonians to give. They begged Paul to receive their gifts. (2 Corinthians 8:3-4) The Macedonians gave themselves first to the Lord. God had their hearts. When God has our hearts, He has all of us. (2 Corinthians 8:5) What are you struggling with today? Instead of wringing our hands in worry, let's lift up our open hands extended to God and be willing to receive His grace. Then, let's share that grace with others. We need to release to God the things that are holding us back. Resentment? Greed? Anger? Worry? Grief? Give it all to God. When we begin a relationship with gracious giving Jesus, we become gracious givers to others. Jesus was rich. Jesus came from Heaven, but He became poor. He had all the riches of Heaven, but He came to earth born to a poor family. The infinite became an infant. Of all the honor He had in Heaven, He had none here on earth. He gave up His divine attributes. He became sin for us so that we might know the righteousness of God. Put you name in this sentence. For ______________ sake, He became poor. Is our own identity in our stuff or is it in Jesus? Giving is an outflow of the grace of God in our lives. Giving is a matter of gratitude. A grateful Christian is a grateful giver. Giving is proof of love. Giving is the fruit of salvation. We are not saved by our giving, but being saved through a relationship with Jesus makes us gracious, loving, and giving. The order is this: Grace . . . Gratitude . . . Giving. The greatest gift from God is salvation through Jesus. To not receive such a beautiful gift is a great tragedy. Have you received the gift of salvation? If you haven't, learn how to receive that gift here. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 PIN ME! You may also like:1/24/2024 0 Comments Living Out God's TruthIf we are serious about living out God's truth in our daily lives, we need to accept a challenge - take the opportunity. Which opportunity? Everyday opportunities. Everyday opportunities are sometimes everyday responsibilities. *The following are my Bible study notes taken from my pastor's sermon titled "Living Out God's Truth." Living Out God's TruthHow do we live out God's truth in everyday opportunities and responsibilities? Here's a list of ways. 1. Take the opportunity to give. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you are to do as well. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save as he may prosper, so that no collections need to be made when I come. When I arrive, whomever you approve, I will send them with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem; and if it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me. 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 2. Take the opportunity to connect. Discipleship and love cannot happen unless we connect with one another. We can connect more deeply with one another if we get involved in small groups like a Sunday School Class or a Home Group. Connection sometimes requires sacrifice. Sometimes we have to give something up in order to connect well with others. We will certainly need to give up time. We need to commit to the time it takes to gather in a small group. We need to be active participants in our groups. Active participation might mean contributing financially to group needs. Active participation certainly means supporting one another in life circumstances, good and the not-so-good. We need to give our time and resources for the good of others. But I will come to you after I go through Macedonia; for I am going through Macedonia, and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, if the Lord permits. But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost. 1 Corinthians 16:5-8 3. Take the opportunity to evangelize. Has a door been opened for you to share the gospel? Look for opportunities to share Jesus with your family, friends, coworkers, ball teams, clubs, and in all your social circles. But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost; for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 1 Corinthians 16:8-9 4. Take the opportunity to encourage. We can encourage others in our church groups - our small groups, nursery workers, custodians at church and in our work places, teachers, pastors, friends going through tough times. We can encourage others in every area of our lives. Now if Timothy comes, see that he has no reason to be afraid while among you, for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I also am. So do not look down on him, anyone. But send him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers. Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly encouraged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has the opportunity. 1 Corinthians 16:10-12 5. Take the opportunity to be faithful. Let's be watchful in our hearts. Let's be watchful in our homes. Let's be watchful in our churches. Let's watch for the dangers of sin, pride, lust, deception, false teachers, and distractions. Let's ask ourselves this question: What is keeping me from doing God's work and living out God's truth? Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. All that you do must be done in love. Living Out God's Truth: Give, connect, evangelize, encourage, and be faithful. You may also like:
It is an election year in the United States. We aren't going to cover politics today, but I think many of us would agree that election years can bring out the worst in people. It seems like everybody has an opinion and very few people can agree on much. One reason for all the dissension is that so many people form opinions based on what someone else claims rather than seeking the truth. With the general election still ten months away, we have a long time ahead to deal with all the discord and rest assured, there will be lots of it. Without claiming sides (because that's not what this post is about), let's think about what is really happening. I can summarize it with one word . . . confusion. When the truth is valued less than opinions, it creates confusion. Who is the author of confusion? If your answer is the devil, then you are correct. God is a God of truth and order. Satan is the father of lies and confusion. What happens when God's people must stand firm on the truth when faced with the enemies lies and confusion? When this happens, we find ourselves in the middle of the battle for truth against lies. We fight the battle of spiritual warfare. For God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NASB) You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 (NASB) I mentioned that this year is an election year because I know that spiritual warfare we will face between now and November might be a fierce battle, but politics is not the only area that seems engulfed in spiritual warfare. There are many other areas. Anytime we are compelled to act in disobedience, we fight a spiritual battle. God's Word teaches us how to win. Let's look at what the Bible says about spiritual warfare. Bible Verses About Spiritual WarfareFor the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NASB) But what I am doing I will also continue to do, so that I may eliminate the opportunity from those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:12-14 (NASB) Let's be careful. Let us not be fooled by false apostles, deceitful workers, or Satan himself who will try to make us think we are listening to God. If it contradicts Scripture, it is not of God. If it is not of God, then it is of Satan. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints. Ephesians 6:10-18 (NASB) No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (NASB) One who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Behold, I have given you authority to walk on snakes and scorpions, and authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Luke 10:19 (NASB) You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 (NASB) Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NASB) These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NASB) But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NASB) That is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 (NASB) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10 (NASB) There are many more Bible verses about spiritual warfare in the Scriptures. If you would like to do more research on this topic, try online resources such as Bible Gateway (one of my favorite resources). You can also try out the Blue Letter Bible. I am new to the Blue Letter Bible but I already love many features there. Another resource is the YouVersion Bible App. In fact, you'll find another list of Bible verses about spiritual warfare on the YouVersion Bible App here. It's going to be a long year, but if we are careful to measure everything we see, hear, and read against the truths of Scripture, we will make good decisions and defeat the enemy and his schemes to turn us against God and each other. You may also like:
1/18/2024 0 Comments Resurrected BodiesIn my last post, Why the Resurrection Matters, I told you the reason we are already talking about the Resurrection. My pastors are preaching on the subject and I'm sharing their wisdom with you. *The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon titled Resurrected Bodies. Resurrected BodiesIn my post, Whey the Resurrection Matters, we were challenged to expect God to move in 2024. In this post, we are challenged more specifically to expect God to move in our own lives. God is working and moving right now. Let's pray for God to show us how He is working so we can join Him in His work now. Then, we the time has come, we will be raised again to new life when our work here on this earth is done. But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 1 Corinthians 15:35-37 (NASB) How Are Our Bodies Raised?When we are raised to new life, we will have a transformed body. Think of an apple. An apple was once a seed. After a season of transformation, the seed grows and develops into an apple. Our resurrected bodies will be unique. But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. 1 Corinthians 15:38 (NASB) Our first bodies, our earthly bodies are like the first Adam, the Adam we know from Genesis. Our resurrected bodies, our second bodies, will be like that of the Second Adam, raised as Jesus Christ was raised. Right now, we are perishable. We are all in different stages of the process of dying. But take heart! Our resurrected bodies will not wear down or experience the process of dying. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of mankind, another flesh of animals, another flesh of birds, and another of fish. There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body. 1 Corinthians 15:39-42 (NASB) Our current earthly bodies sometimes bring about dishonor, sin, and shame. Our resurrected bodies will be raised in power, no longer weak or limited. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written: “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” The last Adam was a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy one, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly one, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. 1 Corinthians 15:43-49 Let's look forward to the day when we are raised to new life and our desire to sin is taken away. When Will Our Bodies Be Raised?When will our bodies be raised? We will be raised when Jesus comes back. Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 If Jesus returns for His people today, are you ready? If you aren't sure, go here to learn more about how you can know Jesus personally. What am I going to do until Jesus comes back? I'm going to do what God has told us through Paul's letter to the Corinthians in verse 58. Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Until God calls me home through earthly death or until Jesus comes back at the sound of the trumpet, I will pray for God to make me firmly planted in my faith, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that my labor is not in vain. Will you join me on this journey? Do you know Jesus today? You may also like:
1/18/2024 0 Comments Why the Resurrection MattersWhy are we already talking about the resurrection when Easter is still months away, you might ask? We are talking about the resurrection because my church pastors are doing a series on it and I love sharing their wisdom with you. On the first Sunday of the new year, the sermon title was Why the Resurrection Matters. The resurrection matters a lot and here's why. *The following are my Bible Study notes based on my pastor's sermon titled Why the Resurrection Matters. Why the Resurrection MattersThe Scripture text for the lesson Why the Resurrection Matters is 1 Corinthians 15:12-34. Let's start the new year off with a positive expectation. Expect God to move in 2024, and then let's join Him in that movement. Instead of asking, "What am I going to do in 2024," let's ask, "What is God going to do in 2024?" The church at Corinth wanted to know if the resurrection of the dead is real. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:17 that if Jesus has not been raised, then our faith is useless. Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:12-14 If there is no resurrection of the dead, there is tragedy. The Tragedy of No ResurrectionNo resurrection of the dead would be a tragedy for so many reasons. Without the resurrection . . . 1. Our faith is in vain. 2. Preaching is in vain. 3. We are misrepresenting God. Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 1 Corinthians 15:15 4. We are still in our sin. For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:16-17 5. Faith in Jesus has no useful result. 6. Loved ones who have passed away are gone forever. 7. We have no hope. 8. We have no joy. 9. We have no salvation. 10. If the only hope we have is here on this earth, then we are a people to be pitied. Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ only in this life, we are of all people most to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:18-19 Thank the Lord for verse 20! But Jesus! The Power of the ResurrectionPaul was writing the church at Corinth with a spirit of undeniable truth because he had personally experienced an encounter with Jesus. Paul had no reason to make up a false story. In fact, he was eventually killed for it. Paul's encounter with Jesus was real, not a lie. Paul had experienced something, a truth that had to be told. Before Paul's encounter with Jesus, he had hated Him. Paul had hated Jesus. He had actively participated in the persecution of Jesus' followers, but his encounter with Jesus changed everything. Paul knew that Jesus was resurrected and there was (and IS) power in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But the fact is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man death came, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to our God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is clear that this excludes the Father who put all things in subjection to Him. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 Through Jesus came life! Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so shall we! The Personal Impact of the ResurrectionBecause of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have an active faith and we learn from truthful preaching. As believers in the resurrection, we represent God truthfully. We are no longer bound by our sin. Our faith produces fruitful results. Our loved ones in Jesus who have passed away are not lost forever. They are alive! We have hope, joy, and salvation. We are not a people to be pitied. We are a people loved by a living God. For otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? Why are we also in danger every hour? I affirm, brothers and sisters, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, that I die daily. If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what good is it to me? If the dead are not raised, let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Sober up morally and stop sinning, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. What a tragedy it is to not know Jesus. Is the resurrection of Jesus personal to you? If you have not experienced the saving power of Jesus, then I invite you to learn more about how you can know Jesus personally here. If you are a believer, don't be quiet about it! Tell somebody. Tell a lot of people. Who should you tell today? Expect God to move!Pin this post so others can also learn why the resurrection of Jesus matters! You may also like:
Welcome to the Abundant Family Living Store Blog!Hi. I'm Tina. If you are familiar with this website, then you already know that I offer products I think you'll love. I have more to offer you! My husband has joined my shops as a creator of beautiful laser crafted artwork. His work is stunning and we are excited to add his creations to all three of our shops. You'll find his work here on this website and also in our Etsy and Ebay shops. We have a 5 star rating on Etsy and 100% positive feedback on Ebay. We intend to keep our satisfactory ratings and we are excited to bring you new items in the new year.
Abundant Family Living is more than buying and selling products. It's a way of life. I'm building my brand on a firm foundation of faith. My brand, Abundant Family Living, is based on a scripture verse. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10 (NASB) God intends for us to live life abundantly. He sent His Son, Jesus, so that we can do just that. You can learn more about Jesus and how you can have a relationship with Him here. I hope you'll take time to hop over there and check out that page. My husband and I love designing and creating faith based and family friendly items for you to enjoy. Here on the new blog, I want to bring you faith based inspirational content that will help us all live life more abundantly as we grow closer to the Lord. As we begin a new year, I hope we can build a community here so we can build one another up in our faith. I invite you to join the conversation in the comments section at the end of each post. I look forward to hearing from you. (Side note: Rudeness and spam won't be tolerated, but meaningful conversations are welcome.) Here is what we are offering as we move forward. This blog will be faith based devotional content only. I'll still be contributing to my original Abundant Family Living blog. There you'll find all the fun things I've always offered. I'll still be writing about faith, family, food, and fun. You'll still enjoy kids activities, book reviews, movie reviews, recipes, travel - all things faith, family, food, and fun. My husband and I will be offering products in the following stores. Our products will always be family friendly and we are always grateful for your business. We appreciate you! Here is where you'll find our products: Abundant Family Living Store Abundant Family Living on Etsy Abundant Family Living on Ebay My Mary Kay Website I am a Brave Books Ambassador! I have published two books: When Chronic Illness Steals Your Joy: A 10 Day Devotional for Those Suffering from Chronic Illness Finally, I'm beyond excited to announce the publication of my first full Christian fiction novel, Heartbeat: A Pro-Life Novel. You can visit my author website here. We look forward to hearing from you in the comments sections of my blog posts and we thank you in advance for visiting all of our stores. May you each enjoy a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Living Abundantly in Him Tina View on Pinterest. |
AuthorWelcome to Abundant Family Living. I'm Tina. I write about faith and family and I offer products I think you will love. Learn more about me here. I hope you'll join me here often and I invite you to visit my other websites as well: Archives
February 2024
CategoriesAll Giving Living Out God's Truth Spiritual Warfare The Resurrection Welcome |