Posts Tagged ‘ Election ’
God is in control.
He’s got this.
Regardless of who is in power.
Trust Him.
“The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8, CSB
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose
Romans 8:28 ESV
This is not saying God only lets good things come our way, rather that He is working all things for our good, to make us more like the Son and to bring about His Kingdom on Earth.
the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued to extend faithful love to you.
Jeremiah 31:3, CSB
Though we all stray from God, He calls out in love to come home. Today, He uses the Church, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to call to this fallen world.
Be His voice.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9, ESV
God chose us.
His main calling for us?
Matthew 28:18-20. (Look it up!)
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
Psalm 33:18, ESV
Our God is always watching over us. Remember, “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31, ESV
When we are doing God’s work and living rightly, it does not matter what others say and do. We know we are justified, made right with God.
No one can take that from His people.
I think Jason hit the nail on the head with this one. I know I for one have been frustrated with many brothers and sisters in Christ, so it helps knowing I am not alone!
Perhaps you feel the same. Perhaps you will feel convicted by this. In any event, this is a word of wisdom through Jason.
Last night I thought Twitter and Facebook were going to literally explode. I watched the election results like many Americans. Personally, I voted differently than the results played out last night. I was disappointed.
I was also disheartened. I wasn’t disheartened by Barack Obama winning (I voted for Romney). I wasn’t disheartened by the legalization of marijuana in Washington and Colorado (I think this is a big mistake for those states). I wasn’t disheartened that Maine and Maryland voted to approve gay marriage (Although, I was deeply grieved that traditional marriage was dealt such a big blow).
Can I tell you why I was disheartened? Believers in Jesus were despairing.
Earlier I talked about Bill and Ted demonstrating the most excellent story ever told, and really how we just need to always be ready to explain our faith to anyone we can.
If God can use this guy ...
Today is a short but sweet message.
Bill and Ted were two young men who lacked many intellectual capabilities, yet they changed their world (and ultimately the galaxy) into a peaceful and prosperous one.
If two know-nothings can change their world with a tiny bit of help from God, how much more do you think you can do? Believers in Jesus Christ are given His power through the Holy Spirit. You can deny He still works in us today. You can even deny that miracles still happen. I love to break it to you, but the Holy Spirit does indeed still work and perform miracles through His people.
Do not think for a moment that you are not good enough to ever do anything. With the power of the Holy Spirit working through you, you can make drastic changes to your own little part of the world and maybe even the rest of the world!
Remember that Billy Graham was a boy who heard a message in a tent and went on to become the most famous evangelist in the world. Bill Gates is a college dropout who is now one of the richest people in the world. Barack Obama is the son of a Kenyan foreign student and a middle-class woman, yet today he is the leader of the free-world.
Do not think you are any less. Jesus did say “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31, NIV … and I suggest reading the entire chapter).
You can do anything through the power of Christ. You were meant to do great things, even if it is “merely” being somebody’s friend.
I have been reading a lot of blogs recently all asking many similar questions and treading on dangerous theological grounds.
My turn!
We hear the common argument for lifestyles, behaviors, and other issues that are attributed to sin or not wanting to do something of “But I was born this way.” The most vocal people using this argument right now are homosexuals. Can we accept this argument? We do not see any genetic reason that this is true (but maybe we could?). If we are born into sin, then is it not possible to be born gay? I do not agree that trans-gendered individuals or cross-dressers can use this argument. The claim then becomes “God made a mistake with me, so I am getting back into His will.”
I am sorry, but if God made a mistake about that opens up the possibility nothing is really true. If that is true, then Jesus’ words (“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”) are not true and Scripture is wrong. To claim to believe that God made a mistake with you contradicts God’s word.
But what about homosexuality or addictions or various sinful behaviors?
One thing I have heard frequently in my life is that God does not listen to the prayers of sinners (meaning those who have not “accepted Christ” or something like that). My theological world has been rocked many times in the past year, and one area where this has happened is with this very issue.
I know someone who “prayed the prayer of salvation” years ago. This person was baptized. A couple years after being baptized, this person went off to college and began dating people … wait for it … of the SAME gender! I was sure this loved one was now on a sure road to Hell.
This past summer (2010), this person was in desperate need and prayed to God for help.
He answered that prayer. That prayer was answered in amazing ways. How can this be?
I have never been a full-fledged Calvinist. In fact, I learned over the past few years that I was more Arminian than Calvinist. One thing I have always believed is that God’s grace is greater than anything I can understand.
Why were these prayers answered? Is this person one of God’s elect? What does that even mean?
This event did remind me of something else, however.
A few years back I was in a relationship that I allowed to come between God and me. I became more of a sinner than I was before Christ found me. (There is a sentence full of theological conversation starters!) I broke promises I had made to myself and God and others. My fruit was decidedly not of the Spirit. I have stories that almost embarrass me today.
But God brought be back. He answered many of my prayers during that period of my life.
If He listened to me, why not others?
Is homosexuality a bad enough sin that it can separate someone who believes from contact with God? What about gambling, drunkenness, promiscuity, being a politician, vegetarianism, pornography, or whatever?
1 John – and even Galatians 5 – talks about not having God in us or missing out on the Kingdom if we keep on sinning. It can be quite confusing.
Any thoughts on this? Am I getting to heretical, or is it entirely possible that God will still save those of us who adopt different lifestyles and sins?
a simple man of God 