Charles Spurgeon Morning Devotional: John 4:14
"He who is a believer in Jesus finds enough in his Lord to satisfy him now, and to content him for evermore. The believer is not the man whose days are weary for want of comfort, and whose nights are long from absence of heart-cheering thought, for he finds in religion such a spring of joy, such a fountain of consolation, that he is content and happy. Put him in a dungeon and he will find good company; place him in a barren wilderness, he will eat the bread of heaven; drive him away from friendship, he will meet the "friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Blast all his gourds, and he will find shadow beneath the Rock of Ages; sap the foundation of his earthly hopes, but his heart will still be fixed, trusting in the Lord. The heart is as insatiable as the grave till Jesus enters it, and then it is a cup full to overflowing. There is such a fullness in Christ that He alone is the believer's all. The true saint is so completely satisfied with the all-sufficiency of Jesus that he thirsts no more--except it be for deeper droughts of the living fountain. In that sweet manner, believer, shalt thou thirst; it shall not be a thirst of pain, but of loving desire; thou wilt find it a sweet thing to be panting after a fuller enjoyment of Jesus' love. One in days of yore said, "I have been sinking my bucket down into the well full often, but now my thirst after Jesus has become so insatiable, that I long to put the well itself to my lips, and drink right on." Is this the feeling of thine heart now, believer? Dost thou feel that all thy desires are satisfied in Jesus, and that thou hast no want now, but to know more of Him;, and to have closer fellowship with Him? Then come continually to the fountain, and take of the water of life freely. Jesus will never think you take too much, but will ever welcome you, saying, "Drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved."
We have the propensity to get caught up in the routinized wave of everyday activities and forget the real reason of why we exist. We were created to serve God Almighty, not "self almighty" there is no such concept. I'll be the first to admit. There are times when I let work, school work, and other things take take the place of "lord" in a lot of my days. Christ is our Savior, but is He the Lord of our lives. In order for Christ to be Lord He must have FIRST place in our lives.
As believers in Christ, we are facing very challenging days even right now as I type and more so days to come. We must be continually Christ centered and Christ focused all day everyday. People all around us are looking for answers, truth, hope. Christ is all of the above. We, as believers have the answer. He is the answer; He is the truth; He is our ONLY hope.
My prayer will be this: that we would love God with everything we have, and that we would make Him first place in our everyday activities of life.
I pray that you all have a great week!!
Shane Stanley
"But by the grace of God I am what I am"
1 Cor. 15:10
The purpose of this blog is to share with family and friends our life as we strive to follow in God's footsteps as He leads us. Our goal is to lift up and glorify the name of Jesus Christ, that we would be a light in a dark world showing the love of Christ through our lives. May we be a blessing to others.
Monday, October 6, 2008
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WHAT WE BELIEVE
1 - The Word of GOD - we believe both the Old and New Testament scriptures as preserved are the inerrant, infallible, inspired Word of God. All complete and sufficient, and are authoritative for faith and practice in the believers relationship with God. ( Ps. 119:160; Ps. 12:6-7; Pro. 30:5a; II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:19-21)
2 - The One True God - the Bible teaches in the one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three distinct persons but without division of nature, essence or being. Co-equal in power and glory and having a distinct ministry in God’s relation to His creation and people. (Gen. 1:1 Exo. 15:11; Deut. 6:4; Ps. 83:18; 139:7-9; Matt. 28:19; Jn 10:30; 15:26; Acts 5:3-4; II Corin 13:14)
3 - The Lord Jesus Christ - the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Triune God. Jesus is God in flesh, the “God Man”, begotten of the Holy Spirit, was born of the virgin Mary, was tempted as we are, yet without sin. Being the perfect “Lamb of God” he freely gave His life to redeem the sins of man. He gave himself in death on the cross, bearing the sins of the world, arose from the grave conquering death and ascended into Heaven as the intercessor and the advocate before the Father for all those that will receive Him as Saviour. (Isa 7:14; Matt 1:18 - 25; Jn 1:1, 14; 3:16; Gal 4:4, 5; Col 2:9; Phil 2:6-10; I Corin 15:3-7; Heb 4:14 - 17; I Jn 2:1, 2)
4 - The Holy Spirit - we believe the Holy Spirit is the third divine person of the Trinity that instantaneously and supernaturally indwells the hearts of those that receive the Lord Jesus as Saviour. He regenerates, seals, anoints, guides, teaches and baptizes all believers into the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement. ( Jn 3:5; 14:16, 17, 26; Jn 16:7-14; Rom 8:9; I Corin 12: 12 - 14; II Corin 3:6, 18; Eph 1:13, 14; 5:18; Matt 28:19; I Peter 1:2)
5 - Mankind - man was created in the image and likeness of God. By choice man chose to sin and disobey God and is by inherited nature, born in sin, and sinful. Being born in sin man is alienated from a relationship with God, and is under the condemnation of God with no means of salvation within himself. ( Gen 1:27; 2:17; 3:6; Psm 51:5; 58:3; Rom 3:23; 5:12-21; I Corin 2:14; Gal 3:11 )
6 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith - God loves man enough, “ in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us”. Mans salvation / redemption was purchased by the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Christ paid the sin debt for man by his vicarious death. Mans only obligation is to admit his helplessness in his sin nature, repent of his sins, and by faith trust solely in the finished work of the cross and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Salvation cannot be earned, it is the “gift of God” to all those that will freely accept it. ( Eph 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5; Jn 1:12; 3:14, 10:28, 29; Rom 8:1; Phil 1:6; II Pet 3:9; I Jn 2:2; I Corin 15: 1 - 4; Rev 22:17 )
7 - Eternal Security - those that trust in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ are “sealed unto the day of redemption” and eternally saved. ( Jn 3:8; Gal 3:24 - 26; I Jn 5: 11-13; Jn 3:16; Jn 6:36-40)
8 - Satan - is literal and personal, was created holy but through pride and wicked ambition rebelled against God, cast from Heaven and given limited reign of the earth with evil spirits. Defeated at Calvary, but God allows his devices to be used, but only to bring glory to the Lord Jesus. The Christian has the power of resistance and victory through the Blood of Christ. His doom is certain ( Isa. 14:14 - 21, Jn. 16:11; Eph. 2: 1 - 4; Rev. 20: 10)
9 - Heaven and Hell - the Bible teaches there is a literal Heaven being prepared for the saints of God and a literal Hell for those that reject the Lord Jesus. ( Jn. 14:1-6, Matt 31 - 34; Rev. 20:11 - 15; Matt 25:41, 45, 46; Luke 16:19-31 )
10 - The Local Church, Baptism, Communion - the Bible teaches the assembling together of Baptized, immersed, believers that worship the Lord in Spirit and truth, in unity and harmony, and without confusion. Each Church is to carry out the “Great Commission” and observe Baptism by immersion, and the taking the of Lord’s Supper. ( Acts 2:38, Acts 16: 30-33 1st Corin. 11:23 - 32 I Corin 12:13; Eph 1:22, 23; 4:11-15; Gal 1:22 )
11 - Missions - The Local Church is to actively support the Gospel Message that is carried to the nations abroad, thus having a part in fulfilling the great commission given by the Lord. ( Matt. 28: 19 & 20)
12 - Second Coming - The Bible teaches the pretribulational, premillennial and imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ. First is the “catching away” of the saints, then a seven year period of tribulation, then the Second Coming of the Lord to rule and to reign the earth for the millennium. ( Matt. 24:44, John 14:1 - 3, 1st Corin. 15: 51 - 57, 1st Thess. 4:13 - 18 )