Christianity Oasis Forum

[totallylovedbygod4]

Welcome to Noonday Devotion

What a great privilege it is to share with you. I do hope you are blessed and encouraged.

All that I ask is that you read and are blessed by the devotions, if you are then others will be too. These devotions are free and so please share them with all your friends

Also take time to click on the links.

God bless you and thanks so much for your fellowship in the gospel

With Love in Christ

Keith

ONLY ONE WAY TO SALVATION


Isaiah 53

11 He shall see [the fruit] of the travail of His soul and be satisfied; by His knowledge of Himself [which He possesses and imparts to others] shall My [uncompromisingly] righteous One, My Servant, justify many and make many righteous (upright and in right standing with God), for He shall bear their iniquities and their guilt [with the consequences, says the Lord].

I just love this verse.

Have you wondered what was the travail of the Soul of Jesus. We catch a glimpse of that in the Garden.. when it says that great drops of Blood were pouring off Him. The agony of the cross was so awful.. it is completely beyond our comprehension and thoughts.

What was the Travail of His soul for. Had it a purpose?

IN Romans chapter 5. Paul sheds light on the reason for our Lord's sacrifice. It was to justify sinful men and women like us before a holy God. Only The spotless Lamb of God could do this.. there is only one way to salvation and that is through faith in the spotless Lamb Of God.

Romans 5

1 THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified ([a]acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to [b]enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

2 Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.
17 For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God's] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

18 Well then, as one man's trespass [one man's false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man's act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men.

In our Key verse we read that Jesus will see the fruit of his travail.. what is His fruit.. us of Course.

There will be a day when we as believers will see Him face to face, we shall look into the face of the One who gave His life to redeem us. I honestly believe this brethren, that Jesus will personally introduce us to His Father and our Father and just say Dad.. this is one of the Children.. that You have given Me.

I long for that Day.. honestly this is something that totally thrills me.. All pain, all sickness, everything will be gone.. we will be with Him.

What a wonderful and blessed day that will be, it will be beyond description and beyond our wildest dreams.

Our Saviour is totally awesome.

Glory and honour to the Lamb who was slain and lives for evermore.. and all God's people shouted..AMEN

For further Study

Romans 5
Revelation 5:9
Revelation 7:9-10

GOD BLESS YOU

Keith


Guest Devotion by Jerry Miller

Christianity and Church Isn't About Putting On A Show


I am empathically letting you know that I am in no way targeting Pentecostals.What I am about to describe goes on in many churches and denominations in one form or another regardless of what they "label" themselves as.

I watched a few minutes of a televangelist show tonight. A few minutes were all I could stomach. I don't even know why they refer to themselves as "evangelist" when none of their televised shows ever include a message of the Gospel. Christians most often hear sales pitches to "sow financial seed to their ministry and set in motion there way to health, wealth, and prosperity in all they endeavor to do."

I have to admit, the "preacher" really put on a good show.

That's not the plan Jesus has in mind for those who teach and preach in His name.

Matthew 23: 1-6 ~ Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,"The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the Scriptures. So practice and obey whatever they say to you, but don't follow their example. They don't practice what they teach. They crush you with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to help ease the burden."Everything they do is for show."

This televangelist worked himself into a sweat and a fevered frenzy. He claimed he felt the Holy Spirit come over him. He turned to the choir and got them to sing an upbeat song. He told the congregation to stand up and shout for Jesus. Then he did what he called a "dance in the spirit." He was shaking like a twig in a tornado.

Before long, he began to speak in an unknown tongue, but no one was there to interpret what was said.

People were falling to the ground, supposedly slain in, by, or with the Holy Spirit.

I have searched the Bible and no where does it state that we "feel" the Holy Spirit.There are evidences of the Holy Spirit's presence, but no mention of "Holy Ghost Goose Bumps." The Bible mentions the power of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, and the fruits of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit does place a calling upon us that will not go away. These are not feeling. They are the still small voice of the Holy Spirit telling of God's will for us.

No where does the Bible encourage the use of tongues unless there is an interpreter present.

1 Corinthians 14:27-28"If anyone speaks in an [unknown] tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by turn; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

No where does the Bible mention a Christian being "slain" (caused to fall upon the ground and lose consciousness by the Holy Spirit.)Ever mention of the word slain in the KJV means "killed."

The Bible does mention shouting unto or for the Lord but the Greek and Hebrew words used do not mean to shout "Whoopee!"They refer to cry aloud in summons, exhortation of wisdom; to give a ringing cry of words expressing joy, exultation, praise; to sing out.

No where are we told in the Bible that the Holy Spirit will cause us or to make us dance.There Is No Holy Ghost "Jig"spoken of in the Bible. The Bible does mention dancing before the Lord due to our personal joy and praise. King David once danced through the streets of Jerusalem in praise of the Lord.

Psalms 149:3-5 "Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre. For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. Let the godly ones exult in glory; Let them sing for joy on their beds."

No where does the Bible teach that a preacher is to emotionally stir a crowd into a state of frenzy.Jesus always calmed those who came to hear Him teach, and if the crowd got emotionally worked up, He would leave.

Going to church to see and participate in an emotionally charged show is unbiblical.We meet together so that everyone can learn of God, and be encouraged in our daily walk with Him. We gather to give thanks, to sing His praises, and to comfort each other.

1 Corinthians 14:26-33 "Well, my brothers and sisters, let's summarize what I am saying. When you meet, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given to him or her, one will speak in an unknown language, while another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must be useful to all and build them up in the Lord. No more than two or three should speak in an unknown language. They must speak one at a time, and someone must be ready to interpret what they are saying. But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately. Let two or three prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can wait their turn. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the other churches.

Colossians 3:15-17 "And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.

If you want to be entertained or you want to be part of a show, that's ok. But doing so when a group of people have gathered to be taught the Word of God to pray and to worship is not the place to do so. Church and Christianity isn't about putting on a show that excites you.

You and I can entertain one another if we please at our homes our going out for the evening. We can watch a movie, tell jokes, put on a show for one another (such as a acting out characters or anything that is not sinful. I have a great sense of humor. I love to make people laugh and use my numerous old man voices and made up stories about the staff and other "guest" in the nursing home I rent.

The greatest danger is in believing that the Holy Spirit only "shows up" when everyone is on an emotional "high" is that Satan can easily do something to make you feel all emotional.

Another great danger is in believing and teaching a congregation that the Holy Spirit is not present in a church service or in an individual's life if there isn't some running down the aisles, shouting, falling into a trance, and feeling all tingly.

Sadly those who don't do these actions are told that there is some sin in their life that prevents the Holy Spirit from setting them free to be a part of the excitement.

Let me clearly state that you are sadly mistaken if you believe I am talking badly about Pentecostal Christians and congregations. In one way or another things like what I have described take place in many congregations of whatever that prefer to "label" themselves as.





Special Sermon

Please take time to listen to this wonderful sermon

http://www.sermonaudio.com/playpopup.as ... 1607105613



Guest Website

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http://www.saveiraqichristians.com/