Sunday, April 29, 2012

Let Us Not Forget God

A sense of dependency upon God is one of the primary reasons some people serve God faithfully. The absence of that sense of dependency, on the other hand, is the cause of arrogance and pride and a feeling of I don't need anybody, I can take care of myself. This attitude is the result of either not reading or not understanding God's word. God has given us many warnings in his word about departing from Him.
     In the 8th chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses reminded the Israelites that it was God who took care of them in the desert for forty years, and if they would continue to remember God, He would continue to care for them. In verses 11-14 we read, "Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today; lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage..." 
     Because of this present age of affluence and abundance, many people don't desire to become servants of righteousness simply because of their feeling of self-sufficiency and independence of God. They laugh at the idea that they need God! Let me assure you that we need God in a very urgent and real way!
     God told the children of Israel the consequences of forgetting Him in the last two verses of Deuteronomy 8 when He said, "Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. As the nations which the LORD destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the LORD your God."
     God has also told us the consequences of forgetting Him in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. In verse 9 He said that we shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power." We must take heed and not forget God.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Victory Through Christ

In Romans 8:37, Paul says, "...We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." The word "conquerors," as Paul uses it, has the sweet smell of success, the ring of victory, the shout of triumph. It also indicates there must be a contest or a battle before the victory.
     Christianity never promises to shield from the trials and tribulations of life. It does promise to sustain us, and grant us the victory. Paul tells us that the victory is accomplished "through Him that loved us," and that, of course, is Jesus Christ our Lord.
     Our ability to rely on ourselves is a wonderful thing, but it isn't enough in living the Christian life. Jesus said in John 15:5, "...Without Me you can do nothing." If the victory is won, it won't be achieved by our own might or strength, but by the superpower of Christ.
     In Philippians 4:13, Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Through Christ, we can triumph over temptation, gain the mastery over sin, and endure all of the hardships of life. Isaiah 40:29-31 says, "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57). 

Friday, April 20, 2012

Spiritual Blindness

God's gift of sight is perhaps the most necessary and precious of the physical senses. Without sight, we would be constantly bumping into, over, and off of things. Such would be a terrible tragedy, wouldn't it? Imagine, if you would, someone who has the ability to see, yet goes around with his eyes shut, not heeding the dangers that are present, trusting those around him to watch out for him and lead him correctly. This would be a very foolish person indeed.
     Nevertheless, there are those who are even more foolish. Spiritual blindness is much worse than physical blindness. Those who are spiritually blind in most cases don't know it, and in other cases refuse to admit it. Some of the Lord's strongest rebukes were against those who were spiritually blind.
     Jesus said of the Pharisees, "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." (Matthew 15:14). Tragedy strikes when those who possess the ability to see, refuse to do so. The old saying: "None is so blind as he who will not see" is certainly true. 
     After Peter gave his list of the moral qualities a child of God must possess: virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love, he warned in verse 9, "For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins." (2 Peter 1:5-9). Only by studying God's word can we learn the things God expects of us, and "see" what is pleasing to Him. 

Monday, April 16, 2012

A Peculiar People

Have you ever had anyone refer to you as a peculiar person? If you are a Christian you can take that as a compliment because God's people are called peculiar. In 1 Peter 2:9 we read: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Why are Christians peculiar?
Christians are peculiar because they are different. Peter says that "they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you" (1 Peter 4:4). In 2 Corinthians 6:16-17, Paul says that Christians are to be separate from the world. A Christian is peculiar in many different ways. They are peculiar in Name as referenced in Acts 11:26 and in 1 Peter 4:16. Here we can read that this peculiar person is called Christian. The Christian is also known for their great faith (Romans 1:8) and the life that they lead (1 Peter 4:3-4). A Christian always strives to gain a deeper and broader knowledge of the gospel of Christ and as a result knows God (Hebrews 8:10-11). Speech is also another way that we can tell that a Christian is peculiar. Paul says "Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you" (Titus 2:8). So why would we want to be a peculiar person? First and most of all so that we can be counted as one of God's people (1 Peter 2:9-10). Also because Christ gave Himself on the cross for us, and to obtain mercy, to be redeemed, to be in the light, and to show forth God's excellencies. We should all strive to become a peculiar people!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

What Sin Does to Us

Sin is a terrible thing! It is the worse thing that an individual can do because it separates us from our God (Isaiah 59:2). The Bible teaches that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). If one chooses to remain in a sinful condition, then one should expect to receive the eternal death that comes as a result of it. Notice the teaching of God which says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23), and “when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:15). At the final judgment, punishment will be delivered to those who are not in fellowship with God because they are in sin. Jesus has said, “I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:23  -  See also Matthew 25:41-46). We all need to understand that sin, which is a transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4), will bring with it an eternal separation from God when Jesus, our righteous judge, judges us based on His word at the last day. “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

How Can We Free Ourselves of Sin?
We can only be freed from sin by the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7). This takes faith in Jesus (Acts 10:43), which results in being repentant of our sins and being baptized into Christ. “Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Once we are baptized into Christ, then we need to pray and ask for forgiveness of any sins committed after we become a Christian (Acts 8:22-23). 

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Poudre Valley church of Christ

Poudre Valley church of Christ
2926 E. Mulberry Street, Unit B
Fort Collins, Colorado  80524

If you are traveling to Fort Collins or Loveland, Colorado, the gateway to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, I invite you to come and worship with us at the Poudre Valley church of Christ. We are located on East Mulberry Street. The congregation began meeting together on February 19, 2012.
Our service times are:
Sunday Morning Bible Class ----- 9:30 A.M.
Sunday Morning Worship -------- 10:30 A.M.
Sunday Afternoon Worship-------- 1:30 P.M.


(Note: We do not meet on Wednesday night at this time). We look forward to having you come and worship with us. A warm and friendly welcome awaits you! http://www.poudrevalleychurchofchrist.org

History and Geography of the Bible CD on SALE

APRIL SALE - $22.00
I have put "The History and Geography of the Bible Story on CD" on SALE for the month of April only. The retail price is listed for $59.95 and I normally sell it for $29.95 on my web site. The CD is now on sale for only $22.00 for the month of April only. If you order from my website at www.thetfordcountry.com you can order the CD at the reduced price for April only and pay no shipping. The CD will return to the normal website price of $29.95 in May. 
To read about the CD and view a sample of lesson 13, please go to this link.

Stand Up for Christ


As a Christian and preacher of the gospel of Christ, it is so refreshing to see Christians standing up for what they know is right based on the Word of God. It is encouraging to see Christians who are truly dedicated and consistent in their stand for truth, wanting to please God in all manner of life. In the society that we live in today this is not an easy task. Christians who read and study the Word of God know that it is very important to stay the course of righteousness and faithfulness in able to receive the crown of life. The apostle Paul encouraged us to “….be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). A dedicated Christian is one who understands this because living in eternity with Christ is their goal (Revelation 2:10). In writing to the Christians in Ephesus, Paul said for them to “….have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). There are many Christians today that need to read and then make application of what Paul has said here. Christians are to be a special, or peculiar people, set apart for service to God (1 Peter 2:9). This is not the case when one becomes engaged with anything that God has called unrighteous. We are to “expose them,” not fellowship them. Christians know what God wants. Christians know that God is righteous and that people who do things contrary to His teaching are deserving of an eternal death. Yet, many Christians still engage themselves in unrighteous practices and give approval of others who may also practice them. Paul wrote: “who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:32). Jesus said that we must “watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Christians, we must be determined first and foremost to live for God in all manner of our life. A failure to do so will result in an eternal separation from Him forever more. Stand up and let God and others see that we are imitators of Christ, not the people of this world (1 Corinthians 11:1)!