|
GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue #1,057 March 13, 2004 Changes
As I stood in front of the mirror trimming my goatee and moustache, I pondered some of the changes in my appearance over the years. There have been lots of other changes in my appearance over the years, but pretty much all of them have been by their very nature external and temporary. It remained the same me inside. The concept of personal change got me thinking about what happens when we become Christians. Those changes are very different. Rather than external and temporary, they are external and eternal. As I wandered down that train of thought and pondered what it all meant, I realized that many churches have sold their members an incomplete bill of goods. They teach that we're only sinners saved by grace. That's true, our salvation isn't earned it is only available through faith that accepts what Christ has done for us. So it is true that we are sinners saved by grace. What's not true is the "only". You see once we're saved, we are made new. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV We have become children of the King with the freedom and responsibilities that entails. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God John 1:12-13 NIV We have become empowered For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. Colossians 2:9-10 NIV We have been gifted. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NIV I could go on and on, but there isn't room or time this morning. Being sinners saved by the grace of God is a wonderful gift, but it's only the beginning. It's the starting point not the destination. Church, it's time to quit dwelling in being merely sinners saved by grace. We must never forget that is who we are and become arrogant or self-righteous, but it is time we embraced our new identities in Christ and moved forward to change the lives of those in our family, our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our communities, our country and the world. Until next time, walk in the humility of being a saved sinner, but also in the bold authority of a new person, born of God, and gifted by God. Hallelu Yah (Praise God) Be blessed Kevin Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that heaven will not be complete without you. HELP FOR THE HURTING Life can hurt and we can mess up pretty badly. When that happens we often wonder if there is any hope for us or if there is any relief available. There is. Jesus died for you and I that we might be reconciled to God. With that reconciliation comes a hope; peace; joy; healing; forgiveness and eternal life with Him. All we have to do is accept His offer of reconciliation. You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart, admitting you need God's help, and saying a prayer along the lines of: Jesus: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports email us If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page . You can write to us at Gleanings From The Word Ministries International 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2003 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Minististries International - All Rights Reserved
|