Thursday, Feb 12, 2009

TWG - February 12, 2009 - Avantage from the Word

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An un-ordinary day in the life of Pastor Dennis – as usual. I was still working on Discovery Class II this morning when Carl dropped in. He’s been working on the internet and stuff. Ben stopped by to pick up some materials from me. We went out to watch Bill and Jim playing with the backhoe. John and Colleen said they were going to try to stop in for music practice, but couldn’t make it. Then I ran to lunch with Susan, Ken, Evie and Isaiah. While I was out Phil dropped by some materials for an upcoming Film Festival presented by KGRV and Mike Ruyle dropped off some stuff on a seminar on Islam at Melrose Community Church. When I got back I helped Carl work on the network and then I got Awana ready. Then it was time to pick up kids and what a blast we had at Awana!

Today is February 12, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. We are doing something of eternal significance. We are redeeming the time. That is one of the basic premises of TWG. We believe that what we do every day is so important that we must do the important things each day. That is why we read the word every Day

Today's Scripture reading is Joshua 19:24-51; Psalm 144; Luke 3
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com

Today’s thought comes from 2Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

How will God’s Word change your life? In so many ways! But you must be committed to it. You must decide that God’s Word is Truth! You must believe that its words are binding on your life. When you bind yourself to the Word, the Word binds itself to you. It becomes profitable for the man or woman of God. This is the edge that Christians have over the rest of the World. We have an advantage. But the advantage is not in us, it’s in our commitment to the Word. There are four ways the Word transforms us. #1 Doctrine. Doctrines are the right, true and sound teachings of the Word. The Bible teaches and instructs us about the ways of God. Most people wander around guessing what is right and what is wrong, but we KNOW the Truth if we are instructed from the Word. If you live a lie, your life is headed for shipwreck. The closer you can get your life to line up with the truth the more successful your life will be. #2 Reproof. Reproof means to rebuke error leading to a confession and conviction of sin. It means to convince you of what is wrong in your life so that you can steer away from it. Change is tough, but with the Holy Bible advantage plan, there’s hope! #3 Correction. But the Bible doesn’t leave you “slain in guilt and conviction.” It aims to restore you. That’s what correction is all about. Correction is how to get right. We all know instinctively that we are sinners, we don’t all know the way to fix the problems that come from our sin. #4 Instruction in righteousness. This is the application of doctrine. Doctrines tell us the truth, instruction in righteousness tells us how to put it into practice. This is how to stay right and get better and better every day in every way. Righteousness is the stable state of a person as he ought to be. It’s as good as we can get… mature, right with God from head to heart. To summarize we might say Doctrine what is RIGHT. Reproof is what is NOT right. Correction is how to GET right. And Instruction in righteousness is how to STAY right and become righter and righter. It may not be good English, but it is wonderful theology. That’s why we can say “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Dear Father thank you for Jesus the living Word who transforms my life. And thank you for the Holy Spirit who convicts me of sin, righteousness and judgment. And thank you for the written Word that You use to transform my mind. Help me to line my life up with the Word of God.

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:36 AM |   

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