| |
|
| | The Stella-Holman.com Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | | Cross Rhythm Life Files-Sonship | Views: 287 | | May 31, 2007 4:25 pm | | Cross Rhythm Life Files-Sonship | # | 
Stella Holman | | Romans 8
This Chapter will rock your world and if you have an amplified Bible read it from there - pick out verses 13 to 16 and here we go!
A few weeks ago I was having a conversation over dinner with a very close friend. The conversation started on the subject of my last Life File - "The King and the Priest" (Ezra 7) but quickly progressed to the principle of "sonship" as in you and I are God's sons... or daughters, as the case may be and what that means. It really challenged me hard.
I realised that I really didn't know what that meant, so my friend used a great analogy. He likened my relationship to God with my relationship to my Dads. It doesn't matter what time of the day or what they are doing - if I need to speak with them, I do. I don't schedule an appointment; I don't have to approach them a certain way and I definitely don't have to be worthy of an audience with them in order to get their attention. Because I am their son and they love me - I have the relationship to be with them whenever I need or want. This is sonship or daughtership!
This is what we have with God but we don't often see it this way, do we?
Do you ever strive to please Him? Do you ever think "If I do this then maybe He will notice and do that?" Have you ever tried to act a certain way or talk a certain way thinking it will get you closer to Him?
If I were to see Him in the way I do my earthly fathers it would mean that I wouldn't strive for God's attention...
Romans 8: 15-16
'For the Spirit which you have now received is not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption the Spirit producing sonship in the bliss of which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! The Spirit Himself thus testifies together with our own spirit, assuring us that we are children of God.'
Can you see it that way? Do you see yourself as HIS? It very quickly let's you realise that you can't do anything to make Him love you any more or any less. Once you accept that fact you might find you will stop striving for what you want from Him. The problem with striving is that it means to keep doing the same thing expecting a different result. STOP striving and start living!
I want to encourage you to see yourself the way that God does - as one of His very special ones. He longs for you to just drop by, stop in and hang out. So why not get over yourself, act like one of His kids and see what happens next.
You'll need to read all of Romans 8 but here's a sneak peek:
Romans 8: 37-39
'Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
Be Blessed Child of God!
Jamie Anderson
Creative Director
Prayer for the Nations
www.prayerforthenations.org
View all Cross Rhythms Life Files
View more Life Files by Jamie Anderson
Cross Rhythms - www.crossrhythms.co.uk
PO BOX 1110, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 1XR, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 8700 118 008, Fax: +44 (0) 8700 117 002
Email: admin@crossrhythms.co.uk Private Reply to Stella Holman | | May 31, 2007 4:32 pm | | Cross Rhythm Life Files-Hebrews 11, Hebrews 12: 1-2 | # |
Stella Holman | | No-one is entirely clear who wrote the book of Hebrews. Theories include Paul, Luke, Barnabus, Apollos, Silas, Philip and even Priscilla. For some reason, the author felt the importance of their message outweighed the need to reveal their identity.
There are many themes explored throughout the book but one of the author's main foci seems to be a concern that Jews who had come to faith in Jesus were struggling and now having second thoughts. They were wondering whether they would make it? Was this a faith worth following? Should they go back to their old life?"
So the writer seeks to challenge and inspire the reader to 'press on', and with this in mind, the author produces one of the most famous passages in the New Testament; Hebrews 11. The roll call of men and women of faith! In 40 verses of scripture the author works their way through Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel - plus a whole host of others whose stories are told and yet their names not given.
These were men and women who had a persevering faith. They were not super-spiritual giants but real people like you and me - experiencing doubt, sin, pride, jealousy and yet, they finished their race, and finished it well.
Some of us look at other Christians and measure ourselves against them. They appear to be so Godly, they know their Bible so well, they seem to pray for hours a day - we feel we'll never be like this so we give up - what's the point?
But the truth is this. None of us are perfect. The writer wants to remind us that the history of planet earth is full of men and women who struggled and doubted their ability to come through for God, but with perseverance, they ran their race and received the great 'well done'.
The history of God's people bears witness to that same truth. Over the years, a movement of ordinary people have achieved some extraordinary things for God - people who were not perfect, but who simply committed themselves to respond to the call of God.
We can take comfort from the story of those who have gone before us. We can take comfort from the fact that they too constantly wrestled with the same doubts that we do at times - they often wondered 'Will I make it?"
...and yet they kept on, they endured - and so will we.
And so, "...since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." Hebrews 12: 1-2
Matt Summerfield
Executive Director
Urban Saints
Luton
www.urbansaints.org Private Reply to Stella Holman | | May 31, 2007 4:40 pm | | re: Cross Rhythm Life Files-Solomon's Wisdom | # |
Stella Holman | | 2 Samuel 12:24-25, 1 Kings 4:29, James 1:5, 1 Kings 3:11-14.
"Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved the child and sent word though Nathan that his name should be Jedidah - 'beloved of the Lord' - because the Lord loved him." 2 Samuel 12:24-25.
As we know Solomon had his ups and downs; he was to become the richest, wisest and blessed with 'the ladies' of any King around, but which of these made God love him? None. Even as a baby, unable to do anything, God declared His love for Solomon. Solomon was able to go through his life knowing that he was loved by God. Regardless of what he was going to obtain or do, he would always be 'beloved of the Lord'. As Philip Yancey writes "There is nothing you can do that will make God love you more and nothing you can do to make Him love you less"
Solomon gets a sort of "you've got one wish" opportunity. What does he ask for? Wisdom. What does he get? - wealth, honour, long-life, wisdom and understanding! That's a kind of 'buy one, get four free offer.'
'And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore." 1 Kings 4:29.
God gives wisdom like He gives all His gifts - completely. God never gives almost enough, He gives abundantly. Some may need more than others, but God gives more than enough for everyone according to their need. Solomon needed some extreme wisdom to know what to do with the Kingdom he had inherited - he asked and God gave it.
The wisdom of Solomon was really the wisdom of God, and He promises it to each of us if we need it and ask Him. 'If you need wisdom - if you want to know what God wants you to do - ask Him and He will gladly tell you." James 1:5.
"So God replied, "Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people and have not asked for a long life or riches for yourself or the death of your enemies - I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding mind such as no one else has ever had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask for - riches and honour! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! And if you follow me and obey my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life." 1 Kings 3:11-14
Why did God do that? - Solomon didn't want fame and fortune. He knew he was like a little boy pretending to be king and he wanted to do the best he could for God - His motive was pure. When push came to shove, Solomon was more concerned about God and his people than himself - it's that kind of heart that God can trust with fame and fortune.
BUT HERE'S THE WARNING:
Even though Solomon was given wisdom and all the other blessings - it didn't make him invincible. He married over 700 women from other nations for political reasons - this was a direct disobedience of God's command not to inter-marry.
God's gifts are given completely - but that doesn't mean we can't misuse them or mistreat them. Solomon was given wisdom, but he also acted stupidly. However, there was nothing he did that made God stop loving him - same goes for you.
Steve Holloway
Founding Director
east2west Trust
www.e2w.org.ukPrivate Reply to Stella Holman | | May 31, 2007 4:45 pm | | Cross Rhythm Life Files-Life Files: Let Go, Turn Around, Walk Away | # |
Stella Holman | | Genesis 18 & 19, Psalm 103:12
If I were to say, 'Sodom and Gomorrah', what would be the first words that come into your head? Wickedness? Sin? They are two places that you may have heard about in a Bible story at school or Sunday school. Everyone remembers the bit where Lot's wife turns into a pillar of salt. It's good to go back to these passages, and ask yourself, what more could there be to learn here? You think you know them, and then, well, you read them again. Anyhow, I thought I'd share my most recent musings on these famous wicked cities with you.
You'll find the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18 and 19. The background to the story is of a history between two men, uncle and nephew, Abraham and Lot. Abraham had brought Lot up, but they parted company when their servants started arguing. Lot moved away and pitched his tents and people near Sodom, a city renowned for being full of sin.
In chapter 18, you'll find that God tells Abraham that the sin in Sodom and Gomorrah is so great that He plans to destroy them. Abraham, knowing that his nephew and his family are living there, pleads with God to remember Lot, a man who knows the Lord, but, living in such a sinful place, struggles to keep his standards in line with God's.
In chapter 19, it is written that God sends two angels to warn Lot that the city is about to be destroyed. Lot is persuaded and he flees with his wife and daughters. As the city crumbles behind them, his wife looks back to her home. She turns into a pillar of salt.
This account teaches us about God's character. Lot, like the rest of us, was a sinful man. He had a degree of status within the city, a good home, and material possessions. He wanted to be comfortable. However, he had compromised his faith by moving into a city where the sin is, in God's words, 'grievous' (18:20). If you think our society is bad, take a look at these chapters. Anyone living amongst that level of sin would find it tough to keep to God's laws. Yet God was willing to move to save Lot and show him His grace. He did not turn His back on Lot, but gave him another chance.
Years and years later, the very son of this God, breathed His last on a cross. A perfect being, the man that should have never been blamed for anything, was blamed for everything that He didn't do. For the sake of you and I, he stretched out His arms and became the very thing His father could not look at; sin. That thing that stands as a barrier between us and God until we accept His forgiveness. Whether it's the first time or the hundredth time, let us not think that we can gloss over our sin, sweep it under the carpet, hope it will go away. Let's not think that if we do it again, and again, and again, that it'll be okay; that we can always say sorry afterwards. Let us also not think that if we are trapped in our repetitive sin, that there is no escape.
I have been since mulling over forgiveness and feel that there are two things I need to write here about it:
* Don't just say sorry to God and then struggle on; repent. Repentance is a funny word. My Dad - a wise man in my eyes - said that repentance is like a U-turn. Turning your back completely on sin and walking in the other direction. Refusing to do it again, or go anywhere near it, for that matter.
* Stop holding onto your sin and thinking that God hasn't or won't forgive you. Simply ask yourself the questions: am I actually sorry? Do I want to stop doing it? Do I want God's forgiveness? Look at Lot's wife. For her, the pull of sin was just too great. If you can say that you are truly sorry, then this is for you:
'As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.' (Psalm 103:12)
So, let go of your sin. God's grace, the same that saved Lot from destruction, that saved many other people in Bible times and millions of others besides, is that which was manifested in the perfect man Jesus. He loves YOU, and is available for you today, whether you have been a Christian for 10 years or 10 days, and you need to embrace His grace. Embrace it, accept it. But you have to let go of your sin. You have to turn around and walk away.
Teresa Phillips
Youth Leader
The Potter's House
Stoke-on-TrentPrivate Reply to Stella Holman | | May 31, 2007 4:50 pm | | Cross Rhythm Life Files-Life Files: Life Files: Super Hero Verses Super Servant! | # |
Stella Holman | | John 13:1-17, Matthew 4:18-20, 1Peter 5:2-7, Matthew 25:40
I want you get a bigger picture of who this God really is....now when I say big I mean really big. I want to stretch your imagination to the limit, cos' surely that's what God does. He is greater than we can imagine, bigger than we can comprehend.... but He choose to show us who He is.... so let's have a closer look.
In the Roman times, when Jesus was born, God's people (called the Jews) were waiting for God to send a rescue plan - a Messiah. Now they thought this Messiah geezer was going to sort out all their problems and deliver them. They thought he'd be SUPER human and it was his job was to nail the Romans (who were oppressing the Jews) and to save them all and put the world right!!.... a lot like a SUPER HERO.... SUPER MESSIAH if you will!!
So the scene is set. The Romans (badies) are doing the heads in of the Jews (goodies) and they're getting well annoyed. The Jews are praying to their God that he will come and save them with Mr. SUPER MESSIAH whilst quietly and with no-one but a few farm animals and some peasants watching - Jesus was born in a stable....not quite the heroic entry they were waiting for!!
So Jesus grows up, under the watchful eye of his parents who are amongst the few who realise that he is no ordinary boy!!
Now I think at this point it is best to start following the story of one particular guy who met this Jesus....he's called Peter. So check this, Peter has grown up in a Jewish school so he knows all about this SUPER MESSIAH that everyone is waiting for. Unfortunately he didn't pass the exams to stay on at school and learn from the rabbi (teacher) so he became a fisherman. And one day he's doing his fishy job, when all of a suddenly a guy appears on the shore and says 'Come follow me' (see Matthew 4:18-20). Suddenly Peter realised that this was the guy he'd been taught about and immediately he leaves his nets and follows Jesus. So Peter was expecting something pretty awesome from this guy. perhaps he'd start a war, or crush the Romans with his super little finger....but Peter learnt a lot!
Yes in many way Jesus was the super hero, SUPER MESSIAH in the way that he did awesome things.... he turned water into wine, he calmed storms, he helped Peter walk on water, he fed thousands of people with some bread and fish, he healed people, he even healed Peter's mother in law!!. He did many SUPER things. But interestingly enough this still didn't help Peter totally understand who Jesus really was. It was only until Jesus started becoming the SUPER SERVANT that Peter began to truly realise what was happening. Let's look at John 13:1-17. Jesus is hanging out with his mates having a meal when he got up, took a towel and some water and went to wash his mate's feet - the job a servant would do. Now I need to mention something here - washing your mates feet in this modern age isn't exactly a great pass time, but when this took place people wore open toe sandals and walked around in dust, dirt and camel poo! So, would you be up for washing those kinds of feet? Not likely. But here Jesus takes on the job of the lowest of the low and goes to wash Peter's feet. Now Peter, who thinks Jesus is the SUPER MESSIAH, is utterly disgusted and point blank refuses to let Jesus wash his feet!! To which Jesus replies 'Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.' This is well interesting because here Jesus is saying yes I am the Messiah you have been waiting for, but I have also come to serve you and I will eventually lay down my life for you, unless you let me do this you won't understand who I am. This is mega shocking to Peter. The tables have turned and Jesus is no longer just SUPER MESSIAH he is SUPER SERVANT!
And this is the message that Peter takes with him to the grave. Not only does he see Jesus as the great over-comer and the one who will make all things right, but He is also the great servant. In one of his books in the Bible Peter writes this (1 Peter 5: 2-7):
'Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.'
And that's what we need to know too. Yes Jesus will bring miracles into our lives and great things will happen in His name, but let us not forget He came to serve and so should we.... be eager to serve as Jesus was - SUPER MESSIAH and SUPER SERVANT. Yes pray for miracles and ask Jesus to do amazing things in your life, but don't forget to serve for Jesus himself said 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:40).
How about reading the following and see in depth how Peter's relationship with Jesus unfolded, check out - Matthew 16:13-20, Matthew 16:21-28, Mt 26:31-75, John 21:1-25.
Lucy Smith
Genetik Course Trainer and Eden Worker
The Message Trust
Manchester
www.message.org.uk Private Reply to Stella Holman |  | |
| |
