“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” Genesis 1:28 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.1.28.NKJV
Brothers today I’m praying for order. Many times when I find myself discontent or ineffective in life (work, family, ministry), it is often because I have not ruled myself or my areas of responsibility well and things have gotten out of order (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15). So I am praying that we rule well under the Lordship of Jesus and bring our souls, minds, and life into order. Rule yourself well, rule your household well, and bring God’s truth and grace into every sphere of life that you enter into until every nation proclaims “Jesus is Lord!” (Matt. 28:18-20) – Amen
Take dominion, subdue and rule, work and keep. (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15) Go and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:18-20) These summarize the mission God has given us.
Happy birthday Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Also, “Today — Feb 4th, 1906 — marks the birthday of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of the greatest Christians of the modern era. He understood that faith without ACTION is no real faith.” https://ericmetaxas.com/books/bonhoeffer/
“He had theologically redefined the Christian life as something active, not reactive. It had nothing to do with avoiding sin or with merely talking or teaching or believing theological notions or principles or rules or tenets. It had everything to do with living one’s whole life in obedience to God’s call through action. It did not merely require a mind, but a body too. It was God’s call to be fully human, to live as human beings obedient to the one who had made us, which was the fulfillment of our destiny. It was not a cramped, compromised, circumspect life, but a life lived in a kind of wild, joyful, full-throated freedom—that was what it was to obey God.” Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas https://a.co/9b6VdVe
Creation Mandate – Dominion
In “Genesis 2:15, we learn how man is to fulfill his calling: ‘The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.’ … Work. To work is to labor to make things grow… Keep. To keep is to protect and to sustain progress already achieved… God calls us to bear His image in the real world, in this garden that has become corrupted by sin but is being redeemed by the power of God’s grace in Christ. He calls us to do this by being leaders and servants in the ultimate cause of displaying God’s glory and bearing the fruit of God’s love in real relationships… Our calling in life really is this simple (although not therefore easy): We are to devote ourselves to working/building and keeping/protecting everything placed into our charge.” The Masculine Mandate: God’s Calling to Men by Richard D. Phillips https://a.co/hPkBUjb
THE GOOD NEWS
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV
Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV
But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV
““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV
We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV
There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV
It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV
Brothers, today I am praying that we would read and teach our families from the word of God daily. I am giving God thanks for the gift of my family integrated small group and the participation of the children as they see their parents, fathers in particular, lead worship, teach, and pray as we wrestle to follow hard after God. I pray for all of us to give witness to the gospel in word and deed and model the faith in our lives daily. (Deut. 6:4-9)
“For centuries in America, the Bible was the primary textbook utilized by students—students who became America’s greatest scientists, teachers, statesmen, ministers, businessmen, and military leaders… Fisher Ames, who helped frame the Bill of Rights in the first federal Congress observed, ‘should not the Bible regain the place it once held as a school book? Its morals are pure; its examples captivating and noble. The reverence for the Sacred Book that is thus early impressed lasts long, and probably, if not impressed in infancy never takes firm hold of the mind.’ … History demonstrates that children are capable of learning much more and at a much earlier age than what we in this generation have been led to think. And if God told us in Deut 6 to educate our children in His Word at an early age, it is because He knew that they would flourish under this early intake of His Word. Let’s obey this Scriptural mandate and begin children and students very early in reading and learning His Word.” The Founders’ Bible, 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers
The Left may be more… consistent with their catechisms… and they are catechizing Christian children!
““Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/deu.6.4-9.NKJV
THE GOOD NEWS
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV
Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV
But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV
““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV
We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV
There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV
It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV
Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”” Acts 4:18-20, 23-30 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/act.4.18-30.NKJV
Brothers today I am praying for boldness of faith. Jesus rules over the nations (Ps. 22:27-28) All authority has been given to Jesus in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18) Therefore do not fall into the spirit of fear (2 Tim. 1:7), do not join in the fearful spirit of the 10 spies, but rather join in the courage of Joshua and Caleb (Num. 14). I pray we have boldness in our faith to stand in the truth and speak truth to the nations, discipling them, baptizing them, and teaching them all God has commanded.
Do not fall into a spirit of fear, but work in God’s power, brothers! “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Do not join the 10 fearful spies, but join in the courage of Joshua and Caleb, brothers! “If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”” Numbers 14:8-9
For All authority has been given to Jesus in heaven and on earth. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20
For Jesus rules over the nations! “Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” Psalms 2:8-12
“So, while the heathen rage, what is the Church meant to do? Clearly, all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. We can decry the encroaching darkness all we want. We can even believe that the hostile climate to Christianity is evidence that the End Times are near. But, as it so well expressed in 2 Kin 7:3, in the midst of a community that is under siege, “Why do we sit here until we die?” … Those with a pro-God worldview must become reengaged in society. They must not only vocally and politically reassert their support and approval for the public religious liberties expressions that Americans have enjoyed and cherished for four centuries, but they must also denounce those who attack and seek to abolish those liberties and expressions. If we do not, we will continue to lose them by default-by silence and inactivity. Remember that even though God told His people that He had given them the Promised Land, they still had to keep fighting the giants. In fact, the lesson of the children of Israel clearly demonstrates that if you don’t like fighting, get used to living in the wilderness; but if you want to enjoy the richness of what God has promised, learn to battle hostile forces. We must stand up and do all we can to preserve the national treasures that God has placed into our hands.” The Founders’ Bible, 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers
“So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” …
And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”” Acts 4:18-20, 23-30 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/act.4.18-30.NKJV
THE GOOD NEWS
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV
Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV
But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV
““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV
We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV
There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV
It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV
“but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:20-21 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.6.20-21.NKJV
Brothers today I’m praying for multi-generational glory to God, faithfulness, and impact from our simple parenting labors of discipleship and education this year. A doll house started by my grandfather for my mother, passed on to my brother’s daughters, and now passing on to my daughter. It’s a multi-generational joy, and how much more the treasures in heaven passed on and multiplied! So I pray that this year we have joy in the small daily labors that will have multi-generational impact of treasures in heaven! Be faithful in the small things, brothers. Happy new year!
Building a multi-generational corporate family network of faith
Pray for it! “First, you can’t do it apart from God. Psalm 127:1: “Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it” The corporate family is a gift that vou receive from God.” 1
“Start where you are. Get right with God. Confess your sins. Love your neighbors (family neighbors first), Be thankful for what you have.”
“Second, be patient. The [multi-generational family] vision is a long game. You can’t build a corporate family overnight. It is a long, slow process. Start small and be faithful there. Start praying about it now. In order to build, you need a strong foundation. The family can only be built well when it is built on the gospel. Anything else is quicksand. Love what God has given you right now and be faithful there.”
“Third, think about how you can set up your children and grandchildren for this kind of network… If you are the first Christian in your family, then you are the pioneer. You get the great opportunity to dig up the ground and lay the cement. Do it wisely, Being the first at the work in your family is an incredible gift. Don’t squander it.”
Trust God. “This is all God’s plan. God is in the business of redeeming and building families. So follow Him.”
“Build a Postmil Family” by Jesse Sumpter, Fight Laugh Feast issue 3.4 Winter 2022
THE GOOD NEWS
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV
Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV
But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV
““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV
We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV
There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV
It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” Genesis 1:27-28 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.1.28.NKJV
Brothers, today I am praying for our marriages. God ordained marriage (Gen. 1:27-28). His creation started with a marriage (Gen. 2:18, 21-25) and its redemption is a model of marriage (Eph. 5:22-33) and culminates in a marriage (Rev. 19:6-16). The first attack of Satan was to divide the husband and wife (Gen. 3:1-3, 5-20). And today in America the State has pretended to take authority over marriage from God. We need to pray for our marriages, our spouses, and for the building up and encouraging of one another for the good of our marriages in our CC community and churches. I pray for courage and joy as God’s ordained marriages come under attack (Matt. 19:4-9, 13-15, Jude 1:4, 7). I pray we disciple our children, by instruction and witness, what marriage is and where it comes from to have no doubt, and may God bless our marriages and our children’s marriages and may they “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; [and] have dominion” for God’s glory! Amen!
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” Genesis 1:27-28 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.1.28.NKJV
“And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” Genesis 2:18, 21-25 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.2.18-25.NKJV
“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said…?” … Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”” Genesis 3:1-3, 5-20 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.3.1-20.NKJV
“And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate… And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”” Matthew 19:4-9 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.19.4-9.NKJV
“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.” Matthew 19:13-15 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.19.14.NKJV
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:22-33 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.5.25-33.NKJV
“For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ… as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Jude 1:4, 7 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/jud.1.4-7.NKJV
“But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality… Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.” Revelation 2:14, 16 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rev.2.14-16.NKJV
Doctrine of Balaam, Numbers 22-24. “Balaam was a gifted and eloquent prophet. Balac was the king of Moab. Balac feared the Israelites, who were about to cross the Jordon River into the promised land… Three times, he tried to curse Israel, but God restrained him. When Balaam concluded that he could not curse them, he proposed to corrupt them. He suggested that the Moabite girls should seduce the men of Israel by inviting them to participate in their idolatrous and immoral feasts… The church that is popular with the world today is not the spiritually strong church; rather, it is the church that mixes with the world and which welcomes the unconverted worldling into its fold.” https://www.choctawnation.com/biskinik/doctrine-of-balaam/
““I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts… And I will give to each one of you according to your works. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—” Revelation 2:19-23, 26 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rev.2.26.NKJV
“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:6-16 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rev.19.6-16.NKJV
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” Jude 1:24-25 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/jud.1.24-25.NKJV
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV
Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV
But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV
““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV
We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV
There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV
It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV
Brothers, today I pray we pass the faith on to our children. I pray for the wisdom to disciple and train our children, not just make them converts (Ps. 22:6). I pray I make training them in love, joy, obedience, and the holy conduct of new life a priority in the short time we have, teaching them all God has commanded (Matt. 28:18-20). I pray our children would be born again to a new life to be obedient, holy, and conducting their lives in the reverential fear of the Lord (I Peter 1:3, 13-19). I pray I do not in any way limit the power and influence of the Gospel as I disciple my children!
I have a lot of notes and a lot of article quotes on discipleship in this post. Discipleship is top of mind with a 17 year old and dwindling direct discipleship time, so these are not for criticism or condemnation, but for my edification, and I hope they can help others as well. May revival start in our homes!
Fathers bring your children up in the training and admonition of the Lord! (eph. 6:4)
Fathers must disciple their children. When fathers disciple in all of life for all of life, it isn’t just instruction from a hired hand, it is a way of life, a way of being, and the children see the glory of God in it!
I pray I do not in any way limit the power and influence of the Gospel as I disciple my children!
“A relationship with Christ cannot be reduced to the moment of initial salvation any more than a marriage can be reduced to the vow exchange at the wedding. By replacing our gospel-centrism with Christocentrism we give due weight to the ongoing covenant relationship of Christ to his elect people, and the nature of their regular worship as covenant renewal. To know Christ is not only to receive justification and adoption from him, but it is also a daily renewal consummating in resurrected glory.” https://founders.org/2019/03/18/be-christ-centered-not-just-gospel-centered/
“Christian buzzwords rapidly depreciate in meaning as soon as they are inducted into the religious vernacular. This is especially true of one more popular term: gospel-centered… Certainly we must be gospel-centered… the gospel does deserve our foremost attention and affection, period. The difficulty is that whenever we, as limited humans, reduce biblical theology down to a single theme or emphasis, we inevitably deemphasize some other important component of divine revelation… Rather than settling for what’s popularly dubbed “gospel-centrality”, consider three reasons why Christ-centeredness provides a firmer foundation. 1. Gospel-centrism can abstract salvation from the Savior; Christocentrism delivers Christ and his benefits together… 2. Gospel-centrism can neglect the graciousness of the law; Christocentrism elevates Christ as both Savior and Lord, Redeemer and Lawgiver… 3. Gospel-centrism can devolve into a focus on conversion only; Christocentrism involves the whole of the Christian life.” Be Christ-Centered, Not Just Gospel-Centered https://founders.org/2019/03/18/be-christ-centered-not-just-gospel-centered/
“Although the problems we now face are multicausal and multifaceted, who can deny that fundamentally they stem from a failure of discipleship? … This reflects the skewed way that the gospel is preached in the West: when you reduce the gospel to justification, you naturally see sanctification—being trained in righteousness—as legalism. When you reduce the gospel to justification, you naturally see political work as “of this world.” But the gospel is about salvation through the kingship of Christ—and so Christian life is about discipleship and dominion. It is about being fitted to represent God and act on his behalf, and training others to do the same—even the nations themselves…” https://notes.itsgoodtobeaman.com/frank-talk-about-the-instrumental-role-of-boomers-in-our-civilizational-collapse/
“Our time dislikes strong men – even though I think we’re waking up to the fact that we could use a few. Our time dislikes men with convictions, who speak up, who confront society, who disturb the status quo, men who know what they believe and why they believe it and are not intimidated about saying it. Such men today are branded as troublemakers. They’re branded as controversial. —John MacArthur” https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/2250/stop-criticizing#:~:text=Our%20time%20dislikes,branded%20as%20controversial
“Our forefathers who founded this nation stood on the foundation of Christian thinking and Christian living… Those foundations have been intentionally destroyed by purveyors of wickedness. And the people of God have stood idly by as it happened… The church of Jesus Christ has been commissioned by our Head to make disciples of all nations. The way that we do that is by teaching and preaching the Word of Christ—all of it, including both law and gospel. It is time that God’s people humble ourselves in the face of the undeniable reality that we have not fulfilled this commission very well in the last few generations of these United States. May God grant us the grace to repent, to seek His favor and the power of His Spirit, and to give ourselves wholeheartedly to proclaim the lordship of our Christ throughout this nation once again.” https://founders.org/2022/11/18/a-requiem-for-my-nation/
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… Therefore… as obedient children… you also be holy in all your conduct… conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” I Peter 1:3, 13-19 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/1pe.1.3-19.NKJV
“Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,” Romans 1:5 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rom.1.5.NKJV
“but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— Romans 16:26 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/rom.16.26.NKJV
THE GOOD NEWS
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV
Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV
But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV
““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV
We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV
There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV
It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.” Ephesians 5:25-28 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.5.25-28.NKJV
Brothers, today I pray for courage, wisdom, and joy to sacrificially love our wives (Eph. 5:25). I pray our wives feel safe, secure, and empowered for our God given mission. I pray for the discipline and courage to set aside personal desires for the good of our marriage, family, and mission. I pray for the energy and wisdom to prioritize time in the Word and prayer with our wives for the glory of the Gospel (Eph. 5:26,27, Titus 2:5).
The words are meant “to reflect the school’s namesake, St. Brendan the Voyager, whose legendary voyage for Eden serves as inspiration for our school’s vision: Voyaging together for God’s Holy Mountain. If you’re familiar with St. Boniface, you will also catch a reference in the last verse to his story, in which he chopped down Thor/Donar’s oak to prove the superiority of the God of Christianity over the pagan gods of the people he was sent to reach. Legend has it, he built a church with the timbers. That is another picture that we reference often at my church and the school—engaging culture like Boniface. Let’s invade their high places, knock down their idols, and build churches there.” https://www.patreon.com/briansauve.
THE GOOD NEWS
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV
Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV
But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV
““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV
We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV
There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV
It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV
[24] The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it… [26] and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; Revelation 21:24,26 (NASB)
Brothers I’m praying we experience joy as we labor in love. I’ve been meditating on the things of glory and honor in the nations that will be brought into the new Jerusalem (Rev. 21:26). What joy we have in our salvation. Joy that we didn’t have to earn it by works of the law. Joy that we are now free to work for/in the glory and honor of our Savior to fulfill our purpose and mission. Jesus warns the church, ““I know your WORKS” (Rev. 3:2,15) We do not know the hour of Jesus’ return and should continue working in joy and the power of the gospel for the good and future propagation of the gospel and discipleship of nations in this world for a thousand generations!
Whatever you do, “do all to the glory of God.” (I Cor. 10:31) Whatever our calling and vocation, building or supporting schools, healthcare clinics, farms, and businesses, whatever, our purpose is for the love of our neighbor and the discipleship of the nations. These good works, when motivated by love of God and neighbor, are good things. These things educate, disciple, employ, and care for neighbors, loving them as Christ commanded and can be used to point people to the gospel. The things of glory and honor in the nations will be brought into the new Jerusalem (Rev. 21:26). Rejoice in your labor brothers!
5 Important Christian Political Acts
Thread: The most important political act Christians do is gather on the Lord’s Day to worship God according to His Word. If you gather for a rock concert, comedy hour, or pep rally, you’re part of the problem. There are no quick fixes in politics, and Jesus is not your quick hit.
The second most important political act Christians do is get married, keep covenant with their spouse till they die, and raise a troop of children who love their parents’ God, hate the devil & all his works, and are sharp & dangerous to all unbelief with their joy & creativity.
The third most important political act Christians do is build Christian schools & colleges. These are not worldly institutions with pinches of Bible. These are covenantal boot camps training our kids in the Lordship of Jesus over all things. Classical Protestantism built the West
The fourth most important political act Christians do is start businesses & services producing real goods long term for all, especially the family of God. Those who don’t start their own join others & work for Kingdom minded entrepreneurs, building generational wealth & wisdom.
The fifth most important political act Christians do is participate in the political process, starting locally and then more broadly as opportunities and gifts align. The last 2 years have woken many up to just how rotten our system has gotten; it will take generations to reform.
None of this will work if we are not saturated in all of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation applied to all of life. Secular neutrality is a myth: Christ or nothing, Christ or chaos, Christ or tyranny. And that means the forgiveness of His bloody cross at the center of it all.
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV
Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV
But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV
““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV
We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV
There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV
It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV
“in your splendor ride triumphantly in the cause of truth, humility, and justice. May your right hand show your awe-inspiring acts.” Psalms 45:4 HCSB https://bible.com/bible/72/psa.45.4.HCSB
Brothers, today I am praying for midterm elections. I’m praying for triumph in the cause of truth (Ps. 45:4). I pray, for the love of our neighbors, that God’s truth about life, sex, marriage, gender, economics, localism (subsidiarity), and so much more would triumph. Praying our elders and pastors would be unashamed to teach God’s truth on the issues and that they would fear the Lord more than man.
“For a Christian, voting is not a right, it is a duty! So make sure and vote this election! As Charles Finney declared: ‘[T]he time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them.’ [Lectures on Revivals of Religion, 1858]” WallBuilders Take a Stand – Vote! https://wallbuilders.com/
Know where the candidates stand on the issues. Visit ChristianVoterGuide.com for information, guides, and more!
The IFI (Illinois Family Institute) 2022 Primary Election Voter Guide You will not find this information anywhere else! The online version is updated often.
“when God’s enemies shout that we mustn’t be political, as though this constitutes some trump card that can be used against those who claim to be Christians, we are obliged to hear in these cynical cries the voice of the devil, who similarly tried to keep Wilberforce from doing God’s will through politics and who has tried to keep God’s people from doing good at many times in history.” Eric Metaxas pg. 96 Letter to the American Church
“When Bonhoeffer said that God means the Church to be the conscience of the state, he made it clear that the Church must exist apart from the state and must be free to criticize the state if necessary. When the Church shrinks from this duty – to God and to its fellow citizens – it is not behaving as God’s Church. And when that happens, the state and everyone in it will sufffer.” Eric Metaxas pg. 102 Letter to the American Church
“Bonhoeffer eventually became so disgusted with the simplistic Lutheran idea that Christians should not be political that in ‘The Cost of Discipleship’, he wrote: ‘It is high time we broke with our theologically based restraint towards the state’s actions – which, after all, is only fear.’ Bonhoeffer’s disgust… was of course mainly that it was bad theology.” Eric Metaxas pg. 102,107 Letter to the American Church
FRC: Pray Vote Stand Pledge
“The future of America is in the hands of Christian men and women who will commit to PRAY, VOTE, and STAND for biblical principles to guide our nation. As a follower of Christ led by the Spirit of God and anchored in the Word of God, I commit to advocate and advance biblical truth in my home, workplace, school, church, community, and nation.”
There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.
We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV
Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV
But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV
““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV
We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV
There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV
It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV
Brothers, I read Ps. 144 in my morning reading, and the historical note for Ps. 144:1 in The Founders Bible is about talents and giftings (including the soldier). With a 16 yo planning college visits it has me praying about vocation. I pray we help our children identify and nurture their gifts and talents and disciple them to use them for God’s glory.
“Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me… May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace; may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; may our cattle be heavy with young, suffering no mishap or failure in bearing; may there be no cry of distress in our streets!” Psalm 144:1-2, 12-14 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.144.1-14.ESV
“Beyond the gifts of the Holy Spirit that many of us would be familiar with (1 Cor 12:4-11), the Bible teaches that God bestows various talents and giftings upon individuals, including that of musician (1 Sam 16:18,23; 1 Chr 23:5; 25:7), artisan (1 Kin 5:8-9), hunter (Gen 25:27), jeweler (Ex 35:33), engraver (Ex 35:35), sage (1 Kin 4:29-34), athlete (Judg 13-16), songwriter (Ex 15, the Psalms), civil ruler (Gen 41:41-42; Neh 5:14; Dan 2:48), and orator (Acts 18:26). One gift that is rarely acknowledged today, but is a gift that God specifically affirms in Ps 144:1 is being a skilled soldier: “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.” That, too, is a direct and sovereign gifting of God. Military subjects and issues are talked about repeatedly throughout both the Old and the New Testaments; even John the Baptist gave specific instructions for soldiers and officers as he was baptizing (Luke 3:12-16). And included throughout the Biblical Hall of Fame in Heb 11 are numerous military figures, held up to us as examples for our emulation… There are many other examples, but military-oriented sermons were a regular part of American church practice for centuries for the simple reason that the Bible recognizes this as an important God-ordained vocation. Christians today should regain the perspective that just as God gives special skills to individuals, He makes clear in Ps 144:1 that He also specifically gifts certain individuals to be effective soldiers.” The Founders’ Bible, 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers; Notes on Psalm 144:1; https://thefoundersbible.com
Dobra Family Ministry 