12 minute read
Education
Returning To Your First Love
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” (Revelation
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2:4-5)
Are you and those who are with you dangerously close to experiencing this judgment? Is the Light of God’s presence dim, almost imperceptible? Do you have form without power and activity without fruit? If so, Christ says you must . . .
Remember
Using a few key words and phrases, indicate what it was like in the time of your purest and most sincere affection for Christ. Think about habits, feelings, attitudes, liberties, and effectiveness.
Repent
Write out the habitual sins of your life and those acts against others that have not been dealt with in humility and honesty. Carefully consider the sins listed below and ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to all areas of disobedience. Pray for the grace to sincerely and deeply change both heart and actions. Do not stop short in your evaluation. And do not be deceived. Anyone can name his sins, but those God uses most determine to stop their sinful activity, right every wrong, and walk in obedience. This God-given determination and true hatred of each sin is biblical repentance.
Read over the list below carefully. Mark items which need further reflection as you are writing out your sins. (If in a group, a leader may read this section out loud slowly while the group contemplates and makes a list.)
Are there sins of pride, preoccupation with appearance or status, always having your own way, drawing of attention to yourself in conversation, self-pity, forgetfulness, and inconsideration of others due to self-absorption? Do you act as if you know everything? Is there rebellion, willfulness, stubbornness, haughtiness, pouting, and over-sensitivity, or a despising of the authorities God has placed in your life? Has bitterness, anger, rudeness, or a sharpness of speech toward others entered in? Is there lack of love? Have you left relationships not mended? Have you been unforgiving?
Are there sins of speech, such as coarse jesting, filthy language, crudeness, slang unbecoming a child of God, undue pessimism in light of God’s goodness, judging of others? Are you materialistic, always concerned with your money and possessions, lusting for more and more, insistent upon having the latest and the best, discontent with what God has given, ungrateful? Are you dishonest, telling half-truths to appear better than you are? Have you stolen goods, time, or information? Have you stolen from God?
Are you immoral in mind or body; do you let impure and worthless things come before your eyes; are you flirtatious; do you dress, speak, or behave sensuously? Do you have a secret love for the impure? Are you jealous or envious of others? Do you worship and serve God halfheartedly? Are you prayerless? Do you neglect his Word? Are you failing to trust God, making Him out to be an unconcerned and unloving Father? Do you worry? Are you involved in any way in the occult, consulting mediums, astrology, or witchcraft?
Are there sins of over-indulgence, pleasing the body first and foremost? Are you unconcerned over the plight of others who are impover-
Education
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" Speaking In Jesus' Name" What does it Mean?
What does the phrase, "in Jesus’ name" mean to you? Does it mean, "I'm doing this for Jesus," or "this is in remembrance of Him?" Or are you saying, "These words and actions are backed by the very powers of Heaven."
My first public job was working on the construction of Interstate 40, through Knoxville, TN. It began one morning in the Spring of 1961 at what is now the "Papermill Road" exit. There was nothing there but the outline of what would become the new Interstate.
My first assignment was to take a water truck down to the big curve, now known as the I-75/I-40 split, about 14 miles to where the rest of the machinery was parked. At the time, no excavation had been done to indicate there would also be an I-75.
Having grown up on a farm, I could operate nearly all the big farm equipment, but had never seen machines as large as these. Some of the excavators had enormous engines on each end and weighed approximately 200 tons. The tires were much taller than a man, 3 feet wide, and cost more than a new Cadillac.
Working around these machines, and occasionally hitching a ride, was quite an experience for an 18-year-old farm boy.
My job was to operate the water truck, and to help the excavators by keeping the top of the "blue top stakes visible." (These stakes established the lay of the highway).
I worked with these men every day and would often tease them during our lunch hour. For instance, 5 minutes before time to go back to work, I might playfully say, "I'm the boss, and I think it's time to get back to work." Perhaps even worse I would quote something I had overheard the boss say, "Hopefully we can get a little more done than we have the past few days."
This would usually bring a big dirt clod zinging by, or more often than not, one of them would get up and chase me; most of the time they couldn't catch me, but when they did would just wrestle me to the ground. But it was all in fun, and I would do it again at the next opportunity.
One morning a new boss showed up. He was a construction engineer awaiting an assignment that was soon to open in South America. In the meanwhile, he would help out on this job, and I was to be his, "helper."
Most of my new duties consisted of running errands in his truck, (sometimes to get him a cold drink or a candy bar at the nearest store). We became friends, and he invited me to go with him to work on the upcoming job in South America, but at the age of 18, I had other things in mind.
So, what does this have to do with the phrase, "in Jesus’ name?"
As completion time drew near, the work schedule became very intense. One morning the Federal Highway Inspectors discovered an error in the grade level several miles back. It was still only dirt but was scheduled to be paved shortly, so the mistake had to be corrected right away.
The boss called me over and told me that he could not leave what he was doing and that I was to take his truck and go to where the heavy equipment operators were working. I was to tell them to stop their work immediately and hurry to this designated area, (about three miles away); that there would be engineers waiting there to explain what needed to be done. "Sure," I said, "I know exactly where they are." However, along the way I began to wonder, would they listen to the youngest employee on the payroll, so young he wasn't allowed even to drive their machines, the one they had tossed mud-clods at, and teased?
After all, these types of moves were usually planned days, and sometimes weeks in advance, and were very expensive.
Still struggling with these thoughts, I found the crew and delivered the message. To my surprise they didn't tease, jokingly throw anything at me, or even ask questions; they just got on their machines and roared off to their new assignment.
In less than 5 minutes from my arrival, they were almost out of sight. There, in the midst of the dust, diesel smoke, and fading rumble of the engines, I began to understand.
They had listened because I was driving the bosses' personal truck, with his name written on the side. I was delivering the message "in his name." His power and authority were behind my every word and action.
So, it is when we act in Jesus’ name because He is our Lord and Master. His name is above every name; His power and authority are above every other power and authority in Heaven, and on earth.
When acting and speaking in the name of my boss I was in the physical world. When we act and speak in the name of Jesus, we are operating in the supernatural spiritual world, where the Holy Spirit and all the powers of Heaven are available to back our prayers, words, and actions.
Sam uel Mills
We are to use His Name:
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JESUS' NAME
Continued from Page 30
(John 16:23)"...ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you” (John 15:16).“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do...” (John 14:13)."Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me (Mark 9:39) "And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus..." (The Apostle Paul) (Acts 9:29) "Is anyone among you sick? Let hem call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord." (James 5:14) "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." (Luke 10:17).
There are many excellent studies regarding speaking or acting in Jesus Name. The purpose of this article is to illustrate one of the ways Jesus intends for His name to be used. © Copyright 2006-2022 Trusting-in-Jesus.com. All Rights Reserved. >
FIRST LOVE
Continued from Page 29
ished or cannot defend themselves? Are you unloving and uncaring toward others of a different social class or economic level? Are you inconsiderate of the real needs of your family or the needs of other believers?
Are there other sins the Holy Spirit brings to your mind? Write carefully and thoroughly what God shows you. Your sins may have been committed years ago but remain unresolved between you and someone else, or they may be current as ongoing disobedience in your life now. Do not fail to deal with every sin God brings to mind.
Are you repenting of these sins?
Do the First Works
The fruit of repentance is obedience. What has God shown you to do? What habits are to be renewed? What wrong relationships are to be restored? What confession is to be made to a person or group? What actions are to be taken? Write down what you are going to do and begin to obey this moment. For accountability, tell a friend what you intend to do.
To continue to love as you should :
Depend on God. The life of faith is the only life that God honors. Without it you cannot please God. Love for God is a fruit of God’s Spirit; therefore, in your zeal to love Him through obedience, you must also trust Him for the will and actual ability. It is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure, yet you are never allowed to blame God for your lack of desire or disobedience. (Phil. 2:12-13;
3:15-16; Heb. 11:6)
Renew your mind. By meditating on Scripture, you are transformed into the person God intends you to be. Meditation is a blend of your words to God and His Word to you; it is loving conversation between you and God through the pages of His Word. It is absorption of His words into your mind by prayerful contemplation and concentration. Jesus said, “Sanctify them by Your truth; Your word is truth.” As a man thinks, so is he. (Jn. 17:17; Rom.
12:1-2; Prov. 23:7)
Keep short accounts. Do not let sin reign in your body. You do not have to continue this sin, though all Christians fail out of inbred weakness. When you sin, repent immediately of your disobedience and continue in your affection for God. Don’t let sin have one hour of your time. Destroy it by the weapons of repentance and faith. God also intends that all walls of separation between you and others be taken down in so far as you are responsible. To put a wall between you and others is to build a wall between you and God. (Rom. 6:12; Rev. 3:19;
Mt. 5:23-24; Mt. 18:15)
Rejoice in God. “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.” (Phil. 3:1) You can be happy that the love of God has brought you to repentance. In you sorrow there is joy. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Mt.
5:4)
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