Seeking Humility

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2009-09-23T16:46:00.002-04:00

new blog
http://kyleotower.blogspot.com

love you all :)

Hebrews 13:1-6

2009-09-15T16:58:00.007-04:00

Hebrews 13:1-6 ESV
(1) Let brotherly love continue.
(2) Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
(3) Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
(4) Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
(5) Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
(6) So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"

Verse 1-3: Define brotherly love. [See Romans 12:9-21, 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12, 1 Peter 1:22-25, 1 Peter 3:8-18, Ephesians 4:25-32, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, 1 Timothy 2:1-6, Galatians 6:10]

Verse 4: Sexual immorality and holiness. [See Hebrews 2:1-4, 3:7-15, 4:11-13, 5:11-6:8, 10:24-31, 12:14-17, Hebrews 12:1-2, Romans 12:1-8, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, 1 Peter 1:13-21, 2 Peter 1:3-15, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Ephesians 4:17-24, 2 Peter 3:11-13]
What are ways in which marriage is dishonored?
How does the world view marriage and relationships in general?
How does the LORD view marriage and relationships?
What are ways in which marriage is honored?

Verse 5: What is a result of the love of money? [See 1 Timothy 6:9-10]
What does it mean to, "be content with what you have"?
Is this only talking about being content with your money?
What, ultimately, do we have? [See Psalm 16]

Verse 6: Do you join the Psalmist David and the writer of Hebrews in saying, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"
Is this reality for you?

Hebrews 12:18-29

2009-09-09T09:20:00.006-04:00

Hebrews 12:18-29 ESV | A Kingdom that cannot be shaken
(18) For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest
(19) and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.
(20) For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned."
(21) Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear."
(22) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
(23) and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
(24) and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
(25) See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.
(26) At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."
(27) This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken--that is, things that have been made--in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.
(28) Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
(29) for our God is a consuming fire.

Read Exodus 19 & Exodus 20:18-21 for the history and background of the text.
Verse 18, 19: Who is this directed towards? Who is this "you"? Is it everybody, or born-again believers.
The Law was always insufficient to bring about salvation because it was never intended as a means of salvation. The Law became obsolete. [Heb 8:13, 9:1, 11-12]
Why was the Law given to us? [Galatians 3:21-29]
Mount Sinai, the mountain on which the Law was given, can be touched.
Our salvation in Christ cannot be touched.
Earthly physical law : heavenly, spiritual, grace.

Verse 20, 21: This people drew near to the LORD in terror whereas we draw near to the LORD with joy-filled faith.
They could not endure the order (the instructions/commandments of God, also maybe discipline/chastisement), however, everything prior to this in Hebrews 12 says that we are to endure, implying that by God's grace, His people will endure.

Verse 22, 23: Who is the "you" in this verse?
What difference is being portrayed between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion.
Who are the firstborn enrolled in Heaven?

Verse 24: What is the New Covenant / Gospel?
What does the blood of Abel cry out? [Genesis 4:10]
What does the blood of Jesus Christ cry out? [Hebrews 9:12-15, 10:19-22]

Verse 18-24 Summary: The old and new covenants are compared in terms of the mountains, Sinai and Zion, associated with each. Fear is the dominant theme at Sinai, a touchable and thus earthly and mutable mountain on which the Law was given. Joy and confidence characterize the heavenly, and thus eternal, Zion, because the Savior is there with the blood of forgiveness.

Verse 25: Who is now speaking?
Who is "him who warned them on earth?
refused: paraiteomai; to beg from, excused, have nothing to do with, make excuses, reject.
What happened to those who refused "him who warned them on earth"?
What happens to us if we refuse "him who is now speaking"?

Verse 28-29: What is acceptable worship to God?
Why does the writer write, "for our God is a consuming fire."?

Aletheia: Community Group - Hebrews 12:12-17

2009-09-05T18:36:00.008-04:00

Hebrews 12:12-17 ESV
(12) Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,
(13) and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
(14) Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
(15) See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
(16) that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.
(17) For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

Verse 12: Endure. How do we endure?
Verse 13: A straight path is the easiest for running a race.
This is a call to single-minded adherence to the path of righteousness [Matthew 7]
What does it look like to make straight paths? See next verses.
What areas of your life are drooping or weak?
Are these areas weak because you haven't set a straight path?
Verse 14: Strive - diōkō - to put to flight, pursue, practice, press, run after, seek after
Holiness or, sanctification.
Despite our sin nature to want to return evil for evil, we should strive for peace with everyone. [Romans 12:18-21]
Strive for holiness (purity of life): There is a holiness, or sanctification, without which no one will see the Lord.
The Gospel!
This holiness is provided by God (Heb 12:10, 13:21), however, we MUST strive for it.
Through receiving this holiness we will see Him and become like Him. [1 John 3:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18]
Matthew 5:8, Proverbs 15:29
[ Verses on sanctification ]
Verse 15: How do we see to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God?
A: Avoid bitterness. Also, see verse 16
(Heb. 2:1; 3:6, 14; 6:3; 10:26; 12:25)
Verse 16: Sexual immorality, unholiness. It belittles the Gospel. Trading Jesus for X, Y, or Z.
Verse 17: Esau desired to inherit what blessing?
Why was Esau rejected? Is it true that someone may seek repentance & salvation with tears, and yet be rejected? See 2 Corinthians 7:9-10.
Counterfeit repentance. It's not just acknowledging and confessing; it's turning from it, and changing your mind about it.
metanoeō; to change one’s mind or purpose

Aletheia : Community Group [ Hebrews 12:1-11 ]

2009-08-30T21:56:00.004-04:00

Hebrews 12:1-11 ESV
(1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
(2) looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
(3) Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
(4) In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
(5) And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
(6) For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives."
(7) It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
(8) If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
(9) Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
(10) For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
(11) For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Questions & Comments:
Verse 1: let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely.
Discuss personal weights vs sins

Verse 2: Who is the author / founder of our faith? Who is the perfecter of our faith.
What is Christ joyfully looking forward to?

Verse 4: See Philippians 2:8

Verse 5: My son, do not regard lightly.
weary - ekluō; to loose, release, to grow weary:
weariness - exhaustion, fatigue or tiredness; a lack of interest or excitement

Verse 7: why do we endure / persevere?

Verse 8/9: what does the discipline of the LORD look like? How does it compare to the earthly discipline of a father/son? [argument from least to greatest]
Is this divine discipline a reality in your life? If so, how do you respond to it?

Verse 10: Our parents discipline us according to what?
God disciplines us according to what?
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Ultimately for our sharing in His holiness.

Verse 11: What does this discipline bring about?

Aletheia: Community Group - Hebrews 11 [ o8.21.2oo9 ]

2009-08-21T14:11:00.006-04:00

Hebrews 11: By Faith
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,
18 of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."
19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.
21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets---
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.
36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated---
38 of whom the world was not worthy---wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,
40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Verse 6: How can we please God apart from saving faith?
Q: What does this saving faith in God produce?
A: A desire to draw near, and the actual drawing near to God.

Verse 7: What would we say about Noah's faith had he not obeyed God and built the ark?
A: Had his faith not wrought obedience, we would suppose that his faith was dead and in fact not salvific.
Q: What would we say about our own faith when we do not obey God? [John 3:36]

Verse 10: What was Abraham eagerly looking forward to?
Q: What are you eagerly looking forward to? [Hebrews 9:27-28]

Verse 25: What did Moses choose here?
Q: Do you choose to live and be mistreated with the people of God rather than enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin?

Verse 26: What is the reproach of Christ that Moses endured?
A: The reproach of Christ is the insults, the abuse, the shame or disgrace that people showed toward Moses as a result of his zealous faith in the LORD, the Messiah to come--Jesus Christ.
Q: What reward was Moses looking to? [see verse 27]

Sincere & Pure Devotion to Christ

2009-07-30T10:38:00.002-04:00

2 Corinthians 11:1-6 ESV
(1) I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me!
(2) For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
(3) But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
(4) For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
(5) Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.
(6) Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.

Lord, let us not be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to You, Christ.
By Your grace, cause our eyes to be fixated on You, and on You alone.

The Almost Christian

2009-07-23T10:39:00.002-04:00

I was raised in the Methodist church and it has always caught my attention how distinctly different the modern day Methodist sermons are in comparison to John Wesley and his sermons.

I am not subscribing myself to Wesleyan theology by any means, however, this commentary on Wesley's sermon caught my attention and I believe there to be much truth in it.

"Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian"
Acts 26:28

Introduction
In every age there are those who will not go all of the way to Christ. They are almost persuaded to be Christians, but they falter at some point. Not only this, but the Church is full of almost Christians who have not gone all the way with Christ.

What is an Almost Christian?
The almost Christian knows that God's word is true, but will not commit himself to following it. He may live a good, moral, even religious life, and even go beyond others with regards to human compassion. His humanitarian spirit causes him to give to others that which he has need of.
He may hate all unrighteousness and sin in society to the point of protesting and petitioning against it, but does not recognize sin in his own life. In this he has a "form of godliness" but reveals that he does not have "the power thereof" (2 Timothy 3:5). He does not partake in those things forbidden by God; instead his life is conducted according to divine principles. He abstains from alcohol, does not party, and is not a glutton. So he may appear like a good, solid believer to those around him. Being good natured, he desires to live peaceably with everyone. He never thinks of being unkind to others, and certainly would never return evil for evil. He may pray stirring public prayers, but it is all part of the outward appearance of godliness, and such devotion is simply hypocrisy, since he enjoys the praise of men (John 12:43). Yes, the almost Christian is a hypocrite. This is not to say that he does not have a sincere desire to please God, but he usually settles for the pretense instead of the real thing. He does not think that he needs to be born again; he is a good enough Christian as he is.
Is it possible to go so far and still only be an almost Christian? We are all aware of those who profess to be Christians and yet totally refuse to be faithful to the Lord. They love to be seen as Christian people, but they will not "lay hold on eternal life" (1 Timothy 6:19). They try to live in the world as well as the Kingdom of God. They will not make a commitment and are lukewarm towards God (Revelation 3:16). The almost Christian may love God, but not with all his heart, soul and might (Deuteronomy 6:5).

What is an Altogether Christian?
To begin with, an altogether Christian is someone who loves God with his whole heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). This love consumes all of his affections, and he has a constant desire to rejoice in God his Savior (Luke 1:47). From deep within he cries out, "Whom have I in Heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee" (Psalm 73:25). The world has no control over his life, for he is crucified to the world, and the world crucified to him (Galatians 6:14). His life and mouth proclaim, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
Secondly, he has true Christian love towards his neighbor … "Love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 19:19). This love is not restricted to a few close friends, but extends even to his enemies and those who persecute him. Because this love is not puffed up [proud and self-serving] (1 Corinthians 13:4) he is willing to be a servant to all, for this kind of love "seeketh not her own" (1 Corinthians 13:5). Such love is not easily provoked, does not entertain evil thoughts towards others, and is willing to forgive any wrongs done to it.
Thirdly, an altogether Christian has true faith. This is the foundation of his Christian life, because everyone who believes is born of God (1 John 5:1). It is impossible to be a Christian without being born again. Those who do put their faith solely in Christ for salvation become the children of God … "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God … For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 1:13, 3:17). Therefore an altogether Christian enters into eternal life through faith and repentance. The sign of a true Christian is a life of holiness and righteousness (Hebrews 12:14). Anything else is simply dead and devilish, since Satan, though believing, does not have the nature of true Christian faith (James 2:19).
Lastly, the altogether Christian knows that his sins are forgiven, and is delivered from damnation through the blood of Jesus Christ. He knows that his new life is given upon the merits of Christ rather than of self, thus his confidence is in God alone. He lives a godly life by the power of God.

Conclusion
The question must be asked, "What kind of Christian am I?" Am I almost or altogether Christian? Am I a hypocrite pretending to be a Christian? Do I only live by the form (outward appearance) of godliness? The ultimate question is, "Am I willing to be obedient to all that God requires of me as a believer?" If we are honest with ourselves, many of us are not even close to being almost Christians let alone altogether Christians. We have never laid down our lives as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). We think that it is enough to go by the name of Christ, doing a few good works here or there, and attending church occasionally, but we continue to fall far short of God's standard.
We must get back to believing that Christ alone saves our souls from sin, and gives us the power to live godly lives (John 15:5). His Holy Spirit must bear witness with our spirit that we are truly children of God (Romans 8:16). Those who die without being altogether Christians damn their own souls. Let us awake from sleep (self-deception) and call upon the Lord (Romans 13:11; 1 Corinthians 15:34). Do not rest until you can say, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). Pray and do not faint (Luke 18:1).
God knows those who truly love Him. May we all experience what it is to be, not an almost, but an altogether Christian. That we might know what it is to be justified, have God's peace, and sealed with the Holy Spirit.

[Preached by John Wesley 25 July 1741]

1 Corinthians 2

2009-07-22T09:47:00.001-04:00

1 Corinthians 2:1-16 ESV
(1) And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.
(2) For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
(3) And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
(4) and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
(5) that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
(6) Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.
(7) But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
(8) None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
(9) But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"--
(10) these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
(11) For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
(12) Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
(13) And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
(14) The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
(15) The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.
(16) "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Verse 2: Does Paul really know nothing except Jesus Christ & Him crucified? What is Paul really saying?

Verse 3: in our weakness, Christ’s strength is made manifested.

Verse 5: Why does Paul not want your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power?

Verse 7: What is God's secret wisdom?

Verse 10: Who has revealed this to us?

Verse 13: how can you tell that Paul’s words are not taught by human wisdom, but rather, words taught by the Spirit.

Verse 10: “revealed”

ἀποκαλύπτω

apokaluptō; from G575 and G2572; to uncover, reveal: - reveal (5), revealed (20), revelation is made (1).

Verse 14: “natural” ψυχικός

psuchikos; from G5590; natural, of the soul or mind: - natural (5), worldly-minded (1).

“accept” δέχομαι

dechomai; a prim. vb.; to receive: - accept (2), receive (16), take (3), welcome (2).

“foolishness” μωρός

mōros; a prim. word; dull, stupid, foolish:

“cannot” δύναμαι

dunamai; a prim. vb.; to be able, to have power:

Aletheia: Community Group - Spiritual Gifts Part II [ o7.21.2oo9 ]

2009-07-22T09:36:00.001-04:00

1 Corinthians 12:27-31
(27) Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
(28) And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
(29) Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
(30) Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
(31) But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Romans 12:3-8
(3) For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
(4) For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
(5) so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
(6) Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
(7) if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
(8) the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Ephesians 4:11-16
(11) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
(12) to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
(13) until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
(14) so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
(15) Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
(16) from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Aletheia: Community Group - Spiritual Gifts [ o7.14.2oo9 ]

2009-07-14T13:27:00.004-04:00

| 1 Corinthians 12:1-27 |
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body---Jews or Greeks, slaves or free---and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,
25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Complacency will be punished

2009-07-10T15:56:00.000-04:00

At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, 'The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.'
[ Zephaniah 1:12 ]

Community Group: Idolatry [ 07.07.2oo9 ]

2009-07-07T22:23:00.006-04:00

Just some random thoughts from tonight:

1 Corinthians 10:1-14
(1) For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,
(2) and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
(3) and all ate the same spiritual food,
(4) and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
(5) Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
(6) Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
(7) Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play."
(8) We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.
(9) We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,
(10) nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
(11) Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
(12) Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
(13) No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
(14) Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Verse 9 tells us we must not put Christ to the test.
The Greek word for test is ἐκπειράζω or ekpeirazō; which means to test thoroughly, or to tempt

Why do we ultimately put Christ to the test, or, what does it mean to test Christ?
The first example that comes to my mind is my PRAXIS I test coming up July 13th. I am being tested because I have to prove that I have the knowledge and ability to become a teacher.
Ultimately, when we test Christ, we are saying that He must prove Himself in accordance to our standard. We make ourselves the objective standard of truth and demand God to respond by testing Him. We are saying that He must pass our test. We are saying that He has failed in revealing His character. We are saying that God is subject to our understanding of who He should be. We test Christ because we do not believe He is who He says He is.

The people asked of God and He blessed them in accordance to their asking. Yet, the people grumbled. The people did not find satisfaction in God, but rather in His gifts, which is idolatry.

LORD, cause us to cast down our idols. Draw us near to you that we would see the eternal joy and satisfaction that is found in You alone. Rip our idols out of our hands, may they be destroyed. Cause me to desire You.

grace & peace,
[ kyle otto ]

Born Again

2009-07-06T13:10:00.006-04:00

Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." -John 3:3

The vital doctrine of regeneration has been applicable in all ages, for man by nature is a lost sinner and must be spiritually reborn through faith in God and His promises to be saved. This truth appears in the Old Testament, for example, in David's prayer: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." -Psalm 51:10

It is emphasized more clearly and explicitly in the New Testament.

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." -Titus 3:4-7

"Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;" -1 Peter 1:22-23

Note that this spiritual birth is produced only through the eternal Word of God.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." -1 Peter 1:3-5

To be raised from spiritual death in sin to eternal life in Christ is a true miracle, as much so as the physical resurrection of Christ Himself, or even as the very creation of the world.

"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." -2 Corinthians 4:6-7

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;" -2 Corinthians 5:17-18

HMM

The Bible will keep you from sin, or, sin will keep you from the Bible

2009-06-25T16:51:00.001-04:00

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
-2 Timothy 3:12-17

HolyCultureDownload.com - Platinum Souls: Hybrid

2009-06-23T15:53:00.001-04:00

HolyCultureDownload.com - Platinum Souls: Hybrid

Shared via AddThis

Acts 20:24

2009-04-13T12:01:00.002-04:00

Brothers and Sisters:

I am requesting that you all would be praying that I would find strength in Christ alone to graduate from V.C.U this semester. I have been sinfully anxious and worry-some about graduation. Be praying that Christ would take all of the anxiousness and worrying away. We are not to worry or be anxious when we are in Christ. He is faithful. His will WILL be done; I pray that we would all find comfort in that fact.

In the mean time, the LORD has given me a desire to begin an online video ministry.
Please, be praying that the LORD would guide and direct that ministry that it would look exactly how He desires for it to look.

Here's the link: http://acts2024.blip.tv

Soli Deo Gloria

[ kyle otto ]

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST: According to the Word of God

2009-02-22T10:00:00.010-05:00

Ask the LORD to reveal His Truth to you through His Divine and Sufficient Word, namely, the Bible. The sixty-six books that contain the truth of everlasting life with the One True God. The Bible is 100% sufficient.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. -2 Timothy 3:16-17

[ONE] God is Holy

(i) And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" -Isaiah 6:3
(ii) Man is humbled, and each one is brought low, and the eyes of the haughty are brought low. But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness. -Isaiah 5:15-16
(iii) Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. -Revelation 15:4
(iv) As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." -1 Peter 1:14-16

[*] Mankind is born fallen, totally depraved, ungodly, unrighteous, dead in sin, and deserving of Hell by nature. We lack the ability to please God without faith.

(i) "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." -Hebrews 11:6
(ii) "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." -Romans 1:18
(iii) "They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." -Romans 1:29-32
(iv) "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. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes." -Romans 3:10-18
(v) And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience---among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. -Ephesians 2:1-3

[TWO] God is Just, Gracious, and Merciful

(i) Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. -Isaiah 30:18
(ii) But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." -James 4:6
(iii) But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ---by grace you have been saved---and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. -Ephesians 2:4-10
(iv) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. -John 3:17

[THREE] The Supremacy and Superiority of Jesus Christ

(i) Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. -Hebrews 1:1-4

[FOUR] God is Love

(i) 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. -1 John 4:8,16
(ii) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. -Romans 5:8
(iii) 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

[*] It is an absolute fact that the God of the Bible is a God of love. Recognizing He is a God of love we must not forget that this loving God is also holy, holy, holy, just, and righteous. He does not ignore sin or sinners. God's love is NOT unjust, rather, it is a just love. There is a just penalty and punishment for sin. There is a just punishment unrepentant sinners. There is a just punishment and penalty for not obeying Jesus Christ. That just punishment is eternity in Hell under the just wrath of God.

(i) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

I love you could NOT be said a better way!
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NegD8s3pUpw

[FIVE] Eternal salvation is received through a specific response to the Gospel; a response of repentance--turning from your sin and turning to Jesus Christ. Repentance is followed by a belief in Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior.
[*]The Bible says to repent and believe in Jesus Christ alone:

Mat 3:2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Mat 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:10 "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Mat 10:7 "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Mat 18:3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You have smitten them, But they did not weaken; You have consumed them, But they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to repent. Then I said, "They are only the poor, They are foolish; For they do not know the way of the LORD Or the ordinance of their God. -Jeremiah 5:3-4
Eze 14:6 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your abominations.
Eze 18:32 "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live."
Mar 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Luk 13:3 "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
"You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity." -Acts 8:21-23
"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people
everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." -Acts 17:30-31
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. -Revelation 3:19

[*] It is NOT enough to simply confess with your mouth.

(i) To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. -Titus 1:15-16
(ii) And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men." And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! -Mark 7:6-9
(iii) But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 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 10:8-11

[SIX] The Gospel call is to EVERYONE. God has given everyone a choice of eternal life in Christ, or eternal wrath and death in Hell.

(i) "For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your
life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." -Deuteronomy 30:11-20

[SEVEN] There is salvation in NO other name. Eternal salvation is in Jesus Christ alone.

(i) This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. -Acts 4:11-13
(ii) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. -John 14:6

[EIGHT] You are without excuse. Where are you with the LORD? Where does He rank in your life? Does He know you?
Ask yourself, do you love football, golf, tv, music, your husband, wife, children, more than you love Jesus Christ?
Video: John Piper [~5 mins] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPBCGMBmDHE

[*] If/since you have proclaimed Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior, how has your life changed? Examine yourself.

(i) Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?---unless indeed you fail to meet the test! -2 Corinthians 13:5
(ii) Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal
life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. -John 12:25-26
(iii) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. -John 3:18-21

QUESTION: Is the totality of your life obedience to the LORD, since you have proclaimed Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior? If your answer is no, the Word of God says that is evidence that you are not saved and you have yet to TRULY repent and believe upon Jesus Christ alone; John 3:36. One is NOT saved by works, Ephesians 2:8; however, true saving faith is evidenced by works, shown in the book of James, Matthew 7:15-27 (bearing fruit is evidence, not the means), and all throughout the Bible.

[OTHER VIDEOS ON THE GOSPEL]
Paul Washer: Testimony [~5 minutes] -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J471VobaZks
Paul Washer: Weeping [~5 minutes] -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIV-KseO_1E
John Piper: Inspiring Youth [~2 minutes] -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_csfCvi6dA&NR=1

Conforming, Concerts, Life Now.

2008-08-06T11:58:00.017-04:00

Conforming:

Romans 8 [ESV]:
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Romans 12 [ESV]:
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1 Peter 1 [ESV]:
13 Called to Be Holy Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

So, in Romans 8, we see the Lord has predestined, or predetermined, us to be conformed to the image of His Son. This means we will be conformed to the image of His Son, for His Glory. Praise God :)
Later in Romans 12, we see that word 'conform' again. We are told to NOT be conformed to this world. When we truly seek Christ, we will be transformed. Our mind will be transformed, our heart will be transformed. Our desires of glorifying God with all of our thoughts, words, and deeds, will be the deepest desires in our new heart. With this new heart and mind, the Holy Spirit will give us discernment on the will of God. Now we know the Lord is Sovereign thanks to Scripture. Scripture shows us His Plan/Will is ALWAYS fulfilled; no event occurs that is independent of the Will of God. Though God doesn't delight in all events that occur, he is in control of ALL events. God is omnipotent, he doesn't depend on anything or anyone.

Concerts:
So, I went to the 2008 Linkin Park: Projekt Revolution tour at VA Beach. I went with my friends Heather, Chris, Tony, and Michelle. It was fun hanging out with them, but, I just couldn't enjoy the concert it self. Looking around, I came to the realization that I was surrounded by people that were drunk, high, half-clothed, shouting obscenities, and making inappropriate comments. This didn't seem to glorify Christ in the slightest.
I realized the crowd did whatever the band on stage asked them to do. Whether they requested to "get crazy," or "clap your hands," or "jump around." It made me think, 'what if we all would listen to Christ and what he is asking us to do?' But no, we would rather listen to a secular band onstage that may last another 10 years at best, and then fade out. Why are we so quick to follow the world [which WILL end] as opposed to the Eternal Father? How awesome would it be if everyone at the concert was there to glorify God? What if everyone there was clapping, dancing, jumping up and down, and just going CRAZY for the Lord? All these thoughts kept rushing through my mind, and it just led me to praying for each band and each person at the concert. For the Lord to break in and reveal how depraved we all are that we would rather go to a secular concert to Worship Linkin Park, rather than go and Worship Christ our Savior!

Life Now:
I praise God for revealing to me how much of a waste it is to go to a concert that doesn't glorify Him in the slightest. My desire for secular concerts is gone. I still have some secular music in rotation on my iPod, but I honestly haven't had the desire to listen to it, praise the Lord. I know many of you think I'm being a 'hard-core Christian' now, but I just don't see the point in listening to music that doesn't glorify the Lord. Why should I waste my time filling my ears with words that don't glorify Christ? Even the 'radio or clean' versions of songs are a disgrace. My excuse used to be, "oh, I just enjoy the beat." It doesn't matter though because I was still listening to the SATAN Glorifying lyrics. Everything is either of God, or of Satan, there is NO neutral. I call myself a Christian but Christ has revealed to me that I'm representing the world and NOT him when I fill my ears and Facebook profile with artists such as Lil' Wayne and Eminem. What a fool I am! How could I think that they glorify my Savior in the slightest? I'm done justifying my music. If it doesn't glorify my Lord, then I shouldn't be listening to it. If I do listen to it, I'm merely loving the world and it's desires rather than the Lord.
Thank you Lord for revealing to me yet another area I have failed to represent you in. Thank you Lord for changing my hearts desires. Thank you for refining me. Lord, you have done it all, I have done nothing! All praise and glory to YOU Lord for constantly transforming a sinners heart and mind to better glorify You.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Grace & Peace,
-Kyle Otto

Artists to swap out. On the left I'll list the secular, Satan glorifying artist/band, on the right I'll list a similar genre/musical style God glorifying artist/band.
Satan Glorifying / God Glorifying
1. Lil' Wayne aka Weezy / Trip Lee
2. Eminem / KJ-52
3. Lil' Jon [any crunk artist] / Sir Vaant the Silensa, or, Tha Crunkaholics

Other God Glorifying Rap Artists:
1. Shai Linne
2. Timothy Brindle
3. Stephen the Levite
4. Flame
5. Lecrae
6. 116 Clique
7. Tedashii

Followers & Leaders

2008-05-10T20:07:00.003-04:00

(Mat 16:23 ESV) But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
(Mat 16:24 ESV) Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
(Mat 16:25 ESV) For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
(Mat 16:26 ESV) For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

A follower of Jesus Christ sets their mind on the things of God, NOT on the things of man.
What are you setting your mind on? Jesus Christ, or worldly things? Jesus, or the things of man? Selah [stop and think now] I know I personally need to give up anxiety to the Lord. Philippians 4:4-8 is a great scripture to meditate on for this. Anxiety is not something of God, it is a lack of dependence on God, ultimately pride; thinking that you can depend on something else other than God, which leads to anxiety.
A follower of Jesus Christ seeks true humility by denying himself and taking up his cross and following Jesus.
Do you wake up each morning and say "Lord, I deny myself and will follow you today. Lead me Lord." If you do say that, do you live it out? Do you seek His leadership. Are you obedient to God's word.
Have you lost your life for the sake of Jesus Christ? Or have you lost your life for the sake of something/someone else?
What good is it to gain the WHOLE WORLD, but lose your soul. I encourage you to check out the song "Living for your glory" [[I think it's by Tim Hughes]] It's a worship song, so about 27 other worship artists have recorded it also :) It has that line in it though. And think about it, honestly, what good is it, really, to gain the WHOLE WORLD, but lose your soul?

Have a great weekend/week! Enjoy mother's day with your mother. I myself don't have the best relationship with my mother, I need to seek God to heal our relationship, but if you at all can spend time with her, DO. "Honor thy father and mother"

I Love you all.

-Kyle :)

Do you love me more than these?

2008-04-20T22:39:00.020-04:00

Joh 21:2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
Joh 21:3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Joh 21:4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

So originally, Jesus found these guys fishing. They dropped their nets and followed him. Jesus dies, and what do they do? Jesus knew he would find them fishing again. They went back to their old ways of life, back to the life before Jesus Christ.
--> Have you met Jesus Christ, but gone back to your old ways of living? Do you just know Jesus, or do you desire to have a relationship with Jesus?

Joh 21:5 Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered him, "No."
Joh 21:6 He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.

Now I find this ironically funny. So imagine you are these guys, out fishing on a boat. Not catching anything. A guy calls out to you from shore saying "try the other side of the boat." What are you going to think? I would think, this guy is crazy, and it's impossible that the other side of the boat is going to make a difference.
A good lesson I believe can be learned here. God may ask us to do something. It may sound crazy, ironic, or irrational, maybe even impossible. But if it is in fact God calling us, we MUST follow him. We need to put down our pride of thinking we know everything, and seek humility, knowing that The LORD knows everything, not us.

Joh 21:7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

Wait a minute... Simon Peter, was essentially naked, so he put on his clothes, and then jumped in the water? Not sure about ya'll, but I usually don't jump in the shower clothed. I believe this goes to show that John was so excited, confused, astonished, that he wasn't really thinking straight. Imagine, your best friend dies, then is raised from the DEAD. You would probably not be thinking straight also.

Joh 21:8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
Joh 21:9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.

This is also ironically funny. So Jesus shouted out to them earlier to try the other side of the boat to get some fish, they bring the fish back, and Jesus has a fire with fish already cooking.

Joh 21:10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."
Joh 21:11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.

So why so specific? 153 of them? What's the purpose of that? My thought on that in the next few verses.

Joh 21:12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.
Joh 21:13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.
Joh 21:14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Joh 21:15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."

So, here it is, the "these." What are the "these?" I believe, for Simon Peter, the "these" are the 153 fish.

Joh 21:16 He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."

Jesus again asks Simon Peter if he loves Him. Why does he ask again? Is it because he has went back to his old way of life before he met Jesus?

Joh 21:17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.

You've got to imagine now. You and Jesus, sitting across a campfire from each other. Here is Jesus Christ, your Saviour, looking you in the eyes, holding "these" in front of you, asking, "do you love me more than these," for the third time!
So, first off, why ask 3 times? I'm sure right about now, Simon Peter is hearing a rooster crow in the back of his head. Remembering that he denied his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ THREE TIMES. You think, wow, that's crazy. But think, have you denied Jesus Christ???
Ok, so next question, what are YOUR "these" that Jesus is holding in His hands, asking you, "Do you love me more than these?"
Is it your iPod? Your car/truck? Your friends, or family? Your MySpace or FaceBook? Is it your pride? Is it your money? Is it your self image? Your videogames/tv shows? Your food?
So take time, [now would be good :) ], to ask yourself, and to ask Jesus, what are YOUR "these" that are keeping you from loving Jesus Christ more. Think what is it that HE is holding out in His hands. It should break our heart to think that our LORD and Saviour must ask us "Do you not love me more than these?" I encourage you to ask HIM to help you with your "these" because you cannot do it on your own. Besides, Jesus doesn't want you to do it on your own, He BEGS for us to give it up to Him. For the battle isn't ours, and is already won. We must put our faith and trust in Him.

Joh 21:18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go."
Joh 21:19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me."

Notice how he ends with "follow me." For me, this is a good reminder that we are NOT to just know about Jesus Christ. It's far more than that. We are to FOLLOW Jesus Christ. Again, it isn't enough to simply know of Jesus Christ; for even the demons know of God and Jesus Christ. If we truly know AND love Jesus Christ, our ACTIONS will follow. Is this to say that we are saved by our works or actions? NO. But when you say you love someone, (say your Mom or Dad, or your friend) do you turn around and treat them horribly, or do you ACT like you love them and SHOW them you love them?

Thank you Jesus for showing me my "these." I pray that you continue to reveal to us things that we put before you. I pray that it breaks our heart when we hear you asking us "do you love me more than these?" I ask that you take all of our "these" and forgive us for loving them more than you at times. We are lost and broken with out you. We are dead without you. Often times we put "these" things before you in hopes that they will satisfy, but they NEVER do, and we praise you that they don't. I ask that you may reveal to us that you are the only One who truly satisfies. I ask that we may have discernment for the LIES of this world, and realize that NOTHING of this temporary world can satisfy us. May we always seek YOU first, for you are the TRUTH, and the only way that leads to eternal life in Heaven. We praise you Jesus. Amen.

I love you all :-D

God is love,
-Kyle Howard Otto :-)

Email Me: khot@comcast.net
MySpace: http://myspace.com/foreverandeverworship
Facebook: Kyle Tower
Call Me: 804.###.2386

10 Questions Every Leader Should Answer!

2008-04-17T13:02:00.002-04:00

[[This is a post by my buddy Dave Simiele. Check it out...]]

Craig Groeschel is lead pastor of LifeChurch.tv and a creative genius. I read Craig's blog - SWERVE often and he is currently in a series of asking reflective questions. I have found these questions thought-provoking and difficult but they are a great measuring stick of effective leadership within the church. Here is one set of questions I'm working through today:

1. Are the people closest to me in ministry lifting me higher or dragging me down?

2. How have I intentionally developed the leaders around me in the past week?

3. Am I speaking transparently with at least two other close trusted friends on a weekly basis?

4. Am I submitting myself to the correction and coaching of at least two mentors?

5. Am I holding a grudge against someone?

6. Am I speaking well of other ministers?

7. Am I falling for the temptation of comparing, complaining, criticizing or gossiping?

8. Are my words and relationships characterized by words of faith or negativity?

9. Do people enjoy being around me or am I often “down”?

10. Have I made at least three new ministry friends in the last year?