I hope you were as blessed on Sunday (10-11-2020) as I was! Re-reading Acts 1-7 and being reminded of the wonderful events that accompanied the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was very encouraging. To be reminded of the wonderful news that God was fulfilling His promises to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh, not just Jews...but Gentiles too, was such a blessing.
Then, for those who were able to stay for the Adult Sunday School / Worship in Study / Bible Class, we continued the study which Craig began for us last week by looking at two of four key questions Peter answers in Chapter One.
What is the a priori (beginning assumptions) of the one who trusts in Christ for his/her salvation? 1:1-5
What are some of the purposes of suffering? 1:6-9
What is "this salvation" that Peter keeps mentioning? 1:10-12
What is Peter asking the believers to do? 1:13-2:3
We were only able to cover #'s 1 and 2 last Sunday. I'd like to encourage you to spend some time reading chapter one with these questions in mind. Our Lord has given us "His great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:3-4) so that we might be strengthened in our faith in the One in whom we have believed. It is His great love and power that keeps us when we have not the faith to endure. Keeping our eyes upon Him, who is the Keeper of All His Word, can sustain us as we endure painful trials. Enduring these trials helps to affirm to us that our faith has been placed in the Righteous One and that it is true. This faith is more precious than gold...because even gold will ultimately perish, but our faith in Him will "be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelations of Jesus Christ" (1:7) for which the whole of creation is groaning as it anxiously awaits that day (Romans 8).
I am so grateful for the "encouragement of the Scriptures" (Romans 15:4) which are able to make us "wise unto salvation" (2 Timothy 3:15) and to build up in us "the mind of Christ" as we allow them/it (the Scriptures) to "dwell...richly" in us (Colossians 3:16-17).
Dear Ones of PEFC This past Sunday I preached from and read Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. It was such a blessing to be reminded again that our salvation is complete in Christ, and that we are not able or responsible to add any value to...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
TUESDAY PRAYERS – 03-17-2020 Greetings in our Lord’s precious name: While our men did not meet for prayer this morning, as a precaution about sharing illnesses (potentially), yet I know they are praying for all of you today. I...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Broken and Spilled Out 2019 11-26During the Men’s Prayer Mtg this morning, our conversation turned to ministry that proceeded out of traumatic life events. One of the men commented that maybe our shells have become hardened with time and...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Pride.We know it goes before a fall...and that it is one of those seven deadly sins. But do we really grasp how easily it slips into our minds and hearts?Dustin Benge, on his twitter site posted the following list of “Forms of Pride”...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
I've been thinking about a phrase Paul uses in 1 Cor 2:16; "...we have the mind of Christ." He uses this phrase after an explanation of the difference between God's thoughts and the thoughts of man (humans). He tells us that He has given us His...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Over the past several days there has been a common theme that keeps coming to my attention. It has a lot to do with the question of where do we turn when we are hard pressed. Do we turn to our own wisdom, or the wisdom of this world, which the...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
