V.I.C.T.O.R.Y. Victory, Victory, That's Our Cry!

Scripture:
"Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him." (Revelation 17:14)

Observation:
God is all powerful! He is Lord over all things. We see God's amazing love in that he provided a way for us to have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. We are blessed to be able to answer to the name of "called" and "chosen". These two terms are familiar terms in the New Testament talking about believers, but this is the only place in the book of Revelation that God, refers to His people as "called" or "chosen". What an amazing title that is given to us who follow Christ, by the King of kings, and what awesome responsibility comes with that title.

Application:
Because of who God is and what He has done for each of us, it should prompt us to a response that reaches out to others in love. I'm amazed when I think about how awesome God is (and I mean awesome in the true sense of the word) and that He still loves me and desires this deep relationship with me. As I ponder that thought, I think about the love that God has for others and because I have been called by God, I should be sharing that love with others, that they might know the King of kings.

Prayer:
Father, help me to not only walk in your love today, but help me to exude that love to others that they might see you love for them and give glory, honor, and praise to you today.
In Jesus Name, Amen

Now is the Time!

Scripture:
"'Fear God', he shouted. 'Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and all the springs of water'." (Revelation 14:7)

Observation:
Now is the time for you and I to...

1. Fear God
2. Give glory to Him
3. Worship Him

The writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 1:2-"And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe."
Peter used the same terminology in his sermon in Acts chapter 2 at Pentecost, to remind us that the "last days' were inaugurated in the person and ministry of Christ. Therefore, we should be living lives that incorporate these three aspects.

Application:
We need to live a life that is fearful of God and His great power and His judgement. We should also give Him glory for everything, event he things that we often take for granted such as a marvelous planet which not only is inhabitable but a planet that shows the beauty and majesty of a loving and caring God. We should give Him all glory, honor and praise because of the cross! The cross of Christ allows us to have access to the Father and the hope of an eternity with Him. The cross allows us to live a life without fear of Satan or eternal separation from God (Hell).

Prayer:
Father, I come to you today grateful for all of the love that you show to me, from the perfection of creation to the salvation of the cross. Lord, help me to live a life that is fearful of you, that gives You all glory, and a life that is in constant worship to You.
In Jesus Name, Amen

Martyred for the Word of God

Scripture:
"When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony." (Revelation 6:9)

Observation:
Those who have been martyred for the word of God and for their faithfulness will be avenged for their death. We as God's people are not to revenge the death of someone or to take revenge against those who hurt us but God will avenge those who have been persecuted or martyred because of their faith.

Application:
We must remember that because we don't have that type of persecution here in the United States, there are those who face amazing persecution and martyrdom due to their faith. There are those in our world who sneak around to meet in secret to worship God in Spirit and in Truth. We should remember to lift these people up in prayer and they should be an example of amazing faith to us.

Prayer:
Father, this morning I pray for those around the world that are facing extreme persecution today because of their love for you. I pray that you will protect them and encourage them today that their work is being noticed by their brothers and sister as well as you, Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen

Neither Hot nor Cold

Scripture:
"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:15-16)

Observation:
There is no place for the person who's work is barren or is not producing fruit. At least if you are cold it's easy to realize this fact and make the necessary changes in order to become hot.

Application:
This passage reminds me that you can tell if you are hot, cold, or lukewarm by the fruit that you produce. I need to be out preaching the gospel and evangelizing not only in spoken words but also by the life that I live not only in church but in the community in which I live, so that I don't find my life cold or lukewarm (content with the day to day that life brings).

Prayer:
Father help me to prioritize my life, that I might be found on fire for you.
In Jesus name, Amen

Attention All Middle and High School Students!

David Crowder Band
Friday 11/4
Vines Center/Liberty University

LCC's middle and high school students will be experiencing the David Crowder Band at Liberty University's Vines Center in Lynchburg on Friday, 11/4.

Cost--$15 per person
Plus money for meals

Time of departure--4:30p.
Return time--1:00a--tenative

Fore more information contact Chris Long or Jeff Krecek.

March Events

IMPACT Mexico Dinner Theater:
When: Sunday, March 13
Time: 6:00pm-9:30pm
Where: Lake Christian Church
Cost: $20.00 per-person

This dinner is being held in order to raise money for the church's trip to Mexico this summer. This will be a catered dinner with service provided by the Missions Team. Following dinner, there will be a movie in the sanctuary. Free childcare and complimentary dinner for children will be provided. Tickets are on sale now in the lobby each Sunday. Come out and enjoy a night of fun and fellowship while supporting a great cause.

Philippians 3:17-4:1

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Philippians 3:1-11

It's Time to Boast!

Here is Philippians 3 Paul wants people to know the importance of knowing Christ(Not in a physical sense but in the sense of having a personal relationship with Christ). Paul tells us to watch out for those people who do evil and claim that because they have done this or that they are at the top of the Christian latter. Read what Paul has to say about all that he has done for Christ and where that puts him.

Philippians 3:3-8 (NLT)-"...We put no confidence in human effort, though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reasons for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin--a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ."

With all that Paul had done for Christ and spreading the gospel message if he had nothing to boast about except that Christ was Lord and had saved him through the blood of Christ, where does that put us? Here is the real problem. Why is it that in church or in life continue to compare ourselves to other people? I realize that there are some people who look up to me as some type of super spiritual figure and leader of the church, and I except that (no I'm not boasting trust me). I hope that in all I preach and lead that people can see that I am not better or worse than anyone else. I have my own problems that God continues to work with me on. The deal is that everyday that God allows me to preach the gospel message, is a blessing from God himself. God continues to amaze me with what he can do with a broken and beat up vessel like me. To Him be all glory, honor, and praise forever!

Philippians 2:12-18

"Shine Jesus, Shine"

Here in this section of Philippians I believe that we get a view of the Philippian church which shows us that there must be some type of conflict going on in the Church. I know what you are thinking, "how could there be any conflict going on in the church?" Here is the deal, people in church fight. Sometimes I believe that people in church fight more than people outside of the church. Philippians 2:14-15 (NLT)-"Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shinning like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people." Here Paul is contrasting the lives of those who believe in Christ and those who do not have faith in Christ. Paul says that people of the world find fault and complain, but those who are in Christ spend their time rejoicing. Wow, what a word of wisdom for the church today. Why do we spend so much time going to meetings and fighting over stuff that in eternity does not really amount to a whole lot. I believe that one of the key reasons that many times we find conflict in church due to a lack of prayer. God has been continuously convicting me lately that it is very hard to have a heart, mind, and soul that longs after God if we don't really spend some quality time with God.

Think about your work place what if before some huge business decision or some important meeting, everyone got together and spend some real time with each other in prayer. What if before some huge conflict between two students in school a bunch of students got together and humbled their hearts in prayer. What if before a huge church board meeting the leaders got together, put their ego's aside and prayed. I believe that if this happen in every aspect of our lives we could live out verse 15 and spend a lot more time rejoicing and a lot less time finding fault and complaining.

Philippians 2:3-11

Be Like Christ

Philippians 2:3-11 (NLT)-"Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Can we really fathom the idea that Paul is talking about here in this section of Philippians? Have you ever taken a few minutes to think of what Jesus gave up in order to come to earth and save us? Christ gave up being with God, in order to come to earth to be a servant to all of mankind. This idea of Christ being a servant goes much further than you or I can imagine as Jesus being the servant of mankind meant that He would serve everything. Jesus being a servant meant that He would die on a cross for you and I. What an amazing concept! How is it that Jesus came to teach us servant-hood and yet we spend our entire lives thinking that we deserve to be served. The challenge today is to read through these few verses and ask yourself "do I have the same attitude as Christ Jesus?" Today, find someone to serve and quit expecting to be served.

Philippians 2:1-2

Fellowship in the Spirit

Philippians 2:1-2-"Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose." (NLT)

Obviously the Philippians has some disagreements among them. Paul reminds them of the way that they should be acting because they "fellowship together in the Spirit". As we already noted, the book of Philippians is really about fellowship; not friendship but fellowship. Just from reading this passage of scripture the only thing that my mind is capable of thinking about is salvation. I know this seems weird but let me share with you where my mind is going on this.

Philippians 2:1, Paul ask the question is there any "fellowship together in the Spirit?" Obviously in Paul's mind in order for there to be fellowship in the Spirit, the Spirit must be active in a persons life. So how do we get this Spirit? So that we might be able to experience this "fellowship in the Spirit".



Romans 8:9-"But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all). From this scripture we see that there are obviously people who do not have the Spirit, therefore they would not be eligible to "fellowship in the Spirit".

As Peter stands and delivers his message on the Day of Pentecost (the day the first church started) the people listening ask Peter what they must do in order to obtain this amazing grace and how can we get to know this awesome Jesus? Peters answer is found in the scripture below.
Acts 2:38-"Peter replied, 'Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" Peter says at the point that someone is baptized, its at that point in which you receive the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that baptism is but one part of the salvation plan, there are other which I will not go into detail but have listed below, but the issue of baptism seems to be greatly debated, so I wanted to give my two cents worth.

Salvation:
Belief
Confession
Repentance
Baptism
Faithfulness

Philippians 1:27-30

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Philippians 1:20-24

To Live is Christ, to Die is Gain.

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Philippians 1

As we start this new study on the book of Philippians I will not be taking a whole chapter at a time. It seems like I missed some of the material in Colossians due to this, so I will only be taking small sections of Philippians.
Let me start with an overview of the book of Philippians. Philippians is one of Paul's prison letters. Therefore Paul is in prison for spreading the name of Christ when he writes to the Philippians. Paul's main focus behind this book is "Fellowship". Often in the church today we see fellowship as when ever we get together with someone else to have coffee, snacks, or just have a conversation together. I believe that we will see from Philippians that Paul's idea of fellowship was much more than sharing drinks and food. Paul will teach us that you cannot have fellowship with someone unless you have something in common, and for Christian fellowship, this means the possession of eternal life within the heart. In Philippians 2:1, Paul wrote about "fellowship together in the Spirit," because when a person is born again he receives the gift of the Spirit (Rom. 8:9), also see Acts 2:38-42. Too often we confuse friendship with fellowship, so hopefully Paul will teach us the real difference. Paul starts the book of Philippians by praising the Philippians for their dedication to "spreading the good news about Christ"(Phil. 1:5). Philippians 1:11-"May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation-the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ-for this will bring much glory and praise to God." Notice that Paul said this will bring glory and praise to God not us. Philippians 1:12-14-"And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear." Remember that Paul says because of your life in Christ it will bring glory and praise to God. Even while Paul is in prison he continues to share the message of Christ, to where it bring glory and praise to God. Paul even though he is in prison because of Christ continues to preach the "Good News". Yet, we let any little thing keep us from sharing Christ with our friends so that we might be able to fellowship with them. It's something to think about.

Colossians 4:2-4

Prayer

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Colossians 4:2-4

Prayer

Colossians 3

Out with the Old and In with the New!

In the first part of Colossians 3 Paul reminds us that we have been "raised to new life with Christ"v. 1. Paul goes on to remind us of some of the past sins that the church at Colosse were trapped in. I believe that if you and I will read the list of things that the church at Colosse was struggling with we could say to ourselves "is he writing to us?" Paul lets us know that we should not be doing these things because of the new life that we have found in Christ. Colossians 3:10-"Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him." The word that is translated renewed is a present participle reminding us that we should be constantly renewing ourselves. Which I believe is such a reminder that scripture is not only relevant for the past but also today. Paul knew that we would not just come to Christ and never struggle with our sinful nature again. I believe that Paul is saying now that you are new in Christ continue to read God's word and pray to be continually renewed in our commitment to Christ. Colossians 3:11-"In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us." Or as one of my modern day friends waYne waGner put it, "there is no room for racism in Christ". The love of Christ is for everyone. Paul continues and says that the thing that should bind us together is LOVE. Today I pray that people will love one another because of the love of Christ.

Colossians 2:4-7 (Grounded, Growing, and Grateful)

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Colossians 2:4-7

Where's My Head?

I have been working very hard over the past 8 weeks to get my body in shape, as I have been following the P90X DVD's. Now, in no way am I some ripped Tony Horton at this point but I have lost 20lbs and have muscles that I have never seen before. I plan to continue to do P90X after this cycle is complete just because it makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something as well as it just making me feel better in general. I believe that being in good physical shape is something that everyone would like but very few put in the time and effort to accomplish it (that could probably fit the Christian life as well). As I started to work out everyday I thought about people I saw on TV, great specimens of physical fitness. I think about people like those UFC fighters who just are in phenomenal shape and have muscles from every part of their body. Now, what if those huge muscle bound people had no head? They would look really ridiculous wouldn't they? This is exactly what happened to the church at Colosse. They had forgotten their head (Christ). Colosse being a huge travel route, they gained access to all kinds of new world stuff, including new world religion. The Apostle Paul writes to the church at Colosse to remind them that they have lost their Head. It's amazing how God works in our lives. This study of Colossians could not have come at a better time for me. With all the things that life requires of me right now, I had forgotten my Head as well. With all the training that I have been doing to get my physical body in shape I had neglected my spiritual health. As I close this out for today let me share two verses.

Colossians 1:18-"Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body." (NLT)
Colossians 1:22-"Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body, As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault." (NLT)

I realize that we all need to work out physically and spiritually but Colossians 1:22 got me this morning to just imagine that because of the work of Christ I can come before God holy and blameless.

It's Time

I have taken a hard look at my life over the last couple of weeks. I have decided that I and we (as people) allow a lot of things to distract us from what is really important in life. Over the last couple of weeks I have taken notice that I stay up way to late at night, then go to bed and not want to get up in the morning until the kids get out of bed, then head off to the office or what ever the day ahead has in store, get the kids off the bus, spend some time with the kids, fix dinner, help with the kids until dinner, go to a night appointment for church or do some office stuff from home, then watch TV or play Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 (yes I have both consoles but this is not a blog about wasting money). I feel as if I have become complacent with God. Maybe to say it in better terms I have become lazy in my relationship with God. I continue to read the scripture and pray but just because that's what I'm suppose to do, not because of His love for me or my gratitude towards God. I write all of this for you to read because I want to be real. I want the the people that I work with or the students that look up to me to know that, in the words of Steve Harvey "Don't trip He aint done with me yet!" I thank God each and everyday for continuing to use me. The only reason God continues to use is because of His love and grace. Colossians 1:25 "I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness". I pray that God will lead me in a spiritual revival of myself in order that I might be able to present the word of God in its fullness. I have decided that I will no longer stay up late and let the distractions of this world keep me from REALLY spending time with God. I thank God each day that He aint done with me yet!