Two New Audio Messages

2 Peter


Rock in the Way

Thought 279: Psalm 78 from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 279

Psalm 78

This chapter is amazing! Read Psalm 78.

§  The basis for homeschooling or any education is to be parent guided based on verses 4-6, the verses are not just referring to so called ‘Biblical education’ like Sunday school.

§  Verse 8 describes what state our country is in now. Without hearts loyal to God, we just run around with heads full of facts and figures and have no purpose to unleash them in a meaningful way for the kingdom.

§  Verses 10 &11 depict what so many of God’s children have done—forgotten the Lord and gotten caught up in themselves.

§  Verse 32 is relevant today as well: God’s wonders are all around us! . . . yet few  believe.

§  Verses 38-39 are amazing! God was merciful, yes!—even in the Old Testament.

§  Verse 52 implies that God has always been a shepherd because He was for Israel and HE is for us.

§  Verses 70-72 speak of the amazing leadership capabilities that God gave to David. Yes, God chose David as the leader of HIS people.

Thought 278: John 17--Jesus praying for Himself, His disciples, and All Believers from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 278

John 17 – Jesus praying for Himself, His disciples, and All Believers

(pay attention to how short Jesus prayer for Himself is compared to His prayer for others)

 

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said,

    “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

        And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

        I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

        I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

        While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

        I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

        They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

         Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” – John 17 KJV (quotation marks added)

Thought 277: Real men Gotta be tough--Biblical, right? from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 277

Real men Gotta be tough—Biblical, right?

  Well . . . .  you’re gonna need to define tough. A real man isn’t just tough. Rather, he models Jesus Christ: he lives his life as an example to those who follow him, his family and friends know what he really is and what he really stands for because he lives out his faith. A real man rules his household by example, by servant leadership. A real man takes responsibility for his actions and admits when he messes up or is wrong.

 Believe me that being the type of man I’m describing  is tough, but it earns you more respect from those under your leadership. A real man is a genuine person, and he has a low estimate of himself. He gives his best, but knows he is not perfect. He flees from pride and runs into the arms of Jesus. He is truly humble. True humility is strong, it is determined, it is resolute, yet compassionate,  it is uncompromising and lovingly firm. Study it out, what is true humility and what is true manhood? (Hint: the Bible contains the answers)

 

Are you are real man?

Do you know any real men?

. . .

I know the ultimate MAN –

Jesus.

And guess what? This man conquered death.

 

 

 

 

 

Thought 276: How Christians Succeed from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 276

How Christians Succeed

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister (servant); And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 KJV (parenthesis added)

     Christians, too often we do not go about achievement in the proper way. I remember back to my high school years where I humbly served others and achieved tremendous success. People respected me, all I did seemed to prosper; I was content, happy and joyful! The reason why all the blessings happened was not because of my effort. I was humble, diligent, and dependent upon the Lord for things to work out.

“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 14:11 KJV

       Where are you? Are you humbly serving or are you going after exalting yourself (pride)?

        Jesus said that to find your life, you must first lose it, spend it by serving others.

       Why don’t you close reading Matthew 20:1-16.