A Good Husband!

From Today in the Word

Ephesians 5:21-33 (New International Version)

²¹Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands

²²Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. ²³For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶to make her holy, cleansing^a]">[a] her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰for we are members of his body. ³¹"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."^b]">[b] ³²This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Mainly, though, this rich theological comparison is for husbands, and it assigns them at least three sacred responsibilities. First, husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church, that is, sacrificially and with the purpose of facilitating God's work of sanctification (vv. 25—27). Second, husbands are to care for their wives as diligently as they care for their own bodies and in the same way that Christ feeds and cares for His body, the church (vv. 28—30). This is an image of serving and shepherding. Third, husbands are to be united with their wives (vv. 31—33). Physically and spiritually, marriage is oneness, a profound mystery (cf. Gen. 2:24).

Humble Leadership! Humble Laypeople!

The longer I live the more I see a balance in God's word, like bookends to keep us from falling either way. The Word says to sumit to those who have the rule over you [Hebrews 13:7] and then tells the ones who have the rule over you to not Lord it over God's heritage. There is a balance that needs to be striven for in humity. We can miss it if we are not careful. Pastors and preachers can become "overlords" and laypeople can become "rebellious". We need both humble leadership that is strong and people who are willing to submit but are not pushovers. Read this below.

1 Peter 5:1-11 (King James Version)

1The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:1-11 (New International Version)
To Elders and Young Men
1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

5Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble." 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

This is from Today in the Word! Here is the link.
Read Acts 20:22-38

The apostle Paul often thought of discipleship or ministry in sports terms. In today's reading, he believed his race was nearly finished and the prize of being with Christ in heaven was near. As we “listen in,” we can learn several key lessons about church leadership that he urgently wanted to communicate to the Ephesian elders. First, the main thing must remain the main thing (vv. 22-27). The main thing is “testifying to the gospel of God's grace,” which outranked Paul's personal safety and certain knowledge of suffering. On an eternal scale, his life was “worth nothing” compared to remaining faithful to his calling.

Second, leaders are shepherds (vv. 28-31). Leadership and authority are to be driven by love, care, and service. What's more, watch must be kept not only over the “flock” and doctrinal purity, but also over one's still sinful self. Church leaders must always be aware that their leadership is at the sovereign pleasure of the Holy Spirit and in the service of those Christ loved unto death.

And third, servanthood is the path of leadership (vv. 32-35). Power is often used for selfish ends and personal gain, but in the church the strong should help the weak, giving is more blessed than receiving, and human foolishness can be God's wisdom. Leadership in the church comes from a willingness to follow Christ.

Lord Jesus,
I pray that church leaders who read this will be smitten with conviction who are "lording it over God's heritage". Don't let the members of the flock who love you be destroyed but lead them to shepherds who will truly care for them. Lives can be destroyed by "well-meaning" but manipulative people who are walking around in the "Emperor's New Clothes." Lead us and everyone who truly cares to revival even though we are to go "through the fire." Deliver us from pettiness and meanness in spirit in our quest for holiness for that is how the pharisees were.
IN JESUS" NAME AMEN

What day were you born on?

Go to www.dayofbirth.co.uk

Psalm 90:12 - So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Here's mine....

• You were born on a Wednesday.
• Your star sign is Aquarius.
• Your birthstone is Garnet.
• The season was Winter.
• You were born in the Chinese year of the Ox.
• The US President was John F. Kennedy (Democratic).
• The UK Prime Minister was Harold Macmillan (Conservative).
• Wednesday's child is full of woe.
• You are 47 years 2 months 1 day old.
• It is 305 days until your next birthday.
• In dog years you are 329 years old.
• You are 17,227 days old.
• You are approximately 413,469 hours old.
• You are approximately 1,488,488,258 seconds old.

Balance!

Those who quote "provoking one another to love and good works" excessively, should also live balanced lives remembering that the scriptures also say Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Also that jealousy is a work of the flesh on par with sexual sins [in the same list].

Galatians 5:19-26
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Dealing with a Sinning Brother

Matthew 18
15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. 18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Proverbs 19:11
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,and his glory is to overlook a transgression.

Example of Love in action
Genesis 9:22-23 (New King James Version)
22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness.

Worth of a Soul

Mark 8:36-37 (New King James Version)

³⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? ³⁷ Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Preached @ Christ Tabernacle, Sunday the 15th of March by Bishop T. S.

Serenity Prayer and Others...

I found this on prayerwarriors.com.

BLESSINGS UPON THE WIFE

My wife, I give thanks to God for your life and because He chose you to be my companion. May God make you grow in stature as He did Ruth and Esther; may you find favor in the eyes of God and those that surround you; may the Lord bless the work of your hands and everything you do. I know that the promises of Proverb 31 are a reality in your life. You have been an excellent wife, an example of a mother and a leader, which everyone admires. may the Lord bless you with health, with peace, and make you a thousand times more than what you already are. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

BLESSINGS UPON THE SON

Son, I give thanks to God for your life. I bless you with the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. May the Lord's hand be upon you and make you his servant. May the Lord bless you with wisdom, with prosperity and with peace. That every day you live you use it to enlarge His Kingdom . May the Lord give you for a wife a virtuous woman, and that you be an example for her. May God make you a thousand times more than what you are now. In the name of Jesus Amen.

Don't Love the World!

1 John 2:14-16 (King James Version)

¹⁴I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

¹⁵Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

¹⁶For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

RUN TO THE CROSS!

Sermon Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009 [TFT]
In whatever situation you are in, the answer is at the cross.
The underground railroad in China is found by looking for the Cross. Christians all along the way are helping people to be free from North Korea. The National Geographic Article is online and part of the quote was read at the beginning of the sermon.

"Crossing the Tumen was easy compared to what happened next," Black said. Like White, Black had been tricked by his broker, sold to a Korean-Chinese gangster to carry drugs and money back and forth across the Tumen. "I refused to help," said Black, who was otherwise vague about how he survived those early days in China. His darkest time followed the sale of his girlfriend to an aging addict, after which Black lost contact with her. Eventually Black heeded the advice whispered among defectors: "Head for a cross." Thirty or more churches around Yanji offer temporary refuge to North Koreans, along with food and clothing. Their pastors stay out of trouble as long as they don't openly proselytize or draw attention to their support for the defectors.

If you need a little humility, read these accounts of the Crucifixion.
Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 18:28-40, 19:1-42.
NOTE: If you have a Thomson Chain reference bible a nice Harmony of the Gospels is on page 1679, Topic number 4308a. The specific ones relating to Good Friday are found on page 1682 with maps of events on page 1689-1690 [Topics 4308-g and 4308-h].

The Start of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-13 (New King James Version)
Coming of the Holy Spirit
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord[a] in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Crowd’s Response
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” 13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

Pentecostals believe that the outpouring of the Spirit is valid for today. Notice from the scriptures that "they were all filled" with the Holy Ghost. A Review of Acts chapter 1 reveals those who were waiting in the upper room for this experience.
Acts 1
The Upper Room Prayer Meeting
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,[b] with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Notice in the above scripture that it wasn't just the Apostles. The women and Mary the mother of Jesus was there too.

When Peter began explaining this experience in Acts chapter two he quoted from the prophet Joel's prophecy of this New Testament out pouring of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:16-21
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘ And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
21 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the LORD
Shall be saved.’

Notice key phrases from the scriptures to gain an understanding of who this is for. "All flesh" is pretty easy to understand that it's for all humanity. It is going to be poured out "on my menservants" and "on my maidservants" lets us know it's for men and women. Obviously then, we can understand that it was not just for the apostles as there were no "maidservants" among those who Jesus had chosen at that time.

It was promised by God through Joel. Peter told them it was happening now. Millions have received this experience and so can you! I received it on September 11, 1988.

You will know them by their fruits.
Since that time I have had a deep love for God, God's church, and His Word. I believe that the Holy Bible is God's word. I do believe that God's Spirit can give us a balanced and fulfilling life as we live and serve Him. As a result of the infilling of the Holy Spirit, my prayer life also became much better and I believe that is a result of God's Spirit helping me to pray as he promised in Romans 8:26,27.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us[b] with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

I am not free from Sin but I am an overcomer through God's Spirit. Some sins were eradicated and I was delivered from them the moment that I believed and received the Spirit. Other sins I have struggled with and am now "overcoming daily with the Spirit's Sword" [Song - Standing on the Promises of God]. I have also experienced several miracles such as my back being healed, carpal tunnels in my wrists, and other notable blessings such as major financial blessings and other things I and my family needed at the time. God is a good Father and a good provider for his children. He provided for me the "lamb" of sacrifice, the man Christ Jesus, [Who is God in Flesh] to take my sins out of the way and nailed them on the cross so that I [and everyone] could come and live with him for all eternity. This is my Blessed Hope!

Love in(g) Christ,
Puddles : )