NOW STAY WITH ME . . .

I was helping out in the junior high school youth group and this was the message.  I had never looked at these verses in this way before.  Look at them with me and see what the Holy Spirit teaches you.  Lets go to 1 John 2:18-29

18  Children, it is the last hour! (John is talking about the last days, the time between Christ‘s first and second coming)  As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now MANY antichrist have come. (antichrist=is someone who is against or puts them selves in the place of Christ. Selfcenteredness)  From this we know that it is the last hour.  19  They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. (The antichrists were not total strangers to the church; they once belonged to it, but they did not comtinue.  Some people may call themselves Christians for less than the best reasons.  Perhaps going to church is a family tradition, or they like the social and business contacts or a long standing habit.  They never stopped to ask themeselves why they do it.  What is your main reason for being a Christian ??  Unless it is a Christ centered reason, you may not really belong.)  But by going out they made it plain that none of them belongs to us.  20  But you have been anointed by the Holy One and all of you have knowledge. (Anointed is when you put your faith in Christ and then the Holy Spirit dwells within you.  Anoint means to rub or smite.)  21  I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you you know it, and you know that no lie comes from the truth.  22  WHO IS THE LIAR BUT THE ONE WHO DENIES THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST??  THIS IS THE ANTICHRIST, THE ONE WHO DENIES THE FATHER AND THE SON. 

23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; everyone who confesses the Son has the Father also.

24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you.  If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and Father.  25  And this is what he has promised us, eternal life.

26 I write these things to you concerning those who would decieve you.

27 As for you, the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and so you do not need anyone to teach you.  But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, abide in him.  (Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit to teach his followers and remind them of all that he had taught.  Christians have the Holy Spirit within them (anointing) to keep them from going astray.  They also have the God inspired Scriptures.  To stay true to Christ, we must follow his word and his Spirit.  Let the Holy spirit help you discern truth from error)

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming. 29  If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who does right has been born of him.

Those ten verses are amazing when you look at them.  So, anytime I am not Christ centered I am anti-christ.  That is quite a thought.  That bible study has really stuck with me and I have been meditating on it and really trying to stay in prayer and the presence of Christ.  I really wanted to share it and hope that you also could grow and turn again to your “first love,” Christ our Savior.  Our all in all.

Thanks for joining.

My Child . . .

You may not know me, but I know everything about you…(Ps 139:1)  I know when you sit down and when you rise up…(Ps 139:2  I am familiar with all your ways…(Ps 139:3)  Even the very hairs on your head are numbered…(Matt 10:29-31)  For you were made in my image…(Gen 1:27)  In me you live and move and have your being…(Acts 17:28)  For you are my offspring…(Acts 17:28)  I knew you even before you were conceived…(Jermiah 1:4-5)  I chose you when I planned creation…(Eph 1:11-12)  You were not a mistake…(Ps 139:15-16)  For all your days are written in my book…(Ps 139:15-16)  I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live…(Acts 17:26)  You are fearfully and wonderfully made…(ps 139:114)I knit you together in your mother’s womb…(Ps 139:13)  And brought you forth on the day you were born…(Ps 71:16  I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me…(Jn 8:41-44)  I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love…(1 Jn 4:16)  And it is my desire to lavish my love on you…(1 Jn 3:1)  Simply because you are my child and I am your Father…(1Jn 3:1)  I offer you more than your earthly father ever could…(Matt 7:11)  For I am the perfect Father…(Matt 5:48)  Every good gift that you recieve comes from my hand…(James 1:17)  For I am your provided and I meet all your needs…(matt 6:31-33)  My plan for your future has always been filled with hope…(Jerimiah 29:11)  Because I love you with an everlasting love…(Jermiah 31:3)  My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore…(Ps 139:17-18)  And I rejoice over you with singing…(Zeph 3:17)  I will never stop doing good to you…(Jermiah 32:40)  For you are my treasured possession…(Ex 19:5)  I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul…(Jermiah 32:41)  And I want to show you great and marvelous things…(Jermiah 33:3)  If you seek me with all your heart, you will fine me…(Deut 4:29)  Delight in me and i will give you the desires of your heart…(Ps 37:4)  Fir it is I who gave you those desires…(Phil 2:13)  I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine…(Esh 3:20)  For I am your greatest encourager…(2 Thess 2:16-17)  I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles…(2 Cor 1:3-4  When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you…(ps 34:18)  As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart…(Isaiah 40:11)  One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes…(Rev 21:3-4)  And I’ll take away all the apin you have suffered on this earth…(Rev 21:4)  I am your Father and i love you even as I love my son, Jesus…(Jn 17:13)  For in Jesus my love for you is revealed…(Jn 17:26)  he is the exact representation of my being…(Heb 1:3)  And He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you…(Romans 8:31)  And to tell you that I am no counting your sins…(2 Cor. 5:18-19)  jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled…(2 Cor 5:18-19  His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you…(1 Jn 4:10)  I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love…(Romans 8:32)  If you recieve that gift of my son Jesus, you recieve me…(1 Jn 2:23)  And nothing will ever separate you from my love again…(Romans 8:38-39)  Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever see…(Luke 15:7)  I have always been Father and will always be Father…(Eph 3:14-15)  My question is…Will you be my Child?…(Jn 1:12-13)  I am waiting for you…(Luke 15:11-32)       …Love, Your Dad; ALMIGHTY GOD

used by permission Father Heart Communications copyright 1999  www.FathersLoveLetter.com

Hi, I want to share something I was challenged to do and think it is a great exercise to do with your loved one, family, or just by yourself.

As a result of a bible series our pastor was giving, our Youth leader challenged all the other adult leaders to look at different areas of our lives and see if Jesus is in the center.

For example: marriage, family, work, play, language, actions, money matters, entertainment choices, other significant relationships, and what ever other area you want to look at personally. (Take each area seperate and search it out)

I really was glad for this challenge as I saw it as an opportunity to be more like Christ which is what the Bible tells us to do.  I thought it would be a good opportunity to grow closer to my Lord and maybe even find hidden sin I could repent for.  I also know some areas will not be easy and maybe I might find some habits hard to break, but it is all about the journey and growth with our Savior that matters.

I pray that if this sounds like something you might do–that you will grow to a new level with Christ.  That your life will glorify Him and more people will come to know Him through the example you set.  Our nation and world needs Christ.  There are so many hurting and lost sheep out there.  The healthier we are the more Christ can use us for His will. 

What do you think ??  I know it will be worth the journey !!

Have a great day in the Lord.

I would like to share this article with all of you.  I found it interesting because of the way the United States‘ new government seems to be headed.  Of course the Eastern Hemisphere, Canada and South America  has sure had it’s trouble with socialism, dictatorships and communism.  Even socialism in a small way such as in health care can be a detrimential situation I think.

I am learning as I read and want so much to have the ideas, goals and thoughts of Christ so I look to those who have walked the walk.  Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, was one of the get spiritual leaders in his life time.  He preached to 10,000,00 people, often up to 10 times a week in many different places. 

I encourage you to read this article as I feel that we need to be aware of our world so as to aleast know how to pray for it better.

http://www.americanvision.org/article/spurgeon-on-socialism/ 

To the extent that we allow God‘s love to be manifest in us we are obeying Christ‘s command. 

To that extent we are remaining in Him and His words are remaining in us. 

And to that extent we can expect to have our prayers answered.–Wentworth Pike, contemporary author and Bible teacher.–The Presidential Prayer Team Website

John 15:7–”If you remain in Me and My word remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”

COMPLETE UPDATE FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL PRAYER TEAM: (you can check this on a daily basis !!  www.presidentialprayerteam.org

Psalm 5:1-3 (NIV)

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing.  Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray.  In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.

This is from a letter by John Adams.

Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone, which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand.  The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue; and if this cannot be inspired into our people in a greater measure than they have it now, they may change their rulers and the forms of government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty.  They will only exchange tyrants and tyrannies.