To Know Him is to Love Him

1John 2:4-6 says," The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
To keep His word, we must know His word. John is talking about forming a strong relationship and identity with God Himself. He wrote this so we could be sure we were on the right path. Why would we want to do what Jesus did? ....to avoid Hell or do we truly want to be more like Him? Well that's a no-brainer. He designed us with friendship in mind but we have chosen formality and cold religion instead. I'm urging us all to continue testing ourselves against the scriptures daily so that we can really know God in person. One final thing, I heard a preacher say the other day that if we're going to change our relationship with God we also need to change our relationship with sin. How true!

Hint: To get a jump start on knowing Jesus, cruise on back to the Gospels and practice doing what He did. CAUTION!! Do not attempt walking on water unless you were born of a virgin.

Bro. Coy

Keep on Keeping on

"By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:" 1 John 2:3-5 NASB

Sounds intimidating doesn't it? John didn't write this as a way that we could test other believers. He wrote it for us to check ourselves. Since we've been examining obedience, this seemed like a fitting passage to study. The meaning of the word "keep" is essential to understanding these verses. It's implication is to maintain a course. It's a real journey with a real destination. Like all journeys we're bound to get off course but the goal is to keep on keepin' on in the right direction. Went we get lost it's time to stop and get directions and study our map. That's prayer, Godly counsel, and reading the word of God. Most important never be to proud to admit when you made a wrong turn. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NASB

Enjoy the Ride
Bro. Coy

Question of the Day

...In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him....
Hebrew 2:8
Has anything greater than Jesus crossed your path today?

Faith in the Realm of Uncertainty

Today we talked about faith in the realm of uncertainty. Here are a few key points from our discussion.

A need to know basis

· Read 1Sam 7:3; 14:1-12

· The Jonathan Factor is expressed when we have absolute confidence in God in the midst of uncertainty without any guarantee of personal success.

· Jonathan was not choosing how to die; he was choosing how to live.

Read 2 Tim 1:8-9; Eph 2:10; Gal 5:13; James 4:17

· First dimension faith is acting in obedience to what God has already spoken even though it may be out of your level of experience.

· Faith is not emotion or desire.

· The more closely we reflect God’s heart in our prayers, the more often our requests will match his response.

· Faith is about character, trusting in the character of God, being certain of who God is and following Him into the unknown.

Muy Importante: What do you do when you don't know what to do? OBEY

I will miss y'all next week. Have fun at the picnic while I'm eating all that Yankee food.
Peace
Bro. Coy

A Martyr's Creed

I'll take it easy tonight guys by submitting something I read a long time ago but it still blesses me today. I wish I could say it defines me.

I’m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast my goal is heaven; my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, or let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me--my banner will be clear!!!

--Written by a young African pastor: It was tacked on the wall of his house and found after he died as a martyr for the Gospel

God Bless Y'all
Bro. Coy

Don't be afraid of the dark. Just get rid of it.

1John 1:5-7 (NIV)
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Today, I was listening to a fellow on the radio talk about his addiction to pornography. In days past, I was tempted and felt overwhelmed to view this stuff on the Internet. Honestly, sometimes I failed to resist but I never felt the power of this addiction. But I could identify with him wholeheartedly. You see for many years I was addicted to alcohol and getting high on whatever was available. My addiction caused everyone that cared about me to be affected. As I sank deeper into the pit of this darkness, it was impossible for me see the damage I was causing myself and my loved ones. It's hard to see clearly in the dark.
In my experienced- not expert- opinion, all addictions are basically the same. They all result in hopelessness, heartache and unbridled guilt. Addicts have one desire-to fill that bottomless void in their soul and they will destroy anything that gets between them and their fix. Their eyes are cloudy and the path is dark. They can't see what lies ahead.
Only one thing can fix an addict's problem. Light. Yes the minute you let The Light shed his light on your problem, you start seeing solutions. Oh yes you're still on the same path and it'll take a while to get back where you started but the Light will help you see. The rocks and ditches will be much easier to avoid when you hold the Lamp of God's word over the path. Another good thing about light: more light = less darkness. Yes I know it's sounds simple. But if it's so simple, why are so many intelligent people trapped in darkness. It's because they don't have THE LIGHT. OK enough metaphor, here's the application.

1. If you have a vice that you just can't quit, talk about it with someone that loves God and can shed some of God's light on your problem.Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16 NIV

2. One sign that you have a problem is that your fellowship with friends and love ones is beginning to suffer. But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].1John 5:7 Amplified Bible

3. The most powerful weapon that addiction has is the "deep dark secret". Bring it out into the light and you'd be surprised at how many already knew. But that's OK because the power of darkness is gone because God's light is present. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it]. John 1:5 Amplified Bible

If anyone has anything that constantly nagging them, don't keep it in the dark. I'm here for you. we'll shed some Light on that thing and send it back where it belongs.

God Bless Y'all
Bro. Coy

Who Made You The Judge?

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1 - 5 (NASB)

What a common scenario! What a grossly misquoted and misunderstood text! Two friends have a similar problem. One has splinter in his eye and the other, a branch hanging out of his skull. Who is more likely to complain? You guessed it… Old log head. Not only will he complain about his friend’s splinter but he will come up with brilliant methods of splinter removal. We see it every day don’t we? Well I guess I should say we see it in other people everyday because we can barely see our own reflection with all the leaves hanging in our face.
The Lord was pointing out a problem that I face often. He didn’t say that I shouldn’t be willing to correct a friend with a fault. He was telling me that if I’m going to help my friend with his fault I should get rid of my own problem first. But hey if I’m the one with the bigger problem maybe I should be taking advice from him.
A carnal spirit will reject correction by saying, “Judge not that ye not be judged!” Why is that the only verse in the King James that anyone quotes correctly yet misses its meaning entirely? I guess it’s because they won’t finishing reading the verse. Jesus is saying if you’re going to judge do it right. If you’re going to help someone overcome a fault, its best that you have overcome that fault yourself and that you bring a solution in the spirit of love. Otherwise you’re a hypocrite and you’re no good to yourself or anyone else. Can’t you just picture a guy with a splinter in his eye getting help from someone with a limb full of branches and leaves sticking out of his head? That poor guy is going to get beat half to death and all scratched up. By the end He’ll be worse off than when he started.

How can we apply this to our lives?

1. Be thankful for those who love God and love us enough to confront us and help us with our faults
Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:5 - 6 (KJV)

2. Love others enough to help them be the person God wants them to be.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1 - 2 (KJV)

3. In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12 (NASB)

God Bless Y’all
Bro. Log Head

Character

Today I heard a comment on the radio, that I’d heard somewhere before but I still can’t remember who said it. “Character is what you do when no one is looking.” That comment stuck me like a knife. As Christians, we know that God is always looking, but how often are we more concerned with what others see. I work in a fairly small warehouse that contains over seventy-five cameras. At first I was very conscientious of this, but now I’d hate to think of the things they had seen me do when “no one” was looking. Don’t worry I haven’t stolen anything, but I will occasionally “bust a move” to the radio when I’m alone. I never know who is watching the cameras and most of the time I don’t even think about them. Since none of us have seen God we tend forget He is watching too. Paul reminds his friends in Philippi that just because he’s not there doesn’t mean that they can go all willy-nilly.

Philippians 2:12-18 NLT
12Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
14Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 17But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.

Here are a few character building reminders from Paul:
1. Our work represents Someone greater than ourselves
2. God’s work makes us better than ourselves
3. We work best when we don’t do it for ourselves

I hope this post is helpful. I know I need constant reminding that God is over me, around me, under me, in me, and for me. From what I've read, He likes you pretty good too.

God Bless Y'all
Bro. Coy

Have the Attitude of Christ

Today I felt like a big steaming pile of........oatmeal. I hate oatmeal. The moment I got to work, I felt my rights being violated one by one. I mean shouldn't I be treated with tenderness and compassion due to my present family dilemma. Shouldn't the uniform guy bring back five shirts if I turn in five shirts? Shouldn't first shift stay late to finish their own projects instead of expecting us to stay late finishing our projects and theirs? That's when it hit me....well not right then I did have to sulk for a while first....but when it did finally hit me it was like a ton of feathers fell on me. Why a ton of feathers you ask? Because they weigh the same as a ton of bricks but they're so much softer:)
OK back to the thought at hand. Just where do I get off thinking I have all these rights? Answer...PRIDE.

Philippians 2:1-11 (NLT)

¹Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?

²Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

³Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

⁴Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

⁵You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

⁶Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

⁷Instead, 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,

⁸ he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

⁹Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,

¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1. Encouragement comes from fellowship in Christ
2. Equality is not of interest to God
3. Evil comes pride in yourself.
4. Elevation will come in due time.

What I forgot today was to keep the Main Thing the main thing. Needless to say, I was not encouraged. I was more concerned with helping others please me than I was helping others see Him. That's a losing strategy. If Jesus, Himself didn't think he should have His rights catered to why should I?

My prayer today is that we would all have the mind of Christ and the peace that comes with it. Even if we have a momentary "brain burp" we need to remember that we have a Friend who is always there at the throne to intercede on our behalf. Let our motto be "others" and hope we don't get in the way.
God Bless Y'all
Bro. Coy

P.S. I'm Feeling much better now