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Articles from Pastor Jon's Blog

John 1:14-18 2007-04-25 00:00:00 John 1 - The Word and the Witness 4. (14-18) The Word became flesh. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, ?He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.?" And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. a. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us: This is John?s most startling statement so far. It would have amazed both Jewish and Greek thinking to hear that the Word became flesh. i. The Greeks had a generally low view of God. To them, John says the Word became flesh. The ancient Greek gods such as Zeus and Hermes were simply super-men; they were not equal t ...

Some Good Reads 2007-04-24 20:07:42 Dan Edelen at Cerulean Sanctum has a great post entitled The Cornelius Factor. It is an excellent read. Milton Stanley has a reasonably new blog (his 3rd) called Milton's Daily Dose. It is a great devotional. In fact, it prompted me to start posting THOT 4 2 DAY on this blog instead of only by e-mail. Both of these blogs are listed on the Friends Of Pastor Jon section of the right sidebar. <:))))><< ...

THOT 4 2 DAY for Tuesday 04.24.07 2007-04-24 06:00:00 THOT 4 2 DAY for Tuesday 04.24.07 Psalms 25:4-5:Show me Your ways, O LORD;Teach me Your paths.Lead me in Your truth and teach me,For You are the God of my salvation;On You I wait all the day. Proverbs 24:3-4:Through wisdom a house is built,And by understanding it is established;By knowledge the rooms are filledWith all precious and pleasant riches. Today?s Quote:Religious differences are not disastrous as religious indifference. -- Unknown Today?s THOT:God's heart is for unity among His people. Even considering the extremes within Christianity, we have more in common than that which divides us. Also, since we are going to spend eternity together, perhaps we should learn to get along with each other. Read the Bible in 1 year: 1 Samuel 2-3, Acts 26. THOT 4 2 DAY is an outreach ministry of Springfield Calvary. Unless otherwise noted all Scripture is taken from the New King James Version of the Bible.<:))))><< ...

John 1:6-13 2007-04-24 00:00:00 John 1 - The Word and the Witness 3. (6-13) The revelation of the Word. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. a. There was a man sent from God: John the Baptist bears witness of the light, that all through him might believe. b. The world did not know Him: How can it be? How can it be that God came to the same world He created, to the creatures made in His image, and the world did not ...

THOT 4 2 DAY 04.23.07 2007-04-23 06:00:00 THOT 4 2 DAY Psalms 24:3-5Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?Or who may stand in His holy place?He who has clean hands and a pure heart,Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,Nor sworn deceitfully.He shall receive blessing from the LORD,And righteousness from the God of his salvation. Proverbs 23:12Apply your heart to instruction,And your ears to words of knowledge. Today's Quote:We don't pray to be better Christians, but that we may be the only kind of Christians God means us to be; Christlike Christians, that is, Christians who will bear willingly the cross for God's glory. -- From a letter smuggled out from the underground church in Romania Today's THOT:The Lord gave us the way to follow Him in Luke 9:23-25. He said. "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gain ...

John 1:3-5 2007-04-23 00:00:00 John 1 - The Word and the Witness 2. (3-5) The work and nature of the Word. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. a. Without Him nothing was made that was made: The Word created all created things. Therefore He Himself is an uncreated Being, as Paul says in Colossians 1:16. b. In Him was life: The Word is the source of all life. The ancient Greek word translated life is zoe, which means "the life principle," not bios, which is mere biological life. This life is the light of men, speaking of spiritual light as well as natural light. It isn?t that the Word "contains" life and light; He is life and light. i. Therefore, without Jesus, we are dead and in darkness. We are lost. Significantly, man has an inborn fear towards both death and darkness. c. And the light shines in the darkness, and th ...

Sunday Quotes 04.22.07 2007-04-22 06:00:00 "No matter what your past may have been, everyone can have a clean future. Talk to God about it. He has the answer." - Anonymous "Christianity will help us to face the music when we don't like the tune." -- Unknown "Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell." -- Author Unknown "The real strength of a man is not physical but moral and spiritual." -- Unknown Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried." - Unknown <:))))><< ...

THOT 4 2 DAY 04.22.07 2007-04-22 06:00:00 THOT 4 2 DAY Psalms 23:1-3The LORD is my shepherd;I shall not want.He makes me to lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside the still waters.He restores my soul;He leads me in the paths of righteousnessFor His name's sake. Proverbs 22:17-21Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,And apply your heart to my knowledge;For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;Let them all be fixed upon your lips,So that your trust may be in the LORD;I have instructed you today, even you.Have I not written to you excellent thingsOf counsels and knowledge,That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,That you may answer words of truthTo those who send to you? Today's Quote:The way to preserve peace in the church is to preserve the purity of it. -- Unknown Today's THOT:One of the things that the Lord desires of His people is unity. He says that so clearly throughout His word. Here is one example from Ephesians 4:1-6; "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, ...

Clouds Over Geneva 2007-04-22 05:00:00 Clouds Over Geneva John Calvin arrived in Geneva in July, 1536, intending only to stop for the night. But Pastor John Farel found him and wouldn?t let him leave, threatening to curse him ?with the curse of Almighty God? if he didn?t remain as his assistant. Geneva, population 12,000, seemed ripe for Reformation, and Calvin began his labors in September. Farel trusted Calvin with many responsibilities, confident of the young man?s industry and genius. Calvin, in turn, remained respectful and affectionate toward Farel. No jealousy ever clouded their relationship. Other clouds, however, were forming. Geneva wasn?t ready for the sobriety Calvin and Farel sought to impose. It was a light-hearted city, full of singing and dancing. It also brimmed with gambling, adultery, prostitution, and vice. Farel and Calvin led the City Council to issue laws prohibiting immorality, gambling, Sabbath-breaking, and foolish singing. The council further ordered all citizens to embrace the Confession ...

1 Thessalonians 3:10-13 2007-04-22 00:00:00 1 Thessalonians 3 - Appointed to Affliction 3. (10) Paul?s prayer for the Thessalonians. Night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith? a. Night and day praying exceedingly: Paul heard good news from Timothy, but it wasn?t enough. He wanted to see the face of the church family in Thessalonica. Paul wanted it enough to pray night and day . . . exceedingly that God would make a way for him to see them. i. Exceedingly: ?There are various ways of expressing the thought of abundance, and this double compound is probably the most emphatic of all.? (Morris) b. And perfect what is lacking in your faith: In the midst of all this joy, Paul called attention to the fact that they were still lacking. Though the apostle repeatedly complimented them (1 Thessalonians 1:3, 1:7, 2:13, 2:19-20, and 3:6), he was also concerned to perfect (complete) what is lacking in their faith. i. Paul believed that his personal presence would be ...

THOT 4 2 DAY 04.21.07 2007-04-21 06:00:00 THOT 4 2 DAY Psalms 22:25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him. Proverbs 21:11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. Today?s Quote: The persecution of Christians is not about human rights, it is a rite of passage. - Steve Cleary Today?s THOT: Suffering is a part of the Christian experience. The Lord Jesus suffered. Paul understood this. He even embraced it; "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to ...

1 Thessalonians 3:4-9 2007-04-21 00:00:00 1 Thessalonians 3 - Appointed to Affliction 3. (4) Affliction should never surprise the Christian. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. a. We told you before when we were with you: When Paul was with the Thessalonians (just a few months before writing this letter) he warned them they would suffer tribulation. Though he was only with them a few weeks, he taught them about the place of suffering in the Christian life. b. We would suffer tribulation: In Jesus? parable of the soils (Matthew 13:1-23), He described the way that some fall away when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word. Jesus said when tribulation arises, and not if tribulation comes. The Christian?s faith will be tested. Paul knew this, and as a good pastor, he warned the Thessalonians. 4. (5) Paul?s urgency in sending Timothy to the Thessalonians. For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know you ...

New Feature 2007-04-20 06:00:00 I publish a daily e-mail devotional entitled THOT 4 2 DAY. It contains a verse or two from the Psalm of the day and the Psalm of the day. There is also a guide to read the Bible in 1 year, a Christian quote, and a comment. Beginning on Saturday 04.21.07 THOT 4 2 DAY will also appear on the blog. I pray it will be a blessing and an encouragement.<:))))><< ...

The Resolutions Of Jonathan Edwards 41-50 2007-04-20 05:00:00 The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) BEING SENSIBLE THAT I AM UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT GOD' S HELP, I DO HUMBLY ENTREAT HIM BY HIS GRACE TO ENABLE ME TO KEEP THESE RESOLUTIONS, SO FAR AS THEY ARE AGREEABLE TO HIS WILL, FOR CHRIST' S SAKE. Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.41. Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.43. Resolved, never, henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God's; agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12, 1723.44. Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and t ...

The Devil's Dungeons 2007-04-20 05:00:00 The Devil?s Dungeons Paul rightly warned of those who only pretend to be apostles of Christ. Some of them, wrapped in religious robes, have been diabolical beyond belief. Take the Inquisitors for example. The word inquisition, akin to inquire and inquest, refers to the judicial machinery authorized by the medieval church to uproot heresy. In earlier centuries the church had excommunicated heretics, but most church leaders had opposed physical punishment. But as bureaucracy grew and heresy flourished, attitudes changed. During the 1100s and early 1200s, stronger measures evolved; and on April 20, 1233 Pope Gregory IX issued two edicts, delegating the prosecution of heresy to the Dominican order. The Inquisitors roamed the countryside, admonishing heretics to confess. Those who didn?t were brought to trial, the Inquisition serving as a special court with broad and frightening powers. In 1252 Pope Innocent IV allowed the use of torture, and the Inquisition soon became the most ?ter ...