Self-Control...

What is the one and only thing we truly have control over?

When we control ourselves we are exercising our God given right to freedom of choice. Instead of giving in to what we want, we are happy instead with just what we need. But what does the bible teach about self-control?

Consider; Psalm 16

Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.

Trusting in God through Jesus Christ is the beginning of self-control. Self-control demonstrated through our efforts to run to the love of God is by far the best testimony one could have for others. Rather than try to change others we are to conform ourselves to what God intended us to be. And through that transformation become living examples of Self-Control. Not by words but by action. For we are judged at every turn and rather than insisting others conform we must be their example by our own transformation. Well if Uncle Joe can do it, so can I.

Consider reading Romans 6-7

When we recognize that the only thing we can change is ourselves then we can begin to heal and work our way through the rest of The Walk of a Christian with full and awesome knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

We can change no other but ourselves...

Next post; Perseverance...

May...

The Lord bless and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

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All posts by M.A.C. © Bruce W. Moar

Knowledge...

We live in an age where knowledge is just a a Google away. Last night I was at Starbuck's and ordered a Caramel Machiato. I like to mis-pronounce the fancy smansy beverages on purpose and when the fella making it asked me to clarify I said "the actual proper way to say it is Muchalato and that Starbucks had it all wrong". He say's "what's in a name" I say "interesting where did, what's in a name saying come from?" Not knowing he asks his colleague and she say's I think it was Shakespeare I asked her why she thought that and she say's "I don't know first thing that popped into my mind". So, while buddy is preparing my hot delicious beverage she comes back and say's "I Googled it, it was the Shake from Romeo and Juliet where Juliet says ""What's in a name? That which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet."

Knowledge is available to anyone that will take the liberty and freedom they possess to search for it. However with great knowledge comes great responsibility. Consider that if you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was going to hit the blind man whistling and cane waving across the road right in front of you, at what point would you after yelling to him to be aware, and still he continues on his merry way whistling and waving, unaware of his ultimate demise, at what point do you get physical and move him from harms way?

Consider this verse JOHN 6:44

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Interesting verse isn't it? Now lets look at the verses to either side of that one.

43. "Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered.

44. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

45. It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.

What were they grumbling about and why did Jesus say what he did and who were they? In order to find out you must read the whole chapter. Please get your bible or go here and read the whole chapter JOHN CHAPTER 6

Alrighty then, all done, lots of information there huh? Now in order to grab an even better understanding one must read the whole book of John. The theme of the book of John is; Knowing God by believing in Jesus Christ. So go ahead open up and begin reading before you continue reading here. If you don't have a bible, then here are several ways to get one into your computer for free.

E-SWORD - The sword of the Lord with an electronic edge

BiblePro for Windows - Free download

Theophilos Bible Software - Multilingual application for bible and Christian study

MacSword - Bible study software for Mac OS X

Now lets go back to the original verse JOHN 6:44 and consider what exactly Jesus is saying there. Is he saying that only those the Father selects and draws may be converted? I think that, that is exactly what he is saying, so none can boast.

There are other passage that can help us to understand such as;

EPHESIANS 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

ROMANS 3:11-12 - there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.

JOHN 5:39-40 - You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

JOHN 15:18 - If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

Next Post; Self-Control...

May...

The Lord bless and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Try a Bible Quiz and test your knowledge

click here ---> BIBLE QUIZ <--- click here

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All posts by M.A.C. © Bruce W. Moar

Virtue...

There are basically two ways to look at and approach the noun virtue. One is that it is a set of rules and regulations that must be followed in order to attain it. Two virtue is exercised by action and the attaining of it through practice makes perfect. This second way is what the verse at 2nd Peter verse 5 is relating to. For by example is it both taught and attained. One clear and concise observance of virtue in action is worth a thousand thousand lectures or sermons on the topic.

Imagine for a moment if you will that your mind is a steel trap that it is such a good steel trap that it locks up with such ferociousness that anything in it's grasp cannot escape. I have a friend well maybe he is not truly a friend but more like an friendly associate/adherent. He always say's this about the mind "garbage in, garbage out". Now lets try together to apply this concept to our lives.

Lets say someone decides to take out there frustration on us and if we decide to bite back even though we previously were in a good mood. Were we truly in a good mood to begin with? The practice of a virtuous response would be like the commercial of the guy that chews Juicy Fruit bubble gum you know the commercial he gets home and his clothing is ripped his hair is all mussed and he's simply a mess. His sister yells out and says "Mom Billy was chewing Juicy Fruit again". With single minded purpose we must train ourselves to enjoy the fruit of the spirit outlined in Galatians 5:22-23, that which is;

love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

When we add virtue to our gift of faith we are moving from the unconscious into the conscious realm and making a decision that is both deliberate and purposeful.

Next Post Knowledge...

May...

The Lord bless and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Try a Bible Quiz and test your knowledge

click here ---> BIBLE QUIZ <--- click here

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All posts by M.A.C. © Bruce W. Moar

Faith...

Ephesians 2:8-9

⁸. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

⁹. not of works, lest anyone should boast.

FAITH is a gift from God so none can boast. Such as; my church is better than your church, my denomination is godlier then yours, or my church is the the only true church, I am a better Christian because of what I do, etc. Faith comes from God and allows us the privilege of believing in Jesus Christ the Son of God Almighty. FAITH is NOT denominational nor does it come through good works of any kind.

Everyone that has lived or is living today has thought about God at some point. This is the seed of FAITH that God has giving to all mankind. When we consciously choose to explore this gift we enter a different realm from the one we have known. It is the realm of God, were we as sinners are loved so much that God sacrificed a part of himself so that we lowly human sinners might have life through Jesus Christ. It is also a realm where a healthy fear of God is born in the repentant sinner so that he/she might finish the good works started in them.

When we first get the revelation of faith or become Christians were we repent of our sin and believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God we are intoxicated with the revelation that faith brings with it to our poor souls. That is the reason why most folks who become Christians are on fire telling everyone the good news, until they begin to loose steam. Here we come to a crossroad the place were the fear of man or fear of God has a battle inside us. If we choose the fear of man we lose because fearing man makes the gift of FAITH neutral or makes us luke-warm believers and unworthy to be called sons of God.

Whereas the fear of God allows us to complete the good work that was started in us through the gift of FAITH. If you have faith and you know it is a gift from God and have thankfully accepted it the I encourage you to add to your FAITH... VIRTUE

Next post Virtue...

May...

The Lord bless and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Try a Bible Quiz and test your knowledge

click here ---> BIBLE QUIZ <--- click here

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All posts by M.A.C. © Bruce W. Moar

The Walk of a Christian...

Ever had one of those days were you are constantly getting bombarded and your temper is being tested to the verge of EXPLODE? Most of the things that can make us loose it, are things that are simply beyond our control. This is were we get the opportunity to exercise the really only God giving inherent right that exists to all peoples of the world, our SELF-CONTROL.

If you ask anybody this question the answer should more than likely be the same for everyone;

Q. What is the only one thing that you truly have control over?

A. Yourself

In second Peter chapter 1 verse six it says to add to your knowledge SELF-CONTROL something that we must do in our walk as Christians (believers of Jesus Christ) is exercise our SELF-CONTROL daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, throughout our lifetime.

However we are getting ahead of ourselves because all to often we fail to exercise our SELF-CONTROL at some point and loose our tempers. The bible has a sure fire way for us to get control of ourselves and to understand what we as believers must do.

The answer lies at 2 PETER 1:3-11

³. as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

⁴. by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Fruitful Growth in the Faith <--- (most bibles have this heading before verse five)

^5. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,

^6. to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,

⁷. to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

⁸. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

^10. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

¹¹. for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Over the next month or so we are going to focus on what we must do to have a fruitful knowledge of Jesus Christ and help make us effective believers in Jesus Christ. So tell your family, friends, and associates to tune in as we delve into what we need to do to be the best believers we can be.

Next post FAITH how do you get it, where does it come from, why you need it, etc...

May...

The Lord bless and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Try a Bible Quiz and test your knowledge

click here ---> BIBLE QUIZ <--- click here

Subscribe in a reader

All posts by M.A.C. © Bruce W. Moar