The Christian Life John 15:5-8 John 10:10 06.30.14

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

BREAD

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. ⁸ This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

John 15:5-8 (NIV)

¹⁰ “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 10:10 (NIV)

BUTTER

“I became a Christian once for all upon the basis of the finished work of Christ through faith; that is justification.  The Christian life, sanctification, operates on the same basis, but moment by moment.   There is the same base (Christ’s work) and the same instrument (faith); the only difference is that one is once for all and the other is moment by moment…If we try to love the Christian life in our own strength we will have sorrow, but if we live in this way, we will not only serve the Lord, but in place of sorrow, He will be our song.  That is the difference.   The ‘how’ of the Christian life is the power of the crucified and risen Lord, through the agency of the indwelling Holy Spirit, by faith moment by moment.”    Francis Schaeffer

“Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side.”   Katharina von Schlegel

HEART SAVOR

·       I will bear much fruit if moment by moment I rely on Jesus.

·       I can do nothing eternal in my own strength – God will never own what human frailty accomplishes.

·       Jesus desires for me to experience life to the full measure turning my sorrow into singing. 

The Tongue James 3:3-8 06.27.14

THE TONGUE

BREAD

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.  ⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, ⁸ but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:3-8 (NIV)

BUTTER

“The entertaining of any worldly lust, and indulgence of any known wilful sin, is an accursed thing, by which we are deprived of the power of God, and cannot stand before our enemies.  Behold, therefore the severity of God, and be more earnest.  Make all haste to flee from the lust of the world, especially from the lust of the eye, which is the love of money.  Examine thyself closely in other things, and whatever sinful lust harbors in thy breast, be faithful to put it off, and flee from it, else you must not wonder at your being so weak in spirit.  He that does not resist the sinful motions of his heart, will very easily give a loose to his hands and tongue; but he that immediately subdues the inward corruptions, will certainly be preserved from their breaking out in any sinful actions.  O Lord, deliver me from all accursed things, and keep my heart always under thy closest inspection and discipline.  Amen.”   K. H. Von Bogatzky     

HEART SAVOR 

• ·       Out of the overflow of my heart my mouth speaks.
• ·       I am to keep my heart under close inspection as loose lips sink ships and wreck lives.
• ·       My words can be used to build up or break a bone.

Faith Is Isaiah 7:9 Hebrews 12:1-3 06.25.14

FAITH IS

BREAD

If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

Isaiah 7:9 (NIV)

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Let me remind you that the essential ingredients of faith’s comfort are just these: faith sees the invisible and beholds the substance of that which is afar off: faith believes in God, a present, powerful God, full of love and wisdom, effecting his decree, accomplishing his purpose, fulfilling his promise, glorifying his Son. Faith believes in the blood of Jesus, in the effectual redemption on the cross, it believes in the power of the Holy Spirit, his might to soften the stone and to put life into the very ribs of death. Faith grasps the reality of the Bible; she does not look upon it as a sepulchre with a stone laid thereon, but as a temple in which Christ reigns, as an ivory palace out of which he comes riding in his chariot, conquering and to conquer. Faith does not believe the gospel to be a worn-out scroll, to be rolled up and put away; she believes that the gospel instead of being in its dotage is in its youth; she anticipates for it a manhood of mighty strugglings, and a grand maturity of blessedness and triumph. Faith does not shirk the fight; she longs for it, because she foresees the victory.”   Charles H. Spurgeon

“A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul.”   D. L. Moody

HEART SAVOR

·       My faith is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ Name – He is my hope and stay.

·       My faith in the Lord Jesus brings much comfort to my soul.

·       I will not shrink back in faith as I keep victory in sight.

Trials James 1:2-4,12 Romans 12:12 06.23.14

TRIALS

BREAD

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴ Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4 (NIV)

¹² Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12 (NIV)

¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12 (NIV)

BUTTER

“The life which is promised is probably life here and now, life in its fullness, life in its completeness.”   Curtis Vaughan

“In a command to ‘be joyful,’ self-discipline isn’t the goal.  It isn’t an effective response or even a realistic one.  We can’t change our hearts simply by telling them to change.  We can, however, realize that our attitudes are off-kilter and ask Him to supernaturally change them.  He holds hearts in His hand; He can certainly sway them with His thoughts and fill them with His Spirit.  If we are going to be people who are always joyful, this is how it has to be.  We can’t follow this instruction in the midst of trying circumstances unless we have a radical change of perspective and supernatural help.  Biblical commands to rejoice – especially in suffering, persecution, and the intense trials of life – can only be fulfilled when we depend on Him.”   Chris Tiegreen  

 

HEART SAVOR

·       I am able to be joyful in all circumstances only through the supernatural power of Jesus.  I cannot muster up the strength within myself.

·       I can trust Him in the trials of life as He is able to make beauty from my ashes.

·       Perseverance with joy under trials will produce the abundant life – life in all its fullness - in me.  This is the life Jesus desires for me and I desire for me as well as it is full and complete lacking nothing.

God Our Refuge Deuteronomy 33:26-27 06.20.14

GOD OUR REFUGE

BREAD

²⁶ “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. ²⁷ The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.  He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, ‘Destroy him!’”

Deuteronomy 33:26-27 (NIV)

BUTTER

“God, the eternal God, is our support at all times, especially when we are sinking into deep trouble.  There are seasons when we sink quite low…Dear child of God, even when you are at your lowest, underneath are the everlasting arms.”   Charles H. Spurgeon

“However low the people of God are at any time brought, everlasting arms are underneath them to keep the spirit from fainting and the faith from failing, even when they are pressed above measure…everlasting arms with which believers have been wonderfully sustained and kept cheerful in the worst of times.  Divine grace is sufficient.”   Matthew Henry

HEART SAVOR

• ·       What a joy is mine, what a peace divine, leaning on the everlasting arms.
• ·       I have nothing to dread, I have nothing to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms.
• ·       In all things, God’s grace is more than sufficient for me. 

Faith is God Pleasing Hebrews 11:1-2, 6 06.18.14

FAITH IS GOD PLEASING

BREAD

¹ Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. ² This is what the ancients were commended for.

Hebrews 11:1-2 (NIV)

⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Faith raises the soul above the difficulty, straight to God Himself, and enables one to stand still.  We gain nothing by our restless and anxious efforts….It is therefore true wisdom, in all times of difficulty and perplexity, to stand still – to wait only upon God, and He will assuredly open a way for us.”  C.H. Mackintosh 

“Sometimes the enemy seems to get an advantage over us; but the battle is not over yet.  At last thou shalt have the victory, and carry the day for all that.  In hard struggles remember the power of Christ, who, in his resurrection, broke through everything.  With him thou canst also break through, and be more than conqueror.  Yea, in every conflict, if thy faith be firm, thou canst be sure of victory beforehand; for faith engages Christ’s power, and his power ensureth victory; it is as impossible for thine enemies to keep thee always in bonds, as it was impossible that Christ could be kept in the grave by the stone, seal, and keepers.  Nay, the greater their force is, the more glorious will be the victory of Christ over them.”    K. H. Von Bogatzky

HEART SAVOR

• ·       My faith in God is to be sure and certain – knowing what He allows is both for my ultimate good and His glory – never one surpassing the other.  I can trust Him with my life.    
• ·       God is a rewarded for all who earnestly seek Him.
• ·       God’s “kingdom currency” is faith.  Faith prompts the moving of God’s hand.  It delights Him for me be fully persuaded of His tender love and mercy towards me.     

God Works In and Through Us John 15:5 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 06.16.14

GOD WORKS IN AND THROUGH US

BREAD

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5 (NIV)

⁹ For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

1 Corinthians 15:9-10 (NIV)

BUTTER

“A primary qualification for serving God with any amount of success, and for doing God’s work well and triumphantly, is a sense of our own weakness.  When God’s warrior marches forth to battle, strong in his own might, when he boasts, ‘I know that I shall conquer, my own right arm and my conquering sword shall get unto me the victory’, defeat is not far distant.  God will not go forth with that man who marches in his own strength.  He who reckoneth on victory thus has reckoned wrongly, for ‘it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts’.  They who go forth to fight, boasting of their prowess, shall return with their gay banners trailed in the dust, and their armour stained with disgrace.  Those who serve God must serve Him in His own way, and in His strength, or He will never accept their service.  That which man doth, unaided by divine strength, God can never own.  The mere fruits of the earth He casteth away; He will only reap that corn, the seed of which was sown from heaven, watered by grace, and ripened by the sun of divine love.  God will empty out all that thou hast before He will put His own into thee; He will first clean out the granaries before He will fill them with the finest of the wheat……Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up.”   C. H. Spurgeon  

HEART SAVOR

• ·       I can do nothing eternal apart from Jesus.
• ·       Jesus supplies me with the grace sufficient to meet each need He orchestrates in my life.  His eye is ever on me.  He is fully aware of the intensity of the heat.  Just as He walked with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, He walks with me.
• ·       As I prayerfully and willingly empty myself (often moment by moment), He supplies all things needful.

Internal Cleansing Matthew 23:25-28 06.13.14

INTERNAL CLEANSING

BREAD

²⁵ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶ Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”

²⁷ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. ²⁸ In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”

Matthew 23:25-28 (NIV)

BUTTER

“God is not deceived by externals.”  C. S. Lewis

HEART SAVOR

·       God desires for me to cleanse my heart (through repentance) and to keep it clean (continual repentance) through the Living Water residing within me.  Repentance means I am to turn from sin to my Savior.  His life made manifest in me.  I am to be conformed to Christ’s image – one repentant act at a time.

·       I am not to be a hypocrite – portraying a faith that is feigned.  I may fool man but I will never fool God Who searches my heart.

·       Feigned believers are the walking dead.  

Dependence upon God Proverbs 3:5-8 06.11.14

DEPENDENCE UPON GOD

BREAD

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. ⁸ This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Proverbs 3:5-8 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Anxiety comes from strain, and strain is caused by too complete a dependence on ourselves.” Thomas Merton

HEART SAVOR

• ·       I am to trust in Jesus’ perfect leading and not in the leanings of my own imperfect understanding.
• ·       To will what He wills brings peace.
• ·       I am to be anxious for nothing but pray about everything – acknowledging Him in all things – and He will make straight paths for me.            

Focus on Jesus Hebrews 12:1-3 06.09.14

FOCUS ON JESUS

BREAD

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

BUTTER

“It is important to understand that fruitfulness and growth are the results of focusing on Christ and desiring to honor Him.  When growth and change are our primary goals, we tend to be preoccupied with ourselves instead of with Christ.  ‘Am I growing?  Am I getting any better? Am I more like Christ today?  What am I learning?’   This inordinate preoccupation with self-improvement parallels our culture’s self-help and personal enhancement movement in many ways.  Personal development is certainly not wrong, but it is misleading—and it can be very disappointing—to make it our preeminent goal.  If it is our goal at all, it should be secondary.  As we grasp the unconditional love, grace, and power of God, then honoring Christ will increasingly be our consuming passion…The only One worthy of our preoccupation is Christ, our sovereign Lord, who told Paul, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness’”.   Robert McGee

HEART SAVOR

• ·       I am to run the race God has marked out for me keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus and not my goals, growth or circumstances.
• ·       This life is not about me but all about Him.
• ·       When I grasp His love for me, His desire for relationship with me, His grace and mercy towards me, it prevents me from a performance mode mentality.  My actions, rather, are to be motivated by love as this honors Christ.

The Goodness of God's Workings for Believers Romans 8:28 06.06.14

THE GOODNESS OF GOD’S WORKINGS FOR BELIEVERS

BREAD

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

BUTTER

“To the child of God, there is no such thing as an accident.  He travels an appointed way…..Accidents may indeed appear to befall him and misfortune stalk his way; but these evils will be so in appearance only and will seem evils only because we cannot read the secret script of God’s hidden providence.”  A.W. Tozer

HEART SAVOR

• ·       As a believer in Jesus, I have an ironclad and unfailing guarantee that all circumstances in my life will work for my good.  “All” means “All” in this verse.  The results may or may not be of my fleshly choosing or perhaps even what the world deems as good, but they always will be for my best – and what more could I desire?  Knowing I am secure in the center of God’s will and love is the safest most peaceful place to abide.  How else could Paul and Silas have been singing and praying and praising in prison after being severely flogged?  I am confident the jailer and his family thought their imprisonment turned out for good as it resulted in their salvation.  I must seek to see the bigger picture.
• ·       The circumstances of my life are neither by chance nor happenstance.  They are orchestrated by my loving Father Who always has my best interest at heart. 
• ·       God knows the end from the beginning, from ancient times what is yet to come.  I can trust Him to be my faithful Guide.  

Fighting the Adversary, the World and the Flesh Ephesians 6:10-18 06.04.14

FIGHTING THE ADVERSARY, THE WORLD AND THE FLESH

BREAD

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Eph 6:10-18 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Are you fighting with the adversary today?  Are Satan, the world, and the flesh, all against you?  Be not discouraged nor dismayed.  Fight on!  For God Himself is with you; Jehovah Nissi is your banner, and Jehovah Rophi is the healer of your wounds.  Fear not, you shall overcome, for who can defeat Omnipotence?  Fight on, ‘looking unto Jesus;’ and though long and stern be the conflict, sweet will be the victory, and glorious the promised reward.”   Charles H. Spurgeon

HEART SAVOR

·       Jesus is my full armor.  He is the Truth, He is Righteousness, He is Peace, He is my Shield and Deliverer and He is the Word.  He will never leave me nor forsake me.  With Him, I can do all things.

·       I should never be surprised at conflict.  I live in a fallen world and Jesus has told me there will be tribulation but to take heart as He has overcome the world.   ³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”   John 16:33 (NIV)

·       I am to be alert and prayerful, examining my life for weaknesses – chinks in my armor of self-control - as the enemy, the world and self are insidious, seeking to devour me before I even know it.  

God's Word Hebrews 4:12-13 6.02.14

GOD’S WORD

BREAD

¹² For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:12-13 (NIV)

BUTTER

“Nothing is more foolish than to rest satisfied with the present state, which we see to be fleeting; and every man is mistaken who hopes to be able to obtain perfect happiness till he has ascended to God….But this would be of no avail, if the manner of seeking him were not pointed out; and therefore he exhibits the Word, from which we must not in any respect turn aside; for if we make the smallest departure from it, we shall be involved in strange labyrinths, and shall find no way of extricating ourselves.”    John Calvin

HEART SAVOR

·       God’s Word is flawless.  It points me to God, teaches me of Him and shows me the way I should walk.

·       God’s Word allows me not to “rest satisfied” in my present state which is fleeting rather grows me up in Him as I apply its Truth to my life through the power of the Spirit.  This, by the way, is where true joy and peace abide as it is His good, pleasing and perfect will for my life.  It is the life that is truly life.

·       God’s Word is alive; it penetrates my heart pointing to things that must go for better things to come.   My heart never remains empty.