This morning at Grace Bible we looked at 5 Assurances and supporting Bible verses. These 5 truths have helped me so much in my spiritual growth as I was first introduced to them in a Navigators study several years ago. My hope and prayer for my church family is that 2016 will be a year marked by ASSURANCE and HOPE rather than fear and anxiety. I believe careful and prayerful reading of these verses as well as memorizing them will be very helpful!

1. Assurance of Salvation: 1 John 5:11,12

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

2. Assurance of Answered Prayer: John 16:24

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

3. Assurance of Victory: 1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

4. Assurance of Forgiveness: 1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

5. Assurance of Guidance: Proverbs 3:5,6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

 

My wife Casey got me this Bible for Christmas. I guess I dropped a pretty good hint when I recommended all the ladies in our church buy it for their husbands! I already had the kindle version, that I downloaded at a really good price when it first came out, but I LOVE having the hard copy. I’m kinda old school on that, especially when it comes to the Bible. I have Bible apps I use, but when I really want to get serious about reading God’s Word, I don’t want to read it on the same device that does EVERYTHING else–too many distractions/possibilities for distraction.  I like a Bible with actual pages I can turn. Crazy, hu?

This men’s devotional Bible is set apart because of it’s quality devotions and the ‘Articles and Resources’ section, pictured above.  This is section is arranged by topic. The writings are relevant to men, short, and sweet.

Men if you have an amazon gift card your wanting to use, or are just looking for a good Bible/devotional Bible. Check it out:

ESV MEN’S DEVOTIONAL BIBLE

Yesterday I posted that I could imagine the Tom Petty song “I Won’t Back Down” playing in the background as I read Pastor Tommy Nelson’s letter to his church after Denton Bible received a bomb threat to their Christmas Eve service. This morning I read this headline from NBC5 in Dallas:

“Denton Pastor: Church Not Backing Down in Face of Threats”

Here’s a quote from pastor Nelson:”We’re not going to let evil commandeer our lives. We’re going to stand in the face of it. And if we die, then we die. But we don’t go on in our lives, cowering at the threat of evil…”

Continuing prayers for DBC. And for all who choose to live their lives with the boldness of Christ.

Yesterday I posted and asked for prayers after one of the greatest influences in my life and ministry, Denton Bible Church, received a bomb threat to their Christmas Eve Service. Below is pastor Tommy Nelson’s letter to his church after the threat was made. Classic Tommy Nelson–he’s a man of grace, but also a man of intestinal fortitude. In my weird imagination, somehow I hear Tom Petty’s song “I Wont Back Down” playing in the background as I read this 🙂 Check it out…

Y’all,

Take a knee.

You’ve probably heard by this time if you watch the news that we have had our first gen-u-ine bomb threat…

We don’t yield to fear. We are Christians.  We rejoice to be counted “worthy to suffer for His name’s sake.” Death and evil are conquered for us and our God sits supremely on the throne.  If it breathes we do not fear it.  But like Nehemiah in Nehemiah 4 we will build with a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other, with others on the watch.  We shall be vigilant until evil loses heart.  But stop the work? Who do men think we are?  “Should a man such as I flee?!”

So, nothing changes.  Come on if you planned to do so.  But, make things simple by not bringing a backpack, a package, or some big bulky anything, lest a choir member frisk you or strip search you. Nothing kills the Christmas spirit quicker.

Be praying that God be glorified. See ya.

Tommy

A letter was sent to Denton Bible Church with a bomb threat to their Christmas Eve service. The story is developing and the limited details can be read here: http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2015/12/21/denton-church-threatened/

Denton Bible has helped me in my spiritual growth more than any other church or organization. The people of Denton Bible are my friends. In Christ, they’re my brothers and sisters. For me it’s hard to imagine, why someone would want to bring harm to this church. But Jesus told us that we have an adversary who seeks to “steal, kill, and destroy” (Jn10:10). He also told us that in this life we will have tribulation, but to take heart, because he has overcome this world (Jn 16:33).

Please join me and countless others in praying for DBC. Pray for their safety. Pray for their resolve to keep teaching the Truth and equipping the Saints. Pray for justice for the coward who sent the threat. Pray.

Christmas…the Real Story

This Sunday we will be looking at one of my favorite Christmas narratives, Luke 2: 22-35, Simeon see’s what he’d waited so long to see, Jesus, The Messiah.

“Simeon…received him (Baby Jesus) into his arms and blessed God. He saw a poverty-stricken peasant couple, holding a baby which perhaps was still adorned with swaddling cloths, but instantly, because of the gift of the Holy Spirit, he recognized the Saviour.” -RC Sproul

There is so much to be learned about Christ, how He relates to us and how we relate to God. If you can, look over the passage for yourself between now and then. Can’t wait for Sunday!!!

Pastor and author Kevin DeYoung offers some great insight on how we as Christians ought to think about Islam and Muslims. As with any subject, we as Christians seek to think, live, and relate Biblically. Or as DeYoung titles his post below “thinking theologically.” We are living in a changing world. These are important times filled with emotionally charged issues. All the more reason for us to draw near to God and His Word. Our fallen sinful natures aren’t trustworthy, but God’s Word is. As DeYoung points out “as Christians, it’s never a bad idea to go to the Bible. We won’t answer every policy question, but at least we can put a few important truths in place as we try to think Christianly about Islam.”

Check out this short, but very informative post: Thinking Theologically About Islam

 

We did a little throwback this morning in our men’s Bible study, looking at an article that we first looked at almost 3 years ago. It was just as challenging this am as it was then. Pastor Scott Brown identifies 5 Mankillers (Fear, Lust, Anger, Feminism, Abdication) and points us to God’s Word on how to fight the would be assailants. The post assumes we are in the pursuit of God, for it is in knowing God that we truly know how to rightly relate to the world around us. Knowing God–that’s true manhood. Steve Ferrar said this:

“True Courage is the result of knowing God. Only then can a man display strength and take action. And he can do so with a heart that is calm, steady, and at rest—even in the worst of times. That kind of man knows that even when days look their darkest, God has a good plan.”
― Steve Farrar, True Courage: Emboldened by God in a Disheartening World

Here’s a link to the 5 Mailers post. Check it out:

http://scottbrownonline.com/five-mankillers-2/

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. –Luke 2:10-11

“Let our joy be living water from those sacred wells which the Lord himself has digged; may his joy abide in us, that our joy may be full. Of Christ’s joy we cannot have too much; no fear of running to excess when his love is the wine we drink. Oh to be plunged in this pure stream of spiritual delights!” -Charles Spurgeon