Repentance From Dead Works

Posted on 2013/08/31 by Shawn Thomas

Hebrews 6:1 says: “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God …”. The writer of Hebrews is addressing the people’s need to move past the basics of the faith and to grow to spiritual maturity. But in doing so, he mentions some of the “basics”: “repentance from dead works” and “faith toward God.” Repentance and faith are basic to salvation (Acts 20:21). You must repent of your sins, and put your faith in Jesus as your Savior. But notice, Hebrews tells us here that it is not only “sins” we are to repent of, but it specifically says, “repentance from DEAD WORKS.” Continue reading →

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Press On To Maturity

Posted on 2013/08/30 by Shawn Thomas

Hebrews 6:1 instructs us: “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God …”.

There seems to be, unfortunately, a kind of apathetic contentment among many of the people of God — and even among many of His ministers who are leading them — which breeds a satisfaction with a basic level of understanding of the faith: what Hebrews calls here “the elementary teaching about the Christ.” Anything further is dismissed as “for the theologians” and not “normal” Christians like them. But the writer of Hebrews says we are not to be content with a “primary school” level of Christianity. He adjures: “Let us press on to maturity.”

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But As For Me …

Posted on 2013/08/29 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 73:1-2a opens: “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me …”. He (Asaph here) recognized God’s goodness to His people (“Israel”) in general, and to the “pure in heart” especially. Then he says, “BUT as for me ….”. This is important, for he recognizes that HE is not among those aforesaid “pure in heart.” For HE “came close to stumbling” (:2) and “was envious of the wicked.” Much of the rest of the Psalm is taken up with a description of how he doubted God. There might be some “pure in heart” in Israel, says he, but I am not among them!

However, there is hope in that.

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Righteous Anger

Posted on 2013/08/28 by Shawn Thomas

I Samuel 11:6 says: “Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he became very angry.”
It is of note here that when the Spirit of God came upon Saul, the result was that he became “very angry”! This is not the result one might anticipate from a person who was filled with the Spirit! But in fact it is very much in line with the nature and character of God. Continue reading →

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God of Distress and Revival

Posted on 2013/08/27 by Shawn Thomas

In Psalm 71:20, David prayed: “You who have shown me many troubles and distresses will revive me again, and will bring me up from the depths of the earth.” Here near the end of Psalm 71, which was written during a time of great difficulty in David’s life, he expresses confidence both that God has a purpose for his trials, and that He will eventually deliver him from them.

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David’s 3 Commitments In Trials

Posted on 2013/08/26 by Shawn Thomas

In Psalm 71, David rehearsed in :10-13 all of the troubles he was facing: those who were watching for his life (:10) etc. Then he said in :14, “BUT AS FOR ME …” and he listed 3 actions he was committed to even in the midst of his trials: Continue reading →

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You Are My Hope

Posted on 2013/08/23 by Shawn Thomas

In Psalm 71:5, David said to God: “For You are my hope; O Lord God; You are my confidence from my youth.”
Notice he said: “For YOU are my hope.” David’s hope in the difficult situation he describes in Psalm 71 was not in his army, or in his money, or in his friends or political connections; his hope was not in his own skill or ability — or even in his own prayers! His hope was in YHWH, in the Person of God Himself.

We need to make sure that is true for ourselves as well.

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Provision Through A Person

Posted on 2013/08/22 by Shawn Thomas

In I Samuel 9:16, God told Samuel, “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over My people Israel; and he will deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have regarded My people, because their cry has come to Me.”
This verse tells us that God had heard the plea of His people for help: “For I have regarded My people, because their cry has come to Me.” So what did He do in answer to their cry? He says: “About this time tomorrow I will send a man to you …”. When God wanted to help His people, He send His deliverance through a person — in this case, the man Saul whom He had anointed as king, who would give them victories over the Philistines. We see this often in scripture: when God helps His people, He does it through a person:

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“Oh My God”: Vain Expression or Personal Relationship?

Posted on 2013/08/21 by Shawn Thomas

In Psalm 71:4 David prays: “Rescue me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked.” The phrase David uses here, “O my God”, has become for many a light, meaningless expression, made so by multiplied and thoughtless use. This is nothing less than taking God’s name in vain. However, when employed in a heartfelt manner, as David does here, it is actually the most important thing a person can say.

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The Little Condo on the Prairie (Aug. 20 2013)

Posted on 2013/08/20 by Shawn Thomas

Last week at the “Little Condo” we all decided to go to the gym to get in shape, and then we got ready for “back to school” …

WORKOUT FALLOUT
Paul took me to his gym a week ago Monday and Tuesday, and really put me through some workouts. A day afterwards, I was SO sore I could barely move without great difficulty. When it was time for my evening walk with Cheryl, I was making all kinds of moaning and groaning sounds while I attempted to get up out of my recliner. Cheryl said: “Are you going to make those sounds the whole time we are walking?”
I said, “I’m not yet sure I am going to be ABLE to walk!” Continue reading →

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