I wonder how many words have been spoken around the world? Many of them are insignificant, others are significant enough to determine life and death for many people. Having checked the dictionary for the largest number, the result was centillion. This number is 100 with 100 zeroes behind it!. I am sure this number pales to what man has communicated over time to one another.
Considering all the words that have ever been spoken, there are two phrases consisting of nine words that have changed the course for all mankind.
The first phrase consist of words: "He is risen!" This was stated by an Angel to Mary at the grave site of Jesus Christ.
The resurrection is the most magnificent act God did to benefit mankind up to that time in history. Jesus Christ gave up His life on Calvary to save all mankind. God raised Him from the dead, to offer the gift of eternal life with the Heavenly Father. The resurrection is the crux of Christianity.
I Peter 1:3,4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
There are no greater, powerful, life giving words than "He is risen."
What about the second phrase? These four words give man the most awesome and expectation possible!
These words were spoken again by an Angel, when Jesus ascended to be at the right hand of the Father.
"He is coming back."
Acts 1:11
which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Nothing, absolutely nothing, can over shadow, negate or prevent Christ coming back for us.
This should cement our conviction to stand for the Heavenly Father. No greater assurance exist then: "He is coming back." This should motivate us for a lifetime.
As we use words to communicate, do not forget the seven fantastic words that affirm our salvation and give an assuredly for the rest of our life.
Agape,
Bob and Jeanie
Weight loss in 30 days, weight gain in 30 days, intellectual advancement in 30 days, grow larger muscles in 30 days, grow more hair in 30 days, replace all your cells in 30 days, on and on - Wow there are many challenges to enhance our lives, just in 30 days!
There is one 30 day challenge we have been doing in San Diego that is more beneficial than all of the above ones.
It is called the 30 Day Bible Journaling Challenge by Jan Magiera. As you open up this file you will see 30 verses, one for each day. This is how to do it:
That is it. There is actually more she had us do. You can check our website for the March Sunday teachings by Jan Magiera and see what they are.
This is a wonderful way to get God's Word in your head.
Ah, I almost forgot. She encouraged us to use the verse of the day for that day. In other words, look to do it or be it or share it with others.
EXAMPLE: Colossians 3:15: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, [We only did this part of the verse].
And: also, in connection with,
Let: allow, give permission to,
he peace: that quiet acquiescence, restfulness, satisfying easy feeling,
of God: by the Heavenly Father, the Creator of the Heavens and earth, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
rule: measurement of excellence take place, have place, govern,
in your: within your being, in me, myself and I,
hearts: inner self, inner being where I believe and think, my place of passion,
My "amplified" translation: "Also in connection with (after putting on the love of God and letting the peace of God rule in my heart) allow or give permission for the quiet acquiescence of my Heavenly Father Who created the heavens and earth, govern or have place in my inner being of where I think and believe."
The point is, to have fun with this and really get into what words mean and then take them to heart.
Enjoy working God's Word!
Agape,
Bob
Of all the events that occurred during what we call the Easter season, obviously the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is the most notable.
Yes, His death had to occur, and our heart goes out to Him as we picture Him on the cross, bloodied, marred and disfigured. He paid the ultimate price not only through his death, but by the brutal beatings and suffering he sustained for many hours.
He was wrapped in grave clothes and placed in the grave with a stone rolled across its entrance. For, what must have been an unbearable time for His followers, nothing happened for 72 hours. The hopes, the aspirations for redemption and victory seem all but lost. But on the
4,320th minute since his death and burial, something happened that would change the history of the world forever!
God raised His son from the dead.
“Christ is risen” are the three most powerful words spoken. Why? Because of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ all mankind can be born again of God’s spirit and obtain eternal life.
The one elusive power man has never been able to secure is the “fountain of youth” or everlasting life. As a result of God raising Jesus from the dead, man had what God so desired when He manifested His love by giving His son (John 3:16).
Now the Heavenly Father can have His own children born of incorruptible seed to be forever with Him.
I Peter 1:23:
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
I Peter 1:3 & 4:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
You and I are power packed with the spirit that raised Christ up from the dead! Think of the awesome power it would take to do that. That power dwells in us now.
Romans 8:11:
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
The focal point in all history is God raising Jesus Christ from the dead. It provided for mankind the new birth realities which gives man full and complete access to the Heavenly Father.
All that was lost by Adam in the fall of man was regained with much more by the perfect work of Jesus Christ with God raising Him from the dead. The legal price has been paid and now God has children with his eternal spirit within to love and be loved by them.
Remember who you are in Christ. He said we would do the works He did and greater. Now we can because “Christ is risen.”
May we love God—really love Him because of what He sacrificed to provide for you and me. We have eternal life and peace with Him.
Let’s praise Him and love Him as long as we have breath.
Bob Lindfelt
I often hear the exhortation of how awesome the love of God is and that we all should be living it with each other. But when it really comes down to practicing the love of God in our everyday conversation, there is a falling short.
Are we really utilizing the love of God in our everyday lives? Do we speak with love? Do we act with love? Do we respond to people with love?
Our communication as Christians should reflect the love of God. Realizing I need a refresher course on Christian Communication Skills, I offer the following:
Colossians 4:6:
“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
We understand grace as undeserved favor. We are instructed to speak favorable, kindly to each other. We are not critical or putting someone down.
“Seasoned with salt” – In the Bible lands, sharing salt meant you are making a covenant with that person to respect and honor them. It also means you have integrity with people. In other words, you say what you mean and mean what you say.
Our manner of talking with each other should carry great respect and care for each other. Here are some other communication tips:
Colossians 3:12, 13a and 14:
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 forbearing one another, and forgiving one another,
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
It is not about us, but blessing others with our words and manner of communication.
As it says in Philippians 2:21, “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ.”
In seeking their own, natural man is only concerned about me, myself and I.
When we converse, we should lovingly build each other up. As Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
Here is grace again. Speaking favorable about each other. We talk words that build people up not tear them down or belittle them.
If we just remember these few verses as guideline to our conversation with one another, it will serve us well.
Let’s communicate with the love of God oozing out all over our words and manner of talk.
Agape,
Bob
Hearts touched, lives changed, new opportunities to live for God, bigger vision for the One Body of Christ, awareness of new resources in the family of God, refreshed excitement to share the words of life and much more is what happened Feb.17 and 18th with Explosive Evangelism.
Friday was all about reaching out to people on the street who were passing through to the Old Town transportation depot. Set Free Ranch sent 15 dedicated men to minister and serve. Food and water was handed out along with prayer and ministering. Tom Woods, along with 2 Set Free Ranch men took 2 new people up to the Set Free Ranch which is several hours away. In-spite of the bad weather everyone was excited and reached out boldly to help many people.
Saturday was the meeting, which started with inspiring music by Warren Seames, Merri McGarry, Daniel Woods Jeffrey Moore and Carlos. The various motivated speakers included Barney Barnhart, Mike Delgato from Come-Unity Church, Ernie Kilmer of Set Free Ranch, Craig Stirling of Victory House and Lighthouse Charitable Foundation and myself. Michael Capodici was the head organizer of the whole event and was the MC as well.
There was a packed house at Pt Loma Assembly including many believers representing the various ministries participating. Also there were over 30 new faces that attended from just hearing about the event.
Other key workers that I have not mentioned were Joyell Nevins, Billy Sherman, Mary Ruth Loucks, Mike Kenney, Kelly Prendiville, Louie Arzaga, Vikki Barnhart and Jeanie Lindfelt.
The goal of the event was to bring different ministries together to inspire, equip and encourage everyone to carry out the work of the great commissioning of our Lord and Savior to make “disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19). We recognize that God desires “all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” (I Timothy 2:4). We also realize that the last words of Jesus Christ before He ascended up to the right hand of the Father: “But ye shall receive power after the holy spirit is come upon you and you shall be witness unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).
Let’s keep exploding with God’s Word in our lives and in our talk.
Agape,
Bob