Is this happening?

College? As a kid when I thought about college it seemed so distant, even when I was in highschool it seemed distant. But now... It is here whether I'm ready or not (And I'm ready!).  I'm sure my parents are hesitated to see how I do on my own; they are going to be thinking, "What did I forget to teach him?" or one of them will text me everyday just to make sure their baby is still breathing.

Ps 20:7 

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 

but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 

As I approach the unseen, unknown things in college, in scripture I'm told to trust in the Lord. Even the word trust, gives you the same feeling of the unknown. In the Psalm of David he is proclaiming that 'but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.' So remember when we say trust, the leaning, falling, has to lean onto or be caught by something. As Christians, we trust in the name of the Lord, which we will talk about later. Non-christians put their trust in other things, we call those idols.

When we put our trust in the name of the Lord our God, we our trust into who He is and what He has done, which gives me great joy!!! For us as Christians trust in the cross where Jesus gave it all for us. God promises us in scripture  "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Roman 8:28).  Reading scripture and learning about God's promises is a way the Holy Spirit builds trust. The unseen and unknown things of college vanish under the beautiful promises of God.

Psalm 10:4

"In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;'in all his thoughts there is no room for God." -Psalm 10:4

      Pride is one sin that everyone struggles with. I look at pride thinking I'm better than other people, and I also look at it like I'm good enough to make it to God's kingdom, but we are not. We have to constantly remind ourselves through the Holy Spirit that it is the shed blood on the cross and the defeated death that were are able to have life. The Psalmist is saying the wicked man is stuck in his pride; if your stuck is pride you can't see the wrong you are doing because you think you are right all the time, and you are human so you are not right all the time. Pride doesn't seek God; it's a great sin not to seek God. Pride doesn't even believe God is there. When will we put down our pride? If you live a life which is prideful you are ignoring God. But! This is a great but. But when we repent and return to Jesus, then our thoughts will return to the Lord. 

John 16:13

"...he will guide you in all truth..." --John 16:13

In John 14-16, Jesus is speaking to the disciples about the great comforter (the Holy Spirit) that will come after he ascends into heaven. I've been in church all of my life, and the topic of the Holy Spirit was rarely talked about, only in reference to the Godhead. Now I see the Holy Spirit as a person (Jesus) who dwells inside all believers. The Holy Spirit will guide you to the truth, he will never lead you against Scripture. Any good work you complete comes from the power of the Holy Spirit. The same power that raise Christ from death lives within you by the Holy Spirit. When you sin and go away from the teaching of scripture you have either suppressed or ignored the Holy Spirit's direction. God will never lead you into sin (James 1:13). As you are led by the Spirit, will lead you to become like Christ.

Mal 3:2,3

"...He will sit as a refiner's fire or launderer's silver..." -- Malachi 3:2,3.

All of us begin our lives dirty, and sinful. No one is able to escape the second death without Jesus. The image of Christ mining us from the ground and being refined, having all the impurities being taken away has been a breath-taking portrayal of Jesus in my mind. The process of refining silver, or any metal is a lengthly process for the metal to become pure. Christ who has begun to refine you will refine you to completion (Php 1:6). As Christians we can't refine ourselves because we are the ones who are in need of the refining. Jesus is the only one who has the power to refine you to the purest state. We know refining takes a lot of heat, please let Jesus refine you, so you are not burned in the fire forever.

Back to the Grind

School will be back in session this thursday. I don't know what to think, it being my last year in school before college.

God has given us the most plentiful place to tell people about Christ daily at school. What do we have to lose? We have nothing to lose but everything to gain. Christ said, "Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it and whoever loses his life will preserve it" (Luke 17:33). I know at school it is hard to remove yourself from yourself, to put other's interests above your own (Php 2:4). It is possible because Christ has done it, and by the power of the cross that has saved us, you can too! (1Co 1:18). Think about the unending power that we have for us, for His glory.

Do you get the feeling, being really pumped to tell people about Christ, you get to the situation , and you lose the passion? I've been in this situation about everyday I have walked into school. Take the time to search your heart on where that passion goes for you. When you find it, repent and get back to the grind.

Thanks for reading. Contact me by Email, Follow on Twitter @JonSAdams. Your welcome to comment.

Last: Death No Longer

Repentance

Repentance is a word that is critical to the Christian life, and should be a recurring experience in our hearts. Our walk with Christ starts with repentance, in scripture Peter said, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
 Repentance is turning away from your sinful nature, then begin to live by the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16-18). Repentance is not a one time deal, it is a daily relationship building opportunity with Christ. 

Repentance is Repeatable 

You may have to repent more than once, “Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them” (Lu. 17:4), Christ is teaching this lesson from experience. I have repeatedly repented of a sin and then the next day I repeat the sin like I never repented of it; by God’s amazing grace I am forgiven every time.

Repentance is Refreshing

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord (Acts 3:19). You will not just receive a time of refreshing from the Lord, but also a time of peace, like a weight lifted off your soul.

Repentance is Essential 

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God (Heb 6:1). Repentance is something we have to learn from the beginning.

Repentance through Faith

I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. (Acts. 20:21). Over the few years I have been a Christian when I have placed my faith in Jesus, he always has opened a door for repentance. When you take the opportunity to repent, he always gives you peace.

God you are the best, thank you for reteaching me these things that I have neglected to put into practice. Let us have the faith to turn away from our sin day by day.

Thanks for reading. Contact me Email, Follow on Twitter @JonSAdams. Your welcome to comment.

FAITH

As Christians we throw around a lot of words like repentance, glorification, sanctification, and faith. We have little understanding on the meaning of words like these, and how the words apply to our lives. In the next few months I am going to unpack these words, give you a biblical understanding, and how to apply it to your life.    

Faith is a gift from God (Eph. 2:8). Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Heb. 11:1). This definition of faith is often the same for the word believe. A belief is something we think exists. If we just believe in God, we are no better than demons (Jas. 2:19). Neither can faith be by itself, if not accompanied by action, it is dead (Jas. 2:7). Abraham had an amazing display of faith when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? Abraham knew killing his son Isaac would end the line of Jesus, but Abraham still choose to obey(action) God. Abraham's  faith and actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did (Jas. 2:22). Through faith you will be righteous (Ro 1:17). And faith produces works; that’s why the passage says “works of faith.” When we put our faith in Christ, God changes our hearts and desires so good works are actually possible (Philippians 2:13). If you have faith, works will be done, which have been prepared for you (Eph. 2: 8-10).

Do you just believe in Jesus or do you have faith in Jesus?

John Calvin, a preacher in the 1500s said this in his third book of the Institutes of Christian Religion within chapter 4, "This is so true that the term faith is often used as a synonym for confidence” (Calvin 148). In him(God) and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3:12). God is faithful to all his promises (Ps. 145: 13). We tend to look at God’s promises objectively but not in our own experience. We must take his promises and embrace them in our heart, then our confidence through faith will come to life. A true faithful Christian is one that is firmly convinced he is reconciled to God. John Calvin talks about this in his book, “In other words, you can’t have strong faith in the Lord unless you are gloriously confident of being an heir to the heavenly kingdom” (Calvin 149). This is why Paul says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ro. 8:38-39). PROCLAIM the kingdom of heaven through the faith God has given you!

Are you confident to be an heir to the heavenly kingdom?

God you are so glorious, thank you for giving me faith, that produces good works that you have already prepared for us to do. Let us be confident of the gift you have in store for us in Heaven.

Thanks for reading. Contact me Email, Follow on Twitter @JonSAdams. Your welcome to comment.

Calvin, John. The Institutes of Christian Religion. London: Baker Publishing Group, 1987. 148-149. Print.