Spiritual Growth

The Profile of the Blessed

Psalm 1:1-6
In the first Psalm we are taught:
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he mediates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. (NIV)

To the Believer “being blessed” is our state of mind, in good and bad times. Being blessed is reflected in our attitudes and always in our behavior. Being blessed is a learned state that begins when we accept that Christ is our Savior. The state of blessing is amplified when we submit to His lordship/authority over our lives. For some Believers this state of blessedness and the recognition of it did not come until many years after professing that they were Christians.

Being blessed is an awakening; it’s a process at which we gradually arrive. We “get it” that we are blessed when we come to the realization that everything (good or bad) comes from or is allowed by God, our Father.

We don’t endure “being blessed.” We awake each day in this state of blessedness, bask in it several times during the day by recognizing that God’s hand is directing the events of our day. We thank God for it, and rest in this state of blessing as we sleep each night. We start this process over the next day and the next.

Blessings are added to and multiplied as we unselfishly give them to others. We are able to pass-on blessings through our smiles, greetings, and encouragement to others.

We are able to demonstrate being blessed by being patient with those who have not arrived at our level of blessedness, but have the potential to do so. We need to provide those whose “wings of faith” are underdeveloped with some growing space. We can risk damaging others and derailing the process when we mandate that others ought to recognize their blessings immediately. Because it is not us who provides blessings, we should be careful with our superior attitudes towards others who are slowly becoming aware. Being blessed is a “self-study” of our “individual blessing plan.”

A blessed attitude is one that does not murmur or complain about whatever God sends to us. We observe what God is doing, we study His Word, we apply what we see Him doing to our hearts in gratitude to Him, as we follow His directions.

The profile of the blessed, which ones of us can, fit the profile?

Prayer: Lord we thank you for showering us with new blessings each day.  We will continuously give you the praise. In your name, we pray. Amen.

 

Originally Released in Homewords Small Group Bible Study Ministry, Facebook group, September 22, 2010

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Coming In September

Eight Anniversary Month

In September we will celebrate out 8th anniversary with two events in conjunction with our Bible Studies. Our “pot luck” Bible Study, will be held on Saturday September 7, 2013 and the “Kick Off” of the study of Esther on September 28, 2013. Visitors are always welcome, but are especially welcome for both of these events. The Bible Study Schedules are attached. For information call Glenda at 727-542-4683.

Question and Answer Blog

The first response to appear in our “Question and Answer” feature will be posted in September. The question, “How do I know what God’s will is, what does He want me to do?”

For a number or reasons we feel this is an important question, because as Christian growth takes place, we move from concentrating on “what God can do for me” to “as God’s creation, why did He create me and put me in today’s time and space?” We are answering this question first because we feel its answer is at the center of Homewords Ministry’s existence. We have found many disconnects between traditional church membership with traditional worship services, and true service to Christ and the cause of salvation. In truth we have found many Believers want to get on board to do the will of Christ, but feel that many traditional churches do very little to foster the growth and experience to do so. These churches spend much time concentrating on maintaining the organization instead of focusing on getting the people ready and helping to maximize their spiritual gifts for true Christian works. At Homewords, we feel that the key is knowledge and understanding of The Bible. Understanding what is expected is the beginning true service, so we welcome the challenge of this question on the September blog.

You will also note that scriptures are being posted often. Please note that because the focus of the “Question and Answer” in September is “God’s will for my life” our Scriptures are centered on the subject of God’s Will.

Thank You to All

Finally we want to say thank you to all who follow Homewords Small Group Bible Study Ministry. We come to you through WordPress, Facebook, e-mail and post mail. Please share the message that God has given us with others, as we would like to add to our posting. We ask that you pray for God to continue to guide us and that we stay in His will and way.

Frank and Glenda Brunson

Fan into the Flame by Rev. Frank Brunson

2 Timothy 1:6
“For this reason I remind you to fan into the flame the gift of God, Which is in you through the lying on of hands.”

Recently I had a conversation with a Christian friend in his late fifties, who said he was perplexed by life, as he had a feeling that what he had accomplished in life was not enough. To most, his life would be labeled as successful. Forty-one year of marriage, four children, ten grand-children, two- great grandchildren, a successful owner of a once small business that experienced mega growth, regular and vacation homes. He was known for his service to his community though business and civic organizations, and most of all; a faithful hard-working member in the church where most of the family attended. Yet, he says he was puzzled because he felt that God seemed to be telling him he had not done enough or more specifically that there was unfinished work to be done.

In 2 Timothy 1:6 Paul’s letter urges Timothy in his work, by reminding him, his work was not done. Paul tells Timothy that he should “fan into the flame the gift of God…..” which reminded Timothy that the flame of his salvation needed a fuel source, which only God could provide. When I was of scouting age, we learned to make campfires by starting with a little flame in one small part of our wood pile, and fanned into the flame to provide more of the oxygen fuel source. The more we fanned the larger the campfire became. Providing God’s fuel source is the only way that the trying, unfinished parts of God’s call in our life can be accomplished. For the completion of some of God’s calls, the flame must be fully developed or fully-burning. Like fanning into the flame of the campfire made it bigger, “fanning into the flame the Gift of God” makes the previously undeveloped flames of life become full-burning. Contentment grows only as the gift of God through the Holy Spirit is enhanced, and it is mandatory to have God as the fuel-source which causes the small flame to reach a full-fiery blaze. It is only through God that one is able to feel their work in done.

My friend, in all that he had accomplished, has not adequately “fanned into the flame” to fully develop his God given gift. He forgot that age, and what was accomplished in the past doesn’t necessarily mean the gift of God has been fully “fanned” into his Christian life. John the Apostle did well as one of the 12 Chosen and a personal friend to Jesus; but it was after Jesus’ death and resurrection that he began to “fan into the flame the gift of God”. After he had fanned God into the flame of his belief, he became the prime candidate to receive Jesus’ Revelation, the final book of the New Testament. Paul life as a Pharisee was driven by love for God, although it was misguided. But it was after his meeting Jesus on the Damascus road that he began to “fan into the flame the gift of God” with missionary journeys, Christian church plants and letters which became the basis for much of the New Testament.

What about you and me? Have we slowed down or given up because of age or some circumstance in life? Do we feel we have done enough for Christ, but still feel incomplete? Could it be that the fire of our Christian walk has not reached a blaze yet? Remember, no matter what age you are or how long you have been saved, never stop “fanning into the flame” for Jesus.

The Benefit of Knowing the Will of God

Romans 12:2

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (NIV).

                One of the greatest gifts in life is to be able to know what God wants from and through your life. The goal of life is to know God’s will for you, and to know what God will accomplish through you.

Show Me Your Sacrifice! by Rev. Frank Brunson

2 Corinthians 11:21b-28

 What anyone else dares to boast about-I am speaking as a fool-I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrew? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I Have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and day in open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I facedaily pressure for my concern for all the churches. (NIV)

 

                A few years ago I was a member of a civic organization for community improvement that met home to home. Although we enjoyed the comfort of the home meetings we decided it was in our best interest to have a building to centralize our activities and share with the community. We had very little money, but we did have a lot of commitment to our goal of improving our community.

                 The plan to reach our building goal was simple. After finding a fix-up building we could afford to purchase, each person committed a small amount of monthly cash to cover expenses and improvement, and a lot of physical effort to work on those improvements. The project was completed due to the entire group’s commitment to the sacrifice of a little money and a lot of time.  So, as evidence of their sacrifice, whenever community activities were held in the building, the group always boasted by sharing their story of reaching their goal with the plan of little money and a large amount of time sacrificed.

                 Paul in his message to the Church of Corinth shows that he loved the people of Corinth and all the cities in which he had established churches. It was his love that encouraged his sacrifices, which guided him on the missions to help them to understand their salvation through Christ.

                His love produced the commitment of continuing on, in spite of him (Paul) experiencing suffering and sacrifice. But Paul also lovingly boasted of his suffering to quiet false preaches and teachers of the day. He showed his record of sacrifice and commitment and in a way asked them to, “show me your sacrifice”.

                 If Paul were to issue this challenge to you, where would you stand? Would you have more talk than sacrificial time? Could you show him suffering and sacrifice or little effort and little accomplishment for Christ? Paul’s method is not about boasting in self accolades, but most certainly one of self-inventory.

                 If we take our self inventory, can Christ depend on us to go the extra mile? Can Christ depend on us to get His job accomplished by putting in more time and effort for others and not self? If Christ asked you, “show me you sacrifice”, what would you have to show?

God Rewards Sacrifice – Philippians 4:18-19

“I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphhoditus the gift you sent. They are fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.  And my God will meet all your needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus “(NIV).  

Because you made sacrifice to God, He will meet all your needs; but don’t confuse wants with needs.