The life teachings found in the book of Job

Written by: John OBrien

Published: 24 February 2012

Influence is invisible, mysterious and powerful. Many people whom have had a powerful influence on my life, actions and thinking have never met me. But now, even 10, 20 or 30 years later their influence still clings to me. It pulls and it bonds.

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Read more: The power of influence

Written by: John OBrien

Published: 31 December 2011

When we give God the little bit we have, He will pour himself into us. All God wants is for you to give the vessel of yourself. This is all you have. God will give you favor if you act accord to his will. Pour self out and God will refill you.

Do not limit God!

>> This is all God wants out of you!

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Read more: What can I expect from God?

Written by: Michael Angell

Published: 10 November 2011

Say "Yes" to God over and over again.

Say "Yes" to taking another step under His guidance.

You have an enemy. This enemy is shouting no! no! don't do it. Say no.

He does nt want you to take the step for God.

You have to say yes to every step you take. You must be very deliberate in your action.

Thoughtful, deliberate, with out hesitation. Take that step for God.

the enemy shouting no. You flesh wants you to say no.

You hear the spirit calling to you asking you to say yes.

5 Points To Consider

1 Peter 5

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

1 Peter 5

About the Elders

¹ Therefore, as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of the Messiah, and also a participant in the glory about to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you: ² shepherd God's flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but freely, according to God's [will]; not for the money but eagerly; ³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

⁵ Likewise, you younger men, be subject to the elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because

God resists the proud,

but gives grace to the humble.

⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you.

 

Conclusion

⁸ Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. ⁹ Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world.

¹⁰ Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. ¹¹ To Him be the dominion forever. Amen.

¹² Through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Take your stand in it! ¹³ She who is in Babylon, also chosen, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

 

Point #1

 

¹ Therefore, as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of the Messiah, and also a participant in the glory about to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you: ² shepherd God's flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but freely, according to God's [will]; not for the money but eagerly

 

Live to serve. Want to live to serve. Care for people. Want to care for people. Care for people because you want to serve.

In your service, no matter if you are a "layman" , or a pastpr, serve from your heart. He has called you . He has put a burden on your heart. He is calling you to use His ability, not your own. we can not do it on our own.

 

A few years ago a man had his wife and children held hostage in an apartment. He was going to kill them all. If he surrendered to the police, he would have gone to prison for the rest of his life. So he had nothing to lose. His mother called the pastor of the church were the guy had gone to church once in his life.

 

She reported to that pastor that her son said he would only talk to that man, that preacher of that church. That man who he have only heard preach one time.

God Showed Up

The preacher went to meet the desperate person. God was there. God showed up. God showed up at the meeting between these men and the problem was solved. It was not through the ability of the preacher. The preacher yielded himself to God and God supplied the resources.

God shows up when you are willing to serve God with your whole heart. God shows up when we are willing to serve out of his heart.

Point #2

 

³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

 

Live to win. Live to lead others to victory. You know the saying: "It doesn't matter if you win or lose, the real issue is how you play the game" If that is true, why do you keep score?

In life, the arena we are in, it actually comes down to whether you win or lose.

When my kids were little they used to play basket ball in the little leagues. The league did not approve of keeping score for kids of that age. The leagues ideas was to let everyone play and do not worry about who was winning or losing. So, they did not keep score. They let every one play.

There was no scoreboard because they were too young. The league did not want that kind of competition. However life is a constant competition.

Even though officially there was no score kept you could see parents there with a pen and paper. They were keeping score. I was too proud to openly do that so I just kept it in my head. After the game we would whisper to the kids: "You won! You won!"

Winning was a big deal then.

Winning Is Huge

We must live with a passion to lead people to victory. None of us want to be surrounded by people who are constantly downers and have no victory in their lives.

They drag you down with their attitude.

Lead people by example. Actions are louder than words. Givers produce givers. If you are a giver you will produce givers around you in your life.

If you are a witness, one who gives their witness to others, you will produce others who will witness also.

If you are a servant you will produce other servants.

we produce what we are.

Be a giver.

Be a witness

Be a servant

Be a winner

You say: " Well I don't feel like a winner. Well most of us don't a lot of the time.

Declare yourself a winner.

Point #3

Live in humility.

 

⁵ Likewise, you younger men, be subject to the elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

 

Serve with humility. God favors the humble, not the proud.

We don't do things to see what we can get out of it. We do not do things to glorify ourselves.

Do things to glorify god.

Do things to glorify other people.

When someone around you does a good job, let them they did a good job, even if they are your competitor.

You will be surprised what that will do to your spirit.

 

Honor God. Don't wear your spirituality to gain favor for your self.

 

Use your spirituality to gain favor for God.

Humble yourself under Gods mighty powers

Do this consistently.

Trusting and depending on him consistently.

Casting your cares away and aside. Be willing to cast our cares on Him, because He cares for you and your needs.

4. Live by Gods calendar.

 

6. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time,

 

Letting God lift us up at the right time is a very difficult thing.

We get an idea. We get a thought. We want to do it now.

we get inspiration. We want to do it now.

Maybe the time is not right.

In due season God will bring you to success. Keep honoring God in humility, not lifting up yourself, but lifting up other people.

And in due season.

God will bring it back to you and He will lift you up.

 

But it is hard to look to Him and His timing.

we get anxious. we say God to it now, do it now, God do it now.

 

Is it now? Is it now?

No it is not now.

In due season. In his time.

According to his calendar.

 

Not our calendar.

Point #5

Live alert and strong.

⁸ Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. ⁹ Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world.

 

People every where are suffering. The enemy likes to tell you that no one suffers as much as you do. No one.

 

No- you are not unique . Suffering is world wide.

Everyone is being tried and tested.

Being tried and tested in their own life and in their own place.

I love to watch Bruce Lee in movies. I watch those movies.

I never have seen a movie of his where some one fights sitting down. No one fights in a chair.

You have to stand to really be alert and mobile

You are not going to do much from a sitting position

 

Defend Or Be Overcome

 

Stand! Be prepared. Be ready. Watching.

This is your faith.

Built it up and make it strong.

Live in:

Prayer

Worship

Get into what God is doing.

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Written by: John OBrien

Published: 02 November 2011

Our Many Sided Gospels

(The next in the series of the interpretation of the New Testament).

The Gospels are perhaps the most read parts of the New Testament. One reason for this phenomena is because the Gospels are easy to read. Another reason is because the Gospels contain stories and information about the life and times of Jesus that speak to the soul. Few readers of the Gospels perceive some of the really knotty issues about the Gospels. These issues will not slow down the causal reader. But these issues will give pause to the determined study group.

What are we talking about when we use the word "Gospel"? 

• The word "Gospel" mean "Good news".
• The Good News is about Jesus.
• The Good News stems from the teachings of Jesus.
• The Good News are the retelling by eyewitnesses the stories about Jesus.

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Read more: The Gospels