CHRIST DESIRES A BRIDE THAT NEEDS HIM. NOT ONE THAT TELLS HIM WHAT TO DO.
JULY 2007
JESUS CHRIST HAS FURNISHED US WITH HIS OWN OASIS IN THIS DES-ERT WE CALL LIFE.
WE ALL MAKE CHOICES AS TO WHO WILL BE OUR FRIENDS. SO CHOOSE WELL, AND YOU WILL HAVE FEW ENEMIES.
AS TIME MOVES ON, THE FACES CHANGE, THE WORDS CHANGE, BUT THE SINS REMAIN THE SAME.
YOU CANNOT BE A FRIEND OF GOD IF YOU DON’T HAVE FAITH IN HIM.
AUGUST 2007
ARE YOU USEFUL TO THE LORD, OR USEFUL ONLY TO THE WORLD? WHICH OF THE TWO FITS YOU BEST?
DO YOU THINK OF THE LORD AS SOME KIND OF MONUMENT? A MONUMENT TO LAY YOUR SELFISH REQUESTS, YOUR UNREPENTANT SINS, AND YOUR SELF INFLICTED ISSUES? IF YOU DO, YOUR IN THE WRONG BUILDING.
JESUS DID NOT COME TO NEGOTIATE WITH US, NOR DID HE COME TO SEEK OUR OPINIONS. WHY HE CAME WAS TO BRAKE THE CHAINS OF BONDAGE FROM A STRONG ENEMY.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT MEN THAT THEY WILL NOT FORGIVE OTHERS OF THE SINS THEY THEMSELVES COMMIT?
JANUARY 2008
GIFTS, MONEY, POWER AND INFLUENCE, MAKE MOST FORGET ABOUT LOVE AND VIRTUE?
ARE YOU A SPIRITUAL ORPHAN? IF SO, THE FATHER IN HEAVEN IS LOOKING TO ADOPT YOU AS HIS SON OR DAUGHTER.
CAN ANYONE FIND THE SLIGHTEST HINT OR ECHO OF FAITH IN YOUR WORK FOR CHRIST?
WOULD YOUR MERCY HAVE MERCY ON THE ENEMIES OF MERCY?
ARE YOU AN INVALID IN CHRIST, OR A WORKMAN PRODUCING ABUNDANCE FOR YOUR LORD?
HOW MANY HAVE RELIGION WITHOUT A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST?
ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS IN JOY, LAUGHTER AND LOVE
ARE YOU AFRAID TO STUDY YOUR BIBLE BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU MAY FIND IN IT CONCERNING YOURSELF?
WHEN WE AWAKE FROM OUR SLEEP, SOME SHALL AWAKE UNTO PEACE, OTHER TO TERROR.
IF CHRIST WERE KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR, WOULD YOU SAY TO HIM, “STOP KNOCKING AT MY DOOR, YOUR GOING TO WAKE US ALL UP.”
CHRISTIANITY WILL GIVE TO US DIGNITY, CERTAIN VIRTUES AND MUCH WISDOM.
DO YOU SEE THE WORLD AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT, OR AS IT REALLY IS?
DO YOU LIVE WITH CONTRADICTIONS IN YOUR LIFE?
WHAT IS IT THAT SIN OFFENDS? IT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD THAT IS OFFENDED.
FAMILIARITY AND REPETITION MAKE PEOPLE LOSE SIGHT OF THE SHARP EDGES OF THE HORRORS AND EVILS THAT SURROUND US.
ARE YOU AFRAID TO STUDY YOUR BIBLE BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU MAY FIND IN IT CONCERNING YOURSELF?
WHEN WE AWAKE FROM OUR SLEEP, SOME SHALL AWAKE UNTO PEACE, OTHER TO TERROR.
IF CHRIST WERE KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR, WOULD YOU SAY TO HIM, “STOP KNOCKING AT MY DOOR, YOUR GOING TO WAKE US ALL UP.”
AUGUST 2008
WHEN WE HAVE LAUGHED AND CRIED, CRAWLED AND RAN, FAILED AND SECIN MANY CHRISTIAN CHURCHES TODAY, JESUS CHRIST IS RESPECTED, TOLERATED, BUT NOT LOVED.
WHY HAVE WE FORGOTTEN HOW TO LOVE THEIR NEIGHBOR?
WHY DO SO MANY IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY ACT AS IF THEY ARE BANKRUPT? I BELIEVE THERE ARE TWO REASONS. FIRST, THEY HAVE FULL STOMACHS. SECONDLY, THEY HAVE EMPTY HEARTS.
SOON THE PEACE OF OUR LORD WILL BE UPON US.
SOMEONE ASKED ME, “WHY DO YOU SACRIFICE YOUR LIFE FOR CHRIST AND HIS GOSPEL?” I RESPONDED, YOU HAVE IT WRONG, THERE IS NO SACRIFICE; CHRIST AND THE GOSPEL ARE MY LIFE.”
JUNE 2007
STOP PLAYING GAMES WITH THE WORD OF GOD. IT WONT BE A LAUGHING MATTER WHEN YOU HAVE TO ANSWER TO THE CHARGES LAID AGAINST YOU.
THE WORLDS OFFERINGS COME FROM THE SWEAT OF MEN, THE GIFTS OF THE FATHER COME FROM THE BLOOD OF HIS SON.
SOMETIME THE LINES APPEAR TO GET BLURRED, SOMETIMES WE ASK, “ARE WE DOING THE RIGHT THING?” WHAT TO DO? JUST MAKE SURE CHRIST IS BLAZING THE TRAIL FOR YOU, IF HE IS, YOU HAVE CHOSEN CORRECTLY.
EDED, GONE FROM YOUTH TO OLD, IT’S NEVER THE WRONG TIME, NEITHER IS IT EVER TO LATE TO COME TO CHRIST.
DON’T STAY FOCUSED ON THE PROBLEM, BUT FOCUS ON THE POSSIBILITY OF A SOLUTION.
WHY DO SO MANY CHRISTIANS STAGGER AROUND LIKE DRUNKS, NOT KNOWING WHO, OR WHERE THEY ARE IN CHRIST?
GOD’S PERFECTIONS DO NOT ANSWER TO DEGREES OF PERFECTION.
A DEPRESSED LIFE RESEMBLES A LIFE WITHOUT FLOWERS, MUSIC, BOOKS OR SONG IN IT.
October 2008
CHRIST BELIEVES IN YOU, WHY CANT YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.
SATAN NEVER FELT AS IF HE HAS BEEN DEFEATED. WHY? BECAUSE HE HAS NEVER SURRENDERED TO GOD.
WHEN I LOOK UPON THE OCEANS, THE FORESTS, ANIMALS, BIRDS, A CLOUD, THE STAR AND MAN, I REALIZE THAT I AM LOOKING INTO THE CREATIVE MIND OF GOD.
A MAN MAY WASTE A LIFETIME LOOKING FOR THIS AND LOOKING FOR THAT. ALL THE TIME IT WAS HIS SALVATION IN CHRIST HE WAS LOOKING FOR?
I ONCE KNEW A MAN THAT HAD NEVER STOOD ON HIS OWN TWO FEET EXCEPT FOR ONE PARTICULAR DAY. IT WAS THE DAY HE HAD WORE THE SOLES OF HIS SHOES OUT.
IF YOU HAVE FAILED IN YOUR SEARCH FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, GO BACK AND START OVER, IT WILL BE WORTH YOUR TIME.
SO MANY CHURCHES ARE SUFFERING FROM A FORM OF MORAL MALERIA. THE HOLY SPIRIT NEEDS TO SEND US A NEW SUPPLY OF INSECTICIDE IN ORDER TO KILL THE CARRIERS.
JAN 2009
THINK ABOUT THIS
I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE WALK INTO THEIR CHURCH AS IF THEY WERE WALKING INTO CITY HALL TO PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.
WHY DO BIBLICAL TEACHINGS SEEM TO BE A FIEASCO IN OUR MODERN CULTURE? ITS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF FRANKNESS, UNITY IN THE BODY AND CLARIFICATION.
WHAT FACINATES US ARE USUALLY THE THINGS THAT INFLUENCE US.
THERE WAS A BAD WRECK TODAY, IT WAS A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE CHURCH RAN INTO THE DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE.
THE MIRACLE OF SALVATION DOES NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. IT USUALLY TAKES A LIFETIME.
Oct 2009
THINK ABOUT THIS
CAN HONESTY BUY YOU ANOTHER YEAR OF LIFE? OF COURSE NOT. BUT IF IT COULD, EVERY DISHONEST PERSON WOULD DISAPPEAR FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH. YET JESUS OFFERS US ETERNITY AND DISHONESTY SEEM TO BE SPREADING.
AN UNPLANNED LIFE, ONE WITHOUT GOALS CAN BECOME A CONFUSED LIFE. IT WILL BE A LIFE THAT CAN NOT BE LIVED TO ITS FULLEST, BUT ONE THAT CAN ONLY BE ENDURED.
GOD’S PERFECTIONS DO NOT ANSWER TO DEGREES OF PERFECTION, FOR HE IS PERFECTION.
DOES YOUR FLESH CHASE AFTER THE ENEMIES OF YOUR SOUL? OR DOES YOUR SPIRIT CHASE AFTER THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD?
IN TODAYS CULTURE, IT APPEARS THAT OUR LIVES ARE NO LONGER DIRECTED BY CONSCIENCE: OUR CONSCIENCE SEEMS TO BE ACCOMMODATING ITSELF TO LIFE.
WE WILL NOT BE JUDGED FOR OUR WEAKNESSES, BUT FOR THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST.
NOV 2009
I am always amazed by the way the importance of outside news — politics, the stock market, sports, etc., — take a back seat to the here and now of God’s word. When the book is opened, I feel as if I have returned to my home from a desert place, to an oasis of living water coming from the foot of the throne of my Saviour Jesus Christ.
As I wind down my study to it traditional last reading, I chase after quotes that can be shared with others. What the Bible speaks of to me are the ups and downs of life. It marks the changing seasons from youth to old age. Scriptures tie together what we know or hope to know. But what I understand is, it will always remain the same and will always be a blessing to me.
There are no ringing of the bells, no walking down an aisle to a winner’s circle, no crowds. Its a backside walk down a quite and peaceful road giving me a true sense of security. It never changes.
As I come to the end of a study, I breathe a sigh of peace, feel a little bit of remorse, and say a final goodbyes until tomorrow. I gather up my worldly objects, open the front door and move out into a world knowing Jesus is walking at my side.
A reader wrote, “I have often quoted, “Fear not…have no fear…why do you fear…be not afraid.”
In Rev 21:8 in the KJV it states, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers….shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire..”
Why is fear being equated with murderers? Is fear, then, a sin? A pretty darned big sin? What does this all mean?
Phil wrote,
“The answer to your question, lies in the meaning of the Greek word “Fearful.” This word is used in only 3 verses of the N.T.
We all have a natural apprehension when danger approaches. But as we read in Matt.8:26, and Mark 4:40, the disciples fear was caused because of their unbelief. Jesus first removes the danger from them, then levels his rebuke against them. After His rebuke Jesus said to them, “How is it that ye have no faith?” He said in Luke, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?”
True faith in Christ will drive away fear, but only in proportion to its strength. When we apply this to Rev.21:8, it is those who, for the fear of losing their life, or property refuse to receive Jesus Christ though convinced of His truth, even if this fear comes in a time of persecution.
So when we apply this truth to Rev.21:8, it can better be understood. In God’s eyes, this unbelief or fearfulness is the same as murder and idolatry, liars, etc. All will all lead a person to the same place, the lake of fire.
Rev.21:8, These, “shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” I hope this helps you,
Phil LaSpino
CAN HONESTY BUY YOU ANOTHER YEAR OF LIFE? OF COURSE NOT. BUT IF IT COULD, EVERY DISHONEST PERSON WOULD DISAPPEAR FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH. YET JESUS OFFERS US ETERNITY AND DISHONESTY SEEM TO BE SPREADING.
AN UNPLANNED LIFE, ONE WITHOUT GOALS CAN BECOME A CONFUSED LIFE. IT WILL BE A LIFE THAT CAN NOT BE LIVED TO ITS FULLEST, BUT ONE THAT CAN ONLY BE ENDURED.
GOD’S PERFECTIONS DO NOT ANSWER TO DEGREES OF PERFECTION, FOR HE IS PERFECTION.
DOES YOUR FLESH CHASE AFTER THE ENEMIES OF YOUR SOUL? OR DOES YOUR SPIRIT CHASE AFTER THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD?
IN TODAYS CULTURE, IT APPEARS THAT OUR LIVES ARE NO LONGER DIRECTED BY CONSCIENCE: OUR CONSCIENCE SEEMS TO BE ACCOMMODATING ITSELF TO LIFE.
WE WILL NOT BE JUDGED FOR OUR WEAKNESSES, BUT FOR THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST.
June 2011
THERE ARE TWO ENEMIES THAT WILL OBSTRUCT A CHRISTIAN’S WALK OF FAITH. BOTH WILL CREATE DOUBT, DISCOURAGEMENT, AND LEAD US INTO TEMPTATIONS. THEY ARE SATAN, AND OURSELVES. BOTH WILL DECEIVE, BY GIVING A SENSE OF FALSE SECURITY, AND HOPE.
CHRIST CAME KNOCKING AT THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, THEY ROLLED OVER IN THEIR BEDS AND CRIED OUT, “GO AWAY, YOUR GOING TO WAKE US ALL UP.”
WHAT THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER COMES FROM THE SWEAT OF MEN; THE GIFTS OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER COME FROM THE BLOOD OF HIS SON.
OCT 2011
IN YOUR DEPRESSION, IS THE HAND OF THE ENEMY ATTEMPTING TO CRUSH YOU? OR ARE THE HANDS OF A FRIEND ENDEVORING TO SLOW YOU DOWN? THIS, TO BRING TO YOU FACE TO FACE WITH YOUR OWN TRUTHS AND REALITIES?
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com