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Church Blog for 6 February 2010
Welcome to the Church at Home Blog
Happy New Year, welcome to 2010 and I would like to extend a warm welcome to all people reading this may the Lord Jesus Christ bless you, protect you and send his ministering angels to watch over you as you go about this life he has given you.
The purpose of this blog is to keep people up to date with what is happening with Church at Home to lift up and glorify the name of Jesus Christ, to share the love and the gospel to a sad and dying world. It promotes his online church "Church at home" this concept was formed to help people that struggle through sickness, disability, or have had bad experiences with the church that stops them from getting to live church services.
We are non denominational and have from around the world, people that attend Church at home service that do go to and take active roles in Sunday Churches. Church at home is a bible based Church and preaches the gospel as it is, you will not find sermons here to the likening of all, but we teach it the way it was taught by the early church hard hitting to the point and at times confrontational.
Let us be Challenged in 2010 to live by the Rules of Holy Living!
Are you prepared to take the challenge and live a holy life? The bible makes it quite clear what we are to do. We are told in Colossians 3:1-17 about the Rules for Holy Living......
1 You have been raised up with Christ. So think about things that are in heaven. That is where Christ is. He is sitting at God's right hand.
2 Think about things that are in heaven. Don't think about things that are on earth.
3 You died. Now your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 Christ is your life. When he appears again, you also will appear with him in heaven's glory.
5 So put to death anything that belongs to your earthly nature. Get rid of your sexual sins and unclean acts. Don't let your feelings get out of control. Remove from your life all evil longings. Stop always wanting more and more. You might as well be worshiping statues of gods.
6 God's anger is going to come because of those things.
7 That's the way you lived at one time in your life.
8 But now here are the kinds of things you must get rid of. You must put away anger, rage, hate and lies. Let no dirty words come out of your mouths.
9 Don't lie to each other. You have gotten rid of your old way of life and its habits.
10 You have started living a new life. It is being made new so that what you know has the Creator's likeness.
11 Here there is no Greek or Jew. There is no difference between those who are circumcised and those who are not. There is no rude outsider, or even a Scythian. There is no slave or free person. But Christ is everything. And he is in everything.
12 You are God's chosen people. You are holy and dearly loved. So put on tender mercy and kindness as if they were your clothes. Don't be proud. Be gentle and patient.
13 Put up with each other. Forgive the things you are holding against one another. Forgive, just as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all of those good things put on love. Love holds them all together perfectly as if they were one.
15 Let the peace that Christ gives rule in your hearts. As parts of one body, you were appointed to live in peace. And be thankful.
16 Let Christ's word live in you like a rich treasure. Teach and correct each other wisely. Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing with thanks in your hearts to God.
17 Do everything you say or do in the name of the Lord Jesus. Always give thanks to God the Father through Christ
Then in Colossians 3:18-25 we are given Rules for Christian Families....
18 Wives, follow the lead of your husbands. That's what the Lord wants you to do.
19 Husbands, love your wives. Don't be mean to them.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything. That pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers, don't make your children bitter. If you do, they will lose hope.
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything. Don't do it just to please them when they are watching you. Obey them with an honest heart. Do it out of respect for the Lord.
23 Work at everything you do with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord, not for human masters.
24 Work because you know that you will finally receive as a reward what the Lord wants you to have. You are serving the Lord Christ.
25 Anyone who does wrong will be paid back for what he does. God treats everyone the same.
So over the next few weeks let us expand on what this means so that we can apply it to our lives if we are not all ready doing it.
3:11 In the new creation of which the apostle has been speaking, there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Differences of nationality, religion, culture, and social level are not of things that count. As far as standing before God is concerned all believers are on the same level, and in the local church fellowship this same attitude should be adopted. This does not mean that there are no distinctions in the church. Some have the gift of evangelist, some of pastor, and some of the teacher. Some are elders in the church and some are deacons. Thus, the verse does not disparage proper distinctions. Neither should the Earth be taken to teach that the distinctions were listed have been abolished in the world. Such is not the case. Greek here is standing for the Gentile people in general. There are the circumcised and the am circumcised these two expressions are generally used in the New Testament to describe Jew and Gentile respectively. However, here they might refer more particularly to the ritual itself is practiced why the Jewish people, and is disregarded by the Gentiles. There is still the barbarian uncultured person in the Scythian. These two expressions are not here set in concrete contrast to one another. The Scythian's were barbarians, but we generally considered to be the more extreme form; they were the wildest and most savage of the barbarians. The final contrast is between slay and free. Free refers to those who never had being in bondage that would born free. For the Christian these worldly distinctions are no longer of importance. It is Christ who really counts. He used every think to the believer and in every think. He represents the center and the circumference of the Christian's life. The three words-Christ is all and the essence and substance of Christianity.
If our hearts can really go along with him, it is well with our souls. Many Christ a certain place in their religion but not place which God intended him to feel Christ alone is not the place which God intended him that he'll. Christ alone is not all in all to these souls. No! It is either Christ and the church-or Christ and the sacraments-or Christ and the ordained ministry's-or Christ and the owner repentance-or Christ and their own goodness-or Christ and the owner prayers-or Christ and their own sincerity and charity, on which they practically rest their souls.
3:12 In verse 10, Paul said that we have put on the new man. Now he gives some practical ways in which this can be done in our everyday lives. First of all, he addresses the Colossians as the elect of God. This refers to the fact that they have been chosen by God in Christ before the formation of the world. God's elected will grace is one of the mysteries of divine revelation. We believe the Scriptures clearly teach that God, in his sovereignty, has chosen men to belong to Christ. We do not believe that God has ever chosen anyone to damned. Such a teaching is directly contrary to Scripture. Just as we believing God's elect in Christ, we also believe in man's responsibility. God does not save men against their own will. The same Bible that says elected according to the foreknowledge of God also says whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Next Paul addresses the Colossians as Holy and beloved. Holy names sanctify, or set apart (same word as Saints) to God from the world. We are positionally holy, and we should be practically holy in our lives as well. Because we are the objects of God's love, it gives us a desire to please him in every way. Now Paul describes the Christian graces which we are to put on as a garment.
Tender mercies speak of the heart of compassion. Kindness speaks of the unselfish spirit were doing for others. It is an attitude of an infection or goodwill. Humility means loneliness and willingness to be humbled and to esteem others better than oneself. Meekness does not speak of weakness, but rather the strength to denying oneself and to walk in grace towards all men. Vine says the common assumption is that when a man is meek, it is because he cannot help himself; but the Lord was meek because he had an infinite resource of God at his command. Described negatively, meekness is the opposite of self assertiveness and self-interest; it is the quality of spirit that is neither evil nor cast down simply because it is not occupied with self at all. If humanity is the absence of pride then meekness is the absence of passion. Long-suffering speaks of patients under provocation and of the long endurance of offense. It combines joining in a kind attitude toward others, along with perseverance in suffering.
More Next week
I believe that we as a Church are being called to focus on these areas for 2010 they are
To seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all else with be given until you Matthew 6:33.
To test by the spirit of God all Teaches, Preachers, Pastors to make sure they are using the word of God. 1 John 4:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
To understand that we have the mind of Christ therefore take captive any thought that doesn't line up to the mind of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
To pray for those who persecute you Matthew 5:44
To use the God given authority we have to take control of our lives and not give Satan & his cohorts a foot hold to come and destroy us. Luke 10:19.
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
To be consistently filled with the Holy Spirit. John 7:37-38
Lord teach us to hear and obey your we small voice. Isaiah 30:21
Be still and know I am God. Psalms 46:10
Are you ready for 2010?
Why not join us
Church at home is an internet Church ministry the loves to Glorify the name of Jesus, that runs four live services weekly, two bible studies weekly, a prayer room, a women's room, and a room called Christianity is real I can prove it with is where peoples beliefs are challenged we also offer deliverance ministry to those that need it.
It would be a blessing to have you at any one of our four services, or two bible studies, ( Church at Home Bible Study) our prayer room, (Church at Home Prayer Room) a woman's room called (Spirit Filled Woman of Church at Home) or the room Christianity is Real I Can Prove It?
Our Church services are life and run as Church services from the comfort of your own home there are run from a chat programme called paltalk in a room called "Church at home" under the spirituality and religion section of chat rooms paltalk can be downloaded for free from www.paltalk.com or you can down load it from our website http://churchathome-au.com under the section called contact us
The four live services times are 1pm Adelaide time Saturdays and 7am Adelaide time Monday mornings and replayed at 10.15pm Saturday and 8pm Mondays, so if you would like to receive a touch from God being there is a must.
Please note if you come from the Northern hemisphere we can be several hours ahead of some places, which mean in the states and Canada it the live services are Friday evenings and our Saturday evening live service can be early mornings in the States and Canada, 7am Monday services can be Sunday evenings in the Northern Hemisphere, with Monday nights being early mornings in the Northern hemisphere if you would like to know more or be part of it let us know we can add you nic and invite you to the room when services are running.
For Adelaide times please visit http://churchathome-au.com/index.php?p=1_36_World-Times
Welcome To Christianity
The long awaited book "Welcome to Christianity" is now available to all new Christians and any member of Church of Home that would like a copy please let me know when I am online or by sending an email to our email address church.at.home@hotmail.com. This book will speak about may of the topics that have been spoken out over our 34 month history of Church at Home if you would like a copy please let me know.
Slaying the Giants that Rule Your Life Book and Notes
I would like to make available to you a booklet that will cover the 12 giants we will be speaking about in this series and the notes that the tapes were made from, because I believe in the power of the sword of the spirit which is the word of God that is tools in fact it is the only offensive weapon we have been give and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God is not the whole bible but selected appropriate scriptures we use to deal with particular enemies, so each of these giants has a sword that needs to be used against him and in this booklet we will be giving you some of the swords to use in your life so let me know and we can get them to you at church.at.home@hotmail.com or when we are on line.
Church at home Bible Study
Bible Studies are now Thursday 9.00 pm Adelaide time Wednesday morning for our northern friends found in the religion and spirituality section of Paltalk, you can download Paltalk for free at www.paltalk.com This weeks study will be on When Heaven Is SilentPt 1
For world times please look at http://churchathome-au.com/index.php?p=1_36_World-Times
Spirit Filled Woman of Church at Home
Tuesdays at 7:30pm Adelaide time http://churchathome-au.com/index.php?p=1_36_World-Times
Elena will be running a Women's Group this is for women only and will be by invitation only, this will be a blessed time as the women of the Church meet together for praise and worship, a word and fellowship. So why not has sometime for yourself and a warm welcome awaits. We will be looking at a series entitled "Woman in the Bible and this week we will be looking at Sarah" If you would like to know more or you would like to be a part of this group please us know at church.at.home@hotmail.com
Church at home Prayer Group
Church at Home Prayer Group Tuesday evenings 9.00 pm meets weekly to pray for the Church its members, their loved ones, our programs, and whatever else God brings across our path.
A Church without prayer is like a fish out of water, they will not survive it is the hard work that is put into pray weekly as a Church and individually through the year, and the humility of its people that has caused us to see people come to Christ, and healing achieved all for the glory of Jesus.
Remember this is the engine room of the Church and I know it will be a blessed time. So please come expecting your prayer to be answered and watch God work in a mighty way.
For world times please look at http://churchathome-au.com/index.php?p=1_36_World-Times
Christianity Is Real I Can Prove It?
Remember to look out on Friday evenings 8pm Adelaide time for the room Christianity is real I can prove it" in the religion and spirituality section of Paltalk where we answer questions, give praise and worship, and testimonies, give bible verses, here we are lead by God's spirit why not come and take a look.
Wayne's Weekly Bible Verses
Pressing Toward the Goal
12Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
13Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
16Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Philippians 3:12-16
Food For Thought
You were not put on Earth to be remembered. You were put here to prepare for eternity.
Back to the bible
How well do you know your bible have a look at our weekly bible challenge and see how you go
Question
Who wrote the book of Nehemiah and what year was it written?
Answer
Some think Ezra wrote it along with the book of Nehemiah. Others believe it was, compiled anonymously by someone he may have drawn from material written previously. In that case this book could have been part of several other books including 1 and 2 Chronicles and Nehemiah. Ezra and Nehemiah were written together as a single book in the original Hebrew Bible event in Nehemiah were completed sometime after 440 BC
Question
Who wrote the book of Esther and what year was it written?
Answer
Next week
A Purpose Driven Life... Do you know what your purpose is for life?
To start off 2010 with a bang over the next 10 weeks we will be looking at the series "A Purpose Driven Life" Do you know what God created you for? Are you following God's will for your life? This series will give us what we need to know to reach our full potential in God. For interested people we will be doing this same study over 40 days where it will show us what God wants us to do in 2010 and beyond so starting 6.00pm Adelaide time as of the 8th January 2010. If you would like to be part of this we need to know as it will be done in a closed room so that we will not be distracted by letting us know when we are online or by sending an email to church.at.home@hotmail.com To catch up with the presentations and scripture verses and the quotes why no visit http://churchathome-au.com/index.php?p=1_35_Sermons and the link Purpose driven Life.
Praying by the Power of the Spirit.
When heaven is silent.
1. Three characteristics a Free person?
2.Have you recently gone through or only to going through, "Job" experience? What feeling doesn't that arouse in you?
3.If be assurances of yesterday have been replaced by the uncertainties of tomorrow, how can the you get back to be assurances of God?
4.have you ever doubted in the darkness what God has clearly shown you in the light? What will enable you to keep on walking in the light of previous revelation?
5.Based on the experience of Abraham and Moses, what may be some of the consequences of creating our own light?
6.What can you expect in the future if you are trying to sort by the night?
7.What is the most important lesson to be learned in God's Ministry of darkness?
8.If all you had was God, a few friends, or close family, would that be enough for you?
9.How has the ability to postpone rewards thought you do well in school? Work? Church?
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