February 13, 2019

February 13, 2019

Judy Hollaway

November 8

Running with Jesus  

Acts 18: 5-6  And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

       Paul preached so hard to the Jews but they would not listen. After years of this mission he finally shakes the dust off after they blasphemed. Paul turns to the Gentiles. 

       We get frustrated when we try to reach a lost person. They refuse to listen over and over again, so what we learn from Paul is that we are responsible to go and tell them, after that their blood is not upon us. They will have to answer for the rejection themselves not us. We must continue to tell everyone Jesus saves.

       As a Christian we must share more than ever the gospel in America. It breaks my heart to see so many young people who have never heard about the love of God. One child at school was talking about the movie "The Ten Commandments" and another asked what that was and she had never heard of them! And they want to know what is wrong with our kids and society! Well, here it is my friend, a lawless society! There is no thermostat to control sinful man. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden and rebelled they took upon them a lower nature then sin took control of them. That nature was passed to all man born after them. A promise was given to them that a seed, a child, would be born of man to restore our nature and bring back the Spirit of God to dwell in man. That seed was Jesus the son of God born to Mary. We are commanded to go and share the Messiah is Jesus. We cannot save anyone that is the Holy Spirit’s job. We are to share the gospel and then we are no longer responsible for their souls. 

Father, help us have the boldness to talk about You as we come and go through this day. Make us aware of opportunities that open daily. Help us to witness not only in word but our deeds too. Let others see Jesus in us. We take out self today and yield ourselves to be controlled by Your Spirit. Fill us as we face the run through life today. 

Tomorrow: Strengthen the believers

February 12, 2019

February 12, 2019

Judy Hollaway

November 7

Running with Jesus  

Acts 18:2-3 "And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers."

      Paul met Aquila and Pricilla a man and wife team, they were some of the dispersed Jews. They were believers who made a great team! They made a living as a tent maker and so did Paul so they worked together making and selling tents to make a living. This husband wife team later housed the Corinthian church.

     God puts couples together to form a team. So many of us do not understand men and women are geared differently. We don't think and feel alike. So unless you are born again and the Holy Spirit teaches and control us, we will not allow those differences to mold us but divide us. 

      I remember beginning like this and we were not good team players. After nine years of doing it our way and walking in diversity we finally got it right. We ask God to take over and use us. Life changed and we ended up in the ministry. It was so good to come to know God made us different for a purpose, to give us balance. Where I was strong, he was weak and where I was weak he was strong. With control of the Holy Spirit we formed a team. Then we began our Spiritual journey together helping people come to know truth! 

     Oh how America needs to see Christian team players. Never before have we seen such a crumbling of marriage. We need the glue of the Holy Spirit and a mission to live the fulfilled life as a couple. 

 Father, we pray for homes in America. Draw them to Yourself and help them find meaning and purpose as a couple. Help them realize You have great plans for their lives. Show them how to walk and run in the Spirit, the glue needed to bind them together. 

Tomorrow: Shake the dust off

February 11, 2019

February 11, 2019

Judy Hollaway

November 6

Running with Jesus  

Acts 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

      The Greeks were religious people and their city was filled with all sorts of Greek gods and goddesses. Man was made to worship God and have fellowship with Him. It is our built in nature. When explorers find man in the remote areas of the world they will have some sort of god they worship.  Our society has a lot of religious people in it. They believe in a higher power and Angels. 

      Dr. Rogers use to say 70% attending church are religious and attend regularly but have never been born again. You see religion will clean up the outside but never heal the inside. They know about God but have never let him transform them. They do not have a personal walk with Christ. The Jews had His written law and the Old Testament and studied, memorized it, taught it, attended worship but only had rituals!

      I’ve heard it said we are a modern day Rome so we could say, Ye, men of America, if a soul is never regenerated, born again, it will not have eternal life in heaven."  Paul began to share with these religious people who had many gods and an unknown one. Let's get all the gods so we can have fire insurance, wrong! There is only one God and that is Jehovah and only one way to accept Him. That way is by His Son, Jesus, whom he gave to die on a cross for our sin, was buried and three days later was raised from the dead in order to be the pure undefiled sacrifice for sins of all men. 

      Being religious will do nothing for our soul,  being made right with God by the blood of Jesus will give us a relationship with God who will guide us through life and gives us eternal life after we die.

      So I ask you, my friend, are you religious and God is really unknown to you or do you have a relationship where God walks and talks with you?

 Father, today is the day of salvation; please help my friends know that they know You as Lord and Savior. Help them discern religious from righteous relationship. 

Paul meets Aquilla and Priscilla, tomorrow!

February 10, 2019

February 10, 2019

Judy Hollaway

November 5

Running with Jesus

Acts 17:18  "Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics  And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection."

     Welcome back and let's investigate these Stoics. Stoicism has a reputation for being a cold, heartless, indifferent philosophy. The entire point of stoicism is to accept the world as it is and act accordingly. For the believer, that isn't a bad way to see the world if we add just a bit: the love of God for us and the value He gave to each person. In Christ's, it is logical to love.

     They are thinkers and not Bible believers. They use logic, physics, and ethics. They live in a neutral state above joy and peace, living indifferently showing little or no emotions. They think what will be, will be and man can't control or change anything. They do not acknowledge God exist. They are Universalist and think we are part of the world. They placed thinking above feeling and tried to live in harmony with nature and reason. Opposite the Epicureans they suppressed their desire for pleasure and were much disciplined people.  

      I read four articles and I am still trying to figure this group out! It would take a lot more faith to believe this man thought up stuff and yet they had schools teaching these thoughts and theories.  Man living in a tranquil state and at one with the universe. No God! These teachings are sounding familiar, a man who uses reasoning to live by! No eternal purposes. Man is born, lives and dies. No thoughts to eternity and life after death and no resurrection life. Because Paul taught salvation and resurrection life, they called Paul a babbler! "Let's hear what this babbler has to say!" The world thinks we are babblers today too!

      Well you can think all day and miss out on the greatest event of life and that is God and man communicating, the joy of having a relationship with our Lord and Savior. This gives us meaning and purpose and eternal life! And one day we will enjoy our resurrection life! Can I get that amen this morning from our Jesus runners? I am so glad we can know God and know where we will live eternally! No reasoning to it just reading and trusting the Word! Jesus saves!

Jesus, thank You for saving our souls and giving us eyes to see truth and wisdom. We pray for those whom the god of this world has blinded their eyes lest they believe the gospel of Christ. Help us live as that city on the hill today so others can see truth. Please open doors for the gospel to be preached in our schools. 

Paul shares the gospel with the religious, tomorrow.

February 9,2019

February 9, 2019

Judy Hollaway

November 4

Running with Jesus  

Acts 17:18 "Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection."

      Paul began one of his great challenges facing these Greeks and their philosophy. The Epicureans seeking happiness and pleasure was the primary goal in life! They were having luxurious tastes or habits, especially in eating  and drinking. Sound familiar? Apparently we run around with people in our America who have adopted this same philosophy. Years ago we went to a place to do a survey to find unchurched homes for a witnessing team. As we knocked  on the door we were told, "It Is summer we don't attend church in the summer!"

     Serving God is not a sport that is seasonal! He is an everyday God! He is not a philosophy or way of thinking! He is a being and it is about a personal relationship! Philosophy will take you to hell! Christ will take us to heaven.

     You don't see the name Epicureans listed among us but their theology is rampant in our colleges teaching man’s ideas and thoughts. 

     In the last days the Bible tell us man will become wiser but weaker. This has proven to be so true. We live in a crumbling society and man has become more depraved and wickedness is rampant. A lawless society always crumbles. God's Word sustained our great country for years. Man's ideology has led us away from the all knowing God whom our laws were founded upon. Let's pray for our Nation.

Father, we confess we have followed man’s ways and abandoned You as a nation. Forgive us and heal our land. Open the eyes of those who are walking in darkness.  Raise up Godly men and women who love You and want You to lead them.   Send us a Moses who talks face to face with You. Come quickly Lord Jesus.

Meet the Stoics, tomorrow!