Word for Today, Wed, 29 Aug 2006: Salvation by Faith Alone, Through Christ Alone

#1 · August 29, 2006, 11:19 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on August 29, 2006, 11:19 pm
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Word for Today, Wed, 29 Aug 2006: Salvation by Faith Alone, Through Christ Alone

Dear friends,

Larry Davies has an interesting story of his life before becoming a pastor. I
suspect that many of us can relate to it. The more and more I contemplate my
own life as a believer and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, the more I
realize just how helpless I am to save myself and do something about my condition.

Don't confuse that as saying that I am a "bad person". By the world's
standards, I am a good person. Like most other people, I have my faults, but
my intentions are good and my actions are usually helpful.

None of that saves me. One tiny fault is enough for me to need a Savior. I
have plenty of faults. I have the "Fault Zone of Brian!"

Did you know that the Bible says that "All have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God?" It's not just you and me, it is every one of us. Most of us
try to do what is right the majority of the time. Wouldn't you have to admit
that even though you try to do what is right, you make mistakes from time to
time, even if you are a genius, even if you are upright? I do. Even today, as
a born again follower of my Lord, I still fail.

I cannot do it on my own. Realizing that is the first step to hope and a
future. We must come to the place where we admit our condition and our need
before a Holy God. Then, He is ready with the remedy. He says, "Believe in me
and trust me completely". The Bible says that Abraham believed God and it was
credited to him as righteousness. The Bible also says that the righteous live
by faith. The Bible says that "11 Clearly no one is justified before God by
the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith."" Galatians 3:11. 17For
in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by
faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: "The righteous will live by
faith."[b]

Footnotes:

1. Romans 1:17 Or is from faith to faith
2. Romans 1:17 Hab. 2:4

As the footnote indicates, Habakkuk 2:4 says: 4 "See, he is puffed up;
his desires are not upright?
but the righteous will live by his faith

So, we see that faith pleases God. The opposite of faith offends God.

The Psalmist says that I wait quietly before God, for my salvation comes from him.

Let's read Larry's message and see how he came to that realization in his own
life. I encourage you to wait quietly before God. Do you know Him? Do you
trust Him? He has made salvation available, but it comes His Way, not our way.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Do you know the Word?
Jesus is The Word personified, He IS The Word, and salvation comes through Him
and by no other way. "There is no other way by which a man is saved".

Yours in Christ,
Brian

Sowing Seeds of Faith?

Psalm 62: Now What? Larry Davies

"I wait quietly before God, for my salvation comes from him. He alone is my
rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken." (Psalm 62:1-2)

For years, I was too busy becoming a successful businessman. The work was
stressful with long hours and required a high degree of passion and dedication.
Unfortunately, I made many poor choices during those years that put my whole
life out of balance. Don't misunderstand me. I appreciate and value hard work,
dedication and passion. I thrive on stress that requires the best of my talents
and resourcefulness but as with so much in life? too much of a good thing is bad.

I became too successful, too busy for my family, for church and even for God. I
was in trouble.

A Psalm writer and King named David struggled with similar issues: "So many
enemies against one man- all of them trying to kill me. To them I'm just a
broken-down wall or a tottering fence. They plan to topple me from my high
position. They delight in telling lies about me. They are friendly to my face
but they curse me in their hearts." (Psalm 62:3-4) I could feel David's pain.

Everything changed when I took a business trip to Dallas, Texas. The purpose
was to learn how to teach, "Born to Win" a motivational seminar designed by Zig
Ziglar. While there, I read a book also written by Zig: "Confessions of a Happy
Christian." Somehow the experiences of Zig touched my heart in a way that
forever changed my life. I literally could not stop reading this special book.

In the early morning hours after staying up all night reading, crying, thinking
and praying, I gave my heart and soul to Jesus Christ. The rest of the trip is
literally a blur as I soaked up the training, enjoyed the priceless experience
of learning from Zig Ziglar and imagined how excited everyone would be upon
hearing about my new found faith and how my life would dramatically change.

Change? change? My life had to change! While flying home the reality of my
decision began to sink in. I was managing a business, not teaching a Sunday
school class. I made a commitment which required radical changes in my business
practices, how I treated my family, a greater commitment to my church while
still improving my relationship with God. Ouch! Now what?

Now what? Maybe it was time to panic or better yet, listen to David. "Wait,
quietly before God."

Once again in Psalm 62, David provides answers: "I wait quietly before God, for
my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I
will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor come from God alone. He is my
refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all
times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge." (5-8)

On the plane that evening, like David, I poured out my heart to God. I learned
to put my hope and trust in my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will
not be shaken. I needed to drastically change my workaholic ways and spend more
time with my family, at church and with God.

Now What? "God, help me trust in you at all times for my salvation and honor
come from You."

Everything changed in many ways after that plane flight home and over time, I
learned to put my life and even my hectic schedule in God's steady hands.
Additionally, I became a more devoted husband and father, increased my church
involvement and my one on one time with God. But the best part of all is my
business life actually improved as I learned to wait on and trust in?God!

Maybe you too are feeling the pressure of a busy and often unfulfillable
career. Is your life out of balance with too many commitments and too little
time? Have you stretched the limits of your personal resources and come up
short? Maybe it is time to wait quietly before God, for your hope is in Him. He
is your rock and your salvation. Pour out your heart to Him for God is your
refuge.

Read Sowing Seeds of Faith... everyday! Click here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/Devotions.htm

Are you receiving prayer concerns from around the world? Join our prayer team
today. Check it out by clicking here: www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/sign-up.htm

How can I regularly support your ministry? Become a Sowing Seeds Ministry
partner. Click here: www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/ministry_partner.htm

Jesus said: "You are the light of the world?like a city on a mountain, glowing
in the night for all to see. Don?t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put
it on a stand and let it shine for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)

- --
Brian Masinick
masinick at yahoo dot com
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.2.2 (GNU/Linux)
Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - enigmail.mozdev.org

iD8DBQFE9QOkigDaOVJmh3YRApcpAJ9yTcwbsLhiHMsazv/zOK6bCrx2awCgqf0o
07U/28D4VNhOUjUdlVTLnYk=
=dAel
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Word for Today, Wed, 29 Aug 2006: Salvation by Faith Alone, Through Christ Alone

Dear friends,

Larry Davies has an interesting story of his life before becoming a pastor. I
suspect that many of us can relate to it. The more and more I contemplate my
own life as a believer and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, the more I
realize just how helpless I am to save myself and do something about my condition.

Don't confuse that as saying that I am a "bad person". By the world's
standards, I am a good person. Like most other people, I have my faults, but
my intentions are good and my actions are usually helpful.

None of that saves me. One tiny fault is enough for me to need a Savior. I
have plenty of faults. I have the "Fault Zone of Brian!"

Did you know that the Bible says that "All have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God?" It's not just you and me, it is every one of us. Most of us
try to do what is right the majority of the time. Wouldn't you have to admit
that even though you try to do what is right, you make mistakes from time to
time, even if you are a genius, even if you are upright? I do. Even today, as
a born again follower of my Lord, I still fail.

I cannot do it on my own. Realizing that is the first step to hope and a
future. We must come to the place where we admit our condition and our need
before a Holy God. Then, He is ready with the remedy. He says, "Believe in me
and trust me completely". The Bible says that Abraham believed God and it was
credited to him as righteousness. The Bible also says that the righteous live
by faith. The Bible says that "11 Clearly no one is justified before God by
the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith."" Galatians 3:11. 17For
in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by
faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: "The righteous will live by
faith."[b]

Footnotes:

1. Romans 1:17 Or is from faith to faith
2. Romans 1:17 Hab. 2:4

As the footnote indicates, Habakkuk 2:4 says: 4 "See, he is puffed up;
his desires are not upright?
but the righteous will live by his faith

So, we see that faith pleases God. The opposite of faith offends God.

The Psalmist says that I wait quietly before God, for my salvation comes from him.

Let's read Larry's message and see how he came to that realization in his own
life. I encourage you to wait quietly before God. Do you know Him? Do you
trust Him? He has made salvation available, but it comes His Way, not our way.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Do you know the Word?
Jesus is The Word personified, He IS The Word, and salvation comes through Him
and by no other way. "There is no other way by which a man is saved".

Yours in Christ,
Brian

Sowing Seeds of Faith?

Psalm 62: Now What? Larry Davies

"I wait quietly before God, for my salvation comes from him. He alone is my
rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken." (Psalm 62:1-2)

For years, I was too busy becoming a successful businessman. The work was
stressful with long hours and required a high degree of passion and dedication.
Unfortunately, I made many poor choices during those years that put my whole
life out of balance. Don't misunderstand me. I appreciate and value hard work,
dedication and passion. I thrive on stress that requires the best of my talents
and resourcefulness but as with so much in life? too much of a good thing is bad.

I became too successful, too busy for my family, for church and even for God. I
was in trouble.

A Psalm writer and King named David struggled with similar issues: "So many
enemies against one man- all of them trying to kill me. To them I'm just a
broken-down wall or a tottering fence. They plan to topple me from my high
position. They delight in telling lies about me. They are friendly to my face
but they curse me in their hearts." (Psalm 62:3-4) I could feel David's pain.

Everything changed when I took a business trip to Dallas, Texas. The purpose
was to learn how to teach, "Born to Win" a motivational seminar designed by Zig
Ziglar. While there, I read a book also written by Zig: "Confessions of a Happy
Christian." Somehow the experiences of Zig touched my heart in a way that
forever changed my life. I literally could not stop reading this special book.

In the early morning hours after staying up all night reading, crying, thinking
and praying, I gave my heart and soul to Jesus Christ. The rest of the trip is
literally a blur as I soaked up the training, enjoyed the priceless experience
of learning from Zig Ziglar and imagined how excited everyone would be upon
hearing about my new found faith and how my life would dramatically change.

Change? change? My life had to change! While flying home the reality of my
decision began to sink in. I was managing a business, not teaching a Sunday
school class. I made a commitment which required radical changes in my business
practices, how I treated my family, a greater commitment to my church while
still improving my relationship with God. Ouch! Now what?

Now what? Maybe it was time to panic or better yet, listen to David. "Wait,
quietly before God."

Once again in Psalm 62, David provides answers: "I wait quietly before God, for
my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I
will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor come from God alone. He is my
refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all
times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge." (5-8)

On the plane that evening, like David, I poured out my heart to God. I learned
to put my hope and trust in my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will
not be shaken. I needed to drastically change my workaholic ways and spend more
time with my family, at church and with God.

Now What? "God, help me trust in you at all times for my salvation and honor
come from You."

Everything changed in many ways after that plane flight home and over time, I
learned to put my life and even my hectic schedule in God's steady hands.
Additionally, I became a more devoted husband and father, increased my church
involvement and my one on one time with God. But the best part of all is my
business life actually improved as I learned to wait on and trust in?God!

Maybe you too are feeling the pressure of a busy and often unfulfillable
career. Is your life out of balance with too many commitments and too little
time? Have you stretched the limits of your personal resources and come up
short? Maybe it is time to wait quietly before God, for your hope is in Him. He
is your rock and your salvation. Pour out your heart to Him for God is your
refuge.

Read Sowing Seeds of Faith... everyday! Click here:
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/Devotions.htm

Are you receiving prayer concerns from around the world? Join our prayer team
today. Check it out by clicking here: http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/sign-up.htm

How can I regularly support your ministry? Become a Sowing Seeds Ministry
partner. Click here: http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/ministry_partner.htm

Jesus said: "You are the light of the world?like a city on a mountain, glowing
in the night for all to see. Don?t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put
it on a stand and let it shine for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)

- --
Brian Masinick
masinick at yahoo dot com
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.2.2 (GNU/Linux)
Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - enigmail.mozdev.org

iD8DBQFE9QOkigDaOVJmh3YRApcpAJ9yTcwbsLhiHMsazv/zOK6bCrx2awCgqf0o
07U/28D4VNhOUjUdlVTLnYk=
=dAel
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----