Year: 2016

How About Hanging Out with God?

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions ,
You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other. Deut. 4:35
…so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. I Kings 8:60
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. Isaiah 43:10
I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. Jeremiah 24:7
But whoever loves God is known by God. I Corinthians 8:3
But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? Gal. 4:9
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Eph. 1:17
They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Titus 1:16
The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. I John 3:24
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. I John 4:7
NIV
hang w God 1

In a recent small group Bible study, a young person new to the faith pointed a question directly at me, “what is the purpose of life?” Without going into a deep, theological study of the subject, my quick response was simple: “to intimately know Him.” Now I didn’t have time to elaborate as the facilitator turned the meeting toward a different direction. However, if I did, my response might have gone something like this.

First we would view a few scriptures like those above. In addition we might speak how Paul wrote in Romans that even unbelievers can know God through creation. That creation is a reflection of who God is just like a craftsman’s work is a reflection of himself. In fact, everything God created or instituted portrays who He IS.

For example, the institution of marriage between a man and woman gives us a sample taste of the relationship God has with himself as Father-Son-Spirit. When we follow God’s instructions of marriage as defined through properly understood Scripture, we get a taste of God’s attributes. When we rear a family with children, we get a taste of how God views us. Again, through a proper understanding of Scripture we experience the abundant joy that family brings. In our careers, we come to learn more who God IS. As we transfer the talent we possess (gifts given to us from our Creator that are a sample taste of who he is) into serving others for the greater good, we experience the creativity and imagination and order that God naturally shares with us.

Everything in this life is designed for us to come and discover more of who God IS. As we lean on Him through the trials and tests and challenges that Life throws at us, we learn to trust Him. From this trust, a personal relationship is developed. Like a well-tempered child in the arms of a gracious grandfather, a special relationship is developed.

Sometimes the challenge of walking with Him becomes strained because we become memorized by all the glitz and take our eyes off of the center. We focus on the leaves and branches instead of the trunk of the tree. We want God’s power, his gifts, his favor, and his blessings, but neglect the relationship. We want all of the benefits of knowing Him without investing the time to truly come and KNOW HIM.

Like the intimate relationship between a loving husband and wife, the strong friendship that is closer than a brother or sister, or the sweet, infatuation, secret love yearning to become known, the personal relationship with Jesus Christ, His Father, and the Holy Spirit is greater than all of these combined.

When you truly become known by Him and know Him as He IS, and begin to hang out with HIM more and more each day, you will find the human experience greatly enhanced as HIS blessings, grace, and love pours out from Him through you and into the lives of others. Everything that you want from this life begins when you come to know Jesus who bridges every gap known by man. He will intercede for you, teach you, and equip you for greater service.

It all begins when you intentionally hang out with Him 24/7.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Does a Friend need some Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!

 

 

Pray For What?

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions, Jesus Apprentice, Journey in Christ, Life in Christ
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Mt. 6:7 ESV.

heart

“The best prayers are short and to the point.” Those are the words from one of my early mentors. Somewhere between then and a few years later, that advice was forgotten. I came to the point where I would pray, and pray, and pray, and pray heaping empty phrases on top of one another. Then one day a revelation.

God knows what we need before I even made the request. So why do we think with many more words we can manipulate God to grant us our wishes?

Don’t even go there.

Instead, pray like Jesus did. Pray for the Father’s heart.

God can do more and better than you and I anyway. When we realize that Jesus is our intercessor (Heb. 7:25) and perfects our prayers to our Heavenly Father, why heap more and more empty words on top of the other. Instead, ask your Heavenly Father in your own simple words. Jesus will improve them. And the Holy Spirit will likewise share in the process to make them more effective.

Remember, it is not about you or me. It is about the Triune God. Pray seeking His heart in all matters. In the process you will come to know God more abundantly, and you will experience his Will; which is even better than what you asked in the first place.

So what to pray for? How about His Heart on the matter.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Does a Friend need some Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!

How Do We Overcome?

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions ,
Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 JN 5:5 NIV

 

overcome 2Tired of getting beat up by life? Frustrated over your inability to quit those harmful addictions that seem to control you? Feel empty and anxious over the circumstances of your world? Maybe it’s time to do some hard core business with Jesus?

Sooner or later most of us will come to the realization of who Jesus is. Most often, it is when we have been beaten, busted, and broken from the daily grind of trying to make life work. It is then when we realize we don’t have our act all together and need help. When we acknowledge our powerlessness is typically when most of us quit running away and investigate the evidence on Jesus.

When we study Scripture. When we analyze the lives of others who we know are active believers. When we look into the lives of those who have gone through similar trails. We gain a perspective that maybe we don’t have all the answers and this “Jesus thing” may have some merit.

We look at the evidence about his resurrection. We have a choice. Either except he is alive or this is the biggest scam of all scams. Then we make a decision. We acknowledge the reality of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

As we surrender control of our life over to him, he fulfills his promise. He begins to live in us. Not only him, but the entire Godhead: Father-Jesus-Holy Spirit. We begin to develop a relationship with the living God. The same God who created the universe. The same God who is moving history through time. The same God who had a plan before creation and is now making it happen and it includes you.

As we allow the Holy Spirit access into our lives, we slowly begin to notice changes. Our desires become different. Instead of lusting to satisfy the self, we want to please Him. Instead of holding unto the pride of self, we humbly lift Him above all. Instead of pursuing pleasure and happiness, we join Him in serving others for Christ’s namesake.

Throughout this process, we become less important and Christ becomes more. The end result is our cravings for sin demise. Our propensity to satisfy the self becomes less of a driving force. We find ourselves living a life that has no room for the harmful habits that destroys dreams, hopes, and goals.

Only then can we easily fall to our knees, lift up our hands to heaven, and truly recognize his amazing grace. For then we realize our life has changed not because of our sole efforts, but because we accepted the fact of who Jesus is.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Does a Friend need some Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!