Forum Activity for @ken-rich

Thoughts for new Christians

Christian Teachings

2 Corinthians 6:2 ...Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Don't put it off my friend, time is getting short and who knows what tomorrow will bring. Here is some simple advice, from someone who has traveled the same path you now find yourself on.

• Come as you are - don't wait until you are perfect, or you haveconquered a certain vice, or understood some finer point of theology. God will accept you as you are (warts and all), and start working with you from there.

• Stay in the relationship - don't expect immediate perfection of character, or some miraculous overnight transformation. God will justify you immediately (accept you as righteous), even though in practice you are not. This is because he applies the righteousness of Christ to you. However, sanctification (character change, becoming Holy and set apart by God) is a lifelong process. There will be much to learn, and many battles to face, as you are slowly purified. The more you co-operate the faster the change, but typically new Christians make many mistakes, and even mature Christian's are not above them. The important thing is to remain connected to God, andbuild that relationship by spending time with him in daily prayer and Bible study. He will take care of the rest, as he leads in your life.

• Find fellowship - If you take a lump of coal and separate it from the rest (on a barbecue), it gets cold. If you place it with the others, they all stay warm together. Don't try to be a lone star Christian - it doesn't work. Join a local Church group and make some friends. Leave the company of those who lead you into sin. Eventually, you will find that you have very little in common with some of your old friends, and even dislike their company - as you become less carnal, and more spiritual.

• Grow your faith - Like your physical body, your spiritual self needs food, it needs to breath, and it needs exercise. Bible study can be compared to feeding your spiritual self. Prayer can be characterized as the breath of the soul, and is also essential. However, you will become an overgrown,lazy, useless, and eventually faithless Christian, if you don't also exercise your faith by performing good works. This should come naturally, not in order to be saved, but because you are saved. If your heart is telling you to help that little old lady across the street - do it. Help those in need, do what you can, when you can. Faith without works is dead . Simple mental acknowledgment of the truth is not enough, you must manifest it in your own life, you must internalize it, you must live it .

• Be patient - it is common to become frustrated with a perceived lack of progress, or some elusive teaching you just can't seem to grasp. Also, being temporarily overcome by some sinyou thoughtyou had a handle on is common - especially for immature Christians. If you fall - get back up. Do it as many times as it takes. God will never leave you, or forsake you, as long as you are willing to keep trying. Nothing can snatch you out of his hand, but you can choose to leave.Cherished sinscan cause you to leaveyour relationship with God, so that you can practicethem in peace. There will be no peace when you sin, as long as the Holy Spirit is working in you, because it is one of his jobs to convict you of sin. You will grieve the Spirit, create a spiritual warfare within yourself, and will have to choose God or the sin eventually. Otherwise, the spiritual warfare becomes so intense, it may feel like it's tearing you apart. This is normal - when it happens let go of the sin, not God.

• Stay in the middle - the Christian walk can be compared to walking down a road. There is a ditch on either side of the road, and both are equally dangerous. One ditch (legalism) says you must do good works in order to be saved. The other ditch (presumption) says good works are totally not important, just presume upon God's grace, and live anyway you please (sin is acceptable). It is common for new Christians to stumble from ditch to ditch until they get their balance. Some never do, in fact there are whole Church's that like to wallow in one ditch or the other, and have institutionalized their errors. The truth lies between these two extremes. We are saved by grace, through faith,that's true -but faith without works is dead. God wants to save you from your sins, not in your sins. He is able to sanctify, as well as justify, those who come to him. Your acceptance is not based on your performance, but if you are truly in a relationship with God, your performance will become better and better over time.

I could go on and on, but I feel these things were helpful concepts to me over the years. May you grow in grace, and abound in love - the greatest gift!

Ken Rich

http://kenrich.me

updated by @ken-rich: 05/08/17 08:16:06PM

The Power of Prayer

Christian Teachings

I'm glad you liked it - thanks!

The Power of Prayer

Christian Teachings

Wow Bobby - that's a nice thing to say, thank-you.

The Power of Prayer

Christian Teachings

Thanks - I'm glad you liked it. I agree - much prayer much power.

The Power of Prayer

Christian Teachings

I will write you. Of course all of our online resources (over 50,000 pages) are available to Ministries worldwide. There are also built in share tools on our content. Open up the Share link and you will find ways of sharing by imported e-mail lists, and all common social networking types. We are also interested in partnering with Ministries in any way that we can.

The Power of Prayer

Christian Teachings

Hi Paul,Thanks for the kind words.Yes indeed, years ago I was certainly entangled in sin, then legalism, and now have been radically changed. God is awesome, and his promises never fail.I think you should seek a group for fellowship, but try to seek one that is Biblically based, centered on Christ, and steeped in grace. Not every "Christian" group, is necessarily a good place for fellowship, or learning. I think it's important to be discerning and choose wisely. Cults can be very seductive and dangerous.Be Blessed,Ken

The Power of Prayer

Christian Teachings

Thanks for digging that up for us Carol. What a handy little widget too. I am going to see if I can figure out how to add that to the Poetry & Lyrics group.

The Power of Prayer

Christian Teachings

I don't know that song Shirley. Do you know who does it what the title is?

The Power of Prayer

Christian Teachings

Prayer is the breath of the soul. It is essential to the Christian experience. Although much can be found about prayer in the Bible there are three passages that help to put prayer into perspective for me:

Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us... Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith...

We can have confidence as we approach God in prayer. We can enter the very throne room of grace without fear or shame because of what Jesus has done. If you are like me with a sinful past and are still making mistakes, this is an important concept.

The second passage is the Lord's prayer itself. Luke 11:2 When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

I usually start my prayer sessions with the Lord's prayer since it is recommended by Jesus himself. It simply and eloquently covers all the bases . Then I move on to specific issues, which allows me to communicate in a personal, intimate relationship with God. I share all my hopes and dreams and cast all my cares upon him. I always ask for forgiveness and for God to change me for the better.

He has not let me down. I was a very vile person in my youth. I was addicted to drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes, with filthy language, bad temper, and various other defects of character. Over the years ,God has changed me and taken me from victory to victory. His promises are sure and although I am not yet perfect, I am grateful I am not what I once was. Prayer has had everything to do with the changes wrought in me.

The third passage is Daniel 6:10 ...Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

This passage is a great example and reminder of the effectiveness of a consistent prayer life. While I am sure he had his weak moments, there is no mention of Daniel sinning. How unlike David, Samson, Moses and most other Bible characters who had noteworthy defects of character. Daniel stood firm in his relationship with God,even though he was in a heathen land and in a position of power and temptation. I sometimes pray dozens of times in the course of a day depending on my circumstances. However, I always try to consistently communicate with my maker three times a day like Daniel. In fact, I just don't feel right if I miss a session.

I am reminded of a Pastor who taught me before your feet even touch the ground, pray before getting out of bed . Wise advice! It starts you off on the right foot each day. Whatever trials await you, whether known or unknown, can be prepared for in advance. Power and help are available for all situations.

I am also reminded of a line in an old Country Gospel song Mountains of Gold (Dave Butler - Song 5) which says that money can't buy peace when you're sleeping and a conscience that's free . I know what can prayer.

The power of prayer gives me something for which the rich and powerful would trade kingdoms and fortunes. When I retire for the evening, I review the trials, the sins, the regrets, the worries of the day and lay them at the feet of God in prayer. Then I drift off to sleep with something beyond price, peace when I'm sleeping and a conscience that's free .

updated by @ken-rich: 05/30/17 07:44:07AM

In Defense of Contemporary Christian Music!

Christian Teachings

I think most reasonable people would expect the outreach to have been lessoned, and personal experience of many performers and audiences supports the contention that contemporary music is not only valid, but powerful in it's ability to touch hearts and win souls.

It is stamped with God's approval by the outpouring of his Spirit, as people at such events can testify, so I find the arguments of the critics incredulous. It seems their minds arecloseddue to preconceived errors and prejudices that they argue fordespite undeniable evidence to the contrary.

If I had not seen their arguments destroy someone's Ministry, I would not have believed it possible that someone couldfall for such nonsense.To me it's astonishing that such blindness can prevail.