INDIA - Needs Jesus - Do YOU Care! Part 1 of 2

Scriptures on WORLD MISSIONS:

"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how
shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and HOW SHALLTHEY HEAR WITHOUT A PREACHER? And how shall they preach, except they BE SENT? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" - Romans 10:14,15

"GO YE therefore, and teach ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen." - Matthew 28:19,20

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and YE SHALL BE WITNESSES unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH." Acts 1:8

There is only ONE mission of the Church: to bring GLORY TO GOD by proclaiming the Gospel and reaping the HARVEST OF SOULS which willworship and delight in God forever.

The challenge is to look beyond our immediate surroundings and acquaintances and to see the WHOLE WORLD as our field of labor.

Now I would like to specifically share about INDIA, which is in what is called the 10/40 Window.

10/40 window means the section of the world located between latitudes 10 degrees and 40 degrees north of the equator.

It covers the Middle East, North Africa, Central and Southeast Asia, and holds two-thirds of the world's population.

Only about one and a quarter percent (1.25%) of Christian mission giving is going to missions work in the 10/40 Window.

Here are some statistics specifically about India:

Christians in India, Indonesia and Pakistan run the highest risk of losing their lives. - June 27, 2006 Persecution Ranking: 26th

The average annual income in India is $370 ($30.83 per month).

I've been told by a Christian who lived there. It is even worse for a Christian (basically treated as outcasts) at around $240 ($20 per month and lower).

In India, Christians only make up 2.43% of the population!

Well I have good news:
November 9th - 23rd - I (Jim Mazzulla)have been invited to be daily guest speaker at a ministers conference (a minister to ministers), and to also speak in churches, villages and orpanage in Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh), India.

We need your prayers and financial support!!!

Please let me know if you, or your prayer group, or your church is praying for me - It will be a blessing in paving the way for my trip to India and will encourage my heart.

Also, if you can help financially, it is much needed! Please help! THIS MINISTRY IS NOT ABOUT MONEY. NEVER HAS BEEN, NEVER WILL BE. YOUR HELP (IN PRAYER/FINANCES) FOR OUR MINISTRY INTO INDIA IS NEEDED.

If you choose to support me financially as I participate in this missionary trip to India, please make your check payable to: Go Proclaim Ministries. In the memo write: India Trip.

Please pray about the part God would have you to play in this trip, and
may He bless you for your prayers and support.
Our Mailing Address is:
Go Proclaim Ministries
Attn: BibleFood
Box 676
Kane, PA 16735

Go Proclaim Ministries is a 501c3 organization and all contributions are tax deductible.

For your convenience you may also give by credit card by going to
www.goproclaim.com/donate.htm

Visit:
www.goproclaim.com/india.htm
www.goproclaim.com/support.htm

Please forward to EVERYONE that you feel would want to be involved by prayer and support for my trip to India.

In His Service,

Jim
E-mail: jim@biblefood.org

If I could speak to today’s churches and ministers - WHAT WOULD I SAY?

Today’s devotion comes from the depths of my heart, and is spoken in love, sincerity, and humility! It has taken me a long time to get to the place where I can write this! It is written with ministers in mind, but is a word we all need to hear. I’m not in a popularity contest (obviously), but just wanting to obey my LORD JESUS CHRIST and help the church in these perilous times.
(II Tim 3:1).

Main text:
“Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity!” - Psalm 133:1

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT THOU HAST SENT ME. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; THAT THEY MAY BE ONE, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW THAT THOU HAST SENT ME, AND HAST LOVED THEM, AS THOU HAST LOVED ME. - John 17:20-23

For today's devotion, I’m going to use my little town as an example, but I believe what I am saying needs to go out to everyone who claims to be a born again Christian, and to every Pastor who claims to love God, love God’s Word, and love God’s people (sheep).

I pastor a church of approximately 30 attendees on a good Sunday, sometimes higher, sometimes lower. Taking the position of pastor at Community Fellowship in the little town of Kane, PA, (www.kanepa.org) changed my life--quite a change after living near Atlanta, GA, since 1993. It has cost me being away from my grown children and grandchildren. Is it worth it for 30 people? My answer to that is, if GOD SENDS YOU somewhere, it is worth it even if it is for ONE person.

NOTE: Many missionaries of the past saw few or no converts on the mission field, but they paved the way for future missionaries and the move of God in various parts of the world. Praise God for their obedience!

While I have a church of 30, I have a ministry to EVERYONE in town. Our little town has approximately 4,000 people and likely AT LEAST 3300 or more have not been born again (John 3:3) . Hopefully, there are 700 or so brothers or sisters in town (though honestly I have a hard time finding them ...Hmm) that I can UNITE with to change our area for Christ. Some of you might be thinking good luck on that!!!

I understand that thinking--Churches and people who call themselves Christians normally don’t unite. So is it any wonder we are not seeing true spiritual growth? A

Are you aware that most of what we call church growth around the country isn’t really “growth” at all? It’s just Christians moving from one church to another. It’s more like who has the “best show” in town. That’s a sad but true reality.

We AREN’T supposed to go to the “best show” in town! We are to go to where God WANTS us AND where the Bible is proclaimed and taught as the infallible Word of God.

I have, at times, almost wished I wasn’t the pastor of a church, just so people wouldn’t worry about me stealing their sheep (which hasn’t and won’t happen). Actually, they are God’s sheep. True churches don’t grow by stealing sheep anyway.

On the other hand, if you carry the name pastor/shepherd and are not feeding the sheep the Bible and don’t plan or try to, then I will RESCUE those sheep all day long. In my opinion, there are a lot of wolves in the pulpits today. Let’s pray that we can get to these sheep before they are devoured by wolves (Matt. 7:15) and hirelings (John 10:12-13). Also, see Jer. 23:1,2; Jer. 50:6 and Ezk. 34:2,3,10.

This doesn’t mean that just because of some doctrinal differences that the pastor is a wolf or hireling. I believe if the fundamental truths of the Bible are being taught and the sheep are not spiritually beaten, then that pastor is likely a shepherd, so encourage the sheep to stay there!

Praise God, in our little town, approximately 6-8 born again ministers get together weekly to pray and encourage one another. We also have had joint services outside in the park during the summer.

Yeah, I’m bragging a little on our town and the ministers.

But that’s not enough, we must EVERYWHERE, IN ALL CHURCHS AROUND THE WORLD, break down the walls even further and stop worrying about where the sheep go.

SO, WHERE AM I GOING WITH ALL THIS?

If we REALLY want to see a move of God, we will have to be Christ-like enough to not worry about carnal sheep stealing and JOIN HANDS AND HEARTS in the purposes of God. We have a world that is lost out there!

Let’s get free from that “religious show” or “country club” mentality and “they’re MY sheep” thinking. Pastors are under shepherds, UNDER THE GREAT SHEPHERD (John 10:14-16) . We’ve had the wrong mind-set long enough.

Let’s get back to the Bible and our purpose of CARING/FEEDING sheep and REACHING A LOST AND DYING WORLD with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

In His Love, Grace, and Mercy,
Jim (jim@biblefood.org)

Please pass this on to others by e-mail, websites, blogs, snail mail, photocopies, etc…

God is Working in Our Lives

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way." - Psalm 37:23

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
- Philippians 1:6

As we journey down the road of life, it has many twists and turns in it and also some mountaintop and valley experiences. In the midst of all this, we MUST see God's hand working throughout our lives.

Can we mess up God's plan for our lives? Sort of yes, and sort of no. We will do things that are NOT God's will; like sin, disobedience (which is sin), etc., that will get us off of God's track for our lives. But the moment we repent and seek Him, He works us back into His plan and will for our lives.

You may think - no, you don't understand, I messed up too bad for God to use me. No, that is not so!!! I have wrestled with that myself, but we need to remember that God is BIGGER than our mess-ups. And guess what? God KNEW you were going to mess up even BEFORE you messed up. He also KNEW when you would repent and had ALREADY laid out the path BEFOREHAND to get you back on track with His will for you -WOW!!!

Not only does God move in straightening out our mess-ups, but He also is moving in our everyday life as we walk with Him.

Over the years, I have had what I'll call "divine appointments" which simply means being at the right place at the right time because of following the LORD.

There are many times we don't even have a clue that God is directing our steps (we think we are), but then you look back and say ONLY GOD could have made that "divine appointment."

One example of this is in founding BibleFood Devotional 8 years ago in January 1998. I followed the LORD'S leading in starting BibleFood Devotional. At the time, it didn't seem like a big deal, just an act of obedience; literally, only sending the devotion out to a handful of people.

Out of that ONE act of obedience, I have had the following happen:

1. I have grown through reaching out to others.

2. I have made many real friends.

3. I have made many ministerial friends.

4. I met my wife in 1999. She was a member of BibleFood and had moved to the area where I lived (though we didn't know each other yet). She e-mailed me one day that she was looking for a church in the area. I recommended that she visit where I was attending. We became offline friends and in time, fell in love (no cyber dating for us). Let me state here that we were not looking to date each other; that happened in time, God's time! And what a blessing He gave me in Joyce (my wife).

5. Out of BibleFood Devotional was started another online ministry in January 2000 called "The Encourager," devotions specifically written for ministers, elders, others in church leadership positions. These devotionals get into more specific issues that face those in ministry. It is also viewed by many via the internet. www.geocities.com/biblefood/tearchive.html

6. “GodWillHelpYou” was started in 2001 - This was inspired by Jim trying to minister and help co-workers at a job. Then he saw the need for this ministry over the internet. This ministry is an outreach to the lost, bound, backslidden, and hurting, as well as the unsaved. www.biblefood.org/godwillhelpyou.html

7. I was inspired by how God used the internet with BibleFood to using it in the starting of Christian Pool Players Association in 2002. This was started to reach the lost and hurting in the “pool/billiards” environment through friendship evangelism and special events. This has grown to over 250 members throughout the USA and the world. Go to: www.christianpoolplayers.com

8. In 2005, I accepted the pastorate of “Community Fellowship Church” in Kane, PA. This came about through a member in Pennsylvania who receives BibleFood Devotional. I had mentioned I felt the LORD calling me to the pastorate (somewhere). She e-mailed me about a place in Kane, PA (where’s Kane, PA, was my first thought). Also, I thought that it’s got to be cold in Kane and I don’t like the cold (but I do like to obey God). Yes, I took the pastorate of a small church in the small town of Kane. By the way, due to the cold winters, Kane is known as the “Icebox of Pennsylvania.”

Church website is: www.communityfellowshipofkane.org and www.kanepa.org

9. Opportunities in 2006 have opened for me to minister overseas (short-term missions) in India, Africa, and Pakistan. This is something I have had on my heart for years!!!

There are other areas where God has done amazing things in my life and others just because of obeying Him in this ONE area.

The last thing (number 10) I would like to share on relating to BibleFood touches my heart deeply as it is so GOD! This will take a few lines to explain but I think it will be worth your reading.

10. Back in the spring of 2000 I was planning to register www.biblefood.com as it was available that winter and would be so much easier for you all to remember and/or find. Finally, later that spring when I was ready to register it, I found that it had been taken in March 2000, I just missed getting it!!!

I was upset about losing the name and checked to see who took it. I decided to e-mail the person who registered it. I explained to this person how I had been wanting it for a long time. We ended up becoming friends (real close friends). The website name became a non-issue, but our friendship became our main concern. Since that time, my wife and I met Bob and his wife Mary while on our vacation. Now we have known them for years, have been to their home a couple times on vacation, spoke at Bob’s church, and love and respect them both highly. I consider Bob my “BibleFood brother” and have been so blessed by his love for Christ and his knowledge of the Bible.

I decided, with my busy schedule and the many changes in my life time-wise, that it was time to ask Pastor Bob Jones to use his God-given gift in the Greek to bless the readers of BibleFood Devotional. He has written a number of devotions for us. Although we are separate ministries, we are also working together for the purpose of blessing the Body of Christ.

I did register BibleFood as www.biblefood.org (ORG)and Pastor Bob Jones is still www.biblefood.com (COM).
Isn't that AWESOME!!! :)

In closing, over the years since starting BibleFood Devotional, I want to say I have experienced many trials and lots of valley time; but through it all I know God is still God, He is still in control!!!

So whether things are looking bright or dark, remember God is ultimately in CONTROL!!! Let God be God and allow Him to move in your life!

Your prayers are ALWAYS welcome and appreciated.

In His Service,
Jim (jim@biblefood.ORG)

NOTE: A trip to India is planned in November 2006. (We need supporters – If so led please send support to GO Proclaim Ministries, Box 676, Kane, PA 16735 (Attention India).

I Don’t Deserve This

Have you ever heard anyone say, "I don't deserve this!!" Or better yet, have you ever heard yourself saying “I don’t deserve this”? And you may be right, there may be times in our lives that we were treated wrongly, gone through situations that weren’t fair, that weren’t right.

We expect life to be easy, to be fair; and it doesn’t always work out that way. In 1970, there was a song sung by Lynn Anderson – “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden.”

When we look around, we see people who are suffering for their wrong doings, and we may think that the thing they suffer from is what they deserve. For example, it is hard to think that a murderer does not deserve to spend time in jail. The guy at work who is always late and does a bad job probably deserves to lose his job.

deserve (verb) - To acquire as a result of one's behavior or effort: earn, gain, get, merit, win. To be worthy of; merit.

Psalm 28:4 - Give them according to their deeds, And according to the wickedness of their endeavors; Give them according to the work of their hands; Render to them what they deserve.

We understand when it is obvious that “bad” people suffer for their actions.

BUT I DON’T DESERVE THIS - That is really quite a statement and it may be ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

The Bible is absolutely FULL of examples of people who did mot DESERVE what happened to them.

Joseph was thrown in a pit by his brothers; sold as a slave in chains; thrown into jail, falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, and forgotten about for years after he helped the King. Did he deserve this? The answer is very easy “NO.” Genesis 39:2 says, “The Lord was with Joseph.”

Daniel was shipped off to a foreign country, thrown into a lion's den, and hated by those that he worked with while he served the King. Did he deserve this? Again, “NO.” But look at the result when he was delivered from the circumstance that he “Did Not Deserve.” Daniel 6:26 - I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end.

John the Baptist was beheaded. Did he deserve this? Again, “NO.” Luke 7:28 – “For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

Paul was cast into jail, ship wrecked, stoned, and beaten with rods. Did he deserve this? Again, “NO,” Colossians 1:24 - “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church.”

Our ultimate example: Did Jesus deserve to be beaten, whipped, stripped and then hung on a cross? NO, NO, NO! Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured.”

None of these men DESERVED (earned) the treatment that they received; yet, even as great men of God, it happened.

“The undeserved circumstances, events, and treatment we face will either defeat us or develop us more into the likeness of Christ, depending on how we respond.”

“I have my rights” – you are absolutely correct.

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVES – YOU ARE DEAD to this world, YOU ARE DEAD to the way the world conducts itself. You are alive in CHRIST. You have rights, every single thing that the WORD of GOD tells us are our rights.

We have a different set of RIGHTS. Luke 6:27 – “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.”

And it goes on to list some of our other RIGHTS as a Christian. We are told in Romans 12 that we are NOT to conform to this world. We are to be a different people. How different?

Galatians 5:22 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.”

It is really all about having the right perspective and the right attitude.

I have slowly been reading Foxe’s Book of Martyrs – A woman watched her child scalped and then beheaded. Then they took her, whipped her, removing patches of skin. Then when she would still not deny Christ, they heated an iron chair till it was red hot, sat her in it; and she praised God while she cooked.

Thanking and praising God – that is quite a testimony!

Stephen in Acts 7:59 – “And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

If we can keep a right attitude, we will not seek revenge on people.

Hebrews 10:30 – “For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The Lord will judge His people."

I DON’T DESERVE THIS –

Think about this -- Do We Deserve Salvation?

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Do we deserve to be called the Children of GOD?
Do we deserve to have a relationship with Almighty God, the creator of it all?
Do we deserve the blessings that HE gives us?
Do we deserve to have HIS HOLY SPIRIT dwelling within us?

I remember thinking how UNDESERVING of all this I was. It was during a praise and worship service in 1986 while I was attending Christ For The Nations. The presence of GOD was so real; yet with 2000 people around, it was just me and HIM. I began to cry when I realized Who I had been, who I was and who HE was. I did not deserve any of what He had given me. I didn’t deserve the love that HE had given me. From that experience, I have tried to keep an attitude of thankfulness. I could have died in 1975 in a car accident where I had been pronounced dead. I was not a Christian at that time. If it weren’t for HIS mercy, where would I be today?

I pray that each of us would always remember that, and that each of us would have an experience with Almighty God that would give us a true perspective of what we deserve.

CONCLUSION:
James 1:2 – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Today's devotion is written by my brother Tom.
He too is a minister, and loves to teach God's Word.
To contact Tom by E-mail: tom@biblefood.org

To contact Jim by E-mail: jim@biblefood.org

Has God Failed You?

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Deuteronomy 31:6

[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.   
Hebrews 13:5
 
Have you ever felt like God failed you in an area that you were believing Him to move in, and the outcome just wasn't what you expected from God or His Word (the Bible)?

Some people are so sure they understand every aspect of God and scripture and what He (GOD)has promised them, that they will THINK they can demand God to do something they ask for because they think it is a "clear-cut promise." They THINK they can just claim it and it must happen!

I have even heard people say things along this line, "God if you don't do this, based on the Bible, then you are a liar, and I will no longer believe in you."  While they say they are not being irreverent but holding God to His promises, I think it is quite an irreverent way for a "man" to talk to God.

There are promises in the Bible that I personally have stood on and they never came to past. Maybe it was for someone's healing, or for a job, etc, But you know if it doesn't turn out the way we expected, the fault is not with God being a liar (what a terrible way to think) but with our FINITE mind not understanding what God was doing in a given circumstance.

One thing is for sure God did NOT fail us. The bottom line is that we misinterpreted scripture and God's will in a given situation. 

I like the strong words found in Romans 9:20 " Nay but O man [MERE MAN IN COMPARISON TO GOD],
who art thou that repliest [ANSWER, QUESTION, DISPUTE, ARGUE, CONTRADICTS] against God. Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus?"

Also we see the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY correct Job on this very attitude in Job 40:2 - "Shall he [Job] that contendeth [FINDS FAULT, ARGUES] with the Almighty instruct [HAVE THE ANSWER FOR] Him?..." Job saw how wrong his attitude was and in verse 4 properly answered the LORD with, "Behold I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I lay mine hands upon my mouth."

Boy can I relate to Job! I have needed to put my hand(s) over my mouth and repent of some attitudes and words I felt when God didn't do it the way I expected Him to.

Do you, for a moment, think God knew less than you what was best in a given situation, or why something happened and He didn't seem to intervene?

Do I have all the answers to all what happens around me and you? - NO!

But at least we need to NOT blame God or get upset with Him.

In the future when you stand before God and He reveals Himself in ALL your past situations, you sure will wish you had just trusted the LORD with that situation and just moved on!

We must realize our understanding of things is limited.
As I Cor. 13:12 states, "For now we see through a glass, darkly {obscurely, blurred]; but then face to face, now I know in part [fragmentary fashion, incompletely]; but then shall I know [fully, completely] even as also I am known."

Only in eternity, face-to-face with the LORD, will it all be crystal clear.

As we think on the words in today's devotion and the scripture passages referenced, let us look inside our hearts to see if we have have a wrong view of God and of those circumstances that we just don't understand. 

Today, by faith, GIVE them to the LORD and LEAVE them with the LORD, and MOVE ON with God's plan for you.

TRUST Him with them, and someday in this life, or more LIKELY in the life to come, He will make all those things crystal clear.

Just remember God has NOT failed you and He NEVER, NEVER, NEVER will!

AMEN!

Freedom To Be Free

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty [freedom] wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage". Galatians 5:1

In this passage, Paul is making a passionate appeal to the Christians of
Galatia to recognize the freedom they have by God's grace and to encourage
the Galatians to reject the false teaching of the *Judaizers. This was the
heresy Paul came against in his letter to the Galatians.  So many today fall
into a similar problem.  

* Note:
The Judaizers taught that Gentile believers could not be true
Christians unless they were circumcised and followed the Mosaic law.  

Interesting that we, as Christians, have liberty (KJV) or freedom
(Gk. eleutheria) to be free (Gk. eleeutheroo). Both of these words come
from the same Greek word "eleutheros".  This freedom happens at salvation.

You don't need to get FREE after you are saved, you need to learn how NOT
to put yourself under bondage of the law.

Why would such a statement even need to be said?
It was said to the Galatian Christians as they were having problems by
thinking of putting themselves under the law AFTER becoming Christians.

They got saved by Grace alone, through Faith alone, and NOW they're trying to please God by keeping "the law" of the Old Testament.

Fellow Christian, this freedom is already yours.  
Please, do not allow legalism to come or stay.

When we put ourselves under the law, we are acting as a child who has no
freedom of action.  A child must follow a set of rules as prescribed by his
parents or guardian.
 
Why? Because he is not old enough to act alone.
When we get saved we are no longer under the guardianship of the law.
When we put ourselves under the law, we are like adults putting ourselves
under rules that were made for children.
 
Spiritually, as Christians, we are to be living in dependence upon the indwelling Holy Spirit. We should obey the LORD and His word; not because the law forbids us to do wrong and commands us to do right, but because we're led by the Holy Spirit; it pleases the Lord Jesus; and because of our love for the LORD.   

(Note for youth: You are still under your parents in the natural, but the Holy Spirit wants to direct your spiritual life, if you'll ALLOW Him.)

What Christ did cannot be coupled with performance to earn salvation. All righteousness came through Jesus Christ alone.  Any addition implies that Christ's sacrifice is inadequate, insufficient, incomplete and unfinished.

Someone who has been made free in Christ can still live in bondage; but it is
because they are allowing themselves to be deceived and they and/or others
are putting them into bondage.

When we try to follow the law to feel that we are acceptably walking with
God, we are attempting to earn at least "part" of our salvation ourselves. When we do so, we are declaring that Jesus is no longer our righteousness
alone, but Jesus and law (which is wrong). The law and grace for salvation are incompatible!!! We're saved by Grace ALONE, through FAITH alone! Not by any laws or of our own doing.

We are FREE!  Don't buy into the lie that you must earn God's favor.  Don't come under bondage to legalism, Jesus made you to be FREE.

I would encourage all of you to take the time to read Galatians as it is only
six chapters long and will prove to be an epistle that will bring freedom to
your life.

Also please know, this is NOT a license to sin, quite the opposite.
I am free to not sin!!! WOW!!!

Romans 6:1,2 states:
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer herein?"

When I got saved GOD changed my want too's.

Praise God I don't want' to do those things that would be against God or the Bible!

Prayer:
Thank you LORD for your precious setting me free through becoming a
new creation (II Cor. 5:17). That you LORD that I'm free from sins power over my life.  I will not allow myself to come under the bondage of  legalism
in any form. Thank you for complete freedom in my Christian walk.
In Jesus' Name! Amen!

If you don't have this assurance of salvation please write me (jim@biblefood.org) or please go to:

www.gty.org/index.php?section=how_to_know_jesus_christ
www.thekristo.com/site/pp.asp?c=9oIDLROyGoF&b=409877
www.matthiasmedia.com.au/2wtl/

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

And Elisha sent a  messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in the Jordan SEVEN TIMES, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.”
II Kings 5:10-12

Our example is found here in the Old Testament of someone needing to get out of their COMFORT ZONE is when Elisha, the Prophet told Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, to dunk 7 times in the Jordan River, and he would be healed. HE DID NOT LIKE THAT! He thought he knew of better ways he could be healed than going into the Jordan River, but he needed to get out of his comfort zone (and likely some PRIDE), and into OBEDIENCE, he went to the Jordan and was healed. See II Kings 5:1-16.

An example in the New Testament is when Jesus spit on the ground, made mud and put the mud on the blind man’s eyes. I’m sure the blind man may have been UNCOMFORTABLE on his walk to the pool of Siloam, but he obeyed and was healed. See John 9:1-7

WE, TOO, NEED TO GET OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE.

This past year, I have personally had to “get out of my comfort zone.” This isn’t the first time God has had me get out of my comfort zone, and it won’t be the last for sure!

Hopefully, relating my situation will help encourage some of you to “get out of your comfort zone.” Just last week I shared this with one of our BibleFood members as she shared about God bringing her out of her comfort zone.

So I would like to share my recent situation that happened a little over a year ago when my wife and I moved from Acworth, Georgia (near Atlanta). This move was prompted by the LORD, as He was leading us to take a small church. Now, let it be said here, I love the warm weather of Georgia (hot), and though I grew up in Connecticut (cold), I ALWAYS hated the cold. In the 1980's, I pastored a church in Connecticut, then moved to Georgia in the 1990's and said I would never move back to Connecticut (too cold). So where does God call us to, but to the small town of Kane, Pennsylvania, (population 4,000) where it is COLDER than CT. It is called the "Icebox of Pennsylvania" due to its cold winters. On top of that, we left all our grown children and grandchildren (hard), not knowing one person in Kane. We sold our home (another story) and moved here without a home. We stayed in a member’s nice cabin out in the mountains for the first 2 months, then rented a house. As for the pastorate, we came up here knowing I would have no salary (nada) to start with, but that was fine as the LORD would provide. Still a year later, I am not on salary but do draw a small housing allowance (my wife works as transcriptionist). Our financial situation has been tight to say the least for the past year. 

Even though we “stepped out of our comfort zone” to be in the will of God, we still have some trying moments. With that being said, may this next thought be the one that sticks with you all and encourages your heart:

IT IS GREAT TO BE WHERE GOD WANTS YOU!
WE WOULDN'T TRADE ANY OF IT AS WE KNOW WE ARE IN THE WILL OF GOD.

So what is your “Comfort Zone”?

Here are a few areas to consider:

YOUR COMFORT ZONE may be being in a church where you
are NOT spiritually growing, but you have been there ALL of your life,
and the LORD is telling you to move on to a BIBLICAL CHURCH (not like you’re USED to).

YOUR COMFORT ZONE may be that God is calling you
to ANOTHER area of ministry than where you are presently.

YOUR COMFORT ZONE may be going from a two-income family
lifestyle to living on ONE income for the children’s sake or for some other reason.

YOUR COMFORT ZONE may be that you need to SACRIFICE
something that you really enjoy but you KNOW it is God (it will be WORTH IT!).

Jesus’ methods to get you and me out of our COMFORT ZONES and watch over our lives are oftenNOT the way we would do it, but OBEDIENCE to God’s ways will bring about His desired RESULTS and FRUIT in our lives.

Proverbs 16:9 says it so well,
“A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps”.

Whatever God tells you to do that affects your comfort zone,
it is for the GREATER GOOD OF YOU and the Body of Christ. God is NOT telling us to get out of our COMFORT ZONES to make our lives miserable.

HE IS TELLING US TO GET OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONESO HE CAN DO A FRESH WORK IN OUR LIFE.

So open your heart to what God has for you and get out of your comfort zone.

If you sense God is leading you “out of your comfort zone”and whatever that means for you, be OBEDIENT to Him.

If that is where God wants you, it is the BEST place to be!  

In His Service,Jim (jim@biblefood.org)