herbcotton.org

The Word of God says:

Ephesians 2:19-22 (HCSB) ¹⁹ So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household,²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.²¹ The whole building, being put together by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord.²² You also are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Today we come to the end of the week and to the end of our use of scriptures from the new member orientation training. This will also conclude my writings for this year. However, I will be back on January 11 after my house guests return to their homes.

Our focal passage for today focuses on what Christ is doing in building His kingdom. The goodnews is that if you believe in Jesus, and you know him to be your savior, you are members of God’s household.

Notice the choice words that the Apostle Paul uses in describing the Gentile believers.

Ephesians 2:19 (HCSB) ¹⁹ So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household,

You are special in the eyes of Jesus, and the best is yet to come. This is how The Apostle Peter described the Gentile believers.

1 Peter 2:9-10 (HCSB) ⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

John Newton, who wrote the lyrics to the beloved hymn, “Amazing Grace”, said the following about his life after he became a believer.

“I am not what I ought to be — ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be — I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good! I am not what I hope to be — soon, soon shall I put off mortality, and with mortality all sin and imperfection. Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was; a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle, and acknowledge, “By the grace of God I am what I am.”

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that I and all of Your believing children can join in saying that by the grace of God, I am a child of God.

Lord, I wish for all my family and friends a Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year.

As family members of God’s household, we can say we are blessed and highly favored.

Galatians 6:10 (HCSB) ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.

Hebrews 12:28 (HCSB) ²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,

Amazing Grace (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/313

The Word of God says:

2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV) ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Today we look to the scriptures for another way that we can give our all through Christ Church for the glory of God. The topic for today is giving our best through systematic teaching and training. That is the key message in our focal verse for today.

Paul knew the source that young Timothy would need to be an approved workman in God’s service. Every child of God has access to this unfailing and unending source of help in doing God’s will and God’s work.

2 Timothy 2:1 (NKJV) ¹ You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

It is God’s amazing grace that will enable you to be the workmen you should be. It is His grace that will give you the wisdom to know, and the strength to do God’s work.

Jeremiah 15:16 (NKJV) ¹⁶ Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.

Jeremiah 3:15 (NKJV) ¹⁵ And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Acts 20:28 (NKJV) ²⁸ Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Acts 17:11 (NKJV) ¹¹ These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that You will grant enabling grace to those who shepherd Your people. I pray that those who preach and teach, and are students of the Word will be approved workmen with a hunger and thirst for the Word of God.

Father God, I ask that You will give enabling grace to all the saints that they may have the wisdom and the strength to be approved workmen in Your eyes.

Open My Eyes That I May See (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/807

The Word of God says:

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NASB) ¹⁷ pray without ceasing;

Hebrews 10:25 (NASB) ²⁵ not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Today we begin the final outline of the new member orientation material that I have been using selected scriptures from the past three months. The concluding topic is, “Your All Through His Church”.

Worship is at the center of the activities of the local church family. The church’s ministry and missions must flow out of its worship because it is worship that brings glory to God, and gives the church its power to serve God by serving others in His name.

At the heart of worship is prayer. The church cannot function properly without adhering to the admonition of the Apostle Paul to the church at Thessalonica. The church was born in prayer, and she should continue in prayer.

Acts 1:13-14 (NASB) ¹³ When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.¹⁴ These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

A praying church is a vibrant church. It is a place where we can come and link our lives with people of like faith and glorify our God together. This side of heaven there is no fellowship equal to that when God’s people are together in one accord.

There is a wonder result from faithful church attendance by the people of God. Notice what Paul says it does for one another.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NASB) ²⁴ and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,²⁵ not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I thank for the power of prayer and the priority of God’s people gathering together on the Lord’s Day in the Lord’s House to worship the true and living God.

Father God, I pray that we will heed this admonition to keep prayer at the core of our worship. Lord, we desire in everything that we do to bring glory to God.

Jude 1:20 (NIV) ²⁰ But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.

I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/853

The Word of God says:

John 14:13-14 (NASB) ¹³ “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.¹⁴ “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Yesterday we introduced the first of two clear promises that Jesus made to His disciples. He has been having a table conversation with them about His imminent departure, and dealing with their troubled hearts.

The first promise was the power to do great works, the very works that Jesus performed during His earthly ministry. That promise was in yesterday’s focal verse.

John 14:12 (NASB) ¹² “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

Today our focus is on the second promise. This has to be one of the most wonderful promises in the bible, the promise that God answers prayer. You might ask is there a condition to this promise, and the answer is yes.

John 14:13 (AMP) ¹³ And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son.

O the blessings that are promised to the people of God who believe in Jesus, and who pray in the name of Jesus.

John 16:23-24 (NASB) ²³ “In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.²⁴ “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

In verse twelve Jesus spoke of the importance of trust in Him. In verse thirteen He spoke of asking in His name. There is one more thing that Jesus said about conditions to answered prayer.

John 14:15 (NASB) ¹⁵ “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful for the privilege and the power of prayer. Lord, without prayer You children would not be able to do anything that would bring glory to the name of the Father or the Son.

Father God, I see afresh this morning the reach of prayer, the necessity of prayer, and the promise of prayer that we pray in the name of Jesus.

Father God, teach us to pray the kind of prayers that will bring glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit of God.

I Bow My Knees Unto the Father (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/lb/46

The Word of God says:

John 14:12 (NASB) ¹² “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Today’s focal passage is the first of two clear promises that Jesus gave to His disciples, and by extension those promises are to all who would come after them.

The words “truly, truly” are an indication that something very important is to follow. Therefore, we should pay close attention to what comes next.

First of all, the two clear promises that Jesus will make are conditional promises. These promises are to the person who believes in Jesus.

John 14:12 (AMP) ¹² I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.

The first clear promise is that the believer in Christ will do the same works as Christ, and will do even greater works. This is simply amazing. How can that be?  Jesus gives the answer, “And greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father”.

Let us look at some scriptures that tell of the works of Jesus and the purpose of Jesus during His earthly ministry.

Luke 19:10 (NASB) ¹⁰ “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Mark 16:15 (NASB) ¹⁵ And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

John 17:18 (NASB) ¹⁸ “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

The greater works that the believer in Jesus will do is only possible because Jesus has gone to the Father, and He is at the right hand of the Father. The power to do the works of God comes from Jesus.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NASB) ¹⁹ “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, O how wonderful is the clear promises of Jesus to His disciples and to us who follow them.

Father God, I thank You for the presence and the power of God that is available to every believer to do the works of Jesus.

Lord, help us to never forget that we can only do these works by the divine power that is available to those who believe in Jesus.

So Send I You (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://biblestudycharts.com/SH_So_Send_I_You.html

The Word of God says:

John 14:8-11 (NASB) ⁸ Philip said* to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”⁹ Jesus said* to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?¹⁰ “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.¹¹ “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

My reflections on the Word of God:

The picture of God is Jesus. This is the clear response of Jesus to the question that Philip directed to Jesus. The question is in verse eight and the answer is in verse nine of our focal passage.

Jesus goes on to present clear evidence that Jesus and the Father are one. When the disciples looked at Jesus they could see a picture of what God is like. In verse ten of our focal passage Jesus said that Philip and the disciples could see the evidence in God’s presence, in Jesus words, and in Jesus works.

Now in verse eleven we have the clear challenge that the disciples faced and the clear challenge that every person faces. What will you do with the claim of Jesus? Do you believe His claims? Do you believe that He is the son of God? Do you believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14.6)?

If you have difficulty believing His claims, then Jesus says to look at His works. Jesus did things that only God can do.

John 5:36 (NASB) ³⁶ “But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.

John 10:25 (NASB) ²⁵ Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.

Acts 2:22 (NASB) ²² “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I believe that Jesus is Your only begotten Son. Lord, I believe His claim.

John 10:30 (NASB) ³⁰ “I and the Father are one.”

Father God, I stand in awe at the works that Jesus did as revealed by the Gospel of John.

John 20:30-31 (NASB) ³⁰ Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;³¹ but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

What Will You Do With Jesus? (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/What_Will_You_Do_with_Jesus_Simpson/midi/

The Word of God says:

John 14:7 (KJV) ⁷ If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

My reflections on the Word of God:

This verse leaves no doubt about the way to God. It is exclusively through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the perfect revelation of God.

God is love. His nature is supreme love, and He would never leave us to wonder in the wilderness of doubt about Him. He has clearly revealed to us who He is, and the way to Him.

John 3:16 (KJV) ¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 1:18 (KJV) ¹⁸ No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

John 3:13 (KJV) ¹³ And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

John 1:1-2 (KJV) ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.² The same was in the beginning with God.

John 1:14 (KJV) ¹⁴ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank You for Your love for us that knows no limits. Lord, I will be forever grateful that You sent Jesus into the world to save sinners like me.

Father God, because of Jesus, I now know the way, the truth, and the life. I can leave the valley of doubt, and enter the land of promise.

Father God, I believe in You, and I believe in Jesus.

John 14:1 (KJV) ¹ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Jesus is All the World to Me (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

Hymn: Jesus is all the world to me

The Word of God says:

John 14:4-6 (NASB) ⁴ “And you know the way where I am going.”⁵ Thomas said* to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”⁶ Jesus said* to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Jesus had told His disciples about His departure many times. However, they failed to fully grasp what He was saying to them at the time.

The problem that the disciples had was that they were not really hearing what Jesus was saying. They were hearing what they wanted to hear. Jesus was speaking of the kingdom of heaven, and they were thinking of an earthly kingdom.

Jesus said something that the disciples of His day and people today need to hear, and hear clearly. It is contained in one of the “I Am” statements that Jesus made, and recorded in the gospel of John. This is something that You cannot afford to not hear correctly.

John 14:6 (NASB) ⁶ Jesus said* to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

The destination is God, and the way is Jesus. There are not many ways to God, there is only one way. That is the gospel truth from God.

Acts 4:12 (NASB) ¹² “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NASB) ⁵ For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,⁶ who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank You for the provision that You have made for the salvation of mankind.

Lord, I thank that Jesus is not only the means of our salvation, but He is also the source for all of our needs.

1 Peter 5:7 (KJV) ⁷ Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

I Must Tell Jesus (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://biblestudycharts.com/SH_I_Must_Tell_Jesus.html

The Word of God says:

John 14:1-3 (NIV) ¹ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.² In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Today our focus is on the second promise of verse three. Jesus said that in addition to His going to prepare a place for them, that He would come back and take them to that place, which is heaven. The ultimate deliverance from the condition of troubled hearts comes from being in the place where Jesus and the Father is forever.

When Jesus comes back and takes His people to be with Him will be the day that our troubled hearts will come to an end because we will go to be with Him in our heavenly home.

John 17:24 (NIV) ²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV) ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank You that the troubles and trials we face in this world will not last always.

Father God, I am encouraged and comforted by the promise that Jesus is preparing a place for me, and that He is coming back for His beloved brothers and sisters who have trusted in Him.

Heavenly Father, I praise and thank You that we have the blessed hope of being with You and with Jesus forever and ever, Hallelujah, and Amen.

Just Over in the Glory Land (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://biblestudycharts.com/SH_Just_Over_In_The.html

The Word of God says:

John 14:1-3 (NIV) ¹ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.² In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

My reflections on the Word of God:

Today we begin the week with our focus on verse three. In this verse Jesus gives the final two things that will bring deliverance from their troubled hearts. We examine the first today, and the second tomorrow.

The first thing that Jesus mentions in verse three is the promise of His return. This return of Jesus is the promise of His second coming to receive all believers. There is nothing to compare to the glory and the splendor of His appearance for the saints of all the ages. As the old hymn writer said, “What a day of rejoicing that will be”.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NIV) ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

My prayer in response to the Word of God:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, as one of the saints of old said, “Who could mind the journey when the road leads home?”

Father God, I am so thankful for the promise of the return of Christ for His followers that gives us another source of deliverance from a troubled heart.

When We All Get to Heaven (Click on link below for lyrics and midi):

http://biblestudycharts.com/SH_When_We_All_Get_to_Heaven.html