| Homecoming Gospel Fellowship Holiness Church This year there will be dinner on the grounds and special entertainment featuring "The Blessed Quartet" Come and celebrate with us. Sunday May, 18, 2008 (2:00 pm in the sanctuary) |
| Copyright © 2010 RTL Ministries All Rights Reserved |
| Road To Life Ministries www.RTLMinistries.com |
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Devotional
Outer Man Perishing, Inner Man Renewed
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed
day by day. (2 Cor. 4:16)
Those who learn to live by the grace of God are increasingly protected from discouragement. "Therefore we do not
lose heart." This truth was touched upon in an earlier verse from this fourth chapter of 2 Corinthians. "Therefore,
since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart" (2 Cor. 4:1). The protection from
discouragement there involved mercy and grace. Since we serve the Lord by mercy and grace (and not by our merit
or by our resources), we have a built-in supply of heavenly encouragement available to us daily.
In our present verse, encouragement comes from the contrast between what is happening to the "outward man" and
to the "inward man." The "outward man" is the physical person, which can be observed by human sight. This is
generally the object of attention among the unredeemed (as well as among believers who are walking according to
the flesh). This man is "perishing" because sin has impacted all of us. "Therefore, just as through one man sin
entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned" (Rom. 5:12). Man
began from dust. "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground" (Gen. 2:7). Due to sin, the outer,
physical man is headed back toward that initial starting point. "In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you
return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return" (Gen. 3:19). For
those who do not know the Lord, this is a discouraging fact. They often strive desperately to prevent this inevitable
process.
On the other hand, servants of new covenant grace are not discouraged by this fact. "Therefore we do not lose
heart." It is true that our outer man is also perishing. Yet, we see a bigger picture than that. "Even though our
outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." As our outer man is deteriorating, we
are still encouraged, because our inner man can be in the process of renewal: "And have put on the new man who is
renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him" (Col. 3:10). As we are humbly seeking the
Lord in His word, we are being changed, brought more and more into the newness of Christ: "Beholding as in a
mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of
the Lord" (2Co. 3:18).
Outer Man Perishing, Inner Man Renewed
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed
day by day. (2 Cor. 4:16)
Those who learn to live by the grace of God are increasingly protected from discouragement. "Therefore we do not
lose heart." This truth was touched upon in an earlier verse from this fourth chapter of 2 Corinthians. "Therefore,
since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart" (2 Cor. 4:1). The protection from
discouragement there involved mercy and grace. Since we serve the Lord by mercy and grace (and not by our merit
or by our resources), we have a built-in supply of heavenly encouragement available to us daily.
In our present verse, encouragement comes from the contrast between what is happening to the "outward man" and
to the "inward man." The "outward man" is the physical person, which can be observed by human sight. This is
generally the object of attention among the unredeemed (as well as among believers who are walking according to
the flesh). This man is "perishing" because sin has impacted all of us. "Therefore, just as through one man sin
entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned" (Rom. 5:12). Man
began from dust. "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground" (Gen. 2:7). Due to sin, the outer,
physical man is headed back toward that initial starting point. "In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you
return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return" (Gen. 3:19). For
those who do not know the Lord, this is a discouraging fact. They often strive desperately to prevent this inevitable
process.
On the other hand, servants of new covenant grace are not discouraged by this fact. "Therefore we do not lose
heart." It is true that our outer man is also perishing. Yet, we see a bigger picture than that. "Even though our
outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." As our outer man is deteriorating, we
are still encouraged, because our inner man can be in the process of renewal: "And have put on the new man who is
renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him" (Col. 3:10). As we are humbly seeking the
Lord in His word, we are being changed, brought more and more into the newness of Christ: "Beholding as in a
mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of
the Lord" (2Co. 3:18).
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Return to RTL Homepage
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
| How Much is a Sermon Worth? One beautiful Sunday morning, a minister announced to his congregation: "My good people, I have here in my hands three sermons... a $100 sermon that lasts five minutes, a $50 sermon that lasts fifteen minutes, and a $10 sermon that lasts a full hour. Now, we'll take the collection and see which one I'll deliver." |
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE FERN AND THE BAMBOO
One day I decided to quit.... I quit my job, my relationship, my Spirituality. I wanted to quit my life. I went to the
woods to have one last talk with God.
'GOD', I said. 'Can YOU give me one good reason not to quit?' HIS answer surprised me.
'Look around', HE said. 'Do you see the fern and the bamboo?' 'Yes', I replied. 'When I planted the fern and the
bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from
the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the
bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo
seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo'. 'In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would
not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. But still I would not quit. 'Then in the
fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But
just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent five years growing roots. Those roots made it
strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of MY creations a challenge they could not
handle.' 'Did you know, MY child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots?
Don't compare yourself to others.' I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. 'The bamboo had a
different purpose than the fern, yet, they both make the forest beautiful.' 'Your time will come', GOD said to me.
'You will rise high!'
'How high should I rise?' I asked. 'How high will the bamboo rise?' HE asked in return. 'As high as it can?' I
questioned. 'Yes.' HE said, 'Give ME glory by rising as high as you can.'
I left the forest and brought back this story. I hope these words can help you to see that GOD will never give up on
you.
One day I decided to quit.... I quit my job, my relationship, my Spirituality. I wanted to quit my life. I went to the
woods to have one last talk with God.
'GOD', I said. 'Can YOU give me one good reason not to quit?' HIS answer surprised me.
'Look around', HE said. 'Do you see the fern and the bamboo?' 'Yes', I replied. 'When I planted the fern and the
bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from
the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the
bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo
seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo'. 'In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would
not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. But still I would not quit. 'Then in the
fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But
just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent five years growing roots. Those roots made it
strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of MY creations a challenge they could not
handle.' 'Did you know, MY child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots?
Don't compare yourself to others.' I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. 'The bamboo had a
different purpose than the fern, yet, they both make the forest beautiful.' 'Your time will come', GOD said to me.
'You will rise high!'
'How high should I rise?' I asked. 'How high will the bamboo rise?' HE asked in return. 'As high as it can?' I
questioned. 'Yes.' HE said, 'Give ME glory by rising as high as you can.'
I left the forest and brought back this story. I hope these words can help you to see that GOD will never give up on
you.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
| Gods Medicine |
From My Email
Faith contradicts circumstances
Your circumstance are nothing to God. Because, Faith contradicts circumstances. Faith looks past your current
situation and sees your healing. Faith sees the answer. Faith speaks the answer. To many Christians are applying
hope instead of Faith. Hope will not manifest your healing. Hope is doubt to your present need. We need faith
speaking to us. Real faith is the promise of God that says, it is so. 1Pt:2:24: Who his own self bare our sins in his
own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Phil:4:13: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil:4:19: But my God shall supply all your
need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Ps:27:1: The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I
fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Real faith is believing what the word says
to the fullest. It means we have what is says. We are who it says we are. If God says we are strong, we are. If God
says we are healed, we are. If God says he cares, He does. This is not rocket science it is merely believing God.
Christ made a way that whatever we ask, we can have.
Heb:4:14: Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us
hold fast our profession.
To profess something is to speak it. This should read, "let us hold fast to speaking the same things."
What things? The same thing that God has spoken. Christ bore our sin, sickness and disease on the cross. And he
released to us, health. How do I know? Because only one who is in proper health will live forever.
Be Blessed
Brother John
Your circumstance are nothing to God. Because, Faith contradicts circumstances. Faith looks past your current
situation and sees your healing. Faith sees the answer. Faith speaks the answer. To many Christians are applying
hope instead of Faith. Hope will not manifest your healing. Hope is doubt to your present need. We need faith
speaking to us. Real faith is the promise of God that says, it is so. 1Pt:2:24: Who his own self bare our sins in his
own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Phil:4:13: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil:4:19: But my God shall supply all your
need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Ps:27:1: The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I
fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Real faith is believing what the word says
to the fullest. It means we have what is says. We are who it says we are. If God says we are strong, we are. If God
says we are healed, we are. If God says he cares, He does. This is not rocket science it is merely believing God.
Christ made a way that whatever we ask, we can have.
Heb:4:14: Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us
hold fast our profession.
To profess something is to speak it. This should read, "let us hold fast to speaking the same things."
What things? The same thing that God has spoken. Christ bore our sin, sickness and disease on the cross. And he
released to us, health. How do I know? Because only one who is in proper health will live forever.
Be Blessed
Brother John
Praise the Lord!!
I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for your prayers and
understanding. We have been extremely busy the past few weeks and
were unable to keep this site updated or get the weekly local email out.
God has been blessing us in abundance.
The Bible tells us there is a time and a season for everything, I guess now
is the time to get back up to date with our email.
Thanks again for the phone calls, the prayers and the encouragement. May
God bless each of you in abundance.
Love,
Brother John
I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for your prayers and
understanding. We have been extremely busy the past few weeks and
were unable to keep this site updated or get the weekly local email out.
God has been blessing us in abundance.
The Bible tells us there is a time and a season for everything, I guess now
is the time to get back up to date with our email.
Thanks again for the phone calls, the prayers and the encouragement. May
God bless each of you in abundance.
Love,
Brother John