Thursday, February 18, 2016

Helpful Tools: Weekly Prayer Guide

         Do you have a plan for your Prayer Life?  

         Being "Lead by the Spirit" is a wonderful plan for prayer, but without a strong, focused, and disciplined mind we can easily be distracted with flighty thoughts.  Maybe, it's just me.

         Here's the plan I follow to help me keep focused.  Remember as you use your plan don't be so locked in that you're not "Lead by the Spirit." 

Put on the Armor of God every day.
Ephesians 6:13-18 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Sunday:
           Praise and Worship of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit
           Revival in God’s Church
Church to be filled with Joy
Pray a Blessing over those who are no longer with us as a Church
            That they are in a God Honoring, Bible-believing, Mission-minded Church 

Monday:
Nation: Awareness of the blessing of God
Leaders: President, Congressmen, Representatives, etc.
Soldiers: protection, confusion of the enemy
           State and local government: Governor/Mayor/Legislators
           Police/Firefighters/Rescue/City workers
           Judicial system: Truth revealed, Justice done; Abortion, Marriage, Parents Rights
           Schools: Teachers/Parents/Students/Administrators
           Other nations

Tuesday:
Family & Friends By Name
List specific needs by each Name

Wednesday:
Brothers and Sisters in Christ around the world:
             Boldness/Fruitfulness in Sharing the Gospel, Salt/Light
Southern Baptist Convention Leadership
North Carolina Baptist Convention Leadership
Union Baptist Association Leadership
International Mission Board Missionaries
North American Mission Board Missionaries
Southern Baptist Seminaries

Missionaries: By Name
            Boldness, Acceptance of Gospel, Open Doors,
            Rapid Evangelism, Protection, Local leadership
Church Members by Name

Thursday:
Pastors & Families By Name
Deacons & Families  By Name
Music
                     Future Music Director and Pianist
                     Interim Music Director & Family By Name
                     Interim Pianist & Family By Name
                       Church Choir
          Church Ministry Teams and Committees
          Administrative Team (Church Secretary and Workers)
Friday:
Immediate Family in Your Home
Spouse
Children
Parents
Grandchildren
Family revival: Love God and His Word, Hate Sin, Love God’s People, Love Neighbor

Saturday:
           WMBC: Fulfill the Great Commandments and the Great Commission
Vision, Revival, Growth, Ministries
Wayward members to come home
                      God to Demonstrate His Divine Power to Transform Hearts
                                   Save the Lost – Convict the Saved
                        Move the People to a greater place of Grace
                        Make them hungry for You and Your Word

Fill me Lord with so much of You there’s no more room for me  

Prepare me for God Honoring, Church Edifying, Evangelistic
Worship on Sunday

Remember the kind of Life you have been saved to live. 
Galatians 5:25-26 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Monday, February 15, 2016

Helpful Tools: New Testament Chronological Order

         The dating of the writings of the New Testament Epistles (Letters - Books) is often up for debate within academic circles and scholarly writings.  Much of the debates surround the dating of an Epistle as to how it references various points of historical importance.  One event is the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15.

         As you study always keep in mind the Bible is Scientific and Historical and is never wrong on either, but God is addressing a Spiritual aspect of our life first and foremost.  This is the precedent of Scripture.  Is it okay to study and try to find out specifics regarding when an Epistle is written, Absolutely! But, never let the debatable take place of the Truth clearly revealed in Gods Word.

         Brackets - noting various views of dating   [(47-48AD) OR (55AD)]
         Right of Arrow (à)- general conservative viewing of the dating of the Epistles

Apologies for the misaligned brackets and arrows   


Jerusalem Council of Acts 15      à     49-50 AD

James                                                   à        45-48, before 62  when James was martyred
Galatians                     [(47-48) (55)]  à        48
1 Thessalonians           [(50-51)]          à        50-54
2 Thessalonians           [(51)]               à        50-54 soon after 1 Thessalonians
1 Corinthians               [(53-54)]          à        54-55
2 Corinthians               [(54-53) (58)]  à        56-57
Romans                       [(57)]               à        57-58
Matthew                                              à        50s If before Mark—but before70
Mark                                                    à        57-59
Luke                                                    à        58-60
Ephesians                    [(60-62)]          à        60
1 John                                                  à        60’s
2 John                                                  à        60’s
3 John                                                  à        60’s
Acts                                                     à        60-62
Colossians                   [(60-61)]          à        60-62
Philemon                     [(60-61)]          à        62
Philippians                   [(61-62)]          à        62
1 Timothy                    [(62-63)]          à        63-66
Titus                            [(62-63)]          à        63-66
1 Peter                                                 à        64-65
2 Peter                                                 à        64-68
2 Timothy                    [(64)]               à        67
Jude                                                     à        67-80
Hebrews                                              à        68-69
John                                                     à        85-95
Revelation                                           à        95-96  

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Helpful Tools: The Names of Twelve Disciples of Jesus


       Sometimes we get a little turned around when we're reading through the Scriptures. One example is when we see a list of names in one Book of the Bible and that "same list of names" shows up again in another Book of the Bible and it doesn't match up.

       Point in Case; the 12 Disciples of Jesus in Matthew 10:1-3, Mark 3:14-19, Luke 6:13-16, and Acts 1:13. 

       Why do the names not match up neat and clean and tidy?

       Answer;  people have more than one name.  Me, I have three given names, Sidney, Eric, and Nixon.  I have had a few official names, Sergeant, Reverend, and Mister (though Mr. Nixon Lives in Tennessee with my Mother).  I have had a few nicknames over the years, Sid, Doc, "Big E" (though this ones must be related to my size due to the fact I never could find "Little e"),  and I was even called "Sampson" in High School when I played football.  Not because I was unusually strong, I had long hair down to my shoulders that hung out of my helmet.  I've had a few  "nicknames" I can't mention in mixed company, but I'm sure they were given in "love." 

       As a Minister I have had a few additional names, whether official or nickname I'm still not sure, Pastor, Preacher, and "Shhhh here comes Trouble."

       So to help you out as you read your Bible as I know you are;
Here are the Names of the 12 Disciples or Apostles of Jesus

  1. Simon also called Peter, Simon Peter, or Cephas
  2. Andrew the brother of Peter (#1)
  3. James the son of Zebedee
  4. John the brother of James (#3)
 James (#3) and John (#4) were called Boanerges meaning “Sons of Thunder”

  1. James the son of Alphaeus also called James the Younger or James the Lesser
  2. Philip
  3. Bartholomew
  4. Thomas
  5. Mathew the tax collector also called Levi
  6. Thaddaeus also called Judas son of James or Thaddaeus the Zealot
  7. Simon the Zealot also called Simon the Canaanite
  8. Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus

  • Matthias replaced Judas (#12) after lots were drawn in Acts
  • Saul became Paul 

Monday, February 1, 2016

50 Day Reading Challenge

       How many Bibles do you own? One, two, more?  From my desk alone, as I write you, I see two Bibles on my desk, five on my shelf, one in Greek and another in Hebrew, countless others on my computer and more at home.  I am a blessed man, because my God made me and made a way for me to be in relationship with Him through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, on a cruel cross. I am also blessed because the God who made me chose to reveal Himself to me and speak with me through His written Word, the Scriptures, the Holy Bible.

         As children of God, we want to be like Jesus or at least we should.  We struggle and strain in this fallen world looking for answers to life’s most difficult questions, seeking for reasons and for a purpose to why we are.  God has given us all the answers we seek in His Word.  He tells us how to live life with purpose, with intention and with a goal in mind. “Be like Jesus.” 

     Jesus faced every temptation known by man, and He faced those temptations with a heart loaded with the Word of God.  As the devil attempted to draw the attention of our Lord from His Father’s purpose for His life incarnate, Jesus fended off the devil’s attacks by proclaiming in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”  Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3.

       Here is my question, do you hunger for God? Do you want to know Him? Do you want to know how to live life and live it godly? Then take the time and learn from the Master Craftsman of your Life.
                                  Blessings,
                                  Pastor Eric  

Day 1              Genesis 1         Acts 1
Day 2              Genesis 2         Acts 2
Day 3              Genesis 3         Acts 3
Day 4              Genesis 4         Acts 4
Day 5              Genesis 5         Acts 5
Day 6              Genesis 6         Acts 6
Day 7              Genesis 7         Acts 7
Day 8              Genesis 8         Acts 8
Day 9              Genesis 9         Acts 9
Day 10            Genesis 10       Acts 10
Day 11            Genesis 11       Acts 11
Day 12            Genesis 12       Acts 12
Day 13            Genesis 13       Acts 13
Day 14            Genesis 14       Acts 14
Day 15            Genesis 15       Acts 15
Day 16            Genesis 16       Acts 16
Day 17            Genesis 17       Acts 17
Day 18            Genesis 18       Acts 18
Day 19            Genesis 19       Acts 19
Day 20            Genesis 20       Acts 20
Day 21            Genesis 21       Acts 21
Day 22            Genesis 22       Acts 22
Day 23            Genesis 23       Acts 23
Day 24            Genesis 24       Acts 24
Day 25            Genesis 25       Acts 25
Day 26            Genesis 26       Acts 26
Day 27            Genesis 27       Acts 27
Day 28            Genesis 28       Acts 28
Day 29            Genesis 29       Hebrews 1
Day 30            Genesis 30       Hebrews 2
Day 31            Genesis 31       Hebrews 3
Day 32            Genesis 32       Hebrews 4
Day 33            Genesis 33       Hebrews 5
Day 34            Genesis 34       Hebrews 6
Day 35            Genesis 35       Hebrews 7
Day 36            Genesis 36       Hebrews 8
Day 37            Genesis 37       Hebrews 9
Day 38            Genesis 38       Hebrews 10
Day 39            Genesis 39       Hebrews 11
Day 40            Genesis 40       Hebrews 12
Day 41            Genesis 41       Hebrews 13
Day 42            Genesis 42       1 John 1
Day 43            Genesis 43       1 John 2
Day 44            Genesis 44       1 John 3
Day 45            Genesis 45       1 John 4
Day 46            Genesis 46       1 John 5
Day 47            Genesis 47       2 John
Day 48            Genesis 48       3 John
Day 49            Genesis 49       Philemon
Day 50            Genesis 50       Jude