A Blameless Life - TopicsExpress

A Blameless Life By Phil Bertz Next Bread Club: Tuesday, Nov 10th 2014, 6:30 PM at: Redeemer Christian Church, 200 W 3rd St, Marshfield, WI 54449 Last Week’s Scripture Psalm 15 1 Lord , who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? 2 The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; 3 whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; 4 who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord ; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; 5 who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken. David was a man after god’s own heart. What does that really mean? David had many faults and was far from perfect. He penned many psalms to share his heartache and encourage others with the wisdom he learned, so that they would not follow his failures. We all have failures or sin in our lives, but do we continue to sin or learn from our mistakes? We need to start by acknowledging that we cannot lead a blameless life without God. We must enter into His Presence and allow Him to dwell in our hearts. If we accept Him and ask Him to come into our hearts, our bodies become the Sacred Tent in which God dwells. Who is worthy to have the Lord dwell in our hearts? None of us are. We all start with a run down, broken shack of hidden rooms filled with our sins. We hide our sins inside and no one else sees our heart, but God knows. “He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight” (NIV Luke 16:15). It is only through God’s grace that He comes in and changes us. 2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (Romans 12:2-3). We need to be honest with ourselves first. Look into the mirror and what do you see? Are you striving to become more like Christ or are you content with yourself, just the way you are? “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24). We all need to work on our Christian character. Each of us is different, uniquely and wonderfully made by God, but the world sees faults and imperfections, which only God can restore by His grace. God has plans for us when we follow his path. We need guidance to follow that path and God gives us the way through His Inspired Word. Can we live a blameless life on our own? No, we need the power of the Holy Spirit to live a blameless life, a total dependence on God. Our human nature causes us to depend on ourselves, and Satan uses our self-reliance to tempt us and lead us away from God. “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5). Mankind has lived by the flesh since Adam and Eve, but we must change if we are to call ourselves Christians. Today society is no different than what it was when the Bible was written. “They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy” (Romans 1:29-31). or “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another” (Titus 3:3). David describes the lifestyle of the believer who lives in an intimate fellowship with the Lord, where they draw their strength: being sincere and honest; avoids malicious speech; doing nothing to harm or discredit another; avoiding vile people; honors and keeps company with those who fear the Lord; Keeps promises whatever the cost; Lends to the needy without interest; Can’t be influenced against the innocent, but champions their cause. We can’t live independent lives, we are social animals. We need each other. Our Church families and Christian fellowships provide correction and support to point us to a Christ-like character, a blameless life. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2). The Bread Club was established to be a vehicle to meet and discuss God’s word, to encourage and help each other in our walk with the Lord. We continue to meet and discuss God’s Word and pray for the concerns of God’s people. “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone” (Titus 3:1-2). Someday the Lord will come again and we all will be accountable for own lives. What will we hear? ‘“His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness’” (Matthew 25:21)! Leading a blameless life is not how we see it, but how God see our lives. We need to repent of our sins, and humbly submit our lives to the Holy Spirit to get God’s work done here on Earth. Who is leading your life? Will you share in our Master’s happiness? Heavenly Father Bless each and every person that reads Your Word and is faithful to it. Use Your Holy Spirit to convict our hearts and to strengthen and encourage us. We all fall down in our walk with You, and we need your Holy Spirit to walk that blameless life. We acknowledge that You keep us from being shaken with all of the things that confront us daily. May your Name be lifted up and glorified for all that we do here on Earth in Your Name. To God be the Glory, Amen Next week’s Scripture Mark 4:35-41 (NIV) Jesus Calms the Storm 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Gems of the Bread Club True dedication to God means living a blameless life A blameless walk starts with God Honoring others who fear the Lord means to look past their individual faults A person of character still does things that are wrong – but repents and does them no more In God’s eye’s - works done through His hand are good - works done to gain salvation are bad Prayer requests The elections (gracious winners and losers) Our President for wisdom and understanding as he leads our country Pray for wisdom in our Government Sondra with abdominal pain for discernment and wisdom Shiloh Bound Inc. Pray for God’s hand to lead the way Mike for his salvation and that of his wife and family For more harvesters for the kingdom Unity among Christians Dave who has a herniated disc in his back Todd who has health issues Arlen who has health issues Families and marriages Churches and clergy That the occult would flee from the Light of the Gospel Israel Persecuted Church around the world Bread Club