Friday night we talked about "time".
What is time and what should we be doing with it?
We were encouraged to read Romans 13: 11-14.
After reading Romans 13:11-14 take a minute to comment on this blog what it means to you.
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4 comments:
It means ALOT to me.....
11
It is time to wake up...quit acting like children…like babies as if we have nothing to do. We have to work. We are on a mission that requires us to be in full force. It means we had enough time to sleep and it is now OVER!
Sometimes as adults we hate getting up in the morning, we want to sleep in and take a break that we think we deserve...The truth of the matter is, no work no food!!!! Get up... you are on Gods time!!!We work for his kingdom; Sleep is Death…Spiritual death.
I mean who can tell God they were too tired to go to heaven so they slept on his teachings and slept on his word...Get up and Get Busy being Fruitful about his business.
12
Put on your armor...OK put on the best you have...This is a war against the fleshy world...If you are not clothed correctly in a war...How will your soldiers know whose side you on??? You can't look like the enemy and go into the war zone in battle and REALLY be recognized by your army if you don't look like them...can you? I mean how can we keep saying we are Christians and we look like little Demon Jr's...??? We are not always "looking Godly" (which means , if God physically sat with you in your room while you got dressed...would you really wear those extra tight 7 jeans you bought..And would your push up really push you up...??? HONESTLY??) Would you then get dressed for God or for someone else?? If our answer is really God, why do we act as if He really isn’t sitting in our room while we get dressed?
Lets’ be real... God is a King...The most High...If we are heirs and joint heirs with Christ…Are we looking like Kings and Queens or like the Royal Warriors for Christ that we are called to be? Or are we looking like our opposition…Is the devil upset that you look the way you do???
I know I haven’t had this as tight as it should be! People look at us every day and I know I have to take off the cloak of the world and look like I am on the right side.
13
This part use to be the hardest thing for me to give up… my idea of “fun”.
Fun is hanging out with people that you can laugh with, cry with, and the people you know will pray for you when you can’t speak to pray for yourself.
Fun is movies, dinner, and all the conversation in the middle.
Fun is bowling with Christy…who comes and repeats words of a praise song …to the team that was winning LOL
Who LIED and said fun was getting drunk and medicating yourself with drugs that disable you from being in your RIGHT MIND (which is how God made us)
What exactly are you missing??? What, I had to understand was that I did not give up fun…I gave up drama, confusion, bad relationships, demons, strong holds, Saved Money, and TIME!!!!
Another part of this verse…
Why do we let strife in and hate the ones that need the most prayer.Let the devil come in between the love of a brother and sister…WHY do we fight THE WRONG SOLDIERS??? Envy, bitterness, jealousy… We all have access to the same birth right yet we hate on each other if theirs is activated first…
How can we disciple, evangelize, reach, love, teach, help, influence, encourage, be a benefit to
Someone we’ve already killed (verbally, in thought, or in action)?
Know your enemies and stay far from them… Would you bleach your whites with the darkest clothes you have??? No…why??? If you do they come out STAINED!
14
This Ministered to me the most believe it or not!
Simply look like God in all you do…let him see himself in you…You get the desires of your heart by dying to yourself and becoming him…therefore, you inherit his desires…which he is sure to give you since his word WILL NOT return to him void..
Void means… basically, if His word was a check there would not be an NSF on it...God is who He says He is, He has what he says He has , and can do what He says He can do>>>>>dah!!!!(That was good for me)
HATE what you once loved...Smile, Praise, be Thankful… I may be young, but I have been THROUGH more mess than a little bit. Every day I am rebuked molded and given a decision to change.
I don’t want to just say I am a Christian. That in itself is NOT enough. I don’t want to just say I‘m saved…That in itself is not enough.
I truthfully should not have to say ANYTHIMNG…My walk in obedience, my willingness to change, my desire to lift my hands up and Praise My God, my quietness in the midst of madness, my prayer life and dedication, MY FOLLOWING JESUS…That SPEAKS louder than 1000 microphones on blast…. I am young in 2008 almost 30 and God knows I almost did not make it...I lost 2 brothers before they hit mid 20’s, cousins in their teens, and watched bullets fly by my head on several different occasions. If you only knew how serious this is for me…The time is near..Near means at any time…you don’t know when.
Your near may not be mine and vice versa… but never the less, it will come.
So
GET UP NOW, GET DRESSED, COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, FOLLOW JESUS, FIGHT!!!!!
I am living for GOD and as long as I can 24/7
Love you all,
Steph
Romans 13 is plain and simple. It is full of clear instruction that can not be misinterpreted or misunderstood.
In the verses prior to verse 11, it explained how we are to love one another as we would love ourselves. The scriptures also spoke about some of the commandments that we are to follow as children of God.
However when reading verses 11-14, I felt that it was an urgent call for the Saints of God to wake up and live holy. In my opinion, it indirectly stressed the importance of following the commandments even the more because of the hour that we are in. It also said that our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. After reading that, I thought about when I first confessed my belief. I was 6 years old and now being 22, my relationship with God and the meaning of my salvation means more than that first day. At some point we are expected to grow in God. Our understanding should be greater. We should go from babes to being fed on the meat of God. Everything is expected to grow in a season. So our salvation is nearer each day than when we first confessed and believed.
In verse 12 it charges us to come out of our dark places and come into Gods marvelous light. The passage also speaks about putting on the armour. I thought about Ephesians 6:13 which says that we are to put on the whole armor of God so that we may withstand the wiles of the enemy. When we do this it quenches the fiery darts of the enemy and gives us power to tread on his head.
Lastly in verses 13 and 14 it gives a couple of sins that we are to avoid committing and then it speaks about not gratifying the desires of our sinful nature. I thought about the scripture that says that we are not to conform to this world but instead be transformed by the renewing of our minds. When we keep our minds renewed daily; meaning praying, reading our bibles and thinking on the things of God, it blocks the enemy and gives us strength to rebuke the devil when our flesh tries to gratify itself with unpure thoughts.
All in all, this chapter, again was full of instruction. It gave me a sense of urgency to get right. Sometimes, I think about how I went a whole day without "sinning", meaning I didnt curse, lie, or do something that easily besets me....but then I think about the simple things. Did I rebuke that evil thought that came into my mind? Was I vunerable today...to the point where the enemy had an easy foot in my temple? Did I put on the whole armour of God? OR Did I even give God praise? As a matter of fact, did I walk away when they were gossipping about one of my brothers or sisters in Christ? Did I worry about how that next bill was going to get paid or did I pray and seek the face of God, and be confident in knowing that He will supply my every need? When I think like that, I often realize that I sinned a WHOLE LOT that day!A lot of times the enemy is so subtle that we dont see when he's trying to lure us into his disgusting ways! Sometimes we dont realize that renewing our minds daily is just one step towards enhancing our relationships with God. With so much going on in todays world: Recession, murders, so many tragedies, I've realized that Romans 13 was for todays generation. So lets get active as children of God and fulfill our call. We may not all know what our purpose is in life, but we do know that we are apart of the Great Commission which is to win souls for Christ. Lets start there and watch God reveal His glory!
LOVE YALL
JONAEE BROWN!
Romans 13:11-14 (New International Reader's Version)
11 When you do those things, keep in mind the times we are living in. The hour has come for you to wake up from your sleep. Our full salvation is closer now than it was when we first believed in Christ. 12 The dark night of evil is nearly over. The day of Christ's return is almost here. So let us get rid of the works of darkness. Let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us act as we should, like people living in the daytime. Have nothing to do with wild parties. Don't get drunk. Don't take part in sexual sins or evil conduct. Don't fight with each other. Don't be jealous of anyone.
14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ as your clothing. Don't think about how to satisfy what your sinful nature wants.
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I personally like this version it allows me to understand the words better and it helps me identify where I am at.
Time is such an important aspect of our daily lives. Most of us plan our days out to the "T". We already know what we are going to be doing and what's going to be cooked for dinner. We already have our outfits ready and hair style down or out!
I understand the importance of planning and having goals but I think Romans 13: 11-14 is saying live holy during your time.
Verse 11-12 speaks of Jesus's return and how we are supposed to be ready for it. I think as christians we need to live everyday as if Jesus was going to return. But that is easier said then done. Many times we do plan our day out and forget to include God in it. Verse 11 is explaining the importance of time to a Christian not a Carnal man. It speaks of getting rid of darkness and putting on light. I think that means getting rid of anything that would put you in the category of Darkness. While putting away darkenss put on light. Meaning live Holy.
Verse 13 tells us how we should conduct ourselves as christians. I really like the word of God it not only tells you what not do, but it also gives you a clear picture of what to do. "Live like people in the day time." this statment brings me to the idea that when night comes people tend to sin. This is very prelevant in the 20 something age group. Wild parties, Sexual sins and fighting with each other (to name a few). The word of God is specific it tells us to live Holy. While living holy we can not live in sexual sins, envy or strife. But instead put on the whole armor of God.
Verse 14 talks about that armor. It speaks of putting Jesus on as clothes. I wear clothes all day long and I understand the importance of Clothes. God wants us to wear his son all day long and understand the importance of having Jesus 24/7. I know that without God I could not live a Holy life it would be impossible.
Let's go out into the world with the whole armor of God. Caring our Crosses daily and walking in Holyness. Renewing our minds daily with the word of God and prayer!
Thanks for representing ladies...hopefully we can get some guys in her to comment on what it means to them.
Shannon
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