Thought Quotient

We recently read this update from Jaime Jamgochian…

Hey Guys,
Thought I would let you know we posted a short video blog from a MODEST IS HOTTEST conf. we did in OR.
ENJOY!
jaime

Modest Is Hottest

Matthew 16:13-16

When Jesus and his disciples were near the town of Caesarea Philippi, he asked them, “What do people say about the Son of Man?”
The disciples answered, “Some people say you are John the Baptist or maybe Elijah or Jeremiah or some other prophet.” Then Jesus asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter spoke up, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

What if that had happened today and we were there?

Now imagine for a moment that Jesus turns His gaze from Peter and the disciples . . . to you. He has a question for you also: “Who am I to you?” He asks.

There can be no greater question you could answer. Who is Jesus Christ to you? Your reply must be, “The Son of the living God, my Savior, and my God.”

Who else could He be? There is no one else qualified to grant forgiveness but Jesus. There is no one other than Christ who will stay closer to you when everyone or everything is stripped from you. There is no one else who can turn your bitterness into relief or turn your grief into joy. There is no one else you can trust with your deepest and most scandalous secret, only Jesus. Only He can relieve the abuse. Only He can erase the bitterness and remove the scars. All other counselors and friends can simply put arms around you, weep with you, and point you to Him. But only He can change you!

And that’s just what He can do in this life. When you’ve taken your last breath and you step into eternity, having answered Jesus’ question with faith, there is not a soul who has ever lived who will be by your side but Jesus. He alone is qualified to escort you from the grave to glory. He alone is God.

Jesus has a question for you.

- Chuck Swindoll, Insight for Living

LEELAND’S new song ‘Enter This Temple’ is a free download from worshiptogether.com this week!

This week only make sure to download a free MP3 of “Enter This Temple” from Leeland’s new CD - Opposite Way. It’s a great progressive modern worship song that can be sung in both your Sunday morning services and your youth group. You can also listen to the entire album this week in the New Song Jukebox. Download the MP3 now!

Also available from worshiptogether this week (a free membership login is required):

Free Songs:

• ‘May Our Praise’ - Leeland & Jack Mooring
• ‘Be Lifted High’ - Leeland Mooring

New Song Cafe:

• ‘Be Lifted High’ with Leeland Mooring & Michael W. Smith

How many times have I made foolish decisions because I was ignorant of the promises God has given us in His word? Lord, help me to better understand Your Word so that I can live victoriously in You!

Make no mistake about it. The devil is a defeated foe! But as the enemy of our souls, he is still actively fighting against God’s people. He can ruin our effectiveness for Christ if we let him gain a foothold in our hearts. How tragic that would be.

But notice that I said “let.” As wily as the devil is and as big an arsenal of lies and tricks as he has to draw from, I want to remind you that Satan cannot gain even one iota of an inch of ground in our lives unless we give him permission.

For whenever the devil gets a foothold in our life, he seeks to build a stronghold - a way of thinking and acting that is contrary to God’s Word. Nothing but spiritual weapons such as prayer, reading God’s Word, and obedience to God can tear down Satan’s strongholds. Thus the Bible tells us, “Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)” (2 Cor. 10:3-4)

As children of God, you and I have at our fingertips every weapon we need to defeat Satan and put him on the run. Ephesians 6 describes our spiritual armor, and the Bible says that when we resist the devil, he has to flee (James 4:7)!

This is the urgent message the Lord would have me share with you today. We consider it a high priority in helping you understand God’s Word so you can live victoriously. So let’s not neglect the weapons God has given us to gain the victory!
- Bill Skelton, Love Worth Finding ministries

Question: How can we defeat the devil’s lies and tricks?
Answer: By knowing and obeying the truth of God’s word!

John 8:31-32

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

2 Kings 7:3
About the same time, four men with leprosy were just outside the gate of Samaria. They said to each other, “Why should we sit here, waiting to die?”

Dear reader, this little book was mainly intended for the edification of believers, but if you are yet unsaved, our heart yearns over you: and we would fain say a word which may be blessed to you. Open your Bible, and read the story of the lepers, and mark their position, which was much the same as yours. If you remain where you are you must perish; if you go to Jesus you can but die. “Nothing venture, nothing win,” is the old proverb, and in your case the venture is no great one. If you sit still in sullen despair, no one can pity you when your ruin comes; but if you die with mercy sought, if such a thing were possible, you would be the object of universal sympathy. None escape who refuse to look to Jesus; but you know that, at any rate, some are saved who believe in Him, for certain of your own acquaintances have received mercy: then why not you? The Ninevites said, “Who can tell?” Act upon the same hope, and try the Lord’s mercy. To perish is so awful, that if there were but a straw to catch at, the instinct of self-preservation should lead you to stretch out your hand. We have thus been talking to you on your own unbelieving ground, we would now assure you, as from the Lord, that if you seek Him He will be found of you. Jesus casts out none who come unto Him. You shall not perish if you trust Him; on the contrary, you shall find treasure far richer than the poor lepers gathered in Syria’s deserted camp. May the Holy Spirit embolden you to go at once, and you shall not believe in vain. When you are saved yourself, publish the good news to others. Hold not your peace; tell the King’s household first, and unite with them in fellowship; let the porter of the city, the minister, be informed of your discovery, and then proclaim the good news in every place. The Lord save thee ere the sun goes down this day. - Charles Spurgeon

Related Links:

• Jesus healed them all

- apart from God’s Spirit working in us!

So, when God says, “Be holy, for I am holy” - it’s a call to us to die to self, and let Him do His will in us. And the result will be the holiness of God shining through us - attracting the attention of a jaded and broken hearted world.

1 Peter 1:13-16

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Colossians 1:26-29

This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it’s out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory. It’s that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That’s what I’m working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me.