Pfcc Youths (Lets Share and Grow)

The Risk of Faith

2009-08-04T23:58:00.000+05:30

At the beginning of Elijah's ministry, God sent him to stay with a widow and her son. When he first arrived, Elijah asked the widow for some bread. The woman sadly said she only had enough for one final meal: "I don't have any bread - only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it - and die" (1 Kings 17:12). [Let's remember those in the world today with this same feeling of hopelessness.]The widow had completely given up on life. She believed she was preparing her last meal, but Elijah told her to trust God and make him something to eat out of the remaining flour. Elijah said it was God's plan to provide for all her needs...but she must believe.1 Kings 17:14"For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.'"The widow could have used the remaining food to feed herself and her son, but she risked all she had and did as Elijah requested. Even though she couldn't see the extra food or understand how it would arrive, she had faith in God's Word and took action based on her faith. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1).The risk was great, but God's promise and provision were even greater: "So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the Word of the Lord spoken by Elijah" (1 Kings 17:15-16).Taking a step of faith ALWAYS requires risk - always requires stepping into the unknown. If we could see every detail about where God was leading and how He would provide, we wouldn't need faith. But if there is any "success" to be had in the Christian walk, it will only come as we daily live by faith - as we live each and every moment by listening intently for the call of God and then trusting Him, even through our fear, as we step into what we cannot see. This is where the true blessings of God reside.When God calls us to a place where we must be "certain of what we do not see," we must boldly step. We must overcome our fears with a faith grounded in the promises of His Word and trust Him with all our heart to never leave our side. We can be sure of the hope found in Jesus Christ! Let's share this message of faithful hope all around the world.If we are careful to listen, we most certainly will hear the call of God. He is faithful and will never lead us astray. So when we hear His call, let's be prepared to step and take the risk of faith.Have a Christ Centered Day!Steve TroxelGod's Daily Word Ministries

Enter Through The Gate

2009-08-03T20:52:00.001+05:30

In the message "A Life of Discipleship" we considered our need to be continually discipled and the vital importance of discipling others before and after Salvation. The message stated: "Receiving the Word, or even initial growth, is not Salvation." Many people pray to "receive" salvation without an understanding of the gospel message. But without the truth, we are never "born again" as a new creation in Christ. Therefore, teaching the truth of the gospel is the first priority of discipleship.Many have become over-zealous in their desire to pull people into the Kingdom of God. We should all have a passion to see those around us saved from a path of destruction. But our intense desire must never cause us to pull people "inside" without presenting the absolute truth about sin and forgiveness. Sin causes separation from God. Forgiveness is by the grace of God through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus. Without these truths there is no salvation.The Church has done well with creating a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere which makes people feel part of the family. But in the process, we often create the disastrous environment in which many will one day hear: "I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!" (Matthew 7:23). We should all attend a local fellowship, serve one another in love, and live a life characterized by high morals; but we must never even give the appearance that these activities provide an entrance to Heaven.John 10:1, 9"I {Jesus} tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved."If we attempt to enter the Kingdom through any other means than the gate of Jesus, we completely miss the eternal glory of God. We may think we are His sheep - we may even look and sound like His sheep - but in truth, any path other than belief in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin makes us a thief and a robber: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).We never help by "pulling" someone in or allowing them to remain comfortable while on the path to destruction. We must speak the truth and point the way to Jesus as the only gate through which we may pass - the ONLY way unto Salvation.Everyone who walks this earth must make a decision about Jesus Christ. Let's make sure we never inadvertently pull someone over the top rail of the fence without presenting the real decision. Let's minister in a loving and welcoming manner; but let's provide proper discipleship by clearly sharing the need to enter through the gate.Have a Christ Centered Day!Steve TroxelGod's Daily Word Ministries

A Life of Discipleship

2009-08-03T20:44:00.001+05:30

When Jesus told His closest followers, "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19), He wasn't just talking about the one-time event of Salvation; He was referring to the life-long process of "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded" (Matthew 28:20). The process of discipleship actually begins prior to Salvation as we are taught the truth of the gospel message, and it continues as we are "conformed to the likeness of His Son" (Romans 8:29). The need for discipleship is made clear as Jesus explains the parable of the soils.Mark 4:14-20"The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop."Praise God for those who are sowing seed! The Word of God will never be received if there are not those willing to sow into the lives of others. However, receiving the word, or even initial growth, is not Salvation! Receiving, and being initially excited about the Word, can occur without conviction and certainly without a change of heart. Without proper nourishment and protection - without some form of discipleship - the received word will die and never produce fruit.Discipleship prepares the soil and leads those who receive the Word to a true understanding of words like, "Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Discipleship then helps our roots go deep and provides water for sustained growth; it teaches how to recognize and eliminate the thorns which choke and kill; it provides the necessary nutrients to produce a crop.We must commit to being discipled through reading God's Word, seeking Him in prayer, receiving biblical teaching, and being in fellowship with other believers. We must also search for other young plants who are beginning to grow, and disciple them as they "come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).A true relationship with the Living and Holy God is not a one-time event or prayer, it's a lifetime commitment. Let's reach up to our Heavenly Father and reach out to those He places in our path. The world is searching and the precious life-giving seed is being sown. Let's nurture and encourage at every opportunity. The planted seed will only produce fruit and live to bring Him glory and honor as each of us commits to a life of discipleship.Have a Christ Centered Day!Steve TroxelGod's Daily Word Ministries

Food_Message

2009-05-18T15:02:00.003+05:30

But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. - Matthew 7:26

There were two kinds of people in the days of Jesus. Some heard the words that Jesus spoke and were awed by His wisdom and understanding, but did nothing about what they heard. Others heard those words and acted on them. Jesus said that those who heard the words but failed to put them into practice were foolish and likened them to building a house on sand. How foolish, indeed, it would be to build a house on sand.The person who followed what Jesus taught was a person who would be sure to weather life's storms.Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock (Matthew 7:24-25).

You never know how well your house is built until it is tested by the elements. Torrential rains reveal the quality of your roof. Wind and cold reveal how well your home is insulated. Heat and sun reveal the quality of your paint and siding. All these elements reveal whether a solid foundation has been laid to make your home a secure and lasting place to live.Many of us find that we have given only lip service to God's commands. We are faced with the reality that our foundations are not strong enough to weather life's storms. How do we react when the trials come? Do we fret and worry? Do we take life into our hands? Do we respond inappropriately when we don't get what we want? The Lord uses these times to help us recognize whether our foundations are sand or rock.

Ask the Lord today if you have built on His rock. If so, you can be comforted to know that you can weather any storm that may come your way.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prevent The Sparks

Every year, sparks from hot campfires or careless matches start fires which consume millions of trees in beautiful forests. Once begun, these fires move unrelentingly through hills and valleys - nothing is safe from the fury of the flames.

Every year, sparks from hot tempers or careless words start fires which consume millions of lives in beautiful relationships. Once begun, these fires move unrelentingly through self-esteem and trust - nothing is safe from the fury of the tongue.

James 3:5-6
"Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body."

Our tongue has incredible power to build up and encourage, as well as tear down and destroy. And though our sins are eternally forgiven when we place our trust in Jesus, the day will come when our careless words are revealed and we see the full extent of the damage we've done; "men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken" (Matthew 12:36).

I confess that I often dread the day when I must account for every careless word. There are indeed many. Perhaps the purpose of that day is to permanently etch in our soul a full appreciation for God's love. Even with all my careless words, He loves me and wants to spend eternity with me in fellowship. Amazing! But how I long for better control.

David prayed that God would "set a guard over my mouth and keep watch over the door of my lips" (Psalms 141:3). While this is a wise prayer, our lips must be seen as an absolute last line of defense - once our words escape they can almost never be fully recovered. We must strive to control the sparks at the true source; "out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34).

If our heart is filled with the ways of the world, our mouth will naturally speak the world's wisdom which is "foolishness in God's sight" (1 Corinthians 3:19). Rather, we must fill our heart with the ways of God and allow our mouth to overflow with His love; "I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You" (Psalms 119:11).

Have we been the cause of some raging fires or smoldering embers? If so, we must pray for healing and believe that "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). We must fill our heart with the power of His Word and "not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths" (Ephesians 4:29). Let's stop the destructive fires. Let's begin today to fill our heart with His Word and prevent the sparks.

Have a Christ Centered Day!
Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries

Share testimonials to encourage people

2009-04-26T17:38:00.001+05:30

Post your testimonials here, so that some one will be encouraged

The purpose of this blog

2009-04-09T16:57:00.002+05:30

This blog is created for the purpose that

1) All of us can be in touch where ever we are and share what is happening in our life.

2)This will helps others to grow and be encouraged to live for christ.