*** How do the following two passages relate to each other?

Hebrews 13:8-16

“Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same,

       yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).

  Do not be carried about by different {and} varied and alien teachings;

        for it is good for the heart to be established {and} ennobled {and} strengthened

             by means of grace (God's favor and spiritual blessing)

             and not [to be devoted to] foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals],

                  which bring no [spiritual] benefit {or} profit to those who observe them.

  We have an altar from which those who serve {and} worship in the tabernacle have no right to eat.

         For when the blood of animals is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin,

               the victims' bodies are burned outside the limits of the camp.

         Therefore Jesus also suffered {and} died outside the [city's] gate

               in order that He might purify {and} consecrate the people

                    through [the shedding of] His own blood {and} set them apart as holy [for God].

         Let us then go forth [from all that would prevent us] to Him outside the camp [at Calvary],

              bearing the contempt {and} abuse {and} shame with Him.

                    For here we have no permanent city,

                    but we are looking for the one which is to come.

         Through Him, therefore, let us constantly {and} at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise,

               which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge {and} confess {and} glorify His name.

         Do not forget {or} neglect to do kindness {and} good,

               to be generous {and} distribute {and} contribute to the needy,

                    for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

 

Romans 12:1-3

“I appeal to you therefore, brethren, {and} beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God,

       to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties]

             as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God,

                  which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service {and} spiritual worship.

  Do not be conformed to this world (this age),

             [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs],

         but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind

                   [by its new ideals and its new attitude],

              so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God,

                  {even} the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

                         For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me

                              I warn everyone among you

                                   not to estimate {and} think of himself more highly than he ought

                                               [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance],

                                   but to rate his ability with sober judgment,

                                        each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.”

 

*** Do you worship Abba Father this way?

 

1 Chronicles 16:8-13, & 23-29

[David said to the Israelites]

“Oh give thanks to the LORD,

        call on His name;

        make known His doings among the peoples!

  Sing to Him, sing praises to Him.

  Meditate on {and} talk of all His wondrous works {and} devoutly praise them!

         Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!

  Seek the LORD and His strength;

        yearn for {and} seek His face {and} to be in His presence continually!

  [Earnestly] remember the marvelous deeds which He has done,

         His miracles, and the judgments He uttered [as in Egypt],

              oh you offspring of [Abraham and] of Israel His servants, you children of Jacob,

                    His chosen ones!….

  Sing to the LORD, all the Earth; show forth from day to day His salvation.

  Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all peoples.

        For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;

        He also is to be [reverently] feared above all so-called gods.

                For all the gods of the people are [lifeless] idols,

                      but the LORD made the heavens.

        Honor and majesty are [found] in His presence;

               strength and joy are [found] in His sanctuary.

  Give to the LORD, you families of the peoples,

        give to the LORD glory and strength.

        Give to the LORD the glory due His name.

        Bring an offering and come before Him;

  Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness {and} in holy array.”

 

The following is from Webster’s 1828 Dictionary with emphasis of mine indicated by italicizing:

Active 

ACT'IVE, a. [L. activus.]

 

1. That has the power or quality of acting; that contains the principle of action, independent of any visible external force; as, attraction is an active power; or it may be defined, that communicates action or motion, opposed to passive, that receives action; as, the active powers of the mind.

 

2. Having the power of quick motion, or disposition to move with speed; nimble; lively; brisk; agile; as an active animal.

 

Hence,

 

3. Busy; constantly engaged in action; pursuing business with vigor and assiduity; opposed to dull, slow, or indolent; as an active officer. It is also opposed to sedentary, as an active life.

 

4. Requiring action or exertion; practical; operative; producing real effects; opposed to speculative; as, the active duties of life.

 

Passive

P`ASSIVE, a. [L. passivus, from passus, patior, to suffer.]

 

1. Suffering; not acting, receiving or capable of receiving impressions from external agents. We were passive spectators, not actors in the scene.

 

The mind is wholly passive in the reception of all its simple ideas.

 

God is not in any respect passive.

 

2. Unresisting; not opposing; receiving or suffering without resistance; as passive obedience; passive submission to the laws.

 

Passive prayer, among mystic divines, is suspension of the activity of the soul or intellectual faculties, the soul remaining quiet and yielding only to the impulses of grace.

 

Action

AC'TION, n. [L. actio.]

 

1. Literally, a driving; hence, the state of acting or moving; exertion of power or force, as when one body acts on another; or action is the effect of power exerted on one body by another; motion produced. Hence, action is opposed to rest. Action, when produced by one body on another, is mechanical; when produced by the will of living being, spontaneous or voluntary.

 

2. An act or thing done; a deed. The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him are actions weighed. 1 Samuel 2.

 

3. In mechanics, agency; operation; driving impulse; effort of one body upon another; as, the action of wind upon a ship's sails. Also the effect of such action.

 

4. In ethics, the external signs or expression of the sentiments of a moral agent; conduct; behavior; demeanor; that is, motion or movement, with respect to a rule or propriety.

 

6. In oratory, gesture or gesticulation; the external deportment of the speaker, or the accommodation of his attitude, voice, gestures, and countenance to the subject, or to the thoughts and feelings of the mind.

 

 

 

What is passive thinking?

What is active thinking?

What is active listening?

What is passive listening?

What is passive praying?

What is active praying?

 

For each the following, are you active or passive?  Explain how.

1.       sports playing

2.       box or computer game playing

3.       sports watching

4.       watching a mystery or action movie

5.       romance

6.       community service

7.       church fellowshipping before and after services and in church social meetings

8.       church work days

9.       worship

10.      listening to church leaders’ prayers

11.      listening to sermons

12.      Bible study discussion group

 

 

Consider what these two Bible passages indicate about active Christianity:

Jude 3 & 20-23

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation,

       it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you

             that you should earnestly contend for the faith

                  which was once delivered to the saints.”

“But you, beloved,

       building up yourselves on your most holy faith,

       praying in the Holy Spirit,

       keep yourselves in the love of God,

       looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

       And of some have compassion, making a difference:

       And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire,

              hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

 

1 Corinthians 15:54-58

“But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

       Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable,

            always abounding in the work of the Lord,

                 forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

 

 

Which of the twelve activities in the above “active or passive” exercise do you need become more active in?

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Interesting Spiritual Anagrams

(compiled by Bill Stevenson, http://www.geocities.com/bibleloverbill )

 

Ones I saw:

Jesus

Others

Yourself

 

Basic

Instruction

Before

Leaving

Earth

 

B --  Blessed and Believe It

O --  On Fire for the Lord and Own It

L --  Loving with the Love of Jesus and Live It

D --  Dedicated to the one I love, Jesus Christ, and Deliver It

 

B =  Be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in you.

O =  Overcome the fear through remembering Jesus Christ and the heroes in the Bible.

L =  Live as an example of Jesus Christ with thankfulness and compassion.

D =  Don’t try hard to convict someone of their sins, just say only what the Holy Spirit urges.

 

Ones I was given by the Holy Spirit:

 

F --   fear not

A --   assurance from God's Word

I --    in God's love

T --   trust in God and the Bible

H --   holiness with Holy Spirit and Bible help

 

P --   power from Heaven

R --   ruled/guided by the agapè love of God and His Word

A --   attentive to the Holy Spirit

Y --   yearning for Christian, world revival

E --   earnest to be righteous and compassionate

R --   ready for the return of Jesus Christ

 

C --   Christ, confession

H --   Holy Spirit help

A --   attitudes and actions

N --   needs

G --   good works  (Ephesians 2:10)

E --   everywhere for eternity

 

C --   commitment to God's truth

O --   obedience to the Holy Spirit

U --   understanding God's desires

R --   revival spiritually

A --   attentiveness for opportunities to minister

G --   gratefulness to God, especially for His protection

E --   enduring in faith of our Lord Jesus Christ

 

L --   living

U --   under

C --   Christ's

K --   kingship

 

T --   truthfulness

R --   respect

U --   understanding

S --   steadfastness (especially in promise/vow-keeping)

T --   tolerance (of the other's preferences)

 

C --   character & Christ-likeness

O --   obedience to God’s Word and the Holy Spirit

N --   needs & notions

T --   thinking & temper & tolerance

R --   reverence & relating to God

O --   observations

L --   learning & love with Holy Spirit help     [Proverbs 3:5-6]

 

C --   Christ-likeness, unselfish concerns, & consideration

O --   observations

M --   mercy & money sharing

P --   perseverance, prayer, & patience

A --   attentiveness

S --   specific needs fulfilling

S --   spiritual reasons

I --    ideas & inspiration

O --   obedience to the Holy Spirit

N --   necessary or needed attitudes, actions, & aspirations

 

R --   respect for one another and receiving of them

E --   emotions (listening to) and exhorting in a caring/teaching way

S --   Scripture sharing: what does the Bible say about the situation needing restoration?

T --   teaching from a Holy Spirit-led pastor, Biblical counselor, or an appropriate Scripture-filled book

O --   obedience to God's Word and the Holy Spirit encouragement

R --   repentance encouragement: proper changes of thinking and behavior habits

A --   appreciation and adoration (not flattery)

T --   trusting again help

 I --   intertwine souls encouragement

O --   outreach encouragement: sharing good news and lessons with others

N --   notify relatives encouragement about the new ways of thinking and behavior

 

Ideal goals for every spouse that you should be able to say of God the Father too:

 

B --   I believe in you. I will boast about you because I appreciate you.

E --   We can endure anything together.  I always enjoy being with you.

S --   I will stand-up and stand-by you whenever necessary.  You completely satisfy me.

T --   I will tolerate your unusual or strange habits.  I am thankful for all of you.

 

F --   I am so happy because you have let me become completely familiar with you.  You are fantastic.

R --   I rejoice for every smile and touch from you.  We can have daily revival.

 I --   You are plenty intelligent enough for me.  I greatly enjoy all types of intimacy with you.

E --   You give me so much excitement and hope.  Special energy comes from you and goes into me.

N --   No one but you is the best for me.  Nothing can stop my love for you.

D --   You are the dearest being in the world.  You are the best divine blessing for me every day.

 

Agapé Restoration Koinonia ministry-- an "ARK" of "righteousness, peace, and joy" (Romans 14:17)

                           for Christ-centered and Bible-Centered marriages and families.

 

What God hates in our churches:

R --   ritual

E --   earnestness for superficiality

L --   legalistic

I --   ignorant of a lot of what is God-pleasing

G --   going on with un-Biblical tradition

 I --   “I” problem especially in pride and selfishness

O --   obnoxious

N --   nasty, hypocritical, and condemnatory like the Pharisees of old

 

More from other people:

 

J-esus, Son of God Eternal

E-verlasting Lord is He,

S-avior of a world of sinners,

U-niversal King to be,

S-ought us, brought us victory.

 

C-hrist is due all adoration,

H-umbly born to save our race,

R-uler of the whole creation

I-ntercedes and gives us grace,

S- aves us from sin's condemnation,

T- ruly worthy of all praise!

 

Good Morning should mean:
G-od

O-ffers us His

O-utstanding

D-evotion to

 

M-ake us

O-bedient &

R-eady for a

N-ew day with Him.

I-nspire others please, and

N-ever forget

G-od loves you!

 

By Carla--

F-inding

A-wesome

M-oments

I-n

L-oving

Y-ou

 

 

For God so loVed the world,
      That He gAve
            His onLy
            BegottEn
                  SoN
                      That whosoever
      Believeth In Him
          Should Not perish,
       But have Everlasting life."

 

 

S-incere

P-recious

O-n Time

N-ew Thing

T-rue

A-ble

N-ever ending

E-verlasting

O-verjoyed

U-seful

S-ervice

 

 

A-nti

C-hrist

L-iars

U-nited