AgapePoint's Blog

It’s A Wrap Part 3 (20111230)

agapepoint — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:15:32 +0000

What could be a better way to end the year than knowing that your relationship with God is just what it should be? Earlier this week we talked about how in order for this to take place we must do our best to humbly work out our differences with the loved ones in our lives. Only after trying to work out our differences with our neighbors, community and family members can we be prepared to work out our salvation with the Lord. Jesus said, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24, NIV).

How wonderful it is that God gives us such simple directions in his Scripture as to what pleases him and leads us into a closer relationship with him.

Living Big in Jesus,

Keith

It’s A Wrap Part 2 (20111229)

agapepoint — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:15:04 +0000

Today we are looking at how to put a good wrap on the end of the year. One of the things that often makes the past year less than what we would have had it be is the fact that relationships are often difficult to maintain. Maybe someone has sinned against you. Don’t sit there waiting for them to come and make it right with you. According to God’s word each of us has the responsibility to go to our loved one’s when they sin against us. Jesus said, “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” (Matthew 18:15, NIV).

What could make the ending of this year better than knowing that whatever was between you and your loved one is now in the past. What could be better than knowing you are reunited in a loving relationship putting a good wrap on this year, and looking forward to the next.

Living big in Jesus,

Keith

It’s A Wrap Part 1 (20111228)

agapepoint — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:17:57 +0000

This is it, the end of another year! And each of us has an opportunity to end the year with our best effort. Certainly there have been many things we did right. But, there are also those things we did wrong. If you have mistreated someone, or done someone wrong, it is a good time to make amends and end the year on a good note. The Lord recognizes this working out our differences one with the other as a prerequisite for having a good relationship with him. Jesus said, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24, NIV).

To end the year on a good note with the Lord, you have to first do your part to end the year on a good note with your loved ones. So put a good wrap on it, and make it right with everyone in your life.

Living big in Jesus,

Keith

Jesus Must Increase, I Must Decrease Part 5 (20110701)

agapepoint — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 05:36:52 +0000

“He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30, NIV)

For many folks there remains a temptation to want to be first; to be the big kahuna! They like telling great big stories, not for the sake of simply engaging their friends and family, but for the sake of being first. Others like to build great things, things that people have to stand back and admire, and again, it is so they can be first among everyone else. Many of us may have had such an experience in our own lives at one time or another. It seems that it is so human to simply want to be first at least once in a life-time. But, let me encourage you not to worry about such things.

There is a simpler way to live life. Instead of wanting to be first, live in such a matter that you make others first! Do the little things for those around you. Wash the dishes, sweep the floor, make the beds, change the oil in the car and while you are at it vacuum it and wash it too.

Scripture says, “But many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.” (Matthew 19:30, KJV).

Living Big
In Jesus,

Keith

Jesus Must Increase, I Must Decrease Part 4 (20110630)

agapepoint — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:14:34 +0000

“He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30, NIV)

What or who are you constantly reading about, studying about, talking about? Whatever or whoever it is, that is what is most important to you. For some folks it is their job, for others their favorite hobby, still others it has something to do with following their favorite sports team. And for some it is that they are all wrapped up in themselves. They have a hard time seeing anything other than themselves.

The trouble with all this is that one day all these things are going to pass away. They will be no more. Of course you will remain for eternity in either one of two places, heaven or hell. But, know this, your eternal destiny is largely determined by how well you understand John’s saying, “He must become greater; I must become less.”

An interesting thought is; the less we become, the more we can see. And what is it that we see? We see others, and we see Christ. The greater he becomes in our lives, and the
less we become, the more we will see of the Kingdom of God.

Living Big In Jesus,

Keith

Jesus Must Increase, I Must Decrease Part 3 (20110629)

agapepoint — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 07:01:10 +0000

“He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30, NIV)

Sometimes when we become less there can be a sense where we become more. In other words we find ourselves doing incredible things that we normally would not be doing. For instance, consider Elijah, who stands before King Ahab and says, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” (1 Kings 17:1, NIV). Kind of bold words to be saying before the king of a nation wouldn’t you say?

But that is the way it was for Elijah. God wanted Elijah to stand before the king and call him and the nation to repentance. Sin and wickedness destroys kings, nations and all their citizens. You may find yourself in a situation just like Elijah one day. Standing before someone of great importance, yet God has called you to deliver a message of repentance.

You may find that in becoming less, God may lift you up to deliver his message of repentance to men of great importance; and in doing so many will be saved.

Living Big In Jesus,

Keith

Jesus Must Increase, I Must Decrease Part 2 (20110628)

agapepoint — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 07:34:01 +0000

“He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30, NIV)

The world wants everything bigger and better. For our technology we want the bigger hard drive, the faster processor, the higher refresh rate; for our cars the more layers the paint, the bigger and more polished wheels, the louder the stereo. Or, maybe its all the clubs, organizations or sports teams we belong to at school. And of course many of us are not willing to forget the clothes. We want to be stylin’ and lookin’ good with the latest fashions. It all adds up to bling, zing and shiny things. And whoever has the most wins; or at least that is what many hip people believe in this world.

But in God’s kingdom, it is different. Jesus must become greater, and we must become less. In God’s kingdom, it is not what we have, but in how we are being transformed to be servants of God and humble brothers and sisters in the family of God. In God’s kingdom it is not about what we have, but it is about who we serve!

Living Big In Jesus,

Keith

Jesus Must Increase, I Must Decrease Part 1 (20110627)

agapepoint — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 07:00:53 +0000

“He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30, NIV)

We admire men who accumulate much knowledge, experience and wisdom in this world. We hold them in high regard. We want to emulate them, follow in their footsteps, and be like them. The Apostle Paul was such a man as this. He had risen to the highest ranks in the religion of the Jews. He had a family lineage that was most impressive. He was on fire for the faith that he professed as a Jew. As for legalistic righteousness, Paul had lived an exemplarily life. For a Jew, it just could not get any better!

Yet, what Paul found in Christ was of much greater value than anything else in heaven and earth. Paul would say, “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” (Philippians 3:7, NIV).

What an incredible thought given that it comes from a man who had gained much in this world. Yet, he was willing to give it all up to know Jesus Christ. What of you my friend, what is it that you must give up to follow Christ?

Living Big In Jesus,

Keith

Memorial Day Christ The Battle Standard (201100603)

agapepoint — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:20:17 +0000

There is a great spiritual battle raging and God reminds us saying, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, NIV)

Don’t think for a moment that you and I have what it takes to defeat Satan, our mighty foe, without some major help from above. Even heaven had a great battle with him. In Revelation 12:7-9 we read: “And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”

So keep in mind as the battle rages that the hope of casting Satan out of our lives will come from us living lives that are self-controlled and alert, just as Peter says. And that can only happen if Christ is raised as the battle standard for our lives.

Living Big
In Jesus,

Keith

Memorial Day More Than Conquers (201100602)

agapepoint — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:48:25 +0000

We live in a day when many people show themselves to be victims. And such a portrayal of self is often encouraged by those around us. But if we are in Christ, we are not victims; Paul in his letters to the Christians in Rome says something far better. “35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39, NIV).

In Christ Jesus, we are not victims, but we are VICTORS!

So take courage my friend. You are not alone. Keep running your race and you will with the help of Jesus you will discover you are more than a conqueror!

Living Big
In Jesus,

Keith