Church of Christ Northwest Bakersfield

07/16/2023

06/07/2023

Genesis 32:22-32
English Standard Version
Jacob Wrestles with God
22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children,[a] and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel,[b] for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel,[c] saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh.

01/14/2023

I have been doing my daily Bible study and the topic today has been "Judgement". What I find a relief is the simplicity of "Judgement" and how it affects the world versus the saved in the world, but I also fear we have missed the mark.

When we look at a larger picture and study deeper I fear that many of us who truly believe we are saved most likely are not.

It's not what we believe but how we believe.

Is our faith truly an action word in our lives?

Do others see our faith lived out daily?

Do they "know us by our fruits"?

I have been raised in the church and active my whole life and I like to believe I have a deep knowledge of scripture. Even so I know I have a multitude to learn.

I've made mistakes and fallen short. I know this from what I know of Jesus and His plan of Salvation. I've read it in his word. I know right from wrong and good from evil.

I suffer from deep depression. I've tried everything to focus on the positives in life, to count my blessings from God and be thankful.
I've prayed without ceasing with the faith of a mustard seed. I've made many changes in my life and attitude and nothing helps. I look at Paul's example "My grace is sufficient" and how he continued on. I look at Job and his faith, and when I comment on the outcome at the end of his story I'm reminded that I'm "not Job" and told "Job was blameless, you are not".
Judgement, the simple moment where one person casts a perception on someone else and then that person is now forever guilty whether true or false.

We've all heard the verses "God knows the heart" "don't judge the outside", we have heard people say "you don't know me" or "walk in my shoes and see how it is", and really it's true what they are saying whether we agree or disagree with how they handle their lives and affairs.

The bottom line is we are all a soul and we will all be individually judged for what we have done in this life.

I long that day. I long for death. I'm not going to pretend everything is ok. The only thing that keeps me from taking my own life is that I fear God and His wrath but I love Him even more.
I'm not going to hell just because a small group of people have judged me and want me to. I also know from my knowledge of God that I won't have to spend eternity with those people either.
I have to forgive, I have to go on, I don't have to live though. I just have to survive until He takes me from this life and really that is the simplicity of Judgement. Alone working with my own hands , separated from the world, forgiving others, praying for the lost, and working out one's own Salvation with fear and tremblingz and praying that judgement comes quickly and without wrath.

12/04/2022

IMAGINE THIS IF YOU CAN!
Peter......... a Roman Catholic
Paul.......... a Methodist
John.......... a Mormon
Matthew... a Baptist
James....... a Presbyterian
Judas........ a Pentecostal Holiness
Andrew..... a Jehovah's Witness
Thomas..... a held to the Jewish Faith
Philip......... a Quaker
James........ a Seventh Day Adventist
Simon........ a Unitarian
Bartholomew.... a Lutheran
Judas Iscariot.... though one church is as good as another.......
BUT---- Imagine even more.....
* Imagine Peter claiming to be a POPE!
* Imagine Paul saying, "You can sprinkle for baptism and you must attend baptism class before you get baptised ."
* Imagine John shouting, "You must have the book of Mormon before you can be saved."
* Imagine Matthew preaching, "You can be saved by FAITH ONLY; baptism is not relevant and you CAN'T fall from grace."
* Imagine Andrew teaching that there is no eternal HELL!
* Imagine James telling people that their babies are born SINNERS!!
Sounds foolish doesn't it?
That's because it is foolish...
There were no DENOMINATIONS in the Apostles' days and denominations have NO Bible authority for existence NOW! (1 Corinthians 1: 12-13; 3:4)
AND DID YOU KNOW........
THAT.... none of the apostles taught or believed ANY of these things?
They taught "THEN" what your Bible teaches NOW!
And your Bible teaches that..........
* There never has been any SCRIPTURAL POPE. (Read Acts 10: 25-26)
* Baptism is a BURIAL in water. (Read Romans 6:3-4; Acts 8:36-39)
* The book of Mormon is UNKNOWN to God's Word. (Read Acts 20:27)
* Faith ONLY and Baptism is IRRELEVANT is not a Bible doctrine and you CAN fall from grace. (Read James 2:24; Galatians 5:4)
* Jesus and his apostles repeatedly warned against HELL. (Read Luke 16:19-31)
* All babies comes direct from God, PURE and undefiled. (Read Matthew 19:13-15; Ezekiel 18:20)
BELOVED.......
The apostles belonged to the CHURCH OF CHRIST and taught only sound Bible doctrine. (Read 1 Corinthians 12:28; Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:18 and Ephesians 4:4)
Welcome to the Lord's Church.........
the CHURCH OF CHRIST in your community... (Romans 16:16)
In spite of what many teach today your Bible STILL says.......
* Believe in Christ. (John 8:24; Acts 16:31; Hebrew 11:6)
* Repent of your sins. (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30)
* Confess your faith in Christ. (Matthew 10:32-33; Acts 8:37-38; Romans 10:10)
* Be Baptized. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1Peter 3:21; Galatians 3:27)
This is an ernest call to everyone.....
Let's All Return to the Bible as our Guide and Constitution.
Remain Blessed.. Amen

10/30/2022

As humans, we want others to see us the way we see ourselves.
Imagine if we put that much effort into letting the world see God through us?

Ephesians chapter 5 is a great example of the fruits we should show the world, and not how to look to others.

Below is just the beginning. Read all of Ephesians Chapter 5 and not only will you see what the problems with the world are, but how we should be seen to others in the world.
In Him,
Greg

Ephesians 5
WALK IN LOVE
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

10/30/2022

http://www.paidionbooks.org/misc/pcsummary.html

The following summary is neither complete nor detailed. Note that all of these practices are post-Biblical, post-apostolic, and mostly influenced by pagan culture. F.V.

10/22/2022

Have you ever really thought about the verse
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
English Standard Version
"16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." ?

I saw the below posted meme and it really made me think about prayer.
In prayer we are admitting we wre helpless without God. Through prayer we really do leave the world behind and enter the spiritual kingdom, which is a place we should live in everyday. I know the world gets in the way.
A good friend said something to me this morning. She called and just asked "Are you Ok"? She had been praying and said that "A thought came to my head that said call Greg".
It was perfect timing , as I was praying earnestly with perseverance to see the light in this dark place I have been in. As we talked I explained the darkness in my life that I am struggling to escape.
Her response "Be the Light".
I will pray for all of you in your battle against the world and I only ask that you pray for me..
God bless
Greg

10/02/2022

"God does not control a person's free will and cannot change a person's life, He gave man free will to choose. He can however bring people into our lives that have a free will that follows God's will and those people are the people we should listen to and keep close to us. Those people who have not chosen to listen and follow God's will are accountable for their actions and will pay the ultimate price in eternity. Don't be those people".

This is a quote from a person I had a conversation with last night. A person who has a little knowledge of scripture but not much involvement in the church. The statement speaks volumes and it came from someone with very little exposure to the church. It's amazing to me how God speaks through different people and always at the perfect moment.

I am reminded of the verse in James 1:13-16:
"Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers".
A person's desires are what causes temptation. What each of us wants in life will direct or of steps.
In John 1:12-13 it says "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God".

Ask yourself "what do I truly desire?
Then choose wisely.

I love by you all and you are all in my prayers.
Greg