Eastwoodtulsa’s Weblog

But you, beloved, building yourselves up 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 unto eternal life. Jude 20

Jesus has prepared heaven for you! (John 14)

Jesus is preparing you for heaven! (2 Corinthians 4:16)

Jesus loves you and has given Himself for you! (John 3:16)

“Do you not know the power of His love? What does the world think of a love that never shows itself in action? Who will accept a love that does not actuate you to self-denial, generosity, and the zeal of serving Jesus? Is the love of Jesus like a rushing mighty wind to your soul sweeping out your worldliness? It is the power of His love that will usher in the divine rapture, to bear you aloft from the earth. It is His love in the divine Spirit that will make you right now bold as lions and swift as eagles in your Lord’s service.

In building yourselves up be resolute and determined to be pressing on towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.(Philippians 3:13-14)

Charles H. Spurgeon

Many Christians remain dwarfed in spiritual things, having the same appearance year after year. No advancement of faith, hope, and love is manifested in them. Such Christians are satisfied with no desire to experience the fullness to be found in abiding with Christ Jesus and to be enriched in knowledge of Him. To abide with Jesus is to hold daily communion with Him, bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit to others. (John 15)

As you come near Jesus in all things (Ephesians 4:15) you will find yourself advancing in faith, hope, and love.”

But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1Corinthians 13:13

Submitted by Pat Hutchens

Interpreters differ on the meaning of Romans 11:25-36. We must think hard and pray as we read the Scriptures (especially when we are teachers) so that we give the clear meaning of difficult passages. I wish I had done a better job last Sunday night with this passage. Forgive me for misquoting 2 Peter 3:9 in my excitement. It says:

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

When interpreting Scripture we cannot say that there are several interpretations of all Scriptures and you can just pick the one you like. There is a real danger in saying “Oh that’s just your interpretation”. I’ve heard that response to my witness for Christ from unbelievers. It is also common when a hard saying of Jesus offends our logic. However we must be humble when confronted with mystery in the Scriptures. Paul’s response was to break out in praise! (Romans 11:33)

On Sunday night I promised that I would give you four main viewpoints of Romans 11:25-36. They are listed below.

1) All people both Gentiles and Jews will ultimately be saved. This is called Universalism and is rejected because of the clear teaching of other texts to the contrary.

2) “All Israel” means the church, the new Israel of God. This explanation spiritualizes the term “Israel” instead of regarding them as a people. I reject this view. God still has a purpose for His people the Jews.

3) A great conversion of Israel will take place at the time of the Lord’s return. There are variations of this viewpoint depending on your understanding of eschatology.

4) “All Israel” indicates a great turning of Israel to Christ when the fullness of the gentiles has come in (Rom. 10:25). It does not mean every individual Jew.

I pray the following verse for the Jewish people almost every day:

And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10

One day Israel will know that they have rejected their Messiah. Now we should show compassion and pray that Jewish people would trust in Jesus Christ. Our burden for lost people is not very great (Romans 9:1, 10:1)!

It doesn’t matter how high we jump, or how loud we shout, what church we attend or what music we like, if we are not sharing Jesus we are not filled with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 4:31 it says that after the disciples prayed (because they were being persecuted for sharing Jesus), the place was shaken, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and they “spoke the word of God with boldness”. Wow that really convicts me!

We are not as spiritual as we think we are. You are not as spiritual as you think you are if you are not active in speaking the name of Jesus to other people. The early disciples were fisherman and IRS agents not theologians. The fire of the Holy Spirit was what they had and what we need.

We all could use a fresh touch in the area of evangelism. That is why we are offering a motivating reminder called “Conquer Your Fear, Share Your Faith” on November 14, Saturday morning from 8:30am-1:00pm. Do you want to share your faith with others, but don’t know where to start? Are you discouraged or convicted?

Learn to share your faith simply and effectively in four powerful, eye-opening sessions featuring DVD presentations hosted by Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort. Then go out and put what you have learned into practice in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Sign up at the Welcome Center this Sunday. Registration closes November 11. Light breakfast provided.

Population:  6,000,000 (approx)

Peoples:   80.7% Jews       15.6%  Arab

Language:  Hebrew, Arabic       Literacy:  99%

Religion:  Jewish 81%      Muslim  15%    Christian:  2.25%

Prayer Needs:

1.  The intense 50 year conflict between Arabs and Israel

2.  Animosity against Christians.  “Christian” nations are seen as destroyers of Israel by both persecution and proselytizing.

3.  Christian Church is fragmented

We are trying to reach out to every tribe, language, people and nation. Last Sunday evening at 4:30 we began learning about the American Indian culture.

Below is a picture submitted by Dana Suggs. What a great reminder of the beauty and creativity of our God. Let’s continue to ask God for His burden for those who don’t yet know Him!

Join us this Sunday as we begin to learn Cherokee.