Tag: Mark Saunders

The Word Of God Is Living And Active. It Divides Soul And Spirit And Discerns The Thoughts And Intents Of Our Hearts.

Times change. But the word of God doesn’t.

It doesn’t need to updated to a better version. It doesn’t need patches.

God’s word doesn’t change because God doesn’t change. He doesn’t need to update himself.

His word is not just “writings and sayings” but it’s an expression of His heart.

The word of God is living and active. It divides soul and spirit and discerns the thoughts and intents of our hearts.

The word of God is expressed in its fullest by the person of Jesus Christ. He is the word of God. Unless I know Jesus, God’s word doesn’t make sense. It’s boring and old fashioned to be frank.

But when I’m “born again” his word comes alive… rich, deep, clear and simple. I need to know Christ to know the word of God.

I don’t know how it happens but being born again is real. It means “born from above.” The gospel of John describes it as being born “of water and the spirit” meaning birthed through repentance and the Holy Spirit.

If we sincerely ask Him, He’s willing to give that gift.

John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 3:3 – Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 3:11 – I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

  • Mark Saunders

We’re Not Called To Make Peace With The World By Compromising, Instead We’re Called To Make Peace With God.

Keeping the peace often involves compromise. The result is fragile.

The Christian life is not one of compromise. Jesus says blessed is the peace maker but he also says he came to bring a sword.

person holding water

We’re not called to make peace with the world by compromising, Instead we’re called to make peace with God.

This is where we need wisdom from above… to find the line between “not compromising” and “being religious.”

The opposition Jesus faced came mainly from “religious people.” On the other hand he embraced “sinners.”

Apostle Paul said he was ready to be all things to all men in the hope he might win some of them for Christ.

Having made peace through Jesus Christ, he wanted others to come to the same terms of peace with God. He became a peacemaker in that sense.

But at other times his refusal to compromise the truth of the gospel brought great conflict with non believers as well as strong confrontation with other Christians.

How do we discern where the line is drawn? It’s not being zealous or “religious” or “acting out of principle” that will help us. Rather it’s a work of maturity in our own lives as we desire to carry the heart of God – we can’t “learn” that – it’s formed in us as we continue to submit to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Matthew 10:34
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

  • Mark Saunders

There’s An Order Of Authority In A Christian Home Established By God But “Worldly Wisdom” Wants To Do Everything To Undo That

Weeds grow so easily. They don’t need any intervention from us.

Our kids grow too. Without any intervention from us they grow like weeds.

Like sponges, they take in everything around them in. The example we put in front of them the most will have the greatest influence on them.

family bonding activity

That’s a big challenge for us all as parents. Our lives are so full and often so pressured. It’s easier to have our kids entertained by the internet than to build relationship with them.

It’s better for them to go without the “latest” and “best” things and rather to have us instead.

The apostle Paul said,“follow me as I follow Christ.” There’s an order in a Christian home that he tells us about. Christ is the head of man and man is the head of woman. Oops … what did you just say…

There is an order of authority in a Christian home – it’s established by God. But “worldly wisdom” wants to do everything possible to undo that order because we feel we know better.

Christian men, there’s our challenge – to say follow us as we follow Christ. The first thing he did was “to humble himself and come down.” This is, without a doubt, the best and most important thing we can possibly do for our wife and our kids. Help me please Lord!

1 Corinthians 11:1
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:3
But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Luke 9:23
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

  • Mark Saunders

We Can’t Change People – Though We All Wish We Could And We All Try To. This Is Reserved For The Holy Spirit Alone

photo of man doing handstand on desert.jpg

If things don’t happen as we think they should we tend to become impatient. Especially with people.

We often want to change people around us to suit us better.

The Christian walk is all about change …a changed heart, a changed life, a changed covenant with God. But none of this change is brought about by us.

We can’t change people either – though we all wish we could and we all try to. This is reserved for the Holy Spirit alone.

That’s a big challenge to accept – especially in close relationships – to take our own hands off – and let the heart of God in.

In other words to be ready to take my eyes off another’s issues and to turn to the Lord with the attitude of heart to say, “Lord what do you want to do in my heart through this situation?”

This leads us to the cross. To lay down my own life and find God’s Grace. My faith and patience will be tested – but nothing is proved genuine until it’s tested.

Matthew 7:3
And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

James 1:3
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

  • Mark Saunders

The Cross Is The Deepest Example Of God’s Love We Have. Once A Man’s Heart Grasps That His Life Can Never Be The Same

frozen wave against sunlight in the shape of a heart

The desire for perfection often brings with it a lot of pressure and frustration. It’s impossible to be perfect.

Yet the Lord instructs us to be perfect. What does He mean?

All of us have sinned and fallen short of the grace of God. Perfection is not never missing it – it means “complete.”

People say there’s an emptiness in a man that only God himself can fill. We try fill it ourselves with many different things. It can only be filled by Jesus Christ.

Jesus once told to a rich young man to sell all his possessions and follow Him to be perfect. Why? The man’s heart was attached to his riches. Jesus knew that riches could never bring completeness to this man.

Jesus also prayed for perfection of unity amongst his followers – the love of God in Him and Him in them …as a testimony to the world of the love of God.

The only perfection we will ever find is the love of God. That’s why Jesus wants us to be perfect as He is perfect.

Apostle Paul encourages us to put on love which is the bond of perfection.

The cross is the deepest example of God’s love we have. Once a man’s heart grasps that his life can never be the same.

God doesn’t want us to feel that we need to be perfect. His word says that His power is made perfect in weakness. The Holy Spirit helps us even in our weakness.

What He does want is that we accept His love for us – that love is shown in Jesus.

There is no barrier between us and God other than either our unbelief or our pride. Put these aside, find the completion we have in Christ.

There is no religious law He places on us. Are you ready to surrender your life to Christ?

Only His love can make you and I perfect.

Matthew 5:48
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

2 Corinthians 12:9
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Colossians 3:14
But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

  • Mark Saunders