Matthew {15:10} And he called the multitude, and said unto them,
Hear, and understand: {15:11} Not that which goeth into
the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the
mouth, this defileth a man. {15:12} Then came his
disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the
Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
{15:13} But he answered and said, Every plant, which my
heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
{15:14} Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind.
And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
{15:15} Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare
unto us this parable. {15:16} And Jesus said, Are ye also
yet without understanding? {15:17} Do not ye yet
understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth
into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? {15:18} But
those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth
from the heart; and they defile the man. {15:19} For out of
the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: {15:20}
These are [the things] which defile a man: but to eat with
unwashen hands defileth not a man.
We are a superficial people, living in a superficial existence where entertainers earning millions and millions of dollars while people starve and lack medical attention, and some don't even have a roof over their heads and yet- someone with a pretty smile and a pretty face will live in luxury beyond our imaginations. How can they do it? It's easy for us to say and yet we too live in our own superficial existence caught up in our semi-mediocre lives where we say we barely get by and yet we have entertainment at our fingertips every day. A walk to the pantry or the fridge will yield us something to put in our bellies even if it isn't always exactly what we want at the moment. We lay our heads down on a pillow at night and our tired bodies in beds that might not be the most comfortable and yet we have access to something softer than hard ground, or concrete. We can reach over and pull covers over our chilled bodies at night. We can walk to the thermostat of our home and turn it up or down so that we live within our comfort zone and yet we call this life less that good. We get into a car that might not always run right, whose a/c doesn't work, whose radiator loves to over heat a few time a year and we complain because it's not a luxurious car. We use our outdated software, hardware and press on keys that are worn from use- wishing for something more up to date, while so many haven't even access to a computer at all, at least not in their own homes. We have so much and those of us who have so little won't even be reading this. We have so much and yet it rarely is ever enough. What does all this have to do with that passage from Matthew above? Well, it's what that comes out of a man's mouth that defiles him. What comes out are evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies... the things that come from our mouths originate in our hearts. Our hearts hold our desires. Our desires are they for superficial things? Things people will gladly pat us on the back and say it's natural to want. It's normal to want comfort and that is true, no one likes a hard painful existence. So many people worry about the superficial things while completely overlooking the wrongness filling the heart and spilling out into our lives. I see someone and look upon their appearance and judge them instantly even in some small way - we process the information we see had it tells us whether or not the person we are viewing is acceptable- are they better than us in appearance or are they lower than us in appearance, or perhaps they're equal. We make these determinations automatically and based upon the determinations our actions are controlled. Those determinations can be altered once a person begins to talk and the nicest appearing person could be the most vulgar, while the least desirable in appearance could be the sweetest person. We are a superficial people living superficial lives while the blind have an advantage we can't imagine and don't really want. Is there hope for us superficial people? The hope is found in Jesus and His example to us. He treated the richest the same as the poorest and the most undesireable the same as the most desirable. People to Him were all the same- all children of the Father, wayward and lost needing guidance.
While that which comes out of our mouths- revealing who we are - is the truth of the heart, if we only look to that which goes inside us the things we do and not the things we speak- we aren't looking at the heart.
The Pharisees were offended by this saying of Jesus. They were offended because they cherished their outward actions, their rituals, their *good* behavior while not caring at all about the vileness that came from their hearts. As long as they held fast to their rituals they were all set, they were Godly men and no one was going to tell them otherwise. They didn't need anyone telling them all their actions meant nothing, that the actions of others who defiled themselves meant nothing. How dare anyone say such things.
Jesus dared because Jesus knew that the lowliest of the low whose heart was pure was better than the High Priest of the Pharisees.
The heart matters and what comes from our hearts matters. When all the superficial things of our lives are ripped aay, it's what is left that matters most. Are we found in the love of Jesus? Are we true children of the Father? Our hearts will tell.
May the Holy Spirit take the evil from my heart, from your heart, and fill us with the love of Jesus Christ so that what comes from our mouths is from the heart, from the Lord and not from the evils that will fill it up if it's not filled with Jesus.
By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior, by His forgiveness, by His love now and forever.
Amen.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Proactive Probation Officers
Proactive.
Now there's a word you hear a lot of these days, proactive. Just what does that word conjure up in your thoughts when you hear it? To me it means I'm going to actively do something rather than sit around hoping someone else might do it. If I take a proactive stance it's one that is advocating action towards something rather than inaction. Proactive is basically taking steps, taking action hoping to be ahead of the game so to speak, to perhaps even ward off something undesirable in the future. If I take a proactive step against insects invading my house I might lay down poison outside to prevent them from getting in. I might even get a few of those electronic pest control devices, I might also have on hand spray cans of insect control poison so I can be ready just in case they breach all my barriers I've set up. I might not wait until they've invaded to act but rather be prepared before they do and stay ready for what some might consider inevitable here in Southwest Florida. If I slack off and forget to renew the outside poison and the rain and wind along with the hot sun wear it away then I'm at a great risk for insect invasion. If my proactive steps cease then I'm setting myself up for disaster of the creepy crawly kind.
There is a lot to say for being proactive. I believe all of God's probation officers need to be proactive. You can't be one who forewarns of the impending end of probation if you're not doing the warning part. If the whole of the earths occupants are on probation and probation is almost up and your fate is to be decided based on your actions during probation, it's not time to fall asleep and grow lackadaisical. If those all around you risk their probation period coming to an end at any moment don't they need to know that they are on probation?
What? You think everyone automatically knows? Well, a lot of people do and surely most adults realize that they're eventually going to die and then their fate is decided, but most are under the impression that they'll be okay one way or another. Even those that proudly announce they're going to hell so to speak- going to the grave and they aren't going to be with Jesus in heaven when he returns- even they somehow think things will work out for them and life or rather life after life won't be such a bad thing. Some even truly believe they are living in life after death right now and it's as bad as things will ever get for them. More than a few understand that things won't be pleasant for them later on and so they are trying to make the best of things right here and now- the best of things meaning have as much fun and self-indulgance as possible because this is as good as it's gonna get for them. Cease the moment and live in it without thoughts for consequences. So yeah, a lot of people understand that there are choices to make and a lot want to put it off until later or just don't want to bother at all for one reason or another. Life's probation is real and we that believe in the reality of it are duty bound to be witnesses to that fact.
Jesus' entire ministry was spent preaching about eternal life in Him, by His grace and love. People came up to Him asking what they had to do to be saved, to have this eternal life He talked of and Jesus told them. Love God, love others. Jesus died preaching eternity in Him and His love.
1 John {1:1} That which was from the beginning, which we have
heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have
looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of
life; {1:2} (For the life was manifested, and we have seen
[it,] and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life,
which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
{1:3} That which we have seen and heard declare we unto
you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our
fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus
Christ. {1:4} And these things write we unto you, that your
joy may be full.
Witnesses! Proactive declarer-s of Jesus' life and in Him life eternal.
1 John {5:5} Who is he that overcometh the
world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
{5:6} This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus
Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is
the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
{5:7} For there are three that bear record in heaven, the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are
one. {5:8} And there are three that bear witness in earth, the
spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in
one. {5:9} If we receive the witness of men, the witness of
God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath
testified of his Son. {5:10} He that believeth on the Son of
God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God
hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record
that God gave of his Son. {5:11} And this is the record, that
God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
{5:12} He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not
the Son of God hath not life. {5:13} These things have I
written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of
God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye
may believe on the name of the Son of God. {5:14} And
this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask
any thing according to his will, he heareth us: {5:15} And if
we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that
we have the petitions that we desired of him.
3 John {1:5} Beloved, thou doest faithfully
whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
{1:6} Which have borne witness of thy charity before the
church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a
godly sort, thou shalt do well: {1:7} Because that for his
name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
{1:8} We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be
fellowhelpers to the truth.
Fellowhelpers to the truth! Witnesses!
Rev. {1:4} John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace
[be] unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which
was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits
which are before his throne; {1:5} And from Jesus Christ,
[who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the
dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that
loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood
Jesus Christ the faithful witness! He alone has been the perfect witness of life in God, of life everlasting in the Father.
Rev. {3:14} And unto the angel of the church of the
Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful
and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God
The faithful and true witness! Jesus!
Rev. {20:4} And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and
judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of
them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for
the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast,
neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their
foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with
Christ a thousand years.
Beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God.
Killed witnessing of Jesus, killed for witnessing the word of God.
Is probation a serious thing? Things don't get more serious than probation and realizing that life now is our probation and life soon will be when probation is over and our fates decided. May our fates be such that we are declared witnesses of Jesus, faithful witnesses, even if that means death because we hold fast to that witness and never cease.
May the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be ours now and forever as we seek to witness of Him, for Him, in Him as probation for the world quickly runs out. May we through the Holy Spirit remain stedfast in Christ's love no matter what we are called to endure whether it's something life threatening or whether it is to remain stedfast as a witness to those who are around us who say they love us. No matter what road we are called to travel let it be forever the road that leads to the cross, to eternal life in our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ the Righteous.
Amen.
Now there's a word you hear a lot of these days, proactive. Just what does that word conjure up in your thoughts when you hear it? To me it means I'm going to actively do something rather than sit around hoping someone else might do it. If I take a proactive stance it's one that is advocating action towards something rather than inaction. Proactive is basically taking steps, taking action hoping to be ahead of the game so to speak, to perhaps even ward off something undesirable in the future. If I take a proactive step against insects invading my house I might lay down poison outside to prevent them from getting in. I might even get a few of those electronic pest control devices, I might also have on hand spray cans of insect control poison so I can be ready just in case they breach all my barriers I've set up. I might not wait until they've invaded to act but rather be prepared before they do and stay ready for what some might consider inevitable here in Southwest Florida. If I slack off and forget to renew the outside poison and the rain and wind along with the hot sun wear it away then I'm at a great risk for insect invasion. If my proactive steps cease then I'm setting myself up for disaster of the creepy crawly kind.
There is a lot to say for being proactive. I believe all of God's probation officers need to be proactive. You can't be one who forewarns of the impending end of probation if you're not doing the warning part. If the whole of the earths occupants are on probation and probation is almost up and your fate is to be decided based on your actions during probation, it's not time to fall asleep and grow lackadaisical. If those all around you risk their probation period coming to an end at any moment don't they need to know that they are on probation?
What? You think everyone automatically knows? Well, a lot of people do and surely most adults realize that they're eventually going to die and then their fate is decided, but most are under the impression that they'll be okay one way or another. Even those that proudly announce they're going to hell so to speak- going to the grave and they aren't going to be with Jesus in heaven when he returns- even they somehow think things will work out for them and life or rather life after life won't be such a bad thing. Some even truly believe they are living in life after death right now and it's as bad as things will ever get for them. More than a few understand that things won't be pleasant for them later on and so they are trying to make the best of things right here and now- the best of things meaning have as much fun and self-indulgance as possible because this is as good as it's gonna get for them. Cease the moment and live in it without thoughts for consequences. So yeah, a lot of people understand that there are choices to make and a lot want to put it off until later or just don't want to bother at all for one reason or another. Life's probation is real and we that believe in the reality of it are duty bound to be witnesses to that fact.
Jesus' entire ministry was spent preaching about eternal life in Him, by His grace and love. People came up to Him asking what they had to do to be saved, to have this eternal life He talked of and Jesus told them. Love God, love others. Jesus died preaching eternity in Him and His love.
1 John {1:1} That which was from the beginning, which we have
heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have
looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of
life; {1:2} (For the life was manifested, and we have seen
[it,] and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life,
which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
{1:3} That which we have seen and heard declare we unto
you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our
fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus
Christ. {1:4} And these things write we unto you, that your
joy may be full.
Witnesses! Proactive declarer-s of Jesus' life and in Him life eternal.
1 John {5:5} Who is he that overcometh the
world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
{5:6} This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus
Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is
the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
{5:7} For there are three that bear record in heaven, the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are
one. {5:8} And there are three that bear witness in earth, the
spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in
one. {5:9} If we receive the witness of men, the witness of
God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath
testified of his Son. {5:10} He that believeth on the Son of
God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God
hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record
that God gave of his Son. {5:11} And this is the record, that
God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
{5:12} He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not
the Son of God hath not life. {5:13} These things have I
written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of
God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye
may believe on the name of the Son of God. {5:14} And
this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask
any thing according to his will, he heareth us: {5:15} And if
we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that
we have the petitions that we desired of him.
3 John {1:5} Beloved, thou doest faithfully
whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
{1:6} Which have borne witness of thy charity before the
church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a
godly sort, thou shalt do well: {1:7} Because that for his
name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
{1:8} We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be
fellowhelpers to the truth.
Fellowhelpers to the truth! Witnesses!
Rev. {1:4} John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace
[be] unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which
was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits
which are before his throne; {1:5} And from Jesus Christ,
[who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the
dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that
loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood
Jesus Christ the faithful witness! He alone has been the perfect witness of life in God, of life everlasting in the Father.
Rev. {3:14} And unto the angel of the church of the
Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful
and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God
The faithful and true witness! Jesus!
Rev. {20:4} And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and
judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of
them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for
the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast,
neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their
foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with
Christ a thousand years.
Beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God.
Killed witnessing of Jesus, killed for witnessing the word of God.
Is probation a serious thing? Things don't get more serious than probation and realizing that life now is our probation and life soon will be when probation is over and our fates decided. May our fates be such that we are declared witnesses of Jesus, faithful witnesses, even if that means death because we hold fast to that witness and never cease.
May the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be ours now and forever as we seek to witness of Him, for Him, in Him as probation for the world quickly runs out. May we through the Holy Spirit remain stedfast in Christ's love no matter what we are called to endure whether it's something life threatening or whether it is to remain stedfast as a witness to those who are around us who say they love us. No matter what road we are called to travel let it be forever the road that leads to the cross, to eternal life in our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ the Righteous.
Amen.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
We all have a choice, every single one of us.
John {5:24} Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. {5:25} Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. {5:26} For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; {5:27} And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. {5:28} Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, {5:29} And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. {5:30} I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
If we hear Jesus' words and if we believe in God who sent Him, we will have everlasting life. We won't be condemned. We will pass from death to life. There will come a time and in fact even now when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.
Think about it, we are all dead in our sins. Death is promised to all of us if we do absolutely nothing it is ours. Only when we accept Christ are we given the chance to live without death's promise hanging over us.
Eph. {2:5} Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
We are brought to life, true life only in Christ through His grace and mercy.
John {5:28} Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, {5:29} And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation
Picture it.
There have been enough zombie movies to picture it with a bit of detail, of course our idea of things isn't God's idea of things. Still we've seen people coming up out of graves. Just imagine this scene- ALL that are in the graves -- ALL will hear the voice of Jesus. When all hear they come forth from those graves. Everyone who has ever lived and everyone who has ever died will come forth from their graves and some of them will come forth to life and others to damnation. Those who have done good to life, those who have done evil to damnation.
We've heard this tale over and over, the good go to heaven the bad suffer. We see try to emulate that in our own lives. We want the bad to be punished and the good to be rewarded. All too often the bad are rewarded while the good suffer and it seems so wrong to us that it should be that way. Our societies are founded with the hope of good prevailing but more often than not those governing our societies turn out to be corrupted. When we are told that those who have done good will live and yet we find ourselves filled with evil ways we despair of ever living eternally, we have to realize that the only good thing we can do is accept Christ and His righteousness.
All that are in the graves will hear and that day is soon arriving.
1 Thess. {4:16} For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: {4:17} Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. {4:18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
When Christ Himself comes down from heaven with a shout... the dead in Christ shall rise first.
The day is coming. Not all of us will be dead but when Christ comes our fate will have been decided. Only those IN CHRIST will live. The dead in Christ will live. Those alive in Christ will live. No one who doesn't have Christ in their lives, no one who is not IN Christ will live because it's only in Him we can live. Life is in Christ and only in Christ and while many will tell you differently and try to convince you of many, many things we can't believe them, we can't turn to man for the answers but only Christ. Mankind will fill our heads with all sorts of amazing and believable things to convince us of why we shouldn't live our lives in Christ. When Christ returns and calls His people to Him there will be many who won't be In Him, many who will have chosen to live for themselves and not Christ.
We all have a choice, every single one of us.
John {5:30} I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Jesus of Himself does nothing. His judgment is just. He doesn't seek His ownself. Jesus seeks the will of His Father who sent Him.
If Jesus does nothing of Himself and He is our example, we can do nothing for ourselves, nothing of ourselves all we do is to be one through Him, by Him. Our Heavenly Father we live for Him to do His will. We must give ourselves to Him, now and forever.
By the Grace and Mercy of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen.
If we hear Jesus' words and if we believe in God who sent Him, we will have everlasting life. We won't be condemned. We will pass from death to life. There will come a time and in fact even now when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.
Think about it, we are all dead in our sins. Death is promised to all of us if we do absolutely nothing it is ours. Only when we accept Christ are we given the chance to live without death's promise hanging over us.
Eph. {2:5} Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
We are brought to life, true life only in Christ through His grace and mercy.
John {5:28} Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, {5:29} And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation
Picture it.
There have been enough zombie movies to picture it with a bit of detail, of course our idea of things isn't God's idea of things. Still we've seen people coming up out of graves. Just imagine this scene- ALL that are in the graves -- ALL will hear the voice of Jesus. When all hear they come forth from those graves. Everyone who has ever lived and everyone who has ever died will come forth from their graves and some of them will come forth to life and others to damnation. Those who have done good to life, those who have done evil to damnation.
We've heard this tale over and over, the good go to heaven the bad suffer. We see try to emulate that in our own lives. We want the bad to be punished and the good to be rewarded. All too often the bad are rewarded while the good suffer and it seems so wrong to us that it should be that way. Our societies are founded with the hope of good prevailing but more often than not those governing our societies turn out to be corrupted. When we are told that those who have done good will live and yet we find ourselves filled with evil ways we despair of ever living eternally, we have to realize that the only good thing we can do is accept Christ and His righteousness.
All that are in the graves will hear and that day is soon arriving.
1 Thess. {4:16} For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: {4:17} Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. {4:18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
When Christ Himself comes down from heaven with a shout... the dead in Christ shall rise first.
The day is coming. Not all of us will be dead but when Christ comes our fate will have been decided. Only those IN CHRIST will live. The dead in Christ will live. Those alive in Christ will live. No one who doesn't have Christ in their lives, no one who is not IN Christ will live because it's only in Him we can live. Life is in Christ and only in Christ and while many will tell you differently and try to convince you of many, many things we can't believe them, we can't turn to man for the answers but only Christ. Mankind will fill our heads with all sorts of amazing and believable things to convince us of why we shouldn't live our lives in Christ. When Christ returns and calls His people to Him there will be many who won't be In Him, many who will have chosen to live for themselves and not Christ.
We all have a choice, every single one of us.
John {5:30} I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Jesus of Himself does nothing. His judgment is just. He doesn't seek His ownself. Jesus seeks the will of His Father who sent Him.
If Jesus does nothing of Himself and He is our example, we can do nothing for ourselves, nothing of ourselves all we do is to be one through Him, by Him. Our Heavenly Father we live for Him to do His will. We must give ourselves to Him, now and forever.
By the Grace and Mercy of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
A World On Probation
A World On Probation.
In any prison system you will find a few things to be universally true. One of those things is all the prisoners have been convicted of a crime. Another truth is not all are guilty of that crime for which they are convicted but the majority of them are. You'll find those who are very deserving of their sentence and those who aren't as deserving. You will even find some completely innocent - at least of the crime for which they are in prison for. You'll find some who are evil through and through in their actions and given half a chance they'd do over everything exactly as they did before. You'll find others who are just biding their time and are planning on being much more careful in their criminal life later on should they get out. You'll also find those who are truly remorseful for what they've done and they swear they would never ever commit that crime again, never. One thing is certain many criminals serve their time and when they are released regardless of their remorse or lack thereof, they are put on probation. They are let out of prison and into society once more and told to behave because they're being watched. At anytime their probation officer can show up and demand certain things from them in order to prove they're behaving. They live under probation for a set period of time and it's basically set up so that the caretakers of society can watch them and determine if it was the right thing to do, releasing them from prison. They hope it's the right thing because making a mistake is very costly. Often you'll hear of some atrocity committed by some criminal who was let out on probation, some criminal that had they never been released would never have committed the second crime. Yet on the opposite side of things you have those who are released and go on to become upstanding members of the community. It's a gamble when the criminal is released because there is no guarantee on the outcome of their lives. A trust is placed in them to not return to a life of crime, and yet it's a trust that is easily broken and yet we don't end the system of probation even though the trust has been broken over and over and over and most would say the system is very broken. We continue the system of probation because we really need to hope that it works in most cases and we can't deprive people of that opportunity to show they've reformed, that they won't continue down a path of crime. If we kept every criminal in jail forever we might find he majority of the population would be in there, or at least such a vast part of it that we'd need a system other than us building prisons and tending to them.
In the beginning God created a perfect world. A twist of fate created the first criminal, the first abberation, the first sin. God is God knowing all there is to know. Knowing right from wrong, knowing good from evil.
To keep all evil from ruling God created creatures that could choose one or the other. Because a great evil exists in creating creatures without choice. There is a hollow emptiness that is void of true love when there is no choice. Take what we call love between a man and a woman, a husband and wife. When a marriage is prearranged and no choice given to either party it is entered out of duty and because the choice isn't there it is just one more aspect of life that holds very little emotional value- it is in reality another job in life. When a person is allowed to choose the one they marry there is joy involved that isn't there when the marriage isn't made out of choice.
Being allowed to choose the different paths we take in life is enriching in many ways. Being a slave without any choice in the path our lives take is what we call inhumane and we call it that because choice is so amazingly important a part of being the creatures that we are. Slavery is horrific and abolished by law around the world- of course that doesn't mean it doesn't exist because it does in astounding numbers. Taking away choice is an evil, allowing to choose is freedom. One is good, one is bad.
A God of love could never create an intelligent being and strip them of the freedom of choice without being evil. Our God of love created beings with choice knowing that the creatures created might choose to embrace evil. Because our God knew this was possible and because He knew that Good is triumphant over Evil, He not only created one very intelligence sort of creation, He created another.
When the first sort of creation became corrupted God knew that things would have to unfold to the point beyond any doubt that the corrupted things must be done away with if any of the creations were to survive and not be obliterated out of existence entirely. When the first creation corrupted the second creation it was even more important that this entire scene unfold so that the power of choice could remain intact while ridding all of creation of the evil that had been brought into it. Once the choice was made the good should rule over evil the choice had to extend to ALL of the created beings and when given a choice there comes a time of choosing. First there is a time of revelation- where all beings are allowed to witness the outcomes of their choices by understanding what exist before them right then.
Good verses Evil.
Choices to make.
You have that choice, I have that choice and we live in a world on probation with probation quickly winding down to a point where once probation is up the world will be made new with those who have decided to choose good over evil. When a criminal's probation is up it is up by one of a few ways- it's up because they've chosen to remain good and are free to live without probation hanging over them any longer, or it is up because they've been put back into prison because they've chosen not to remain acceptable to society, they've chosen not to remain good; or they've died which has taken away any choice at all. Those are three ways probation is over. When the world's probation is up there will be those who have chosen the path of goodness found only in the salvation and mercy, the rightousness of Jesus Christ; or there will be those who have chosen the path of evil found in Satan and the many disguises He uses to keep us from salvation in Christ. Also, when the world's probation is up there will be those who are dead and they will be either dead in Christ, or dead without Christ.
Make no mistake about the world's probation coming to a close. We've been given a very reliable testament to its closing. The timetable given to us is unfolding faster and faster as we were told it would. We don't know when the last bell will sound, but we are given plenty of warning bells before hand. The bells are ringing faster and faster now and soon the world's probation will be over, all choices made.
Revelation {22:20} He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. {22:21) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with us all, now and forever!
In any prison system you will find a few things to be universally true. One of those things is all the prisoners have been convicted of a crime. Another truth is not all are guilty of that crime for which they are convicted but the majority of them are. You'll find those who are very deserving of their sentence and those who aren't as deserving. You will even find some completely innocent - at least of the crime for which they are in prison for. You'll find some who are evil through and through in their actions and given half a chance they'd do over everything exactly as they did before. You'll find others who are just biding their time and are planning on being much more careful in their criminal life later on should they get out. You'll also find those who are truly remorseful for what they've done and they swear they would never ever commit that crime again, never. One thing is certain many criminals serve their time and when they are released regardless of their remorse or lack thereof, they are put on probation. They are let out of prison and into society once more and told to behave because they're being watched. At anytime their probation officer can show up and demand certain things from them in order to prove they're behaving. They live under probation for a set period of time and it's basically set up so that the caretakers of society can watch them and determine if it was the right thing to do, releasing them from prison. They hope it's the right thing because making a mistake is very costly. Often you'll hear of some atrocity committed by some criminal who was let out on probation, some criminal that had they never been released would never have committed the second crime. Yet on the opposite side of things you have those who are released and go on to become upstanding members of the community. It's a gamble when the criminal is released because there is no guarantee on the outcome of their lives. A trust is placed in them to not return to a life of crime, and yet it's a trust that is easily broken and yet we don't end the system of probation even though the trust has been broken over and over and over and most would say the system is very broken. We continue the system of probation because we really need to hope that it works in most cases and we can't deprive people of that opportunity to show they've reformed, that they won't continue down a path of crime. If we kept every criminal in jail forever we might find he majority of the population would be in there, or at least such a vast part of it that we'd need a system other than us building prisons and tending to them.
In the beginning God created a perfect world. A twist of fate created the first criminal, the first abberation, the first sin. God is God knowing all there is to know. Knowing right from wrong, knowing good from evil.
To keep all evil from ruling God created creatures that could choose one or the other. Because a great evil exists in creating creatures without choice. There is a hollow emptiness that is void of true love when there is no choice. Take what we call love between a man and a woman, a husband and wife. When a marriage is prearranged and no choice given to either party it is entered out of duty and because the choice isn't there it is just one more aspect of life that holds very little emotional value- it is in reality another job in life. When a person is allowed to choose the one they marry there is joy involved that isn't there when the marriage isn't made out of choice.
Being allowed to choose the different paths we take in life is enriching in many ways. Being a slave without any choice in the path our lives take is what we call inhumane and we call it that because choice is so amazingly important a part of being the creatures that we are. Slavery is horrific and abolished by law around the world- of course that doesn't mean it doesn't exist because it does in astounding numbers. Taking away choice is an evil, allowing to choose is freedom. One is good, one is bad.
A God of love could never create an intelligent being and strip them of the freedom of choice without being evil. Our God of love created beings with choice knowing that the creatures created might choose to embrace evil. Because our God knew this was possible and because He knew that Good is triumphant over Evil, He not only created one very intelligence sort of creation, He created another.
When the first sort of creation became corrupted God knew that things would have to unfold to the point beyond any doubt that the corrupted things must be done away with if any of the creations were to survive and not be obliterated out of existence entirely. When the first creation corrupted the second creation it was even more important that this entire scene unfold so that the power of choice could remain intact while ridding all of creation of the evil that had been brought into it. Once the choice was made the good should rule over evil the choice had to extend to ALL of the created beings and when given a choice there comes a time of choosing. First there is a time of revelation- where all beings are allowed to witness the outcomes of their choices by understanding what exist before them right then.
Good verses Evil.
Choices to make.
You have that choice, I have that choice and we live in a world on probation with probation quickly winding down to a point where once probation is up the world will be made new with those who have decided to choose good over evil. When a criminal's probation is up it is up by one of a few ways- it's up because they've chosen to remain good and are free to live without probation hanging over them any longer, or it is up because they've been put back into prison because they've chosen not to remain acceptable to society, they've chosen not to remain good; or they've died which has taken away any choice at all. Those are three ways probation is over. When the world's probation is up there will be those who have chosen the path of goodness found only in the salvation and mercy, the rightousness of Jesus Christ; or there will be those who have chosen the path of evil found in Satan and the many disguises He uses to keep us from salvation in Christ. Also, when the world's probation is up there will be those who are dead and they will be either dead in Christ, or dead without Christ.
Make no mistake about the world's probation coming to a close. We've been given a very reliable testament to its closing. The timetable given to us is unfolding faster and faster as we were told it would. We don't know when the last bell will sound, but we are given plenty of warning bells before hand. The bells are ringing faster and faster now and soon the world's probation will be over, all choices made.
Revelation {22:20} He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. {22:21) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with us all, now and forever!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Probation Officers
Philippians
{2:19} But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. {2:20} For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
{2:21} For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
{2:22} But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
{2:23} Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
{2:24} But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
{2:25} Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
{2:26} For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
{2:27} For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
{2:28} I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
{2:29} Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation
{2:30} Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me
My brother, companion in labour, and fellow soldier...messenger, minister
Fellow soldier.
We who are Christ's are His people, His children, we are laborers together, we are soldiers.
Soldiers-
soldier (sol´jer) noun
1. One who serves in an army.
2. An enlisted person or a noncommissioned officer.
3. a. An active, loyal, and militant follower: a soldier in the environmental coalition. b. A trusted follower of an organized crime leader.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
An active, loyal, militant follower. A trusted follower of Jesus.
When a person joins the army they swear to serve their country, their loyalty is to their government. They pledge to obey, to follow the leaders of their country, if they don't then they are traitors. It's easy to define a loyal soldier of the world, easy to know when one is a traitor and when one is loyal. They either defend their country or they oppose it.
As soldiers for Christ we either defend Him or we don't. What exactly are we defending when we are a soldier of Christ's? When we serve Christ? We are loyal to Him and the message He brought to share with the world, a timeless message that will last until He returns because that is His message. Eternal life is real. It was real to Jesus and His followers when He first preached it and it is still real today. The timeless message will last for eternity. Christ came and lived a very powerful, if short life and suffered a horrific death preaching His message the entire time a message His followers were to share with others. Eternity in Christ. We today are soldiers for Christ bringing His message to others. Every soldier has the duty to protect that message, to share it, to pass it on.
The message is that probation is closing for everyone. Probation is closing for us as individuals.
Each of us are on probation from the moment we are aware of the choice we have to believe we are on probation. There is no minimum age limit, or maximum, probation is something we are born into.
What is probation?
probation (pro-bâ´shen) noun
1. A process or period in which a person's fitness, as for membership in a working or social group, is tested.
2. a. Law. The act of suspending the sentence of a person convicted of a criminal offense and granting that person provisional freedom on the promise of good behavior. b. A discharge for a person from commitment as an insane person on condition of continued sanity and of being recommitted upon the reappearance of insanity.
3. A trial period in which a student is given time to try to redeem failing grades or bad conduct.
4. The status of a person on probation.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
We live in probationary time. A time in which we are able to be redeemed through Christ.
If someone says probation is over then they mean the time to find redemption is over- by that point you are either redeemed in Christ or lost to Him.
We have criminals on probation- and that means they are watched, their actions are watched, they are accountable for their behavior during a set period of time and if they break that probation with unacceptable behavior they can be sent to jail. If they are good and behave appropriately during their probationary period then when their probation is up they are free and clear- no jail, no more probation.
We as Christians live in a time of probation and it's call life. This life we have the opportunity to be acceptable in Christ by choosing to follow Him and live for Him and no other- not self, not Satan. Our probation because it is our life means that it is up automatically when we die. We have endless, or rather a lifetime of opportunity to choose Christ- a whole lifetime. Of course we don't know how long we'll live, some have very short lives others very long lives.
When Christ preached His message He preached it loud and clear and that message was of finding eternal life in Him, salvation in Him, reconciliation with the Father in heaven in Him. That message was just and true and will come to pass. When Christ returns there will be people alive, a very few will be alive in Him while the majority will have chosen not to believe in Him. Before Christ returns probation will be closed. There will be a people alive who live when probation that gift of time in which to choose to live for Christ is over and the decision we made before probation closed is the decision we live with.
Just as we don't know when we will die, we don't know when Christ will return exactly but we are given signs. Some people are even given signs of their impending death. Christ will return there is no doubt, and another certainty in life is death- in fact some people say it's the only certainty. We know we will die and at that time we know our probation is up. We have to be ready ALWAYS during this period of probation to have Christ in our lives, believing in Christ accepting His salvation, His forgiveness, His love. We don't know when probation is up and so we need to be ready always and we have to tell others the same. We also have to tell them that time is growing shorter, Christ will return soon and impending death isn't the only end to probation for those living right before Christ returns.
Ready always!
1 Pet. {3:15} But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
Ready always!
We are soldiers for Christ that have to preach that we live in probation, that we all are subject to this probation. We are all guilty, we are all criminals in the eyes of God, all of us sinners and the only way we can survive to live for eternity is during our probation we accept Christ as our Savior daily!
When probation is over whether by death or by Christ's return everyone will have made their choice, no one is exempt from choosing, no one.
As soldiers with Christ we in essence are Christ's probation officers. We have and continue to accept Christ and it is our duty to bring this opportunity to others, our duty.
I thought about this the other day when something I was listening to hit me just right. When I was young I started college with the hope of being a probation officer. That hope wasn't realized for various reasons but God in His wisdom, with a personal irony for me, has made me His probation officer. So maybe I didn't become what I wanted to become in my own way, but Christ in His way gave me exactly what I wanted. So amazing.
By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior may my daily choice forever be the choice to be His follower and as His follower, His soldier and as His soldier, His probation officer. Give me the voice I need Lord to point to You and only You and Your love and grace, Your mercy, Your forgiveness, life in you forever!
Amen.
{2:19} But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. {2:20} For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
{2:21} For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
{2:22} But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
{2:23} Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
{2:24} But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
{2:25} Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
{2:26} For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
{2:27} For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
{2:28} I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
{2:29} Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation
{2:30} Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me
My brother, companion in labour, and fellow soldier...messenger, minister
Fellow soldier.
We who are Christ's are His people, His children, we are laborers together, we are soldiers.
Soldiers-
soldier (sol´jer) noun
1. One who serves in an army.
2. An enlisted person or a noncommissioned officer.
3. a. An active, loyal, and militant follower: a soldier in the environmental coalition. b. A trusted follower of an organized crime leader.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
An active, loyal, militant follower. A trusted follower of Jesus.
When a person joins the army they swear to serve their country, their loyalty is to their government. They pledge to obey, to follow the leaders of their country, if they don't then they are traitors. It's easy to define a loyal soldier of the world, easy to know when one is a traitor and when one is loyal. They either defend their country or they oppose it.
As soldiers for Christ we either defend Him or we don't. What exactly are we defending when we are a soldier of Christ's? When we serve Christ? We are loyal to Him and the message He brought to share with the world, a timeless message that will last until He returns because that is His message. Eternal life is real. It was real to Jesus and His followers when He first preached it and it is still real today. The timeless message will last for eternity. Christ came and lived a very powerful, if short life and suffered a horrific death preaching His message the entire time a message His followers were to share with others. Eternity in Christ. We today are soldiers for Christ bringing His message to others. Every soldier has the duty to protect that message, to share it, to pass it on.
The message is that probation is closing for everyone. Probation is closing for us as individuals.
Each of us are on probation from the moment we are aware of the choice we have to believe we are on probation. There is no minimum age limit, or maximum, probation is something we are born into.
What is probation?
probation (pro-bâ´shen) noun
1. A process or period in which a person's fitness, as for membership in a working or social group, is tested.
2. a. Law. The act of suspending the sentence of a person convicted of a criminal offense and granting that person provisional freedom on the promise of good behavior. b. A discharge for a person from commitment as an insane person on condition of continued sanity and of being recommitted upon the reappearance of insanity.
3. A trial period in which a student is given time to try to redeem failing grades or bad conduct.
4. The status of a person on probation.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
We live in probationary time. A time in which we are able to be redeemed through Christ.
If someone says probation is over then they mean the time to find redemption is over- by that point you are either redeemed in Christ or lost to Him.
We have criminals on probation- and that means they are watched, their actions are watched, they are accountable for their behavior during a set period of time and if they break that probation with unacceptable behavior they can be sent to jail. If they are good and behave appropriately during their probationary period then when their probation is up they are free and clear- no jail, no more probation.
We as Christians live in a time of probation and it's call life. This life we have the opportunity to be acceptable in Christ by choosing to follow Him and live for Him and no other- not self, not Satan. Our probation because it is our life means that it is up automatically when we die. We have endless, or rather a lifetime of opportunity to choose Christ- a whole lifetime. Of course we don't know how long we'll live, some have very short lives others very long lives.
When Christ preached His message He preached it loud and clear and that message was of finding eternal life in Him, salvation in Him, reconciliation with the Father in heaven in Him. That message was just and true and will come to pass. When Christ returns there will be people alive, a very few will be alive in Him while the majority will have chosen not to believe in Him. Before Christ returns probation will be closed. There will be a people alive who live when probation that gift of time in which to choose to live for Christ is over and the decision we made before probation closed is the decision we live with.
Just as we don't know when we will die, we don't know when Christ will return exactly but we are given signs. Some people are even given signs of their impending death. Christ will return there is no doubt, and another certainty in life is death- in fact some people say it's the only certainty. We know we will die and at that time we know our probation is up. We have to be ready ALWAYS during this period of probation to have Christ in our lives, believing in Christ accepting His salvation, His forgiveness, His love. We don't know when probation is up and so we need to be ready always and we have to tell others the same. We also have to tell them that time is growing shorter, Christ will return soon and impending death isn't the only end to probation for those living right before Christ returns.
Ready always!
1 Pet. {3:15} But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
Ready always!
We are soldiers for Christ that have to preach that we live in probation, that we all are subject to this probation. We are all guilty, we are all criminals in the eyes of God, all of us sinners and the only way we can survive to live for eternity is during our probation we accept Christ as our Savior daily!
When probation is over whether by death or by Christ's return everyone will have made their choice, no one is exempt from choosing, no one.
As soldiers with Christ we in essence are Christ's probation officers. We have and continue to accept Christ and it is our duty to bring this opportunity to others, our duty.
I thought about this the other day when something I was listening to hit me just right. When I was young I started college with the hope of being a probation officer. That hope wasn't realized for various reasons but God in His wisdom, with a personal irony for me, has made me His probation officer. So maybe I didn't become what I wanted to become in my own way, but Christ in His way gave me exactly what I wanted. So amazing.
By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior may my daily choice forever be the choice to be His follower and as His follower, His soldier and as His soldier, His probation officer. Give me the voice I need Lord to point to You and only You and Your love and grace, Your mercy, Your forgiveness, life in you forever!
Amen.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Blessed are they that do his commandments
Rev. {22:14} Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Blessed are they that do His commandments.
Are we supposed to automatically be able to *do* the commandments? If something is automatic do we really need to be told to do it? If it is part of our life, if it all comes natural to us we really wouldn't have to be told to do it, right? When we're raising our children we instruct them in the ways of life. Things don't come natural to them. Oh, we'd like to think a child would automatically potty train themselves but in reality they don't, they are taught where to go once their bowels muscles are under their control, or they watch and imitate what others are doing- the point being they have to learn to do it. The same for many, many things, children don't just naturally eat neatly. They are taught to wipe their mouths, taught to wash their hands, taught to brush their teeth. Life as a child is spent learning how to be a proper adult and with good instruction aren't ALL taught and learn? Not necessarily. You could be the best teacher and still have a naturally unruly child, a bad seed so to speak. Then there are all different in-betweens the good and the bad. We as human beings have been given an opportunity to learn from the greatest teacher ever- our Heavenly Father.
God is very loving and He's set up our very lives to reveal His own. Parents and children and even if you've never been a parent you can witness the parents around you and guess what, no one escapes being a child and having a parent- no one. Don't even go to the orphans and such, they all still have a parental figure who might not necessarily be a good parental figure. All children are exposed to adults and as such they have a figure to look to. Some have the best parents ever, loving and kind and others have a mere caregiver who only cares if the child stays out of their way and does what they are told. And yes, there are many abusive parents and no, they aren't good examples of a loving father but they sure teach the abused child the horrors of life and I'm not saying that's a good thing. The only point I'm trying to make is the type of Father/Child exists and there are several combinations that can exist. Good/Good, Good/Bad, Bad/Good, Bad/Bad and many inbetween, such as partially good etc. We have only one example in our Heavenly Father- He will always be Good. Will He be exacting? Yes. Will He punish? Yes. Will He get angry? Yes. But His ways are just and true.
Rev. 15:3 '...God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints.'
Our heavenly Father gives us instructions in life that will...yes, go against our naturally corrupt inclinations. We are given an opportunity to choose over and over and over again, daily we are given opportunities to make the choices. Our lives are made up of making choices and even if we're not faced with outright choices that we recognize as such- content to just live our lives as we want, that in itself is a choice. Any day we don't recognize God as our Heavenly Father, any day we don't cling to Christ asking for forgiveness, asking for salvation, asking for His righteousness in place of our own is a day we are choosing to walk our own path on our own steam thinking we exist in our good lives on our own steam. We don't. We exist because the Lord has given us life and then offered us through all our hardships and whatnot a way to the true path of life eternal. We are all offered this life eternal. We are all given an opportunity to do as God wills.
As stated above, if we all are automatically able to do something it isn't something we are told to do. If we automatically breathe we aren't told to breathe- it comes automatically, right?
Rev. {22:14} Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
We have a choice to do God's commandments or not and if we think they come automatically- that we can keep them without making the choice to do so then we are setting ourselves up to fail. If we get caught up in the whole you're thinking by doing that you'll be saved, so you just don't do that thing or shouldn't be compelled to do it, then it's another trap altogether. We have to choose to do His commandments. We have a choice to make and we make it all the time. Just because you choose to do something won't save you, but certainly choosing not to will condemn you outright.
We are given commands. A command is something we are given and expected to follow or suffer the consequences of that action. There comes a point where we really do have to trust that God will take our actions and by the grace and mercy of Christ make them acceptable to Him. But we do have to commit to the action of doing.
When that verse from the Bible says- Blessed are they that do his commandments- does it mean blessed are they that don't choose but automatically do the commandments? No. There is no automatic about it all. Blessed are they that do his commandments. Meaning blessed are those that choose to do His commandments. Blessed are they that do his commandments why? That they might have right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. Obviously those that choose not to do his commandments won't have that right, and they won't enter through the gate.
Choose and trust in God to make the choice acceptable. Don't choose purposely NOT to do His commandments under the false pretense of not wanting to be bless by your own works. Choose to do His commandments and trust in God to work in and on our hearts to make our choice acceptable. The devil would have us think we are trying to *work* our way to heaven, but that's just another trap of His. He wants us to choose not to do God's commandments for whatever reason suits us personally. He'll use any means he can to keep us from doing God's commandments. He'll set up obstacles all along the way for us at every step.
Something that just occurred to me- there are a few of the Ten Commandments that we find all but impossible to keep- those that involve the thinking- the coveting (even in little things), the lying (little white lies) and that being so-- shouldn't we strive to do all the Commandments that we don't necessarily find emotionally, mentally trying? What I mean is-- most of us don't have a problem with killing so keeping/doing that commandment is fairly easy, the same for stealing, adultery, worshipping pagan gods. We generally don't fail at those commandments we do them. And then there is the Sabbath commandment, another that should be fairly easy to keep and yet for many it's extremely hard. Some purposely don't even try to keep the Sabbath because they get caught up in the whole bit about if my spirit isn't right doing it- if I'm reluctant then I'm not really keeping it so why bother. I say bother, because if you put yourself in the position you can give your heart to God and ask Him to make it right, but if you never put yourself in the position of doing His commandment then you will never give Him a chance to make your heart right.
Anyways, we have to choose to do His commandments. Don't think for one moment that they are automatically done. It's by the grace of our Lord that we can do His commandments. If we choose to do them, Christ will make our choices acceptable to the Father. By His amazing, unfathomable mercy and love, now and forever.
Amen.
Rev. {22:17} And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Come. I say Come!
I'm thirsty, Lord. So thirsty, please give to me the water of life freely, the water found in Christ, through Christ only and always.
Blessed are they that do His commandments.
Are we supposed to automatically be able to *do* the commandments? If something is automatic do we really need to be told to do it? If it is part of our life, if it all comes natural to us we really wouldn't have to be told to do it, right? When we're raising our children we instruct them in the ways of life. Things don't come natural to them. Oh, we'd like to think a child would automatically potty train themselves but in reality they don't, they are taught where to go once their bowels muscles are under their control, or they watch and imitate what others are doing- the point being they have to learn to do it. The same for many, many things, children don't just naturally eat neatly. They are taught to wipe their mouths, taught to wash their hands, taught to brush their teeth. Life as a child is spent learning how to be a proper adult and with good instruction aren't ALL taught and learn? Not necessarily. You could be the best teacher and still have a naturally unruly child, a bad seed so to speak. Then there are all different in-betweens the good and the bad. We as human beings have been given an opportunity to learn from the greatest teacher ever- our Heavenly Father.
God is very loving and He's set up our very lives to reveal His own. Parents and children and even if you've never been a parent you can witness the parents around you and guess what, no one escapes being a child and having a parent- no one. Don't even go to the orphans and such, they all still have a parental figure who might not necessarily be a good parental figure. All children are exposed to adults and as such they have a figure to look to. Some have the best parents ever, loving and kind and others have a mere caregiver who only cares if the child stays out of their way and does what they are told. And yes, there are many abusive parents and no, they aren't good examples of a loving father but they sure teach the abused child the horrors of life and I'm not saying that's a good thing. The only point I'm trying to make is the type of Father/Child exists and there are several combinations that can exist. Good/Good, Good/Bad, Bad/Good, Bad/Bad and many inbetween, such as partially good etc. We have only one example in our Heavenly Father- He will always be Good. Will He be exacting? Yes. Will He punish? Yes. Will He get angry? Yes. But His ways are just and true.
Rev. 15:3 '...God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints.'
Our heavenly Father gives us instructions in life that will...yes, go against our naturally corrupt inclinations. We are given an opportunity to choose over and over and over again, daily we are given opportunities to make the choices. Our lives are made up of making choices and even if we're not faced with outright choices that we recognize as such- content to just live our lives as we want, that in itself is a choice. Any day we don't recognize God as our Heavenly Father, any day we don't cling to Christ asking for forgiveness, asking for salvation, asking for His righteousness in place of our own is a day we are choosing to walk our own path on our own steam thinking we exist in our good lives on our own steam. We don't. We exist because the Lord has given us life and then offered us through all our hardships and whatnot a way to the true path of life eternal. We are all offered this life eternal. We are all given an opportunity to do as God wills.
As stated above, if we all are automatically able to do something it isn't something we are told to do. If we automatically breathe we aren't told to breathe- it comes automatically, right?
Rev. {22:14} Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
We have a choice to do God's commandments or not and if we think they come automatically- that we can keep them without making the choice to do so then we are setting ourselves up to fail. If we get caught up in the whole you're thinking by doing that you'll be saved, so you just don't do that thing or shouldn't be compelled to do it, then it's another trap altogether. We have to choose to do His commandments. We have a choice to make and we make it all the time. Just because you choose to do something won't save you, but certainly choosing not to will condemn you outright.
We are given commands. A command is something we are given and expected to follow or suffer the consequences of that action. There comes a point where we really do have to trust that God will take our actions and by the grace and mercy of Christ make them acceptable to Him. But we do have to commit to the action of doing.
When that verse from the Bible says- Blessed are they that do his commandments- does it mean blessed are they that don't choose but automatically do the commandments? No. There is no automatic about it all. Blessed are they that do his commandments. Meaning blessed are those that choose to do His commandments. Blessed are they that do his commandments why? That they might have right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. Obviously those that choose not to do his commandments won't have that right, and they won't enter through the gate.
Choose and trust in God to make the choice acceptable. Don't choose purposely NOT to do His commandments under the false pretense of not wanting to be bless by your own works. Choose to do His commandments and trust in God to work in and on our hearts to make our choice acceptable. The devil would have us think we are trying to *work* our way to heaven, but that's just another trap of His. He wants us to choose not to do God's commandments for whatever reason suits us personally. He'll use any means he can to keep us from doing God's commandments. He'll set up obstacles all along the way for us at every step.
Something that just occurred to me- there are a few of the Ten Commandments that we find all but impossible to keep- those that involve the thinking- the coveting (even in little things), the lying (little white lies) and that being so-- shouldn't we strive to do all the Commandments that we don't necessarily find emotionally, mentally trying? What I mean is-- most of us don't have a problem with killing so keeping/doing that commandment is fairly easy, the same for stealing, adultery, worshipping pagan gods. We generally don't fail at those commandments we do them. And then there is the Sabbath commandment, another that should be fairly easy to keep and yet for many it's extremely hard. Some purposely don't even try to keep the Sabbath because they get caught up in the whole bit about if my spirit isn't right doing it- if I'm reluctant then I'm not really keeping it so why bother. I say bother, because if you put yourself in the position you can give your heart to God and ask Him to make it right, but if you never put yourself in the position of doing His commandment then you will never give Him a chance to make your heart right.
Anyways, we have to choose to do His commandments. Don't think for one moment that they are automatically done. It's by the grace of our Lord that we can do His commandments. If we choose to do them, Christ will make our choices acceptable to the Father. By His amazing, unfathomable mercy and love, now and forever.
Amen.
Rev. {22:17} And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Come. I say Come!
I'm thirsty, Lord. So thirsty, please give to me the water of life freely, the water found in Christ, through Christ only and always.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Striving
Col.
{1:19} For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell
{1:20} And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say,] whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven.
{1:21} And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
{1:22} In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight
{1:23} If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister
{1:24} Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church
{1:25} Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
{1:26} [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints
{1:27} To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
{1:28} Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus
{1:29} Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Paul labors...strives according to the work of Jesus Christ, a work that works even in him.
Striving is important. People tend to equate striving with trying to work their way to heaven and we all know that works mean nothing, we're saved by faith. The striving is to minister the word of Christ's salvation being offered to all.
Preaching- warning- teaching all wisdom and that wisdom is Christ, in Christ, and we must have Christ in our lives.
We need to continue in the faith grounded and settled- when you're grounded and settled in something it's part of your life. If hope becomes part of our lives we can't lose it can we? The hope is Christ and Him crucified for us. Christ suffered and died for us and it's something we can't forget. We can't forget that Christ lives for us. We live because He lives. Every breath we take we take for Him.
Our minds have us committing wicked works which cause alienation between us and Christ. We can be reconciled to Christ because Christ came for that purpose and that purpose only. Only through Christ do we live. Accepting what Christ had done for us is what we need to do, relying solely on Him and not upon ourselves at all. We need to spread this same hope to all, to let all others know that they too can have that hope, the hope that is found in Christ, the only hope that truly matters.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we find our hope only in Him, striving, labouring, ministering, preaching as He would have us do.
Amen.
{1:19} For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell
{1:20} And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say,] whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven.
{1:21} And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
{1:22} In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight
{1:23} If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister
{1:24} Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church
{1:25} Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
{1:26} [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints
{1:27} To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
{1:28} Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus
{1:29} Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Paul labors...strives according to the work of Jesus Christ, a work that works even in him.
Striving is important. People tend to equate striving with trying to work their way to heaven and we all know that works mean nothing, we're saved by faith. The striving is to minister the word of Christ's salvation being offered to all.
Preaching- warning- teaching all wisdom and that wisdom is Christ, in Christ, and we must have Christ in our lives.
We need to continue in the faith grounded and settled- when you're grounded and settled in something it's part of your life. If hope becomes part of our lives we can't lose it can we? The hope is Christ and Him crucified for us. Christ suffered and died for us and it's something we can't forget. We can't forget that Christ lives for us. We live because He lives. Every breath we take we take for Him.
Our minds have us committing wicked works which cause alienation between us and Christ. We can be reconciled to Christ because Christ came for that purpose and that purpose only. Only through Christ do we live. Accepting what Christ had done for us is what we need to do, relying solely on Him and not upon ourselves at all. We need to spread this same hope to all, to let all others know that they too can have that hope, the hope that is found in Christ, the only hope that truly matters.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we find our hope only in Him, striving, labouring, ministering, preaching as He would have us do.
Amen.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Do you believe Jesus died?
1 Thess.
{5:1} But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
{5:2} For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
{5:3} For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
{5:4} But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
{5:5} Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
{5:6} Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.
{5:7} For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
{5:8} But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. {5:9} For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ
{5:10} Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
{5:11} Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Matthew
{24:36} But of that day and hour knoweth no [man,] no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
{24:37} But as the days of Noe [were,] so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
{24:38} For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark
{24:39} And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
{24:40} Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
{24:41} Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
{24:42} Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
{24:43} But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
{24:44} Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Rev.
{1:5} And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
{1:6} And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
{1:7} Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Matthew
{24:22} And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be
shortened.
{24:23} Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not.
{24:24} For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were]
possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
{24:25} Behold, I have told you before.
{24:26} Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, [he is] in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe [it] not.
{24:27} For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
1 Thess.
{4:14} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
{4:15} For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
{4:16} For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first
{4:17} Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
{4:18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words
1 Cor.
{15:51} Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
{15:52} In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
{15:53} For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.
{15:54} So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
{15:55} O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory?
It's true. Christ is coming again. Christ is coming because He promised He would come and there would be a people waiting for Him. Not only would there be a people waiting for Him, but the dead in Christ would rise to meet Him.
Do you believe Jesus died?
Do you believe that Jesus rose again?
Are you one of millions who celebrate the resurrection of your Savior from the dead?
Then you have to believe that the breath of life that returns to God who gave it, when a person dies, will once more return to those who have died -fallen asleep in Christ. That breath of life will return to themand they will rise first before any of those still alive when Christ returns. Those dead in Christ will rise first and meet the Lord in the air, and then we who are alive will join them.
The dead will be raised incorruptible.
We will all be changed into these marvelous new beings of which Christ was the first.
Every eye shall see Him when He comes and how this is done only the Lord Himself knows. Every eye shall see Him. And when He comes it will be too late to prepare for the journey we are to take with Him. When you are going on a trip somewhere you prepare for it, you pack your suitcase, duffle bag, you make sure you have all the things you'll need for that journey. Rarely, and unless someone is running from the law, for their life, or are mentally/emotionally unstable do they just up and leave. For a trip of a lifetime you plan don't you? Well, we know we are to undertake a journey- our final one and that is to be with Christ. Those of us alive must be ready to meet Him. So many won't be. They'll be so many just too caught up in the here and now, too caught up in the cares of this life whether they be happy cares or sad ones, they'll be tied to this earth by their own lack of faith in a life everlasting. We have the promise of a life eternal and that life isn't here on earth. Right now here on earth we are travailing as a woman in labor travails and the birth of new life will be when Christ comes again. Yes, there will be one taken and one left, but everyone will see it happening and know why- it will not be a secret because every eye will see Christ when He returns, when the dead and those alive in Him are called to meet Him in the air. It'll be sudden, it'll be unexpected, it will be as a thief because no one knows when a thief will strike. Christ will come and only those who are looking for Him will be ready. By the time He's in the air calling His to Him it will be too late to suddenly decide to take the journey. We have so much given to us to prepare us, so much to help us and the only one to blame in that day if we aren't among those meeting Christ in the air, is ourselves.
By faith, by love, by hope in the Lord Jesus Christ; through His mercy and grace by His sacrifice and forgiveness may we all be found ready in Him.
May the Holy Spirit guide us to Him and through all the travailing of this world around us.
Amen.
{5:1} But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
{5:2} For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
{5:3} For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
{5:4} But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
{5:5} Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
{5:6} Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.
{5:7} For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
{5:8} But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. {5:9} For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ
{5:10} Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
{5:11} Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Matthew
{24:36} But of that day and hour knoweth no [man,] no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
{24:37} But as the days of Noe [were,] so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
{24:38} For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark
{24:39} And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
{24:40} Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
{24:41} Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
{24:42} Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
{24:43} But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
{24:44} Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Rev.
{1:5} And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
{1:6} And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
{1:7} Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Matthew
{24:22} And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be
shortened.
{24:23} Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not.
{24:24} For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were]
possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
{24:25} Behold, I have told you before.
{24:26} Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, [he is] in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe [it] not.
{24:27} For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
1 Thess.
{4:14} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
{4:15} For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
{4:16} For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first
{4:17} Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
{4:18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words
1 Cor.
{15:51} Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
{15:52} In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
{15:53} For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.
{15:54} So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
{15:55} O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory?
It's true. Christ is coming again. Christ is coming because He promised He would come and there would be a people waiting for Him. Not only would there be a people waiting for Him, but the dead in Christ would rise to meet Him.
Do you believe Jesus died?
Do you believe that Jesus rose again?
Are you one of millions who celebrate the resurrection of your Savior from the dead?
Then you have to believe that the breath of life that returns to God who gave it, when a person dies, will once more return to those who have died -fallen asleep in Christ. That breath of life will return to themand they will rise first before any of those still alive when Christ returns. Those dead in Christ will rise first and meet the Lord in the air, and then we who are alive will join them.
The dead will be raised incorruptible.
We will all be changed into these marvelous new beings of which Christ was the first.
Every eye shall see Him when He comes and how this is done only the Lord Himself knows. Every eye shall see Him. And when He comes it will be too late to prepare for the journey we are to take with Him. When you are going on a trip somewhere you prepare for it, you pack your suitcase, duffle bag, you make sure you have all the things you'll need for that journey. Rarely, and unless someone is running from the law, for their life, or are mentally/emotionally unstable do they just up and leave. For a trip of a lifetime you plan don't you? Well, we know we are to undertake a journey- our final one and that is to be with Christ. Those of us alive must be ready to meet Him. So many won't be. They'll be so many just too caught up in the here and now, too caught up in the cares of this life whether they be happy cares or sad ones, they'll be tied to this earth by their own lack of faith in a life everlasting. We have the promise of a life eternal and that life isn't here on earth. Right now here on earth we are travailing as a woman in labor travails and the birth of new life will be when Christ comes again. Yes, there will be one taken and one left, but everyone will see it happening and know why- it will not be a secret because every eye will see Christ when He returns, when the dead and those alive in Him are called to meet Him in the air. It'll be sudden, it'll be unexpected, it will be as a thief because no one knows when a thief will strike. Christ will come and only those who are looking for Him will be ready. By the time He's in the air calling His to Him it will be too late to suddenly decide to take the journey. We have so much given to us to prepare us, so much to help us and the only one to blame in that day if we aren't among those meeting Christ in the air, is ourselves.
By faith, by love, by hope in the Lord Jesus Christ; through His mercy and grace by His sacrifice and forgiveness may we all be found ready in Him.
May the Holy Spirit guide us to Him and through all the travailing of this world around us.
Amen.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Enemies of the Cross
Philippians {3:18} (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross
of Christ: {3:19} Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.) {3:20} For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: {3:21} Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Many walk...the enemies of the cross...whose end is destruction. Whose God is their belly. Whose glory is their shame. Who mind earthly things.
Is this you? Is this me?
We don't think of ourselves as enemies of the cross and yet if our *God* is our belly... if our glory is found in things shameful... if we only mind earthly things aren't we enemies of the cross?
Pro. {14:12} There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
We think our ways are right, but are they?
What would we do to have food? Kill? We like to think not, but people have and people will. We commit shameful acts and in a world where the line is blurred and shameful acts are glorified we don't hardly even call them shameful. We glory in our audacity, our daringness to be different, to be coarse and bold, to act deplorably. We laugh at things we've no business laughing at because the world has now declared it acceptable to laugh. Think back to sixty years ago when the world was so much different. When children rarely dared to speak out against their parents without reprecussions in the name of respect. Slowly in some ways, quickly in others the perversions of the world have taken over and now they rule our lives. They rule our entertainment, they rule us in many jobs, they rule our vacations, we wake up to them, we go to sleep to them. We glorify self and perversions we call finding self and letting self reign regardless of any others. We applaud those who dare to stand up to propriety, and we make all forms of fornication acceptable, pleasure has become the god of so many lives. 'Whose glory is their shame' is so appropriate and when we glory in shame we are enemies of the cross how can we not be?
Minding earthly things- are we entrenched in 'living life to the fullest', in not letting life pass us by, in making the most of the life we have. There is a saying about when you go to the grave you want to go kicking and screaming and yelling what a ride... this is minding the things of the earth, of this life. We get so caught up in earthly things and to do otherwise we are called lunatics. To tell people you are living for another life than this one makes you crazy, people nod and smile but secretly they think you're very, very strange.
If our treasures are in heaven where they should be, then accumlating treasures here on earth is what? Senseless, right? People who have everything taken from them- through natural disasters, through accidents - they feel that devestation of loss of all things temporal. It is devestating and don't let anyone tell you different. There is no bright side unless people are grateful just to be alive and a lot are.
Philippians {3:18} (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross
of Christ: {3:19} Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.) {3:20} For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: {3:21} Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Enemies of the cross. We don't want to be enemies of the cross. We don't want to be deceived by the world. We need to cling to the cross and all it represents and all it represents is the heavenly, not the earthly. Jesus came to save us, to give us eternal life with Him in heaven, He didn't come to give us eternal life in this existence we now live. We have to remember the cross, we have to keep the cross before us. We have to love God with all our heart, love Jesus, love what He's done for us by the cross.
By His grace and mercy may we find forgiveness in Him now and forever, friends with the cross, not enemies. Friends with Him not the world.
Amen.
of Christ: {3:19} Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.) {3:20} For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: {3:21} Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Many walk...the enemies of the cross...whose end is destruction. Whose God is their belly. Whose glory is their shame. Who mind earthly things.
Is this you? Is this me?
We don't think of ourselves as enemies of the cross and yet if our *God* is our belly... if our glory is found in things shameful... if we only mind earthly things aren't we enemies of the cross?
Pro. {14:12} There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
We think our ways are right, but are they?
What would we do to have food? Kill? We like to think not, but people have and people will. We commit shameful acts and in a world where the line is blurred and shameful acts are glorified we don't hardly even call them shameful. We glory in our audacity, our daringness to be different, to be coarse and bold, to act deplorably. We laugh at things we've no business laughing at because the world has now declared it acceptable to laugh. Think back to sixty years ago when the world was so much different. When children rarely dared to speak out against their parents without reprecussions in the name of respect. Slowly in some ways, quickly in others the perversions of the world have taken over and now they rule our lives. They rule our entertainment, they rule us in many jobs, they rule our vacations, we wake up to them, we go to sleep to them. We glorify self and perversions we call finding self and letting self reign regardless of any others. We applaud those who dare to stand up to propriety, and we make all forms of fornication acceptable, pleasure has become the god of so many lives. 'Whose glory is their shame' is so appropriate and when we glory in shame we are enemies of the cross how can we not be?
Minding earthly things- are we entrenched in 'living life to the fullest', in not letting life pass us by, in making the most of the life we have. There is a saying about when you go to the grave you want to go kicking and screaming and yelling what a ride... this is minding the things of the earth, of this life. We get so caught up in earthly things and to do otherwise we are called lunatics. To tell people you are living for another life than this one makes you crazy, people nod and smile but secretly they think you're very, very strange.
If our treasures are in heaven where they should be, then accumlating treasures here on earth is what? Senseless, right? People who have everything taken from them- through natural disasters, through accidents - they feel that devestation of loss of all things temporal. It is devestating and don't let anyone tell you different. There is no bright side unless people are grateful just to be alive and a lot are.
Philippians {3:18} (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross
of Christ: {3:19} Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.) {3:20} For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: {3:21} Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Enemies of the cross. We don't want to be enemies of the cross. We don't want to be deceived by the world. We need to cling to the cross and all it represents and all it represents is the heavenly, not the earthly. Jesus came to save us, to give us eternal life with Him in heaven, He didn't come to give us eternal life in this existence we now live. We have to remember the cross, we have to keep the cross before us. We have to love God with all our heart, love Jesus, love what He's done for us by the cross.
By His grace and mercy may we find forgiveness in Him now and forever, friends with the cross, not enemies. Friends with Him not the world.
Amen.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Bread of Life
John
{6:26} Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
{6:27} Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
{6:28} Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
{6:29} Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
{6:30} They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
{6:31} Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
{6:32} Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
{6:33} For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
{6:34} Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
{6:35} And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
{6:36} But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
{6:37} All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
{6:38} For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
{6:39} And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
{6:40} And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
{6:41} The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
{6:42} And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came
down from heaven?
{6:43} Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
{6:44} No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
{6:45} It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the
Father, cometh unto me.
{6:46} Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
{6:47} Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
{6:48} I am that bread of life.
{6:49} Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
{6:50} This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
{6:51} I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
{6:52} The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?
{6:53} Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
{6:54} Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
{6:55} For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
{6:56} He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
{6:57} As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
{6:58} This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
{6:59} These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
{6:60} Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard [this,] said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
{6:61} When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
{6:62} [What] and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
{6:63} It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.
{6:64} But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should
betray him.
{6:65} And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father
**
Luke {4:4} And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Deut. {8:1} All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.
{8:2} And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
{8:3} And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
God fed His people with a source of food unlike any other that ever existed, unlike any they'd ever known. Food that rained down from heaven- who ever heard of such a thing? And yet it was true. God fed His people. God wanted His people to realize that HE was their source of life. He and He alone saved them from a life of bondage and once He'd set them free He continued to keep them alive. Isn't that the way... we are set free when we accept Jesus as our Savior and then we need to be kept alive in Christ as we continue on in our lives. So that the children of God didn't forget who their source of life was, God fed them food from heaven. Daily, day in and day out they ate of the bread from heaven. Day in and day out they knew that it was only by the grace of God they were kept alive. It was God who supplied what they needed to live and it is God that provides us with what we need to live eternally.
In the end it is eternal life we live for. Jesus came to make that point real to us. Jesus came and made the point so well that only the spiritually blind can't see it. Jesus came to give life eternal, not life here and now, but life everlasting. Our minds are to be taken off life here and now except to realize that it is in this life that we accept that life eternal. Once we accept life eternal as ours through Jesus Christ we truly begin to live.
When Jesus talks of being the bread of life, of having the blood we must drink to live He even goes on to say this-- John {6:63} It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.
The very flesh He said we must eat to live He goes on to explain- the flesh profiteth nothing... 'the WORDS THAT I SPEAK UNTO YOU THEY ARE SPIRIT AND THEY ARE LIFE'
God's lesson in the wilderness was given so that His people would realize that they were alive by His word. The manna was of God. They ate and they lived.
The flesh and blood of Jesus is Jesus giving us His life, telling us that HIS WORDS are spirit and life. We have to accept Jesus' death and His life for us, we have to believe on His words. We have to trust in Him and Him alone if we are to live. If we don't accept all of Jesus we won't have life, we won't live. Just like a person cannot live without food, they cannot live eternally without Jesus. If we think we can have eternal life without Jesus we are wrong and we'll die. Do we have to eat Jesus' actual flesh and drink His actual blood? No. That wasn't what He was saying in truth, but only those that truly love Him can truly understand the meanings of His words. We are to always and forever remember that our lives are sustained by the life and death of our Lord and Savior. We are to never forget, never. And by equating our eating and drinking with accepting the life and death of Jesus is something we can never forget. Each time we eat and drink we are doing so and it is keeping us alive. We are to be kept alive eternally by eating and drinking of all Jesus offers to us, His life, His love, His forgiveness, His death for us. He is our sustainer in all things eternal and by no other are we to live now or forever, only Him.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we forever live in the perpetual acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as our Savior. In His love!
Amen.
{6:26} Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
{6:27} Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
{6:28} Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
{6:29} Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
{6:30} They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
{6:31} Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
{6:32} Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
{6:33} For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
{6:34} Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
{6:35} And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
{6:36} But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
{6:37} All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
{6:38} For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
{6:39} And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
{6:40} And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
{6:41} The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
{6:42} And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came
down from heaven?
{6:43} Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
{6:44} No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
{6:45} It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the
Father, cometh unto me.
{6:46} Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
{6:47} Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
{6:48} I am that bread of life.
{6:49} Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
{6:50} This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
{6:51} I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
{6:52} The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?
{6:53} Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
{6:54} Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
{6:55} For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
{6:56} He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
{6:57} As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
{6:58} This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
{6:59} These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
{6:60} Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard [this,] said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
{6:61} When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
{6:62} [What] and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
{6:63} It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.
{6:64} But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should
betray him.
{6:65} And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father
**
Luke {4:4} And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Deut. {8:1} All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.
{8:2} And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
{8:3} And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
God fed His people with a source of food unlike any other that ever existed, unlike any they'd ever known. Food that rained down from heaven- who ever heard of such a thing? And yet it was true. God fed His people. God wanted His people to realize that HE was their source of life. He and He alone saved them from a life of bondage and once He'd set them free He continued to keep them alive. Isn't that the way... we are set free when we accept Jesus as our Savior and then we need to be kept alive in Christ as we continue on in our lives. So that the children of God didn't forget who their source of life was, God fed them food from heaven. Daily, day in and day out they ate of the bread from heaven. Day in and day out they knew that it was only by the grace of God they were kept alive. It was God who supplied what they needed to live and it is God that provides us with what we need to live eternally.
In the end it is eternal life we live for. Jesus came to make that point real to us. Jesus came and made the point so well that only the spiritually blind can't see it. Jesus came to give life eternal, not life here and now, but life everlasting. Our minds are to be taken off life here and now except to realize that it is in this life that we accept that life eternal. Once we accept life eternal as ours through Jesus Christ we truly begin to live.
When Jesus talks of being the bread of life, of having the blood we must drink to live He even goes on to say this-- John {6:63} It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.
The very flesh He said we must eat to live He goes on to explain- the flesh profiteth nothing... 'the WORDS THAT I SPEAK UNTO YOU THEY ARE SPIRIT AND THEY ARE LIFE'
God's lesson in the wilderness was given so that His people would realize that they were alive by His word. The manna was of God. They ate and they lived.
The flesh and blood of Jesus is Jesus giving us His life, telling us that HIS WORDS are spirit and life. We have to accept Jesus' death and His life for us, we have to believe on His words. We have to trust in Him and Him alone if we are to live. If we don't accept all of Jesus we won't have life, we won't live. Just like a person cannot live without food, they cannot live eternally without Jesus. If we think we can have eternal life without Jesus we are wrong and we'll die. Do we have to eat Jesus' actual flesh and drink His actual blood? No. That wasn't what He was saying in truth, but only those that truly love Him can truly understand the meanings of His words. We are to always and forever remember that our lives are sustained by the life and death of our Lord and Savior. We are to never forget, never. And by equating our eating and drinking with accepting the life and death of Jesus is something we can never forget. Each time we eat and drink we are doing so and it is keeping us alive. We are to be kept alive eternally by eating and drinking of all Jesus offers to us, His life, His love, His forgiveness, His death for us. He is our sustainer in all things eternal and by no other are we to live now or forever, only Him.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we forever live in the perpetual acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as our Savior. In His love!
Amen.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Travailing in Birth
Galations {4:19} My little
children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be
formed in you,
Interesing choice of words here. Paul speaking to the Galations saying... my little children of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.
Jesus told us we had to be born again. Born of water and Spirit.
We are told in Peter that we are born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible.
John {3:3}
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto
thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God. {3:4} Nicodemus saith unto him, How can
a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time
into his mother’s womb, and be born? {3:5} Jesus
answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be
born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God. {3:6} That which is born of the flesh is
flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. {3:7}
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
1 Pet. {1:23}
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth
for ever. {1:24} For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory
of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the
flower thereof falleth away: {1:25} But the word of the
Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the
gospel is preached unto you.
When Paul says he travails with them in birth, he's talking about how a Christian lives as Christ is being formed within them.
Colossians {1:27} To whom God would make known what [is]
the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
Christ being formed in us.
As a baby is formed in a mother's womb the mother of a normal, healthy pregnancy feels little pain. It's the birth that brings the travail. When Christ says we must be born again it is a travailing time.
Dictionary Def.
travail
travail (tre-vâl´, tràv´âl´) noun
1. Work, especially when arduous or involving painful effort; toil. See synonyms at work.
2. Tribulation or agony; anguish.
3. The labor of childbirth.
verb, intransitive
travailed, travailing, travails
1. To work strenuously; toil.
2. To be in the labor of childbirth.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Being a Christian, accepting Christ into our lives is asking to be born again- asking to travail and be birthed until Christ is formed in us. It's not instantaneous. Christ is being formed in our lives, we are being born of Spirit, born of the Word of God and this is a process that isn't easy, but very painful in many ways. Painful to our natural self. The self we have to let die to have Christ in us. The pain is real and we live it every day. We travail as the old creatures in us are done away with and the new creatures are being formed. Day to day we travail and recognizing that our lives are but one more process of growth that we must go through to be Christs is something important. As babes in a womb we are not fully formed. As young children we are not fully formed. We like to think as adults we are fully formed and yet we are not and the only way to keep growing is to accept Christ's love into our lives, accept His grace and His wondrous forgiveness, His mercy. As we keep growing once we accept Christ the growth process isn't something that is accomplished instantly, but each of us has our own growth process as Christians just as we do as people. I may have been a delayed walker while you may have first walked at 9 months. We grow constantly at different rates in body and in Spirit. We have to accept our lives as the Spiritual growing process, the travail as we seek to be born of the Spirit. When Christ comes again then we will complete our birthing in Him, becoming the new creatures He's always meant us to be.
So, while we suffer now and rightly so- in many and varied ways- it will result in the birth of wonder in God transforming us.
May God bless and keep us in Him as we seek to have Christ formed in us. May the suffering we experience now be realized when Jesus comes again and we are finally, fully, completely birthed into the new creatures of the Spirit, His creatures. By His glory! All praise unto Him now and ever!
Amen.
children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be
formed in you,
Interesing choice of words here. Paul speaking to the Galations saying... my little children of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.
Jesus told us we had to be born again. Born of water and Spirit.
We are told in Peter that we are born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible.
John {3:3}
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto
thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God. {3:4} Nicodemus saith unto him, How can
a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time
into his mother’s womb, and be born? {3:5} Jesus
answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be
born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God. {3:6} That which is born of the flesh is
flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. {3:7}
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
1 Pet. {1:23}
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth
for ever. {1:24} For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory
of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the
flower thereof falleth away: {1:25} But the word of the
Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the
gospel is preached unto you.
When Paul says he travails with them in birth, he's talking about how a Christian lives as Christ is being formed within them.
Colossians {1:27} To whom God would make known what [is]
the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
Christ being formed in us.
As a baby is formed in a mother's womb the mother of a normal, healthy pregnancy feels little pain. It's the birth that brings the travail. When Christ says we must be born again it is a travailing time.
Dictionary Def.
travail
travail (tre-vâl´, tràv´âl´) noun
1. Work, especially when arduous or involving painful effort; toil. See synonyms at work.
2. Tribulation or agony; anguish.
3. The labor of childbirth.
verb, intransitive
travailed, travailing, travails
1. To work strenuously; toil.
2. To be in the labor of childbirth.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Being a Christian, accepting Christ into our lives is asking to be born again- asking to travail and be birthed until Christ is formed in us. It's not instantaneous. Christ is being formed in our lives, we are being born of Spirit, born of the Word of God and this is a process that isn't easy, but very painful in many ways. Painful to our natural self. The self we have to let die to have Christ in us. The pain is real and we live it every day. We travail as the old creatures in us are done away with and the new creatures are being formed. Day to day we travail and recognizing that our lives are but one more process of growth that we must go through to be Christs is something important. As babes in a womb we are not fully formed. As young children we are not fully formed. We like to think as adults we are fully formed and yet we are not and the only way to keep growing is to accept Christ's love into our lives, accept His grace and His wondrous forgiveness, His mercy. As we keep growing once we accept Christ the growth process isn't something that is accomplished instantly, but each of us has our own growth process as Christians just as we do as people. I may have been a delayed walker while you may have first walked at 9 months. We grow constantly at different rates in body and in Spirit. We have to accept our lives as the Spiritual growing process, the travail as we seek to be born of the Spirit. When Christ comes again then we will complete our birthing in Him, becoming the new creatures He's always meant us to be.
So, while we suffer now and rightly so- in many and varied ways- it will result in the birth of wonder in God transforming us.
May God bless and keep us in Him as we seek to have Christ formed in us. May the suffering we experience now be realized when Jesus comes again and we are finally, fully, completely birthed into the new creatures of the Spirit, His creatures. By His glory! All praise unto Him now and ever!
Amen.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found
Isaiah
{55:6} Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near
***
We need to seek the Lord.
We need to call upon the Lord.
We need to put ourselves out there so to speak. Many people don't put themselves out there. They don't seek, but rather expect to be sought.
We need God to live, God doesn't need us to live. Long before we were, He was. We are His creation and sometimes, often we forget that. And we are a wicked people if we can forget something so amazing. Our very breath comes from God. Our very heart beat comes from God. Maybe we're not always thrilled with our lives. Some people are born with defects that make them curse God and yet they have a chance to praise Him for His giving them life and knowing that one day, should they choose to worship and love Him, He will take away all their imperfections and give them glory they can't even realize. Easy to say, I know, I know-- very hard to do. We are so turned inward to ourselves that nothing else seems to matter but us and how we feel, what we think, what we want, what we know, we could careless about other things except as they affect our lives. Sure we can help others but how many people do so because they want the recognition, the glory for their helping? Selflessness is so important and until we realize that and make it a reality in our lives we'll forever be chained down to ourselves and not looking to God. God will help us become the selfless creatures that we need to become, but only if we seek Him- only if we call upon Him.
Isa. {55:7} Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
We need to forsake our wicked ways, we need to forsake our unrighteous thoughts- we need to return to the Lord and find mercy and pardon in Him.
{55:8} For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
God's thoughts and His ways are not our thoughts and ways. He is past our understanding and by faith we have to believe that He knows what is best for us beyond anything we could ever imagine.
{55:9} For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
{55:10} For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater
{55:11} So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
{55:12} For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
{55:13} Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the
LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
{56:1} Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. {56:2} Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
We are giving blessings from God for following His ways. We have to do the following, that is our part. We have to do the seeking, the calling, it is our part to seek and follow, to call to God. We can't do nothing and hope it happens. We have a part to play. Is it a works? No. It's by the Grace and Mercy of our Lord and Savior, now and forever, only by Him that we will ever become one with Him, fully with Him and through Him with the Father. May the Holy Spirit guide us and as we seek may He take over and make our miniscule effort into something amazingly wonderful, something beyond our comprehension.
In Christ forever!
Amen.
{55:6} Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near
***
We need to seek the Lord.
We need to call upon the Lord.
We need to put ourselves out there so to speak. Many people don't put themselves out there. They don't seek, but rather expect to be sought.
We need God to live, God doesn't need us to live. Long before we were, He was. We are His creation and sometimes, often we forget that. And we are a wicked people if we can forget something so amazing. Our very breath comes from God. Our very heart beat comes from God. Maybe we're not always thrilled with our lives. Some people are born with defects that make them curse God and yet they have a chance to praise Him for His giving them life and knowing that one day, should they choose to worship and love Him, He will take away all their imperfections and give them glory they can't even realize. Easy to say, I know, I know-- very hard to do. We are so turned inward to ourselves that nothing else seems to matter but us and how we feel, what we think, what we want, what we know, we could careless about other things except as they affect our lives. Sure we can help others but how many people do so because they want the recognition, the glory for their helping? Selflessness is so important and until we realize that and make it a reality in our lives we'll forever be chained down to ourselves and not looking to God. God will help us become the selfless creatures that we need to become, but only if we seek Him- only if we call upon Him.
Isa. {55:7} Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
We need to forsake our wicked ways, we need to forsake our unrighteous thoughts- we need to return to the Lord and find mercy and pardon in Him.
{55:8} For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
God's thoughts and His ways are not our thoughts and ways. He is past our understanding and by faith we have to believe that He knows what is best for us beyond anything we could ever imagine.
{55:9} For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
{55:10} For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater
{55:11} So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
{55:12} For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
{55:13} Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the
LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
{56:1} Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. {56:2} Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
We are giving blessings from God for following His ways. We have to do the following, that is our part. We have to do the seeking, the calling, it is our part to seek and follow, to call to God. We can't do nothing and hope it happens. We have a part to play. Is it a works? No. It's by the Grace and Mercy of our Lord and Savior, now and forever, only by Him that we will ever become one with Him, fully with Him and through Him with the Father. May the Holy Spirit guide us and as we seek may He take over and make our miniscule effort into something amazingly wonderful, something beyond our comprehension.
In Christ forever!
Amen.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Perfect
PERFECT (pûr´fîkt) adjective
Abbr. perf.
1.Lacking nothing essential to the whole; complete of its nature or kind.
2.Being without defect or blemish: a PERFECT specimen.
3.Thoroughly skilled or talented in a certain field or area; proficient.
4.Completely suited for a particular purpose or situation: She was the PERFECT actress for the part.
5.a. Completely corresponding to a description, standard, or type: a PERFECT circle; a PERFECT gentleman. b. Accurately reproducing an original: a PERFECT copy of the painting.
6.Complete; thorough; utter: a PERFECT fool.
7.Pure; undiluted; unmixed: PERFECT red.
8.Excellent and delightful in all respects: a PERFECT day.
9.Botany. Having both stamens and pistils in the same flower; monoclinous.
10.Grammar. Of, relating to, or constituting a verb form expressing action completed prior to a fixed point of reference in time.
11.Music. a. Designating the three basic intervals of the octave, fourth, and fifth. b. Designating a cadence or chord progression from the dominant to the tonic at the end of a phrase or piece of music.
noun
Abbr. perf.
1.Grammar. The PERFECT tense.
2.A verb or verb form in the PERFECT tense.
verb, transitive
PERFECTed, PERFECTing, PERFECTs (per-fèkt´)
To bring to PERFECTion or completion.
[Middle English perfit, from Old French parfit, from Latin PERFECTus, past participle of perficere, to finish : per-, per- + facere, to do.]
- PERFECT´er noun
- per´fectness noun
Synonyms: PERFECT, consummate, faultless, flawless, impeccable. The central meaning shared by these adjectives is "being wholly without flaw": a PERFECT diamond; a consummate performer; faultless logic; a flawless instrumental technique; speaks impeccable French.
Antonyms: imPERFECT.
Usage Note: PERFECT has often been described as an absolute term like chief and prime, hence not allowing modification by more, quite, relatively, and other qualifiers of degree. But the qualification of PERFECT has numerous reputable precedents (most notably in the preamble to the U.S. Constitution in the phrase "in order to form a more PERFECT Union"). What is more, the stricture is philosophically dubious. There can be no mathematically PERFECT forms in nature; therefore to say that any actual circle is "PERFECT" can mean only that it approximates the geometric ideal of circularity, a quality that it can obviously have to a greater or lesser degree. By the same token, PERFECT freely allows comparison in examples such as There could be no more PERFECT spot for the picnic, where it is used to mean "ideal for the purposes." See Usage Note at complete, equal, parallel, unique.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
*******
Nave's Topcial Dict.
PERFECTION
-(Moral completeness) -Ascribed to .Noah #Ge 6:8,9| .Jacob #Nu 23:21| .David #1Ki 11:4,6| .Asa #1Ki 15:14| .Job #Job 1:1| .Zacharias and Elizabeth #Lu 1:6| .Nathanael #Joh 1:47|
.See GOD, PERFECTION OF .See HOLINESS .See SANTIFICATION
*******
R.A. Torrey's New Topical Textbook-
PERFECTION
- Is of God Ps 18:32; 138:8
- All saints have, in Christ 1Co 2:6; Php 3:15; Col 2:10
- God's PERFECTion the standard of Mt 5:48
- IMPLIES . Entire devotedness Mt 19:21 . Purity and holiness in speech Jas 3:2
- Saints commanded to aim at Ge 17:1; De 18:13
- Saints claim not Job 9:20; Php 3:12
- Saints follow after Pr 4:18; Php 3:12
- Ministers appointed to lead saints to Eph 4:12; Col 1:28
- Exhortation to 2Co 7:1; 13:11
- Impossibility of attaining to 2Ch 6:36; Ps 119:96
- THE WORD OF GOD IS . The rule of Jas 1:25 . Designed to lead us to 2Ti 3:16,17
- Charity is the bond of Col 3:14
- Patience leads to Jas 1:4
- Pray for Heb 13:20,21; 1Pe 5:10
- The Church shall attain to Joh 17:23; Eph 4:13
- Blessedness of Ps 37:37; Pr 2:21
*******
PERFECTION-IMPERFECTION
(A) PERFECTION
(1) Some Essential Elements of Benevolence Mt 19:21 Love Col 3:14 Good Works Jas 2:22 Control of the Tongue Jas 3:2 Obedience 1Jo 2:5; 4:12
(2) The Duty of Striving after Ge 17:1; De 18:13; 1Ki 8:61; Mt 5:48; 2Co 13:11 Eph 4:13; Php 3:15; Col 1:28; 2Ti 3:17; Heb 6:1; 13:21 Jas 1:4; 1Pe 5:10
--SEE Spiritual Growth, DEVELOPMENT
(B) PERFECTION DIVINE, of God De 32:4; 2Sa 22:31; Ps 18:30; Ec 3:14; Mt 5:48
--SEE God's Holiness, HOLINESS God's Righteousness, RIGHTEOUSNESS God of Truth, TRUTH Divine Excellencies, EXCELLENCIES, DIVINE
(C) CHRIST'S PERFECTION Joh 1:14; 19:4; Heb 2:10; 5:9; 7:28
--SEE Fulness of Christ, FULNESS
(D) CHRIST'S SINLESSNESS, general references to Isa 53:9; Lu 23:41; Joh 8:46; 2Co 5:21; Heb 1:9; 4:15 Heb 7:26; 9:14; 1Pe 1:19; 2:22; 1Jo 3:5
--SEE Righteousness
(2) RIGHTEOUSNESS
(E) IMPERFECTION, HUMAN
(1) General References to Job 9:20; Ec 7:20; Php 3:12; Jas 3:2; Re 3:2
--SEE Unbelief
(1), UNBELIEF Sin, SIN Half-heartedness, INDIFFERENCE
(2) Exemplified in the Lives of the Best Men Ge 20:2; Nu 20:12; 1Ki 3:3; 22:43; 2Ch 16:12; Jon 1:3 Lu 9:54; 22:24; Ga 2:13
--SEE Deception, FALSEHOOD Sin Universal, SIN
*******
Genesis 6:9
9 ¶ These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and PERFECT in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Genesis 17:1
1And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou PERFECT.
Leviticus 22:21
21And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be PERFECT to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.
Deuteronomy 18:13
13Thou shalt be PERFECT with the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 25:15
15But thou shalt have a PERFECT and just weight, a PERFECT and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Deuteronomy 32:4
4He is the Rock, his work is PERFECT: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
1 Samuel 14:41
41Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a PERFECT lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.
2 Samuel 22:31
31As for God, his way is PERFECT; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
2 Samuel 22:33
33God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way PERFECT.
1 Kings 8:61
61Let your heart therefore be PERFECT with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.
1 Kings 11:4
4For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not PERFECT with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
1 Kings 15:3
3And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not PERFECT with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.
1 Kings 15:14
14But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was PERFECT with the LORD all his days.
2 Kings 20:3
3I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a PERFECT heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
1 Chronicles 12:38
38All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a PERFECT heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.
1 Chronicles 28:9
9 ¶ And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a PERFECT heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
1 Chronicles 29:9
9Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with PERFECT heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
1 Chronicles 29:19
19And give unto Solomon my son a PERFECT heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
2 Chronicles 4:21
21And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that PERFECT gold
2 Chronicles 15:17
17But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was PERFECT all his days.
2 Chronicles 16:9
9For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is PERFECT toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
2 Chronicles 19:9
9And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a PERFECT heart.
2 Chronicles 25:2
2And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a PERFECT heart.
Ezra 7:12
12Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, PERFECT peace, and at such a time.
Job 1:1
1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was PERFECT and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
Job 1:8
8And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a PERFECT and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Job 2:3
3And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a PERFECT and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
Job 8:20
20Behold, God will not cast away a PERFECT man, neither will he help the evil doers
Job 9:20-22
20If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am PERFECT, it shall also prove me perverse. 21Though I were PERFECT, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. 22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the PERFECT and the wicked.
Job 22:3
3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways PERFECT?
Job 36:4
4For truly my words shall not be false: he that is PERFECT in knowledge is with thee.
Job 37:16
16Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is PERFECT in knowledge?
Psalms 18:30
30As for God, his way is PERFECT: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Psalms 18:32
32It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way PERFECT.
Psalms 19:7
7The law of the LORD is PERFECT, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psalms 37:37
37Mark the PERFECT man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
Psalms 64:4
4That they may shoot in secret at the PERFECT: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
Psalms 101:2
2I will behave myself wisely in a PERFECT way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a PERFECT heart.
Psalms 101:6
6Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a PERFECT way, he shall serve me.
Psalms 138:8
8The LORD will PERFECT that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
Psalms 139:22
22I hate them with PERFECT hatred: I count them mine enemies.
Proverbs 2:21
21For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the PERFECT shall remain in it.
Proverbs 4:18
18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the PERFECT day.
Proverbs 11:5
5The righteousness of the PERFECT shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
Isaiah 18:5
5For afore the harvest, when the bud is PERFECT, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.
Isaiah 26:3
3Thou wilt keep him in PERFECT peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 38:3
3And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a PERFECT heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
Isaiah 42:19
19Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is PERFECT, and blind as the LORD'S servant?
Ezekiel 16:14
14And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was PERFECT through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 27:3
3And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of PERFECT beauty.
Ezekiel 27:11
11The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty PERFECT.
Ezekiel 28:12
12Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and PERFECT in beauty.
Ezekiel 28:15
15Thou wast PERFECT in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Matthew 5:48
48Be ye therefore PERFECT, even as your Father which is in heaven is PERFECT.
Matthew 19:21
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be PERFECT, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Luke 1:3
3It seemed good to me also, having had PERFECT understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
Luke 6:40
40The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is PERFECT shall be as his master.
John 17:23
23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made PERFECT in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Acts 3:16
16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this PERFECT soundness in the presence of you all.
Acts 22:3
3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the PERFECT manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
Acts 24:22
22 And when Felix heard these things, having more PERFECT knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.
Romans 12:2
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and PERFECT, will of God.
1 Corinthians 2:6
6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are PERFECT: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought
1 Corinthians 13:10
10But when that which is PERFECT is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
2 Corinthians 12:9
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made PERFECT in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 13:11
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be PERFECT, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Galatians 3:3
3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made PERFECT by the flesh?
Ephesians 4:13
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a PERFECT man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Philippians 3:12
12Not as though I had already attained, either were already PERFECT: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:15
15Let us therefore, as many as be PERFECT, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Colossians 1:28
28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man PERFECT in Christ Jesus:
Colossians 4:12
12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand PERFECT and complete in all the will of God.
1 Thessalonians 3:10
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might PERFECT that which is lacking in your faith?
2 Timothy 3:17
17 That the man of God may be PERFECT, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Hebrews 2:10
10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation PERFECT through sufferings.
Hebrews 5:9
9And being made PERFECT, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Hebrews 7:19
19For the law made nothing PERFECT, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Hebrews 9:9
9Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service PERFECT, as pertaining to the conscience;
Hebrews 9:11
11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more PERFECT tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
Hebrews 10:1
1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto PERFECT.
Hebrews 11:40
40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made PERFECT.
Hebrews 12:23
23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made PERFECT,
Hebrews 13:21
21Make you PERFECT in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
James 1:4
4 But let patience have her PERFECT work, that ye may be PERFECT and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:17
17Every good gift and every PERFECT gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 1:25
25 But whoso looketh into the PERFECT law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
James 2:22
22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made PERFECT?
James 3:2
2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a PERFECT man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
1 Peter 5:10
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you PERFECT, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1 John 4:17-18
17Herein is our love made PERFECT, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but PERFECT love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made PERFECT in love.
Revelation of John 3:2
2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works PERFECT before God.
PERFECTION
Job 11:7
7Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto PERFECTion?
Job 15:29
29He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the PERFECTion thereof upon the earth.
Job 28:3
3He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all PERFECTion: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
Psalms 50:2
2Out of Zion, the PERFECTion of beauty, God hath shined.
Psalms 119:96
96I have seen an end of all PERFECTion: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
Isaiah 47:9
9But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their PERFECTion for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
Lamentations 2:15
15All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The PERFECTion of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?
Luke 8:14
14And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to PERFECTion.
2 Corinthians 13:9
9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your PERFECTion.
Hebrews 6:1
1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto PERFECTion; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Hebrews 7:11
11If therefore PERFECTion were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
PERFECTED
2 Chronicles 8:16
16Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was PERFECTed.
2 Chronicles 24:13
13So the workmen wrought, and the work was PERFECTed by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.
Ezekiel 27:4
4Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have PERFECTed thy beauty.
Matthew 21:16
16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast PERFECTed praise?
Luke 13:32
32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be PERFECTed.
Hebrews 10:14
14For by one offering he hath PERFECTed for ever them that are sanctified.
1 John 2:5
5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God PERFECTed: hereby know we that we are in him.
1 John 4:12
12No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is PERFECTed in us.
PERFECTING
2 Corinthians 7:1
1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTing holiness in the fear of God.
Ephesians 4:12
12 For the PERFECTing of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ
Abbr. perf.
1.Lacking nothing essential to the whole; complete of its nature or kind.
2.Being without defect or blemish: a PERFECT specimen.
3.Thoroughly skilled or talented in a certain field or area; proficient.
4.Completely suited for a particular purpose or situation: She was the PERFECT actress for the part.
5.a. Completely corresponding to a description, standard, or type: a PERFECT circle; a PERFECT gentleman. b. Accurately reproducing an original: a PERFECT copy of the painting.
6.Complete; thorough; utter: a PERFECT fool.
7.Pure; undiluted; unmixed: PERFECT red.
8.Excellent and delightful in all respects: a PERFECT day.
9.Botany. Having both stamens and pistils in the same flower; monoclinous.
10.Grammar. Of, relating to, or constituting a verb form expressing action completed prior to a fixed point of reference in time.
11.Music. a. Designating the three basic intervals of the octave, fourth, and fifth. b. Designating a cadence or chord progression from the dominant to the tonic at the end of a phrase or piece of music.
noun
Abbr. perf.
1.Grammar. The PERFECT tense.
2.A verb or verb form in the PERFECT tense.
verb, transitive
PERFECTed, PERFECTing, PERFECTs (per-fèkt´)
To bring to PERFECTion or completion.
[Middle English perfit, from Old French parfit, from Latin PERFECTus, past participle of perficere, to finish : per-, per- + facere, to do.]
- PERFECT´er noun
- per´fectness noun
Synonyms: PERFECT, consummate, faultless, flawless, impeccable. The central meaning shared by these adjectives is "being wholly without flaw": a PERFECT diamond; a consummate performer; faultless logic; a flawless instrumental technique; speaks impeccable French.
Antonyms: imPERFECT.
Usage Note: PERFECT has often been described as an absolute term like chief and prime, hence not allowing modification by more, quite, relatively, and other qualifiers of degree. But the qualification of PERFECT has numerous reputable precedents (most notably in the preamble to the U.S. Constitution in the phrase "in order to form a more PERFECT Union"). What is more, the stricture is philosophically dubious. There can be no mathematically PERFECT forms in nature; therefore to say that any actual circle is "PERFECT" can mean only that it approximates the geometric ideal of circularity, a quality that it can obviously have to a greater or lesser degree. By the same token, PERFECT freely allows comparison in examples such as There could be no more PERFECT spot for the picnic, where it is used to mean "ideal for the purposes." See Usage Note at complete, equal, parallel, unique.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
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Nave's Topcial Dict.
PERFECTION
-(Moral completeness) -Ascribed to .Noah #Ge 6:8,9| .Jacob #Nu 23:21| .David #1Ki 11:4,6| .Asa #1Ki 15:14| .Job #Job 1:1| .Zacharias and Elizabeth #Lu 1:6| .Nathanael #Joh 1:47|
.See GOD, PERFECTION OF .See HOLINESS .See SANTIFICATION
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R.A. Torrey's New Topical Textbook-
PERFECTION
- Is of God Ps 18:32; 138:8
- All saints have, in Christ 1Co 2:6; Php 3:15; Col 2:10
- God's PERFECTion the standard of Mt 5:48
- IMPLIES . Entire devotedness Mt 19:21 . Purity and holiness in speech Jas 3:2
- Saints commanded to aim at Ge 17:1; De 18:13
- Saints claim not Job 9:20; Php 3:12
- Saints follow after Pr 4:18; Php 3:12
- Ministers appointed to lead saints to Eph 4:12; Col 1:28
- Exhortation to 2Co 7:1; 13:11
- Impossibility of attaining to 2Ch 6:36; Ps 119:96
- THE WORD OF GOD IS . The rule of Jas 1:25 . Designed to lead us to 2Ti 3:16,17
- Charity is the bond of Col 3:14
- Patience leads to Jas 1:4
- Pray for Heb 13:20,21; 1Pe 5:10
- The Church shall attain to Joh 17:23; Eph 4:13
- Blessedness of Ps 37:37; Pr 2:21
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PERFECTION-IMPERFECTION
(A) PERFECTION
(1) Some Essential Elements of Benevolence Mt 19:21 Love Col 3:14 Good Works Jas 2:22 Control of the Tongue Jas 3:2 Obedience 1Jo 2:5; 4:12
(2) The Duty of Striving after Ge 17:1; De 18:13; 1Ki 8:61; Mt 5:48; 2Co 13:11 Eph 4:13; Php 3:15; Col 1:28; 2Ti 3:17; Heb 6:1; 13:21 Jas 1:4; 1Pe 5:10
--SEE Spiritual Growth, DEVELOPMENT
(B) PERFECTION DIVINE, of God De 32:4; 2Sa 22:31; Ps 18:30; Ec 3:14; Mt 5:48
--SEE God's Holiness, HOLINESS God's Righteousness, RIGHTEOUSNESS God of Truth, TRUTH Divine Excellencies, EXCELLENCIES, DIVINE
(C) CHRIST'S PERFECTION Joh 1:14; 19:4; Heb 2:10; 5:9; 7:28
--SEE Fulness of Christ, FULNESS
(D) CHRIST'S SINLESSNESS, general references to Isa 53:9; Lu 23:41; Joh 8:46; 2Co 5:21; Heb 1:9; 4:15 Heb 7:26; 9:14; 1Pe 1:19; 2:22; 1Jo 3:5
--SEE Righteousness
(2) RIGHTEOUSNESS
(E) IMPERFECTION, HUMAN
(1) General References to Job 9:20; Ec 7:20; Php 3:12; Jas 3:2; Re 3:2
--SEE Unbelief
(1), UNBELIEF Sin, SIN Half-heartedness, INDIFFERENCE
(2) Exemplified in the Lives of the Best Men Ge 20:2; Nu 20:12; 1Ki 3:3; 22:43; 2Ch 16:12; Jon 1:3 Lu 9:54; 22:24; Ga 2:13
--SEE Deception, FALSEHOOD Sin Universal, SIN
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Genesis 6:9
9 ¶ These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and PERFECT in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Genesis 17:1
1And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou PERFECT.
Leviticus 22:21
21And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be PERFECT to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.
Deuteronomy 18:13
13Thou shalt be PERFECT with the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 25:15
15But thou shalt have a PERFECT and just weight, a PERFECT and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Deuteronomy 32:4
4He is the Rock, his work is PERFECT: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
1 Samuel 14:41
41Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a PERFECT lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.
2 Samuel 22:31
31As for God, his way is PERFECT; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
2 Samuel 22:33
33God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way PERFECT.
1 Kings 8:61
61Let your heart therefore be PERFECT with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.
1 Kings 11:4
4For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not PERFECT with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
1 Kings 15:3
3And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not PERFECT with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.
1 Kings 15:14
14But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was PERFECT with the LORD all his days.
2 Kings 20:3
3I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a PERFECT heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
1 Chronicles 12:38
38All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a PERFECT heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.
1 Chronicles 28:9
9 ¶ And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a PERFECT heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
1 Chronicles 29:9
9Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with PERFECT heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
1 Chronicles 29:19
19And give unto Solomon my son a PERFECT heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
2 Chronicles 4:21
21And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that PERFECT gold
2 Chronicles 15:17
17But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was PERFECT all his days.
2 Chronicles 16:9
9For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is PERFECT toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
2 Chronicles 19:9
9And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a PERFECT heart.
2 Chronicles 25:2
2And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a PERFECT heart.
Ezra 7:12
12Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, PERFECT peace, and at such a time.
Job 1:1
1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was PERFECT and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
Job 1:8
8And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a PERFECT and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Job 2:3
3And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a PERFECT and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
Job 8:20
20Behold, God will not cast away a PERFECT man, neither will he help the evil doers
Job 9:20-22
20If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am PERFECT, it shall also prove me perverse. 21Though I were PERFECT, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. 22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the PERFECT and the wicked.
Job 22:3
3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways PERFECT?
Job 36:4
4For truly my words shall not be false: he that is PERFECT in knowledge is with thee.
Job 37:16
16Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is PERFECT in knowledge?
Psalms 18:30
30As for God, his way is PERFECT: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Psalms 18:32
32It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way PERFECT.
Psalms 19:7
7The law of the LORD is PERFECT, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psalms 37:37
37Mark the PERFECT man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
Psalms 64:4
4That they may shoot in secret at the PERFECT: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
Psalms 101:2
2I will behave myself wisely in a PERFECT way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a PERFECT heart.
Psalms 101:6
6Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a PERFECT way, he shall serve me.
Psalms 138:8
8The LORD will PERFECT that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
Psalms 139:22
22I hate them with PERFECT hatred: I count them mine enemies.
Proverbs 2:21
21For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the PERFECT shall remain in it.
Proverbs 4:18
18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the PERFECT day.
Proverbs 11:5
5The righteousness of the PERFECT shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
Isaiah 18:5
5For afore the harvest, when the bud is PERFECT, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.
Isaiah 26:3
3Thou wilt keep him in PERFECT peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 38:3
3And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a PERFECT heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
Isaiah 42:19
19Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is PERFECT, and blind as the LORD'S servant?
Ezekiel 16:14
14And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was PERFECT through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 27:3
3And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of PERFECT beauty.
Ezekiel 27:11
11The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty PERFECT.
Ezekiel 28:12
12Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and PERFECT in beauty.
Ezekiel 28:15
15Thou wast PERFECT in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Matthew 5:48
48Be ye therefore PERFECT, even as your Father which is in heaven is PERFECT.
Matthew 19:21
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be PERFECT, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Luke 1:3
3It seemed good to me also, having had PERFECT understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
Luke 6:40
40The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is PERFECT shall be as his master.
John 17:23
23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made PERFECT in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Acts 3:16
16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this PERFECT soundness in the presence of you all.
Acts 22:3
3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the PERFECT manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
Acts 24:22
22 And when Felix heard these things, having more PERFECT knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.
Romans 12:2
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and PERFECT, will of God.
1 Corinthians 2:6
6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are PERFECT: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought
1 Corinthians 13:10
10But when that which is PERFECT is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
2 Corinthians 12:9
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made PERFECT in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 13:11
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be PERFECT, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Galatians 3:3
3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made PERFECT by the flesh?
Ephesians 4:13
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a PERFECT man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Philippians 3:12
12Not as though I had already attained, either were already PERFECT: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:15
15Let us therefore, as many as be PERFECT, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Colossians 1:28
28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man PERFECT in Christ Jesus:
Colossians 4:12
12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand PERFECT and complete in all the will of God.
1 Thessalonians 3:10
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might PERFECT that which is lacking in your faith?
2 Timothy 3:17
17 That the man of God may be PERFECT, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Hebrews 2:10
10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation PERFECT through sufferings.
Hebrews 5:9
9And being made PERFECT, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Hebrews 7:19
19For the law made nothing PERFECT, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Hebrews 9:9
9Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service PERFECT, as pertaining to the conscience;
Hebrews 9:11
11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more PERFECT tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
Hebrews 10:1
1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto PERFECT.
Hebrews 11:40
40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made PERFECT.
Hebrews 12:23
23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made PERFECT,
Hebrews 13:21
21Make you PERFECT in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
James 1:4
4 But let patience have her PERFECT work, that ye may be PERFECT and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:17
17Every good gift and every PERFECT gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 1:25
25 But whoso looketh into the PERFECT law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
James 2:22
22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made PERFECT?
James 3:2
2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a PERFECT man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
1 Peter 5:10
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you PERFECT, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1 John 4:17-18
17Herein is our love made PERFECT, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but PERFECT love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made PERFECT in love.
Revelation of John 3:2
2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works PERFECT before God.
PERFECTION
Job 11:7
7Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto PERFECTion?
Job 15:29
29He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the PERFECTion thereof upon the earth.
Job 28:3
3He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all PERFECTion: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
Psalms 50:2
2Out of Zion, the PERFECTion of beauty, God hath shined.
Psalms 119:96
96I have seen an end of all PERFECTion: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
Isaiah 47:9
9But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their PERFECTion for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
Lamentations 2:15
15All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The PERFECTion of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?
Luke 8:14
14And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to PERFECTion.
2 Corinthians 13:9
9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your PERFECTion.
Hebrews 6:1
1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto PERFECTion; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Hebrews 7:11
11If therefore PERFECTion were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
PERFECTED
2 Chronicles 8:16
16Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was PERFECTed.
2 Chronicles 24:13
13So the workmen wrought, and the work was PERFECTed by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.
Ezekiel 27:4
4Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have PERFECTed thy beauty.
Matthew 21:16
16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast PERFECTed praise?
Luke 13:32
32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be PERFECTed.
Hebrews 10:14
14For by one offering he hath PERFECTed for ever them that are sanctified.
1 John 2:5
5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God PERFECTed: hereby know we that we are in him.
1 John 4:12
12No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is PERFECTed in us.
PERFECTING
2 Corinthians 7:1
1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTing holiness in the fear of God.
Ephesians 4:12
12 For the PERFECTing of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ
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