Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
The sacrificial system was set up by God to point the way to the Messiah, the Innocent Lamb to be slain once - for all. The way to become one with God was guaranteed in our Savior and the sacrifice He made. No lamb, no bullock, no turtledove, no ram, no animal whatsoever- however pure without blemish or spot - once sacrificed could repair the breech created by man's disobeying God. All those thousands upon thousands, maybe millions of animals sacrificed pointed towards the ONE sacrifice that could repair the breech.
Isa 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Isa 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Once the Lord sacrificed Himself for us NO animal sacrifice was needed because we could LOOK to the Lord as our Sacrifice.
Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Jesus sacrificed Himself, and where He sacrificed Himself automatically became the altar- the cross was the altar upon which Jesus was sacrificed. We do have an altar and those who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, sacrificed Himself on that altar for them have NO right to the salvation offered through Him, no right at all. Everyone that believes that they still need to offer animal sacrifices, that they still need to symbolize what has already happened in the great sacrifice of Christ, can't believe that they are saved through Christ- they reject the one and only way to salvation.
Jesus is the complete sacrifice for sin! Jesus was sacrificed as the typified sacrifices were. He was the ULTIMATE sacrifice. There is NOTHING Satan can use to say that Jesus got it wrong that His sacrifice was insufficient, nothing!
We too must go without the camp to Jesus! We have to go where Jesus went. We have to go the altar. We have to be willing to be with Jesus no matter where that leads us, no matter what reproach that brings to us.
These are the 'deep things' of Christ we are to delve into!
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
This is the MEAT we are to be eating as Christians who are no longer babes needing milk.
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
We need to eat this STRONG MEAT!
We need to understand this--
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
We aren't to stay WITHIN the camp.
We have to GO FORTH therefore UNTO HIM.
How many are staying within the camp?
How many are still sacrificing at the altar that is within the camp?
How many are NOT trusting in Jesus to be their all in all?
How many are still looking to rituals to save them?
We look to a man, not to things. We look to our Savior not within the camp but without!
May God help us to do so, may He help us to feed on all the strong meat He presents to us, growing stronger in knowledge of Him through the Holy Spirit, by His grace!
Amen.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Established with grace
Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Divers and strange doctrines.
Throughout the many, many years since our Lord walked the earth there have been divers and strange doctrines that we are NOT to be carried about by.
People will say just about anything to trick others. People with delusions of grandeur who believe they need followers have created all sorts of sects for easily deceived people to join. They'll make up their own rules, their own doctrines complete with various rituals to follow. Some people have created elaborate religions based on their beliefs and they have millions of followers- it's true. However Satan has used his deceptive ways and the divers and strange doctrines have been so entrenched in people they believe they are true doctrines. People love to pick apart the Bible leaving out the bits that don't agree with their beliefs and they love to change things to suit their needs.
We are all guilty of trying to make sense of God's will for us. We are all guilty of holding to beliefs we see as important but others might not. We all want to do God's will don't we? That is the hope any way.
Doing God's will, not our will. We confuse the two all too often.
Heb 13:9 '…it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace…'
A heart established with grace.
Our hearts need to be established with grace- not with ANYTHING that doesn't profit us towards the will and grace of God. Some will become caught up in doctrines- strange and different- doctrines that make God's grace second not first. We have to find God's grace in all we do first and foremost. If we can't find God's grace in any doctrine we choose to follow, if we don't follow a doctrine out of God's grace then we are in danger of being deceived.
You can hold fast to all the doctrines you want and you can follow them to the letter never failing but that will profit you nothing. You can defend your doctrines and claim them to be God's will all you want but they are all MEANINGLESS without the grace of our Lord and Savior, without the love of God overflowing in those doctrines, those beliefs.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
God's love first! We can't forget this, we just can't. No matter what we believe, we can't forget God's love first.
No, I'm not say our beliefs are unimportant, God forbid! God has a holy law given in love for us to follow. That's the key though- given in LOVE! If we don't keep God's law out of love we keep it in VAIN!
Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
The heart has to be established with grace and the love of God is fully revealed in the grace our hearts are to be established in. We can't have God's grace without having His love.
Amen.
Divers and strange doctrines.
Throughout the many, many years since our Lord walked the earth there have been divers and strange doctrines that we are NOT to be carried about by.
People will say just about anything to trick others. People with delusions of grandeur who believe they need followers have created all sorts of sects for easily deceived people to join. They'll make up their own rules, their own doctrines complete with various rituals to follow. Some people have created elaborate religions based on their beliefs and they have millions of followers- it's true. However Satan has used his deceptive ways and the divers and strange doctrines have been so entrenched in people they believe they are true doctrines. People love to pick apart the Bible leaving out the bits that don't agree with their beliefs and they love to change things to suit their needs.
We are all guilty of trying to make sense of God's will for us. We are all guilty of holding to beliefs we see as important but others might not. We all want to do God's will don't we? That is the hope any way.
Doing God's will, not our will. We confuse the two all too often.
Heb 13:9 '…it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace…'
A heart established with grace.
Our hearts need to be established with grace- not with ANYTHING that doesn't profit us towards the will and grace of God. Some will become caught up in doctrines- strange and different- doctrines that make God's grace second not first. We have to find God's grace in all we do first and foremost. If we can't find God's grace in any doctrine we choose to follow, if we don't follow a doctrine out of God's grace then we are in danger of being deceived.
You can hold fast to all the doctrines you want and you can follow them to the letter never failing but that will profit you nothing. You can defend your doctrines and claim them to be God's will all you want but they are all MEANINGLESS without the grace of our Lord and Savior, without the love of God overflowing in those doctrines, those beliefs.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
God's love first! We can't forget this, we just can't. No matter what we believe, we can't forget God's love first.
No, I'm not say our beliefs are unimportant, God forbid! God has a holy law given in love for us to follow. That's the key though- given in LOVE! If we don't keep God's law out of love we keep it in VAIN!
Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
The heart has to be established with grace and the love of God is fully revealed in the grace our hearts are to be established in. We can't have God's grace without having His love.
Amen.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love
Psa 119:113 ...I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love
Jer 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Vanity.
Solomon had this to say-
Ecc 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Ecc 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecc 12:8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
All the thoughts we could ever have- good or bad are vanity in comparison to the law of God. Our ways are nothing compared to God's way.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
The Lord has given us His law for very important reasons we need to consider. They are to be the guide to our lives in Him.
Read the following and you have to ask yourself if David LOVED God's law. If he Really LOVED the law of God.
Psa 119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Psa 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Psa 119:3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
Psa 119:4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
Psa 119:5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Psa 119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
Psa 119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
Psa 119:8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Psa 119:9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Psa 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psa 119:12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
Psa 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
Psa 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
Psa 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Psa 119:17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
Psa 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
Psa 119:19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
Psa 119:20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
Psa 119:21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.
Psa 119:22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.
Psa 119:23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
Psa 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
Psa 119:25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
Psa 119:26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
Psa 119:28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
Psa 119:29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
Psa 119:30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
Psa 119:31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.
Psa 119:32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
Psa 119:33 HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
Psa 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Psa 119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
Psa 119:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
Psa 119:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
Psa 119:38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
Psa 119:39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
Psa 119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
Psa 119:41 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
Psa 119:42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
Psa 119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
Psa 119:44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
Psa 119:45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
Psa 119:46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
Psa 119:47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
Psa 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
Psa 119:49 ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
Psa 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
Psa 119:51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.
Psa 119:52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.
Psa 119:53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
Psa 119:54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
Psa 119:55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.
Psa 119:56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.
Psa 119:57 CHETH. Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.
Psa 119:58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.
Psa 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
Psa 119:60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
Psa 119:61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.
Psa 119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.
Psa 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
Psa 119:64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:65 TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Psa 119:66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
Psa 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Psa 119:68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
Psa 119:70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
Psa 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Psa 119:72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
Psa 119:73 JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
Psa 119:74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
Psa 119:75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Psa 119:76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
Psa 119:77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
Psa 119:78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
Psa 119:79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
Psa 119:80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.
Psa 119:81 CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.
Psa 119:82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
Psa 119:83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
Psa 119:84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
Psa 119:85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.
Psa 119:86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
Psa 119:87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
Psa 119:88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
Psa 119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Psa 119:90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
Psa 119:91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.
Psa 119:92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
Psa 119:93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
Psa 119:94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
Psa 119:95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
Psa 119:96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
Psa 119:97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Psa 119:98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
Psa 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
Psa 119:100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
Psa 119:101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
Psa 119:102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
Psa 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psa 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
Psa 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psa 119:106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
Psa 119:107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Psa 119:108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
Psa 119:109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
Psa 119:110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
Psa 119:111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
Psa 119:112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.
Psa 119:113 SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
We have to ask ourselves this- if David found such delight in the law, if David lived to love God in His law, if God's law meant more to David than thousands of gold and silver, if David hid God's law in his heart, if David loved God's law and meditated upon it ALL day- what does this tell us? David was LIVING God's law. And David was loved by God. David recognized God as His ALL IN ALL! God was everything to David.
Do we even come close to living God's law?! Do we even come close to understanding the LOVE in God's law? Do we even comprehend the depths of love God has towards us by giving us His law? By revealing Himself to us in His law? That Jesus came to be the one to reveal that law to us, to be the perfect embodiment of that law is something we don't study near enough. Every act of our Savior revealed the love of God in His law to us! Jesus lived the law! His every act was an act of love to God and to His fellow man!
We need to be like David, we need to LOVE the law of God knowing that God's love is revealed in that law perfectly and Jesus our Lord and Savior loves the law of His father, the law of His, the law that He fully upholds, the law He's lived and lives.
Open our hearts Lord! Open our understanding! Help us to HATE vain thoughts and to LOVE the law!
Amen
Jer 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Vanity.
Solomon had this to say-
Ecc 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Ecc 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecc 12:8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
All the thoughts we could ever have- good or bad are vanity in comparison to the law of God. Our ways are nothing compared to God's way.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
The Lord has given us His law for very important reasons we need to consider. They are to be the guide to our lives in Him.
Read the following and you have to ask yourself if David LOVED God's law. If he Really LOVED the law of God.
Psa 119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Psa 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Psa 119:3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
Psa 119:4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
Psa 119:5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Psa 119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
Psa 119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
Psa 119:8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Psa 119:9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Psa 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psa 119:12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
Psa 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
Psa 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
Psa 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Psa 119:17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
Psa 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
Psa 119:19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
Psa 119:20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
Psa 119:21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.
Psa 119:22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.
Psa 119:23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
Psa 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
Psa 119:25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
Psa 119:26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
Psa 119:28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
Psa 119:29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
Psa 119:30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
Psa 119:31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.
Psa 119:32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
Psa 119:33 HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
Psa 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Psa 119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
Psa 119:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
Psa 119:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
Psa 119:38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
Psa 119:39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
Psa 119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
Psa 119:41 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
Psa 119:42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
Psa 119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
Psa 119:44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
Psa 119:45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
Psa 119:46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
Psa 119:47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
Psa 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
Psa 119:49 ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
Psa 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
Psa 119:51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.
Psa 119:52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.
Psa 119:53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
Psa 119:54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
Psa 119:55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.
Psa 119:56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.
Psa 119:57 CHETH. Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.
Psa 119:58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.
Psa 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
Psa 119:60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
Psa 119:61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.
Psa 119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.
Psa 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
Psa 119:64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:65 TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Psa 119:66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
Psa 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Psa 119:68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
Psa 119:70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
Psa 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Psa 119:72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
Psa 119:73 JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
Psa 119:74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
Psa 119:75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Psa 119:76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
Psa 119:77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
Psa 119:78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
Psa 119:79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
Psa 119:80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.
Psa 119:81 CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.
Psa 119:82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
Psa 119:83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
Psa 119:84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
Psa 119:85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.
Psa 119:86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
Psa 119:87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
Psa 119:88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
Psa 119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Psa 119:90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
Psa 119:91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.
Psa 119:92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
Psa 119:93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
Psa 119:94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
Psa 119:95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
Psa 119:96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
Psa 119:97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Psa 119:98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
Psa 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
Psa 119:100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
Psa 119:101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
Psa 119:102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
Psa 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psa 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
Psa 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psa 119:106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
Psa 119:107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Psa 119:108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
Psa 119:109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
Psa 119:110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
Psa 119:111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
Psa 119:112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.
Psa 119:113 SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
We have to ask ourselves this- if David found such delight in the law, if David lived to love God in His law, if God's law meant more to David than thousands of gold and silver, if David hid God's law in his heart, if David loved God's law and meditated upon it ALL day- what does this tell us? David was LIVING God's law. And David was loved by God. David recognized God as His ALL IN ALL! God was everything to David.
Do we even come close to living God's law?! Do we even come close to understanding the LOVE in God's law? Do we even comprehend the depths of love God has towards us by giving us His law? By revealing Himself to us in His law? That Jesus came to be the one to reveal that law to us, to be the perfect embodiment of that law is something we don't study near enough. Every act of our Savior revealed the love of God in His law to us! Jesus lived the law! His every act was an act of love to God and to His fellow man!
We need to be like David, we need to LOVE the law of God knowing that God's love is revealed in that law perfectly and Jesus our Lord and Savior loves the law of His father, the law of His, the law that He fully upholds, the law He's lived and lives.
Open our hearts Lord! Open our understanding! Help us to HATE vain thoughts and to LOVE the law!
Amen
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever!
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Psa 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Isa 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am
Read these words again- John 8:58 Jesus said unto them- verily, verily I say unto you…BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM
And this….
Joh 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Jesus witnessed Abraham rejoicing in the knowledge that a Messiah (that HE) would one day come and offer salvation to all.
To witness Abraham rejoicing, Jesus according to the Jews about Him, would have had to have been alive when Abraham was and that was IMPOSSIBLE to their thinking because they did not acknowledge the divinity that Jesus possessed. They did not understand that He was born of the Spirit, that He was God having taken on flesh as they possessed. The Jews were waiting for a Messiah, but not a lowly human who didn't come to conquer their enemies. They'd made their Messiah into one like Moses, one who would take them out of bondage from the Romans and set up a kingdom on earth for them, freeing them from all tyrannical rule. Yes, the promised Messiah was going to free them, the promised Messiah was going to set up a way to eternal life that could never be denied. All that was foretold and all that came to pass in Jesus, but they refused to see because they'd confounded the heavenly meaning with their earthly interpretations. Seeing a man they imagined to be just like them proclaiming to be the Son of God, proclaiming to have existed before Abraham- they were enraged by the sheer audacity, by the blasphemy they believed was coming from this mere mortal man.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit, and those worshipping Him, in spirit and truth it doth behove to worship.
The Spirit who became flesh, who was to be called the Son of God upon His birth into humanity, existed at Creation.
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Word was WITH God, the Word WAS God. Two Gods. One of those Gods- the Word- was made flesh and called the Son of God.
Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee SHALL BE called the Son of God.
Young's Literal Translation (1898)
Luk 1:35 And the messenger answering said to her, `The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also the holy-begotten thing shall be called Son of God
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The ONLY begotten of the Father.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus could truthfully say He was before Abraham, that all things were created by Him because it's true. He was there, a God, with God. And He divested Himself of His divinity to become human, to be called the Son of God- born of God. PRAISE GOD! Resisting all temptation to sin, God in human form, taking on our flesh, taking on our carnal nature prone to sin and remaining sinless, God who had created mankind- was able to redeem mankind!
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Jesus who was there in Creation, Jesus who was there throughout all history from Abraham to Moses, to David and there with all the patriarchs in between, with all the prophets- this SAME Jesus who was there during the Ten Commandments, this SAME Jesus witnessed EVERYTHING from the beginning onwards and can say truthfully-
Jesus Christ the SAME yesterday, today, and for ever!
Jesus Christ the SAME from the beginning, the present, the future!
We cannot take Jesus out of life at all whatsoever- He is the giver of all life. He didn't fall asleep and let God the Father just take over only to be nudged awake so He could go to earth and take on flesh. He was very much wide awake and aware of all that transpired from the beginning and through all history. When we say the God of the Old Testament was different, He was mean and nasty, we are speaking of the same God in the New Testament. Jesus was there in the beginning and throughout - agreeing and taking part in all that was done.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
PRAISE GOD! All glory to God! There is NO confusion!
Joh 10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye do not believe; the works that I do in the name of my Father, these testify concerning me
Joh 10:30 I and the Father are one.
They didn't just become one in their actions, their agreements when Jesus became flesh, but LONG before Jesus took on flesh they were one in all that was taking place.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Glory to God in the Highest!!!!
All praise and majesty to our King!!!!
We have a faithful Savior who has promised us life in Him and all His promises are true! We have a wonderful Father in Heaven witnessing all that transpires! We have a Holy Spirit sent to guide us on earth, guide us to all the knowledge we'll ever need to claim Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our Redeemer!
We can't praise God, we can't praise our Savior, we can't praise the Holy Spirit enough, not ever!
Amen!
Psa 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Isa 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am
Read these words again- John 8:58 Jesus said unto them- verily, verily I say unto you…BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM
And this….
Joh 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Jesus witnessed Abraham rejoicing in the knowledge that a Messiah (that HE) would one day come and offer salvation to all.
To witness Abraham rejoicing, Jesus according to the Jews about Him, would have had to have been alive when Abraham was and that was IMPOSSIBLE to their thinking because they did not acknowledge the divinity that Jesus possessed. They did not understand that He was born of the Spirit, that He was God having taken on flesh as they possessed. The Jews were waiting for a Messiah, but not a lowly human who didn't come to conquer their enemies. They'd made their Messiah into one like Moses, one who would take them out of bondage from the Romans and set up a kingdom on earth for them, freeing them from all tyrannical rule. Yes, the promised Messiah was going to free them, the promised Messiah was going to set up a way to eternal life that could never be denied. All that was foretold and all that came to pass in Jesus, but they refused to see because they'd confounded the heavenly meaning with their earthly interpretations. Seeing a man they imagined to be just like them proclaiming to be the Son of God, proclaiming to have existed before Abraham- they were enraged by the sheer audacity, by the blasphemy they believed was coming from this mere mortal man.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit, and those worshipping Him, in spirit and truth it doth behove to worship.
The Spirit who became flesh, who was to be called the Son of God upon His birth into humanity, existed at Creation.
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Word was WITH God, the Word WAS God. Two Gods. One of those Gods- the Word- was made flesh and called the Son of God.
Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee SHALL BE called the Son of God.
Young's Literal Translation (1898)
Luk 1:35 And the messenger answering said to her, `The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also the holy-begotten thing shall be called Son of God
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The ONLY begotten of the Father.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus could truthfully say He was before Abraham, that all things were created by Him because it's true. He was there, a God, with God. And He divested Himself of His divinity to become human, to be called the Son of God- born of God. PRAISE GOD! Resisting all temptation to sin, God in human form, taking on our flesh, taking on our carnal nature prone to sin and remaining sinless, God who had created mankind- was able to redeem mankind!
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Jesus who was there in Creation, Jesus who was there throughout all history from Abraham to Moses, to David and there with all the patriarchs in between, with all the prophets- this SAME Jesus who was there during the Ten Commandments, this SAME Jesus witnessed EVERYTHING from the beginning onwards and can say truthfully-
Jesus Christ the SAME yesterday, today, and for ever!
Jesus Christ the SAME from the beginning, the present, the future!
We cannot take Jesus out of life at all whatsoever- He is the giver of all life. He didn't fall asleep and let God the Father just take over only to be nudged awake so He could go to earth and take on flesh. He was very much wide awake and aware of all that transpired from the beginning and through all history. When we say the God of the Old Testament was different, He was mean and nasty, we are speaking of the same God in the New Testament. Jesus was there in the beginning and throughout - agreeing and taking part in all that was done.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
PRAISE GOD! All glory to God! There is NO confusion!
Joh 10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye do not believe; the works that I do in the name of my Father, these testify concerning me
Joh 10:30 I and the Father are one.
They didn't just become one in their actions, their agreements when Jesus became flesh, but LONG before Jesus took on flesh they were one in all that was taking place.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Glory to God in the Highest!!!!
All praise and majesty to our King!!!!
We have a faithful Savior who has promised us life in Him and all His promises are true! We have a wonderful Father in Heaven witnessing all that transpires! We have a Holy Spirit sent to guide us on earth, guide us to all the knowledge we'll ever need to claim Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our Redeemer!
We can't praise God, we can't praise our Savior, we can't praise the Holy Spirit enough, not ever!
Amen!
Friday, November 26, 2010
Whose Faith Follow
Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Remember them- which have rule over you
Remember them - who have spoken unto you the word of God.
Remember them - whose faith follow
Remember them- considering the end of their conversation.
Different versions read that first part like this-
Remember your guides
(Bishops) Remember them which haue the ouersyght of you
(CEV) Don't forget about your leaders who taught you God's message.
(LITV) Remember your leaders who spoke the Word of God to you
(YLT) Be mindful of those leading you
Whose faith should we be following? Who leads us?
1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gal 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus
Eph 6:21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things
Col 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ
Col 4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
2Th 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
The only faith we should follow is that of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we are blessed to have others who are followers of our Lord in our lives and they speak according to His word and there is truth in them - then we can know they are faithful followers. We don't have the apostles to follow today, we don't have many who are faithful- truly faithful. We know that the way is NARROW, we know that many will be led astray and many will try to lead others astray. We know that in the last days it will be as the days of Noah, the days of Lot- where there will be FEW, very, very FEW in comparison to the number of people alive, who will be faithful. Knowing these facts we can't assume there is ANYONE on earth today we should follow. Seriously.
2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2Ti 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
2Ti 3:9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
2Ti 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2Ti 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Pay attention to this next part carefully….
2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Our teacher must be the WORD of GOD!.
Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
We don't have a faithful servant Onesimus, or a faithful servant Paul, or a faithful servant Tychicus to come to us and for us to learn from. We have the WORD of GOD as our faithful servant. The words of faith exist in the Word of God to us. We can 'remember them which have the rule over us', we can remember those 'who have spoken unto you the word of God' we can remember those 'whose faith follow', we can remember so many 'considering the end of their conversation.'
We have the Bible.
We have the faithful witness of God's word to us. A faithful witness that has managed to endure by God's divine hand even though many times there were those who would have seen it destroyed completely. There was a time it was ILLEGAL to have a Bible, wait… even today it is ILLEGAL to have a Bible in some parts of our world.
'In restricted nations around the world, persecuted believers have two requests: "Please pray for us" and "Please send Bibles!" Believers, as well as those seeking Christ, often wait years to own their own copy of God's Word, and they do so at great risk. But the requests continue: "Please send Bibles!"
Pasted from '
The Bible is our faithful witness! Those of us who have easy access to this faithful witness we are to have rule over us, whose faith we are to follow, considering the words of the faithful within-- don't realize how precious a gift this word of God is.
We might not have living flesh and blood to witness to us as faithful witnesses but we do have God's living word and the Holy Spirit will open our understanding to its marvelous truths.
Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
We have to remember, we have to follow, we have to consider the END of their conversation. Let's look for just a brief moment at the end of the letters written by these faithful.
2Ti 4:22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.
Rom 16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.
Eph 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.
1Pe 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
1Co 16:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1Co 16:24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus and Timotheus.
These are just snippets, just the tiniest bit of the endings of the letters (some lengthy- some not) that have been written for US. Where are they guiding us who have them for a faithful witness- To our LORD and SAVIOR!
Always the end, the culmination of these faithful witnesses was about our Savior. The entire Bible is filled with the faithful witnesses that will NEVER lead us astray, that will never deceive us. We really need to delve into the word of God so much more than we do. This is our true life, not the world around us. Serving self desires will NOT be the paramount theme in eternity, not by a LONG, LONG shot! When we choose to do things that are pleasing to our base human nature over the things we know will serve our spiritual nature- we choose wrongly. Which nature rules us? Which nature to we CHOOSE to rule? Which nature do we feed? Which nature do we encourage? These are thoughts we need to be thinking about. We need to evaluate ourselves, our lives, our hearts. If we don't like what we see we need to drop to our knees and pray to God to be in us, to create clean hearts within us, to forgive us, to help us. We can't ignore ourselves. We can't ignore our hearts and our ways and expect all is well.
1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves…
This is for us to do by the grace and mercy of our Savior. Out of our love for God we are to do all that we can, all that the faithful witnesses have professed we should do.
May God bless and keep us in Him now and always, through the love, the mercy, the grace, the righteousness of our Savior and King!
Amen!
Remember them- which have rule over you
Remember them - who have spoken unto you the word of God.
Remember them - whose faith follow
Remember them- considering the end of their conversation.
Different versions read that first part like this-
Remember your guides
(Bishops) Remember them which haue the ouersyght of you
(CEV) Don't forget about your leaders who taught you God's message.
(LITV) Remember your leaders who spoke the Word of God to you
(YLT) Be mindful of those leading you
Whose faith should we be following? Who leads us?
1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gal 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus
Eph 6:21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things
Col 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ
Col 4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
2Th 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
The only faith we should follow is that of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we are blessed to have others who are followers of our Lord in our lives and they speak according to His word and there is truth in them - then we can know they are faithful followers. We don't have the apostles to follow today, we don't have many who are faithful- truly faithful. We know that the way is NARROW, we know that many will be led astray and many will try to lead others astray. We know that in the last days it will be as the days of Noah, the days of Lot- where there will be FEW, very, very FEW in comparison to the number of people alive, who will be faithful. Knowing these facts we can't assume there is ANYONE on earth today we should follow. Seriously.
2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2Ti 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
2Ti 3:9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
2Ti 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2Ti 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Pay attention to this next part carefully….
2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Our teacher must be the WORD of GOD!.
Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
We don't have a faithful servant Onesimus, or a faithful servant Paul, or a faithful servant Tychicus to come to us and for us to learn from. We have the WORD of GOD as our faithful servant. The words of faith exist in the Word of God to us. We can 'remember them which have the rule over us', we can remember those 'who have spoken unto you the word of God' we can remember those 'whose faith follow', we can remember so many 'considering the end of their conversation.'
We have the Bible.
We have the faithful witness of God's word to us. A faithful witness that has managed to endure by God's divine hand even though many times there were those who would have seen it destroyed completely. There was a time it was ILLEGAL to have a Bible, wait… even today it is ILLEGAL to have a Bible in some parts of our world.
'In restricted nations around the world, persecuted believers have two requests: "Please pray for us" and "Please send Bibles!" Believers, as well as those seeking Christ, often wait years to own their own copy of God's Word, and they do so at great risk. But the requests continue: "Please send Bibles!"
Pasted from
The Bible is our faithful witness! Those of us who have easy access to this faithful witness we are to have rule over us, whose faith we are to follow, considering the words of the faithful within-- don't realize how precious a gift this word of God is.
We might not have living flesh and blood to witness to us as faithful witnesses but we do have God's living word and the Holy Spirit will open our understanding to its marvelous truths.
Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
We have to remember, we have to follow, we have to consider the END of their conversation. Let's look for just a brief moment at the end of the letters written by these faithful.
2Ti 4:22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.
Rom 16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.
Eph 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.
1Pe 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
1Co 16:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1Co 16:24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus and Timotheus.
These are just snippets, just the tiniest bit of the endings of the letters (some lengthy- some not) that have been written for US. Where are they guiding us who have them for a faithful witness- To our LORD and SAVIOR!
Always the end, the culmination of these faithful witnesses was about our Savior. The entire Bible is filled with the faithful witnesses that will NEVER lead us astray, that will never deceive us. We really need to delve into the word of God so much more than we do. This is our true life, not the world around us. Serving self desires will NOT be the paramount theme in eternity, not by a LONG, LONG shot! When we choose to do things that are pleasing to our base human nature over the things we know will serve our spiritual nature- we choose wrongly. Which nature rules us? Which nature to we CHOOSE to rule? Which nature do we feed? Which nature do we encourage? These are thoughts we need to be thinking about. We need to evaluate ourselves, our lives, our hearts. If we don't like what we see we need to drop to our knees and pray to God to be in us, to create clean hearts within us, to forgive us, to help us. We can't ignore ourselves. We can't ignore our hearts and our ways and expect all is well.
1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves…
This is for us to do by the grace and mercy of our Savior. Out of our love for God we are to do all that we can, all that the faithful witnesses have professed we should do.
May God bless and keep us in Him now and always, through the love, the mercy, the grace, the righteousness of our Savior and King!
Amen!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
The Lord is my helper
Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
The Lord is my helper.
Does this mean the Lord will help us by keeping us from all the worldly problems we may encounter? Does this mean we can expect help in the way we desire it when we ask for it?
What happens when we ask for help from the Lord and it doesn't seem to be happening? What if a bad situation just keep getting worse and worse? What if others hear us asking the Lord for help and then mock our belief when it appears the Lord isn't helping at all?
The rest of this verse… and I will not fear what man shall do unto me, explains it all, doesn't it?
We aren't living for this world!
Our prayer should be help us Lord, help us on our way to You, let all things work together for good towards our eternal life in You.
Am I saying we shouldn't pray for earthly things? NO! No! No! But first and foremost has to be our Heavenly Father and His will in all things leading towards eternal life in Him.
When I ask people to pray for someone who may be sick or injured, I do want them to pray for their wellbeing. Do I want them to pray for them first and foremost? No. First and foremost God's eternal will must be our prayer.
Remember the prayer the Lord gave to the disciples when they asked Him to teach them to pray?
Ma 6:9 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
What was first? Our Father which are in heaven- Hallowed be they name. Thy kingdom come.
God is first! The kingdom of God is first! It has to be first and foremost because we aren't living for this world we are living in hopes of the next world in Christ. If we don't make God first, if we don't make eternal life first we get all caught up in the trap of wanting our lives here and now to be easy, to be tolerable, to be good. We pray for things to change here and now so we can live here and now easily. We don't want to live with afflictions, we don't want our loved ones to suffer, we don't want the pain and heartache that comes with life.
Let me emphasize- IT'S NOT WRONG TO PRAY AND ASK FOR THINGS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER, TO HELP OTHERS, TO MAKE LIFE LESS PAINFUL. What is wrong is making that our priority.
Our priority must be our God! Our priority must be eternal life! Our priority must be God's will be done right here, right now on earth… as God's will is done in heaven…as God will WILL be done in eternity!
Then after we make God our priority, after we make eternity our priority, AFTER we have things eternal in mind and our priorities are straight… then we pray…
Give us this day our daily bread. Lord please supply our needs, physical, mental, emotional, supply our needs as we need them.
We really need to understand this because too many ridicule God and our belief in God as not being the great wish fulfiller. He's not our great wish fulfiller, He is God and with God our eternal life is first and foremost.
Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
THE LORD IS MY HELPER!
I won't fear what man shall do unto me. I won't fear what comes in this life. I won't fear that my eternal life can be lost by circumstances beyond my control.
May God help this to be all our prayer, may we all BOLDLY say THE LORD IS MY HELPER!
By His grace!
The Lord is my helper.
Does this mean the Lord will help us by keeping us from all the worldly problems we may encounter? Does this mean we can expect help in the way we desire it when we ask for it?
What happens when we ask for help from the Lord and it doesn't seem to be happening? What if a bad situation just keep getting worse and worse? What if others hear us asking the Lord for help and then mock our belief when it appears the Lord isn't helping at all?
The rest of this verse… and I will not fear what man shall do unto me, explains it all, doesn't it?
We aren't living for this world!
Our prayer should be help us Lord, help us on our way to You, let all things work together for good towards our eternal life in You.
Am I saying we shouldn't pray for earthly things? NO! No! No! But first and foremost has to be our Heavenly Father and His will in all things leading towards eternal life in Him.
When I ask people to pray for someone who may be sick or injured, I do want them to pray for their wellbeing. Do I want them to pray for them first and foremost? No. First and foremost God's eternal will must be our prayer.
Remember the prayer the Lord gave to the disciples when they asked Him to teach them to pray?
Ma 6:9 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
What was first? Our Father which are in heaven- Hallowed be they name. Thy kingdom come.
God is first! The kingdom of God is first! It has to be first and foremost because we aren't living for this world we are living in hopes of the next world in Christ. If we don't make God first, if we don't make eternal life first we get all caught up in the trap of wanting our lives here and now to be easy, to be tolerable, to be good. We pray for things to change here and now so we can live here and now easily. We don't want to live with afflictions, we don't want our loved ones to suffer, we don't want the pain and heartache that comes with life.
Let me emphasize- IT'S NOT WRONG TO PRAY AND ASK FOR THINGS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER, TO HELP OTHERS, TO MAKE LIFE LESS PAINFUL. What is wrong is making that our priority.
Our priority must be our God! Our priority must be eternal life! Our priority must be God's will be done right here, right now on earth… as God's will is done in heaven…as God will WILL be done in eternity!
Then after we make God our priority, after we make eternity our priority, AFTER we have things eternal in mind and our priorities are straight… then we pray…
Give us this day our daily bread. Lord please supply our needs, physical, mental, emotional, supply our needs as we need them.
We really need to understand this because too many ridicule God and our belief in God as not being the great wish fulfiller. He's not our great wish fulfiller, He is God and with God our eternal life is first and foremost.
Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
THE LORD IS MY HELPER!
I won't fear what man shall do unto me. I won't fear what comes in this life. I won't fear that my eternal life can be lost by circumstances beyond my control.
May God help this to be all our prayer, may we all BOLDLY say THE LORD IS MY HELPER!
By His grace!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Be without covetousness
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Our lives need to be without covetousness, and living in a world where covetousness is an accepted way of life and even promoted telling someone their life needs to be without covetousness seems like telling them they have to do the impossible.
We fool ourselves by telling ourselves that it's NORMAL to covet better things. What makes it normal? Because it's part of our carnal nature, does that make it acceptable? So many people do so many things based upon their impulses, their desires and they call them normal because they have them and they can't help they have these desires- they just do. Our desires, the things we covet- and I'm not just talking about material things here but we covet people, we covet situations, we covet beauty, we can covet many, many things. And YES, we covet from a sin-filled nature. We have to war against the flesh we possess, the fleshy desires that are contrary to God and His will.
1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul
Our fleshly lusts will war against us! We will have these lusts, these desires and they will be powerful! These covetous lusts will try to control us, not have us control them. Satan has done His job well and has convinced us that it's impossible to fight temptations, it's impossible for us to control our NATURAL desires. We have child molesters that will describe in great detail how they couldn't HELP doing what they've done. Murderers, serial killers, they'll tell you they were compelled to do what they've done- unable to stop themselves. We have psychologists/psychiatrists/therapists/physicians and many tests that will be used in court to prove that parts of a psychopath's brain doesn't function like normal peoples. We have so much that goes on to prove why people can't control their coveting, why they can't abstain from their fleshly lusts. We make excuses even as we lock the rapists and murderers up in jail and there is a pinprick of sympathy for the poor soul who was just born bad through NO fault of his own.
I'm no expert at all and don't claim to be. There really could be people who lack the control to abstain from coveting and such- there really could be those who have no control over their actions. I know I have a hard enough time with my own personal *problems*. However we are told in God's word that with every temptation there is a way out of that temptation.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
IF we believe in God we have to believe His word to us. If we claim Christ as our Savior, if we've been born again in our Savior and place our lives in His hands we have to believe what we are told.
The temptations we face are COMMON. Often we feel as if we are the only ones struggling but we aren't! Temptation is common, it's not something rare! God WILL make a way to escape, He will make us able to BEAR the temptation without succumbing to it. He will! And we have to resist unto blood if necessary.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
A way to escape, striving against sin. It's not easy- it's horrifically hard to strive against sin.
We are to pray-
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
We are told by our Savior-
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
The FLESH is weak! We must WATCH, we must PRAY- that we enter NOT into temptation!
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
We must ENDURE temptation not succumb to temptation, we must endure it without giving into it.
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
We have to live without coveting- the root of a lot of our temptations is coveting. We need to be CONTENT with how things are. We need to be content without the things we covet, living in such a way that by the grace of our Lord we stop coveting. We need to be content with this wonderful, amazing fact-- Jesus will NEVER leave us or forsake us! We might lose EVERYTHING we hold dear in this world, but we CAN'T lose our Savior, NO ONE can take our Savior from us, NOTHING can take our Savior from us! He will NEVER leave us! He will NEVER forsake us! Our eternal life is secure in HIM! We might live in horror in this world, but we have the promise of true life in HIM, in our SAVIOR! Too many people believe God is giving up on them when their lives here and now become living torture- whether emotionally, mentally, physically it doesn't matter. Satan would have us believe God has left us, that we are no longer loved by God, that we've been deserted just when we need our Savior most- but that's wrong! Our Savior was HERE In this world suffering, dying when we needed Him most to do so and He did! He was an example to us- He lived a very painful existence emotionally, mentally, and finally physically He lived a torturous life and we are called to do NO less. If we are blessed enough not to be called to endure horror it's not because of something we've done, it's not because God loves us more than others, we can't know all the reasoning behind life, all the whys and wherefores. We suffer, we live, we love, we need to claim our Savior in ALL things! He will NEVER LEAVE US! He will NEVER FORSAKE US! By His grace we live!
May we cling to our Savior as Satan surrounds us with constant temptation to covetousness, may we cling to our Lord, our Redeemer and resist unto blood!
All in His name! In His holy, holy name! In His love! In His righteousness! His grace! His mercy!
Amen!!!
Our lives need to be without covetousness, and living in a world where covetousness is an accepted way of life and even promoted telling someone their life needs to be without covetousness seems like telling them they have to do the impossible.
We fool ourselves by telling ourselves that it's NORMAL to covet better things. What makes it normal? Because it's part of our carnal nature, does that make it acceptable? So many people do so many things based upon their impulses, their desires and they call them normal because they have them and they can't help they have these desires- they just do. Our desires, the things we covet- and I'm not just talking about material things here but we covet people, we covet situations, we covet beauty, we can covet many, many things. And YES, we covet from a sin-filled nature. We have to war against the flesh we possess, the fleshy desires that are contrary to God and His will.
1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul
Our fleshly lusts will war against us! We will have these lusts, these desires and they will be powerful! These covetous lusts will try to control us, not have us control them. Satan has done His job well and has convinced us that it's impossible to fight temptations, it's impossible for us to control our NATURAL desires. We have child molesters that will describe in great detail how they couldn't HELP doing what they've done. Murderers, serial killers, they'll tell you they were compelled to do what they've done- unable to stop themselves. We have psychologists/psychiatrists/therapists/physicians and many tests that will be used in court to prove that parts of a psychopath's brain doesn't function like normal peoples. We have so much that goes on to prove why people can't control their coveting, why they can't abstain from their fleshly lusts. We make excuses even as we lock the rapists and murderers up in jail and there is a pinprick of sympathy for the poor soul who was just born bad through NO fault of his own.
I'm no expert at all and don't claim to be. There really could be people who lack the control to abstain from coveting and such- there really could be those who have no control over their actions. I know I have a hard enough time with my own personal *problems*. However we are told in God's word that with every temptation there is a way out of that temptation.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
IF we believe in God we have to believe His word to us. If we claim Christ as our Savior, if we've been born again in our Savior and place our lives in His hands we have to believe what we are told.
The temptations we face are COMMON. Often we feel as if we are the only ones struggling but we aren't! Temptation is common, it's not something rare! God WILL make a way to escape, He will make us able to BEAR the temptation without succumbing to it. He will! And we have to resist unto blood if necessary.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
A way to escape, striving against sin. It's not easy- it's horrifically hard to strive against sin.
We are to pray-
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
We are told by our Savior-
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
The FLESH is weak! We must WATCH, we must PRAY- that we enter NOT into temptation!
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
We must ENDURE temptation not succumb to temptation, we must endure it without giving into it.
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
We have to live without coveting- the root of a lot of our temptations is coveting. We need to be CONTENT with how things are. We need to be content without the things we covet, living in such a way that by the grace of our Lord we stop coveting. We need to be content with this wonderful, amazing fact-- Jesus will NEVER leave us or forsake us! We might lose EVERYTHING we hold dear in this world, but we CAN'T lose our Savior, NO ONE can take our Savior from us, NOTHING can take our Savior from us! He will NEVER leave us! He will NEVER forsake us! Our eternal life is secure in HIM! We might live in horror in this world, but we have the promise of true life in HIM, in our SAVIOR! Too many people believe God is giving up on them when their lives here and now become living torture- whether emotionally, mentally, physically it doesn't matter. Satan would have us believe God has left us, that we are no longer loved by God, that we've been deserted just when we need our Savior most- but that's wrong! Our Savior was HERE In this world suffering, dying when we needed Him most to do so and He did! He was an example to us- He lived a very painful existence emotionally, mentally, and finally physically He lived a torturous life and we are called to do NO less. If we are blessed enough not to be called to endure horror it's not because of something we've done, it's not because God loves us more than others, we can't know all the reasoning behind life, all the whys and wherefores. We suffer, we live, we love, we need to claim our Savior in ALL things! He will NEVER LEAVE US! He will NEVER FORSAKE US! By His grace we live!
May we cling to our Savior as Satan surrounds us with constant temptation to covetousness, may we cling to our Lord, our Redeemer and resist unto blood!
All in His name! In His holy, holy name! In His love! In His righteousness! His grace! His mercy!
Amen!!!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
God will judge
Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Let's get the meaning of the Greek words whoremaster and adulterer--
Webster-
WHOREMONGER, n. The same as whoremaster.
Whoremaster
WHOREMASTER, n. [supra.] One who practices lewdness.
Strong's-
Whoremonger-
pornos
por'-nos
From πέρνημι pernēmi (to sell; akin to the base of G4097); a (male) prostitute (as venal), that is, (by analogy) a debauchee (libertine): - fornicator, whoremonger.
Websters-
Adulterer
ADUL'TERER, n. [L. adulter.]
1. A man guilty of adultery; a man who has sexual commerce with any married woman, except his wife. [See Adultery.]
2. In scripture, an idolator. Ezek 23.
3. An apostate from the true faith, or one who violates his covenant engagements; a very wicked person. Jer 9 and 23.
4. One devoted to earthly things. James 4.
Strong's
Adulterer-
moichos
moy-khos'
Perhaps a primary word; a (male) paramour; figuratively apostate: - adulterer.
*******
Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Marriage is honorable.
Adultery, whoredom- is not honorable and God will judge those who take part in these.
What is the principle example of marriage- Christ and His Bride(the Church), Christ and His people joining- becoming one.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
A bride needs a bridegroom, and a bridegroom needs a bride- one without the other is useless.
All of us can be part of the bride of Christ. Every single human being has this capacity. Every single person can be part of this heavenly marriage, this heavenly relationship. The possibility exists for us to have this amazing marriage, the BEST marriage ever!
If the possibility exists to have an amazing marriage then the opposite is true, isn't it? No marriage.
We are made inherently to want companions and when we meet people who don't have a companion but rather are living their lives alone it's inevitable that people feel sorry for them. Being alone is lonely. There is something missing, that other half isn't there.
Today in our warped world with it's warped perceptions I'm sure many will say that being alone doesn't necessarily mean being lonely, that we don't all need companions, that having another half isn't true for everyone. I'm not going to debate this, I'm not a debater in the best of circumstances. I believe what I believe and I'm not asking anyone to join me in my beliefs. If anyone agrees with something I say that's great but my relationship is with God first not any other. I have to answer to God and God alone. I will be judged by God and God alone and it's my personal belief that we human beings created male and female were made to desire companionship to be complete.
Being made with this desire is a perfect way for us to understand the relationship God desires with His people. Companionship.
We have an opportunity to be wedded to our God, and we also have an opportunity to MISS being wedded to our God. God will not marry every human being but ONLY those who are His, only those who have been born again.
We can choose to be God's, in fact to be His we need to choose to be, and by the power of Christ it is possible. If we don't choose to be God's we won't be. If we choose to be God's and then choose to leave God we won't be God's any longer- HE DOES NOT FORCE US TO STAY HIS! We can choose to become apostates . We can choose to become adulterers, leaving our God for a substitute god. We can choose to be whoremongers and try to find others to fill the place of God as a companion, and Satan will do anything and everything he can to keep us from our Bridegroom, to snatch us away once we are betrothed to Him.
Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Whether marriage between a man and woman or the promised marriage to come this verse applies.
God will judge those who are whoremongers and adulterers. God will NOT judge those who are married to Him. God will not judge those who are honorable in their marriages.
Those who choose not to be God's will be judged without any doubt. Those who choose to be God's will have an advocate and that advocate is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and He will plead in our behalf, He has paid the price for our sins, and we will not be found guilty. PRAISE GOD!
By the grace of our Lord and Savior now and forever may be we ready for our Bridegroom when He comes to take us into the marriage feast, His Bride!
In His eternal love!
Amen.
Let's get the meaning of the Greek words whoremaster and adulterer--
Webster-
WHOREMONGER, n. The same as whoremaster.
Whoremaster
WHOREMASTER, n. [supra.] One who practices lewdness.
Strong's-
Whoremonger-
pornos
por'-nos
From πέρνημι pernēmi (to sell; akin to the base of G4097); a (male) prostitute (as venal), that is, (by analogy) a debauchee (libertine): - fornicator, whoremonger.
Websters-
Adulterer
ADUL'TERER, n. [L. adulter.]
1. A man guilty of adultery; a man who has sexual commerce with any married woman, except his wife. [See Adultery.]
2. In scripture, an idolator. Ezek 23.
3. An apostate from the true faith, or one who violates his covenant engagements; a very wicked person. Jer 9 and 23.
4. One devoted to earthly things. James 4.
Strong's
Adulterer-
moichos
moy-khos'
Perhaps a primary word; a (male) paramour; figuratively apostate: - adulterer.
*******
Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Marriage is honorable.
Adultery, whoredom- is not honorable and God will judge those who take part in these.
What is the principle example of marriage- Christ and His Bride(the Church), Christ and His people joining- becoming one.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
A bride needs a bridegroom, and a bridegroom needs a bride- one without the other is useless.
All of us can be part of the bride of Christ. Every single human being has this capacity. Every single person can be part of this heavenly marriage, this heavenly relationship. The possibility exists for us to have this amazing marriage, the BEST marriage ever!
If the possibility exists to have an amazing marriage then the opposite is true, isn't it? No marriage.
We are made inherently to want companions and when we meet people who don't have a companion but rather are living their lives alone it's inevitable that people feel sorry for them. Being alone is lonely. There is something missing, that other half isn't there.
Today in our warped world with it's warped perceptions I'm sure many will say that being alone doesn't necessarily mean being lonely, that we don't all need companions, that having another half isn't true for everyone. I'm not going to debate this, I'm not a debater in the best of circumstances. I believe what I believe and I'm not asking anyone to join me in my beliefs. If anyone agrees with something I say that's great but my relationship is with God first not any other. I have to answer to God and God alone. I will be judged by God and God alone and it's my personal belief that we human beings created male and female were made to desire companionship to be complete.
Being made with this desire is a perfect way for us to understand the relationship God desires with His people. Companionship.
We have an opportunity to be wedded to our God, and we also have an opportunity to MISS being wedded to our God. God will not marry every human being but ONLY those who are His, only those who have been born again.
We can choose to be God's, in fact to be His we need to choose to be, and by the power of Christ it is possible. If we don't choose to be God's we won't be. If we choose to be God's and then choose to leave God we won't be God's any longer- HE DOES NOT FORCE US TO STAY HIS! We can choose to become apostates . We can choose to become adulterers, leaving our God for a substitute god. We can choose to be whoremongers and try to find others to fill the place of God as a companion, and Satan will do anything and everything he can to keep us from our Bridegroom, to snatch us away once we are betrothed to Him.
Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Whether marriage between a man and woman or the promised marriage to come this verse applies.
God will judge those who are whoremongers and adulterers. God will NOT judge those who are married to Him. God will not judge those who are honorable in their marriages.
Those who choose not to be God's will be judged without any doubt. Those who choose to be God's will have an advocate and that advocate is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and He will plead in our behalf, He has paid the price for our sins, and we will not be found guilty. PRAISE GOD!
By the grace of our Lord and Savior now and forever may be we ready for our Bridegroom when He comes to take us into the marriage feast, His Bride!
In His eternal love!
Amen.
Monday, November 22, 2010
In the body
Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Remember those in prison. Let me ask you something, were they talking about all prisoners? Seriously, were they talking about the criminals? Or were they talking about remember fellow believers that are bound? Those in the body of Christ are believers of Christ as their Savior. They live in Christ, they are born again in Christ, they are part of the body of Christ. We cannot believe everyone is part of the body of Christ. Not everyone even wants to be part of the body of Christ and Christ forces no one.
People get upset when we start to differentiate between those who are with Christ and those who are not. They throw up the fact that we are to love all without bias, and that's true. We are to love without bias, we are to love as Jesus loved and loves. Did Jesus speak against anyone when He walked the earth?
Mat 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees- does that sound as if Jesus is just 'loving' them without any reservation, without any restraint, without any thought for the manner of person they are or what they believe or how they act? No.
While we are not Jesus and we cannot see into people's hearts as He can and know their hearts. We need to be discerning though, don't we?
Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Dogs, swine, how are we to know who are the dogs, who are the swine if we are not able to discern between those who are of the body of Christ and those who aren't?
I've mentioned it before- we can't judge someone's eternal life, but we have to be able to judge actions. We have to be able to discern between good and evil and the acts of those who choose to do good or evil. If you know there is a party going on and you get to see the guest list of those at the party you'd be able to tell what sort of party it might be, wouldn't you? If you see a known drug addict, a known pervert on the list what would you assume? That the party isn't quite the type of party you'd want to attend based on your knowledge of those attending. Does this make you unlike Jesus? He went in and supped with sinners. We have to ask ourselves why he went in and supped with known sinners. He did so knowing there was an opportunity for Him to open their eyes to the truth in Him, open their eyes to the forgiveness and new life He offers. He did not JOIN them in their sinning. If we did attend a party where we know it will be anything but Godly and we did so with the intention of witnessing for Christ, that's one thing, but it's a whole other thing if we go to that party and simply accept the debauchery that takes place without saying a word. We aren't to put ourselves into situations or align ourselves with those we know want nothing to do with our Lord and Savior. We can pray for everyone, we can pray that people are convicted by the Holy Spirit and their eyes are opened, their hearts are softened so they can accept the love of Jesus, and sometimes that's all we can do. We can meet the sinner's basic needs- if we see a known godless person hungering, yes, we can feed them and hope the act of kindness reveals the love of Jesus in us. We just can't ignore the fact that there are godless, that there are those who don't love Jesus and we are not to mingle with them unless it's for witnessing. Too many Christians have the 'Holier than Thou' attitude and too many have the 'casting their pearls before swine without a thought' attitude, too many 'give what is holy to the dogs' thinking they are doing God's work.
We are all sinners, but some are sinners who are repenting of their sin and seeking forgiveness, others are not. We can witness, our lives witness for us, and we can pray, all without entering into the dog pits or the swine pen. Even as I say it, I know some are going to believe I'm wrong and who knows maybe I am, but maybe I'm not. Right or wrong we need to fall on our knees and ask for the guidance of our Savior and not presume we know that is best.
Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
As being yourselves also in the body. We are in the body of Christ.
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
We need to remember those who are in bonds and them which suffer adversity because we are all in one body in Christ. When our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ suffer - we are suffering with them- their suffering is OUR suffering and we can't forget that.
Our lives are caught up in so much. Everyday some of us come face to face with unbelievers, with those who aren't of the body. I don't personally know anyone who is shut off from the world and only living among those who believe as they believe. We aren't told to hide ourselves away. We are told to keep ourselves from evil and not to put ourselves in situations where we can be tempted by that evil. If you are weak when it comes to alcohol then going to witness for your Savior in a bar is foolish! If you have trouble with promiscuity then going to a street corner where people are offering you a chance to be promiscuous under the belief you are just going to witness is WRONG. We aren't to put ourselves in temptation's way but keep ourselves from the evil that would overcome us. We can witness for our Savior and be a part of Christ's body even if you are witnessing to just one single person in your own household. Even if your life reflects Christ's teachings when you deal with the mail man, or the grocery store clerk, or the telemarketer, or any other human being for whatever reason at all you are witnessing when you treat them with Christ's love.
Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
We are to remember our fellow followers of Christ- strengthening each other in whatever situation we are in, and not forget we need to do this- HELP each other, even as we help our enemies. We shouldn't cast our pearls before swine and we shouldn't give that which is holy unto the dogs, but we still have to love our enemies- overcoming evil with good.
By the grace of our Lord and Savior may we be found helping those in need whether they are of the body of Christ or our enemies, never forgetting that no matter the eternal state of another - of which we cannot know- that we are to be revealers of God's love in all we do.
In the love of our Savior now and always!!!
By His amazing, wonderful grace!
Amen!
Remember those in prison. Let me ask you something, were they talking about all prisoners? Seriously, were they talking about the criminals? Or were they talking about remember fellow believers that are bound? Those in the body of Christ are believers of Christ as their Savior. They live in Christ, they are born again in Christ, they are part of the body of Christ. We cannot believe everyone is part of the body of Christ. Not everyone even wants to be part of the body of Christ and Christ forces no one.
People get upset when we start to differentiate between those who are with Christ and those who are not. They throw up the fact that we are to love all without bias, and that's true. We are to love without bias, we are to love as Jesus loved and loves. Did Jesus speak against anyone when He walked the earth?
Mat 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees- does that sound as if Jesus is just 'loving' them without any reservation, without any restraint, without any thought for the manner of person they are or what they believe or how they act? No.
While we are not Jesus and we cannot see into people's hearts as He can and know their hearts. We need to be discerning though, don't we?
Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Dogs, swine, how are we to know who are the dogs, who are the swine if we are not able to discern between those who are of the body of Christ and those who aren't?
I've mentioned it before- we can't judge someone's eternal life, but we have to be able to judge actions. We have to be able to discern between good and evil and the acts of those who choose to do good or evil. If you know there is a party going on and you get to see the guest list of those at the party you'd be able to tell what sort of party it might be, wouldn't you? If you see a known drug addict, a known pervert on the list what would you assume? That the party isn't quite the type of party you'd want to attend based on your knowledge of those attending. Does this make you unlike Jesus? He went in and supped with sinners. We have to ask ourselves why he went in and supped with known sinners. He did so knowing there was an opportunity for Him to open their eyes to the truth in Him, open their eyes to the forgiveness and new life He offers. He did not JOIN them in their sinning. If we did attend a party where we know it will be anything but Godly and we did so with the intention of witnessing for Christ, that's one thing, but it's a whole other thing if we go to that party and simply accept the debauchery that takes place without saying a word. We aren't to put ourselves into situations or align ourselves with those we know want nothing to do with our Lord and Savior. We can pray for everyone, we can pray that people are convicted by the Holy Spirit and their eyes are opened, their hearts are softened so they can accept the love of Jesus, and sometimes that's all we can do. We can meet the sinner's basic needs- if we see a known godless person hungering, yes, we can feed them and hope the act of kindness reveals the love of Jesus in us. We just can't ignore the fact that there are godless, that there are those who don't love Jesus and we are not to mingle with them unless it's for witnessing. Too many Christians have the 'Holier than Thou' attitude and too many have the 'casting their pearls before swine without a thought' attitude, too many 'give what is holy to the dogs' thinking they are doing God's work.
We are all sinners, but some are sinners who are repenting of their sin and seeking forgiveness, others are not. We can witness, our lives witness for us, and we can pray, all without entering into the dog pits or the swine pen. Even as I say it, I know some are going to believe I'm wrong and who knows maybe I am, but maybe I'm not. Right or wrong we need to fall on our knees and ask for the guidance of our Savior and not presume we know that is best.
Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
As being yourselves also in the body. We are in the body of Christ.
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
We need to remember those who are in bonds and them which suffer adversity because we are all in one body in Christ. When our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ suffer - we are suffering with them- their suffering is OUR suffering and we can't forget that.
Our lives are caught up in so much. Everyday some of us come face to face with unbelievers, with those who aren't of the body. I don't personally know anyone who is shut off from the world and only living among those who believe as they believe. We aren't told to hide ourselves away. We are told to keep ourselves from evil and not to put ourselves in situations where we can be tempted by that evil. If you are weak when it comes to alcohol then going to witness for your Savior in a bar is foolish! If you have trouble with promiscuity then going to a street corner where people are offering you a chance to be promiscuous under the belief you are just going to witness is WRONG. We aren't to put ourselves in temptation's way but keep ourselves from the evil that would overcome us. We can witness for our Savior and be a part of Christ's body even if you are witnessing to just one single person in your own household. Even if your life reflects Christ's teachings when you deal with the mail man, or the grocery store clerk, or the telemarketer, or any other human being for whatever reason at all you are witnessing when you treat them with Christ's love.
Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
We are to remember our fellow followers of Christ- strengthening each other in whatever situation we are in, and not forget we need to do this- HELP each other, even as we help our enemies. We shouldn't cast our pearls before swine and we shouldn't give that which is holy unto the dogs, but we still have to love our enemies- overcoming evil with good.
By the grace of our Lord and Savior may we be found helping those in need whether they are of the body of Christ or our enemies, never forgetting that no matter the eternal state of another - of which we cannot know- that we are to be revealers of God's love in all we do.
In the love of our Savior now and always!!!
By His amazing, wonderful grace!
Amen!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Open to Me the Gates of Righteousness!
Psa 118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
Psa 118:20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
Gate-
H8179sha‛ar
shah'-ar
From H8176 in its original sense; an opening, that is, door or gate: - city, door, gate, port (X -er).
Who is our door to salvation? Jesus.
Jesus is the way. Jesus is our gate to salvation.
The gates of righteousness.
Who is the source of all righteousness? Jesus.
1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous
1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
This gate of the LORD - into which the righteous shall enter.
We have to enter into the righteousness of Christ this is our only way to salvation- Christ's righteousness. PRAISE THE LORD!
Psa 118:21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone
1Pe 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner
Psa 118:23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
PRAISE THE LORD!
Psa 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psa 118:25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
Psa 118:26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
Psa 118:27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
Psa 118:28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
Psa 118:29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
These words are so wonderful! These prophetic words of David's are all about our beloved SAVIOR! David knew even long before the Savior was to come, David knew that the only way to salvation would be through the righteousness of the Messiah- the gate of righteousness, the stone the builder refused, the head stone of the corner! Praise the Lord! Our wonderful, wonderful Lord! The promise of our Lord to come, the promise of our Lord realized, the promise of our Lord to come again. Every human being has lived with our Lord a reality! No human will ever live without the Lord being the way to Salvation!
How wondrous is our God! Never have we been without the possibility of be saved, never! Just as David lived knowing the way to Salvation, we living knowing the way to Salvation and it's not through our own righteousness.
As David said- OPEN TO ME THE GATES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS- I too say OPEN TO ME THE GATES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS I WILL GO INTO THEM!
PRAISE THE LORD!
Psa 118:20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
Gate-
H8179sha‛ar
shah'-ar
From H8176 in its original sense; an opening, that is, door or gate: - city, door, gate, port (X -er).
Who is our door to salvation? Jesus.
Jesus is the way. Jesus is our gate to salvation.
The gates of righteousness.
Who is the source of all righteousness? Jesus.
1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous
1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
This gate of the LORD - into which the righteous shall enter.
We have to enter into the righteousness of Christ this is our only way to salvation- Christ's righteousness. PRAISE THE LORD!
Psa 118:21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone
1Pe 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner
Psa 118:23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
PRAISE THE LORD!
Psa 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psa 118:25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
Psa 118:26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
Psa 118:27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
Psa 118:28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
Psa 118:29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
These words are so wonderful! These prophetic words of David's are all about our beloved SAVIOR! David knew even long before the Savior was to come, David knew that the only way to salvation would be through the righteousness of the Messiah- the gate of righteousness, the stone the builder refused, the head stone of the corner! Praise the Lord! Our wonderful, wonderful Lord! The promise of our Lord to come, the promise of our Lord realized, the promise of our Lord to come again. Every human being has lived with our Lord a reality! No human will ever live without the Lord being the way to Salvation!
How wondrous is our God! Never have we been without the possibility of be saved, never! Just as David lived knowing the way to Salvation, we living knowing the way to Salvation and it's not through our own righteousness.
As David said- OPEN TO ME THE GATES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS- I too say OPEN TO ME THE GATES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS I WILL GO INTO THEM!
PRAISE THE LORD!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Ignorance or Presumption
Num 15:29 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.
Num 15:30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Sin through ignorance.
Sin through presumption.
Ignorance-
H7684
shegâgâh
sheg-aw-gaw'
From H7683; a mistake or inadvertent transgression: - error, ignorance, at unawares, unwittingly.
Presumptuously-
H7311
רוּם
rûm
room
A primitive root; to be high actively to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively): - bring up, exalt (self), extol, give, go up, haughty, heave (up), (be, lift up on, make on, set up on, too) high (-er, one), hold up, levy, lift (-er) up, (be) lofty, (X a-) loud, mount up, offer (up), + presumptuously, (be) promote (-ion), proud, set up, tall (-er), take (away, off, up), breed worms.
Sin through mistakes, sin inadvertently, sin through error, sin unaware, sin unwittingly.
Sin haughtily, sin loftily, sin proudly, sin through self exaltation.
When you are commanded NOT to do something and you do it knowingly, when you do it because you believe YOU know better, that YOU are in control of yourself- that God has no power to command you- this is a blatant sin, a presumptuous sin.
A sin committed in error, a sin committed through the weakness of our flesh, a sin committed that you know is a mistake, this is a sin of ignorance.
People sin all the time but many sin living as if God doesn't even exist, that God's will doesn't matter. People who sin proudly flaunting their supposed superiority over God have no place of forgiveness because they've made themselves to be their own god, denying the power of the one, true God. They have no conviction to even seek repentance and forgiveness. God will not forgive a person who does not seek forgiveness.
We can't make the mistake of believing there is no hope for those who are truly seeking forgiveness. Some would have us believe that we can never be forgiven, ever, no matter what because we sinned knowingly. DAVID sinned knowingly! It's not sinning knowingly that is presumptuous, it's sinning with the presumption that it doesn't matter if you sin. David knew He'd done wrong, David didn't presume that His sin didn't matter, that God's commands didn't matter. It was in the weakness of flesh that David sinned. DON'T get me wrong here, I'm not saying we can use our flesh weakness to presumptuously sin, NO WAY. The presumption - being haughty, being proud, exalting in that sin- will forever be wrong! And again DON'T get me wrong… God KNOWS our hearts, He knows what is TRUE flesh weakness and what is presumption. We CAN'T fool God! We can try to fool ourselves but God will not be fooled!
God knows the depths of our suffering, God knows even when we renounce Him out of pain whether we are doing so presumptuously or ignorantly- through our weakness. There is a grand difference between presumption and ignorance and Satan would have us believe that we are inevitably lost wanting us to give up on God's grace, on God's power of forgiveness. Satan wants us any way He can get us!
God gives us commands. Jesus reinforced those commands and added commands, these commandments reveal God to us, these commandments reveal God's love for us.
Why is eternal death the end result of breaking the commandments of God? Why was death a punishment, a sentence given and followed through on for breaking the commandments of God? Why would God make the punishment so severe? People want to believe that God didn't command death to those who broke the commandments, but He did. People will say that doesn't sound like a very loving, caring, forgiving God at all. What they mean is that doesn't sound like their imaginary God who will never punish but forever just give a tap on the wrist and forever give chance after chance.
We have an EXACTING God! We have a God who is a CONSUMING FIRE! This is OUR GOD! Our very, very loving God!
People will point out torture in the Bible and say if God condones that then He's not loving. People will point out at the innocent suffering and say that's NOT a loving God. People are very quick to judge God- and people are very quick to PRESUME they know better than God. People will reject God and in doing so they set themselves us as their own god. As soon as you make the presumption that YOU and YOUR thoughts, YOUR beliefs are better than God's- you have put yourself in place of God whether you go about claiming that title or not. Satan would love to keep you in the dark about your presumption and where it places you, as long as you are not claiming God, Satan is thrilled. Many would be appalled to realize that they are claiming to be a god. They don't look at it quite that way, they're just saying they don't understand God, they'll back paddle quickly if they have to come face to face with the fact that when they deny God they claim their own godhood. It's not like saying you don't believe in the President of the United States and that makes you the President of the United States - that's a MAN to MAN level, human to human level. We aren't dealing with a human to human level but a God to human level. Men can, and will, and do claim there is no God, men can, and will, and do claim to be in control of themselves, dependent upon no one. Men can, and will, and do claim to be their own god- their own creator (human creating human), their own sustainer.
We are dependent creatures. If that statement bothers you then you might be guilty of self-exaltation. Seriously. We are dependent upon God. God gives us life and yes, God can take that life away. We are dependent creatures who have the power of choice. That power of choice allows us to acknowledge our dependence or ignore it, deny it, rebel against it. We are told outright the results of our actions- if we choose to acknowledge our dependence or if we choose not to acknowledge our dependence. If we choose to acknowledge our Creator, our Redeemer, or if we choose not to acknowledge our Creator, our Redeemer- there are consequences for our choices. You can choose to not acknowledge and still live out your life here and now- but you give up life eternal. There will be NO automatic save. There will be NO second chance. There will be no holding pen while you acknowledge you are wrong.
If you choose to believe that God is unjust and therefore you don't want to follow Him- He won't force you to do so. If you choose to defy God and suffer for it, it's because YOU CHOSE to disobey- perhaps believing you have no need of God, perhaps believing He doesn't exist, either way it was YOUR choice. God will NOT force us to believe! God will NOT make it IMPOSSIBLE for you to have a choice. We have that choice, each and everyone of us has that choice of faith. Each of us is accountable to God for our choice- even the choice not to believe He exists. We are dependent, accountable beings and our God love us and has shown it in many, many ways. Our God could have destroyed us all outright, out of Love He's not destroyed us but given us a chance to live in Him, for Him, with Him.
God has revealed Himself to us. God sent His Son and His Son revealed God to us. We aren't left to wonder endlessly what God is like, He's shown us over and over. God has told us what He condones and what He doesn't condone. We can choose to live as He's revealed we should live- under the grace of our Savior, through our Savior's righteousness, yielding ourselves servant to our Savior, servant's to His righteousness- OR we can choose to live to ourselves, to sin.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We choose.
We are informed and we make a choice. Every day, every hour, every moment we make a choice.
By the grace and mercy of our loving Savior may we make the right choice now and always!
In His love!
Amen.
Num 15:30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Sin through ignorance.
Sin through presumption.
Ignorance-
H7684
shegâgâh
sheg-aw-gaw'
From H7683; a mistake or inadvertent transgression: - error, ignorance, at unawares, unwittingly.
Presumptuously-
H7311
רוּם
rûm
room
A primitive root; to be high actively to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively): - bring up, exalt (self), extol, give, go up, haughty, heave (up), (be, lift up on, make on, set up on, too) high (-er, one), hold up, levy, lift (-er) up, (be) lofty, (X a-) loud, mount up, offer (up), + presumptuously, (be) promote (-ion), proud, set up, tall (-er), take (away, off, up), breed worms.
Sin through mistakes, sin inadvertently, sin through error, sin unaware, sin unwittingly.
Sin haughtily, sin loftily, sin proudly, sin through self exaltation.
When you are commanded NOT to do something and you do it knowingly, when you do it because you believe YOU know better, that YOU are in control of yourself- that God has no power to command you- this is a blatant sin, a presumptuous sin.
A sin committed in error, a sin committed through the weakness of our flesh, a sin committed that you know is a mistake, this is a sin of ignorance.
People sin all the time but many sin living as if God doesn't even exist, that God's will doesn't matter. People who sin proudly flaunting their supposed superiority over God have no place of forgiveness because they've made themselves to be their own god, denying the power of the one, true God. They have no conviction to even seek repentance and forgiveness. God will not forgive a person who does not seek forgiveness.
We can't make the mistake of believing there is no hope for those who are truly seeking forgiveness. Some would have us believe that we can never be forgiven, ever, no matter what because we sinned knowingly. DAVID sinned knowingly! It's not sinning knowingly that is presumptuous, it's sinning with the presumption that it doesn't matter if you sin. David knew He'd done wrong, David didn't presume that His sin didn't matter, that God's commands didn't matter. It was in the weakness of flesh that David sinned. DON'T get me wrong here, I'm not saying we can use our flesh weakness to presumptuously sin, NO WAY. The presumption - being haughty, being proud, exalting in that sin- will forever be wrong! And again DON'T get me wrong… God KNOWS our hearts, He knows what is TRUE flesh weakness and what is presumption. We CAN'T fool God! We can try to fool ourselves but God will not be fooled!
God knows the depths of our suffering, God knows even when we renounce Him out of pain whether we are doing so presumptuously or ignorantly- through our weakness. There is a grand difference between presumption and ignorance and Satan would have us believe that we are inevitably lost wanting us to give up on God's grace, on God's power of forgiveness. Satan wants us any way He can get us!
God gives us commands. Jesus reinforced those commands and added commands, these commandments reveal God to us, these commandments reveal God's love for us.
Why is eternal death the end result of breaking the commandments of God? Why was death a punishment, a sentence given and followed through on for breaking the commandments of God? Why would God make the punishment so severe? People want to believe that God didn't command death to those who broke the commandments, but He did. People will say that doesn't sound like a very loving, caring, forgiving God at all. What they mean is that doesn't sound like their imaginary God who will never punish but forever just give a tap on the wrist and forever give chance after chance.
We have an EXACTING God! We have a God who is a CONSUMING FIRE! This is OUR GOD! Our very, very loving God!
People will point out torture in the Bible and say if God condones that then He's not loving. People will point out at the innocent suffering and say that's NOT a loving God. People are very quick to judge God- and people are very quick to PRESUME they know better than God. People will reject God and in doing so they set themselves us as their own god. As soon as you make the presumption that YOU and YOUR thoughts, YOUR beliefs are better than God's- you have put yourself in place of God whether you go about claiming that title or not. Satan would love to keep you in the dark about your presumption and where it places you, as long as you are not claiming God, Satan is thrilled. Many would be appalled to realize that they are claiming to be a god. They don't look at it quite that way, they're just saying they don't understand God, they'll back paddle quickly if they have to come face to face with the fact that when they deny God they claim their own godhood. It's not like saying you don't believe in the President of the United States and that makes you the President of the United States - that's a MAN to MAN level, human to human level. We aren't dealing with a human to human level but a God to human level. Men can, and will, and do claim there is no God, men can, and will, and do claim to be in control of themselves, dependent upon no one. Men can, and will, and do claim to be their own god- their own creator (human creating human), their own sustainer.
We are dependent creatures. If that statement bothers you then you might be guilty of self-exaltation. Seriously. We are dependent upon God. God gives us life and yes, God can take that life away. We are dependent creatures who have the power of choice. That power of choice allows us to acknowledge our dependence or ignore it, deny it, rebel against it. We are told outright the results of our actions- if we choose to acknowledge our dependence or if we choose not to acknowledge our dependence. If we choose to acknowledge our Creator, our Redeemer, or if we choose not to acknowledge our Creator, our Redeemer- there are consequences for our choices. You can choose to not acknowledge and still live out your life here and now- but you give up life eternal. There will be NO automatic save. There will be NO second chance. There will be no holding pen while you acknowledge you are wrong.
If you choose to believe that God is unjust and therefore you don't want to follow Him- He won't force you to do so. If you choose to defy God and suffer for it, it's because YOU CHOSE to disobey- perhaps believing you have no need of God, perhaps believing He doesn't exist, either way it was YOUR choice. God will NOT force us to believe! God will NOT make it IMPOSSIBLE for you to have a choice. We have that choice, each and everyone of us has that choice of faith. Each of us is accountable to God for our choice- even the choice not to believe He exists. We are dependent, accountable beings and our God love us and has shown it in many, many ways. Our God could have destroyed us all outright, out of Love He's not destroyed us but given us a chance to live in Him, for Him, with Him.
God has revealed Himself to us. God sent His Son and His Son revealed God to us. We aren't left to wonder endlessly what God is like, He's shown us over and over. God has told us what He condones and what He doesn't condone. We can choose to live as He's revealed we should live- under the grace of our Savior, through our Savior's righteousness, yielding ourselves servant to our Savior, servant's to His righteousness- OR we can choose to live to ourselves, to sin.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We choose.
We are informed and we make a choice. Every day, every hour, every moment we make a choice.
By the grace and mercy of our loving Savior may we make the right choice now and always!
In His love!
Amen.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Be not forgetful
13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Have you ever forgotten something? Of course you have. You might have forgotten something just this morning or perhaps yesterday. We forget and some of us seem more forgetful than others. When we forget something we are usually at least a tiny bit upset with ourselves for forgetting whatever it was we forgot- at least if it were something important. We generally don't get upset if we forget a bit of history we may have learned in grade school, but we would get very upset if we forget a friend's birthday. We forget, it's part of our nature. No one, perhaps I should rephrase that for the very few, most people forget, there are a tiny fraction of people who have perfect memory- so tiny it's likely most of us don't even know one of those few.
We forget. We are forgetful. Do we forget on purpose? Is it even possible to forget something on purpose? I don't know that it is. It is however, possible for us to NOT take steps that would keep us from forgetting something. We mostly have it in our power to take step to keep from forgetting. We can write ourselves notes, we can recite something over and over, we could put an object in our midst that would jog our memory. We have ways to help us remember. No, maybe we don't have ways to help us remember every single fact we learn but we have ways to keep us from forgetting important things, right?
If someone tells you not to forget something it's a good guess it's something important- at least to that person.
Forget--
G1950
epilanthanomai
ep-ee-lan-than'-om-ahee
Middle voice from G1909 and G2990; to lose out of mind; by implication to neglect: - (be) forget (-ful of).
Lose out of mind- by implication to neglect.
Have you ever had someone in your life feel as if they were being neglected when you've forgotten something they've wanted you to remember? They feel the neglect and are HURT, their feelings are hurt. They judge your forgetfulness to mean you don't care enough to remember. Their feelings are being neglected, their wish for you to remember something is being slighted. You might not feel that way about it though. You might feel as if you have NO control over the things you forget or remember. You don't realize that you might need to create some system that allows you to remember things that people tell you, especially your loved ones who are most likely to feel hurt, to feel purposely neglected by your poor memory. Because you didn't purposely forget you want to be forgiven, but that doesn't do away with the hurt the forgetting causes. You can be forgiven but at the same time the neglect whether blatant or not, is still real.
When God tells us in His word not to forget how should He feel when we do forget? Should we expect automatic forgiveness? Or should we expect punishment for allowing ourselves to forget, for neglecting to do whatever it is God told us not to forget.
If we are told NOT to forget by God we better make sure we remember! No, I'm not saying God wouldn't forgive us if we truly repent , but we are accountable for our neglecting to remember.
13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Be not forgetful- to entertain strangers.
Entertain strangers-
G5381
philonexia
fil-on-ex-ee'-ah
From G5382; hospitableness: - entertain strangers, hospitality.
Hospitality (Webster)
HOSPITAL'ITY, n. [L. hospitalitas.] The act or practice of receiving and entertaining strangers or guests without reward, or with kind and generous liberality.
We cannot forget to be kind to those we don't know.
How easy it is to be indifferent to those we don't know. How easy it is to go about in our own little worlds keeping the unknown at bay. I know it's very easy for me to do so. I don't live in a small town where everyone knows everyone, I wasn't raised in a small town like that either. Keeping to myself is much more my style, in fact it's very hard for me to talk to strangers. I like to think that if someone came to me in need I wouldn't turn them away and in that way I'd be able to entertain strangers, but to go out and actively seek strangers to entertain isn't something I feel very comfortable doing. Not everyone is outgoing and being shy doesn't mean a person is ungodly. We all have our roles, we all have our places in life and as long as we put ourselves at God's disposal He will use us as He needs to.
We can't forget what God tells us not to forget. We can't forget what God tells us to remember and we need to do all we can to remember the words of the Lord to us. If it means writing ourselves notes, or going to great lengths to remember we need to do this, we really do.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, in His love, by His righteousness now and forever!
Amen.
Have you ever forgotten something? Of course you have. You might have forgotten something just this morning or perhaps yesterday. We forget and some of us seem more forgetful than others. When we forget something we are usually at least a tiny bit upset with ourselves for forgetting whatever it was we forgot- at least if it were something important. We generally don't get upset if we forget a bit of history we may have learned in grade school, but we would get very upset if we forget a friend's birthday. We forget, it's part of our nature. No one, perhaps I should rephrase that for the very few, most people forget, there are a tiny fraction of people who have perfect memory- so tiny it's likely most of us don't even know one of those few.
We forget. We are forgetful. Do we forget on purpose? Is it even possible to forget something on purpose? I don't know that it is. It is however, possible for us to NOT take steps that would keep us from forgetting something. We mostly have it in our power to take step to keep from forgetting. We can write ourselves notes, we can recite something over and over, we could put an object in our midst that would jog our memory. We have ways to help us remember. No, maybe we don't have ways to help us remember every single fact we learn but we have ways to keep us from forgetting important things, right?
If someone tells you not to forget something it's a good guess it's something important- at least to that person.
Forget--
G1950
epilanthanomai
ep-ee-lan-than'-om-ahee
Middle voice from G1909 and G2990; to lose out of mind; by implication to neglect: - (be) forget (-ful of).
Lose out of mind- by implication to neglect.
Have you ever had someone in your life feel as if they were being neglected when you've forgotten something they've wanted you to remember? They feel the neglect and are HURT, their feelings are hurt. They judge your forgetfulness to mean you don't care enough to remember. Their feelings are being neglected, their wish for you to remember something is being slighted. You might not feel that way about it though. You might feel as if you have NO control over the things you forget or remember. You don't realize that you might need to create some system that allows you to remember things that people tell you, especially your loved ones who are most likely to feel hurt, to feel purposely neglected by your poor memory. Because you didn't purposely forget you want to be forgiven, but that doesn't do away with the hurt the forgetting causes. You can be forgiven but at the same time the neglect whether blatant or not, is still real.
When God tells us in His word not to forget how should He feel when we do forget? Should we expect automatic forgiveness? Or should we expect punishment for allowing ourselves to forget, for neglecting to do whatever it is God told us not to forget.
If we are told NOT to forget by God we better make sure we remember! No, I'm not saying God wouldn't forgive us if we truly repent , but we are accountable for our neglecting to remember.
13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Be not forgetful- to entertain strangers.
Entertain strangers-
G5381
philonexia
fil-on-ex-ee'-ah
From G5382; hospitableness: - entertain strangers, hospitality.
Hospitality (Webster)
HOSPITAL'ITY, n. [L. hospitalitas.] The act or practice of receiving and entertaining strangers or guests without reward, or with kind and generous liberality.
We cannot forget to be kind to those we don't know.
How easy it is to be indifferent to those we don't know. How easy it is to go about in our own little worlds keeping the unknown at bay. I know it's very easy for me to do so. I don't live in a small town where everyone knows everyone, I wasn't raised in a small town like that either. Keeping to myself is much more my style, in fact it's very hard for me to talk to strangers. I like to think that if someone came to me in need I wouldn't turn them away and in that way I'd be able to entertain strangers, but to go out and actively seek strangers to entertain isn't something I feel very comfortable doing. Not everyone is outgoing and being shy doesn't mean a person is ungodly. We all have our roles, we all have our places in life and as long as we put ourselves at God's disposal He will use us as He needs to.
We can't forget what God tells us not to forget. We can't forget what God tells us to remember and we need to do all we can to remember the words of the Lord to us. If it means writing ourselves notes, or going to great lengths to remember we need to do this, we really do.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, in His love, by His righteousness now and forever!
Amen.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Let brotherly love continue
Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
Jesus said this…
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Could we love as Jesus loved without Jesus having loved us? No.
No wonder He's *adding* to the commandments already given. Until God's Son divested Himself of His divinity and took on human flesh, living among us, loving us, we could not have that commandment. Seriously, we couldn't have this commandment until Jesus' love was revealed. We already had these commandments--
Exo 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exo 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Exo 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Exo 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
Exo 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Exo 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.
Exo 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Exo 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
These commandments show the love we should have for God and the love we should have for our fellowman. But one thing that isn't a commandment in there if is to forgive. We aren't commanded to forgive until Jesus gives us this commandment-
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Love one another as I have loved you.
Jesus' love forgives. Jesus loved us by forgiving us in our undeserving state. We are to love others as HE loves us. We are to forgive even when the one we forgive is undeserving, what good is forgiving the deserving, any one does that, but Jesus forgave when we didn't deserve that forgiveness.
Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
What is brotherly love?
1Th 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
We are taught of God to love one another. Jesus was our example of love and if we follow His example we will love our brother, we will have brotherly love in our lives. We are commanded to love as Jesus loved. We need to learn more and more of Jesus, we need to get as close as we can to our Savior so we can know Him as completely as possible and know how to love as He loved.
By His grace we will learn to love as He loved, by His love!
Amen
Jesus said this…
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Could we love as Jesus loved without Jesus having loved us? No.
No wonder He's *adding* to the commandments already given. Until God's Son divested Himself of His divinity and took on human flesh, living among us, loving us, we could not have that commandment. Seriously, we couldn't have this commandment until Jesus' love was revealed. We already had these commandments--
Exo 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exo 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Exo 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Exo 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
Exo 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Exo 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.
Exo 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Exo 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
These commandments show the love we should have for God and the love we should have for our fellowman. But one thing that isn't a commandment in there if is to forgive. We aren't commanded to forgive until Jesus gives us this commandment-
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Love one another as I have loved you.
Jesus' love forgives. Jesus loved us by forgiving us in our undeserving state. We are to love others as HE loves us. We are to forgive even when the one we forgive is undeserving, what good is forgiving the deserving, any one does that, but Jesus forgave when we didn't deserve that forgiveness.
Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
What is brotherly love?
1Th 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
We are taught of God to love one another. Jesus was our example of love and if we follow His example we will love our brother, we will have brotherly love in our lives. We are commanded to love as Jesus loved. We need to learn more and more of Jesus, we need to get as close as we can to our Savior so we can know Him as completely as possible and know how to love as He loved.
By His grace we will learn to love as He loved, by His love!
Amen
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
We receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved
Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Heb 12:19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
Heb 12:20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
Heb 12:21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Lets read about this more fully…
Exo 19:1 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.
Exo 19:2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.
Exo 19:3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
Exo 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine
Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Exo 19:7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
Exo 19:8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
Exo 19:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.
Exo 19:10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
Exo 19:11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
Exo 19:12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:
Exo 19:13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
Exo 19:14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
Exo 19:15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
Exo 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
Exo 19:17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
Exo 19:18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Exo 19:19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
Exo 19:20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
Exo 19:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.
Exo 19:22 And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.
Exo 19:23 And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.
Exo 19:24 And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.
Exo 19:25 So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.
Exo 20:18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
Exo 20:19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
Exo 20:20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
Exo 20:21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
Exo 20:22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
**
IMAGINE living that!
God desirous to speak with His people- people like you and I, flesh and blood! And how did the people react? They were frightened and they DIDN'T want God to speak to them. They told Moses to speak with them, but not God, because they thought if God spoke with them they'd die. Just imagine being there as this all unfolded.
Then many, many years later we are told this...
Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
WE ARE NOT COME to the Mount that might be touched.
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To 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,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
WE ARE COME to the mount that CAN'T be touched- Mount Sion, the Heavenly Jerusalem.
Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven
If we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven!
If those who heard God speak from earth could NOT escape, there is NO way we who hear God speak from heaven will escape.
Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
Heb 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Dan 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him
Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
WE who receive the kingdom cannot be move.
We who receive the kingdom cannot be shaken.
God will shake the earth and the heavens make no mistake about it, but we cannot be moved who are steadfast in Him.
Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
We RECEIVING a kingdom.
We are receiving the kingdom of God. As soon as we accept Christ we are HEIRS to the kingdom.
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Joint-heirs. Does Jesus own the kingdom? Did Jesus bring the kingdom with Him? Yes and yes. When we accept Jesus we are part of that kingdom. We become joint-heirs with Christ.
So reading this…. We receiving the kingdom which cannot be moved- let us HAVE grace- whereby we MAY serve God ACCEPTABLY with reverence and godly fear. We have this now! We have the kingdom of God, we have grace, and it's because we HAVE these now we can serve God acceptably. If we don't believe we have the kingdom of God, if we don't believe have grace right now in our lives we can't serve God acceptably. These have to be a reality to us right now, not at some future point. We receive it now. It has to be part of our lives. Without believing these are ours now we aren't fully God's are we? We receive grace now! We receive the kingdom now! We receive all this when we receive our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Make no mistake this is stating the truth- our God is a consuming fire.
Deu 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
God who is from everlasting to everlasting is the same yesterday, today, and forever. When people try to say that God has changed, that Jesus changed things they are so wrong! God in the beginning of the Bible was a consuming fire and God in the end of the Bible is a consuming fire. God hasn't changed, will not change, ever. His standards are the same always.
By His grace, by His love we live and will live forever in Him, in His love, serving Him!
Amen
Heb 12:19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
Heb 12:20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
Heb 12:21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Lets read about this more fully…
Exo 19:1 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.
Exo 19:2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.
Exo 19:3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
Exo 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine
Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Exo 19:7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
Exo 19:8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
Exo 19:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.
Exo 19:10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
Exo 19:11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
Exo 19:12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:
Exo 19:13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
Exo 19:14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
Exo 19:15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
Exo 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
Exo 19:17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
Exo 19:18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Exo 19:19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
Exo 19:20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
Exo 19:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.
Exo 19:22 And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.
Exo 19:23 And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.
Exo 19:24 And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.
Exo 19:25 So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.
Exo 20:18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
Exo 20:19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
Exo 20:20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
Exo 20:21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
Exo 20:22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
**
IMAGINE living that!
God desirous to speak with His people- people like you and I, flesh and blood! And how did the people react? They were frightened and they DIDN'T want God to speak to them. They told Moses to speak with them, but not God, because they thought if God spoke with them they'd die. Just imagine being there as this all unfolded.
Then many, many years later we are told this...
Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
WE ARE NOT COME to the Mount that might be touched.
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To 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,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
WE ARE COME to the mount that CAN'T be touched- Mount Sion, the Heavenly Jerusalem.
Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven
If we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven!
If those who heard God speak from earth could NOT escape, there is NO way we who hear God speak from heaven will escape.
Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
Heb 12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Dan 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him
Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
WE who receive the kingdom cannot be move.
We who receive the kingdom cannot be shaken.
God will shake the earth and the heavens make no mistake about it, but we cannot be moved who are steadfast in Him.
Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
We RECEIVING a kingdom.
We are receiving the kingdom of God. As soon as we accept Christ we are HEIRS to the kingdom.
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Joint-heirs. Does Jesus own the kingdom? Did Jesus bring the kingdom with Him? Yes and yes. When we accept Jesus we are part of that kingdom. We become joint-heirs with Christ.
So reading this…. We receiving the kingdom which cannot be moved- let us HAVE grace- whereby we MAY serve God ACCEPTABLY with reverence and godly fear. We have this now! We have the kingdom of God, we have grace, and it's because we HAVE these now we can serve God acceptably. If we don't believe we have the kingdom of God, if we don't believe have grace right now in our lives we can't serve God acceptably. These have to be a reality to us right now, not at some future point. We receive it now. It has to be part of our lives. Without believing these are ours now we aren't fully God's are we? We receive grace now! We receive the kingdom now! We receive all this when we receive our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Make no mistake this is stating the truth- our God is a consuming fire.
Deu 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
God who is from everlasting to everlasting is the same yesterday, today, and forever. When people try to say that God has changed, that Jesus changed things they are so wrong! God in the beginning of the Bible was a consuming fire and God in the end of the Bible is a consuming fire. God hasn't changed, will not change, ever. His standards are the same always.
By His grace, by His love we live and will live forever in Him, in His love, serving Him!
Amen
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Fail of the grace of God
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled
Fail of the grace of God.
No one likes to talk about this, no one. Am I being dramatic? Yes, most likely I am. Maybe it's just me that doesn't like to talk about this, or think about this. Failing of the grace of God?! When there is so much in life we can fail at, this is the ONE thing we do not want to fail to receive.
Just the idea of it being possible to fail of the grace of God is frightening. How do we avoid this? By LOOKING DILIGENTLY. What are we looking diligently for or at? We have to look at ourselves, our lives and what are we looking for in ourselves? ANY root of bitterness springing up to trouble us.
Root of bitterness.
Hannah-
1Sa 1:10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
Hannah prayed in the bitterness of her soul and was redeemed. Hannah didn't live in that bitterness without action. She had the bitterness in her and she prayed, she wept. She believed that God heard her prayer. We can't expect not to be bitter about everything in life that happens, but when that bitterness comes we have to do all we can to pray and get rid of that bitterness. We have to…trust, we have to have faith in God as the bitterness threatens to overwhelm us. Bitterness can consume us. Bitterness can develop in us and when it does that we are no longer trusting in our Savior. We have to be DILIGENT about looking for any bitterness inside us. Maybe there is something in us, maybe some old hurt that we've buried and have yet to seek forgiveness for. Maybe our lives are wrapped up in a cloak of bitterness, and maybe, just maybe we've become immune to the realization of the bitterness disguising it under a different part of our personality. Is it possible?
Heb 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Heb 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Fornicator, profane person- for ONE morsel sold his birthright.
After selling his birthright- he was REJECTED. He found NO place of repentance- though he SOUGHT it CAREFULLY with TEARS.
HE SOUGHT IT! With TEARS!
I want to believe that anyone who seeks repentance will find it, especially if they are seeking it carefully with tears. But sometimes when we commit acts we can't take them back, we can't get back what we've lost. Sometimes it is too late. Esau sold something he could NEVER get back. We all face this trial in our own way. Sometimes it is too late. I don't want to believe it, I want everyone to have endless opportunities to repent and find forgiveness. We have to realize that Esau sold his birthright to keep from suffering hunger and did he want it right back? Did he regret what he'd done as soon as he'd done it? Did he go on and live with the fact he'd sold his birthright happily, unconcerned, believing that he'd done no wrong? Was it ONLY when he realized just how important that birthright was - when it came time to claim it- that it meant anything to him and by then he was more sorry for losing the benefits of the birthright than he was for what he'd done. You know what I mean. Being sorry for our actions is different than being sorry for the outcome of our actions. Esau wasn't sorry he sold the birthright, he wasn't sorry for that action not until the action was attached to the realization he'd sold much more than just his birthright. We can go out and sin - taking pleasure in our sins, we can choose to sin rather than suffer, and at the moment it seems well and good. But then later on maybe we come down with a disease and then we regret the sinning and we might even cry because we feel so upset over having sinned, we might repent of that action with a lot of tears but we are repenting of the outcome, not the actual sin. We are WISHING we never did the sin that brought the consequence. Would we repent if the sin hadn't had that consequence? No. Esau would NEVER have repented if the consequence hadn't existed.
Our sins have consequences.
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled
Any root of bitterness comes up troubling you.
This is what we really need to understand, the roots of bitterness that trouble us.
Could it be allowing any bitterness to remain in ourselves over anything?
Esau was bitter- his repentance came from his bitterness, it wasn't true repentance. If we are bitter over something we are holding resentment and if we are clinging to resentment over something then we are not allowing God to fill us with Himself because He cannot dwell where there is bitterness and resentment. We all have what we call our pet peeves, our particular situations that cause angst to arise in us and we label them okay because we are so used to them and don't really consider them problems, just our pet peeves. See, we even label them pets which makes them sound like companions of sort. Could they be bitter roots? Do those pet peeves trouble us? They wouldn't be peeves if they didn't offer annoyance to us, would they? Many will be defiled by roots of bitterness troubling them. That's a frightening thought.
Bottom line? Maybe the bottom line is being troubled. When we are troubled by something we are stressing over it- a more modern term we can relate to. When we stress we are not trusting in God. When we don't trust in God then we are lost because He is our source of life and we must trust in Him for ALL things. We have to stop trying to handle everything ourselves. Easier said than done, I know. We see others suffering and it causes us stress. It'd be odd to see a loved one in pain and not be stressed by it, that would make us callous, right? Trusting in God makes us seem unfeeling to people. HOW COULD WE ACT SO UNFEELING!? YOU'RE HEARTLESS! Why? Because we choose to let God be in control? We choose to realize we can't rely on ourselves for anything, but have to rely on God for all things. When we rely on God we let go of everything that would trouble us and by let go I mean we face the facts and our limitations, we face that what is beyond our limitations must be left to God.
If we are having problems and a way out of them is presented to us but we choose not to take that way- thinking God will answer in another way, we are guilty of neglecting God's way of answering.
Everyone knows that old tale that has been told endless times about a man falling over a cliff hanging on just by one hand and crying out to God to save him. The only message he receives is let go. But the man doesn't want to let go. The man has envisioned help coming in a different way perhaps from being pulled up by someone, letting go isn't something he's prepared to do. So clinging to that cliff the man dies. If he'd let go like God was telling Him to do he would have landed on a jutting rock below, but the man didn't know the jutting rock shelf was just beneath him. He didn't trust, he wanted God to answer in another way.
What we can do ourselves we are to do, what we can't do we have to have faith that God will accomplish it however He chooses.
Also, we have to realize that suffering is part of our lives and being called to suffer doesn't mean God has forsaken us or wants us to leave Him.
Suffering and holding fast to God, having faith in God doesn't mean not crying, it doesn't mean not being upset- it means NOT giving up on God. Even as the tears fall we must believe that God is in control and no matter how it seems, things will work out for our eternity.
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled
Any bitterness in us that would defile us- that would trouble us and turn us from God must be done away with and we have to constantly watch out for the bitterness that would do that to us.
By the grace of our Lord may we be ever watchful not allowing any bitterness to rise up in ourselves to trouble us away from Him in any way. May we take stock of our lives and recognize any and all troubling within us and give that troubling to God. What we may think is minor could have roots deeper than we imagine. Any bitterness inside over anything must be given to our Lord, we cannot be troubled by life as if God doesn't exist and we are not promised eternity after this life of suffering.
Please Lord bless us, help us, guide us, and keep us in YOU now and forever!
By Your grace!
Amen.
Fail of the grace of God.
No one likes to talk about this, no one. Am I being dramatic? Yes, most likely I am. Maybe it's just me that doesn't like to talk about this, or think about this. Failing of the grace of God?! When there is so much in life we can fail at, this is the ONE thing we do not want to fail to receive.
Just the idea of it being possible to fail of the grace of God is frightening. How do we avoid this? By LOOKING DILIGENTLY. What are we looking diligently for or at? We have to look at ourselves, our lives and what are we looking for in ourselves? ANY root of bitterness springing up to trouble us.
Root of bitterness.
Hannah-
1Sa 1:10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
Hannah prayed in the bitterness of her soul and was redeemed. Hannah didn't live in that bitterness without action. She had the bitterness in her and she prayed, she wept. She believed that God heard her prayer. We can't expect not to be bitter about everything in life that happens, but when that bitterness comes we have to do all we can to pray and get rid of that bitterness. We have to…trust, we have to have faith in God as the bitterness threatens to overwhelm us. Bitterness can consume us. Bitterness can develop in us and when it does that we are no longer trusting in our Savior. We have to be DILIGENT about looking for any bitterness inside us. Maybe there is something in us, maybe some old hurt that we've buried and have yet to seek forgiveness for. Maybe our lives are wrapped up in a cloak of bitterness, and maybe, just maybe we've become immune to the realization of the bitterness disguising it under a different part of our personality. Is it possible?
Heb 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Heb 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Fornicator, profane person- for ONE morsel sold his birthright.
After selling his birthright- he was REJECTED. He found NO place of repentance- though he SOUGHT it CAREFULLY with TEARS.
HE SOUGHT IT! With TEARS!
I want to believe that anyone who seeks repentance will find it, especially if they are seeking it carefully with tears. But sometimes when we commit acts we can't take them back, we can't get back what we've lost. Sometimes it is too late. Esau sold something he could NEVER get back. We all face this trial in our own way. Sometimes it is too late. I don't want to believe it, I want everyone to have endless opportunities to repent and find forgiveness. We have to realize that Esau sold his birthright to keep from suffering hunger and did he want it right back? Did he regret what he'd done as soon as he'd done it? Did he go on and live with the fact he'd sold his birthright happily, unconcerned, believing that he'd done no wrong? Was it ONLY when he realized just how important that birthright was - when it came time to claim it- that it meant anything to him and by then he was more sorry for losing the benefits of the birthright than he was for what he'd done. You know what I mean. Being sorry for our actions is different than being sorry for the outcome of our actions. Esau wasn't sorry he sold the birthright, he wasn't sorry for that action not until the action was attached to the realization he'd sold much more than just his birthright. We can go out and sin - taking pleasure in our sins, we can choose to sin rather than suffer, and at the moment it seems well and good. But then later on maybe we come down with a disease and then we regret the sinning and we might even cry because we feel so upset over having sinned, we might repent of that action with a lot of tears but we are repenting of the outcome, not the actual sin. We are WISHING we never did the sin that brought the consequence. Would we repent if the sin hadn't had that consequence? No. Esau would NEVER have repented if the consequence hadn't existed.
Our sins have consequences.
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled
Any root of bitterness comes up troubling you.
This is what we really need to understand, the roots of bitterness that trouble us.
Could it be allowing any bitterness to remain in ourselves over anything?
Esau was bitter- his repentance came from his bitterness, it wasn't true repentance. If we are bitter over something we are holding resentment and if we are clinging to resentment over something then we are not allowing God to fill us with Himself because He cannot dwell where there is bitterness and resentment. We all have what we call our pet peeves, our particular situations that cause angst to arise in us and we label them okay because we are so used to them and don't really consider them problems, just our pet peeves. See, we even label them pets which makes them sound like companions of sort. Could they be bitter roots? Do those pet peeves trouble us? They wouldn't be peeves if they didn't offer annoyance to us, would they? Many will be defiled by roots of bitterness troubling them. That's a frightening thought.
Bottom line? Maybe the bottom line is being troubled. When we are troubled by something we are stressing over it- a more modern term we can relate to. When we stress we are not trusting in God. When we don't trust in God then we are lost because He is our source of life and we must trust in Him for ALL things. We have to stop trying to handle everything ourselves. Easier said than done, I know. We see others suffering and it causes us stress. It'd be odd to see a loved one in pain and not be stressed by it, that would make us callous, right? Trusting in God makes us seem unfeeling to people. HOW COULD WE ACT SO UNFEELING!? YOU'RE HEARTLESS! Why? Because we choose to let God be in control? We choose to realize we can't rely on ourselves for anything, but have to rely on God for all things. When we rely on God we let go of everything that would trouble us and by let go I mean we face the facts and our limitations, we face that what is beyond our limitations must be left to God.
If we are having problems and a way out of them is presented to us but we choose not to take that way- thinking God will answer in another way, we are guilty of neglecting God's way of answering.
Everyone knows that old tale that has been told endless times about a man falling over a cliff hanging on just by one hand and crying out to God to save him. The only message he receives is let go. But the man doesn't want to let go. The man has envisioned help coming in a different way perhaps from being pulled up by someone, letting go isn't something he's prepared to do. So clinging to that cliff the man dies. If he'd let go like God was telling Him to do he would have landed on a jutting rock below, but the man didn't know the jutting rock shelf was just beneath him. He didn't trust, he wanted God to answer in another way.
What we can do ourselves we are to do, what we can't do we have to have faith that God will accomplish it however He chooses.
Also, we have to realize that suffering is part of our lives and being called to suffer doesn't mean God has forsaken us or wants us to leave Him.
Suffering and holding fast to God, having faith in God doesn't mean not crying, it doesn't mean not being upset- it means NOT giving up on God. Even as the tears fall we must believe that God is in control and no matter how it seems, things will work out for our eternity.
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled
Any bitterness in us that would defile us- that would trouble us and turn us from God must be done away with and we have to constantly watch out for the bitterness that would do that to us.
By the grace of our Lord may we be ever watchful not allowing any bitterness to rise up in ourselves to trouble us away from Him in any way. May we take stock of our lives and recognize any and all troubling within us and give that troubling to God. What we may think is minor could have roots deeper than we imagine. Any bitterness inside over anything must be given to our Lord, we cannot be troubled by life as if God doesn't exist and we are not promised eternity after this life of suffering.
Please Lord bless us, help us, guide us, and keep us in YOU now and forever!
By Your grace!
Amen.
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