God forbid we separate ourselves from Him.

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

We read this, but do we know this in our hearts?

The love of Christ is ALL important.

Can ANYONE or ANYTHING separate us from our Savior?  The only thing that can separate us- is ourselves. 

Satan will try everything, and I do mean everything to break our bond to our Savior, but in the end only we can break that bond.  Satan will use deception to separate us from Christ, he'll be so subtle many people won't even know they've been separated. 

Tribulations will come.

Distress and persecution will attack us.

Famine, nakedness, peril and swords will be used against those who follow Christ.

Christ followers are being killed all the day long, and every Christian is counted as a sheep for slaughter.  With all these awful painful, frightening evil attacks we can know that we are secure in Christ through them all!

Death won't separate us from Christ's love.

Life won't separate us. Angels won't separate us. Principalities won't separate us. Powers won't separate us. Nothing present and nothing in the future can take our Savior from us. No height, no depth, no creatures will take the Savior's love from us, our God's love from us, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

We HAVE to keep the love of God in us and never, ever lose it!

Knowing that nothing can separate us from God's love - how is it that many will be deceived into separation?

Hearing that NOTHING can separate us we have to realize that what is being said is NOTHING outside of ourselves will separate us from the love of God.  Just believing nothing can separate us doesn't mean you can't be separated or else no one would believe they are Christ's only to end up not being Christ's.

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

We can separate ourselves.

Please, Father God, please let us never separate ourselves from you! Please!  Special prayers for one who is hurting tragically, be her strength, please, LORD, be her strength! So many, so, so many are desperate for YOU.

Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Leave me not...

Psa 105:4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

Psa 27:7  Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 

Psa 27:8  When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. 

Psa 27:9  Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 

Isa 55:6  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 

Isa 55:7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

Isa 55:8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 

Isa 55:9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

Please O LORD, have mercy on me… I will seek YOUR face! Please!

I need You to use me for Your purpose, not my own.

Truly, LORD, truly YOUR thoughts are not my thoughts, Your ways are not my ways. Your ways are higher than the heaven from the earth, Your thoughts are higher than my thoughts. I am at Your mercy!

Hear me as I cry to You, please…  let me be Yours!

I ask...

Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 

Please, Father God, I need wisdom desperately! Please!

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 

Father, I need the gift, the perfect gift of Your wisdom. All glory, praise and honor unto YOU!

Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

My faults are many, Father God,  so many. Please, Savior, please pray for me, please all who read this, pray for me, I need healing. Please!  All glory and praise and thanksgiving unto God now and forever!

Pro 2:3  Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 

Pro 2:4  If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 

Pro 2:5  Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 

Pro 2:6  For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 

I'm crying for knowledge!
I'm lifting my voice for understanding!
I'm seeking as silver!
I'm searching as hidden treasures!

Praise Your holy name for understanding the fear of YOU.

Praise Your holy name for finding the knowledge of YOU.

Thank you LORD for giving me wisdom from YOUR mouth- the knowledge and understanding!

Jer 29:12  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 

Jer 29:13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 

Mat 7:7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 

Mat 7:8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 

Mat 7:9  Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 

Mat 7:10  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 

Mat 7:11  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? 

Please, Father I ask….

Rom_8:26  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!!!!!!!

Comfort in Tribulation.

2Co 1:3  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 

2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 

2Co 1:5  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 

2Co 1:6  And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 

2Co 1:7  And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 

2Co 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 

2Co 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 

2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 

Rom 5:4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 

Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

Rom 5:7  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 

Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 

Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 

2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

I am weak, You are my strength.

'My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness' - The LORD'S words!

Praise God, truly, His strength is made PERFECT in weakness.

Lord, I am weak, so very weak. Please let your grace fill me, your grace IS sufficient in all things. Teach me to glory in my infirmities, please Lord, teach me. I need Your power to rest upon me so desperately. Help me to take pleasure in my infirmities, in any reproach, in all necessities, and persecutions, help me to learn how to take pleasure in my many, many distresses and let the pleasure be the knowledge of You and Your grace knowing it is sufficient for me! Please. All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior now and forever!

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 

2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

We don't always get special miracles.

Is it possible to exalt ourselves above measure- to think more highly of ourselves than we should? I don't want to confuse this with the self-depreciation many take on in their lives outside of their relationship with Christ- I'm talk about exalting ourselves in our relationship with Christ. Paul knew that he would have exalted himself above measure if he hadn't been given his thorn in the flesh. Only, Paul comprehended this after he asked not once, not twice, but three times for it to be taken from him. Now Paul was used to healing people of their ailments in the name of the Savior. I can imagine He was used to healing all sorts of diseases and infirmities, you name it and he was most likely responsible for someone being healed. Remember this--

Act 19:11  And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 

Act 19:12  So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. 

GOD wrought SPECIAL MIRACLES by the hands of Paul- so no, it wasn't PAUL healing these people it was GOD, but He was using Paul as His instrument of healing.  Paul witnessed the power of God's healing and knew God could heal to the uttermost when it was God's will to do so, to allow healing. I imagine God allowed so much healing because people needed to comprehend the full love of God through Jesus Christ His Only Begotten Son.  They needed to hear the plan of salvation in Christ, they needed to know they could gain eternal life in Christ.  God did not heal without a purpose. He wanted His love known. So does this mean when the healing doesn’t come we don’t see His love? No. If that were the case, Paul would be lamenting the loss of God's love for him. Paul knew there was a REASON for no healing, a reason that was meant for his own good. He wanted the ailment, the THORN in his FLESH taken away but he had to accept the thorn and TRUST in God that it was all a part of God's plan. Every single person who suffers, all who are put to death because of their belief in our Savior, are ultimately working out their own salvation through their trust in God's plan, not their own.  People have to know that it is Satan buffeting them, but comprehend that in that buffeting they are safe in God's hands, safe in their eternal life.

Please Lord, please help us to know, to trust, to believe, to have faith in our SAVIOR'S love in ALL the tragedy we go through, or witness others - our loved ones going through.

All in our Savior's name, all in Jesus Christ our LORD now and forever!

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 

2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

'… the Lord is still for the body. If we offer ours to Him, acknowledging Him as Lord of everything and claiming His promise by faith, we shall see how the Lord can deliver us from ourselves. Irrespective of how we physiologically are made, even possessing special weaknesses, we can overcome our sins through the Lord.'  Excerpt- The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee.

Why do we suffer?

'… the Lord is still for the body. If we offer ours to Him, acknowledging Him as Lord of everything and claiming His promise by faith, we shall see how the Lord can deliver us from ourselves. Irrespective of how we physiologically are made, even possessing special weaknesses, we can overcome our sins through the Lord.'  Excerpt- The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee.

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 

2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

We know the Lord truly is the LORD of all of us, mind, body, spirit, all of us.  And we also know how much our bodies can influence our minds and spirit.  Clearly in the passage above, Paul wants his infirmity of the flesh to be taken away from him. Obviously he is disturbed by this thorn in his flesh enough to pray about it. This thing, this ailment of his he called- THE MESSENGER OF SATAN TO BUFFET HIM, he wanted it gone.  Most of us can probably relate to some degree, having experienced physical distresses. Some of us with chronic ailments- such as this had to be for Paul- comprehend how awful it is to have to live with constant pain, constant distress.  Our various messengers of Satan buffeting us are things we'd love to be rid of. And as Watchman Nee writes in the excerpt above- the Lord is for our body too- not just our spirit, He is Lord of all of us. And yes, the Lord can deliver us from sicknesses and such, but more importantly He knows when not to deliver us for reasons beyond our full comprehension. 

Paul could say that his ailment was left intact because if he didn't have it he would be exalted above measure, he would think much higher of himself with the danger of pride taking over.  Paul ended up GLORYING in his infirmities knowing that the power of Christ was still working in Him. Paul didn't give up on God because his prayers weren't answered and he continued to suffer. He could have given up his walk with Christ, blaming Him for not healing him like he believed he needed. But Paul knew that all he needed was whatever it was Christ deemed He needed. If Christ believed it necessary for Paul to suffer physically, mentally, spiritually- to receive reproaches, to lack necessities, to be persecuted, to be in distress then Paul gloried in all those awful things, he took PLEASURE in all those things, and that pleasure was knowing that He was living wholly for Christ and whatever befell Him was all for Christ's glory.  Paul's strength was his relationship with Christ, to him nothing else mattered and he was sorely tested on this over and over again.  Why, you may ask?  It's the same why we ask when we suffer isn't it, or others we love suffer, or anyone or anything suffers, we ask why, we lament the why and Satan would have us BLAME God for allowing the suffering.  Satan would have us cry out, WHY GOD!? WHY?! And Satan wants to use our weak relationship with Christ to insinuate that God isn't truly working out things for our good or the good of others. If Satan can put doubt into our minds about God's truth, about God's love, then Satan's aim has been met, he wants us to doubt, to despair, to give up on God.

More on this tomorrow by the grace and will of our GOD, may we never, no matter what befalls us, leave the love of our Savior! All through HIS amazing LOVE now and forever! All through Jesus Christ our LORD. 

The Truth.

2Pe 1:16  For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 

2Pe 1:17  For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 

2Pe 1:18  And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 

2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

Cunningly devised fables.

How many people believe in cunningly devised fables?  It's all a part of deceptive practices that Satan uses. Here in this passage Peter is telling them that they haven't followed cunningly devised fables as they spoke of the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. People believed that those who actually witnessed our Savior's miracles, those who heard the Father God blessing His Beloved Son, were spinning fables.  Today people believe the same thing- many people.  We may not have been with our Savior while He walked the earth but we know through faith, that He, and all He's done is not the stuff of fables.

We really do have a MORE sure word of prophecy. And we really do need to take heed so that all the light of the word of God can dispel all the darkness Satan would have us engulfed in. We need to take heed to the sure word of prophecy until the day star arises in our hearts!

Not a single prophecy is of ANY private interpretation. If anyone says they have their own interpretation they need to read these words. The will of MAN is not involved in prophecy, the Holy Spirit- God the Holy Spirit- gave men of God the words, they were not their own words at all.

We believe in GOD'S words, not man's words, not Satan's words, but GOD'S words are what we believe!

May He only ever allow us to see His truth! May we see, may we understand, and may we through the truth follow Him and be His in that truth!

Joh_14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

  

Exhort one another DAILY.

Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Exhort one another DAILY.

Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

Provoke unto LOVE and to GOOD WORKS.

Exhorting one another more and more the closer to Christ's return we get.

Exhort-

1. to urge, advise, or caution earnestly; admonish urgently.

2. to give urgent advice, recommendations, or warnings.

We are to urge, to advise, to caution earnestly, to admonish urgently… all to the glory of God, all for the salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord.

We need to do this DAILY and more and more as every day passes.

Act 11:23  Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 

Cleave to the LORD!  In a world that would have us torn from Christ's truth, we must CLEAVE ever closer to our Savior!

1Th 2:11  As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children

Exhort, comfort, charged- as a father to a child.

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words--

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 

1Th 5:10  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 

1Th 5:11  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 

2Ti 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 

2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

2Ti 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 

Lord, please, help us to exhort one another! Please! We need to exhort one another DAILY! Help us! Please!

Satan is going about as a ROARING LION, Satan wants to devour all of us! SAVE Us keep us from the evil that would tear us away from You, from Your love, from Life in our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!

Please.

Hour of Temptation.

Rev 3:10  Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth

Hour of temptation.

Sounds almost like a book or movie title doesn't it? Of course some might make this into something sensual, but the "title" would be more appropriate for a movie or book about the last war for the saints.  A spiritual war is taking place in all of our lives, every single human being with the mental capacity to know right from wrong is in this war. We are all tempted.

Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 

Jas 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 

Rom_3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

All have sinned- so all have been drawn away of their own lusts, enticed when facing TEMPTATION.

Temptation.

There will come a temptation that TRIES all who dwell upon the earth.  This great temptation that all will face is something so awful that all who are NOT KEPT from the hour of that temptation by Jesus Christ our Lord, will fall to the temptation and sin.  ONLY those kept by Jesus will be saved from this horrific temptation.  We need to keep the word of Jesus' patience. What is the word of Jesus' patience…

We need to study this a lot more, and by the grace and mercy of God we will- His will be done!

Lest ye enter into temptation.

Mar 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

Watch.

Pray.

The spirit is ready.

The flesh is weak.

Luk 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 

Watch.

Pray always.

To escape.

1Co 16:13  Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 

Watch.

Be strong.

Rev 3:2  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 

Rev 3:3  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 

Watch.

Hold fast.

Repent.

Rev 3:10  Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth

Mar 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

Please, help us keep the word of Your patience!

Please, keep us from the hour of temptation!

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

Keep us from temptation!

We don't want to be devoured by Satan!

Are you watching?

Jesus is going to return for us who love Him in truth, in deed, in knowing Him and being known by Him.

When Jesus returns He will return for those who are WATCHING for Him.

All who are NOT watching for Him, will NOT be His.

Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Mat 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 

Mat 24:43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 

Mat 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 

Mar 13:33  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 

Mar 13:34  For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 

Mar 13:35  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 

Mar 13:36  Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 

Mar 13:37  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. 

Luk 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 

Act 20:31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 

1Th 5:6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 

1Th 5:7  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 

1Th 5:8  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 

2Ti 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 

1Pe 4:7  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 

Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 

More on this tomorrow by the GRACE and WILL of our Lord and Savior, JESUS CHRIST, now and FOREVER!

Content, Not Coveting.

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. 

Covetousness.

1. inordinately or wrongly desirous of wealth or possessions; greedy.

2. eagerly desirous.

From <http://www.dictionary.com/browse/covetousness>

Content.

Satisfied. The state or feeling of being contented; satisfaction

From <http://www.dictionary.com/browse/content>

We will ALWAYS have the only thing we truly need, and it is something that can never, ever be taken from us by anyone. No person, no circumstances, not a single thing can ever take our Savior from us- it's impossible. 

The ONLY way we can be without our Savior is to choose to be without Him.

Does that choice have to be a conscious one? It does, but sometimes our consciousness of a decision we make is deliberately shrouded so we fail to ever realize we've made the choice at all. Self-deception is a VERY real thing.

The act of making oneself believe something that is not true He was unaware of his own self-deceptions

From <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-deception>

Isn't this going to be true of many, dare I say, MOST Christians when our Savior returns?

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

They are going to say- LORD, LORD, haven't we done so much in Your name? They are going to believe they've tirelessly worked for the Lord in many ways. They are believing they live for the Lord, that He is their Savior, their reason for all they do. They are going to do WONDERFUL WORKS- all in the name of Jesus. They are going to CAST OUT devils- and they’ll do it using the marvelous name of our Savior. They WILL make prophecies, and do so with Jesus' name on their lips! They BELIEVE, truly, truly believe they are saved in Jesus Christ, their Lord. Not for a moment do they believe that the things they are doing are not for Jesus. They are utterly deceived because Jesus is going to tell them they are workers of iniquity! Jesus is going to tell them ALL their wonderful works were NOT for Him, they didn't prophesize for Him, they didn't cast a single devil out by using His power.  And if Jesus tells them this, then what must be true? That the wonderful works, the prophesizing, the devils being cast out are all works of SATAN, in whom all iniquity dwells.

1Jn 3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 

Workers of iniquity.

Psa_5:5  The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

Psa_28:3  Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

Working iniquity all the while believing they are working God' work - this is how insanely great the self-deception is in those who refuse to truly belong to Christ, in all His truth!

We are to be content in this world filled with so much covetousness. We are to be content having Christ in a world where material goods are now called essentials, and needs. We are to be content knowing our Savior will never leave or forsake us. Lose all you possess in the world, and you will still have Jesus Christ our Lord! 

Please, Lord, please, we beg of You, don't let us be self-deceived! Please, we don't want to be workers of iniquity! Please, Lord help us to be content with YOU above all else that strives to take Your place. Please, Lord, please! Help us! Save us!

All through Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Savior NOW and FOREVER! Please! Father, please, we would be saved!

You can't be deceived if you know the truth, but you can ignore the truth.

Take heed. Pay attention. Watch out. Be wary. Be cautious.

If Jesus told us to pay attention, it has to be important, right? Jesus IS telling us to pay attention, He's telling us to watch out, to be wary, to be cautious because people WILL try to deceive us.  There is no doubt about it, we have to be careful when dealing with people because any of them can deceive us, the possibility exists.  Deception is very real. And the only way not to be deceived is to know the truth. You can't be deceived by someone's lies if you know they are lying. If you aren't standing firmly on God's truth then you leave yourself open to deception.  We are told this--

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.

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.

Luk 16:31  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. 

Joh 5:39  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 

Joh 5:46  For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 

Joh 5:47  But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? 

Act 17:11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 

Psa 119:130  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. 

Mat 22:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 

Mar 7:7  Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 

Mar 7:8  For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 

Mar 7:9  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts

We know that every Christian is given a weapon to wield in the spiritual war we are born into and live in until either we sleep death's sleep or our Savior returns. That weapon is what? Do you know what weapon you possess as a Christian? Do you know what weapon we have to use against the enemy? What good does it do us if we - as the saying goes- bring a knife to a gunfight? We have to use the only weapon our God gives to us and if we try to use anything else we will fail against any evil spiritual onslaught in whatever shape or form it takes.  Our weapon-  Eph 6:17  And take… the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

Our weapon- THE WORD OF GOD!

How do we keep from being deceived? The Word of God!

Deception-  

Mar 13:5  And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you

1Co 15:33  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 

1Co 15:34  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 

Eph 5:6  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 

Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 

1Co 6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 

1Co 6:10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Deu_11:16  Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them

Gal_6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

1Ti_2:14  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

2Ti_3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Tit_3:3  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Rev_18:23  And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Rev_19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Rev_20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 

Deception.

Deception-  

The following are several verses on being deceived, on deception, please read them now and by the grace of God we will study it more in detail tomorrow.  All through Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR now and forever and ever!

Mar 13:5  And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you

1Co 15:33  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 

1Co 15:34  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 

Eph 5:6  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 

Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 

1Co 6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 

1Co 6:10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Deu_11:16  Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them

Gal_6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

1Ti_2:14  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

2Ti_3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Tit_3:3  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Rev_18:23  And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Rev_19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Rev_20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

We've been bought.

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 

1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

We are bought with a price.

The price we are bought with? The life of the Son of God. There could be no greater price, not a single one.

We are a piece of broken clay worthless in the eyes of most, yet priceless in the eyes of God. The worth our God places upon us makes us very valuable to Him.

Jesus said this--

Joh_16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

And we are told this--

Act 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost

We get FILLED with the Holy Spirit.   Truly, we are filled, our bodies are filled with the Holy Spirit.  God the Holy Spirit will dwell IN us! How amazingly special does this make us?

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 

Rom_8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Gal_4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

We BECOME the sons of God.  We are bought and made SONS of God!

The Holy Spirit will FILL us and this alone will sanctify us through our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

1Pe_1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1Pe_1:16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy

The temple of God is just a building without God's presence. What makes a place holy is God's presence. Wherever God makes His presence known it is HOLY.

Act 7:31  When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, 

Act 7:32  Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. 

Act 7:33  Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. 

When the Holy Spirit fill us as Jesus promised, we are sanctified. Is there any doubt as to why we are to regard ourselves as temples- not in the way of pride- but as in the way of being blessed, humbled by such a blessing.

Please Lord, help us to learn what it truly means to have our bodies the temple of the Holy Spirit.

More on this tomorrow by the GRACE and WILL of our SAVIOR, our LORD JESUS CHRIST, now and forever!

Who do you obey?

Who to you yield yourself to?

Many will instantly reply, "No one. I am my own master, I yield to none."

They are lying to themselves. We are not our own masters. We are not without influence from forces greater than ourselves. Why do people insist that there are no outside forces, no spiritual forces in our lives.  People lie to themselves all the time, and believe their own lies.

We have a Creator. To believe otherwise is ludicrous. To think we just happened to emerge from some strange soupy goo of dna is foolish. Why haven't new humans continued to form that way? What stops them? Why isn't there more goo with lots of new creatures constantly? There are a million questions to be asked because it so outrageous a claim.

We have a Creator. We have a Master and our Master has an adversary and His adversary is automatically the adversary of all who lay claim to their Master and do not deny Him.

If you believe in GOD- then you HAVE to believe in His adversary.
If you believe in God's adversary then you believe that same adversary is your adversary.

So asking again- who do you yield yourselves to?
Who do you obey?

Truly we need to know who we are obeying.  It is easy to say we obey Christ, but do we?  Who are we yielding ourselves to? The thing about this question is… it can't be answered just once. This question is something we need to answer all the time, all through the day. When we stop asking ourselves this question we have to ask ourselves why. If we realize that we aren't yielding to God in all things then we need to repent, we need to ask for forgiveness, we need to recognize our wretchedness and with sincerity cry out for a clean heart, a renewed heart.

Please Lord, please let us examine ourselves, let us work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

Please…    ALL through Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR!  Please.

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.

Servant or Son?

Gal 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 

Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 

Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 

Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 

Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 

Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Servants or Sons?

A servant in this context is one who has no wealth or prestige of his/her own. A servant is one working under a master.  And not ALL masters are cruel and evil, contrary to how a lot of people long to believe. As soon as they hear servant and master they imagine the servant's humanity being abused, that none should be a servant to another.  We know logically there are kind, caring, generous masters to servants and so in the context of these verses we are going along that vein. Why? Because the comparison of a child, an heir to the master's position, as being a servant as long as they are not of age is truth. Yet, that heir will grow and one day he will no longer be a servant. We too are heirs of salvation and we are no longer servants.  So who are we no longer servants to?

Rom_6:20  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

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. 

We are servants of sin, of Satan if we are NOT heirs of God.

Are you a servant of Satan or a son of God?

There are ONLY two choices.

People want a million choices! People want as many choices as possible. When you limit the choices it makes things a lot more difficult for a person to choose. We don't want yes or no, we want a lot of maybes.

Truly you have to be a servant of Satan or a son of God, so which is it?

With God there is life eternal, with Satan there is no life at all, non-existence.

Satan doesn't want to make any sons, none will ever be equal to him. Yet so many people love to delude themselves that Satan isn't so bad, in fact many don't believe he is real, let alone influencing their lives in any way at all. The influence of Satan is so incredibly great that he's deceived all but those who truly love God in all truth.

Mat_24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

More on this tomorrow by the grace and will of our loving LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!