Help us look for the eternal.

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 

2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 

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. 

Eternal things.

Looking at things which are NOT seen.

Joh_17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

We do not SEE our Savior.

We must believe through the WORD given to the Bible writers by the Holy Spirit.

Eternal things.

It's so hard to focus on eternal things living in a material world. However, even those who live in places stripped of most material comforts we place high value upon, can concentrate on things seen and not things unseen.

How do we concentrate on what we can't see? Seriously. It's so much easier to focus on things we can see, touch, experience. Yet, we have to look for things NOT seen. We have to LOOK for the ETERNAL.

Please Lord, help us look for the eternal!

  

Focus Off the Chaos.

We've been studying a bit about acknowledging our greatest adversary, not only acknowledging him but recognizing his devices, comprehending his fierce drive to see us fail as Christ followers.

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

The serpent beguiled Eve. The serpent is -

Rev_12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

The Devil….Satan…the Serpent.

As the Devil beguiled Eve we too are in danger of having our minds corrupted, and corrupted from the SIMPLICITY that is in Christ.

2Co 1:12  For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

Rom 12:8  …he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity…

Simplicity - sometimes we complicate things up so much so we forget the simplest of truths. Satan was able to deceive Eve with his subtle ways.  Satan doesn't always use forthright evil to deceive, he is so incredibly subtle that he sneak in and seduces minds and hearts from the simple truth of salvation.

Satan brings up our lives and all the complications involved in them. He eats away at our resolve to have faith. He takes our knowledge of our heavenly home and grinds it down so much that our minds are corrupted by our life here and now. We stop living for Jesus and live for ourselves. We stop living for our heavenly home and live for our earthly homes. We have so many trials, so many tribulations one right after the other and they wear us down because we live for now. The simplicity that is in Christ is salvation and salvation is not found here in our life but with Christ in heaven. We are NOT going to find peace here and now in our tumultuous lives, NOT unless we take our focus off the chaos.

Please, Lord, help us not be corrupted by Satan by losing the simplicity found in You!  All through You, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever! 

Lion.

A lion is roaring loudly- what do you think?  Seriously, you are living in an area that lions roam free and aren't caged. You hear a lion roaring, what do you think? First you'll wonder how close it is to you. You certainly wouldn't want it to be close would you? The closer the lion the more danger you are in. Keeping your distance from the lion is your best course of action. Some might say a roaring lion isn't one that is hunting you because lions will be quiet as they hunt their prey. However, having a lion roaring once it's trapped its prey isn't unusual either. A wounded, trapped prey isn't going anywhere at all.

Where am I going with all this? How vigilant would you be if you were around lions and knew the lions were hunting after you? Certainly you wouldn't be lax. You wouldn't go outside sunning yourself without a care in the world. You would take precautions to protect yourself, to keep yourself from being attacked, from being killed. 

So why aren’t we vigilant against our greatest adversary who is most certainly around us? Why aren't we resisting our adversary? The devil is REAL. The devil desires to devour us. Unlike an actual lion ripping into our flesh, the devil rips into our spirit and he uses any and all things he can to do so. His weapons aren't teeth, they are the sins we are so easily beset by. His claws are made up of our temptations and not just temptations to sin in blatant ways but even the temptation to give in to despair.

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

1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Resist in the FAITH.

Remember the other day-  2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 

Not being ignorant of Satan's devices, resisting the Devil… why are we told these things if they aren't truth?

We must resist in the FAITH.

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

Now and forever!

Not ignorant of Satan's devices.

2Co 2:9  For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 

2Co 2:10  To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 

2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 

Not ignorant of Satan's devices.

We can't afford to be ignorant of Satan and His devices, we really can't. He surrounds us, he invades us, he taunts us, he tortures us, he uses us. If we don't believe he is in our lives then we are deceiving ourselves. He was in Jesus' life. Jesus was constantly rebuking Satan and Satan's demons from people trapped by him. Jesus had a one on one with Satan in the wilderness and defeated him by using the Word of God. We have to be able to say that we are NOT ignorant of Satan's devices.

May Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior keep us safe in His love, forgiving us our many sins, protecting us from the evil of Satan who would sift us all as wheat! 

*******

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 

2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

1Ch 21:1  And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. 

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 

Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren

Joh 13:2  And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him

1Co 7:5  Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. 

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

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

1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 

He made the heaven, the earth and the sea.

Worship HIM that made heaven, earth, sea, and fountains of waters.

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. 

Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 

Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Heaven, Earth, Sea.

Psa 146:6  Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever

Amo_9:6  It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.

Act_4:24  And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is

Act_14:15  And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein

Rev_5:13  And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Rev_10:6  And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer

Rev_21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea

Heaven, Earth, Sea.

The God of all. Truly the God of all.

Do we fear God, do we give the glory to God we need to give Him? How is our reverence towards God?

Encyclopedias - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Reverence

REVERENCE

rev'-er-ens:

In the Old Testament, "reverence" occurs as the translation of two Hebrew words, yare' and shachah. The root idea of the former is "fear." It is used to express the attitude toward God Himself, as in Psalms 89:7 the King James Version; or toward His sanctuary, as in Leviticus 19:30; 26:2. So the group of ideas there would be "fear," "awe," "reverence." The root idea of the second is "falling down," as prostration of the body. It is used to express the bearing toward another who is considered superior, as in 2 Samuel 9:6 the King James Version; 1 Kings 1:31 the King James Version; Esther 3:2,5. The group of ideas here, therefore, is "honor," "obeisance," "reverence."

In the New Testament "reverence" occurs as the translation of three Greek words, aidos, phobeomai, and entrepomai. In the first, the idea is "modesty" (Hebrews 12:28; compare 1 Timothy 2:9). In the second, "fear" (Ephesians 5:33 the King James Version), though here it is used to set forth the attitude of proper subjection on the part of a wife toward her husband (compare 1 Peter 3:2,5). In the third, the idea is that of the "self-valuation of inferiority," and so sets forth an attitude toward another of doing him honor (Matthew 21:37; Mark 12:6; Luke 20:13; Hebrews 12:9).

From <http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/reverence/>

 H

Words.

Words we speak reveal our heart- the passion, the love, the truth within us. Yet, how often do we regret the things we say even as we boast it is hurtful, hateful TRUTH we speak. Like somehow the horrors we induce with our mouths are justified by the truth of the words spoken. Can we justify our using truth to hurt someone intentionally? The more we spread around the bitterness of what is true causing heart hurt, the more we cling to it being truth just so we have the right to speak, to justify ourselves.

Our tongues truly are evil members of our bodies, and they are connected to the brain that obviously controls them and that brain allows the tongue to speak not only truth but lies as well. So often we use our communication to HURT others. We write words now more than ever through texting and instant messaging and such and those word may not be spoken but in truth they are being heard as being spoken. When I write something it is as if I've spoken. No sound has come from my mouth, my tongue was NOT engaged in any speaking activity yet I have spoken in my written word.

How awesome would it be if we never spoke to hurt anyone- with truth or lies. How incredible it would be if we never wrote a single thing to induce emotional, mental pain upon another.

We offend in word so much, perhaps vows of silence aren't such a bad thing as long as they include the written unheard word as well.

Go a whole day without speaking, without communication- most people can't for many, many reason and most of those are legitimate reasons beyond a mere inconvenience. You really can't have children and not communicate with them in some form, right? Oh, you could, but you shouldn't- children wouldn't comprehend, young children wouldn't understand what was going on if you stopped communicating with them.  But just think about not communicating with others that we interact with on a daily basis, can we hurt with our silence?  It's possible.

Speaking before we think is commonplace. Measuring the words we say is rare. We are wounded by words and we want to wound in return.  Such awful wars are fought strictly with words. I believe more words are responsible for fighting than actual physical assault. So many battles are fought with our words, sometimes we wage daily skirmishes with our mouths, with our fingers typing, tapping out vicious barbs that cut each other to pieces. If we could but bear witness to the injuries our words cause what exactly would we see. Bloody shredded flesh stripped from bones by such awful words. We cause the wounds and we receive wounds in the battle of our words. When was the last time you received a severe verbal slashing? How many people walk around bloodied on a daily basis, their wounds never given a chance to fully heal because they live under such abusive conditions? How many of us sport deep, gaping, organ exposing wounds from a single sentence meant to gut us? The power of words are invisible but often the fallout from them is not. You see the pained expressions, you witness the tear stained cheeks, and you know words caused that grief. We know about bullying with words and how it even leads to real death because some would rather no longer exist than continue on with the constantly torture words have inflicted upon them.

Words we read never meant to torture us can do so as well, and in turn sometimes as we are tortured by words we like to return the favor and use words to torture others.

I don't know a single person who isn't guilty of word wounding, even the so-called unintended word wounding where you speak something someone isn't supposed to hear but they do anyway. Just because you didn't mean for someone to hear your cutting words, doesn't make them any less destructive.

May God help us as we comprehend the power of our words spoken and written. Please, Lord, keep the door to our lips and keep us from using the written word to hurt others in any way. May we be YOURS, wholly Yours! Thank you for Your mercy, Your grace, Your amazing Love! All in You!

Jas 3:1  My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 

Jas 3:2  For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 

Jas 3:3  Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 

Jas 3:4  Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 

Jas 3:5  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 

Jas 3:6  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 

Jas 3:7  For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 

Jas 3:8  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 

Jas 3:9  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 

Jas 3:10  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 

Jas 3:11  Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 

Jas 3:12  Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. 

1Pe_3:10  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile

Psa 34:12  What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? 

Psa 34:13  Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 

Psa 34:14  Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. 

Psa 34:15  The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 

Psa 34:16  The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 

Jas 1:26  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 

1Pe 2:1  Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings

1Pe 2:22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth

Joh 1:47  Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 

Rev 14:5  And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. 

Good to All Mankind.

There is a whole lot of rendering evil for evil today isn't there?

Seriously, rendering evil for evil has become acceptable on so many levels. We feel justified getting retribution when we are wronged. We go to great lengths to give evil for the evil we receive. We don't believe we should ever have to just sit back and take any abuse in any form whatsoever. We cry out as loud as we can on social media outlets about the injustices flooding our world. We let people know how angry we are about the unfair practices in our world. We hold our opinions so high we can't imagine changing that opinion, adopting another's opinion because ours is just so incredibly right. Evil for evil. You hurt me then I hurt you. You hurt those we love, we hurt you. You hurt society, we hurt you. You hurt the earth, we hurt you. I'm not talking about hurting in a strictly physical fashion, we can hurt others in many ways. Holding on tight to the injustice surrounding us we spend countless time bemoaning the injustice.

We are to follow that which is good … to ALL men. No discriminating, no separating men into categories of deserving and undeserving of our good will towards them. As soon as we start choosing WHO deserves our compassion, WHO deserves our respect, WHO deserves our good will we are putting up a wall of self-righteousness, a wall that will separate and divide in a way God never intended. Having good will towards all does not mean compromising a personal faith, it means in all things you are revealing the love of God and not the love of self and all its ideas of right and wrong.  You can love someone and despise the things they do.  God loves us but despises the sins we choose to commit.  God's love will not even end towards unrepentant sinners because His compassion is to blot them out of existence- NOT cause them to suffer endlessly proves He truly wants good for ALL mankind.

1Th 5:15  See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 

1Pe 1:22  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently

Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 

Mat 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 

Rom 12:17  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 

Rom 12:18  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 

Rom 12:19  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 

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. 

1Pe 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 

1Pe 2:22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 

1Pe 2:23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 

1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 

1Pe 2:25  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 

1Pe 3:8  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 

1Pe 3:9  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 

By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may He live in us, creating a clean heart within us and renewing a right spirit within so that we may truly allow Him to do His will through us- not rendering evil for evil, but good to all men.

Comfort

Comfort yourselves together.

We are to comfort each other. That our Lord desires this of us should be no surprise, right? In a world where so many are selfishly bent through their flesh nature, comforting each other takes us outside of that selfishness. To give comfort is an amazing thing.

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. 

This is truth. For us to be able to comfort others we must ourselves be comforted by our Savior.

Suffering for Christ and comforted by Christ, all things by our Savior. This is what we must give to each other this knowledge, this truth.

1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 

1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 

1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 

1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 

1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 

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. 

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.

Please, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, teach us to comfort each other, teach us to find comfort in You. We need Your love, Your faith, Your hope, Your truth, Your salvation, Your grace, Your mercy… PLEASE. All in YOU! 

When are we made alive?

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 

1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 

1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 

1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 

1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 

1Co 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 

1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

All die.

In Christ (those who are Christs) will be made alive.

However WHEN they are made alive isn't the same.

Christ and the firstfruits are made alive first.

Mat 28:5  And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 

Mat 28:6  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 

Mat 28:7  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 

Mat 27:50  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the spirit. 

Mat 27:51  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 

Mat 27:52  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose

Jesus rose from the dead.

When Jesus died GRAVES were opened and MANY of the SLEEPING saint rose.

Firstfruits.

Then next to be made alive will be those who rise from their graves when Jesus returns.

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

Now let me ask you a question- The firstfruits and Christ- then those who are Christ's at His return, are these the only ones who are raised from the dead? If so, if the Bible is to be believed, then why do people believe they rise from the dead before Christ's return?

Why are we told there is an order when in truth most people believe there is no order- you die and rise, end of story.

Jesus rising from the dead is no big deal really if that’s what people believe.  Of course you'll have some who will say, Jesus rose WITH His body, everyone else that rises they do so WITHOUT their bodies.  Their minds rise.  So where is that found in the Bible? Where is it taught that a mind rises? We do read the spirit (breath) returns to God who gave it.

Ecc_12:7  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

(CEV)  So our bodies return to the earth, and the life-giving breath returns to God.

Don't you imagine there would be A LOT more about living after dying if that were what happens? Seriously. There are disputes about being resurrected, why if we are all resurrected spirit (ghostly)? Why isn't that plainly talked about?

Joh 11:24  Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 

Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

Martha knew Lazarus would rise again in the LAST DAY.

Jesus tells her HE is the resurrection and the life and who believes in him even if they are DEAD they SHALL live.    Then Jesus goes on to say-  whoever is ALIVE and believes will NEVER die.

And then there is this--

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. 

AFTER the LORD RETURNS descending FROM HEAVEN- the DEAD SHALL RISE FIRST.

That does NOT say the dead will return with Christ at His coming. The Lord descends and the dead rise.

And it goes on to say those who are ALIVE when Christ returns will rise into the air.  Jesus said to Martha that whoever is alive and believes will NEVER die.  Those who are alive and believe, those who NEVER die the first time- the first death- will rise to meet Him in the air!

There are those who will NEVER EVER die the death we all face on a day to day basis.

Rev_2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Rev_20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rev_20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rev_21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Nothing Without the Father.

Joh 11:41 … And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 

Joh 11:42  And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

Jesus lifted His eyes heavenward.

Jesus spoke to His Father.

Jesus thanked His Father for hearing Him.

Jesus told His Father that He always knew that His Father could hear Him at all times, but He had to say this, had to do this because He wanted people to believe that truly the God they'd known all their lives from their childhood on up was the FATHER of the declared SON before them - walking, living, breathing, teaching, performing miracles in their presence. Jesus wanted those around Him to believe that God the Father sent Him to them. 

We might think they automatically should have accepted Him, but you have to remember- a lot of these people knew Him from boyhood, some knew His earthly parents and relatives. He looked just like a normal man of the time. Jesus prayed so they would believe He was God's Son.

Jesus didn't want them simply believing in Him as a man who could do miracles of His own accord. Jesus wanted the credit to go where it needed to go- HIS FATHER.  His Father heard Him and that was why the miracle occurred. If His Father hadn't heard Him there would have been NO miracle.

Joh_8:28  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

I do nothing of myself - He said.

What does Jesus do - NOTHING of HIMSELF!

Joh_5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me

The WILL of the FATHER.

Jesus COULD NOT and CANNOT do anything of HIMSELF!  So why do we ever imagine we of our own selves can do anything. 

Believe.

Joh 11:40  Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 

If thou would believe.

Mat_9:28  … Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

Do you believe I am able to do this?

Mar_5:36  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

Be not afraid, only believe.

Mar_9:23  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

All things are possible to him that believes.

Mar_11:23  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Not doubt in our hearts…but believe.

Mar_11:24  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Believe you receive.

Luk_8:50  But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

Fear not,  believe only.

Joh_6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Believe on  him.

Joh_7:39  But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive…

Believe on him.

Joh_9:38  And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

I believe.  Worship Him!

Joh_14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

You believe in God- believe in Jesus.

Joh_17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word

Believe on Jesus through the word.

Joh_20:31  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

These are written so you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Believe and have life through His name.

Act_8:37  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Act_13:39  And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

All that believe are justified.

Act_15:7  And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Act_15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

We believe.

Act_16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved, and thy house!

Lord, I believe. Help, thou my unbelief!

Please!

Cry day and night to God.

Luk 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 

Luk 18:2  Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 

Luk 18:3  And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 

Luk 18:4  And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 

Luk 18:5  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 

Luk 18:6  And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 

Luk 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 

Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 

Pray- not faint.

Pray.

Crying night and day to God.

Do we cry night and day to God? We certainly have every right to do so, don't we? Seriously. This world we live in filled with sin, filled with pain, filled with death, why would we not cry night and day to God? We long for Christ to come, don't we?

2Th_3:5  And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

While we must patiently wait for our Savior's return we must also not neglect praying to this end. 

God will avenge His own elect. God's own elect will be crying day and night to Him.

To read this--  God will avenge His elect speedily- NEVERTHELESS when Jesus comes will He find faith on the earth? 

What a question to ask.  Will Jesus find faith? I pray He finds faith, I pray I have the faith I need, all by His grace, His love, His mercy.

Mar 9:23  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 

Mar 9:24  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 

I believe, Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief!

Quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Lam 3:21  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 

Lam 3:22  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 

Lam 3:23  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 

Lam 3:24  The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 

Lam 3:25  The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 

Lam 3:26  It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. 

The LORD has mercy on us, the LORD had compassion on us- new EVERY morning- GREAT is HIS faithfulness.

The LORD will never let us down, not ever. I can say that and believe it even though in my life I've had great disappointments, tremendous heartache, awful pain. I've been witness to tragedy, I know that life can be awful in so many ways.

The LORD does not pretend to be our friend, He doesn't pretend to care for us and then turn His back on us when we need Him most.

God is our God because He IS.

God is NOT our God because of any contrived reasoning.

God did not come into existence by my willing Him so.

Some people love to say that weak people made up a story about our creation, that God is a fictional being for those who needed someone to have control over them to keep order and such. People have delegated God into nothing more than any fictional character a person can create. Is it any wonder people want God to be the magic genie for them. How many people throughout time have turned their back on God because He didn't fulfil His so-called designated job as prayer answerer in a positive way?

We are NEVER to test God by asking HIM to prove HIMSELF by answering a prayer we have in the way we desire. That isn't acknowledging God in faith at all!

It takes a tremendously strong person of FAITH to believe in God, not a weak, faithless person.

The thing is…our strength of faith isn't measured in any kind of standard we'd fully understand. Take a mustard seed- a tiny, tiny mustard seed and that is all the faith a person needs. It's the quality of faith that matters. It’s the faith placed properly.

Truly if we can expect all manner of ill will to befall us and KNOW it doesn't mean God doesn't favor us, we can then live in true faith. We place our lives all the good, all the bad, all of it in the hands of God for His purpose. We take OURSELVES out of the equation and in our place we put faith in Christ.  In our place we PUT Christ!

As LONG as we put ourselves before Christ we will forever be lacking in quality faith.

Lam 3:21  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 

Lam 3:22  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 

Lam 3:23  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 

Lam 3:24  The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 

Lam 3:25  The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 

Lam 3:26  It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. 

The LORD is my portion.

May I, by the GRACE and MERCY of my LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Take no thought- Lean not unto your own understanding.

Take no thought--

-- for your life.

--for what you shall eat.

--for what you shall drink.

--for what you'll wear.

Take no thought--

-- for tomorrow.

Don't worry.   Easier said than done especially for those prone to worrying.  Faith has to become a reality for this to be possible.  We have to believe that God WILL take care of us according to HIS plan whatever that entails.

A few days ago we talked about Paul and how many beatings, imprisonments, tumultuous sea journeys, and such that he'd experienced as a Christ follower, as a faith believer. Paul didn't spend his days in worry, his nights lamenting his fate. He counted it ALL JOY.  How? Why?  Because he had faith in His Savior. If his Savior, his redeemer could suffer and even be put to a very brutal death after being tortured by the whip and a crown made of thorns, then who was he to believe that he shouldn't have to suffer?

We suffer and complain because we have that right, don't we? Everyone complains about their suffering. Oh, maybe not in the loudest of ways, but people complain. Our suffering doesn't necessarily have to be with physical pain, we complain about not having food- or the right sort of food. We complain about not having what we desire to drink and the clothes we long to wear. We even complain about tiny things. We have fresh water, but it's just not cold enough to drink. We have decent clothes but they just aren't quite fitting in with our current style. Yes, we have food, but it's not the food we are craving. Yes, we complain in what we deem our suffering- legitimate suffering or not, we lack faith, we lack trust, we lack humility and humbleness.  We are so incredibly lacking and what do we do- we cry out to God to stop our sufferings, to give us what we want and then when we continue to suffer we question whether or not God is hearing us, if He loves us. We equate our quality of life in all its aspects with how much we've been blessed by God. Rarely will you hear someone say they are blessed in their terminal disease, or their lack of money and all that entails. Yet we are BLESSED- forever BLESSED in the only way it really matters and that's with eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord! It doesn't matter whether or not we have anything at all, or if we are pain free- GOD LOVES us through it all and until we believe this we are not loving God as He loved us- unconditionally. Loving God as we watch a loved one suffer, as we watch an innocent baby or young child endure agonies is true faith not stupidity as many would have us believe. Believing that God has our ULTIMATE good in mind as we suffer in any way- even in watching others suffer- is FAITH.  We do NOT have to understand it all, we just don't! We are living for a better world, NOT this world! We are living for eternity not whatever years are allotted to us here and now pre-Christ returning. 

Truly we do need to do this--

Pro_3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

All through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD NOW AND FOREVER!

Mat 6:25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 

Mat 6:26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 

Mat 6:27  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 

Mat 6:28  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 

Mat 6:29  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 

Mat 6:30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 

Mat 6:31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 

Mat 6:32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 

Take no thought for your life...

Mat 6:25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 

Mat 6:26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 

Mat 6:27  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 

Mat 6:28  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 

Mat 6:29  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 

Mat 6:30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 

Mat 6:31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 

Mat 6:32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 

How often do we NOT take thought about our own lives, what we are going to eat, drink and wear? We think about these things constantly. Daily we are bombarded by these thoughts. We've given ourselves so many choices it's not simple any longer. When we do know what we'll drink, eat and wear as a matter of routine we get very put out when those things we expect aren't available to us. How many of us have our days ruined when our favorite piece of clothing is ruined, or a meal has turned out awful, our drink out of stock at the store? The opposite side of the coin- so to speak is not having anything at all and worrying about that. As bellies are aching, cramping in pain from lack of food, when lips are so dry and crack and there is no spit in our mouths to lick them because we are that thirsty, as we shiver violently from the cold we can choose to worry. Most would think us bizarre and completely crazy if we weren't worried. It is natural to worry. Our natural selves will worry unceasingly if allowed. We will worry in the best of times and the worst. We worry the good will disappear and we worry the good will never come, an endless circle of worry.

We are told to take NO thought- no thought of the natural things that we've grown very accustomed to worrying about. We are told we have little faith when we worry.  Is this a testament to our relationship with Christ- our faith being strong enough to trust in ALL things- good and bad? Setting aside the obvious, the natural, the things we are inclined towards is this our calling as we choose spiritual over nature flesh nature?

IF we truly are seeking first the kingdom of God we are seeking God's will first no matter what that entails. The will of God very well may be our extreme suffering, or a loved one's extreme suffering. And why could this be His will? Because He knows the end from the beginning. He knows the path ahead and if we are HIS that path will ultimately lead to eternal life with Him, saved by grace through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

More tomorrow by the grace of our Lord, now and forever!

No Fellowship With Devils.

1Co 10:20  But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 

1Co 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 

1Co 10:22  Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? 

Rev 9:20  And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk

Psa 106:35  But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. 

Psa 106:36  And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. 

Psa 106:37  Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils

*******

Truly, we've spoken of it before and we'll speak of it again by the will of God. Devils are real.

If you believe in JESUS you have to believe in the Devil.

We cannot serve God and devils yet we try to all the time. We do as we please and call it acceptable all the while often what we choose is not of God but had roots elsewhere. You see, even now as I write this I don't want to believe I could be accepting devils and their works in my life. We really cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and the table of the devils. We need to use the discernment our Lord will give us, and in doing so we need to recognize the works of Satan, the works of devils in our lives all around us. Once we recognize those works we need to renounce them, to repent of them, to seek to do the LORD'S will first and foremost.

Please, Lord, let us do Your will, let us be Yours and partake of your table and only your table.