'Amen. Even So, Come, Lord Jesus.'

 Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice

Marvel not.

Marvel not.

Marvel…not.

When you marvel you are amazed and awed at something, yes? When we aren't marveling it means we shouldn't be surprised, awed, amazed. We aren't to marvel that a time will come when ALL that are in the graves will hear the voice of Jesus!

I just put an exclamation point at the end of that, what does that indicate? 

Marveling. 

That hour hasn't come yet, but it is still coming. The Bible is filled with prophecies that take years, sometimes thousands of years to come to pass. Just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it's not going to happen, IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, nothing can stop it from happening, not a single thing.

One day, the LORD is going to return and He is going to CALL all from their graves. 

What does that mean? Being called from the grave? What do you think it means. Does it mean what is sounds like it means? 

We see movies and such all the time depicting zombies rising out of graves, but it won't be like that at all. 

All those in the grave, how many is that? Too numerous to count isn't it? We're talking all that went to the grave since sin caused the first death. We can't count that number, but God knows. Jesus will call ALL from their graves. 

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 

Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 

ALL who have ever died when our Savior calls them from the grave will come forth from those graves, the good and the evil-- to live forever, or to live to die the second death. 

Where do the dead in Christ come from when He calls them upon His return? You just read the words, from the grave. If you die, if you have any loved ones who have already died, you enter the grave. The grave is your death, If people start up about the myriad ways a person dies that leaves no actual grave-burial place, if they talk about their loved one in a jar on the mantel, or in the closet, it doesn't matter, their grave is the fact of their death- no matter where the physical remains are. If they are scattered in the ocean in a million little pieces, it doesn't matter. The God who made the first human from the very dust of the earth will call all the matter that made up each individual who died, this is not beyond our Creator in any way- this is the wonder, the majesty, the glory, the honor, the power of our God in action. Only our Creator could call us from the grave and He will! 

The wonder, the miracle of it all is just mind-boggling and that's what Satan wants us to believe, that is it so mind-boggling that it's unbelievable, impossible. Satan has concocted a whole different scenario about death, and he doesn't have any of the dead in their graves where CHRIST says they are until He returns. Satan has dead people living immediately upon taking their very last physical breath- when that breath has returned to God who gave it. Satan has made up lies about immediate life, he told Eve and Adam that they would not die if they disobeyed God, and they believed him. Satan has mankind believing they go directly to heaven for their reward, or to hell for their punishment- but the Bible tells us this isn’t so! 

Jesus will call ALL from their graves. 

Jesus will call ALL back to life , because they are NOT already alive, the dead are all in the sleep of death knowing nothing until they are called to life by our Savior who will then and only then reward those who are His with eternal life. 

May God help us ALL be His at His return, may we either hear Jesus' call to life from our graves or call to rise into the air to meet Him if we are still living! All by His amazing, wondrous grace, His all undeserved mercy towards us! May we be HIS now and always!

Amen!!!!!!!

*******

"We Would See Jesus"  A. T. Jones

(Excerpt continued)

A Glorious Climax of the Plan of Salvation

"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." Rev. 22:20, 21.

The Word of God is given to instruct us in reference to the plan of salvation. The second coming of Christ is to be the climax and completion of that great scheme. It is most appropriate, therefore, that the book should close with the solemn announcement, "Surely I come quickly." Be it ours to join with fervent hearts in the response of the apostle: "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." 

Thus closes the volume of inspiration, closes with that which constitutes the best of all promises, and the substance of the Christian's hope, the return of Christ. 

Then Shall the Elect Be Gathered  - and bid a long farewell to all the ills of this mortal life. How rich in all that is precious to the Christian is this promise! Wandering in exile in this evil world, separated from the few of like precious faith, he longs for the companionship of the righteous, the communion of saints. Here he shall obtain it; for all the good shall be gathered, not from one land only, but from all lands; not from one age only, but from ages,

the great harvest of all the good, coming up in long and glorious procession, while angels shout the harvest home, and the timbrels of heaven sound forth in joyous concert; and a song before unheard, unknown, in the universe, the song of the redeemed, shall add its marvelous notes of rapture and melody to the universal jubilee. So shall the saints be gathered, to be joyful in each other's presence forever and ever, "While the glory of God, like a molten sea, Bathes the immortal company." 

This gathering has nothing in it but that which is desirable. The saints can but sigh and pray for it. Like Job, they cry out for the presence of God. Like David, they can not be satisfied till they awake in His likeness. In this mortal condition we groan, being burdened, not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon We can but be "upon tiptoe" for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body. Our eyes are open for its visions, our ears are waiting to catch the sounds of the heavenly music, and our hearts are beating in anticipation of its infinite joy. Our appetites are "COME, LORD JESUS, COME QUICKLY. No news more welcome than the announcement that the command has gone forth from the Lord to His angels, "Gather together unto Me My elect from the four winds of heaven."

(to be continued) 

What Part of Us Should Die Daily?

What part of us should die daily?

1Co 15:31 … I die daily.

Death to Selfishness. Death to Self-serving.

Denying ourselves- what part of us are we denying in order to take up the cross of Christ and follow Him?

Luk 9:23  …let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 

What is this cross we must take?  How are we to follow Christ to be worthy of Him?

Mat 10:38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 

The commandments of God are summed up like this by Jesus- God with us-

Mat 22:36  Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 

Mat 22:38  This is the first and great commandment. 

Mat 22:39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

Mat 22:40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 

Loving God with ALL our heart.

Loving God with ALL our soul.

Loving God with ALL our mind.

Do we? Look into your heart and lay it bare right now. Open your heart before God and search for a moment, what is in there? Who is in your heart, what is in your heart? We put other people in our hearts- but aren't we supposed to? We are told the second commandment of ranking is loving others as we would be loved. To love they have to be in our heart, don't they? The answer is truthfully yes and no.  Let me try to explain.

God must be first in our heart- we must love HIM with ALL of our heart and that leaves what left over? Nothing. It is ONLY when we do love God with ALL our heart are we able to love others WITH that very same love, God's love.

We surrender our all to God and out of that surrender He will enable us to live as He wills. We won't be loving with our own imperfect love that is riddled with flaws, but we will love with God's love and HIS love is perfect. God's love can love what we deem most unlovable. God's love will continue to love through many, many betrayals- we as human beings have turned our backs on God time and time again, yet He still loves us.

God's love has provided hope.

God's love will in truth destroy utterly into non-existence those who cannot love. It is that love which knows all the people who choose not to love would never be content if forced to live in that love offered. No forced love, no forced will, no forced hope, God allows each of us to choose- daily.

There is no one-time only choice and you are forever held to that choice regardless of all circumstances.

The initial choice is allowing the life-long commitment to be possible. As soon as you choose to allow God to have all your heart, soul and mind you are choosing to love Him. The forgiveness you find through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior, allows us to love.

Because you do not stop thinking, breathing, functioning as you've always done up to that point, you will be prone to temptations that will want to draw you away from God, not towards Him. Daily a renewed commitment must be made. You don't simply stop after baptism, you don't stop after the newness wears away. Every day RECOMMIT your life to God. EVERY DAY. Wake up and choose every day to exalt God above all other things in your life no matter what they are- and love Him with all your heart, mind and soul. Seek forgiveness as soon as you recognize any other entering your heart before Him. Put God before all, and love others with HIS love.

Rom_5:5  …the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

I asked above-

What part of us should die daily?

1Co 15:31 … I die daily.

Death to Selfishness. Death to Self-serving.

Denying ourselves- what part of us are we denying in order to take up the cross of Christ and follow Him?

Luk 9:23  …let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 

What is this cross we must take?  How are we to follow Christ to be worthy of Him?

What part of us should die every single day? Our life outside of God. Truly all we do should be to His glory and not our own in any way. That cross we must take up is the knowledge we are choosing a path less traveled, a path that will have us making choices the world will not want us to make. In fact the self-serving part of us is going to fight against putting God first in every way it can. 

Can you put another person before all your own wants and needs? Yes, I said needs. Or do you think or say things like, I need to do this before I can help you with that. My need is just as great as yours. I need to take care of me first. Again I ask, can you put another person before ALL your own wants and needs?  If called to do so, could another person come before your preferred way of life? And by preferred way of life I mean- doing the things that make you most comfortable, most content, most at ease. Will you choose others before your own ideas of how you want your day to unfold?

We must allow God's way to unfold for us and follow HIM wherever He leads us and that will mean taking up a CROSS and that CROSS will kill our self serving and by the grace of God make us God serving first, and from that serving others!

Please LORD, we would be YOURS! Please! Put to death all the self-serving inside of us that would take over and kill You in Your rightful place in our hearts! All in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

On the Side of Salvation.

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 

Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 

Children of wrath.  That sounds like us, doesn't it? And when we hear those words- children of wrath we kinda like the sound of it, don't we? It has a catchy ring to it, making us feel as if we are cool, tough, someone to be contended with, not easily mistreated, not wimpy and soft. Children of wrath is kind of like a group super hero name, and those children aren't going to take any nonsense from anyone.  Here in the context given in the Word of God it says by nature we are children of wrath - and the children of wrath walk in the lusts of their flesh, seeking to fulfil the desires of their flesh and mind- these are NOT good things, these are not super hero attributes at least not on a God desired level. On a Satan level, yes, they are welcomed attributes. Satan, the prince of the power of the air, the spirit of disobedience, the one to whom all who are dead in their sins and trespasses obey knowingly or unknowingly.

We are all children of wrath by nature until we are quickened by our Savior. Our natural propensities will be towards evil, towards self-serving, towards contention, towards upset and Satan will do all he can to instigate this nature in us. Being a child of wrath is being Satan's child and all too many today embrace this even knowingly.

God who truly is rich in mercy, loving us with great love knowing our natural state as children of wrath, has given us His Son and through His Son we are given a new life- no longer to be among the children of wrath, ruled by Satan.

God, through the grace of our Lord and Savior has offered us a new life as His children. God wants to save us from Satan, from our natural state of wrath. God wants us to be raised up in our lives even right now here on earth, God wants us to realize that when Jesus Christ was raised from the grave we were raised with Him- no longer under the death sentence of sin. We live with Christ in us, and Christ is in heaven ministering there for us- we are there with Him. Christ is living on our behalf right now! We are saved by His grace. We can't deserve it, we can only believe it is so. If we stop and question how it can be possible when we still feel as if we are under the heavy yoke of Satan's wrath, then we are trying to figure out a way on our own to be released from the death sentence. We have to trust that Christ is working that all out for us, saving us through His grace, not through our ability to defeat Satan- He defeated Satan for us.

Choosing Christ Jesus doesn't take us out of the battle, but it puts us on the side of salvation. Choosing Jesus, choosing through it all to believe that He will work the good works in us.

God forgive us for falling so far short of being the love you would have us be so others witness Your love not our bitterness. Do in us all we cannot do ourselves and if there is something we need to do, please, Lord, please help us to do that, keep us from evil in all its many forms.

We are saved through grace, help us to live saved in Christ Jesus, and any works we do that are acceptable to Him, let all the glory go to HIM, because we are by nature children of wrath and we don't want to be! We want to belong to Jesus Christ living for Him, living with Him in us always! Please!

Thank you! All glory, honor and praise to You Lord, to You Father, to You Holy Spirit now and forever!!!!!!!

Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 

Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 

Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

Overcome This World.

We need to overcome the world.

Faith is the victory, truly. Faith in Christ is the victory in overcoming the world.

This world will drag you down to great depths of despair. If you don't think so then I'm really surprised. There is not a person alive with sound, or mostly sound, mental faculties that can't agree that there are times in this world where we are knocked down to an emotional abyss where everything is dark, sad and very, very dreary. I don't know ONE single person who hasn't experienced some sense of despair in their life time. I'm not saying everyone has been brought to the point of wishing for death over life (not necessary suicidal) but just having the wish even momentarily for an end to whatever suffering it is they are going through. This world offers us plenty of opportunities for suffering in all sorts of ways. 

If I were to be a promoter of Earth and humanity upon Earth to- let us say, an alien race, trying to get them to want to help earth by coming to live here with us and bring their own technologies etc, what would I have to offer in way of promotion?

Yes, there are a lot of beautiful, amazing and wonderful things on Earth, but let's get down to the nitty gritty. Even those people who have everything money can buy, often lack things money can't buy. Even those people who have nothing, lack the things money can buy. People who have money often use (employ) those who don't and those employees are not always happy in their positions of subservience to the rich, rather they wish they had the riches and had servants of their own. Yet, there has to be a servant- there has to be those who are not living the life of ease so many dream of in this world we live in.  If we brought an alien down here and showed them the rich lifestyle and the most beautiful that Earth has to offer, they would not be able to help but see that not all the people on Earth are in that rich lifestyle- it'll be all around them every time one of the rich people has a not so rich person do something to accommodate the alien.

And if I were an alien race looking to possibly share my technologies with and maybe enjoy mingling of alien races for the sake of exploration and way of life- I would want a sample of all Earthlings and how they all live. I'd want an overall picture, not just the one presented at its best.

If I had to witness the enormous amount of suffering that takes place all over Earth, would I truly want to consider mingling with such an existence?

Yes, these fictious aliens are living in a world with no pain, heartache and suffering- these are my fictious aliens so I can have them that way if I want them that way, right?

The aliens don't die, they don't hurt, they don't have any diseases, or sickness at all. The aliens don't have any mental or emotional illness, but truly are a contented people that have never had to live with the ravages of sin. When they come here and witnesses all that sin has done to this world and us who live upon it, there is no way they would want to live here exposed to all the heartache, the pain, and the horrors of life upon planet Earth.

Do we need to OVERCOME this world? We most certainly do!  And how do we overcome this world? We live, by faith in the ONLY ONE who can help us because HE overcame this world and promises us that help. We overcome this world by living for the world to come, the promised world found only through Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR, the SON OF GOD.

1Jn 5:1  Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 

1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 

May God help us live for HIM, for believing in HIM and all HE would have us believe. May we through HIS power live for HIM. We surrender our entire life to GOD to use according to HIS WILL, for HIS purposes. We believe and ask that HE help any unbelief that arises in us. We long for the return of our would be KING after His priestly ministry is completed in the Sanctuary in heaven. We long for our KING to lay aside the priestly garb and come for us to take us from this pit of sin into His heavenly home, and eventually bring us back to Earth as He destroys all that sin has done to the world and makes it new for us. This is our HOPE that we find only in the ONE who can save us from ourselves, from all that sin has brought to this world. Please, Father God, please keep us from evil. We believe in Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior, the Son of yours, God, and wipe away any unbelief we might harbor anywhere within us. Lead us in the way everlasting. Help us to love YOU and love all others as YOU would have us love. All through JESUS!

Amen.

Fear of Death.

Heb_2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

We are in bondage to death. Bondage-  a few dictionary definitions are -

1. Slavery - the condition of being enslaved.
2. Restriction- the condition of being controlled by something that limits freedom.

The verse above talks about delivering those who through FEAR OF DEATH are all their lives subject to that FEAR, they are enslaved to that FEAR, they are controlled by that FEAR of death knowing it is inevitable.

I want to talk a little bit about the fear of death because yesterday I came closer to that fear than I'd ever been before. I swallow a large vitamin pill the wrong way and it was stuck in my throat and I truly thought I might die. As my son rushed me to the ER, I kept saying and thinking, 'I DON'T WANT TO DIE.' Yes, you might sit there all comfy with your non-pill stuck throat and think, well if she can talk she's not choking. Wrong and right. I was as close as you can come to choking without choking, a moment away from that pill possibly moving and blocking off my air way as it lodged there in my throat with my throat contraction over and over trying to dislodge it. The woman at the ER kindly explained to me AFTER the drama, that they kept me sipping hot water and then carbonated soda because 1- they keep that flap which decides which way to go- food or air - open to the food side so there is less chance of it heading towards the airway.  And 2 - it helps dissolve the pill.  Of course they monitored my oxygen the entire time too, just to be sure.

I was TERRIFIED.  As I entered the ER I expected instant care in my terrified state but that's another story for another time. I was terrified of dying. I felt as if I were on the edge of cliff with a fraying rope ready to break at any moment. Fear of death was right there! People say your life flashes before your eyes and maybe it does if you're a little closer to death than I was, who knows. I do know I prayed not to die, I prayed for God to help me. I thought about my family and not wanting to leave them. I thought about my cousin, who was six months younger than me who died tragically a few months ago. I asked God to use me for His purpose and please keep me living. My mind kept shouting, I DON'T WANT TO DIE!

Fear of death.  Maybe that verse doesn't mean the dramatic circumstance of possible imminent death, but the more broad sense of our inescapable outcome of inevitable dying over all.  We will all die. Unless our Savior returns during our lifetime, we will all die. Death is possible for each of us at any moment. We are subject to death, we are enslaved to death. The healthiest person alive will still die from something. Our bodies no matter how well they are kept up will wear out in time.

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 

Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

We can find deliverance from the permanence of death and this is our hope, yes? To be one day resurrected by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I suppose, and I could be very wrong, that having a terminal illness and slowly edging closer and closer to death- feeling your body breaking down, has to be terrifying as well. Does a reconciliation to death occur, a preparation as it draws closer? Does the terror remain? Does that longing to live remain right to the end, or is there a welcoming relief of being pain free, of struggling to keep living? I suppose it varies individually, and situationally.

Jesus will deliver us- people who truly are in bondage to the fear of death.

We are temporary beings in our flesh and blood and the only way we will ever truly be more than temporary beings is if we have faith in salvation through Jesus Christ.  Jesus was in fear of death…

Mar 14:34  And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. 

Mar 14:35  And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 

Mar 14:36  And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. 

Jesus did NOT want to die. He knew what was coming, and He PRAYED to the Father to be able to escape from what was to come. He didn't want to die! He resigned Himself to God's will and the cup that lay before Him to drink- the cup that meant His suffering and death, but He didn't want it.  Jesus also was subject to that fear of death we are all subject to, and His overcoming death is the hope we have to cling to as we acknowledge death at any time during our own lives. Whether it is through a sudden, unexpected fearful experience such as the one I had, or a knowledge of death creeping over us slowly, we must have HOPE in Jesus Christ, that one day DEATH WILL BE DESTROYED!

Heb_2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil

He has the POWER to DESTROY the ONE WHO BROUGHT DEATH INTO OUR LIVES- the Devil!

1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 

1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 

1Co 15:56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 

1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 

Death will be swallowed up in victory, the victory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! 

All praise, glory and honor unto our Savior, now and forever!!!!!!!

Thank you, Lord, thank you, Father, and thank you Holy Spirit!

Thank you for keeping me alive, and please, please use me for Your purposes whatever they may be!

Doubt Unacceptable.

Mal 2:17  Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? 

Being able to live in this world as a follower of Christ, a believer in God, means many things. It mean we recognize doubting God is one of Satan's very useful tools of which he has many to ensnare people into his grand deception. It is no fantasy, no piece of fiction for entertainment purposes but a very harsh reality that Satan does indeed have many tricks and traps all set up around us and he is ready at a moment's notice to play those tricks and spring those traps. When people doubt God there is a tendency to say it's normal, but is it? We can cite many Biblical passages of those chosen by God for special purposes - doubting God, but never ever did their doubt not deserve repentance. Is doubt normal, I ask again, and answer - it's only normal in so much as sin is normal in needing forgiveness, it is NOT normal in such a way as we should accept it or encourage it in ourselves or others.

The verse above talks of wearing the LORD with words- the words that reveal a heart despising God's seeming blessing upon those who work the works of evil because the evil seem to be and are the most prosperous in material and worldly possessions. Tell me it isn't true and I won't believe you because I know that the evil in our world is rich in world power and monetary gain.

Constantly we see posts on social media about how much those in our governing system in the United States make in salary a year and the various lifetime perks they receive for serving their countries people, and then we see how much your average person makes in that country and the staggering difference between the two. Those with the power give themselves the most while those they are supposedly serving live lives of destitution in comparison.

It's no secret at all in our entertainment business here in the United States and most likely worldwide, that there is a great shunning of things Christian, except for a few in comparison, rare acceptances. And those in the entertainment business- the few compared to the masses of people in existence- are rich beyond measure compared to those masses. 

The injustices in our world are blatant and very real, and Satan loves to use this to point the finger at God and say- He's not fair, He's not Just, He's not a true believer in good over evil because He allows evil to prosper, while good suffers.  Such words truly weary the LORD because He's made absolutely NO secret of the hardships people will face- the just and the unjust. He's made NO claims that the good will forever and always prosper while the evil will suffer here and now upon earth. Fairness is NOT something that exists in our current condition as sinners.

Mat_5:45  … for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

We weary the LORD when we accuse Him of being unfair, of doubting His goodness. The LORD has made such an unfathomable sacrifice so we may have hope in Him, and know He is always and forever good, He is love. When doubt Him and His ways constantly and consistently, unrepentant, we have truly forgotten our way. He promises a FUTURE not of this world and therein lies all our hope- where HE IS, and WHAT HE PROMISES TO COME. Here and now we should not be shocked to suffered constantly one hardship after another, one tragedy after another while often people who profess no love of God at all, seem to live lives of ease and prosperity. 

Lives of ease and prosperity can be a whole new sort of tool Satan uses to his evil end and yes, that is in reality. He exists and does so solely to snare every single person he can in his lies.

May God keep us from wearying Him with our unbelief in His truth, in His love. May we trust solely in HIM and HIS judgment which is forever true and just. May we be protected from the evil of this world- ALL the EVIL every single bit down to the last molecule of evil in existence. Evil comes in many disguises, may we not be deceived! Protect us Heavenly FATHER, protect us and keep us from all evil! All through Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR now and forever!!!!!!! 

Amen.

Woe

Woe, now there's a word you don't hear all that often. Woe.

Woe- 1)a serious affliction or misfortune

2)grief or distress resulting from a serious affliction or misfortune

Woe unto them.

Serious affliction and misfortune to them.

If I tell you that you are going to suffer a serious affliction, and have serious misfortune that's not a very good thing, right? No one wants to suffer affliction, no one. And when misfortune befalls us we are not very happy, not ever. When we do suffer afflictions and misfortune overcomes us we usually are very distressed with good reason. If we tell a friend about our afflictions we'd gain sympathy from them. Bottom line- WE DO NOT WANT serious afflictions NOT EVER and WE DO NOT WANT misfortunes in our lives NOT EVER. They'll happen, but we do all we can to prevent them, don't we? We never willingly invite serious afflictions and misfortunes into our lives. In fact we try to prevent serious afflictions and misfortunes. We take precautions to prevent hardships. I personally do not know a single person who invites serious afflictions and seeks out misfortune, quite the opposite.

When God's word tells us- WOE UNTO THEM….  Pronouncing serious affliction and misfortune on people we'd better pay attention.

Isa_5:20  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

If you call evil…good, then woe unto you!

If you call good…evil, then woe unto you!

If you put darkness for light, then woe unto you!

If you put light for darkness, then woe unto you!

If you put bitter for sweet, then woe unto you!

If you put sweet for bitter, then woe unto you!

Contrariness is what is at play here in these verses.  You are living a life contrary to God's design. Make no mistake there are going to be a lot more people living contrary to God's plan than those who live for it. This is why we know the world right now seems to have come unglued and is clearly falling apart morally. Yes, morally. 

What is evil? You can name some things can't you? Just name a few evil things that exist. Murder is evil, yes? Stealing is evil, yes? Torture is evil, right? Can you dispute these statements? Some will say they can and give various situations where such things may be justified, but without any sort of justification whatsoever- they are evil. As soon as we admit to evil existing there has to be the opposite of evil. Not murdering is morally sound, not stealing, not torturing anything is morally good. God has moral standards for His creatures, all of us. We usually comprehend right from wrong early on in our lives. There is something in us that knows when we do wrong and a sense of guilt results from the wrong we do.

There exists right and wrong and for reasons that we can understand, and some we cannot understand. When we can't understand we need to trust it is for our good. WE DON'T have to understand to accept and believe, we trust, we have faith without full comprehension.  In our everyday lives we are often called to trust others. If you love anyone and are dating or married to them- you have to develop a trust in that love because otherwise you will live in a constant unending state of fear and suspicion which would warp any love that exists. Yes, very often trust and faith is broken, and when it is we are understandably very hurt. But it isn't always broken, not everyone breaks the trust and faith others put in them.

We must have faith in the morals that God has revealed in His word to us, words that are untwisted and unaltered. 

We have to have faith in God's goodness, His light, and the things He calls sweet.

When we choose to take what God has revealed as good, light and sweet, and change it to evil, darkness and bitterness- we can only expect misfortune and affliction of the eternal kind.

When we choose to take what God has revealed as evil, dark, and bitter and change it to good, light and sweet - again we must only ever expect woe to befall us.

The trouble arises when we take this so far that we no longer care to know the difference between good and evil, light and dark, sweet and bitter. When we as a society begin to teach our children contrary to God's moral standards we have created a future society that like Sodom and Gomorrah, a society such as the one which existed before Noah and the flood-  it is so corrupted with evil there is nothing left to do but destroy all but the very few who have kept the faith of God.

Pro 17:15  He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

This is truth!

We live in a world that justifies the wicked, and condemns the just all too often. We are not to raise up any arms and fight against this tide of evil overcoming the world, we are to continue on in the love of God. We are to pray, we are to render only God's love to every single enemy of God and therefore, us. God's moral laws were created out of love, and it is in that love we are to live in His moral laws.  God please help us, and protect us from the vile evil that has filled our world at every turn. Protect us from the evil that seems to demand we give into it or else suffer under the condemnation of the vast majority of the world. Let us live solely in YOUR LOVE as JESUS revealed to us and as the HOLY SPIRIT keeps us in always.

Please Lord, help us to forever discern between good and evil, light and darkness, sweet and bitter, and let us follow only in the good, the light and the sweet - all through Your mercy, Your grace, Your love now and forever!!!!

Amen!

Are You Wearing Satan's Blinders?

God is spirit.

Joh_4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

God did not make us in spirit form.

God made angels in spirit form.

Psa_104:4  Who maketh his angels spirits

God created us out of the dust of the earth.

God put the first breath in our lungs which infused our entire being with life. We cannot live without air in our lungs, without air infusing our body.

Gen_2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

The first body created out of dust was lifeless as it lay there on the ground. There was no thought in the newly created brain, why? Because there was no breath of life in the body. God did not separately created another being made of spirit with the same brain as that in the lifeless body and merge them later intending to divide the two when the body ceased to function. There is no mention of such a thing at all in the Word of God.

Why would death be considered a punishment for separating ourselves from God's will if it isn't a punishment but rather a transition to another way of life?

What makes death a punishment?

What makes death an unwanted state of being?

God did not tell Adam and Eve if they sinned and ate of the fruit from that single tree then they would enter a new phase of living, and a good one at that if they were sorry for what they did.

God did not say He would strip them of their flesh, but let them continue living in spirit form.

Adam without the breath of life in his dust created body was not alive in anyway at all. The body lying there did not breathe, he did not have a single thought in his head, there was no awareness of anything, no heart beating. Adam was a husk made of dirt until God breathed life into Him awakening his entire body and all its miraculous attributes. The breath of God entered and Adam's lungs filled, his heart beat that first of many continuous beats, his brains sparked to life waking from the nothingness just as our brains do when we wake from being asleep.

Think about it, wouldn't living on after death in any form make us immortal beings? If our thoughts which make us each unique to ourselves are unending, that makes us immortal, yes? Not immortal flesh but immortal in spirit. Yet there is no mention of us being able to live on as spirit beings after death. We are not given any immortality not until Jesus returns.

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, AT THE LAST TRUMP: for the trumpet shall sound, and the DEAD SHALL BE RAISED incorruptible, and we SHALL BE CHANGED. 

1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY.

Again, I have to ask, why is death considered a punishment if you believe that you transition from flesh to spirit form instantly upon your body dying?

God could have said 'in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely lose your flesh body and there will be a physical divide between you and those who haven't lost their flesh bodies, at least until they lose their flesh body too and join you.'

God said-

Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 

Die. As if it's something not to desire, yet who wouldn't want to desire a spirit existence over a pain fill physical existence?

Die. As if it's something to dread and shun at all cost.

God most assuredly did not give a word of warning as a pleasantry.

Eat of every tree- do this- eat of every single tree in the garden BUT…

Do NOT eat from this one tree.

DON'T DO THIS ONE THING.

Why shouldn't they want to do this thing, what was the deterrent to doing this? Punishment.

God was giving them an unending existence it was theirs for the taking. God was there in the garden with them, communicating with them.  However, God told them that unending existence would end if they disobeyed His direction.

Life or death.

Living or dying.

And if dying isn't the end of living, what is it?

God held out hope to the couple AFTER they chose to die, and that is what they did when they did the very thing God told them not to do, they chose death.

Gen 3:14  And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 

Gen 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 

A hatred would be placed between humanity that belongs to God and the humanity that belongs to Satan, and that hatred would ultimately destroy Satan even as Satan hurts the humanity belonging to God.

The hope held out to Adam and Eve along with their future descendants was for the ultimate destruction of the one who caused the disobedience to God's command.  The hope was that there would be those who belong to God, who lived with a hatred for Satan.

Meanwhile… until that destruction…

Gen 3:16  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 

Gen 3:17  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 

Gen 3:18  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 

Gen 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. 

They would continue to live until such a time they returned to the ground.

Where?

Until they return to the ground… until they returned to dust.

What would they be?

Dust.

Could it be any clearer?

Did God say… they would eat until they split from their flesh body and lived on in spirit form, like Him?

They were told they would return to dust because they were created out of dust. They were NEVER told they would return to dust but live in heaven in spirit form, not once!  What God said sounded awful. Being returned to dust after a lifetime of hardship all because they chose not to obey God but to obey Satan.  A drastic punishment for a drastic action.

However, there was that hope left to them of Satan being destroyed at some point, but for now they would suffer in their dust created bodies, and then return to the dust they came from, their body no longer maintaining a shape but ultimately decayed to the very dust they were created from.

They would create more dust created creatures, and they too would live in a world where Satan would ultimately be destroyed. The destruction of Satan meant hope for the end of evil, the end of what caused disobedience between the creature and Creator. The end of the separator between God and man. The end of death.

Until then…

You will return to dust.

Now there is a punishment.

You will be dust.

Pickup a handful of dust from the ground… what is it? Does it think? Does it praise God? Does it have memories? Does it love? It's dirt.

You will have no form at all because you will be dust.

God even said this…

Gen 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 

Gen 3:23  Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 

Gen 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. 

NO longer will man be allowed to eat from the tree that keeps him living forever. NO longer will man have access to what would keep him from turning back to dust.

So, tell me if God went to such great lengths to keep man from living forever, why would man continue to live after death? What would the point be? It is ludicrous to think there is immediate life after death, because then there is no death, no real downside.

Man wasn't told he'd be changing shape and get sent to a new location after he turned to dust.  If that was the case, the end of living wouldn't really be the end of living.

Jesus would have NO ONE to call out of the grave, NO ONE, if no one is in their graves.

Why people want to believe they don't turn to dust without any ability to think any longer is beyond my comprehension.

The alternative to not believing you return to dust- is believing you live on and then comes the whole where do you live on? Of course most believe they'll go to heaven, some believe they'll go to a place in-between heaven and a fearful burning forever place, a waiting penance filled place so they can earn their way to heaven, and some believe they'll go on to that fiery burning place. There are others who believe they just jump into another body and we are all just endlessly repeating people. Some believe they'll take on animal form, and so on and so forth. There are numerous beliefs for those choosing to believe they go on living after their bodies turn to dust.

All those beliefs are not of God though, they are lies from the very one who told Eve she would not die leading to the original sin of mankind.

Satan has wrapped up his grand lie in pretty packages and offered them to everyone and so many have taken the pretty packages, unwrapped them and cling to their contents refusing to believe the pretty packages are filled with eternal death, eternal non-existence. Deception by the greatest of all deceivers.

If I'm called to return to dust, I want to stay dust until my Savior calls me from my grave and I rise up to meet Him in the air- that is what I want my first thought to be upon my resurrection- Jesus!  And what joy there will be as all those who are His are raised from the dust at the same time, and those blessed not to have tasted death are changed to immortality. What a perfect, love filled return to life- no living on right after death in any form especially not in a form that can continue to witness the pain and heartache of loved ones still living- how disgustingly morbid to think there are no more tears after death and yet you can witness horrific things. That is NOT of God! That is pure deception and why such deception can bring people comfort is beyond my comprehension.

Please Lord, remove the blinders that Satan has placed upon the eyes of so many! Please open their understanding before it's too late and they are caught up in Satan's deceptions leading to their eternal nothingness. Please!

Come, Lord Jesus, come and raise the dead in You to life, and raise the living in You to You.

Serve

Let me ask you a question. When you love someone are you to serve them? Seriously, are you to serve those you love? Maybe you're saying it depends on what you mean by serving them. What I mean is let's suppose the Savior was walking upon earth again (not going to happen - we were told He would return in the same manner He left - all eyes could see as He ascended.) But, let's just suppose Jesus were to knock on your door, enter your house and sit down on your couch. Would you serve Him? Would you desire to know if He needed anything and if you could help Him in any way? Would you want to see to any needs He had? Feed him, get Him fresh clothes, allow Him to use your shower to wash if needed? Would you offer Him a place to sleep if He wanted to nap? I think if you're a Christ follower you'd want to do anything He asked of You, that you would serve Him. Do you think you'd complain under your breath, muttering even if it's just inside your head, that doesn't Jesus know you're busy right now with something and your needs should be taken into consideration before being asked to serve in any fashion?

I'm going to ask again, when you love someone are you to serve them? Seeing to their needs before your own? Not buying into the take care of yourself first before you take care of others or you won't be able to take care of them. Wait, what? Yes, if we neglect our vital needs of living (whatever they may be for your particular existence), we are going to stop being able to serve others. Anyone who starves themselves to the point of sickness and death, just because they can't stop serving others even long enough to put a crumb in their mouths, well that person has taken things a bit too far. It takes seconds to put crumbs in your mouth, seconds to drink some water. Anyone who has ever taken hours to prepare a huge meal for family and then watches as it is consumed in mere minutes, knows how quickly people can eat.  We need to put others first while taking the opportunities when they arise to tend to ourselves. We value ourselves way too much, and way too often. We don't like stepping out of the comfort zones we've surrounded ourselves with all in the name of self-preservation. 

1Ti 6:1  Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 

1Ti 6:2  And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

Servants need to honor their masters-  this is the will of God. Servants need to honor their masters even if they are unbelievers- this is the will of God. Servants should not despise their believing masters because their masters are not choosing to serve them, but serve them because- this is the will of God.

I don't know of any servant/master relationships today. I do know employee/employer though and it's along the same lines as servant/master. I do know that wives and husbands,    children and parents,  younger and elder - all these are relationships and it's the same bottom line for all of them. Serving.

Sometimes the master will serve the servant, but this isn't something we are ever to strive for- being the one served. IF we are the one who needs to be served, we need to be very gracious to those serving us.  We need to serve those serving us with prayer, kindness, gratitude, thankfulness.

Remember this-

Mat_20:27  And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant

Mat_23:11  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Mat_24:46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Joh 13:3  Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 

Joh 13:4  He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 

Joh 13:5  After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 

Joh 13:6  Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 

Joh 13:7  Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 

Joh 13:8  Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 

Joh 13:9  Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 

Joh 13:12  So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 

Joh 13:13  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 

Joh 13:14  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 

Joh 13:15  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 

Joh 13:16  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 

Joh 13:17  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. 

We are to serve, ever serve, ever seek to serve.

Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings

And we are to serve in love, not begrudgingly. We need to ask for forgiveness, over and over if needed, if we find ourselves murmuring and disputing (even in our thoughts) when we are called to serve another. By the grace of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit we are to stamped down the rising self-server in us, and instead give praise when we are called to serve. God's will be done, always!

Through Jesus Christ our LORD, our SAVIOR, now and forever!

Amen.