Rev.
{12:1} And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars
*Woman-
Rev. {17:18} And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
*John {3:28} Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. {3:29} He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom. Christ has the bride- and Christ's bride are His people, Christ's bride is His church.
*Gal. {4:26} But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
The great wonder in heaven. God's people victorious.
Light we equate with goodness, darkness we equate with evil. To be clothed with light is to be clothed with goodness. To have the moon under her feet is to have the darkness (because the moon has NO light of her own) under her. Victorious over the darkness. A crown of victory, twleve stars- perfected, the perfect crown.
1. Twelve PATRIARCHS - from Seth to Noah and his family, and twelve from Shem to Jacob.
2. 12 Tribes of Isreal
3. 12 Judges
4. In the Temple the number 12 is a predominant number.
5. The twelve Apostles.
6. The twelve foundations in the heavenly Jerusalem.
7. The twelve gates.
8. The twelve pearls.
9. The twelve angels.
The Measurement of New Jerusalem will be 12,000 furlongs square, while the wall will be 144 (12 x 12) cubits, Revelation 21:16,17.
You can see that the number 12 is important, having 12 stars in the crown is perfect victory the woman possesses as God's people.
*******
{12:2} And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
From God's people a child was ready to be born. A special child and God's people were in need of this child. As with any child about to be birthed there is travail, there is pain in delivery and it was the same for this special child. The woman- God's people were suffering under the yoke of their existence. As God's people captive by the Egyptians lived in a time of suffering and travail, God's people under the oppressive rule of the Romans suffered.
*******
{12:3} And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
One wonder was the woman of God- God's victorous people. Another wonder was a great fiery dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his head. A great beast existed at the same time as God's people, victorous because they are God's an no one else's. The great beast comprised of many heads, many horns with crowns on those heads- this beast's rule extends outward and encompasses many. While having only 7 heads it has 10 horns, the crowns are not upon the horns but the heads. We see similar beasts in the book of Daniel.
We have two opposites here representing Good and Evil. God and Satan.
*******
{12:4} And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
This second wonder the great fiery dragon drew a third part of the stars of heaven with him and cast them to earth. Who cast them? The tail of the dragon took the stars- and stars represent angels. Job {38:7} When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
The dragon took 1/3 part of the stars, the angels with him to earth. And the dragon- Satan stood before the woman, the church, God's people right before Christ was born, ready to devour the child, ready to defeat Christ.
*******
{12:5} And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne.
{12:6} And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.
The child was born! Christ was born! Christ who would rule all nations with a rod of iron. The child was caught up to God and to his throne. The church- God's people fled into the wilderness they were preserved for a long, long time. And it's true. God's people have suffered a lot and have prevailed even as they were almost wiped out over and over again. The wilderness where things can hide, it's not a city, not the mainstream, not where the great poplace exists.
*******
{12:7} And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels
{12:8} And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
{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.
{12:10} And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his
Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
When was Satan cast down? When was the war in heaven? When did the dragon and angels fight?
It says NOW is come salvation, when was salvation come? When Jesus came to the world to save us, right? So the war in heaven took place AFTER Jesus was come into the world to give us salvation. The war took place and then the dragon was cast out and those 1/3rd of the angels were cast out with him.
It makes sense that they would have been cast out to earth AFTER the earth was well formed and man established upon it. Some say that Satan was cast out to earth before man was put on earth and they'd be wrong. What sort of God would throw the lambs to the lion like that? Remember in Job -- {1:6} Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. {1:7} And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. {1:8} And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? {1:9} Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? {1:10} Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. {1:11} But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. {1:12} And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath [is] in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Satan was going to heaven to stand before God then, he hadn't been cast out to earth. Jesus had not yet come to earth to bring salvation to man. Satan was telling God that he was walking the earth as if it were his and God said what about Job. And Satan accused God of favoring Job and if he no longer favored him then he wouldn't be his. So...God removed the protection from all but Job's life so Satan could try to tear Job away from loving God. The whole earth wasn't Satan's, it wasn't his and God loves those who love Him and there were those that loved him and didn't follow Satan and his evil ways. While Satan could work on earth he wasn't cast out to earth until salvation was assured for man.
*******
{12:11} And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
{12:12} Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
{12:13} And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man [child. ]
{12:14} And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
{12:15} And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
{12:16} And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
{12:17} And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
We overcome by the blood of the Lamb. We overcome by the word of the testimony of Jesus. We overcome because we love not our lives to death.
Satan would have us, Satan would devour us, Satan makes war with us who claim to be the Lord's, His church, His people. We keep the commandments of God and the have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Make no mistake, Satan would have each of us and he will stop at nothing to get us, to get ANY who are truly God's. Having the Love of Jesus in us makes us targets of Satan's and our only hope is to hold fast to Jesus, hold fast and never let go. By His grace and mercy will will overcome, only by his grace and mercy and not loving our own lives unto death- being willing to die for Jesus, for His love. May we be His now and forever.
Amen.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
This life or Eternal life?
Proverbs
{8:1} Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
{8:2} She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
{8:3} She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
{8:4} Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man.
{8:5} O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
{8:6} Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.
{8:7} For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.
{8:8} All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them.
{8:9} They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
{8:10} Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
{8:11} For wisdom [is] better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
{8:12} I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
How many people do you know would choose to have knowledge over riches? Seriously.
You might think some would want knowledge because then the knowledge would make them rich, they could use that knowledge to get rich, but what if it wasn't that kind of knowledge? What if the knowledge was how to find life eternal. Would you choose the knowledge of life eternal or material, earthly riches? Seriously, ask yourself the question because it if very pertinent. Oh, you might be saying you'll take earthly riches because you know all about life eternal, or you might be saying how do I know eternal life is even real, I know now is real so give me earthly riches. Or you might be saying you might as well take the riches because eternal life is a long way off and you have to live in the meanwhile.
So there we have it... Earthly riches to spend now and *no* chance for eternal life, or the knowledge of Christ Jesus and His mercy and grace, giving to us eternal life through Him. Choose.
Choose.
Wisdom is better than rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
ALL things that may be desired do not compare to wisdom.
If you're like me you've had many desires in your life, we start out wanting this, that, and the other thing don't we? As we get older we seemingly only want more things, our desire is for more or if not more then better. Perhaps our desires are just to keep all we've accumlated. ALL things that may be desired. It doesn't give specifics there does it? It doesn't say if you desire this or that, it says ALL things that may be desired don't compare to WISDOM.
Receive knowledge rather than choice gold.
What is all this telling us? That there is a life beyond now and no matter what we do, no matter how we live this life it won't change that fact. Whether we are part of eternal life or not it will exist. If we focus only on the earthly things then our reward will be earthly and it is true that whatever is now will be all there is for us, this life will be it, there will be no more. Knowledge and wisdom tells us through Jesus that there is a better life to be had. Just the fact we have to struggle through the heartache and pain of this life should tell us that something is wrong with this world, this existence. Somehow we instinctively know that when all things were being created that there was a glitch in the program somewhere. The fact we can even imagine a perfect world should tell us something. What's that old saying- if we can imagine it then it has possibility. Some scoff at that but if you look at those who imagined an airplane, or a steel boat and tell them it was impossible what does that say? What about going into outerspace, crazy talk. Yet it was imagined first and then realized. All the man-made things we use daily were imagined first. Some imagine peace on earth fully believing it can be realized and it will be in the new world with Christ- true peace on earth. We imagine and that should tell us that things should be different that this isn't all there is and a supposed lucky few have a good life here and now while the rest suffer. Luck should have nothing to do with it. We are truly all designed for a life of real peace without tears, without pain, without heartache. All of us have the chance for that life only it's not going to be now. We have been blessed by God and given the understanding through His Holy word that the way things are now are not how it was intended and that a way has been made for us to receive a life of how it was intended but we have to choose and choose wisdom and knowledge of that over anything earthly.
*
{8:13} The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
{8:14} Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.
{8:15} By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
{8:16} By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.
{8:17} I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
{8:18} Riches and honour [are] with me; [yea,] durable riches and righteousness.
{8:19} My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
{8:20} I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment
{8:21} That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
{8:22} The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
{8:23} I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
{8:24} When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.
{8:25} Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth
{8:26} While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
{8:27} When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
{8:28} When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep
{8:29} When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth
{8:30} Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him:] and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him
{8:31} Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
{8:32} Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.
{8:33} Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
{8:34} Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
{8:35} For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
{8:36} But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
All praise and glory to God! Let us find Him and find life! Let us find favor with the Lord. Let us be blessed by hearing, watching, and waiting. Let us listen to instruction and be wise in Him, let us not refuse to hear. By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ let us keep God's ways now and forever in Him, through Him, by Him now and always.
Amen.
{8:1} Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
{8:2} She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
{8:3} She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
{8:4} Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man.
{8:5} O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
{8:6} Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.
{8:7} For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.
{8:8} All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them.
{8:9} They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
{8:10} Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
{8:11} For wisdom [is] better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
{8:12} I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
How many people do you know would choose to have knowledge over riches? Seriously.
You might think some would want knowledge because then the knowledge would make them rich, they could use that knowledge to get rich, but what if it wasn't that kind of knowledge? What if the knowledge was how to find life eternal. Would you choose the knowledge of life eternal or material, earthly riches? Seriously, ask yourself the question because it if very pertinent. Oh, you might be saying you'll take earthly riches because you know all about life eternal, or you might be saying how do I know eternal life is even real, I know now is real so give me earthly riches. Or you might be saying you might as well take the riches because eternal life is a long way off and you have to live in the meanwhile.
So there we have it... Earthly riches to spend now and *no* chance for eternal life, or the knowledge of Christ Jesus and His mercy and grace, giving to us eternal life through Him. Choose.
Choose.
Wisdom is better than rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
ALL things that may be desired do not compare to wisdom.
If you're like me you've had many desires in your life, we start out wanting this, that, and the other thing don't we? As we get older we seemingly only want more things, our desire is for more or if not more then better. Perhaps our desires are just to keep all we've accumlated. ALL things that may be desired. It doesn't give specifics there does it? It doesn't say if you desire this or that, it says ALL things that may be desired don't compare to WISDOM.
Receive knowledge rather than choice gold.
What is all this telling us? That there is a life beyond now and no matter what we do, no matter how we live this life it won't change that fact. Whether we are part of eternal life or not it will exist. If we focus only on the earthly things then our reward will be earthly and it is true that whatever is now will be all there is for us, this life will be it, there will be no more. Knowledge and wisdom tells us through Jesus that there is a better life to be had. Just the fact we have to struggle through the heartache and pain of this life should tell us that something is wrong with this world, this existence. Somehow we instinctively know that when all things were being created that there was a glitch in the program somewhere. The fact we can even imagine a perfect world should tell us something. What's that old saying- if we can imagine it then it has possibility. Some scoff at that but if you look at those who imagined an airplane, or a steel boat and tell them it was impossible what does that say? What about going into outerspace, crazy talk. Yet it was imagined first and then realized. All the man-made things we use daily were imagined first. Some imagine peace on earth fully believing it can be realized and it will be in the new world with Christ- true peace on earth. We imagine and that should tell us that things should be different that this isn't all there is and a supposed lucky few have a good life here and now while the rest suffer. Luck should have nothing to do with it. We are truly all designed for a life of real peace without tears, without pain, without heartache. All of us have the chance for that life only it's not going to be now. We have been blessed by God and given the understanding through His Holy word that the way things are now are not how it was intended and that a way has been made for us to receive a life of how it was intended but we have to choose and choose wisdom and knowledge of that over anything earthly.
*
{8:13} The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
{8:14} Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.
{8:15} By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
{8:16} By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.
{8:17} I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
{8:18} Riches and honour [are] with me; [yea,] durable riches and righteousness.
{8:19} My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
{8:20} I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment
{8:21} That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
{8:22} The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
{8:23} I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
{8:24} When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.
{8:25} Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth
{8:26} While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
{8:27} When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
{8:28} When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep
{8:29} When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth
{8:30} Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him:] and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him
{8:31} Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
{8:32} Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.
{8:33} Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
{8:34} Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
{8:35} For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
{8:36} But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
All praise and glory to God! Let us find Him and find life! Let us find favor with the Lord. Let us be blessed by hearing, watching, and waiting. Let us listen to instruction and be wise in Him, let us not refuse to hear. By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ let us keep God's ways now and forever in Him, through Him, by Him now and always.
Amen.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Every Eye Shall See Him
Rev. {1:4} John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; {1:5} And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, {1:6} And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. {1:7} Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. {1:8} I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Grace be unto you and peace.
2 John {1:3} Grace be with you, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth
and love.
Grace be with you, mercy and peace.
2 Cor. {12:9} And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Christ's grace is sufficient for us.
Grace and peace from God which is the great I Am. Grace and peace from the seven Spirits- the symbolic number of perfection, seven -- the perfect Spirit. Grace from Jesus Christ- the faithful witness- Jesus was faithful to the end a witness of God's love to us all. The first begotten from the dead- Jesus, the first raised up to new life giving us the promise of new life with Him. The prince of the kings of the earth. Him that loved us, washed us from our sins in his own blood. Jesus who has made us kings and priest unto God, His Father to Him be glory and dominion forever. Behold he comes with clouds-- every eye shall see him.
EVERY EYE shall see him! When Christ returns every eye shall see him. They which pierced him! Think about it, every eye will see Jesus when He returns. The eyes of those who killed Him.
Such amazing love for us, such amazing grace. We are given so much from God, so much. We have to keep these words, we have to keep the knowledge of the love of Christ in us always. The truth is He will return and we can be among those who wail or among those who glory in His return. I want to be among those who glory in the return of my Savior, the Bringer of my peace, the One who gives me His grace, His peace.
May God be with us now and forever, by the grace and mercy of our Lord and our Savior. Help us Lord, help us keep Your words, give us understanding, the understanding we need to be Yours forever.
Amen.
Grace be unto you and peace.
2 John {1:3} Grace be with you, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth
and love.
Grace be with you, mercy and peace.
2 Cor. {12:9} And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Christ's grace is sufficient for us.
Grace and peace from God which is the great I Am. Grace and peace from the seven Spirits- the symbolic number of perfection, seven -- the perfect Spirit. Grace from Jesus Christ- the faithful witness- Jesus was faithful to the end a witness of God's love to us all. The first begotten from the dead- Jesus, the first raised up to new life giving us the promise of new life with Him. The prince of the kings of the earth. Him that loved us, washed us from our sins in his own blood. Jesus who has made us kings and priest unto God, His Father to Him be glory and dominion forever. Behold he comes with clouds-- every eye shall see him.
EVERY EYE shall see him! When Christ returns every eye shall see him. They which pierced him! Think about it, every eye will see Jesus when He returns. The eyes of those who killed Him.
Such amazing love for us, such amazing grace. We are given so much from God, so much. We have to keep these words, we have to keep the knowledge of the love of Christ in us always. The truth is He will return and we can be among those who wail or among those who glory in His return. I want to be among those who glory in the return of my Savior, the Bringer of my peace, the One who gives me His grace, His peace.
May God be with us now and forever, by the grace and mercy of our Lord and our Savior. Help us Lord, help us keep Your words, give us understanding, the understanding we need to be Yours forever.
Amen.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Behold
Rev. {1:18} I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
*Christ has the keys of hell and of death, Christ was dead and is alive for evermore. Christ lives! No other went through what He went through. Christ, our Savior. No other has the power over death, not one, no other has the power over the grave. Truly Christ died for us and lives for us, loving us more than we can ever imagine.
{3:8} I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast
kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
*Christ knows our works. Christ has set before us an open door, a door no one can shut the door that Christ has opened for those who have kept His word and not denied His name. All glory to God! There is a door no man can shut for those who love Jesus, because those who love Him keep His words and would not deny Him.
{3:11} Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown
*Hold fast to what we have in Christ, hold fast so that NO one takes our reward of a crown. Hold fast! If we tell someone to hold on we are telling them to hope. If I tell someone to hold on I'll be there in a bit they have that hope that I'm there in a bit. If that someone thinks I'm taking to long they might just leave and not wait for me. If we don't hold fast to the hope we have in Christ's return then we give up that hope of eternal life. We don't know how long it will be. Many have held fast their entire lives some living right close to a hundred years or more and while we term that a long, long, long time to wait, in the scheme of eternity 100 years is nothing. We have to hold fast to what we have, and what we have is hope in Christ, faith in Christ. We don't want anyone stealing our crown, our place in eternal life because we give up hoping. Hold fast!
{3:20}
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
*Christ is right there wanting us with Him. If we hear His voice and we open our hearts to Him, He will come in and sup with us, and us with Him. It's a beautiful thing to think on, Christ knocking on our door, a door only we can open. That's our place in the scheme of things- opening the door to let Christ in. The door is open by faith. We let Christ in our hearts through faith, through the hope, through the belief we have in Him. Once we believe we will reap the rewards of that belief and we will be partakers of all Christ has to offer us. Such amazing love.
{16:15}
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
*If we watch, no thief can steal from us. If we don't watch anything can be stolen. We know that Christ is coming at a time that we don't expect Him, that there is no date we can mark on any calendar in existence that we can look at and know that is the day Christ is returning. Christ's return will be like a thief's in unexpectedness and yet we are told to watch for His return. People set up alarms, they buy guard dogs, they even hire security people to watch their belongings so no thief steals from them. We can't hire anyone to watch for Christ for us. We have to watch for ourselves. We have to be ready. We have to watch the signs of the times, watch our own lives, watch and keep our garments, keep Christ's righteousness about us. We can't turn our backs and leave off watching or we will lose all we have- we will lose our chance at eternal life.
{21:5} And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and
faithful.
*All things made new, how marvelous does that sound? We look at our world, our lives and we see the decay, we see the constant efforts to keep things from deterioration. We know first hand what it is to watch things go from being new to being old and to know that Christ will make all things new is just amazing. It's a wonderful hope, a wonderful promise that is true and faithful, something we can believe in with all our heart.
{22:7} Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
*Christ will return. We are bless when we take to heart the things He has told us in His word. If we keep our hope in His word to us we are blessed. To keep the sayings of His words, to keep His sayings of the prophecy in His word means we believe what is told to us, we have faith in what we've read, of what we've been told will come to pass.
{22:12} And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
*Our reward will be according to our work. Our work is our hope in Christ. If we place our hope anywhere else, in anything else we might think we're able to do then our reward will not be very good. What reward do we have to give ourselves? None. We have no reward to give to ourselves so we can't place our hope in ourselves. Our hope has to be in Christ and Christ alone and our reward will come from Christ.
May God bless and keep us as we hope in Him, as we invite Christ into our hearts to live forever. By the mercy and grace of Christ we live, He is our hope, our rewarder, our love for eternity.
Amen.
*Christ has the keys of hell and of death, Christ was dead and is alive for evermore. Christ lives! No other went through what He went through. Christ, our Savior. No other has the power over death, not one, no other has the power over the grave. Truly Christ died for us and lives for us, loving us more than we can ever imagine.
{3:8} I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast
kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
*Christ knows our works. Christ has set before us an open door, a door no one can shut the door that Christ has opened for those who have kept His word and not denied His name. All glory to God! There is a door no man can shut for those who love Jesus, because those who love Him keep His words and would not deny Him.
{3:11} Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown
*Hold fast to what we have in Christ, hold fast so that NO one takes our reward of a crown. Hold fast! If we tell someone to hold on we are telling them to hope. If I tell someone to hold on I'll be there in a bit they have that hope that I'm there in a bit. If that someone thinks I'm taking to long they might just leave and not wait for me. If we don't hold fast to the hope we have in Christ's return then we give up that hope of eternal life. We don't know how long it will be. Many have held fast their entire lives some living right close to a hundred years or more and while we term that a long, long, long time to wait, in the scheme of eternity 100 years is nothing. We have to hold fast to what we have, and what we have is hope in Christ, faith in Christ. We don't want anyone stealing our crown, our place in eternal life because we give up hoping. Hold fast!
{3:20}
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
*Christ is right there wanting us with Him. If we hear His voice and we open our hearts to Him, He will come in and sup with us, and us with Him. It's a beautiful thing to think on, Christ knocking on our door, a door only we can open. That's our place in the scheme of things- opening the door to let Christ in. The door is open by faith. We let Christ in our hearts through faith, through the hope, through the belief we have in Him. Once we believe we will reap the rewards of that belief and we will be partakers of all Christ has to offer us. Such amazing love.
{16:15}
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
*If we watch, no thief can steal from us. If we don't watch anything can be stolen. We know that Christ is coming at a time that we don't expect Him, that there is no date we can mark on any calendar in existence that we can look at and know that is the day Christ is returning. Christ's return will be like a thief's in unexpectedness and yet we are told to watch for His return. People set up alarms, they buy guard dogs, they even hire security people to watch their belongings so no thief steals from them. We can't hire anyone to watch for Christ for us. We have to watch for ourselves. We have to be ready. We have to watch the signs of the times, watch our own lives, watch and keep our garments, keep Christ's righteousness about us. We can't turn our backs and leave off watching or we will lose all we have- we will lose our chance at eternal life.
{21:5} And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and
faithful.
*All things made new, how marvelous does that sound? We look at our world, our lives and we see the decay, we see the constant efforts to keep things from deterioration. We know first hand what it is to watch things go from being new to being old and to know that Christ will make all things new is just amazing. It's a wonderful hope, a wonderful promise that is true and faithful, something we can believe in with all our heart.
{22:7} Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
*Christ will return. We are bless when we take to heart the things He has told us in His word. If we keep our hope in His word to us we are blessed. To keep the sayings of His words, to keep His sayings of the prophecy in His word means we believe what is told to us, we have faith in what we've read, of what we've been told will come to pass.
{22:12} And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
*Our reward will be according to our work. Our work is our hope in Christ. If we place our hope anywhere else, in anything else we might think we're able to do then our reward will not be very good. What reward do we have to give ourselves? None. We have no reward to give to ourselves so we can't place our hope in ourselves. Our hope has to be in Christ and Christ alone and our reward will come from Christ.
May God bless and keep us as we hope in Him, as we invite Christ into our hearts to live forever. By the mercy and grace of Christ we live, He is our hope, our rewarder, our love for eternity.
Amen.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Suffering
Rev. {3:10} Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. {3:11} Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
James {5:10} Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Examples for suffering affliction and patience.
The two must go hand in hand. The hour of temptation will come upon all the world and only if we keep the word of God's patience will we be kept from that hour.
I was going to do an indepth study on the prophets and their suffering and realized as I began to look up each prophet that there would be no way to know all the suffering they experienced and the patience they had to possess to get through the suffering. That's what suffering does isn't it... makes us stronger?
I was telling my daughter the other day that old saying about what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger and it's true I told her but I added a bit. It's only true if we don't let the suffering, the affliction in whatever form it takes, over come us. We don't have to let it make us stronger in fact a lot of people succumb to their suffering because by its very nature suffering is something to be abhored, something to avoid at all costs. No one wants to suffer. We have painkillers for just about everything, maybe ineffective in the most serious cases, but strong painkillers, painkillers that can end all suffering by causing death. We have drugs to muffle emotional suffering and mental anguish. It's nothing to grasp at medication to rid ourselves of whatever kind of pain we are in. I, myself have told others that there is nothing wrong with treating things with medication because we treat physical pain why shouldn't we treat mental and emotional pain. We've come so far in science that we know that chemicals in the brain- things we have NO control over by our will alone- can be messed up and drugs will help out with that. It's become a physical ailment now that we've advanced in our science so amazingly. I have no doubt that there are physical things in play that effect us all, chemical embalances that can make us seem crazy, make us depressed, make some into serial killers those with no remorse for what they do, that things can be so twisted in our chemical make up that we truly have no choice but to be what we are. I believe some people are born what we term homosexual through no fault of their own in fact even calling it a fault now has become wrong because so many can't help that they've been given the chemical make up that has their perception, their lives far from what is deemed normal.
What I don't believe is that this is something totally new. Afflictions are not new to the world, suddenly appearing after a couple, four thousand years. I believe from the moment man sin things were altered in what made man perfect unto God, made in His Image. Sin's result brought death- not instantaneous so the devil could gloat that God lied right up until Abel was murdered by his brother and Adam and Eve saw the death of one of their own. They did see the death of their beloved animals as they were slain in sacrifice to make coverings for their new nakedness, to cover their sinfilled selves. They saw that death right off but not the death of another human- something Satan said God lied about when Adam and Eve weren't immediately snuffed out of existence for their wrong doing. Death was the result of sinning, death was inevitable from that moment on. A life of toil and suffering had begun.
I told my daughter and son the other day as we were talking about how they are going to get their educations and go to work and how it's all part of life to do so. My son's vacation is being cut short with college starting a month sooner than he believed it would and telling him that it was life, that working with a few days off here and there was the life he had to look forward to wasn't something pleasant to hear. Sure he knew it already, he's not stupid, but making it reality as he seeks his higher education and future employment is altogether unpleasant because who wouldn't rather play and not work? The new world after Christ comes to take us home with Him will not be filled with toil and work in the way we know it to be. It wasn't until Adam and Eve sinned that the toiling began, up until that point all the tending in the garden and such was pure enjoyment not troublesome in the least. The huge beautiful garden of the world where all the animals came to be named, where the fruit of the trees were in full readiness to be enjoyed, where no weed threatened to choke any plant to destroy it... that world was the world we were made for. Is it no wonder we want to play and not work? Is it any wonder we go to great lengths to have free time rather than work time? We weren't made for the toiling and suffering of the world we have, the world that has evolved after sin.
Suffering. We think the suffering people undergo today inhumane and horrific and we look back in our history and see times of great horror. We wonder why it all came to be, how people could stand and allow the suffering to take place. How could the thousands of people sit in the colliseum and cheer on the slaughter of other people as sport? How could they watch and be entertained by the suffering of others? And yet they could. If the vast majority didn't accept such a way of life it wouldn't have lasted long. But the majority of people agreed to what was going on and participated in the events by their support. Then we have the inquisitions where thousands were tortured under the guise of it being God's will. In more modern times we have the Holocaust where millions were slaughtered and we have to ask ourselves how it could be allowed to happen. Even today, right now there are horrors taking place around the world and the suffering is great.
The prophets of God, those close to God, chosen by God to preach of Him, write of Him, witness of Him suffered and they didn't end their lives even when the suffering was beyond what anyone should have to endure. They suffered over and over, their afflictions were great, they weren't given super human powers that included super human protection from suffering. They suffered and even today any prophets of God suffer and it's better that they suffer and endure so it works patience and proves an example to us to cultivate patience, than to give in and end their suffering.
In a world where we are so caught up in ending our pain no matter its source, accepting that some are called to suffer and endure the pain seems absurd.
Even with all the medication and such, even with all the therapy we can afford, it's not always enough and we have to find a place within us that accepts that we are how we are, that chemical embalance or whatever it may be and I mean that- not in a mocking manner- it must be embraced as our lot in life and pray to God that we can somehow let it work in us the patience we need so that we may endure unto the end.
One more note- I was watching a popular tv show the other day and a woman who believes in ghosts (promoting spiritualism and the great lie Satan told Eve in the garden before she ate the fruit) said out right that there is no such thing as demons. Another great lie. In one breath she'll talk of God giving her this special ability, and the next deny the existence of demons when we know for a fact that Jesus cast out demons.
We wrestle against principalities and powers, against spiritual wickedness in high places- not flesh and blood- and so I say that a lot of our so called afflications do come from outside sources in our lives and we are made to ignore them in favor of keeping the inside sources and something we can control.
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. ]
We are told the prophets are example in patience, the suffering they endured working that patience. May God help us all to realize that no matter our affliction we can endure by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Does it seem like we can endure? No, not always, but we holdfast to the profession of our faith in Jesus to save us and not us saving ourselves. Our suffering in whatever form it takes can make us stronger in Christ but we have to look to the author and finisher of our faith always and not look to ourselves or other humans around us.
May God bless us all and keep us in Him now and forever by the grace of His Son's sacrifice, His Son's righteousness.
Amen.
James {5:10} Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Examples for suffering affliction and patience.
The two must go hand in hand. The hour of temptation will come upon all the world and only if we keep the word of God's patience will we be kept from that hour.
I was going to do an indepth study on the prophets and their suffering and realized as I began to look up each prophet that there would be no way to know all the suffering they experienced and the patience they had to possess to get through the suffering. That's what suffering does isn't it... makes us stronger?
I was telling my daughter the other day that old saying about what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger and it's true I told her but I added a bit. It's only true if we don't let the suffering, the affliction in whatever form it takes, over come us. We don't have to let it make us stronger in fact a lot of people succumb to their suffering because by its very nature suffering is something to be abhored, something to avoid at all costs. No one wants to suffer. We have painkillers for just about everything, maybe ineffective in the most serious cases, but strong painkillers, painkillers that can end all suffering by causing death. We have drugs to muffle emotional suffering and mental anguish. It's nothing to grasp at medication to rid ourselves of whatever kind of pain we are in. I, myself have told others that there is nothing wrong with treating things with medication because we treat physical pain why shouldn't we treat mental and emotional pain. We've come so far in science that we know that chemicals in the brain- things we have NO control over by our will alone- can be messed up and drugs will help out with that. It's become a physical ailment now that we've advanced in our science so amazingly. I have no doubt that there are physical things in play that effect us all, chemical embalances that can make us seem crazy, make us depressed, make some into serial killers those with no remorse for what they do, that things can be so twisted in our chemical make up that we truly have no choice but to be what we are. I believe some people are born what we term homosexual through no fault of their own in fact even calling it a fault now has become wrong because so many can't help that they've been given the chemical make up that has their perception, their lives far from what is deemed normal.
What I don't believe is that this is something totally new. Afflictions are not new to the world, suddenly appearing after a couple, four thousand years. I believe from the moment man sin things were altered in what made man perfect unto God, made in His Image. Sin's result brought death- not instantaneous so the devil could gloat that God lied right up until Abel was murdered by his brother and Adam and Eve saw the death of one of their own. They did see the death of their beloved animals as they were slain in sacrifice to make coverings for their new nakedness, to cover their sinfilled selves. They saw that death right off but not the death of another human- something Satan said God lied about when Adam and Eve weren't immediately snuffed out of existence for their wrong doing. Death was the result of sinning, death was inevitable from that moment on. A life of toil and suffering had begun.
I told my daughter and son the other day as we were talking about how they are going to get their educations and go to work and how it's all part of life to do so. My son's vacation is being cut short with college starting a month sooner than he believed it would and telling him that it was life, that working with a few days off here and there was the life he had to look forward to wasn't something pleasant to hear. Sure he knew it already, he's not stupid, but making it reality as he seeks his higher education and future employment is altogether unpleasant because who wouldn't rather play and not work? The new world after Christ comes to take us home with Him will not be filled with toil and work in the way we know it to be. It wasn't until Adam and Eve sinned that the toiling began, up until that point all the tending in the garden and such was pure enjoyment not troublesome in the least. The huge beautiful garden of the world where all the animals came to be named, where the fruit of the trees were in full readiness to be enjoyed, where no weed threatened to choke any plant to destroy it... that world was the world we were made for. Is it no wonder we want to play and not work? Is it any wonder we go to great lengths to have free time rather than work time? We weren't made for the toiling and suffering of the world we have, the world that has evolved after sin.
Suffering. We think the suffering people undergo today inhumane and horrific and we look back in our history and see times of great horror. We wonder why it all came to be, how people could stand and allow the suffering to take place. How could the thousands of people sit in the colliseum and cheer on the slaughter of other people as sport? How could they watch and be entertained by the suffering of others? And yet they could. If the vast majority didn't accept such a way of life it wouldn't have lasted long. But the majority of people agreed to what was going on and participated in the events by their support. Then we have the inquisitions where thousands were tortured under the guise of it being God's will. In more modern times we have the Holocaust where millions were slaughtered and we have to ask ourselves how it could be allowed to happen. Even today, right now there are horrors taking place around the world and the suffering is great.
The prophets of God, those close to God, chosen by God to preach of Him, write of Him, witness of Him suffered and they didn't end their lives even when the suffering was beyond what anyone should have to endure. They suffered over and over, their afflictions were great, they weren't given super human powers that included super human protection from suffering. They suffered and even today any prophets of God suffer and it's better that they suffer and endure so it works patience and proves an example to us to cultivate patience, than to give in and end their suffering.
In a world where we are so caught up in ending our pain no matter its source, accepting that some are called to suffer and endure the pain seems absurd.
Even with all the medication and such, even with all the therapy we can afford, it's not always enough and we have to find a place within us that accepts that we are how we are, that chemical embalance or whatever it may be and I mean that- not in a mocking manner- it must be embraced as our lot in life and pray to God that we can somehow let it work in us the patience we need so that we may endure unto the end.
One more note- I was watching a popular tv show the other day and a woman who believes in ghosts (promoting spiritualism and the great lie Satan told Eve in the garden before she ate the fruit) said out right that there is no such thing as demons. Another great lie. In one breath she'll talk of God giving her this special ability, and the next deny the existence of demons when we know for a fact that Jesus cast out demons.
We wrestle against principalities and powers, against spiritual wickedness in high places- not flesh and blood- and so I say that a lot of our so called afflications do come from outside sources in our lives and we are made to ignore them in favor of keeping the inside sources and something we can control.
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. ]
We are told the prophets are example in patience, the suffering they endured working that patience. May God help us all to realize that no matter our affliction we can endure by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Does it seem like we can endure? No, not always, but we holdfast to the profession of our faith in Jesus to save us and not us saving ourselves. Our suffering in whatever form it takes can make us stronger in Christ but we have to look to the author and finisher of our faith always and not look to ourselves or other humans around us.
May God bless us all and keep us in Him now and forever by the grace of His Son's sacrifice, His Son's righteousness.
Amen.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The word of my patience
Revelation
{3:7} And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth
{3:8} I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast
kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
{3:9} Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to
come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
{3:10} Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
{3:11} Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
{3:12} Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
{3:13} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
*******
Rev. {3:10} Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. {3:11} Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
*******
Patience- Being patient
Dictionary Definition
patient (pâ..shent) adjective
1. Bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance with calmness.
2. Marked by or exhibiting calm endurance of pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance.
3. Tolerant; understanding: an unfailingly patient leader and guide.
4. Persevering; constant: With patient industry, she revived the failing business and made it thrive.
5. Capable of calmly awaiting an outcome or a result; not hasty or impulsive.
6. Capable of bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance: "My uncle Toby was a man patient of injuries" (Laurence Sterne).
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
We are told because we have kept the word of Christ's patience that He will keep us from the hour of temptation which will come upon ALL the world.
What is this hour of temptation? The fact that the entire world will suffer through the temptation says it's something huge. Only those who have kept the word of Christ's patience will be kept by Christ from that hour of temptation. The hour of temptation will come, it will be something we all have to face but some will be kept by Christ, others won't. Those who haven't kept the word of Christ's patience will not be kept from the temptation but they will fall to it. Obviously this means it's eternal life important that we keep the word of Christ's patience. Taking a look at what patience means from just a few verses in the Bible we can understand just how important patience is.
*******
Hebrews {6:12} That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews {10:35} Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. {10:36} For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. {10:37} For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Hebrews {12:1} Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
James {1:3} Knowing [this,] that the trying of your faith worketh patience
James {5:10} Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
James {5:11} Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
2 Pet. {1:6} And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness
*******
An example of suffering afflication and patience comes from where? The prophets.
Maybe we need to look a bit at the suffering of the prophets. We might not be prophets, but we have been told that we have example in the prophets suffering. We need an example why? Because examples given to allows us to realize how we too must be. If someone shows you an example of behavior to follow then you follow it or suffer consequences. Our lives are filled with such examples. We watch others and know generally what is acceptable behavior. We see those who don't follow examples and the results aren't pleasant. We are told the prophets are an example of patience and we need patience, we need to keep the word of God's patience if we're to be kept from the hour of temptation that comes upon all the world.
This study is going to be a long study- here is a list of the prophets (from offline and needing to be checked for accuracy which we'll do as we go along). I think it's important though to pay attention to them because we can learn from examples and they are our examples in patience and we need the patience of God's word.
May God bless and keep us as we seek to understand more and more of what He would have us do, to be in Christ. By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior now and forever!
Amen.
A
Aaron (Exodus 7:1)
Abel (Luke 11:50-51)
Abraham (Genesis 20:7)
Agabus (Acts 21:10)
Agur (Book of Proverbs 30:1)
Ahijah (1 Kings 11:29)
Amos (Amos 7:8)
Anna (Luke 2:36)
Azariah (2 Chronicles 15:1)
B
Barnabas (Acts 13:31)
D
Daniel (Matthew 24:15)
David (Hebrews 11:32)
Deborah (Judges 4:4)
E
Elijah (1 Kings 18:22)
Elisha (1 Kings 19:16)
Enoch (Jude 1:14)
Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:3)
G
Gad (2 Samuel 24:11)
Gideon (Hebrews 11:32)
H
Habakkuk (Habakkuk 1:1)
Haggai (Haggai 1:1)
Hosea (Hosea 1:1)
Huldah (2Kings 22:14)
I
Iddo (2 Chronicles 13:22)
Isaiah (Isaiah 1:1)
J
Jacob (Genesis 28:11 - 16)
Jehu (1 Kings 16:7)
Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:11)
Joel (Joel 1:1)
John the Baptist (Luke 7:28)
John of Patmos (Revelation 1:1)
Jonah (Jonah 1:1)
Joshua (Joshua 1:1)
Judas Barsabbas (Acts 15:32)
L
Lucius of Cyrene (Acts 13:1)Jhon lucianus
M
Malachi (Malachi 1:1)
Manahen (Acts 13:1)
Micah (Micah 1:1)
Micaiah (1 Kings 22:8)
Miriam (Exodus 15:20)
Moses (Deuteronomy 34:10)
N
Nahum (Nahum 1:1)
Nathan (2 Samuel 7:2)
Noah (Genesis 7:1)
O
Obadiah (Obadiah 1:1)
Oded (2 Chronicles 15:8)
P
Paul of Tarsus (Acts 16:9)
Philip the Evangelist (Acts 8:26) Note: His four daughters also prophesied (Acts 21:8, 9)
S
Samuel (1 Samuel 3:20)
Shemaiah (1 Kings 22:12)
Silas (Acts 15:32)
Simeon Niger (Acts 13:1)
T
The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11:3
Z
Zechariah son of Berechiah (Zechariah 1:1)
Zechariah son of Jehoiada (Luke) 11:50-51)
Zephaniah (Zephaniah 1:1)
{3:7} And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth
{3:8} I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast
kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
{3:9} Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to
come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
{3:10} Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
{3:11} Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
{3:12} Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
{3:13} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
*******
Rev. {3:10} Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. {3:11} Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
*******
Patience- Being patient
Dictionary Definition
patient (pâ..shent) adjective
1. Bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance with calmness.
2. Marked by or exhibiting calm endurance of pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance.
3. Tolerant; understanding: an unfailingly patient leader and guide.
4. Persevering; constant: With patient industry, she revived the failing business and made it thrive.
5. Capable of calmly awaiting an outcome or a result; not hasty or impulsive.
6. Capable of bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance: "My uncle Toby was a man patient of injuries" (Laurence Sterne).
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
We are told because we have kept the word of Christ's patience that He will keep us from the hour of temptation which will come upon ALL the world.
What is this hour of temptation? The fact that the entire world will suffer through the temptation says it's something huge. Only those who have kept the word of Christ's patience will be kept by Christ from that hour of temptation. The hour of temptation will come, it will be something we all have to face but some will be kept by Christ, others won't. Those who haven't kept the word of Christ's patience will not be kept from the temptation but they will fall to it. Obviously this means it's eternal life important that we keep the word of Christ's patience. Taking a look at what patience means from just a few verses in the Bible we can understand just how important patience is.
*******
Hebrews {6:12} That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews {10:35} Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. {10:36} For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. {10:37} For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Hebrews {12:1} Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
James {1:3} Knowing [this,] that the trying of your faith worketh patience
James {5:10} Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
James {5:11} Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
2 Pet. {1:6} And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness
*******
An example of suffering afflication and patience comes from where? The prophets.
Maybe we need to look a bit at the suffering of the prophets. We might not be prophets, but we have been told that we have example in the prophets suffering. We need an example why? Because examples given to allows us to realize how we too must be. If someone shows you an example of behavior to follow then you follow it or suffer consequences. Our lives are filled with such examples. We watch others and know generally what is acceptable behavior. We see those who don't follow examples and the results aren't pleasant. We are told the prophets are an example of patience and we need patience, we need to keep the word of God's patience if we're to be kept from the hour of temptation that comes upon all the world.
This study is going to be a long study- here is a list of the prophets (from offline and needing to be checked for accuracy which we'll do as we go along). I think it's important though to pay attention to them because we can learn from examples and they are our examples in patience and we need the patience of God's word.
May God bless and keep us as we seek to understand more and more of what He would have us do, to be in Christ. By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior now and forever!
Amen.
A
Aaron (Exodus 7:1)
Abel (Luke 11:50-51)
Abraham (Genesis 20:7)
Agabus (Acts 21:10)
Agur (Book of Proverbs 30:1)
Ahijah (1 Kings 11:29)
Amos (Amos 7:8)
Anna (Luke 2:36)
Azariah (2 Chronicles 15:1)
B
Barnabas (Acts 13:31)
D
Daniel (Matthew 24:15)
David (Hebrews 11:32)
Deborah (Judges 4:4)
E
Elijah (1 Kings 18:22)
Elisha (1 Kings 19:16)
Enoch (Jude 1:14)
Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:3)
G
Gad (2 Samuel 24:11)
Gideon (Hebrews 11:32)
H
Habakkuk (Habakkuk 1:1)
Haggai (Haggai 1:1)
Hosea (Hosea 1:1)
Huldah (2Kings 22:14)
I
Iddo (2 Chronicles 13:22)
Isaiah (Isaiah 1:1)
J
Jacob (Genesis 28:11 - 16)
Jehu (1 Kings 16:7)
Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:11)
Joel (Joel 1:1)
John the Baptist (Luke 7:28)
John of Patmos (Revelation 1:1)
Jonah (Jonah 1:1)
Joshua (Joshua 1:1)
Judas Barsabbas (Acts 15:32)
L
Lucius of Cyrene (Acts 13:1)Jhon lucianus
M
Malachi (Malachi 1:1)
Manahen (Acts 13:1)
Micah (Micah 1:1)
Micaiah (1 Kings 22:8)
Miriam (Exodus 15:20)
Moses (Deuteronomy 34:10)
N
Nahum (Nahum 1:1)
Nathan (2 Samuel 7:2)
Noah (Genesis 7:1)
O
Obadiah (Obadiah 1:1)
Oded (2 Chronicles 15:8)
P
Paul of Tarsus (Acts 16:9)
Philip the Evangelist (Acts 8:26) Note: His four daughters also prophesied (Acts 21:8, 9)
S
Samuel (1 Samuel 3:20)
Shemaiah (1 Kings 22:12)
Silas (Acts 15:32)
Simeon Niger (Acts 13:1)
T
The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11:3
Z
Zechariah son of Berechiah (Zechariah 1:1)
Zechariah son of Jehoiada (Luke) 11:50-51)
Zephaniah (Zephaniah 1:1)
Monday, June 29, 2009
Blessed is he that readeth...
Revelation
{22:6} And he said unto me, These sayings [are] faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
{22:7} Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
{22:8} And I John saw these things, and heard [them.] And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. {22:9} Then saith he unto me, See [thou do it] not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
{22:10} And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
{22:11} He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
{22:12} And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
{22:13} I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
{22:14} Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
{22:15} For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
{22:16} I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star.
{22:17} And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.
And let him that heareth say, Come.
And let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
{22:18} For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: {22:19} And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.
{22:20} He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.
Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
{22:21) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Amen.
*
Rich with symbolism the book of Revelation is so important that we are given an admonition- if any man shall add to the prophecies God will add the plagues to him. If any man shall take away from the prophecies God will take them out of the book of life and as a result they will not be part of the holy city- God's kingdom.
Many delve into this book of the Bible an quickly give up trying to understand anything it has to say because the symbolism is so intense. There are many scholars who have dug deep into the book and have come up with their interpretations of the prophecies given. We have many theories, so many it's hard to choose which is right which isn't and as a result people flounder about and many just give up entirely leaving well enough alone. The only thing about leaving well enough alone is the fact people lose the blessings they can receive by reading this book.
Rev. {1:3} Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is] at hand.
We need to read, we need to hear, we need to keep all that is written in this book of Revelation, this book of prophecy predicting the future is important and while we might not understand everything within we have to trust in God that He will bring to our minds any understanding that we need to receive the blessings promised.
May God help us in all this, by His mercy and grace may we be found written in the book of life, may we not receive of the plagues, may we have a part in the holy city. By His love.
Amen.
{22:6} And he said unto me, These sayings [are] faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
{22:7} Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
{22:8} And I John saw these things, and heard [them.] And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. {22:9} Then saith he unto me, See [thou do it] not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
{22:10} And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
{22:11} He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
{22:12} And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
{22:13} I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
{22:14} Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
{22:15} For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
{22:16} I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star.
{22:17} And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.
And let him that heareth say, Come.
And let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
{22:18} For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: {22:19} And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.
{22:20} He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.
Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
{22:21) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Amen.
*
Rich with symbolism the book of Revelation is so important that we are given an admonition- if any man shall add to the prophecies God will add the plagues to him. If any man shall take away from the prophecies God will take them out of the book of life and as a result they will not be part of the holy city- God's kingdom.
Many delve into this book of the Bible an quickly give up trying to understand anything it has to say because the symbolism is so intense. There are many scholars who have dug deep into the book and have come up with their interpretations of the prophecies given. We have many theories, so many it's hard to choose which is right which isn't and as a result people flounder about and many just give up entirely leaving well enough alone. The only thing about leaving well enough alone is the fact people lose the blessings they can receive by reading this book.
Rev. {1:3} Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is] at hand.
We need to read, we need to hear, we need to keep all that is written in this book of Revelation, this book of prophecy predicting the future is important and while we might not understand everything within we have to trust in God that He will bring to our minds any understanding that we need to receive the blessings promised.
May God help us in all this, by His mercy and grace may we be found written in the book of life, may we not receive of the plagues, may we have a part in the holy city. By His love.
Amen.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Are we holy? Are we sinless? Are we perfect?
Hebrews {10:1} For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
The law having a shadow of good things to come.
When we think of the law of God we don't often think of the good things to come from it do we? The law to us in general subjects us to rules that we need to follow to please God, and they are for our own good. The law was a shadow of good things to come. The law tells us that we sin and we need an advocate, a way to be forgiven of those sins. The system given to Moses was but a shadow, an image of things. The system couldn't make anyone perfect.
{10:2} For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. {10:3} But in those [sacrifices there is] a remembrance again [made] of sins every year. {10:4} For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Moses was given the figure of what was to come, the image, but the figure isn't the true, the image not the real. The blood of animals could never completely take away the sins of the people, never.
{10:5} Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: {10:6} In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had no pleasure. {10:7} Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. {10:8} Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein;] which are offered by the law; {10:9} Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
The sacrifice of animals was done away with because it was just an image, just a figure of what was to come. Jesus said He came to do God's will. He came to take away the first so the He could establish the second. He came to do away with the old imperfect system, a system that pointed to the perfect system to come.
{10:10} By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all.]
{10:11} And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
{10:12} But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God
{10:13} From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
{10:14} For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
{10:15} [Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
{10:16} This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
{10:17} And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
{10:18} Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin.
We are made holy through the offering of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, after He died for our sins sat down on the right hand of God.
By His offering He gave a perfect sacrifice! No lamb, no doves, no heifers, no animal sacrificed was a perfect sacrifice. They were a substitute for the actual until the time that the perfect sacrifice could be made and that perfect sacrifice was and is Jesus. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice able to make us holy in Him taking away our sinfulness, something no animal could ever do.
God's laws are in our hearts and minds He puts them there, those who wish to serve Him, to love Him, to accept His sacrifice for them.
Our sins are forgiven by Christ the ultimate sacrifice.
Are we holy? Are we sinless? Are we perfect? No, no, no. Christ is and we have the promise from Christ Himself that He will forgive us and send us the Holy Spirit, that Christ will dwell in us and us in Him and He in the Father. We will be one in love, a pure love that is holy, right, and good. It is Christ's righteousness which saves us now and forever no righteousness of our own, not a wit. By the Grace and Mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
The law having a shadow of good things to come.
When we think of the law of God we don't often think of the good things to come from it do we? The law to us in general subjects us to rules that we need to follow to please God, and they are for our own good. The law was a shadow of good things to come. The law tells us that we sin and we need an advocate, a way to be forgiven of those sins. The system given to Moses was but a shadow, an image of things. The system couldn't make anyone perfect.
{10:2} For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. {10:3} But in those [sacrifices there is] a remembrance again [made] of sins every year. {10:4} For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Moses was given the figure of what was to come, the image, but the figure isn't the true, the image not the real. The blood of animals could never completely take away the sins of the people, never.
{10:5} Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: {10:6} In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had no pleasure. {10:7} Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. {10:8} Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein;] which are offered by the law; {10:9} Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
The sacrifice of animals was done away with because it was just an image, just a figure of what was to come. Jesus said He came to do God's will. He came to take away the first so the He could establish the second. He came to do away with the old imperfect system, a system that pointed to the perfect system to come.
{10:10} By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all.]
{10:11} And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
{10:12} But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God
{10:13} From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
{10:14} For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
{10:15} [Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
{10:16} This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
{10:17} And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
{10:18} Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin.
We are made holy through the offering of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, after He died for our sins sat down on the right hand of God.
By His offering He gave a perfect sacrifice! No lamb, no doves, no heifers, no animal sacrificed was a perfect sacrifice. They were a substitute for the actual until the time that the perfect sacrifice could be made and that perfect sacrifice was and is Jesus. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice able to make us holy in Him taking away our sinfulness, something no animal could ever do.
God's laws are in our hearts and minds He puts them there, those who wish to serve Him, to love Him, to accept His sacrifice for them.
Our sins are forgiven by Christ the ultimate sacrifice.
Are we holy? Are we sinless? Are we perfect? No, no, no. Christ is and we have the promise from Christ Himself that He will forgive us and send us the Holy Spirit, that Christ will dwell in us and us in Him and He in the Father. We will be one in love, a pure love that is holy, right, and good. It is Christ's righteousness which saves us now and forever no righteousness of our own, not a wit. By the Grace and Mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
When they are finally convinced it will be too late.
Jesus on prophecy-
John 14:29 'And now I have told you before it
come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might
believe.'
Told something before it happens- prophesizing.
So when it happens- you believe.
Watch- things will come to pass.
We have a wealth of prophecies that we've been allowed to realize beyond a doubt were written before they came to pass and a wealth of historical facts to prove the prophecies to be true. Many things were written so that we might believe.
Jesus prophesized of His death and resurrection before they happened and those that heard believed once it came to pass.
Prophecy is given to us allowing us to realize truly that God is in control. Skeptics reign in our world and they always will reign until Jesus returns. Unfortunately for those who choose not to believe in God's prophectic gift to mankind, for those who lack faith when they are finally convinced it will be too late.
Without faith it is impossible to please Him.
People cry out for concrete proof and ignore the fact they live and in that fact is proof alone. With scientist picking apart the human being and reducing them to cells that they can reproduce they claim to be able to play God in creating another human being but the fact remains no matter what scientists only use what has already been created and exists they have not brought into existence anything from nothing. They do not hold out their hand and in that hand appears that tiny bit of matter with which life begins. Anything they manipulate was already there in existence to be manipulated by them. The very fact they cannot produce something from absolutely nothing says one thing, they are not creators. They take from the already created and their so called new creations are merely manipulations. They are manipulators not creators. They don't create cures, they don't create disease they manipulate matter in existence and that manipulation brings forth various things for good or bad. They invent, they don't create. Even us ordinary men and women who reproduce we only do so with things created within us that we had no control over creating, all we've done is brought the two bits of matter together and from there the creating takes place not through any creating of our own but once again through us manipulating what is already there. We are not creators, we will never be creators. We can take a lump of clay and mold it into a gorgeous statue and people will call us the creator of that piece of work but the truth remains we only manipulated the clay we didn't bring the clay into existence, for that matter we didn't bring ourselves into existence. We are not creators. We take what exists and work with that. If we take two things and make something different a third thing that appears to be new that's all well and good but the fact remains we did not create those two things brought together to form that third. Ultimately when you break things down to their smallest component there was a Creator who brought into existence that smallest component. To assume that smallest component just popped into existence from no where is illogical because why aren't we still being bombarded with things just popping into existence? Why aren't we even seeing things popping into existence sparsely let alone being bombarded? These are all logic questions. When was the last time you heard of something that just appeared out of nowhere forming something brand new? What scientist has conjured from thin air, or rather from no where because yes they like to manipulate air too making it thin or thick- seriously they do manipulate air so that analogy falls short. What scientist had conjured something from nothing at all? I mean it. Nothing. What human being has just stood there and thought into existence anything at all? We have all sorts of fantasy movies and books about special people with powers able to do just that but those people are ficticious and in no way real. The fact remains there doesn't exist a single creator upon earth.
Satan, whose desire to be God overwhelmed him into believing he could be a creator- and yet he was a creation of God's. Creatures longing to be creators it hasn't ended not since Satan's pride reared up and spilled over into mankind.
We creatures have been blessed by our Creator and given so much by Him so that we might make that leap of faith. By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we have that faith and as one man cried out- Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief. May we too cry out the same. God will help our unbelief, because in asking for His help we are believing He is and He is able.
By His mercy! All power and glory, all praise to our God, our Lord, our Savior! By the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
John 14:29 'And now I have told you before it
come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might
believe.'
Told something before it happens- prophesizing.
So when it happens- you believe.
Watch- things will come to pass.
We have a wealth of prophecies that we've been allowed to realize beyond a doubt were written before they came to pass and a wealth of historical facts to prove the prophecies to be true. Many things were written so that we might believe.
Jesus prophesized of His death and resurrection before they happened and those that heard believed once it came to pass.
Prophecy is given to us allowing us to realize truly that God is in control. Skeptics reign in our world and they always will reign until Jesus returns. Unfortunately for those who choose not to believe in God's prophectic gift to mankind, for those who lack faith when they are finally convinced it will be too late.
Without faith it is impossible to please Him.
People cry out for concrete proof and ignore the fact they live and in that fact is proof alone. With scientist picking apart the human being and reducing them to cells that they can reproduce they claim to be able to play God in creating another human being but the fact remains no matter what scientists only use what has already been created and exists they have not brought into existence anything from nothing. They do not hold out their hand and in that hand appears that tiny bit of matter with which life begins. Anything they manipulate was already there in existence to be manipulated by them. The very fact they cannot produce something from absolutely nothing says one thing, they are not creators. They take from the already created and their so called new creations are merely manipulations. They are manipulators not creators. They don't create cures, they don't create disease they manipulate matter in existence and that manipulation brings forth various things for good or bad. They invent, they don't create. Even us ordinary men and women who reproduce we only do so with things created within us that we had no control over creating, all we've done is brought the two bits of matter together and from there the creating takes place not through any creating of our own but once again through us manipulating what is already there. We are not creators, we will never be creators. We can take a lump of clay and mold it into a gorgeous statue and people will call us the creator of that piece of work but the truth remains we only manipulated the clay we didn't bring the clay into existence, for that matter we didn't bring ourselves into existence. We are not creators. We take what exists and work with that. If we take two things and make something different a third thing that appears to be new that's all well and good but the fact remains we did not create those two things brought together to form that third. Ultimately when you break things down to their smallest component there was a Creator who brought into existence that smallest component. To assume that smallest component just popped into existence from no where is illogical because why aren't we still being bombarded with things just popping into existence? Why aren't we even seeing things popping into existence sparsely let alone being bombarded? These are all logic questions. When was the last time you heard of something that just appeared out of nowhere forming something brand new? What scientist has conjured from thin air, or rather from no where because yes they like to manipulate air too making it thin or thick- seriously they do manipulate air so that analogy falls short. What scientist had conjured something from nothing at all? I mean it. Nothing. What human being has just stood there and thought into existence anything at all? We have all sorts of fantasy movies and books about special people with powers able to do just that but those people are ficticious and in no way real. The fact remains there doesn't exist a single creator upon earth.
Satan, whose desire to be God overwhelmed him into believing he could be a creator- and yet he was a creation of God's. Creatures longing to be creators it hasn't ended not since Satan's pride reared up and spilled over into mankind.
We creatures have been blessed by our Creator and given so much by Him so that we might make that leap of faith. By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we have that faith and as one man cried out- Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief. May we too cry out the same. God will help our unbelief, because in asking for His help we are believing He is and He is able.
By His mercy! All power and glory, all praise to our God, our Lord, our Savior! By the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Friday, June 26, 2009
The Lord's Supper
1 Cor.
{11:17} Now in this that I declare [unto you] I praise [you] not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
{11:18} For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
{11:19} For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
{11:20} When ye come together therefore into one place, [this] is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
{11:21} For in eating every one taketh before [other] his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
{11:22} What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise [you] not.
{11:23} For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the [same] night in which he was betrayed took bread:
{11:24} And when he had given thanks, he brake [it,] and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
{11:25} After the same manner also [he took] the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink [it,] in remembrance of me.
{11:26} For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink [this] cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
{11:27} Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the
Lord.
{11:28} But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of [that] bread, and drink of [that] cup.
{11:29} For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
{11:30} For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
{11:31} For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
{11:32} But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
The sacredness of the Lord's supper is truly something we need to think about. It's not the casual dinner, it's a special supper. Christ did not sit down to eat the passover supper and announce at the beginning of it that the entire supper would be something to remember and do. They were celebrating a ceremony given to Moses back when God freed His people from the Egyptians and death took all the first born of those that didn't have the blood of a lamb on their door posts and over top the door. Jesus was celebrating this passover meal, this passover tradition. As they supped, meaning they were already into the meal when Jesus took the bread gave thanks to God for it and brake it- then he instructed His apostles to take it and eat it, do so and remember His body which He was to give for them. How could the bread symbolize Jesus? Think about it, the passover itself symbolized God's protection and saving of His people. The bread wasn't risen but it was unleavened to symbolize the haste of the coming exodus from Egypt. To institute a new tradition during the passover feast indicated that things were changing for God's people. The lamb that had been slain, whose blood was placed over and around the door to offer protection symbolized the blood that Jesus was going to shed for His people. Jesus was telling them what was to come and what they were to do after it happened. They were to remember because He wasn't going to be around to remind them. They were to remember what He was doing. He was instituting a new tradition, a new supper. The passover supper symbolized the freedom of God's people from the oppression of the Egyptians, it revealed God's power to act on behalf of those He considered His. The Lord's supper symbolizes Jesus' death- there in the verse it says -- For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. The symbolism of the Lord's supper is Jesus' sacrifice for us.
Just as preparation was made for the passover meals, there is a preparation we're to make before we take part in the Lord's supper. It's not something casual we do out of hunger or thirst, it's not the meal we are to eat to sate our normal, natural appetite. This supper of bread breaking and wine drinking symbolizes something much more important than any base needs we might have, it goes beyond our natural, fleshy appetites, it transcends them completely.
Before we take part in the Lord's supper we are cautioned to examine ourselves. If we don't examine ourselves we are guilty of killing Christ rather than Him dying for us, we are guilty of killing Him we rank among those who crucified Him, those that have no repentance in them for what they'd done, those who lived and died with the blood of Christ on their hands. We rank among those when we take part in the Lord's supper without examining ourselves, without asking for forgiveness for the sins we've committed, without true repentance in us for the sins we commit, sins that warrant death, sins that Christ lived and died to cover, rising again to live for us and offer us eternal life in Him.
So before we do as Christ instructed so long again to His very apostles, before we take part in the Lord's supper let each of us take a moment to examine ourselves so we are not guilty of killing Christ without being forgiven by Him. He asked that the guilty be forgiven- Luke {23:34} Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. We know what we do and if we don't seek forgivness in Christ before symbolically accepting His life and death for us, we mock Him and that makes us guilty.
I Cor. {11:29} For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
The Lord's body- the Lord's death is symbolically represented in the bread and wine, and if we don't take that symbolism to heart we are damning ourselves to being unforgiven. Christ died for us and we need to remember that daily, we need to remember that when we symbolically declare it with each other during the Lord's supper. We judge ourselves before we take part in the bread and wine, we judge ourselves and find ourselves guilty and we cling to the only source of forgiveness there is and that is Christ through His sacrifice.
May God bless and keep us, guiding us, chastizing us where needed, giving us the Holy Spirit in all truth. May the love and mercy of Jesus Christ fill our lives and hearts so that we live for Him now and forever.
Amen.
{11:17} Now in this that I declare [unto you] I praise [you] not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
{11:18} For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
{11:19} For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
{11:20} When ye come together therefore into one place, [this] is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
{11:21} For in eating every one taketh before [other] his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
{11:22} What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise [you] not.
{11:23} For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the [same] night in which he was betrayed took bread:
{11:24} And when he had given thanks, he brake [it,] and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
{11:25} After the same manner also [he took] the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink [it,] in remembrance of me.
{11:26} For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink [this] cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
{11:27} Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the
Lord.
{11:28} But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of [that] bread, and drink of [that] cup.
{11:29} For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
{11:30} For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
{11:31} For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
{11:32} But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
The sacredness of the Lord's supper is truly something we need to think about. It's not the casual dinner, it's a special supper. Christ did not sit down to eat the passover supper and announce at the beginning of it that the entire supper would be something to remember and do. They were celebrating a ceremony given to Moses back when God freed His people from the Egyptians and death took all the first born of those that didn't have the blood of a lamb on their door posts and over top the door. Jesus was celebrating this passover meal, this passover tradition. As they supped, meaning they were already into the meal when Jesus took the bread gave thanks to God for it and brake it- then he instructed His apostles to take it and eat it, do so and remember His body which He was to give for them. How could the bread symbolize Jesus? Think about it, the passover itself symbolized God's protection and saving of His people. The bread wasn't risen but it was unleavened to symbolize the haste of the coming exodus from Egypt. To institute a new tradition during the passover feast indicated that things were changing for God's people. The lamb that had been slain, whose blood was placed over and around the door to offer protection symbolized the blood that Jesus was going to shed for His people. Jesus was telling them what was to come and what they were to do after it happened. They were to remember because He wasn't going to be around to remind them. They were to remember what He was doing. He was instituting a new tradition, a new supper. The passover supper symbolized the freedom of God's people from the oppression of the Egyptians, it revealed God's power to act on behalf of those He considered His. The Lord's supper symbolizes Jesus' death- there in the verse it says -- For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. The symbolism of the Lord's supper is Jesus' sacrifice for us.
Just as preparation was made for the passover meals, there is a preparation we're to make before we take part in the Lord's supper. It's not something casual we do out of hunger or thirst, it's not the meal we are to eat to sate our normal, natural appetite. This supper of bread breaking and wine drinking symbolizes something much more important than any base needs we might have, it goes beyond our natural, fleshy appetites, it transcends them completely.
Before we take part in the Lord's supper we are cautioned to examine ourselves. If we don't examine ourselves we are guilty of killing Christ rather than Him dying for us, we are guilty of killing Him we rank among those who crucified Him, those that have no repentance in them for what they'd done, those who lived and died with the blood of Christ on their hands. We rank among those when we take part in the Lord's supper without examining ourselves, without asking for forgiveness for the sins we've committed, without true repentance in us for the sins we commit, sins that warrant death, sins that Christ lived and died to cover, rising again to live for us and offer us eternal life in Him.
So before we do as Christ instructed so long again to His very apostles, before we take part in the Lord's supper let each of us take a moment to examine ourselves so we are not guilty of killing Christ without being forgiven by Him. He asked that the guilty be forgiven- Luke {23:34} Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. We know what we do and if we don't seek forgivness in Christ before symbolically accepting His life and death for us, we mock Him and that makes us guilty.
I Cor. {11:29} For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
The Lord's body- the Lord's death is symbolically represented in the bread and wine, and if we don't take that symbolism to heart we are damning ourselves to being unforgiven. Christ died for us and we need to remember that daily, we need to remember that when we symbolically declare it with each other during the Lord's supper. We judge ourselves before we take part in the bread and wine, we judge ourselves and find ourselves guilty and we cling to the only source of forgiveness there is and that is Christ through His sacrifice.
May God bless and keep us, guiding us, chastizing us where needed, giving us the Holy Spirit in all truth. May the love and mercy of Jesus Christ fill our lives and hearts so that we live for Him now and forever.
Amen.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Our love is manifested in our lives.
John
{14:15} If ye love me, keep my commandments.
{14:16} And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever
{14:17} [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
{14:18} I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
{14:19} Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
{14:20} At that day ye shall know that I [am] in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
{14:21} He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
If you do this and as a result you do this, then I will do this and then he shall do this.
Sounds like a special deal doesn't it? A deal that we can make, a deal that we should make.
We should do that and as a result do that and then know that He will do that and that.
If we love Jesus we will keep His commandments. If we love Him and keep His commandments then Jesus will give another Comforter that will live with us forever. Forever.
Another comforter, another other than Him because He was going away to be with the Father. He was going away and yet He wasn't going to leave us without a comforter. The love of Jesus knows no bounds. He knew we'd need comfort, He knew that if we were comfortless we could not survive. We can't survive without Jesus, and He knew that. Jesus knew it because He couldn't survive without the Father. The Father in the Son, just like all of us that have loving parents carry part of them in us don't we? We hear it all the time- people owing their success to their parents, why? Because part of them is in them. The parents gave of themselves to their children molding and making them, instilling part of themselves into the children. No, it's not the exact same with God being in Jesus, the Father being in the Son, but in a very imperfect way it is an example to us.
When our children need us we do all we can to be there for them don't we? If we love them. Sometimes it's tough love, sometimes it doesn't have to be tough love, but our love for our children inspires us to help them. God's love for us inspires Him to help us. Jesus died for us. If we are worthy through Jesus of such a sacrifice then we are worthy to be counted as sons and daughters of God. God won't leave us comfortless.
The Spirit of truth... we can know the Spirit of truth because He lives within us. The world won't receive the Spirit of truth. The world doesn't recognize the need and will not receive the Comforter. We who know that we need the Comforter, we who know we need Jesus, we who know that if we love Him we will keep His commandments, it is us who know we need the Spirit of truth, who will receive Him into us.
Our love is manifested in our lives.
If you love someone it is manifested in your actions, in your live. If we love God it is the same. Love is a decision we make to act, it is not just an emotion. We choose to love, we choose our actions based on that love. May our love of God multiply, may our love for God guide all our actions, may our love of God have us choosing the right paths in Him. May we keep His commandments now and forever and ever by His grace and mercy with the Spirit of truth dwelling in us, comforting us in the way of the Lord.
Amen.
{14:15} If ye love me, keep my commandments.
{14:16} And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever
{14:17} [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
{14:18} I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
{14:19} Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
{14:20} At that day ye shall know that I [am] in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
{14:21} He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
If you do this and as a result you do this, then I will do this and then he shall do this.
Sounds like a special deal doesn't it? A deal that we can make, a deal that we should make.
We should do that and as a result do that and then know that He will do that and that.
If we love Jesus we will keep His commandments. If we love Him and keep His commandments then Jesus will give another Comforter that will live with us forever. Forever.
Another comforter, another other than Him because He was going away to be with the Father. He was going away and yet He wasn't going to leave us without a comforter. The love of Jesus knows no bounds. He knew we'd need comfort, He knew that if we were comfortless we could not survive. We can't survive without Jesus, and He knew that. Jesus knew it because He couldn't survive without the Father. The Father in the Son, just like all of us that have loving parents carry part of them in us don't we? We hear it all the time- people owing their success to their parents, why? Because part of them is in them. The parents gave of themselves to their children molding and making them, instilling part of themselves into the children. No, it's not the exact same with God being in Jesus, the Father being in the Son, but in a very imperfect way it is an example to us.
When our children need us we do all we can to be there for them don't we? If we love them. Sometimes it's tough love, sometimes it doesn't have to be tough love, but our love for our children inspires us to help them. God's love for us inspires Him to help us. Jesus died for us. If we are worthy through Jesus of such a sacrifice then we are worthy to be counted as sons and daughters of God. God won't leave us comfortless.
The Spirit of truth... we can know the Spirit of truth because He lives within us. The world won't receive the Spirit of truth. The world doesn't recognize the need and will not receive the Comforter. We who know that we need the Comforter, we who know we need Jesus, we who know that if we love Him we will keep His commandments, it is us who know we need the Spirit of truth, who will receive Him into us.
Our love is manifested in our lives.
If you love someone it is manifested in your actions, in your live. If we love God it is the same. Love is a decision we make to act, it is not just an emotion. We choose to love, we choose our actions based on that love. May our love of God multiply, may our love for God guide all our actions, may our love of God have us choosing the right paths in Him. May we keep His commandments now and forever and ever by His grace and mercy with the Spirit of truth dwelling in us, comforting us in the way of the Lord.
Amen.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Spiritual Feasting
Prov. {30:5} Every word of God [is] pure: he
[is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Luke {4:4} And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written,
That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word
of God.
Eph. {6:17} And take
the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God
*******
The word of God is pure, the word of God is sustenance, the word of God is a sword. The word of God is powerful- protecting, sustaining, defending. To have such protection is something we'd all want, right? To have *magic* words of protection, words we could use to keep us safe, words we could use to ward off harm, words that could keep us alive as food might. Those are special words! We have such words and they aren't from a spell book of sorcery but true and holy- the word of God. Do we keep the word of God as holy? Do we revere the word of God as some might revere words of false gods? Do we protect the word of God as others might keep their special words under lock and key? God's words aren't to be muffled but shared and taken to heart by all. God is love! God doesn't want His words hid. The evil one would have his words hid- would have his evil words seemingly so powerful that only those that are special can invoke them. The words of God are powerful, truly powerful and they aren't hidden away and kept special for only those who are considered special enough to read them. The word of God is available to everyone! Everyone! Just as the love of God is available to everyone! Just as salvation is for everyone that believes in the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ- the word of God personified.
No wonder people would die for the word of God. No wonder people consider the Bible worth more than their own lives because in it is life. The words in the Bible are life giving words. The words are special and we can't even begin to fathom just how special. We are told how special and yet we disregard them.
Every word of God is pure. God is a shield, He gives us protection when we trust in Him. God protects our eternal life. We are to live by the word of God. Do you live by the word of God? What does it mean to live by the word of God? Do we feed on the word of God? Our bodies are fashioned in such a way that we need to put food in them to sustain them properly. We have built in sensors so to speak that tell us when we are hungry, when we are thirsty, and we know that we are to feed ourselves and get something to drink to ease the hungry and thirst. Food and drink won't give us full life. We might not be physically hungry or thirsty but there is a spiritual hunger in us that we need to feed. How often? If we are to live by every word of God we need to live by it at least as often as we live by food and drink, right? It makes sense. God does nothing without reason. God designed us in the way He did so that we couldn't forget to feed our spiritual self right along with our physical. We choose to forget. We choose to leave our spiritual selves starving. We feed our spiritual selves sparingly so that most people are stick thin spiritually without ever having to diet. This is one time that we should feast and feast and become fat in the word of God, become sated by the word of God because it is by the word of God we have our sword to fight off the unseen powers assailing us.
Just as we need to pick up food and put it into our mouths, just as we need to pour our drink and take it to our mouths we need to bring the word of God to our hearts, to our minds. We have to open the word, we have to read the word, we have to take the word of God into us make it real to us, feed ourselves with the word. There is a reason why Jesus blessed bread and wine, breaking the bread and telling His apostles to eat of it, and drinking the wine telling His apostles to drink. There is a reason He equated the bread and wine with Himself and it wasn't so we could become cannibals. He wanted us to realize the importance of what He was giving us. A spiritual recipe, a spiritual command to sustain ourselves on the Word of God, on Him who brought the word of God to life for us. The apostles went from house to house breaking bread and drinking wine, bringing Christ's message of salvation to all they could. Christ wanted His message brought to all, not reserved for a special few ordained by man. He wanted His word to spread far and wide, not remain hidden in the hearts of a select sect.
May God bless and keep us in His Word now and forever by His mercy and grace, by the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.
[is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Luke {4:4} And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written,
That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word
of God.
Eph. {6:17} And take
the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God
*******
The word of God is pure, the word of God is sustenance, the word of God is a sword. The word of God is powerful- protecting, sustaining, defending. To have such protection is something we'd all want, right? To have *magic* words of protection, words we could use to keep us safe, words we could use to ward off harm, words that could keep us alive as food might. Those are special words! We have such words and they aren't from a spell book of sorcery but true and holy- the word of God. Do we keep the word of God as holy? Do we revere the word of God as some might revere words of false gods? Do we protect the word of God as others might keep their special words under lock and key? God's words aren't to be muffled but shared and taken to heart by all. God is love! God doesn't want His words hid. The evil one would have his words hid- would have his evil words seemingly so powerful that only those that are special can invoke them. The words of God are powerful, truly powerful and they aren't hidden away and kept special for only those who are considered special enough to read them. The word of God is available to everyone! Everyone! Just as the love of God is available to everyone! Just as salvation is for everyone that believes in the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ- the word of God personified.
No wonder people would die for the word of God. No wonder people consider the Bible worth more than their own lives because in it is life. The words in the Bible are life giving words. The words are special and we can't even begin to fathom just how special. We are told how special and yet we disregard them.
Every word of God is pure. God is a shield, He gives us protection when we trust in Him. God protects our eternal life. We are to live by the word of God. Do you live by the word of God? What does it mean to live by the word of God? Do we feed on the word of God? Our bodies are fashioned in such a way that we need to put food in them to sustain them properly. We have built in sensors so to speak that tell us when we are hungry, when we are thirsty, and we know that we are to feed ourselves and get something to drink to ease the hungry and thirst. Food and drink won't give us full life. We might not be physically hungry or thirsty but there is a spiritual hunger in us that we need to feed. How often? If we are to live by every word of God we need to live by it at least as often as we live by food and drink, right? It makes sense. God does nothing without reason. God designed us in the way He did so that we couldn't forget to feed our spiritual self right along with our physical. We choose to forget. We choose to leave our spiritual selves starving. We feed our spiritual selves sparingly so that most people are stick thin spiritually without ever having to diet. This is one time that we should feast and feast and become fat in the word of God, become sated by the word of God because it is by the word of God we have our sword to fight off the unseen powers assailing us.
Just as we need to pick up food and put it into our mouths, just as we need to pour our drink and take it to our mouths we need to bring the word of God to our hearts, to our minds. We have to open the word, we have to read the word, we have to take the word of God into us make it real to us, feed ourselves with the word. There is a reason why Jesus blessed bread and wine, breaking the bread and telling His apostles to eat of it, and drinking the wine telling His apostles to drink. There is a reason He equated the bread and wine with Himself and it wasn't so we could become cannibals. He wanted us to realize the importance of what He was giving us. A spiritual recipe, a spiritual command to sustain ourselves on the Word of God, on Him who brought the word of God to life for us. The apostles went from house to house breaking bread and drinking wine, bringing Christ's message of salvation to all they could. Christ wanted His message brought to all, not reserved for a special few ordained by man. He wanted His word to spread far and wide, not remain hidden in the hearts of a select sect.
May God bless and keep us in His Word now and forever by His mercy and grace, by the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Make us unblameable in His Holiness.
Heb. {13:21} Make you perfect in every good work to
do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his
sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and
ever. Amen.
God will make us perfect. Who? God? God will make us perfect. God will make us perfect in every good work to do his will. God will make us perfect to do His will. God will work in us that which pleases him. And He works in us through Jesus Christ. All glory to God forever.
We worry about making ourselves perfect when in truth we can't make ourselves perfect. Only in Christ can we be made perfect. Only by the grace of God.
1 Thess. {3:12} And
the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one
toward another, and toward all [men,] even as we [do]
toward you: {3:13} To the end he may stablish your hearts
unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another towards all men. The Lord will establish our hearts, unblameable in holiness before God. Unblameable in holiness. Not unblameable in ourselves, but in holiness. Unblameable before God our Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ! Christ does this for us. We CAN'T do it ourselves.
Unless Christ is standing on our behalf we are blameable. All our sins our on are heads and the wages of our sins is death. Death. Unless Christ is there pleading for us, unless Christ stands in our place, unless Christ places our names in the Book of Life, we will die. We will have to pay for all our sins every single one of them even though it only takes one sin to kill us eternally.
We are made perfect, we are unblameable in His holiness before God.
Only the greatest fool would not grasp hold of Christ's righteousnes. Only the greatest fool would not accept his sacrifice for them. He came and died for us so that we may live.
John {8:36} If the Son
therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John {8:32} And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall
make you free
Make us free.
Make us perfect.
Make us to increase in love.
Make us unblameable in His Holiness.
We get so caught up in trying to do for ourelves that we forget the power of the one who came and died for us has the same power to give us that life. He wouldn't have died for us if He weren't able to give us life. He wouldn't have sacrificed all for us if there were no way to lay claim to the promise He came to give us life eternal. It's all through Him, all in Him, in Christ now and forever.
Christ our Righteousness and through faith in Christ and His Righteousness we are saved by grace, His Grace!
All glory, all praise, all honor to God!
Amen.
do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his
sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and
ever. Amen.
God will make us perfect. Who? God? God will make us perfect. God will make us perfect in every good work to do his will. God will make us perfect to do His will. God will work in us that which pleases him. And He works in us through Jesus Christ. All glory to God forever.
We worry about making ourselves perfect when in truth we can't make ourselves perfect. Only in Christ can we be made perfect. Only by the grace of God.
1 Thess. {3:12} And
the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one
toward another, and toward all [men,] even as we [do]
toward you: {3:13} To the end he may stablish your hearts
unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another towards all men. The Lord will establish our hearts, unblameable in holiness before God. Unblameable in holiness. Not unblameable in ourselves, but in holiness. Unblameable before God our Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ! Christ does this for us. We CAN'T do it ourselves.
Unless Christ is standing on our behalf we are blameable. All our sins our on are heads and the wages of our sins is death. Death. Unless Christ is there pleading for us, unless Christ stands in our place, unless Christ places our names in the Book of Life, we will die. We will have to pay for all our sins every single one of them even though it only takes one sin to kill us eternally.
We are made perfect, we are unblameable in His holiness before God.
Only the greatest fool would not grasp hold of Christ's righteousnes. Only the greatest fool would not accept his sacrifice for them. He came and died for us so that we may live.
John {8:36} If the Son
therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John {8:32} And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall
make you free
Make us free.
Make us perfect.
Make us to increase in love.
Make us unblameable in His Holiness.
We get so caught up in trying to do for ourelves that we forget the power of the one who came and died for us has the same power to give us that life. He wouldn't have died for us if He weren't able to give us life. He wouldn't have sacrificed all for us if there were no way to lay claim to the promise He came to give us life eternal. It's all through Him, all in Him, in Christ now and forever.
Christ our Righteousness and through faith in Christ and His Righteousness we are saved by grace, His Grace!
All glory, all praise, all honor to God!
Amen.
Monday, June 22, 2009
God of ALL Grace
1 Peter {5:10} But the God of all grace, who hath called us
unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen,
settle [you. ]{5:11} To him [be] glory and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen.
* God of all grace! God who has called us to HIS eternal glory by Christ Jesus! We might suffer a while and how long is a while- our lifetime in fact because this life is so conducive to suffering. We live in a world that promises suffering in one way or another. We live a life that offers us pain in so many ways. Yes, there are good things, happy thing, glorious things even, but most people would have to admit there is more pain than good, more evil than good. We are tormented not just by other people but by things we can't even see. We are assailed by wicked things constantly and the wicked things take pleasure in causing us all the hardship they can. Finding peace amidst the suffering is all we are allowed and that peace isn't from pain but peace that is in spite of the pain. A smile when tortured, a peace when tried, we are given that and able to find that only by the God of all Grace through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Is it easy? No. It's a knowledge, not a feeling. A knowing not an emotional happenstance. If we wait for a peace we equate with happiness we will wait in vain because peace is a knowing that the suffering now isn't for eternity. We suffer a while and made perfect, we're established, strengthened and settled in Christ. All gloyr and dominion to our God whose promises are sure and based on knowledge not slippery feelings that are wrought by the slightest wind of upset or joy.
May the Lord Bless and Keep us all in Him now and forever. May we know our suffering now is just for a while and for our own good in ways we cannot fathom. May we know that God, the God of ALL grace who calls each of us through Jesus Christ will keep us safe in Him, know it even if we don't feel it. By His mercy and grace, by His love beyond measure.
Amen.
unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen,
settle [you. ]{5:11} To him [be] glory and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen.
* God of all grace! God who has called us to HIS eternal glory by Christ Jesus! We might suffer a while and how long is a while- our lifetime in fact because this life is so conducive to suffering. We live in a world that promises suffering in one way or another. We live a life that offers us pain in so many ways. Yes, there are good things, happy thing, glorious things even, but most people would have to admit there is more pain than good, more evil than good. We are tormented not just by other people but by things we can't even see. We are assailed by wicked things constantly and the wicked things take pleasure in causing us all the hardship they can. Finding peace amidst the suffering is all we are allowed and that peace isn't from pain but peace that is in spite of the pain. A smile when tortured, a peace when tried, we are given that and able to find that only by the God of all Grace through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Is it easy? No. It's a knowledge, not a feeling. A knowing not an emotional happenstance. If we wait for a peace we equate with happiness we will wait in vain because peace is a knowing that the suffering now isn't for eternity. We suffer a while and made perfect, we're established, strengthened and settled in Christ. All gloyr and dominion to our God whose promises are sure and based on knowledge not slippery feelings that are wrought by the slightest wind of upset or joy.
May the Lord Bless and Keep us all in Him now and forever. May we know our suffering now is just for a while and for our own good in ways we cannot fathom. May we know that God, the God of ALL grace who calls each of us through Jesus Christ will keep us safe in Him, know it even if we don't feel it. By His mercy and grace, by His love beyond measure.
Amen.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
He that overcomes.
Rev. {21:7} He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
He that overcomes.
Rev. {3:21} To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne
To him that overcomes.
Even as I also overcame.
Rev. {3:12} Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
Him that overcomes.
Rev. {3:5} He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
He that overcomes.
Rev. {2:26} And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations
He that overcomes.
Rev. {2:17} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it.]
To him that overcomes.
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.
He that overcomes.
Rev. {2:7} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
To him that overcomes.
1 John {4:4} Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Have overcome them.
1 John {5:5} Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
He that overcomes.
1 John {5:4} For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.
Overcomes the world.
1 John {2:14} I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one
Overcome the wicked one.
Ro. {12:21} Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Overcome evil.
Dictonary-
overcome (o´ver-kùm´) verb
overcame (-kâm´) overcome, overcoming, overcomes verb, transitive
1. To defeat (another) in competition or conflict; conquer. See synonyms at defeat.
2. To prevail over; surmount: tried to overcome the obstacles of poverty.
3. To overpower, as with emotion; affect deeply.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
To prevail over.
Dictionary-
prevail (prî-vâl´) verb, intransitive
prevailed, prevailing, prevails
1.To be greater in strength or influence; triumph: prevailed against great odds.
2.To be or become effective; win out: hoped justice would prevail.
3.To be most common or frequent; be predominant: a region where snow and ice prevail.
4.To be in force, use, or effect; be current: an ancient tradition that still prevails.
5.To use persuasion or inducement successfully. Often used with on, upon, or with. See synonyms at persuade.
[Middle English prevailen, from Old French prevaloir, prevaill-, from Latin praevalêre, to be stronger : prae-, pre- + valêre, to be strong.]
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
To be greater in strength or influence; triumph: prevailed against great odds.
*******
To overcome, there has to be a fight, a situation to overcome in order to overcome, right? To prevail against someone or something there has to be something or someone to prevail over. We know who and what we are to prevail over, to overcome don't we?
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.]
We are to overcome principalities, powers, rulers of darkness in the world, spiritual wickedness in high places. We are to overcome evil.
We are to overcome and it is our faith that has us overcoming. Our faith in God alone is our hope.
We are to overcome and the only way to overcome is through Christ, through faith in Christ. The life we live is full of hardship, full of pain and full of misery. If your life isn't like this and you're shaking your head saying that your life is fine, then you have to realize that the evil deception that is in Satan's power has to be overcome no matter the shape it takes in our lives. We have to search our hearts and pray like never before to overcome by faith. To overcome evil in way it comes into our lives. Are we selfish? Are we self-righteous? Are we greedy? Are we filled with angry and scorn? Do we struggle with sins of the flesh in a world that proclaims there are no such things as sins of the flesh that all is good and normal? Do we have the need to put ourselves first? Do we give to others so we can reap praise? Or does your pain come from others- those seeking to hurt you emotionally, physically? Do you live in a situation that has you living at the mercy of others whims. Are you constantly manipulated by others? Perhaps you live a life that is filled with goodness and you haven't faced the hardships yet. It's very possible because some live all their lives in a settled way only to have their world turn upside-down on them. There are so many scenarios that we call our lives and in each one we as individuals have to overcome through Christ. We have to overcome through faith in God. We need Christ in us. We need Christ's love in us.
To him that overcomes the promises are given and we only overcome through faith. There is no power of our own that we can overcome with, and if we look to oursevles then we'll fail. We have to ever look to Christ. In Christ alone there is hope, their is life.
May God help us to look to Him, may our faith in Him grow endlessly. Each day no matter what it brings- good or bad - may we give God the glory and praise, the thanksgiving and the love in faith that He alone deserves. By His grace, by His mercy. Through the Holy Spirit's comforting, guiding power.
Amen.
He that overcomes.
Rev. {3:21} To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne
To him that overcomes.
Even as I also overcame.
Rev. {3:12} Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
Him that overcomes.
Rev. {3:5} He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
He that overcomes.
Rev. {2:26} And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations
He that overcomes.
Rev. {2:17} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it.]
To him that overcomes.
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.
He that overcomes.
Rev. {2:7} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
To him that overcomes.
1 John {4:4} Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Have overcome them.
1 John {5:5} Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
He that overcomes.
1 John {5:4} For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.
Overcomes the world.
1 John {2:14} I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one
Overcome the wicked one.
Ro. {12:21} Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Overcome evil.
Dictonary-
overcome (o´ver-kùm´) verb
overcame (-kâm´) overcome, overcoming, overcomes verb, transitive
1. To defeat (another) in competition or conflict; conquer. See synonyms at defeat.
2. To prevail over; surmount: tried to overcome the obstacles of poverty.
3. To overpower, as with emotion; affect deeply.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
To prevail over.
Dictionary-
prevail (prî-vâl´) verb, intransitive
prevailed, prevailing, prevails
1.To be greater in strength or influence; triumph: prevailed against great odds.
2.To be or become effective; win out: hoped justice would prevail.
3.To be most common or frequent; be predominant: a region where snow and ice prevail.
4.To be in force, use, or effect; be current: an ancient tradition that still prevails.
5.To use persuasion or inducement successfully. Often used with on, upon, or with. See synonyms at persuade.
[Middle English prevailen, from Old French prevaloir, prevaill-, from Latin praevalêre, to be stronger : prae-, pre- + valêre, to be strong.]
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
To be greater in strength or influence; triumph: prevailed against great odds.
*******
To overcome, there has to be a fight, a situation to overcome in order to overcome, right? To prevail against someone or something there has to be something or someone to prevail over. We know who and what we are to prevail over, to overcome don't we?
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.]
We are to overcome principalities, powers, rulers of darkness in the world, spiritual wickedness in high places. We are to overcome evil.
We are to overcome and it is our faith that has us overcoming. Our faith in God alone is our hope.
We are to overcome and the only way to overcome is through Christ, through faith in Christ. The life we live is full of hardship, full of pain and full of misery. If your life isn't like this and you're shaking your head saying that your life is fine, then you have to realize that the evil deception that is in Satan's power has to be overcome no matter the shape it takes in our lives. We have to search our hearts and pray like never before to overcome by faith. To overcome evil in way it comes into our lives. Are we selfish? Are we self-righteous? Are we greedy? Are we filled with angry and scorn? Do we struggle with sins of the flesh in a world that proclaims there are no such things as sins of the flesh that all is good and normal? Do we have the need to put ourselves first? Do we give to others so we can reap praise? Or does your pain come from others- those seeking to hurt you emotionally, physically? Do you live in a situation that has you living at the mercy of others whims. Are you constantly manipulated by others? Perhaps you live a life that is filled with goodness and you haven't faced the hardships yet. It's very possible because some live all their lives in a settled way only to have their world turn upside-down on them. There are so many scenarios that we call our lives and in each one we as individuals have to overcome through Christ. We have to overcome through faith in God. We need Christ in us. We need Christ's love in us.
To him that overcomes the promises are given and we only overcome through faith. There is no power of our own that we can overcome with, and if we look to oursevles then we'll fail. We have to ever look to Christ. In Christ alone there is hope, their is life.
May God help us to look to Him, may our faith in Him grow endlessly. Each day no matter what it brings- good or bad - may we give God the glory and praise, the thanksgiving and the love in faith that He alone deserves. By His grace, by His mercy. Through the Holy Spirit's comforting, guiding power.
Amen.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled
John {16:33} These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world.
******* In Christ alone there is peace- no where else. As soon as we begin to believe that we have peace in any other way we'll be proven wrong. Maybe we won't be proven wrong in that first moment or even that first day or month, or even year but any peace built outside of Christ is temporary. When we are caught up in that peace we've manufactured outside of Christ it's deceptive and powerful in that deception because when it slips away whether gradually or in the space of mere moments, we are left despairing, our hearts aching and desolate and we turn around and blame the very one whose peace we are to cling to and not any of our own. Christ didn't lie, He couldn't lie. He told us we would have tribulation in the world.
Dict. tribulation (trîb´ye-lâ´shen) noun
1. Great affliction, trial, or distress; suffering: the tribulations of the persecuted. See synonyms at trial.
2. An experience that tests one's endurance, patience, or faith.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
He told us we'd have tribulation in the world- we'd have great afflictions, great trials, great distress, great suffering. That doesn't sound very pleasant does it? It sounds rather uninviting if you want to be truthful. Christ isn't trying to deceive us, He couldn't there is no deception in Him. It's Satan who likes us to blame God for life and it's many horrific hardships. Christ tells us that we will have these horrific hardships but we are to be of good cheer? Why? Because He overcame the world. Christ overcame Satan and the hardships and because He overcame we too will overcome through Him and Him alone. So while we may be buffetted about by all the heartache and pain the world has to offer, our only hope is found in Christ's overcoming- not ours but His and us through Him.
John {14:27} Peace I leave with
you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give
I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid.
Christ's peace is left with us, not the peace of the world, but Christ's peace is given to us- it's only in Christ's peace that we can let our heart release the trouble in it, only in Christ's peace that we can let the fear in our hearts go.
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world.
******* In Christ alone there is peace- no where else. As soon as we begin to believe that we have peace in any other way we'll be proven wrong. Maybe we won't be proven wrong in that first moment or even that first day or month, or even year but any peace built outside of Christ is temporary. When we are caught up in that peace we've manufactured outside of Christ it's deceptive and powerful in that deception because when it slips away whether gradually or in the space of mere moments, we are left despairing, our hearts aching and desolate and we turn around and blame the very one whose peace we are to cling to and not any of our own. Christ didn't lie, He couldn't lie. He told us we would have tribulation in the world.
Dict. tribulation (trîb´ye-lâ´shen) noun
1. Great affliction, trial, or distress; suffering: the tribulations of the persecuted. See synonyms at trial.
2. An experience that tests one's endurance, patience, or faith.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
He told us we'd have tribulation in the world- we'd have great afflictions, great trials, great distress, great suffering. That doesn't sound very pleasant does it? It sounds rather uninviting if you want to be truthful. Christ isn't trying to deceive us, He couldn't there is no deception in Him. It's Satan who likes us to blame God for life and it's many horrific hardships. Christ tells us that we will have these horrific hardships but we are to be of good cheer? Why? Because He overcame the world. Christ overcame Satan and the hardships and because He overcame we too will overcome through Him and Him alone. So while we may be buffetted about by all the heartache and pain the world has to offer, our only hope is found in Christ's overcoming- not ours but His and us through Him.
John {14:27} Peace I leave with
you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give
I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid.
Christ's peace is left with us, not the peace of the world, but Christ's peace is given to us- it's only in Christ's peace that we can let our heart release the trouble in it, only in Christ's peace that we can let the fear in our hearts go.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Our imperfect love reaches out for His perfect love
Love me.
Words we hear, words we say, words we think all the time. Love me. We want to be loved. We imagine love is something amazing and special, something that will protect us to the best of its ability, something that will be there for us no matter what, something we can count on, something special, something that makes us unique. How often does love let us down? How often do we have expectations of love that fall apart? How often do we feel secure in that love and it lets us down. People are hurt by love all the time. People give their all and end up broken hearted. Why does that happen? Is it love letting people down or rather people letting love down?
Seriously. Love is something so amazing. Most parents have it for children and yet even parents have let love down.
The concept of love is a real one, one that we fantasize about, one that we apsire to or not. People write about it, read about it, make movies about it, dream of it, and love is always something really special- that special one either we're looking for it or we're wanting to be special to someone or both. Love. We want loving parents, loving friends, loving partners, loving children, we want this and yet inevitably love gets twisted. We equate love with trust and then we feel betrayed when the trust is broken. We want to find love and be loved and we can only find real true love in one place and it's not in another human being who can twist love into something that resembles love but misses the mark.
Ever wonder how so many people can love their pets? Pets are more trustworthy than humans aren't they? They seldom betray the love we give them and when they do it's excuseable because they are only animals and they don't know any better- humans are supposed to know better.
God wants to be loved and He knew as sinners it was beyond us to love Him with that perfect love so He sent His Son, He sent perfect love to us to reveal Himself to us and give us a chance to accept that love, to embrace that perfect love into our lives, to cling to that perfect love so that perfect love can be our perfect love for Him because we can't love Him perfectly on our own.
Ex. {20:6} And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Deut. {5:10} And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
Prov. {8:17} I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
John {8:42} Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of
myself, but he sent me.
John {10:17} Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
John {14:15} If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John {14:23} Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto
him, and make our abode with him. {14:24} He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. {14:25} These things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with you. {14:26} But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. {14:27} Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. {14:28} Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. {14:29} And now I have told you before it
come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. {14:30} Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. {14:31} But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
If we love Jesus we will keep His words which are God's words. The Comforter- the Holy Ghost is given to us to teach us everything, to bring things to our remembrance, everything Jesus has said. It's important we read the Bible, that we read all of what Jesus has said.
Love. Our imperfect love reaches out for His perfect love.
Please Lord.
By Your mercy, by Your grace, by Your love.
Amen.
Words we hear, words we say, words we think all the time. Love me. We want to be loved. We imagine love is something amazing and special, something that will protect us to the best of its ability, something that will be there for us no matter what, something we can count on, something special, something that makes us unique. How often does love let us down? How often do we have expectations of love that fall apart? How often do we feel secure in that love and it lets us down. People are hurt by love all the time. People give their all and end up broken hearted. Why does that happen? Is it love letting people down or rather people letting love down?
Seriously. Love is something so amazing. Most parents have it for children and yet even parents have let love down.
The concept of love is a real one, one that we fantasize about, one that we apsire to or not. People write about it, read about it, make movies about it, dream of it, and love is always something really special- that special one either we're looking for it or we're wanting to be special to someone or both. Love. We want loving parents, loving friends, loving partners, loving children, we want this and yet inevitably love gets twisted. We equate love with trust and then we feel betrayed when the trust is broken. We want to find love and be loved and we can only find real true love in one place and it's not in another human being who can twist love into something that resembles love but misses the mark.
Ever wonder how so many people can love their pets? Pets are more trustworthy than humans aren't they? They seldom betray the love we give them and when they do it's excuseable because they are only animals and they don't know any better- humans are supposed to know better.
God wants to be loved and He knew as sinners it was beyond us to love Him with that perfect love so He sent His Son, He sent perfect love to us to reveal Himself to us and give us a chance to accept that love, to embrace that perfect love into our lives, to cling to that perfect love so that perfect love can be our perfect love for Him because we can't love Him perfectly on our own.
Ex. {20:6} And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Deut. {5:10} And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
Prov. {8:17} I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
John {8:42} Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of
myself, but he sent me.
John {10:17} Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
John {14:15} If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John {14:23} Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto
him, and make our abode with him. {14:24} He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. {14:25} These things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with you. {14:26} But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. {14:27} Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. {14:28} Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. {14:29} And now I have told you before it
come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. {14:30} Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. {14:31} But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
If we love Jesus we will keep His words which are God's words. The Comforter- the Holy Ghost is given to us to teach us everything, to bring things to our remembrance, everything Jesus has said. It's important we read the Bible, that we read all of what Jesus has said.
Love. Our imperfect love reaches out for His perfect love.
Please Lord.
By Your mercy, by Your grace, by Your love.
Amen.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
We Can't Be Ashamed of Christ
Luke
{19:10} For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
{19:11} And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the
kingdom of God should immediately appear.
{19:12} He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
{19:13} And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
{19:14} But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this [man] to reign over us.
{19:15} And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
{19:16} Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
{19:17} And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten
cities.
{19:18} And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
{19:19} And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
{19:20} And another came, saying, Lord, behold, [here is] thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin
{19:21} For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
{19:22} And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, [thou] wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow
{19:23} Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
{19:24} And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give [it] to him that hath ten pounds.
{19:25} (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
{19:26} For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken
away from him.
{19:27} But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay [them] before me.
*******
Christ went away to receive a kingdom with the plan of returning.
Before He went away He told His followers to take that which He'd given to them and to take care of it for Him doing what He'd want them to do with it, what He'd do with it.
Those that weren't His followers hated Him and made sure all around knew that they hated Him and wanted nothing to do with Him or the followers of Him.
Then it came to pass that He returned as promised, having done all He set out to do.
Back from where He'd gone, Christ called His servants to Him. Christ wanted to know what His servants had done with the commission He'd given them.
The first follower told Him he'd done well with the commission He'd given them. He went out and multiplied it, gaining, adding to, making more.
The second follower told Him he'd he'd done well with the commission given to him, not as well as the first one but he'd done what he could.
The third follower told Him that he didn't do anything but kept the commission safe.
Christ was pleased with the first two followers but not the third. He at least wanted the third servant to put the commission to use to earn more against it even it if wasn't much. The last thing He wanted was to hide the commission. If the commission wasn't going to be put to use He at least wanted it in a place that it could naturally earn usury, get interest on the commission.
Christ wants us - His followers not to hide our commission and what is that commission? To be His and not ashamed.
Mark {8:38} Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels
We can't hide our Christianity and I'm not talking about those who hide it to stay alive and witness in other ways and even then they don't deny it ultimately. If we are Christians and NO ONE knows we are Christians what does that mean? Are we hiding the commission given us by Christ? Are we hiding the one talent given to us to hold onto until Christ returns? Are was ashamed of being Christ's? Are we afraid of revealing the talent given even to the point of letting it earn interest for Christ. Not everyone can be bold and speak up, believe me I know. Some are speechless, some are timid, some scared, others just don't want to appear different but would rather fit in with things. No matter how or why, laziness or fearfulness, if we aren't noticeably Christians we are hiding the commission given to us by Christ. If no one else knows we are Christians we are ashamed of that fact. If we don't preach Christ's salvation and His second coming, we are ashamed. No, we all aren't called to be evangelists, or preachers, or teachers, but we are all called to be Christ's and not to be ashamed of that. When we are not ashamed we are noticeably Christians and any that notice that in even the smallest of ways earns interest for Christ and when He returns we will be able to say that we were His boldly as we could be letting others know because we weren't ashamed and that alone in some small way was able to produce an interest on the commission we were given.
We can't hide the talent given us, the commission given to us. We can't be ashamed of Christ. We need to ask ourselves if we are hiding and ashamed, it's a serious question to ask, one of the most serious because Christ will no longer call us His if we are ashamed and if we hide what He's given us, if we hide the salvation we've received in Him.
May the Lord Jesus Christ through His mercy and grace give us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. May the Holy Spirit dwell in us and Christ's Righteousness fill us producing in us for Him what we cannot produce ourselves. Through Christ and His power, His love now and always.
Amen.
{19:10} For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
{19:11} And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the
kingdom of God should immediately appear.
{19:12} He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
{19:13} And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
{19:14} But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this [man] to reign over us.
{19:15} And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
{19:16} Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
{19:17} And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten
cities.
{19:18} And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
{19:19} And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
{19:20} And another came, saying, Lord, behold, [here is] thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin
{19:21} For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
{19:22} And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, [thou] wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow
{19:23} Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
{19:24} And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give [it] to him that hath ten pounds.
{19:25} (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
{19:26} For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken
away from him.
{19:27} But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay [them] before me.
*******
Christ went away to receive a kingdom with the plan of returning.
Before He went away He told His followers to take that which He'd given to them and to take care of it for Him doing what He'd want them to do with it, what He'd do with it.
Those that weren't His followers hated Him and made sure all around knew that they hated Him and wanted nothing to do with Him or the followers of Him.
Then it came to pass that He returned as promised, having done all He set out to do.
Back from where He'd gone, Christ called His servants to Him. Christ wanted to know what His servants had done with the commission He'd given them.
The first follower told Him he'd done well with the commission He'd given them. He went out and multiplied it, gaining, adding to, making more.
The second follower told Him he'd he'd done well with the commission given to him, not as well as the first one but he'd done what he could.
The third follower told Him that he didn't do anything but kept the commission safe.
Christ was pleased with the first two followers but not the third. He at least wanted the third servant to put the commission to use to earn more against it even it if wasn't much. The last thing He wanted was to hide the commission. If the commission wasn't going to be put to use He at least wanted it in a place that it could naturally earn usury, get interest on the commission.
Christ wants us - His followers not to hide our commission and what is that commission? To be His and not ashamed.
Mark {8:38} Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels
We can't hide our Christianity and I'm not talking about those who hide it to stay alive and witness in other ways and even then they don't deny it ultimately. If we are Christians and NO ONE knows we are Christians what does that mean? Are we hiding the commission given us by Christ? Are we hiding the one talent given to us to hold onto until Christ returns? Are was ashamed of being Christ's? Are we afraid of revealing the talent given even to the point of letting it earn interest for Christ. Not everyone can be bold and speak up, believe me I know. Some are speechless, some are timid, some scared, others just don't want to appear different but would rather fit in with things. No matter how or why, laziness or fearfulness, if we aren't noticeably Christians we are hiding the commission given to us by Christ. If no one else knows we are Christians we are ashamed of that fact. If we don't preach Christ's salvation and His second coming, we are ashamed. No, we all aren't called to be evangelists, or preachers, or teachers, but we are all called to be Christ's and not to be ashamed of that. When we are not ashamed we are noticeably Christians and any that notice that in even the smallest of ways earns interest for Christ and when He returns we will be able to say that we were His boldly as we could be letting others know because we weren't ashamed and that alone in some small way was able to produce an interest on the commission we were given.
We can't hide the talent given us, the commission given to us. We can't be ashamed of Christ. We need to ask ourselves if we are hiding and ashamed, it's a serious question to ask, one of the most serious because Christ will no longer call us His if we are ashamed and if we hide what He's given us, if we hide the salvation we've received in Him.
May the Lord Jesus Christ through His mercy and grace give us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. May the Holy Spirit dwell in us and Christ's Righteousness fill us producing in us for Him what we cannot produce ourselves. Through Christ and His power, His love now and always.
Amen.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
All wisdom and spiritual understanding
Col.
{1:8} Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
{1:9} For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it,] do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding
And desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
Filled with the knowledge of his will. Don't we long for this? To know God's will for us? We pray Your will be done Lord, Your will no matter what it might be and yet in the back of our minds we are adding things like, 'but please, don't let this happen', or 'please, let this happen.' We want God's will to be done but we want it to match our own will. Sure we might not mind a little hardship, a few obstacles, a bit of angst to deal with but those huge monster problems we could do without, right? Yet, nevertheless not our will but Your will be done. We are willing to accept the horrific trials and by the grace of God keep our faith that no matter what we are asked to go through we believe that Jesus loves us, died for us and through the hope we place in Him and His righteousness we will be saved to eternal life in Him. We truly want to be fill with the knowledge of God's will. Show me thy will. We pray for that and yet sometimes perhaps as God is showing us we close our eyes because it's not our will, it's not what we want. That old saying- be careful what you ask/wish for you might get it- holds true. Rejecting the will of God has consequences. Jonah tried to reject the will of God and look what happened to Him. Others rejected the will of God and their fate is worse- it's death. There isn't any way to know what the outcome will be, whether the will of God will keep being pressed to you so you'll do it, or whether God will find another to do for Him what you won't. We do pray for the will of God, to be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding because we hope that we will see the wisdom and have such spiritual understanding that we won't doubt what is being revealed to us. Doubt is our enemy but we call it our smart side that gives us caution and keeps us from doing foolish things. Doubt, that small voice or that screaming banshee of a voice that keeps us from understanding the will of God. Yes, we need wisdom, we need spiritual understanding because with the wisdom we will know what to do and with the spiritual understanding we will recognize the will of God and we will follow Him and all His ways.
Col.
{1:8} Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
{1:9} For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it,] do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding
{1:10} That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
{1:11} Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness
{1:12} Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light
{1:13} Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son
{1:14} In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins
{1:15} Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature
{1:16} For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him
{1:17} And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
{1:18} And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have
the preeminence.
{1:19} For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell
{1:20} And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say,] whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven.
{1:21} And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
{1:22} In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight
{1:23} If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister
{1:24} Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church
{1:25} Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
{1:26} [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints
{1:27} To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
{1:28} Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus {1:29} Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
To whom God would make known what the riches of the glory of this mystery among Gentiles which is Christ in you- the hope of glory. Whom we preach warning every men and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
The will of God. Spiritual understanding, wisdom, the will of God preached to EVERY man Jesus, the hope of glory. Warning EVERY man so that every man is perfect in Christ Jesus.
We have a duty to warn and to preach, those of us who are Christ's. We have a duty to warn them of the peril they are in if they are not in Christ. We have a duty to preach Christ Jesus the hope of all men, the hope of glory- Christ in us.
May we be given wisdom and spiritual understanding to know the will of God and to follow the will of God. May we preach and warn those we meet of the hope in Christ in them. Bless us Lord, be the voice we can't be, help us Lord, help us. Lord we believe, help thou our unbelief. Lord we need you desperately our willl is weak and our knowledge small. Please Lord we are weak, and You are strong, You are our Hope in glory, You, Christ Jesus our Lord, our only Hope now and forever.
Amen.
{1:8} Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
{1:9} For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it,] do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding
And desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
Filled with the knowledge of his will. Don't we long for this? To know God's will for us? We pray Your will be done Lord, Your will no matter what it might be and yet in the back of our minds we are adding things like, 'but please, don't let this happen', or 'please, let this happen.' We want God's will to be done but we want it to match our own will. Sure we might not mind a little hardship, a few obstacles, a bit of angst to deal with but those huge monster problems we could do without, right? Yet, nevertheless not our will but Your will be done. We are willing to accept the horrific trials and by the grace of God keep our faith that no matter what we are asked to go through we believe that Jesus loves us, died for us and through the hope we place in Him and His righteousness we will be saved to eternal life in Him. We truly want to be fill with the knowledge of God's will. Show me thy will. We pray for that and yet sometimes perhaps as God is showing us we close our eyes because it's not our will, it's not what we want. That old saying- be careful what you ask/wish for you might get it- holds true. Rejecting the will of God has consequences. Jonah tried to reject the will of God and look what happened to Him. Others rejected the will of God and their fate is worse- it's death. There isn't any way to know what the outcome will be, whether the will of God will keep being pressed to you so you'll do it, or whether God will find another to do for Him what you won't. We do pray for the will of God, to be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding because we hope that we will see the wisdom and have such spiritual understanding that we won't doubt what is being revealed to us. Doubt is our enemy but we call it our smart side that gives us caution and keeps us from doing foolish things. Doubt, that small voice or that screaming banshee of a voice that keeps us from understanding the will of God. Yes, we need wisdom, we need spiritual understanding because with the wisdom we will know what to do and with the spiritual understanding we will recognize the will of God and we will follow Him and all His ways.
Col.
{1:8} Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
{1:9} For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it,] do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding
{1:10} That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
{1:11} Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness
{1:12} Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light
{1:13} Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son
{1:14} In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins
{1:15} Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature
{1:16} For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him
{1:17} And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
{1:18} And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have
the preeminence.
{1:19} For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell
{1:20} And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say,] whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven.
{1:21} And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
{1:22} In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight
{1:23} If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister
{1:24} Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church
{1:25} Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
{1:26} [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints
{1:27} To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
{1:28} Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus {1:29} Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
To whom God would make known what the riches of the glory of this mystery among Gentiles which is Christ in you- the hope of glory. Whom we preach warning every men and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
The will of God. Spiritual understanding, wisdom, the will of God preached to EVERY man Jesus, the hope of glory. Warning EVERY man so that every man is perfect in Christ Jesus.
We have a duty to warn and to preach, those of us who are Christ's. We have a duty to warn them of the peril they are in if they are not in Christ. We have a duty to preach Christ Jesus the hope of all men, the hope of glory- Christ in us.
May we be given wisdom and spiritual understanding to know the will of God and to follow the will of God. May we preach and warn those we meet of the hope in Christ in them. Bless us Lord, be the voice we can't be, help us Lord, help us. Lord we believe, help thou our unbelief. Lord we need you desperately our willl is weak and our knowledge small. Please Lord we are weak, and You are strong, You are our Hope in glory, You, Christ Jesus our Lord, our only Hope now and forever.
Amen.
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