Every Eye Shall See Him

*******

Revelation
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 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. 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; 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, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
Amen.

...

'Behold,
he cometh with clouds'


(((Look! Look!


Behold- Dictionary Meaning - verb, intransitive - Used in the imperative for the purpose of calling attention.


Attention! Look at this! Jesus comes with clouds! - Imagery. The Bible uses imagery. The Bible uses mysteries and words that may mean one thing will mean another especially in prophecy. The Bible interprets itself though. It's not some master puzzle without a master key. The key is within the puzzle itself. When we talk of Jesus coming with clouds it is true that perhaps He will be in the clouds, on the clouds, clouds those vaporous puffs and wisps, the angry full dark gray bodies of pure moisture are all at Jesus' command. So sure, the imagery of Jesus standing upon a cloud using it as a magic carpet of sorts is possible, but so too is this- Matthew {25:31} 'When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him...' Angels! We know Jesus will return and call His people to Him while He's in the air with ALL the holy angels, perhaps they're all upon the misty clouds but truly they do not need to rest upon vapors, do they? Clouds and angels, just the image of Jesus returning is amazing! This next bit is amazing too...))))


'and every eye shall see him.'


(((The eyes of people awake? The eyes of people on one location upon the earth? The eyes of a few? The eyes of only His chosen people? No, no, no, and no.


EVERY eye shall see him! EVERY!

every (èv´rê) adjective
Constituting each and all members of a group without exception.


EVERY eye shall see him! How will this be possible with the whole round earth thing where daylight shines upon only one side at a time? A mystery for sure and one that I hope and pray I'm alive in Jesus to see!


Get this though- not only every eye of the living but read on...))))

'and they also which pierced him'


(((Wait! Does this mean what I think it means? Who pierced Jesus? Who killed Him? Some might argue and could be right, that we all played our part in His death with our sins. Our sins killed Jesus because He died to save us from our sins, all of us. He wouldn't have died if we'd not sinned. So even if the arguing person chooses that scenario that we ALL killed Him, we all pierced Him that just reinforces the fact that every eye shall see Him doesn't it? It does. It could also be stressing the point that those who are dead- those who actually physically pierced His hands, His feet, His side will be brought to life just to see Him return triumphant. Mysteries.))))

...

'and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.
Even so,
Amen.'


(((ALL kindreds...

kindred (kîn´drîd) noun
1.A group of related persons, as a clan or tribe.
2.(used with a pl. verb). A person's relatives; kinfolk.

adjective
1. Of the same ancestry or family: kindred clans.
2. Having a similar or related origin, nature, or character: kindred emotions.


All kindreds, all of the earth... shall wail?! Wait! Jesus has returned and everyone is wailing?! How can that be. We know that God's chosen people who are waiting for His return should be happy, they should be rejoicing so how can everyone wail? It doesn't mean EVERYONE on earth does it? But... read this...


John {17:14} 'I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. {17:15} I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. {17:16} They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. {17:17} Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. {17:18} As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.'


'THEY ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD'


1 John {2:15} 'Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. {2:16} For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. {2:17} And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.'


Is it possible all kindreds of the earth are those who claim the earth as their own; those who love this world and live for this world and not the world to come? Those who aren't God's are this world's they are ruled by the lust of the flesh, the eyes, by pride of life. All those who have put their hopes and dreams, their love into this world's existence counting on the things this world has to offer for their happiness will be sorely disappointed when Jesus returns, won't they? When they realize that it's all true, that Jesus, the Son of God is real and all His promises are real. There will be wailing and I imagine quite a lot of wailing.))))


By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we be with Him now and forever!

Amen!

John to the seven churches

John to the seven churches


(((Seven churches. Biblically the number seven is used many, many times. It was used in the beginning of the Bible- God made the world and all that was in it in seven days. God made the seventh day a memorial for eternity. Our lives are still influenced by the seven day week and will be forever.

'The first pages of the Bible explain how God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. This seventh day became the Jewish day of rest, the sabbath, Saturday.

Extra-biblical locations sometimes mentioned as the birthplace of the 7-day week include: Babylon, Persia, and several others. The week was known in Rome before the advent of Christianity. -- http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/week.html#anchor-origin'

With seven denoting in a sense completeness - of perfection it truly is perfect for indicating the beginning and the end of the prophecy.


Sevens in the Bible

Seven days of creation
Genesis 1

Seven days for Noah to fill the Ark
Genesis 7:4-10

Seven years Jacob serves for each wife
Genesis 28:18-20; 29:27-30

Seven good and seven famine years in Egypt
Genesis 41

Seven days the waters turn to blood
Exodus 7:25

Seven lamps of the Menorah
Exodus 25:37

Seven feasts of Israel
Leviticus 23

Seven years of the sabbatical year
Leviticus 25:4

Seven times seven to the jubilee year
Leviticus 25:8

Seven priests with seven trumpets circle Jericho seven times
Joshua 6

Solomon spent seven years building the temple
1 Kings 6:38

Daniel’s seventy sevens prophecy
Daniel 9:24-27

Seventy years in Babylonian exile
Jeremiah 25:11-12

Seven loaves fed the 4,000, seven baskets are leftover
Matthew 15:32-39

Seven deacons in the early church
Acts 6:5

Seven miracles in the gospel of John
John

Seven discourses in the gospel of John
John

Seven “I am” statements in the gospel of John
John

Paul sent letters to seven different churches
Paul’s epistles

Seven churches in Revelation
Revelation 2,3

Seven promises, seals, trumpets, angels, plagues, bowls etc
Revelation

Seven promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
Genesis

Seven miracles on the Sabbath
Gospels

Seven sayings of Jesus from the cross
Gospels

Seven appearances of angels
Gospels and Acts

Seven elements of the armor of God
Ephesians 6:14-18

http://www.windmillministries.org/frames/CH27-3A.htm

Yes, the number seven is a number of completeness and we can easily understand that while Christ chose to give God's Revelation through His angel to John to go to seven churches it would be a message for all time as well. The fulness of history from that point on. Seriously, the revelation would be complete and that means a revelation for all of God's servants through time. The blessing given to all who read, hear, and keep the words within are for all- for you and for me. The blessings were for those living in that time as well. Knowing this we have to read these words and pray for a clear understanding to be blessed with all that we need to hear and keep.))))

...
John to the seven churches


(((Churches- a church Biblically is what? A building? No. The church essentially is God's people, period. It's not a building erected and named. God's people in each of these places are being addressed. We could also say, God's people in each of these times are being addressed. God's people- His church.))))

...

which are in Asia
Grace be unto you
and peace
from him
which is
and which was
and which is to come

(((Grace and peace- this is all God has ever wanted for us, His people, isn't it? His grace to cover their sins, His peace which isn't of this world but a peace in knowing Him and Him knowing us. 'John {14:27} Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you' Grace and peace from HIM which is, which was, and which is to come. God. 'John {17:1} These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee', '{17:9} I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. {17:10} And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.' We are all God's. We are God's- Jesus even said so.))))

...

and from the seven Spirits
which are before his throne


(((From the perfect Spirit- seven the perfect completeness of Spirit. Seven churches- the complete church. Seven Spirits- the complete Spirit.))))

...

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
And hath made us kings and priests unto God
and his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.


(((From Jesus Christ. The faithful witness. The first begotten of the dead- the first begotten- Jesus was the first begotten of His kind wasn't He? Think about it. The Son of God. There was no other Son of God that took on humanity. Jesus was the first begotten in the manner He was begotten and yes- the first begotten and the only one by whom the dead - those promised death through sin- will live again. The dead will find life in the first begotten. Jesus truly is the first begotten of the dead- we only find life in Christ.

'The prince of the kings of the earth.' Jesus is the ultimate prince of all the kings. There is no other prince of the kings of the earth but Jesus- He reigns.

'Unto him that loved us.' No other has ever loved us like Jesus- no other!

'and washed us from our sins in his own blood.' Only Jesus the innocent Son of God could cleanse us from our sins by His amazing sacrifice. By His blood we are freed from sin.

'And hath made us kings and priests unto God' We are to serve God as His kings, his priests, we are God's through Jesus!

'And His Father! To him be the Glory! And dominion!

Forever and ever!

Amen.))))

...

Amen.

Rev. 1:1

Rev. 1:1


The Revelation of Jesus Christ
which God gave unto him
to shew unto his servants
things which must
shortly
come to pass

(((God gave this revelation to Jesus to show to his followers- his servants. --


Servants-

Col. {4:12} Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ
Titus {1:1} Paul, a servant of God
James {1:1} James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
2 Pet.{1:1} Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ
Jude {1:1} Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ
1 Cor.{7:22} For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant
Matthew {20:27} And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: {20:28} Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Matthew {23:11} But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
John {15:20} Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord.


(((God gave this revelation to Jesus to show it to His servants, us, we who are reading trying to understand, we who are followers of Christ seeking to serve Him, and to serve others for Him. We are being shown things and these things MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS.


We are being shown things that will come to pass without a doubt. Things that WILL happen. There are certainties in life, a lot of them. There are positives in life. If you mix sugar with water without a doubt that sugar will dissolve. It's a positive. There are things which are positives and nothing can alter them, nothing. We can't hold back time it marches on whether we want it to or not- that's a positive. It's a must. When God says something MUST come to pass it's a certainty, it's a positive, it's inevitable.


So from the time the revelation was given to Jesus by God to give to us, given to the angel by Jesus to give to John, and from the moment John's pen hit the page and the word was sent out to the people, those things written were to come to pass from that moment on.


The revelation came to us shrouded in mystery. We couldn't be told things straight out as if one person was instructing another, things had to be done in cryptic manners so that the message would be pertinent to ALL that would follow- to ALL of Christ's servants throughout time until He returns to take us to Heaven.


The mystery had to be such that it wasn't impossible to comprehend, but that time would unfold it as necessary, preparing all of Christ's servants.


That these things we are to see MUST shortly come to pass means what?


What is shortly to God?


Shortly as opposed to eternity when we're dealing with the end of chances for all of mankind to be Christ's servants is in truth very short. When all those that will be saved are saved and all that will not be saved are not saved, then Jesus will return and the short time from His return to life and to heaven will be over- it's not something to rush even if it has to be short. You might have a short bit of time to accomplish something but you don't have to rush to make the time even shorter.


When we as humans are faced with a chance to save lives in one profession or another- fireman, policeman, coastguard, doctors, etc.. and there are many people needing to be saved all at once- the regret felt when time runs out and many people are left dead because time ran out, is immense. The sorrow is overpowering and the wish that time had just stretched out somehow long enough to save everyone is a wish that is truly felt and yet a wish that cannot come true.


Time will run out for people, for mankind, and yes, all will have had a chance to choose to serve Christ or not, to be counted Jesus' servants or not counted among them. Jesus believes time is short because He would not want to lose one person not one!


Time is the shortest when you run out of it, isn't it?

Wrath and Righteousness

Rev. {19:15} And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword,
that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule
them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.


(Noah Webster's Dictionary http://refbible.com/w/wrath.htm

1. (a.) Violent anger; vehement exasperation; indignation; rage; fury; ire.

2. (n.) The effects of anger or indignation; the just punishment of an offense or a crime.

3. (a.) See Wroth.

4. (v. t.) To anger; to enrage; -- also used impersonally.

Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia

WRATH, (ANGER)

rath, roth, rath ('aph, from 'anaph, "to snort," "to be angry"; orge, thumos, orgizomai): Designates various degrees of feeling, such as sadness (Psalm 85:4), a frown or turning away of the face in grief or anger (2 Chronicles 26:19 Jeremiah 3:12), indignation (Psalm 38:3), bitterness (Judges 18:25), fury (Esther 1:12), full of anger (Genesis 4:5 John 7:23), snorting mad (Genesis 27:45 Matthew 2:16).

1. Divine Wrath:

Wrath is used with reference to both God and man. When used of God it is to be understood that there is the complete absence of that caprice and unethical quality so prominent in the anger attributed to the gods of the heathen and to man. The divine wrath is to be regarded as the natural expression of the divine nature, which is absolute holiness, manifesting itself against the willful, high-handed, deliberate, inexcusable sin and iniquity of mankind. God's wrath is always regarded in the Scripture as the just, proper, and natural expression of His holiness and righteousness which must always, under all circumstances, and at all costs be maintained. It is therefore a righteous indignation and compatible with the holy and righteous nature of God (Numbers 11:1-10 Deuteronomy 29:27 2 Samuel 6:7 Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 42:25 Jeremiah 44:6 Psalm 79:6). The element of love and compassion is always closely connected with God's anger; if we rightly estimate the divine anger we must unhesitatingly pronounce it to be but the expression and measure of that love (compare Jeremiah 10:24 Ezekiel 23 Amos 3:2).)

***

Rev. {6:16} And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and
hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and
from the wrath of the Lamb: {6:17} For the great day of his
wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?


Rev. {11:18} And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come,
and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and
that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the
prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name,
small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy
the earth.


Rev. {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.


Rev. {14:8} And
there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is
fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of
the wine of the wrath of her fornication. {14:9} And the
third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any
man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his]
mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev. {14:10} The same shall
drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out
without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall
be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the
holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb


Rev. {14:19} And the angel thrust in his sickle into the
earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into
the great winepress of the wrath of God.


Rev. {15:1} And I saw another sign in heaven, great and
marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for
in them is filled up the wrath of God


Rev. {16:19} And the
great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the
nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before
God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness
of his wrath.


Rev. {15:7} And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven
angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who
liveth for ever and ever.


{16:1} And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying
to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of
the wrath of God upon the earth


Rev. {18:2} And he cried mightily with
a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen,
and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every
foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
{18:3} For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath
of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have
committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the
earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her
delicacies.


***


People get angry and the majority of the time they believe the anger is righteous. When the blood gets boiling, the emotions start to rise, that feeling of fury fills a person they start to say things they often regret. No one likes when anger is directed towards them, it makes them want to respond in kind. Anger is destructive in so many ways. So many crimes are committed from anger. Is there a righteous anger? Yes, we've all felt it, but then again as already mentioned most people believe their anger is justified, that it's righteous.


I've been guilty many times over of unrighteous anger, an anger I feel that seems to have little cause, no rhyme or reason. I've lashed out at people for no reason other than the anger in me. Anger can be a problem for a lot of people, I know it has been for me.


God's anger is righteous. God's wrath is justified.


Just as we know how it is to have an anger that is righteous- the anger of a mother whose child has been intentionally hurt by another person. The anger of a father whose son is murdered by a mugger, these sorts of anger are righteous. God's anger, God's wrath is righteous.


God offers His love, God offers life eternal through the sacrifice of His Son. God is justified in His anger as all that He has to offer to His own creations is rejected. As His creatures believe they are in fact creators. As His creatures believe they are more worthy than their Creator.


There is a sense o betrayal when someone grooms another person helping them attain a status in life that is wonderful only to have that person turn around and reject the very person who has helped them get where they are, the person who was there every step of the way. This is on a human level. The pain of being rejected by someone you've only loved and wanted what was best for them is immense. It's practically incomprehensible that someone could betray the love given to them. If it's like that on a human to human level, creature to creature level, how much more so is it on a Creator, creature level? Where the perfect Creator loves the imperfect creature, rather than imperfect creature betraying imperfect creature. We know that every human being is capable of deception and betrayal, but God is not capable of betrayal or deception. His love is perfect and since the beginning He has offered that love to us- the imperfect creatures. If we return the love He has for us that's all He desires. Yet time and again He's been rejected, the perfect love is betrayed over and over.


To put an end to all the sin in the world. To put an end to the author of lies, the first betrayer and the deception that he's used to deceive countless numbers of people, to end all evil personified it has to be justifiably destroyed. The wrath of God will fall upon the author of evil personified and all those who have joined hands with that author of evil and rightfully so.


Each of us will be on one side or the other, God's or Evil's. The wrath of God will fall on the evil and destroy it completely. How can we escape that wrath? By the love of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, the Son of the Father who makes it possible for us to join with God and His love.


By His mercy and grace may we cling to Him alone who can save us from the wrath deserved. We can't save ourselves, but we can ask Jesus to save us. Jesus will save us, we have to believe that He will, that the power of salvation is real and found in Jesus. In Christ alone we live and in no other way. Believing in Christ this is all we have to do, believe in His power to save us. Once we believe as a result of that believing we live a life in harmony with that belief. Only then is it a true belief. If I say I believe a person will do something and then act as if I don't think they will do that something, do I really believe? No. If we believe Christ is our Salvation then if that belief is real we will live a life that portrays that belief it's a natural outcome of real belief, of real faith. If we say we believe and yet our life doesn't reflect that at all, then is that belief real? Not that we aren't going to struggle, we are! Real belief does not mean perfection in all you do, it means a life surrendered to God's will, and a life that continuously is given over to God's will.


James {2:17} Even
so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. {2:18}
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works:
shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee
my faith by my works. {2:19} Thou believest that there is
one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and
tremble. {2:20} But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith
without works is dead? {2:21} Was not Abraham our father
justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon
the altar? {2:22} Seest thou how faith wrought with his
works, and by works was faith made perfect? {2:23} And
the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed
God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he
was called the Friend of God. {2:24} Ye see then how that
by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. {2:25}
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works,
when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them]
out another way? {2:26} For as the body without the spirit
is dead, so faith without works is dead also.


Faith - believing and yet living as if you don't believe - is no good.


Faith- believing and living as if you do believe - is good.


When one believes they live in that belief. And like the one man who wanted Jesus to heal his sick son, Jesus asked if he believed, and the man cried out that he did believe but he didn't stop there... he added... help thou my unbelief!


We are caught up in a world that would have us not live as a result of our belief in Christ. We struggle daily against the principalities and powers, the wickedness that would keep our belief separate from our living reality. That wicked one doesn't care a whit if we believe as long as the belief isn't one that is truly reflected in our lives. In fact the wicked one rejoices when he finds people who will shout loudly of their belief and at the same time they live as if they don't believe at all.


Faith, hope, believing, and living in that reality and letting our lives reflect that belief is salvation through Christ. The natural outcome of a real belief, a real faith is a life lived in that faith. We must pray that Jesus helps our unbelief, we must pray that our belief results in a life that reflects that belief naturally, unfeigned.


By the mercy and grace of Jesus alone it is possible. May the Holy Spirit guide us, live in us, lead us, may the love of Christ be real in us now and always.


Amen.

Faith, Hope, Love

Luke {17:20} And when he was demanded of the Pharisees,
when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them
and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation
{17:21} Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for,
behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
{17:22} And he
said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall
desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall
not see [it. ]{17:23} And they shall say to you, See here; or,
see there: go not after [them,] nor follow [them.]
{17:24}
For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one [part]
under heaven, shineth unto the other [part] under heaven; so
shall also the Son of man be in his day.
{17:25} But first
must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this
generation.
{17:26} And as it was in the days of Noe, so
shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. {17:27} They
did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in
marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the
flood came, and destroyed them all. {17:28} Likewise also
as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they
bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; {17:29} But
the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and
brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. {17:30}
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is
revealed. {17:31} In that day, he which shall be upon the
housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down
to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise
not return back. {17:32} Remember Lot’s wife.


Luke {21:34} And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time
your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come
upon you unawares. {21:35} For as a snare shall it come on
all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. {21:36}
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be
accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come
to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.


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. {14:22} Judas saith unto him,
not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself
unto us, and not unto the world? {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.



2 Tim. {4:8} Henceforth there is
laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me
only, but unto all them also that love his appearing


2 Tim. {1:12} For the which cause I also suffer these things:
nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have
believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that
which I have committed unto him against that day. {1:13}
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of
me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. {1:14} That
good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the
Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.


1Thess. {5:1} But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have
no need that I write unto you. {5:2} For yourselves know
perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the
night. {5:3} For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then
sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a
woman with child; and they shall not escape. {5:4} But ye,
brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake
you as a thief. {5:5} Ye are all the children of light, and the
children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
{5:6} Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us
watch and be sober. {5:7} For they that sleep sleep in the
night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
{5:8} But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the
breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of
salvation. {5:9} For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but
to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, {5:10} Who
died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live
together with him. {5:11} Wherefore comfort yourselves
together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.


2 Thess {1:3} We are bound to thank God always for you,
brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth
exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward
each other aboundeth; {1:4} So that we ourselves glory in
you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all
your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: {1:5}
[Which is] a manifest token of the righteous judgment of
God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of
God, for which ye also suffer: {1:6} Seeing [it is] a
righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them
that trouble you; {1:7} And to you who are troubled rest
with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven
with his mighty angels, {1:8} In flaming fire taking
vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: {1:9} Who shall be
punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of
the Lord, and from the glory of his power; {1:10} When he
shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in
all them that believe (because our testimony among you was
believed) in that day. {1:11} Wherefore also we pray
always for you, that our God would count you worthy of
[this] calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of [his]
goodness, and the work of faith with power: {1:12} That the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and
ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord
Jesus Christ.


2 Thess. {2:1} Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto
him, {2:2} That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be
troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from
us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. {2:3} Let no man
deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come,]
except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin
be revealed, the son of perdition; {2:4} Who opposeth and
exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is
worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,
shewing himself that he is God. {2:5} Remember ye not,
that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? {2:6}
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be
revealed in his time. {2:7} For the mystery of iniquity doth
already work: only he who now letteth [will let,] until he be
taken out of the way. {2:8} And then shall that Wicked be
revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of
his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his
coming: {2:9} [Even him,] whose coming is after the
working of Satan with all power and signs and lying
wonders, {2:10} And with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received
not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {2:11}
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that
they should believe a lie: {2:12} That they all might be
damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.



By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior may we be found believing in the Truth, believing in all Jesus is, holding fast His ways. Deception will reign and deception by its very nature is something subtle and believable. The only way we won't be deceived is by holding fast to Jesus Christ and the truth He has revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. Let a love of the truth be in us, by the grace of God. We must believe, we must have hope and faith, love of Christ by Him, through Him, all Him!


Amen.

Earnestly Contend!

Jude {1:3} Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto
you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write
unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend
for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.


The common salvation.


Salvation in Jesus Christ and no other.
Salvation through faith in Jesus.
Salvation given to us by the sacrfice of Jesus on the cross.
Salvation undeserved.
Forgiven of sins repented of.
Forgiven of a life carnal.
Forgiven and awakened to the Spiritual.
All through faith.


Can you have salvation without faith?


No.


Jude advises- or rather exhorts- that we should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.


The saints.


Who in the Bible are the saints?

~~
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SAINTS


sants: In the King James Version 3 words are thus rendered:


(1) qadhosh (in Daniel the same root occurs several times in its Aramaic form, qaddish);


(2) chacidh, and


(3) hagioi.


Of these words (2) has in general the meaning of righteousness or goodness, while (1) and (3) have the meaning of consecration and divine claim and ownership. They are not primarily words of character, like chacidh, but express a relation to God as being set apart for His own. Wherever qadhosh refers to angels, the rendering "holy one" or "holy ones" has been substituted in the Revised Version (British and American) for the King James Version "saint" or "saints," which is the case also in Psalm 106:16 margin (compare 34:9), and in 1 Samuel 2:9, as the translation of chacidh.


While hagioi occurs more frequently in the New Testament than does qadhosh in the Old Testament, yet both are applied with practical uniformity to the company of God's people rather than to any individual. Perhaps the rendering "saints" cannot be improved, but it is necessary for the ordinary reader constantly to guard against the idea that New Testament saintship was in any way a result of personal character, and consequently that it implied approval of moral attainment already made. Such a rendering as "consecrate ones," for example, would bring out more clearly the relation to God which is involved, but, besides the fact that it is not a happy translation, it might lead to other errors, for it is not easy to remember that consecration-the setting apart of the individual as one of the company whom God has in a peculiar way as His own-springs not from man, but from God Himself, and that consequently it is in no way something optional, and admits of no degrees of progress, but, on the contrary, is from the beginning absolute duty. It should also be noted that while, as has been said, to be a saint is not directly and primarily to be good but to be set apart by God as His own, yet the godly and holy character ought inevitably and immediately to result. When God consecrates and claims moral beings for Himself and His service, He demands that they should go on to be fit for and worthy of the relation in which He has placed them, and so we read of certain actions as performed "worthily of the saints" (Romans 16:2) and as such "as becometh saints" (Ephesians 5:3). The thought of the holy character of the "saints," which is now so common as almost completely to obscure the real thought of the New Testament writers, already lay in their thinking very close to their conception of saintship as consecration by God to be His own.


David Foster Estes
http://eastonsbibledictionary.com/saints.htm


~


Those set apart by God, holy ones of God.


'...earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.'


Earnestly contending


earnest (ûr´nîst) adjective
1. Marked by or showing deep sincerity or seriousness: an earnest gesture of goodwill.
2. Of an important or weighty nature; grave. See synonyms


contend (ken-tènd´) verb
contended, contending, contends verb, intransitive
1. To strive in opposition or against difficulties; struggle: armies contending for control of strategic territory; had to contend with long lines at the airport.
2. To compete, as in a race; vie.
3. To strive in controversy or debate; dispute


Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary


We should seriously strive against difficulties for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.


Don't throw up the old that's works and we're not saved by works, it said nothing about works. If I labor at something and expect a wage in return then I'm expecting my work to reward me. If I'm striving seriously against anything that would make it difficult for me to have faith does that result in a work? No. If we expect faith to just magically appear maybe we're wrong. Think about it. We are saved by grace through faith, faith is believing, hoping in the unseen. So much in life tries to rip our faith from us. So much tries to take our beliefs away on the basis of not being seen. Mere flights of fancy, of imagination, and nothing more we are told. Yes, we have to earnestly contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints. We do. We can't let anything rip our faith away from us without it we're lost and because faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen, because faith is believing in that unseen hope we have to pray always- Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief! Because doubts will creep in and tear us down. Doubts will rise up and tell us how unworthy we are and urge us to give up hope, to give up believing we can ever hope. It's the doubt we are in contending against, it's the principalities, the powers that are unseen that rail at us constantly and get us to believe in them and not cling to the faith that was once delivered to the saints.


By the grace and mercy of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ now and forever may we earnestly contend for that same faith delivered to the saints and hold fast to that faith.


Amen!

That I may dwell in the house of the LORD

Ps.

{27:4} One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my
life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his
temple.
{27:5} For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in
the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up
upon a rock.


Job.
{38:1} Then the LORD answered Job out of the
whirlwind, and said,

{38:22} Hast thou entered into the treasures of
the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
{38:23} Which I have reserved against the time of trouble,
against the day of battle and war?


Ps. {37:39} But the salvation of the righteous [is] of the LORD: [he is]
their strength in the time of trouble.
{37:40} And the LORD shall help them and deliver them: he shall deliver
them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.


Ps. {41:1} Blessed [is] he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver
him in time of trouble.


Isa. {33:2} O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for
thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in
the time of trouble


Rev. {12:1} And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great
prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and
there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since
there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time
thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found
written in the book.

Rev. {16:17} And the
seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there
came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the
throne, saying, It is done. {16:18} And there were voices,
and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great
earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth,
so mighty an earthquake, [and] so great. {16:19} And the
great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the
nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before
God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness
of his wrath. {16:20} And every island fled away, and the
mountains were not found. {16:21} And there fell upon
men a great hail out of heaven, [every stone] about the
weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the
plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding
great.

*******

Christ is our salvation, our rock.

1 Cor. {10:4} And did all drink the
same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock
that followed them: and that Rock was Christ


Ps. One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my
life


One thing we should ALL desire and seek of the Lord is to dwell with Him in His house all the days of our lives. Dwelling with God is the perfect desire, dwelling with the Lord, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Saviour. Only by His grace is this possible.


There is a time of trouble coming, a terrible time of trouble and God has been prepared for this time for a long, long time. He has a store house of hail in reserve. As sure as anything that has been predicted has transpired, all the rest will.


Ps. {27:5} For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in
the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up
upon a rock.


Only by being in Christ can we survive. Only by being hid by Him in the secret of His tabernacle can we have hope. There is hope only in Christ, the rock, the chief cornerstone. May He hide us all in Him as we cling to the promise of salvation found only in Him, no where else, only in Him.


By His grace and mercy.


Amen.

Sensual or Spiritual.

Jude {1:17} But, beloved, remember ye the words which were
spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
{1:18} How that they told you there should be mockers in
the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
{1:19} These be they who separate themselves, sensual,
having not the Spirit. {1:20} But ye, beloved, building up
yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy
Ghost, {1:21} Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking
for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
{1:22} And of some have compassion, making a difference:
{1:23} And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the
fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
{1:24} Now unto him that is able to keep you from
falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of
his glory with exceeding joy, {1:25} To the only wise God
our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power,
both now and ever. Amen.


Are there mockers today? Many of them, a lot of them.


mock (mòk) verb
mocked, mocking, mocks verb, transitive
1. To treat with ridicule or contempt; deride.
2. a. To mimic, as in sport or derision. See synonyms at ridicule. b. To imitate; counterfeit.
3. To frustrate the hopes of; disappoint.

Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary


Mockers- ridiculers frustrating the hopes of those who would be God's.


Mockers '...who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. {1:19} These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.


Has it ever been more blatant that mankind would walk after their own ungodly lusts? Selfish lusts, selfish desire, are glorified today. If it feels good, do it is the motto. Take care of self first. We grow up on this, it's fed to us in our lives- schools, television, movies, magazines, promoting self above all.


They separate themselves, sensusal having not the Spirit.


sensual (sèn´sh¡-el) adjective
1. Relating to or affecting any of the senses or a sense organ; sensory.
2. a. Of, relating to, given to, or providing gratification of the physical and especially the sexual appetites. See synonyms at sensuous. b. Suggesting sexuality; voluptuous. c. Physical rather than spiritual or intellectual. d. Lacking in moral or spiritual interests; worldly.

Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary


Sensual having not the Spirit.


Take away the spiritual and we are left with trying to live a life solely based on the pleasure we can extract from all that is around us. Does the spiritual offer pleasure? The spiritual offers pleasures unlike any we'll ever know on earth now. Seriously, we can't comprehend the joy of the future and it's not a selfish pleasure, it's not a self-seeking pleasure. Joy found in Christ is beyond imagination and yet for those who want pleasure now, for those who are mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts, for those who are sensual they can't imagine sacrificing self because they believe self is all they have.


Jude {1:17} But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; {1:18} How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. {1:19} These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.


{1:20} But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, {1:21} Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.


{1:22} And of some have compassion, making a difference: {1:23} And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.


{1:24} Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, {1:25} To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.


Building ourselves up on the most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.
Keeping ourselves in the love of God.
Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.


Are we to shun those who are mockers, those who are sensual and not Spiritual? No, not entirely because there are some that is if we have compassion upon them it will make a difference. Some will be saved with fear- hating that which keeps them from God, from being spiritual.


Christ alone is able to keep us from falling, Christ alone saves us by His mercy, by His love, by the Love of God. We must pray in the Holy Spirit, pray...pray. Keeping ourselves in the love of God, looking to His mercy always!


Senusal or Spiritual.


There is a fight between the two.


One is for self, the other for God.


We are carnal by nature and yet offered Spiritual through Christ.


We have to cling to Christ, look to Christ, pray in the Holy Spirit, resist temptations, resist the devil, resist self and all things sensual.


Luke {9:23} And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come
after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,
and follow me.


Sensual or Spiritual.


Self or denying self?


Mockers or Christ's?


We have choices to make, that cross is to be taken up daily...daily.


May God help us, may the Holy Spirit live within us, may we pray in the Holy Spirit keeping ourselves in the love of God, through the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior without Him we are nothing!


Amen.

We would be sealed by God's angel

James
{5:7} Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.
Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth,
and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
{5:8} Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth
nigh.


Hosea
{6:3}Then shall we know, [if] we follow on to know the LORD:
his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain,
as the latter [and] former rain unto the earth.


Heb.
{8:10} For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,
saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind,
and write them in their hearts:
and I will be to them a God,
and they shall be to me a people:
{8:11} And they shall not teach every man his neighbour,
and every man his brother, saying,
Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
{8:12} For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,
and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.


Rev. {14:6} And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth,
and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
{14:7} Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him;
for the hour of his judgment is come
and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
{14:8} And there followed another angel, saying,
Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city,
because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
{14:9} And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,
If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
{14:10} The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God,
which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation;
and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels,
and in the presence of the Lamb:
{14:11} And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever:
and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image,
and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
{14:12} Here is the patience of the saints:
here [are] they that keep the commandments of God,
and the faith of Jesus.
{14:13} And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write,
Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth
Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours;
and their works do follow them.


Joel
{2:23} Be glad then, ye children of Zion,
and rejoice in the LORD your God:
for he hath given you the former rain moderately,
and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain,
and the latter rain in the first [month. ]
{2:24} And the floors shall be full of wheat,
and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
{2:25} And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten,
the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm,
my great army which I sent among you.
{2:26} And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the LORD your God,
that hath dealt wondrously with you:
and my people shall never be ashamed.
{2:27} And ye shall know that I [am] in the midst of Israel,
and [that] I [am] the LORD your God, and none else:
and my people shall never be ashamed.
{2:28} And it shall come to pass afterward,
[that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
your young men shall see visions:
{2:29} And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
{2:30} And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
{2:31} The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood,
before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
{2:32} And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered:
for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance,
as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.


Rev. {7:3} Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. {7:4} And I heard the number of them which were sealed:
[and there were] sealed an hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.


Eph. {1:12} That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
{1:13} In whom ye also [trusted,] after that ye heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed,
ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise
{1:14} Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession,
unto the praise of his glory.


Sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.


All glory and honor, all praise to the Lord our God the maker of heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is!


Praise be to God that we are not left without comfort- Heavenly Comfort.


John {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


The Spirit of truth dwells within us, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter from Heaven. Jesus prayed that the Father would give the Comforter to those that Love Him.


Does having a Comforter mean we'll feel no pain? On the contrary, having a Comforter is the Hope of a future beyond the pain of existing in the world we live in. No matter the pain everyone has pain. The Spirit of Truth brings us comfort and hope, the truth as it is found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. He preached of the coming world, of His return, He knew He had to leave and yet He wasn't abandoning anyone. Just as a good parent provides a care giver for their children when they have to leave, Jesus provides for us a care giver while He ministers in Heaven and prepares a place for us there. The Holy Spirit is real, as real as Jesus, as real as God. Can we know the ways of the Holy Spirit? No, no more than we can know the ways of God.


All praise to God!


If the Holy Spirit is to be poured out in a way exceptional to the every day offer of the promise of His being with us, may we be ready to receive whatever the Spirit can give us through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.


We would be sealed by God's angel, sealed unto Christ, completely marked as His and His alone! We offer all we are to God, and we long for the out pouring of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter.


Please Lord, have us Yours.


By the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior now and forever.


Amen.

The Spirit knows all things, the deep things of God.

1 Cor.
{2:9} But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
{2:10} But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
{2:11} For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
{2:12} Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
{2:13} Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
{2:14} But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them,] because they are spiritually discerned.
{2:15} But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
{2:16} For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
*

Neither have entered into the heart of man.


The natural man we are, apart from the spiritual part of us that longs for the connection with something more, cannot understand, cannot comprehend the things of God. It's not possible that a man apart from the Holy Spirit can comprehend. It's like learning another language- it's pure gibberish holding no meaning whatsoever until comprehension is brought about from one who knows, or something that teaches. Left to our own devices do we naturally learns how to read? Do we naturally know how to do math? Is the structure of language something we understand all on our own? Do we naturally know how to tie our laces? How to tie a necktie? How to knit a blanket, mend a shirt. Do we know how to go into another human being's body and operate on them? Do we know how to fight for the rights of a person if we don't know the law?


The heart of man does not fully understand anything of God, but God reveals to us by HIS Spirit the things He chooses.


The Spirit knows all things, the deep things of God.


Man knows the evil within him, man's spirit the thing we know makes us who we are in the natural sense, yes, we know the ways of ourselves, our natural inclinations and they are not naturally inclined towards God.


The things of God man doesn't know, but the Spirit of God knows. We when accept Christ as our Savior, God as our Creator, we don't receive the spirit of man, tht is already ours. What we receive is the Spirit of God that we can understand what God gives to us as His creatures. Man's wisdom cannot teach God's wisdom. Man can be brilliant in the spirit of man knowing all there is to know in a natural sense but man doesn't know God's ways until the Holy Ghost teaches us. The spiritual with the spiritual. We receive the ability to comprehend the spiritual things of God. This isn't something we are naturally given in fact to those who are not inclined to listen to the Holy Spirit the things of the Spirit of God are FOOLISHNESS to them, and they cannot know them. So if you wonder why others don't understands, if you wonder why they can talk circles of seeming logic around your faith poking holes it it until you are forced to succumb to their natural understanding that's why. As they poke holes and doubts begin to form in your mind it's because the natural man inside us all can't understand the spiritual things of God. We really aren't forced to succumb are we? We can cling to our faith in God, to the spiritual things that have been revealed to us through the Holy Spirit. We can acknowledge the very fact that not all will understand and many will not understand at all.


{2:15} But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
{2:16} For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.


Christ judges all things, and is judged of no man. Christ alone lives in the spiritual relying upon God for all things. The Holy Spirit sent to us by Jesus to live with us and bring us hope, understanding, encouragement all things we need Spiritually from God to be God's through Jesus, this Holy Spirit alone can give us the mind of Christ- the understanding that God is all things and God's way are not our ways but God's ways are the true ways. Having the mind of Christ is everything, and we truly can have the same mind through Christ. The Holy Spirit will teach us and through faith we believe not because it makes sense to the natural man within us, but because it is Spiritually true.


Faith, hope, love. Choosing to love God is the first step. Leaping by faith the next. Faith is hope when we can't see.


May God send His Holy Spirit to live in us now and always until Jesus returns again. By the grace and mercy of God may we let the Holy Spirit work in us giving us Spiritual understanding, teaching us everything we need to know of God.


By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, now and forever.


Amen.

Commit to Jesus

1 Peter {2:23} Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously: {2:24} Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. {2:25} For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls


Jesus committed HIMSELF to Him that judgeth righteously.
Who could that be but God?


We have to commit ourselves to Jesus just as Jesus committed Himself to His Father. A complete surrender holding nothing back at all whatsoever.


God judgeth righteously there is NO other way for Him to judge. Jesus as the Father's Son pleads before the righteous Judge for us, on our behalf asking that His sacrifice be enough for those who fully surrender their hearts and souls to Him, those who commit themselves to Him and by committing themselves to Him they commit themselves to the Father.


Jesus bare our sins- and accepting that sacrifice we should live in HIS righteousness. Can we kill our sins? Can we do away with our own sins? No and no. If we can't do away with our own sins what maks us think we can live in our own righteousness? We can't. We have to live unto Christ's righteousness- because it's by His stripes we are healed. He took the pain of our unrighteousness upon Himself and offers His righteousness in place of our unrighteousness. We have to commit ourselves to Jesus. We have to look to Him and His righteousness trusting in Him that all that is not right will be made right by Him in His time, not ours, nothing of ourselves. Does this mean sin with joy? NEVER!


We are as sheep going astray, but now the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls has us in His grasp. We have to listen to the Shepherd, follow our Shepherd's leading, trusting in Him in ALL things- He will care for us.


By the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, now and forever, by His Righteousness, by His amazing Love, may we cling to Him and all He's done for us, believing in Him now and forever!


Amen!

We get so caught up in ourselves

We get so caught up in ourselves. I've said it before and I think I'm going to keep saying it till who knows when. It's true though and I'm just as guilty as the next person of doing the same, of getting caught up in myself. How can we not we yell and scream, we live. We are alive and asked to live in this world with all it's external temptations that give us internal temptations, that flood us with cravings for all that is bad for us! We live here, unless we lock ourselves away in seclusion as some monks and others do, with no temptation to hit us, is there a chance for us to overcome? Really? Is there? Even those monks and such, aren't they tempted with believing what they are doing is a good thing and when they believe that they are doing that good thing, aren't they counting on their own righteousness and not that of God's? Seriously. There are dangers just in living and as long as we insist on being wrapped around ourselves we'll never be free, never. As long as we keep looking at ourselves and our sinfulness and dwelling on our own inabilities we have no hope, why? Because we are placing the hope within ourselves. There's a reason for life being the way it is, there is a good reason and the one lesson we all need to learn, every single one of us is that we can't look at ourselves there is only unrighteousness there no matter what we do, no matter who or what we seem to be.

Isa. {64:6} 'But we are all as an unclean [thing,] and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags...'

That says it all so completely! We are ALL as an unclean thing, and ALL our righteousness are as filthy rags!

Does this mean we should embrace and enjoy our wickedness? God forbid. We should ever ask forgiveness and when we think the battle too hard to fight, when we believe that to give in to sin is the better way then look to Jesus, look to Him who knew no unrighteousness and yet DIED so YOU and I could live. Is giving into sin better? No. Is it easier, yes.

We find hope only in Christ, not in ourselves. And we have to give ourselves to Him completely.

1 Cor. {5:21} For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Only in Him can we have any righteousness. Only in Him, only in Christ.

It's not easy to constantly fight, especially when we war against principalities and powers and wickedness in high places. It's not easy when we long to give into the pleasures of sin and yes, they have a certain pleasure and if we want pleasure that is temporary and NOTHING compared what is waiting for us who deny ourselves the pleasures of the world now- not in hopes of gaining salvation but only through Christ's prompting, through the Holy Spirit's guiding us closer to Christ.

The easy way is the way most will take, the way we are all in danger of taking.

Matthew {7:13} Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many
there be which go in thereat: {7:14} Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

We don't want the strait and narrow it's a tricky bit of a path, we want the broad way because that is the more pleasant, more enticing path for us to take.

So as we struggle with our day to day lives and day to day temptations we have to beg Christ to help us to seek Him and His way, not our own way. Reveal our hearts to Him, our longings to be with Him living in a world without any PAIN of any sort. If you think all the pleasures we indulge ourselves in now will keep the pain of the world away, you're wrong, I'd be wrong if I thought it. For all the pleasure here the pain often outweighs the pleasure and if living for temporary pleasure is all you want from life then it's all you'll get.

May God help us ALL as we struggle to cling to the cross, cling to Jesus and claim HIS righteousness because we have NONE of our own. May our hope be solely in HIM, not in ourselves and any of our own actions. Choosing Christ, let that be our sole endeavor, choosing Christ and having faith in Him to see us through with the Holy Spirit's guidance.

By His unfathomable mercy and grace, now and forever!

Thank you Lord Jesus,

Amen.

The power of God is all things

1 Cor.
{2:5} That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
{2:6} Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
{2:7} But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom,] which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
{2:8} Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it,] they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
{2:9} But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.


Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men.

What does that mean exactly? Men have their own wisdom, God another.

wisdom (wîz´dem) noun
1. Understanding of what is true, right, or lasting; insight
2. Common sense; good judgment
3. a. The sum of scholarly learning through the ages; knowledge b. Wise teachings of the ancient sages.
4. A wise outlook, plan, or course of action.
5. Wisdom. Bible. Wisdom of Solomon.

Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary

'The sum of scholarly learning through the ages, knowledge.' Our faith is not explained in all the knowledge of the world in a logical way. Faith itself defies logic to those thinking only in facts, only in the wisdom of men.

'{2:5} That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.'

The power of God gives us faith. We can't concern ourselves with anything that would tear down our faith no matter what it might be. Not the most logical reasoning should rip the faith from us. We can't let faith rest on the wisdom man possesses, it has to rest on the power of God alone.

1 Cor. {2:6} Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
{2:7} But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom,] which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
{2:8} Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it,] they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

We speak wisdom among them that are perfect- NOT wisdom of this world.
The princes of this world might have great wisdom but it's not the wisdom that matters a bit.
The wisdom of God is a mystery, hidden wisdom- a wisdom that produced our salvation for God ordained before the world this glory. Yet all the wise of the world, those holding high positions in wisdom as the world knows it, all of the didn't know, couldn't comprehend such a mystery, such wisdom of God.

1 Cor. {2:9} But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

This statement says so incredibly much, doesn't it? Seriously, the things God has prepared for us go way beyond our comprehension, way beyond our imaginations. The greatest thing we can imagine that is in store for us who love God, falls far short of what ways for us.

Eye hasn't seen!
Ears haven't heard!
Our hearts are clueless.

God's love is way beyond our own.

May we grasp hold of our Lord and Savior and never let go of Him, letting our faith, a faith given and helped by Him, please Him. May His wisdom be real to us, He's all wise, all knowing.


The power of God is that faith. The power of God is all things.


By His grace and mercy, by His love now and forever!

Amen.

It should be all about JESUS and Him crucified

1 Cor.
{2:1} And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with
excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the
testimony of God. {2:2} For I determined not to know any
thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.


The IMPORTANT thing- not excellency in speaking; not excellency in wisdom; not holding a PHD in religion, or in public speaking, or in charisma- but rather KNOWING Jesus Christ and Him crucified.


We tend to give credit to people who are naturally attractive and well poised. We tend to give our attention to those who can make us feel good about ourselves. We look up to people who are sheer genius and go- now why couldn't I have done/thought of that? Our hats go off to those who are accomplished in society. We applaud those who can come across as someone you can trust just by speaking to us. How many people have lost millions of dollars over the years to those who have 'talked them' out of their life savings? These brilliant, captivating people who seemingly have an excellency of speech with a healthy side order of wisdom can bilk hundreds, thousands of people and yet we still are amazed and wowed by those who make us feel good about OURSELVES. A man cannot talk another man into investing thousands of dollars unless they've made the person feel good about what they are doing. The best way to talk a man out of his money is to make it seem like he is doing the SMART thing, the WISE thing, the GOOD thing, the thing that will prove to be right in their own eyes. The more you can convince a man of HIS own genius the more money you can take from him.


Is it any wonder at all that Paul says here - I came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom declaring unto you the testimony of God. It really is no wonder at all. Paul wasn't a smooth talker, able to sway with his special charasmatic manner or brilliant wisdom as the world knew. Paul was determined to just know Jesus Christ and Him crucified- that's it! To know Christ! To know the wonder of the cross! If more of us would seek the wonder of the cross and get our minds off ourselves and the superficial things how much better off we would be. If instead of looking to Christ to puff ourselves up we looked to Him just to KNOW Him our eyes would be taken off our selves and trained up the only righteousness that exists, Christ's.


I've heard the saying- 'You are making this ALL about YOU.' Have you heard that? Maybe you've had a disagreement with someone and there's a bit of arguing and the retort that is thrown into your face is- 'You are making this ALL about YOU.' Arguments usually result when one person believes they are right and another not quite so right. One person believes their thoughts and such are on the right track, while another's aren't. The last argument you had- think about it if you can, did you want to drive your own opinion, your own beliefs, your own point home? Did you want to get the other person to somehow agree that you are in the right over them? If they'd just stop arguing and listen to... who? You? Yes. If they'd just stop all their fussing and see reason, why they'd surely see your point of view on the matter. Why do they have to be so stubborn?


Don't you see, it's all about US.


When it should be all about JESUS and Him crucified. The power of God is in the cross. Knowing Jesus and Him crucified should be our ONLY concern.


The other saying, 'What would Jesus do?' Is very appropriate in the sense, what would the Lord Jesus have me doing in light of His crucifiction; what would Jesus have me do to glorify Him to point all others and myself solely to Him and the cross? We can't get caught up in this - I know what Jesus would do and bad me, I'm doing just the opposite or I know what Jesus would do and look at me, I'm doing it. Our doing anything other than seeking Him in the wonder of the cross is nothing. We could help fifty old ladies across the street because we believe that's what Jesus would do, but unless we know Jesus as our constant and personal Lord and Savior we could do what Jesus would do forever and still not be known by Him.


May the Lord turn our eyes solely upon Him and His wondrous sacrifice. Make we seek to know Christ and Him crucified first and foremost. That is- KNOW CHRIST, not know ourselves. We must seek to know CHRIST not self even in the light of Christ. Christ first always!


By His mercy, by His grace, by His love and sacrifice we are saved, now and forever.


Amen.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness

1 Cor. {1:18} For the preaching of the cross is to them that
perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the
power of God.


The power of God is found where? In the cross.


Ro. {1:16} For I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the
Greek. {1:17} For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall
live by faith.


Ro. {1:24}
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.


Christ is the power of God. Jesus dying for us and being resurrected by God is the power of God. Who could have resurrected Jesus from the dead but God? None. Only God had the power to resurrected the dead Christ. Jesus when he preached and wrought miracles for the three and a half years of His ministry preached it and wrought the miracles through God. Jesus even said -


John {5:19} 'Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.'



John {8:28} Then said Jesus unto
them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye
know that I am [he,] and [that] I do nothing of myself; but
as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. {8:29}
And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me
alone; for I do always those things that please him.


God- the power of God. Those that are saved will know that the cross is the embodiment of God's power. God is revealed to us through His Son.


There is nothing greater than the power of God, nothing!


To those that perish they won't care about the power of God found in the cross, to them it is foolishness.


We have no power of our own this is the message of the cross. No power to save ourselves whatsoever. Whenever we get it in our heads that we are losing salvation because we aren't good enough, trying hard enough, that our sins are too many, too binding, too overwhelming we have to remember salvation isn't something we'll EVER be good enough for. We could NOT save ourselves that power is in the cross through the sacrifice of our Savior, God's Son, Jesus Christ!


Holding fast to the cross, clinging to the cross needs to be real to us because it represents all that has been done on our behalf. It is a forever reminder of our helplessness and Christ's Righteousness which we must understand is ours through Him. He presents His sacrifice on our behalf, His righteousness. He doesn't stand before the Father and say... She/He was good- but rather through faith they believe I can save them through my righteousness. They believe in me, and in believing in me they believe in Your power, the believe in You.


May God bless and keep us in that faith that we need so desperately to please Him. I cry out as a man of old- Lord I believe! Help thou my unbelief!


While Satan tries his hardest to get us to look inward at our unrighteousness and to take our eyes from the cross, we must cling ever tighter to it, ever tighter!


By the mercy, the grace, the love of Jesus Christ may we be found righteous in HIM and HIM alone, not with any bit our ourselves, only, always Him!


Amen.

I sought the LORD, and he heard me

Ps. {34:4} I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.


Isa. {66:1} Thus saith the LORD, The heaven [is] my throne, and the earth [is] my footstool: where [is] the house that ye build unto me? and where [is] the place of my rest? {66:2} For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: but to this [man] will I look, [even] to [him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

{66:3} He that killeth an ox [is as if] he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, [as if] he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, [as if he offered] swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, [as if] he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. {66:4} I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose [that] in which I delighted not.


God knows. God understands the depths of selfishess the human heart holds. Everything must be our way. We delight in the things we bring about, of what we believe is our own accord. The delusions we hold are full. Ask, and people well tell you that self-sufficiency is the prize for which we should strive. Self assurance, self love, self adoration, self...self...we are deluded with self. We are told to look inwards to our own powers, find our inner strength, inner peace. We are filled with the idea that we control our own lives and try to tell someone something different and they'll nod and smile, or argue with their logic.


God will use the delusions people hold because He has tried to get them to see that without Him, their Creator they are nothing and they wouldn't believe. He's tried and tried and tried... but consistently people choose to look inward, not outward, to glorify self not God. They think they are doing good but their good is evil. The keep looking to themselves for salvation as if they controlled it, as if they had power to give or take it away. Salvation exists not because we've designed it or reject it, or accept it. Salvation exists and we have to believe it. We can choose to believe it or not, but our choice won't alter it's existence. Yes, we are allowed our delusions because we wouldn't have it any other way. There is no wonder so few will be ready for Christ when He returns. The idea of giving up self for anything is repugnant to us. We've been taught from childhood to think of ourselves first. We call it self-preservation and make it seem as if without thinking of ourselves first we are condemning ourselves. Us first, then others second, and the few who can go beyond that are the oddities. Giving up self and giving us over to God. God first is possible through faith and faith alone, by Christ and His righteousness because we have none of ourselves. By His mercy! By His Grace! By His love! May the Holy Spirit fill us and keep us. May we not suffer under any delusion the devil may bring before us to keep us from the Love of God in Jesus Christ, our Savior. By His Grace may we be delivered of all our fears and may our unbelief be helped and by Jesus' love and mercy, by His power may we have the faith we need to be His completely.


Amen.

Christ's

Ro. {15:30} Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus
Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive
together with me in [your] prayers to God for me


For the Lord Jesus Christ's sake.
For the love of the Spirit.


1 Cor. {4:9} For I think
that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were
appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the
world, and to angels, and to men. {4:10} We [are] fools for
Christ’s sake, but ye [are] wise in Christ; we [are] weak, but
ye [are] strong; ye [are] honourable, but we [are] despised.
{4:11} Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and
thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain
dwellingplace; {4:12} And labour, working with our own
hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer
it: {4:13} Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the
filth of the world, [and are] the offscouring of all things
unto this day. {4:14} I write not these things to shame you,
but as my beloved sons I warn [you. ]{4:15} For though ye
have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet [have ye] not
many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you
through the gospel.


1 Cor. {7:22} For he that is called in the Lord, [being] a servant, is
the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, [being]
free, is Christ’s servant. {7:23} Ye are bought with a price;
be not ye the servants of men. {7:24} Brethren, let every
man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.


Let every man wherein he is called-
therein abide with God.


1 Cor {15:21} For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also
the resurrection of the dead. {15:22} For as in Adam all die,
even so in Christ shall all be made alive. {15:23} But every
man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they
that are Christ’s at his coming. {15:24} Then [cometh] the
end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God,
even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and
all authority and power. {15:25} For he must reign, till he
hath put all enemies under his feet. {15:26} The last enemy
[that] shall be destroyed [is] death. {15:27} For he hath put
all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are
put under [him, it is] manifest that he is excepted, which did
put all things under him. {15:28} And when all things shall
be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be
subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may
be all in all.

Afterward...

They that are Christ's at his coming.


2 Cor. {5:20}
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did
beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be ye
reconciled to God. {5:21} For he hath made him [to be] sin
for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.


We pray you in Christ's stead...
be ye reconciled to God.


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


For Christ's sake...
for when I am weak then am I strong.


Gal. {5:24}
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts. {5:25} If we live in the Spirit, let us
also walk in the Spirit. {5:26} Let us not be desirous of vain
glory, provoking one another, envying one another.


They that are Christ's...
have crucified the flesh.
If we live in the Spirit...
let us also walk in the Spirit.


Eph. {4:32} And be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for
Christ’s sake hath forgiven you


Forgiving one another...
even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.


1 Pet. {4:12} Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing
happened unto you: {4:13} But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are
partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be
revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. {4:14} If
ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy [are ye;] for
the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part
he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.


Rejoice...
inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings.


For Christ's sake; those that are Christ's; Christ's sufferings; are Christ's; Christ's stead; Christ's servant.


We are Christ's. We belong to Christ.
We must live in the Spirit, the Spirit Christ gives to us.


Have you ever felt compelled by the Spirit? I'm not talking some mystical otherworldly experience but rather have you ever felt the tugging of a Spirit within you to go against the natural man in you? The Holy Spirit is real and has been given to us so that we may live in Christ.


Ps. {51:10} Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit
within me.
{51:11} Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy
spirit from me.
{51:12} Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with
thy] free spirit.


By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ may the Holy Spirit live in us, sealing us, making us Christ's forever and ever. Please Lord, take not thy Holy Spirit from us, from me. By faith, through Christ's righteousness none of my own but through His alone, forever and ever.


Amen.

He begins the work in us and he'll finish it.

Phillipians {1:6} Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ


It's not once begun and quickly finished. People like the idea of a finished work and it's not that I don't like the idea it's just that the idea is coated thickly in finishing as quickly as possible. The quicker things are done the better especially if they're done properly. Having unfinished projects that aren't worked on is never fun. Who likes to have a bunch of partially finished works in progress- no matter what it is? Yet there are some things that require time to complete. Some things are works in progress that take years to complete. Some things cannot be rushed. A good wine takes time- you've heard the saying. Some cheeses well aged are perfection. Getting a degree in education helps you get a good job and some degrees take a long time to obtain and you can't rush things. Taking our time to get things right the first time is very important and as much as we talk about rushing through things and finishing them quickly that isn't always the best thing.


It's the same with our Christian lives.


We begin them and think that suddenly we are completely what Christ wants us to be. We've been born again. We might even feel that wonderful feeling of having a new life, a new beginning, a new lease on an old life that promises better things. We might feel freed from the weight of past sins because they are all forgiven. We might have an intense emotional upheaval that makes us feel amazing. We feel these things and believe that we should always feel these things and that life will go on to be this amazing thing because we've accepted Jesus and want to live in Jesus.


The Christian life is like any other life in the respect even if you're not a Christian you have to live and get by to the best of your ability. The Christian life differs because you recognize that you aren't going to go through this life alone, on your own, you want to go through this life with Christ. You recognize that only through Christ can a life that makes little sense begin to make sense. There is a complete senselessness to life if you live it without Christ. You live it for no reason. You live it biding your time, accepting all the bad things for no reason at all.


Christ brings meaning to life by offering a new life in Him. Is that life instantaneous? In some ways it is. The promise is instant. The completion of that promise isn't realized until Christ comes again. The stuff inbetween is what we call our life. The moment the promise is made and accepted, and the moment Christ returns can be a full lifetime of say, 70, 80 years of inbetween for some. For others it's only a day long, because the next day they die and sleep until Christ returns but their life inbetween is over. The next thing those who sleep in Christ will know is Christ returning- the promise fulfilled, the work that was begun complete.


You see there is a work begun in us when we accept Christ. He begins the work in us and he'll finish it.


Phillipians {1:6} Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ


We have to be confident. We have to trust that as we go through life He is working in us. We have to let Him work in us. We have to understand we are embarking on a work that will take a lifetime without any completion until Christ returns. The completed work is only done when Christ arrives until then we are works in progress.


During the walk we'll get discouraged. We'll feel like the promise is far, far away. We might feel like the promise has been broken. We have to have confidence in Jesus that He will continue to make us into the creatures He wants us to be for Him when He returns. We can't make ourselves... we can't do the work ourselves. Christ who is the one who begins the work will finish the work upon His return, until then He is performing it in us. He will perform it, HE WILL PERFORM. He takes the action and it is our job to let Him perform it in us, believing that He will continue to perform it until He returns. We can't try to take over and perform it ourselves, we can't. We might try and that's where we run into trouble. We try to do Jesus' job in ourselves.


When people are given a job to do and they go and do another's job is it acceptable? Generally it's not. If someone is doing another's job the chances are they're not doing their own job. This is one thing that isn't better when it's taken over by another because NO ONE can do this job, only Jesus can and all those who think they can do His job are deluded and it's a deadly delusion they suffer under. If they are attempting to do Jesus' job then Jesus' can't perform that work, He's being interfered with. It's our job to LET Him work in us. That's our only job and yet we often find it hard to do that one simple thing- let go and let Him.


We have to take our self out of us to let Jesus in us, right? Wrong.


We are filled to the brim with self. And while it's logical to assume that we can be no other way, we know for a fact that selfishness isn't a good trait. Living among people who only think of themselves and no others isn't a good thing. We applaud the person who give up their own selfish wants so they can make another happy and yet we don't foster that in ourselves. We want to be the one catered to. Selfishness isn't a good trait at all. Wanting things our way and only our way is not good. Self is not good. So how do we empty ourselves of this selfishness?


We rely on Christ to perform that work in us. To empty us as we LET Him. We have to let HIM work in us. Because if we try to take out the selfishness even then we are claiming that work which isn't in us to perform. Does this mean we cling to all our selfish acts and do so in defiance of Christ? Absolutely not. We cling to nothing but offer it all to Christ. We recognize all that which makes us what we are and we give it to Christ asking Him to perform in us knowing that He will perform in His way, not our way. We might want Him to get rid of one thing but He might want to work on another area first. We can't presume to know how Christ is to perform the work in us, we have to trust that He will. We can lay claim to nothing accept surrendering ourselves to Christ, nothing. It's a constant surrender, and a constant knowing that His way is perfect ours is not and if we let Him He will perform His perfect way in us until He comes again.


May God through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ begin, continue, and forever work in us performing His good work in each of us until He returns. By His righteousness, by His grace, by His love now and forever.


Amen.