Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Joh 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause
Do you ever feel like the whole world hates you? Or do you blame your life and the way it is and the things that happen, on God? Satan is thrilled when we do that. He loves to hear us even think the words, 'Why, God, why!' He revels in our anger towards God. He adores our emnity with God because He is the author of that emnity and it is his life's mission to get as many human beings on board with that emnity as He can. And you know, He doesn't care if the emnity we feel is so minute that we don't even recognize it for what it is. There are many who are comfortable in their lives without any thought of God and when we have no thought for God, we are blind and comfortable in that blindness. Back to the the world hating us. Satan hates us, there is no love in Him whatsoever. Satan is the prince of THIS world and He would have the world hate any that are with God. He will not leave any trick unturned to get us to hate God and that includes using the world's hate to turn us against God by misplacing the blame. We are chosen OUT of the world. We are NOT of this world and yet we think we need to fit into the world and when we don't, when our lives don't fit in place in the world we get dismayed. We don't want to be one of those *crazies*, and sometimes we do want that but on our own terms. We'll be considered a *crazie* for God as long as He keeps our lives uncomplicated. It doesn't work that way. The world will hate those that love God, Satan will hate those who love God. The world hated Jesus without cause. Will we deserve any less? There won't be a reason for the bad things that happen to us in life. There won't be something we can look at and go, 'Oh...that's why.' Without any cause we too will be hated and while our sin filled lives are cause enough, we have to trust God, trust God fully and not look at ourselves for answers. We have to expect a life of being hated and living a life that is unfair in so many ways. We can't get caught up in believing our life is right with God only if things are going good with us. Our lives are right with God when we have faith in Him no matter what life brings us. The next time life turns on you and throws you for a huge loop try placing the blame where it belongs- on Satan, the prince of this world we live in. Cling to Christ's love and Christ's righteousness when it seems as if we are no where near the life God would have us be.
By the grace and mercy of God may we live our lives in Him fully. Protect us Lord, protect us and keep us no matter what befalls us or in what way, Keep us from the enemy within us that would bring us to despair. Create in us a clean heart Lord, renew a right spirit within. Please Lord.
Amen.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
The World Hates You
Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Joh 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause
Do you ever feel like the whole world hates you? Or do you blame your life and the way it is and the things that happen, on God? Satan is thrilled when we do that. He loves to hear us even think the words, 'Why, God, why!' He revels in our anger towards God. He adores our emnity with God because He is the author of that emnity and it is his life's mission to get as many human beings on board with that emnity as He can. And you know, He doesn't care if the emnity we feel is so minute that we don't even recognize it for what it is. There are many who are comfortable in their lives without any thought of God and when we have no thought for God, we are blind and comfortable in that blindness. Back to the the world hating us. Satan hates us, there is no love in Him whatsoever. Satan is the prince of THIS world and He would have the world hate any that are with God. He will not leave any trick unturned to get us to hate God and that includes using the world's hate to turn us against God by misplacing the blame. We are chosen OUT of the world. We are NOT of this world and yet we think we need to fit into the world and when we don't, when our lives don't fit in place in the world we get dismayed. We don't want to be one of those *crazies*, and sometimes we do want that but on our own terms. We'll be considered a *crazie* for God as long as He keeps our lives uncomplicated. It doesn't work that way. The world will hate those that love God, Satan will hate those who love God. The world hated Jesus without cause. Will we deserve any less? There won't be a reason for the bad things that happen to us in life. There won't be something we can look at and go, 'Oh...that's why.' Without any cause we too will be hated and while our sin filled lives are cause enough, we have to trust God, trust God fully and not look at ourselves for answers. We have to expect a life of being hated and living a life that is unfair in so many ways. We can't get caught up in believing our life is right with God only if things are going good with us. Our lives are right with God when we have faith in Him no matter what life brings us. The next time life turns on you and throws you for a huge loop try placing the blame where it belongs- on Satan, the prince of this world we live in. Cling to Christ's love and Christ's righteousness when it seems as if we are no where near the life God would have us be.
By the grace and mercy of God may we live our lives in Him fully. Protect us Lord, protect us and keep us no matter what befalls us or in what way, Keep us from the enemy within us that would bring us to despair. Create in us a clean heart Lord, renew a right spirit within. Please Lord.
Amen.
Joh 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause
Do you ever feel like the whole world hates you? Or do you blame your life and the way it is and the things that happen, on God? Satan is thrilled when we do that. He loves to hear us even think the words, 'Why, God, why!' He revels in our anger towards God. He adores our emnity with God because He is the author of that emnity and it is his life's mission to get as many human beings on board with that emnity as He can. And you know, He doesn't care if the emnity we feel is so minute that we don't even recognize it for what it is. There are many who are comfortable in their lives without any thought of God and when we have no thought for God, we are blind and comfortable in that blindness. Back to the the world hating us. Satan hates us, there is no love in Him whatsoever. Satan is the prince of THIS world and He would have the world hate any that are with God. He will not leave any trick unturned to get us to hate God and that includes using the world's hate to turn us against God by misplacing the blame. We are chosen OUT of the world. We are NOT of this world and yet we think we need to fit into the world and when we don't, when our lives don't fit in place in the world we get dismayed. We don't want to be one of those *crazies*, and sometimes we do want that but on our own terms. We'll be considered a *crazie* for God as long as He keeps our lives uncomplicated. It doesn't work that way. The world will hate those that love God, Satan will hate those who love God. The world hated Jesus without cause. Will we deserve any less? There won't be a reason for the bad things that happen to us in life. There won't be something we can look at and go, 'Oh...that's why.' Without any cause we too will be hated and while our sin filled lives are cause enough, we have to trust God, trust God fully and not look at ourselves for answers. We have to expect a life of being hated and living a life that is unfair in so many ways. We can't get caught up in believing our life is right with God only if things are going good with us. Our lives are right with God when we have faith in Him no matter what life brings us. The next time life turns on you and throws you for a huge loop try placing the blame where it belongs- on Satan, the prince of this world we live in. Cling to Christ's love and Christ's righteousness when it seems as if we are no where near the life God would have us be.
By the grace and mercy of God may we live our lives in Him fully. Protect us Lord, protect us and keep us no matter what befalls us or in what way, Keep us from the enemy within us that would bring us to despair. Create in us a clean heart Lord, renew a right spirit within. Please Lord.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Coming Down From Heaven
Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Jesus came down from heaven.
Think abou it, think about what Jesus did.
We see various movies, it's in various books where a king voluntarily lays aside his crown and goes to live among the common people. Why does the king do that? Perhaps to get a taste of a normal life. The king meanwhile knows that at any time He can pick up his crown again and get out of the life of a common man and more often than not he does after learning some important life lesson which ends up making him a better man. Those are stories we read and watch. In fact on televison right now they're playing a show called 'Undercover Boss' where the CEO of various companies goes undercover for a week to see how his businesses are doing in a unique way- as an entry level employess new to the job with a documentary being filmed on his life going into a new job. Well, I'm not sure how much is a 'story', how different people react when cameras are on them changing normal behavior but I guess barring a hidden camera it's the best way they're going to get this sort of show done. The premise is the CEO is trying to make his company better by understanding what the 'little' man goes through and where things can be improved. A good premise for a show but the ultimate abdication of a crown is the one Jesus laid aside to become human.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
Jesus came in the flesh and is of God.
Jesus came down from heaven. In heaven He was a Spirit like God.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit
Jesus was the Word with God in the beginning.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Just as on earth we have kings and their sons, princes holding all the power of his father- in heaven we had God the Father and God the Son- both Spirits. Then the Spirit of the Son took on flesh and dwelt among us.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Jesus a God in heaven set aside His sole spirit form and took on flesh coming down from heaven why? To do the will of God, not His own will.
We need to do the will of God, not our will. If we start our days and give our life to God's will then prayerfully throughout our day we'll walk in God's will and not our own. It's very very hard to do and really, impossible to do on our own. We have to cling to Christ and pray that His righteousness by ours because our own is nothing. We have to rely solely on God to do His will, because of our own selves we can do nothing, just like Jesus of His own self could do nothing, and we are far from being anywhere near like Jesus.
Joh 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.
Joh 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Without Jesus we can do nothing. Jesus without God could do nothing.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and our precious all merciful, loving Savior now and forever.
Amen.
Jesus came down from heaven.
Think abou it, think about what Jesus did.
We see various movies, it's in various books where a king voluntarily lays aside his crown and goes to live among the common people. Why does the king do that? Perhaps to get a taste of a normal life. The king meanwhile knows that at any time He can pick up his crown again and get out of the life of a common man and more often than not he does after learning some important life lesson which ends up making him a better man. Those are stories we read and watch. In fact on televison right now they're playing a show called 'Undercover Boss' where the CEO of various companies goes undercover for a week to see how his businesses are doing in a unique way- as an entry level employess new to the job with a documentary being filmed on his life going into a new job. Well, I'm not sure how much is a 'story', how different people react when cameras are on them changing normal behavior but I guess barring a hidden camera it's the best way they're going to get this sort of show done. The premise is the CEO is trying to make his company better by understanding what the 'little' man goes through and where things can be improved. A good premise for a show but the ultimate abdication of a crown is the one Jesus laid aside to become human.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
Jesus came in the flesh and is of God.
Jesus came down from heaven. In heaven He was a Spirit like God.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit
Jesus was the Word with God in the beginning.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Just as on earth we have kings and their sons, princes holding all the power of his father- in heaven we had God the Father and God the Son- both Spirits. Then the Spirit of the Son took on flesh and dwelt among us.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Jesus a God in heaven set aside His sole spirit form and took on flesh coming down from heaven why? To do the will of God, not His own will.
We need to do the will of God, not our will. If we start our days and give our life to God's will then prayerfully throughout our day we'll walk in God's will and not our own. It's very very hard to do and really, impossible to do on our own. We have to cling to Christ and pray that His righteousness by ours because our own is nothing. We have to rely solely on God to do His will, because of our own selves we can do nothing, just like Jesus of His own self could do nothing, and we are far from being anywhere near like Jesus.
Joh 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.
Joh 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Without Jesus we can do nothing. Jesus without God could do nothing.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and our precious all merciful, loving Savior now and forever.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Faint not at my tribulations for you
Eph 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Glorifying God.
If we honor God with our lives, our actions and such we are glorifying Him. We ask how we can glorify the Lord and our very lives are a testament to God. We don't need to do anything extraordinary. We don't have to be important or do some great work of notority. If we live a simple life to God that is enough to glorify Him. What matters most is we live for God and do His will whatever that may be. Knowing God's will for us isn't something easy. Again we tend to think outside of the normal life and into the extraordinary events. We have to know that it's God's will that we honor Him in all we do. We have to confess Jesus Christ the Son of God as our Lord and Savior and live a life that He calls us to live. It may mean picking up our own crosses and bearing our own heartaches, our own tribulations. We have to realize it's not God's disfavor that tribulation comes to us. God isn't punishing us. God isn't turning His back on us during the worst and darkest hours of our lives. We must cling to Him and confess that He is Lord and Savior, Creator and Redeemer even when our very lives and the lives of others around us are falling apart. Not easy, no, but it is the work we are called to do, God's work is for us to believe on Jesus Christ, His Son. We have to let our light shine, any good that comes from us must be attributed to God, not ourselves, all glory to God in the Highest, forever and ever.
Amen.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Glorifying God.
If we honor God with our lives, our actions and such we are glorifying Him. We ask how we can glorify the Lord and our very lives are a testament to God. We don't need to do anything extraordinary. We don't have to be important or do some great work of notority. If we live a simple life to God that is enough to glorify Him. What matters most is we live for God and do His will whatever that may be. Knowing God's will for us isn't something easy. Again we tend to think outside of the normal life and into the extraordinary events. We have to know that it's God's will that we honor Him in all we do. We have to confess Jesus Christ the Son of God as our Lord and Savior and live a life that He calls us to live. It may mean picking up our own crosses and bearing our own heartaches, our own tribulations. We have to realize it's not God's disfavor that tribulation comes to us. God isn't punishing us. God isn't turning His back on us during the worst and darkest hours of our lives. We must cling to Him and confess that He is Lord and Savior, Creator and Redeemer even when our very lives and the lives of others around us are falling apart. Not easy, no, but it is the work we are called to do, God's work is for us to believe on Jesus Christ, His Son. We have to let our light shine, any good that comes from us must be attributed to God, not ourselves, all glory to God in the Highest, forever and ever.
Amen.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Glorifying God
glorify
glorify (glôr´e-fì´, glor´-) verb, transitive
glorified, glorifying, glorifies
1. To give glory, honor, or high praise to; exalt.
3. To give glory to, especially through worship.
glory (glôr´ê, glor´ê) noun
plural glories
1. Great honor, praise, or distinction accorded by common consent; renown.
2. Something conferring honor or renown.
3. A highly praiseworthy asset: Your hair is your crowning glory.
4. Adoration, praise, and thanksgiving offered in worship.
5. Majestic beauty and splendor; resplendence: The sun set in a blaze of glory.
6. The splendor and bliss of heaven; perfect happiness.
Glorifying God.
How do you glorify God?
How should we glorify God?
God wants us to glorify Him. Our lives are to be lived glorifying God. The greatest thing we could ever do in life is glorify God. Living a life glorifying God.
Eph 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Tribulations for the glory of God?
Joh 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
Joh 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
The works of God should be made manifest in the man blind from birth.
Joh 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
The works of God is that we believe on Jesus.
When we believe on Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we are doing the works of God. Glorifying God, giving Him the honor and praise, the adoration. When we have any tribulation at all whatsoever, large or small, we need to glorify God and do the works of God throughout the tribulation this is all God asks of us. To believe in Him through it all, through all of life no matter what comes. Easy to say. Horrors exist in our world that would rip apart the very sanity from a person and as we imagine the horrors and trying to glorify God during that horror it seems all but impossible doesn't it? When we are outside of the horrors, the heartaches, the pains, and sicknesses of life, we like to believe we can give glory to God throughout, but once we are in the midst of them it's not so easy. Should it be easy? Should our faith in God be strong no matter what comes?
Someone asked me recently if I were mad at God because of things happening in my life and I said no, and they said they would be. All I could do was say, no, I wasn't mad at God, I wasn't going to blame Him. I felt weak and near caving in but by God's grace I couldn't blame Him. And I mean it... by God's grace! Not by any special power of my own, not because oh, I'm just so wonderful or special quite the contrary. Only by God's grace can I hold fast.
I hear my daughter say- 'God's will be done.' When I don't want God's will to be a certain way and I want to say no... no don't let that be God's will. In fact she had the right of it. It wasn't that she was being callous at all, it was a faith that was manifest that even in the worst we need to pray God's will be done. We might not understand why or how or anything about the horrors that befall people, us included, but we have to pray God's will be done. God be glorified. God's works be done.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, the Son of man, the Son of God now and forever.
Amen.
glorify (glôr´e-fì´, glor´-) verb, transitive
glorified, glorifying, glorifies
1. To give glory, honor, or high praise to; exalt.
3. To give glory to, especially through worship.
glory (glôr´ê, glor´ê) noun
plural glories
1. Great honor, praise, or distinction accorded by common consent; renown.
2. Something conferring honor or renown.
3. A highly praiseworthy asset: Your hair is your crowning glory.
4. Adoration, praise, and thanksgiving offered in worship.
5. Majestic beauty and splendor; resplendence: The sun set in a blaze of glory.
6. The splendor and bliss of heaven; perfect happiness.
Glorifying God.
How do you glorify God?
How should we glorify God?
God wants us to glorify Him. Our lives are to be lived glorifying God. The greatest thing we could ever do in life is glorify God. Living a life glorifying God.
Eph 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Tribulations for the glory of God?
Joh 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
Joh 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
The works of God should be made manifest in the man blind from birth.
Joh 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
The works of God is that we believe on Jesus.
When we believe on Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we are doing the works of God. Glorifying God, giving Him the honor and praise, the adoration. When we have any tribulation at all whatsoever, large or small, we need to glorify God and do the works of God throughout the tribulation this is all God asks of us. To believe in Him through it all, through all of life no matter what comes. Easy to say. Horrors exist in our world that would rip apart the very sanity from a person and as we imagine the horrors and trying to glorify God during that horror it seems all but impossible doesn't it? When we are outside of the horrors, the heartaches, the pains, and sicknesses of life, we like to believe we can give glory to God throughout, but once we are in the midst of them it's not so easy. Should it be easy? Should our faith in God be strong no matter what comes?
Someone asked me recently if I were mad at God because of things happening in my life and I said no, and they said they would be. All I could do was say, no, I wasn't mad at God, I wasn't going to blame Him. I felt weak and near caving in but by God's grace I couldn't blame Him. And I mean it... by God's grace! Not by any special power of my own, not because oh, I'm just so wonderful or special quite the contrary. Only by God's grace can I hold fast.
I hear my daughter say- 'God's will be done.' When I don't want God's will to be a certain way and I want to say no... no don't let that be God's will. In fact she had the right of it. It wasn't that she was being callous at all, it was a faith that was manifest that even in the worst we need to pray God's will be done. We might not understand why or how or anything about the horrors that befall people, us included, but we have to pray God's will be done. God be glorified. God's works be done.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, the Son of man, the Son of God now and forever.
Amen.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sometimes there isn't a sin.
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Sometimes there isn't a sin.
When you cry out why me, as life takes a turn that brings you pain, it's common to wonder if perhaps there's been something in how you've lived your life to bring the calamity about. Was there something you left undone? Did you not pray enough? Did you get angry unjustly once too often? Did your coveting stain you? Did you not ask for forgiveness for the selfishness you showed? What about your parents? Sometimes the sins of the fathers follow to the children don't they? Clearly they do.
Here in this Biblical instance Jesus is responding to the disciples asking Him why this particular man was born blind. Being born blind is obviously a curse so to speak and the disciples wanted to know who sinned, him or his parents. Jesus answered....neither. The curse of blindness at birth came about because it was something God wanted to happen for His glory. We think how horrible to deprive a person of their sight from birth to manifest your glory but it's an amazing blessing for this man. God allowed this to happen so that His works could be manifested in the blind man. God chose this man for a special calling to serve Him and is there anything greater than to be used for God's purpose? What a blessing he received. Not only was his physical sight restored to him but he had the blessing of having his spiritual sight opened as well at a time when the pharisees were deriding Jesus as being a miracle worker from God.
Could it be that sometimes we suffer to reveal God's glory?
Did that blind man who received his sight go on to never sin again? That's not for me to say but being human as we are and as Paul says, we are wretched creatures that can only live through the grace of God. Paul died daily and we too must die daily. Our self must die daily so that God's glory may shine through in us by His amazing grace and love.
'That the works of God should be made manifest...'
Things don't always have concrete reasons we can grasp hold of and sometimes it is 'that the works of God should be made manifest.'
May the works of God be made manifest in us all, may the glory of the Lord be our goal, not our own glory.
By the grace and the mercy, the everlasting eternal love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Sometimes there isn't a sin.
When you cry out why me, as life takes a turn that brings you pain, it's common to wonder if perhaps there's been something in how you've lived your life to bring the calamity about. Was there something you left undone? Did you not pray enough? Did you get angry unjustly once too often? Did your coveting stain you? Did you not ask for forgiveness for the selfishness you showed? What about your parents? Sometimes the sins of the fathers follow to the children don't they? Clearly they do.
Here in this Biblical instance Jesus is responding to the disciples asking Him why this particular man was born blind. Being born blind is obviously a curse so to speak and the disciples wanted to know who sinned, him or his parents. Jesus answered....neither. The curse of blindness at birth came about because it was something God wanted to happen for His glory. We think how horrible to deprive a person of their sight from birth to manifest your glory but it's an amazing blessing for this man. God allowed this to happen so that His works could be manifested in the blind man. God chose this man for a special calling to serve Him and is there anything greater than to be used for God's purpose? What a blessing he received. Not only was his physical sight restored to him but he had the blessing of having his spiritual sight opened as well at a time when the pharisees were deriding Jesus as being a miracle worker from God.
Could it be that sometimes we suffer to reveal God's glory?
Did that blind man who received his sight go on to never sin again? That's not for me to say but being human as we are and as Paul says, we are wretched creatures that can only live through the grace of God. Paul died daily and we too must die daily. Our self must die daily so that God's glory may shine through in us by His amazing grace and love.
'That the works of God should be made manifest...'
Things don't always have concrete reasons we can grasp hold of and sometimes it is 'that the works of God should be made manifest.'
May the works of God be made manifest in us all, may the glory of the Lord be our goal, not our own glory.
By the grace and the mercy, the everlasting eternal love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Suffering Wrongfully
1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
*******
Suffering wrongfully. Would you say that you've suffered wrongfully? Would you declare that you've suffered unfairly? Would you say that in your life you've been made to suffer without cause? Do you believe that your suffering has been wrong, that you did nothing to deserve the suffering? Has God allowed things in your life to occur that make you angry at Him because you think you didn't deserve those things? I could say simply you're a sinner and you deserve every bad thing allowed to happen to you and it'd be true, right? We don't get to pick and choose what comes our way as a result of our sinning. You turn your life around and give it over to Christ your slate is clean you're walking the straight and narrow way and the worst agony you've every felt is allowed to befall you for no apparant good reason. You've been forgiven, you've suffered and Christ has suffered for you so why, why are you being allowed to suffer so much more than you ever suffered when you were lost in sin's strong, deadly grasp? Instantly you begin to believe that if you're going to suffer so much as God's when you've denied yourself so much to follow Him, you might as well stick to being a blatant sinner because you suffer no matter what and you might as well suffer for something you know you're doing wrong rather than for no good reason. What good is following God if we are called to suffer? What good is it if we devote our lives to Christ and then when we seemingly need His help the most it's gone? He's gone. Bottom line- we don't want to suffer anything. We don't want to be face with a temptation that calls for our suffering to over come, we want supernatural power to resist the temptation. When we find out all our lives we've suffered and lived a life full of compromise and then we see the life we SHOULD have had, a life with real love and no suffering, a life that should have been ours but is NOW out of our grasp because of the path we've walked down, it's painful and it's horrific and it's a slap in the face to have to deny ourselves something that should be ours. We rail against God for what we perceive as injustice. We cry out that we need help to overcome the temptation to sin and when we don't find that help and the sin overwhelms us we blame God for not giving us what we needed to beat the temptation. We spend our lives blaming God for allowing the unjust pain to occur, we blame God for not saving us from ourselves, we blame God for our weaknesses and in truth God has done all He had to do, all He could do to save us. Every day, every hour, every minute we have to believe that everything that comes our way- every temptation, every injustice, every pain, every heartache we suffer is NOTHING compared to the suffering of Jesus, innocent Jesus who took on our humanity setting aside the divinity that would keep Him from death. He had NO special power to use, not if He wanted to save us. He USED no power to keep Himself from the agonies of life, the temptations. We get it twisted in our thoughts that He was special and it was EASY for Him to live as He did and die as He did. We choose not to grasp the magnitude of what He suffered because if we keep from really comprehending it as far as we are able then we allow ourselves to believe we suffer more somehow because we aren't special as He was special and had the power to overcome- special power. The truth is He only had the same power we have right now today- God. He relied on His Father for all things and didn't trust things to His own power.
Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Jesus suffered in ways we'll never be called to suffered because we know we are sinners, He never was. And even after we come to Christ and devote our lives to Him fully, seeking and obtaining forgiveness for our sin filled lives, and we think suddenly we are entitled to some special power that will keep us from feeling temptation and pain, a special power that will make us feel as if God is always with us and not abandoning us. Didn't Jesus cry out...
Mar 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Did God forsake Him? NO! He was resurrected but Jesus certainly felt as if God had left Him didn't He? So why should we even begin to think that we should have some special treatment that will afford us the feeling that God never leaves us on our own, suffering? We do though. We stomp our feet and rail our fists in the air and we scream at God for His lack of being there for us when we need Him the most. We suffer and we expect something special, to be treated better than God's own sinless Son.
We are CALLED to suffer and to suffer unjustly. God won't leave us, though it may feel as if He has abandoned us and left us to Satan's devices. We blame God and our lives go on and we continue to suffer and we console ourselves with worldly evils telling ourselves that it's just as well because God isn't really who He says He is and nothing is as it should be and when I loved Him the most He left me.
1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
God forgive us! GOD FORGIVE US! Because we are so weak. We give in when we suffer, we blame God for the suffering, we are so incredibly weak and lack so much in faith. Please God, please forgive us...forgive us for presuming to know Your ways and to accuse You of wrong. Forgive us God, forgive us and please Lord, please...restore us to you. We know our sins are many and willful and we've shunned You and turned our backs on You, we've blamed You and cursed You time and again, please Lord! For Jesus' forgive us, for Love forgive us and bring us to You fully once more knowing that anything and everything we are to endure will somehow work out for Your glory. Please Lord, we don't even know for what we should pray or how to pray, let the Holy Spirit intercede for us with You. We are so unworthy and only You are worthy. Lord we believe, help our unbelief! Please Lord! Help our unbelief! By Your perfect mercy, Your perfect grace, Your perfect rightousness in Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior now and forever!
Amen.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
*******
Suffering wrongfully. Would you say that you've suffered wrongfully? Would you declare that you've suffered unfairly? Would you say that in your life you've been made to suffer without cause? Do you believe that your suffering has been wrong, that you did nothing to deserve the suffering? Has God allowed things in your life to occur that make you angry at Him because you think you didn't deserve those things? I could say simply you're a sinner and you deserve every bad thing allowed to happen to you and it'd be true, right? We don't get to pick and choose what comes our way as a result of our sinning. You turn your life around and give it over to Christ your slate is clean you're walking the straight and narrow way and the worst agony you've every felt is allowed to befall you for no apparant good reason. You've been forgiven, you've suffered and Christ has suffered for you so why, why are you being allowed to suffer so much more than you ever suffered when you were lost in sin's strong, deadly grasp? Instantly you begin to believe that if you're going to suffer so much as God's when you've denied yourself so much to follow Him, you might as well stick to being a blatant sinner because you suffer no matter what and you might as well suffer for something you know you're doing wrong rather than for no good reason. What good is following God if we are called to suffer? What good is it if we devote our lives to Christ and then when we seemingly need His help the most it's gone? He's gone. Bottom line- we don't want to suffer anything. We don't want to be face with a temptation that calls for our suffering to over come, we want supernatural power to resist the temptation. When we find out all our lives we've suffered and lived a life full of compromise and then we see the life we SHOULD have had, a life with real love and no suffering, a life that should have been ours but is NOW out of our grasp because of the path we've walked down, it's painful and it's horrific and it's a slap in the face to have to deny ourselves something that should be ours. We rail against God for what we perceive as injustice. We cry out that we need help to overcome the temptation to sin and when we don't find that help and the sin overwhelms us we blame God for not giving us what we needed to beat the temptation. We spend our lives blaming God for allowing the unjust pain to occur, we blame God for not saving us from ourselves, we blame God for our weaknesses and in truth God has done all He had to do, all He could do to save us. Every day, every hour, every minute we have to believe that everything that comes our way- every temptation, every injustice, every pain, every heartache we suffer is NOTHING compared to the suffering of Jesus, innocent Jesus who took on our humanity setting aside the divinity that would keep Him from death. He had NO special power to use, not if He wanted to save us. He USED no power to keep Himself from the agonies of life, the temptations. We get it twisted in our thoughts that He was special and it was EASY for Him to live as He did and die as He did. We choose not to grasp the magnitude of what He suffered because if we keep from really comprehending it as far as we are able then we allow ourselves to believe we suffer more somehow because we aren't special as He was special and had the power to overcome- special power. The truth is He only had the same power we have right now today- God. He relied on His Father for all things and didn't trust things to His own power.
Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Jesus suffered in ways we'll never be called to suffered because we know we are sinners, He never was. And even after we come to Christ and devote our lives to Him fully, seeking and obtaining forgiveness for our sin filled lives, and we think suddenly we are entitled to some special power that will keep us from feeling temptation and pain, a special power that will make us feel as if God is always with us and not abandoning us. Didn't Jesus cry out...
Mar 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Did God forsake Him? NO! He was resurrected but Jesus certainly felt as if God had left Him didn't He? So why should we even begin to think that we should have some special treatment that will afford us the feeling that God never leaves us on our own, suffering? We do though. We stomp our feet and rail our fists in the air and we scream at God for His lack of being there for us when we need Him the most. We suffer and we expect something special, to be treated better than God's own sinless Son.
We are CALLED to suffer and to suffer unjustly. God won't leave us, though it may feel as if He has abandoned us and left us to Satan's devices. We blame God and our lives go on and we continue to suffer and we console ourselves with worldly evils telling ourselves that it's just as well because God isn't really who He says He is and nothing is as it should be and when I loved Him the most He left me.
1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
God forgive us! GOD FORGIVE US! Because we are so weak. We give in when we suffer, we blame God for the suffering, we are so incredibly weak and lack so much in faith. Please God, please forgive us...forgive us for presuming to know Your ways and to accuse You of wrong. Forgive us God, forgive us and please Lord, please...restore us to you. We know our sins are many and willful and we've shunned You and turned our backs on You, we've blamed You and cursed You time and again, please Lord! For Jesus' forgive us, for Love forgive us and bring us to You fully once more knowing that anything and everything we are to endure will somehow work out for Your glory. Please Lord, we don't even know for what we should pray or how to pray, let the Holy Spirit intercede for us with You. We are so unworthy and only You are worthy. Lord we believe, help our unbelief! Please Lord! Help our unbelief! By Your perfect mercy, Your perfect grace, Your perfect rightousness in Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior now and forever!
Amen.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Inner Storms
When we think of crisis coming to us sometimes I think we look outside ourselves for those crisis. We wonder what's going to come our way, what's going to interfere with our lives in a negative way. What might we have to handle. Unfortunately not all crisis come at us that way. Sometimes the upsets come from within ourselves and we are that crisis. Seriously. Self-doubt can be embroiled in so much and it eats away at us. Confidence isn't something that is always easy, or rather a lot of times it isn't easy. Our thoughts can start us on a downward spiril of doubt and anguish. We can look at our lives and realize so much isn't the way we'd have it be in so many ways and it can cause us to slip down into despair.
Despair-
ya?'ash
yaw-ash'
A primitive root; to desist, that is, (figuratively) to despond: - (cause to) despair, one that is desperate, be no hope.
Despair-
exaporeomai
ex-ap-or-eh'-om-ahee
Middle voice from G1537 and G639; to be utterly at a loss, that is, despond: - (in) despair.
In despair we lose hope and that's something we really can't afford to lose hope.
When we have no hope...
Jer 18:12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.
...there is a tendency to just go crazy in sin. We stop affording sin the deadliness it holds and we embrace the sins because without hope we feel there is no reason to seek God or His ways. When we get to that point we have no hope at all, we despair. Facing the inward upsets that eat away at our hope is a treacherous thing. We have to remember that it isn't always the outside forces that assail us and put us in harm's way. The storms in our lives can come in many ways, the slippery ground, the sinking sand can be found within us. We have to really set ourselves on the solid Rock of Christ and His ways during ALL crisis, internal and external without neglecting one or the other. With emotional turmoil and many things that can cause it we really need to place ourselves on the Rock and hold fast throughout all storms.
May God bless and keep us in Him, in the hope of Him so that we don't give in to despair and succumb to the evil within our hearts, evils we all have and evils we need God to create in us a clean heart from, renewing a right spirit within. By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, now and forever.
Amen.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Despair-
ya?'ash
yaw-ash'
A primitive root; to desist, that is, (figuratively) to despond: - (cause to) despair, one that is desperate, be no hope.
Despair-
exaporeomai
ex-ap-or-eh'-om-ahee
Middle voice from G1537 and G639; to be utterly at a loss, that is, despond: - (in) despair.
In despair we lose hope and that's something we really can't afford to lose hope.
When we have no hope...
Jer 18:12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.
...there is a tendency to just go crazy in sin. We stop affording sin the deadliness it holds and we embrace the sins because without hope we feel there is no reason to seek God or His ways. When we get to that point we have no hope at all, we despair. Facing the inward upsets that eat away at our hope is a treacherous thing. We have to remember that it isn't always the outside forces that assail us and put us in harm's way. The storms in our lives can come in many ways, the slippery ground, the sinking sand can be found within us. We have to really set ourselves on the solid Rock of Christ and His ways during ALL crisis, internal and external without neglecting one or the other. With emotional turmoil and many things that can cause it we really need to place ourselves on the Rock and hold fast throughout all storms.
May God bless and keep us in Him, in the hope of Him so that we don't give in to despair and succumb to the evil within our hearts, evils we all have and evils we need God to create in us a clean heart from, renewing a right spirit within. By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, now and forever.
Amen.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Strangers
Heb 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Do we forget to entertain strangers? How many of us would even consider such a thing, seriously? Strangers? We are taught to be wary of strangers. We are taught to think the worst of them. Be on our guard where strangers are concerned.
Isn't is true that we are all strangers to each other? I read in a place of business once a sign that said, 'There are no strangers here just friends who haven't met.' I really liked that saying. It holds the spirit of what God means when we are told not to be forgetful to entertain strangers. No one is a stranger really, we are all just human beings in this huge world of ours and we all share a common bond by having life alone. When we meet a fellow human being we aren't familar with, yes, they are a stranger to us and if we treat them with respect and the love of Jesus Christ we are doing all we can do. Not every stranger will end up a friend regardless of what that saying I like says. Opening our hearts with kindness to those we don't know is all Jesus asks of us. The fact that we might be entertaining angels unaware is just another blessing given us.
Instead of turning a wary eye upon the strangers we meet in our life we need to turn a loving heart upon them, the love of Christ who asks us to trust in Him for all things and that includes being safe when a stranger does enter our lives. No, it doesn't mean all strangers are good and it doesn't mean that we won't be hurt by a stranger, but it means we trust in God that all things will work together for good for us because we love Him. We don't have to understand, we just have to embrace the love of Christ and love God first and our fellow man second. The commandment isn't to love God and love our family and friends, the commandment is to love God and love our fellow man, our neighbors and our neighbors are any and all we meet in our lives.
May God bless us with His pure love for human kind, may we embrace any and all opportunities to entertain strangers in our lives and by that may we offer them any comfort we can, even if it's a kind word or a simple smile. By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, now and forever. In Christ's love.
Amen.
Do we forget to entertain strangers? How many of us would even consider such a thing, seriously? Strangers? We are taught to be wary of strangers. We are taught to think the worst of them. Be on our guard where strangers are concerned.
Isn't is true that we are all strangers to each other? I read in a place of business once a sign that said, 'There are no strangers here just friends who haven't met.' I really liked that saying. It holds the spirit of what God means when we are told not to be forgetful to entertain strangers. No one is a stranger really, we are all just human beings in this huge world of ours and we all share a common bond by having life alone. When we meet a fellow human being we aren't familar with, yes, they are a stranger to us and if we treat them with respect and the love of Jesus Christ we are doing all we can do. Not every stranger will end up a friend regardless of what that saying I like says. Opening our hearts with kindness to those we don't know is all Jesus asks of us. The fact that we might be entertaining angels unaware is just another blessing given us.
Instead of turning a wary eye upon the strangers we meet in our life we need to turn a loving heart upon them, the love of Christ who asks us to trust in Him for all things and that includes being safe when a stranger does enter our lives. No, it doesn't mean all strangers are good and it doesn't mean that we won't be hurt by a stranger, but it means we trust in God that all things will work together for good for us because we love Him. We don't have to understand, we just have to embrace the love of Christ and love God first and our fellow man second. The commandment isn't to love God and love our family and friends, the commandment is to love God and love our fellow man, our neighbors and our neighbors are any and all we meet in our lives.
May God bless us with His pure love for human kind, may we embrace any and all opportunities to entertain strangers in our lives and by that may we offer them any comfort we can, even if it's a kind word or a simple smile. By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, now and forever. In Christ's love.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Through the waters and fires
Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Everyday I try to read a little book that has daily Bible inspirations. Sometimes I'll read it early, sometimes I won't read it till late at night. If I forget to read it one day I'll read two the next, or try to. Yesterday I didn't get to it until later at night and I had to smile. Sometimes God arranges things so we see His hand at work clearly even if we're not exactly sure what lesson we are being taught. More often than not it'll be a lesson that we'll need for the future. I'm sure God is showing me something, not sure exactly where it will apply but yesterday my study was on Matthew 7:24-27 where we are taught by Jesus about being wise and building our houses upon the Rock and not upon the sand where the wind and waters and such can knock us down. Later that day I did something very spontaneously, I took our car to the car wash for the first time (on my own, that I can remember) the automatic car wash. Why? Well it was looking awfully dirty and my hubby who usually keeps up with its washing is recovering from surgery and infections so he isn't out and about like he usually is and well I just thought I'd get it cleaned up. Now there isn't anything remarkable about taking a car through a car wash and it was over and done with, I didn't think about it again until later that night when I picked up the daily bible booklet and had to laugh as I read a little story about going through a car wash! It was amazing that here I took our car through the car wash out of the blue and that very night I'd read about 'going through the waters'. The analogy was about going through life's rough waters and how God will be with us when that happens.
So here we have it- 3 things. 1st my study on building our houses on the Rock so the rains of life don't beat us down, 2nd the car washing, and 3rd the analogy to match that car washing. God is trying to show me something so I'm going to study a bit more on this and hope and pray I learn the lesson I'm going to need as His wisdom has reveals.
Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Waters, rivers, fire and flame all natural elements. Water and fire to opposing elements and yet both in their own right are deadly as well as life sustaining. Water is necessary for so much and fire is as well. Life and death the seemingly neverending cycle that is our lot. Only it's not life and death, it's life, death, and life again. With God our lives don't have to end in death eternal unless we choose that path. We can have life eternal it is a gift offered to us all through Jesus Christ and His righteousness, His grace, His mercy, His love.
All through life we will have those two opposing yet necessary forces in our lives. We will pass through waters that will assail us trying to drown us and steal our lives and we will pass through fires that will try to burn us and keep us from a life in Christ. We know we will have trials and tribulations, we know that we will have many obstacles to face and that's not something we can ever get out of, we can't expect to have a life trouble free because that doesn't exist. What we can count on is God being with us through it all. We have to burn into our minds this verse-
Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
We might feel like we're drowning in a sea of despair, we might be sure we are being burned alive and all hope is being stripped from us as life's heartaches assail us unendingly. When the pain is upon us, either mentally or physically, or even emotionally we instinctively seem to want to blame God for allowing the pain, we question Him, we question life and it's so easy to believe God has abandoned us by allowing the horrific trials of life to beat at us. He never leaves us- we leave Him. We have to trust Him beyond everything else. We have to have faith in Him that He will see us through the deepest of waters and the mose wicked of storms, that He will protect our eternal life as we are seemingly being burned alive with the fiery trials of life. We can't believe God is leaving us, or has left us when life hurts we have to trust that He that knows the end from the beginning knows what is what and that His will is better than our own will even if we can't even see the first hint of understanding dawning as to why the trials and tribulations come to us. The more they come the closer to God we need to be not further away.
By the grace and mercy of God may we hold fast to Him through all storms that come our way even when they come one after another so violent that our very hearts feel as if they are being torn from our chests. In Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, by His love and through the Holy Spirit's guidance.
Amen.
Everyday I try to read a little book that has daily Bible inspirations. Sometimes I'll read it early, sometimes I won't read it till late at night. If I forget to read it one day I'll read two the next, or try to. Yesterday I didn't get to it until later at night and I had to smile. Sometimes God arranges things so we see His hand at work clearly even if we're not exactly sure what lesson we are being taught. More often than not it'll be a lesson that we'll need for the future. I'm sure God is showing me something, not sure exactly where it will apply but yesterday my study was on Matthew 7:24-27 where we are taught by Jesus about being wise and building our houses upon the Rock and not upon the sand where the wind and waters and such can knock us down. Later that day I did something very spontaneously, I took our car to the car wash for the first time (on my own, that I can remember) the automatic car wash. Why? Well it was looking awfully dirty and my hubby who usually keeps up with its washing is recovering from surgery and infections so he isn't out and about like he usually is and well I just thought I'd get it cleaned up. Now there isn't anything remarkable about taking a car through a car wash and it was over and done with, I didn't think about it again until later that night when I picked up the daily bible booklet and had to laugh as I read a little story about going through a car wash! It was amazing that here I took our car through the car wash out of the blue and that very night I'd read about 'going through the waters'. The analogy was about going through life's rough waters and how God will be with us when that happens.
So here we have it- 3 things. 1st my study on building our houses on the Rock so the rains of life don't beat us down, 2nd the car washing, and 3rd the analogy to match that car washing. God is trying to show me something so I'm going to study a bit more on this and hope and pray I learn the lesson I'm going to need as His wisdom has reveals.
Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Waters, rivers, fire and flame all natural elements. Water and fire to opposing elements and yet both in their own right are deadly as well as life sustaining. Water is necessary for so much and fire is as well. Life and death the seemingly neverending cycle that is our lot. Only it's not life and death, it's life, death, and life again. With God our lives don't have to end in death eternal unless we choose that path. We can have life eternal it is a gift offered to us all through Jesus Christ and His righteousness, His grace, His mercy, His love.
All through life we will have those two opposing yet necessary forces in our lives. We will pass through waters that will assail us trying to drown us and steal our lives and we will pass through fires that will try to burn us and keep us from a life in Christ. We know we will have trials and tribulations, we know that we will have many obstacles to face and that's not something we can ever get out of, we can't expect to have a life trouble free because that doesn't exist. What we can count on is God being with us through it all. We have to burn into our minds this verse-
Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
We might feel like we're drowning in a sea of despair, we might be sure we are being burned alive and all hope is being stripped from us as life's heartaches assail us unendingly. When the pain is upon us, either mentally or physically, or even emotionally we instinctively seem to want to blame God for allowing the pain, we question Him, we question life and it's so easy to believe God has abandoned us by allowing the horrific trials of life to beat at us. He never leaves us- we leave Him. We have to trust Him beyond everything else. We have to have faith in Him that He will see us through the deepest of waters and the mose wicked of storms, that He will protect our eternal life as we are seemingly being burned alive with the fiery trials of life. We can't believe God is leaving us, or has left us when life hurts we have to trust that He that knows the end from the beginning knows what is what and that His will is better than our own will even if we can't even see the first hint of understanding dawning as to why the trials and tribulations come to us. The more they come the closer to God we need to be not further away.
By the grace and mercy of God may we hold fast to Him through all storms that come our way even when they come one after another so violent that our very hearts feel as if they are being torn from our chests. In Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, by His love and through the Holy Spirit's guidance.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Are we living upon the Rock?
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it
*******
Life sends us a lot of rain doesn't it? Everyone has a few floods in their lives, and that wind, the wind is probably more common than either the rain or floods. Sometimes we get a combination of it all, we get hurricanes in our lives. Yes, I'm talking figuratively because that's what this is all about, it's not a lesson in literal construction but a lesson to teach us about life's many hardships. No one lives in sunshine all the time, no one lives without problems in their lives. We can anticipate some of life's problems but most of them take us by surprise and try to knock us off our feet. What would we do if we could anticipate life's problems? If we were given a blueprint of our lives and told at this point a hurricane was going to hit our lives and try to knock us off our foundation- which is Jesus Christ. We would try to batten down our hatches so to speak, we'd put those shutters up on our windows, we'd lay a good supply of life's essentials around us and we'd wait hoping we were well prepared. See, we don't know when a sudden blow to our faith is going to hit us. We aren't given early warning signs, or are we? Perhaps our warning signs can come in the form of our faith and what we do to keep it strong. If we keep our house in tip top condition we've prepared in the best way we can for any sudden storm, right? If we hear the sayings of Jesus and do them, we are like a wise man who has built his house upon a rock.
In life people don't often live in a single house. Some live in several houses over their lifetime. In the figurative sense we can move from house to house as well- and sometimes our new house isn't built upon the rock of Christ. We take up a new abode and raise it upon sinking sand and we wonder why life is so horrible and we wonder why we aren't strong in Christ but weak in our own righteousness. We have to take stock of ourselves and take stock daily. Are we living upon the Rock today? Are we in the process of moving to a new house not built upon the rock? Do we suddenly find that we've moved in our sleep and we wake up in a sinking house? The good thing about the figurative building is that we can move instantly by the grace of God and we need to move instantly as soon as we recognize the house we are in is falling down from the assaults of life. If we recognize the house we are in is built upon the sand and don't make any effort to move to a house upon the rocks we have no one to blame but ourselves when life's problems overwhelm us completely and drown us, leaving us homeless and flailing about for shelter.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, by His righteousness may we seek Him and His ways often and always so that we may live protected by Him and His amazing, unfathomable love.
Amen.
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it
*******
Life sends us a lot of rain doesn't it? Everyone has a few floods in their lives, and that wind, the wind is probably more common than either the rain or floods. Sometimes we get a combination of it all, we get hurricanes in our lives. Yes, I'm talking figuratively because that's what this is all about, it's not a lesson in literal construction but a lesson to teach us about life's many hardships. No one lives in sunshine all the time, no one lives without problems in their lives. We can anticipate some of life's problems but most of them take us by surprise and try to knock us off our feet. What would we do if we could anticipate life's problems? If we were given a blueprint of our lives and told at this point a hurricane was going to hit our lives and try to knock us off our foundation- which is Jesus Christ. We would try to batten down our hatches so to speak, we'd put those shutters up on our windows, we'd lay a good supply of life's essentials around us and we'd wait hoping we were well prepared. See, we don't know when a sudden blow to our faith is going to hit us. We aren't given early warning signs, or are we? Perhaps our warning signs can come in the form of our faith and what we do to keep it strong. If we keep our house in tip top condition we've prepared in the best way we can for any sudden storm, right? If we hear the sayings of Jesus and do them, we are like a wise man who has built his house upon a rock.
In life people don't often live in a single house. Some live in several houses over their lifetime. In the figurative sense we can move from house to house as well- and sometimes our new house isn't built upon the rock of Christ. We take up a new abode and raise it upon sinking sand and we wonder why life is so horrible and we wonder why we aren't strong in Christ but weak in our own righteousness. We have to take stock of ourselves and take stock daily. Are we living upon the Rock today? Are we in the process of moving to a new house not built upon the rock? Do we suddenly find that we've moved in our sleep and we wake up in a sinking house? The good thing about the figurative building is that we can move instantly by the grace of God and we need to move instantly as soon as we recognize the house we are in is falling down from the assaults of life. If we recognize the house we are in is built upon the sand and don't make any effort to move to a house upon the rocks we have no one to blame but ourselves when life's problems overwhelm us completely and drown us, leaving us homeless and flailing about for shelter.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, by His righteousness may we seek Him and His ways often and always so that we may live protected by Him and His amazing, unfathomable love.
Amen.
Monday, February 15, 2010
To God's Honor
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
The Lord knoweth them that are his.
How amazing is this, how comforting. Combine that with this--
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
-- and we can see how important it is that God knows us, that we are known by Him. Doing *works* isn't what it is all about because preceeding that last verse is this--
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
If people are prophesying in the Lord's name and if they are casting out devils, and doing many wonderful works they ARE going to believe they are doing the Lord's work so it will be a shock to them when He says He doesn't know them.
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. If we claim Christ as ours, if we claim Christ in our life, if we claim to have Christ in our actions doing these marvelous things then we can't sin at the same time, rather we can't sin willingly, knowingly.
That verse above goes on to say that in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but of wood and earth, some to honor and some to dishonor. Our lives have to be to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Our lives have to be dedicated to Him fully for His honor. We can't sin willingly, knowingly, wantingly and expect Christ to know us. We will be Christians among others that claim they are Christians and not all of us will be preachers, prophets, healers, and such, but we are all Christ's. Some preachers, prophets, and healers won't be to Christ's honor, they will be to His dishonor, it will be those that He professes 'I never knew you, depart from me, yet hat work iniquity.' We have to examine our lives, our hearts and surrender all to God for His honor willing to let Him work in us the righteousness of Christ because we have none of our own. We have to live for Christ in all that we do and while the world with Satan at it's helm pulls out all the stops to get us to dishonor God, we have to cling to Christ all that much more and pray for an indwelling of the Holy Spirit living in us to will and to do of God's good pleasure now and forever, this is my prayer.
Amen.
2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
The Lord knoweth them that are his.
How amazing is this, how comforting. Combine that with this--
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
-- and we can see how important it is that God knows us, that we are known by Him. Doing *works* isn't what it is all about because preceeding that last verse is this--
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
If people are prophesying in the Lord's name and if they are casting out devils, and doing many wonderful works they ARE going to believe they are doing the Lord's work so it will be a shock to them when He says He doesn't know them.
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. If we claim Christ as ours, if we claim Christ in our life, if we claim to have Christ in our actions doing these marvelous things then we can't sin at the same time, rather we can't sin willingly, knowingly.
That verse above goes on to say that in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but of wood and earth, some to honor and some to dishonor. Our lives have to be to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Our lives have to be dedicated to Him fully for His honor. We can't sin willingly, knowingly, wantingly and expect Christ to know us. We will be Christians among others that claim they are Christians and not all of us will be preachers, prophets, healers, and such, but we are all Christ's. Some preachers, prophets, and healers won't be to Christ's honor, they will be to His dishonor, it will be those that He professes 'I never knew you, depart from me, yet hat work iniquity.' We have to examine our lives, our hearts and surrender all to God for His honor willing to let Him work in us the righteousness of Christ because we have none of our own. We have to live for Christ in all that we do and while the world with Satan at it's helm pulls out all the stops to get us to dishonor God, we have to cling to Christ all that much more and pray for an indwelling of the Holy Spirit living in us to will and to do of God's good pleasure now and forever, this is my prayer.
Amen.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
We don't want to be deceived.
Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Satan gives this kingdom(ruling power) it's power, it's life. People will be worshipping Satan by worshipping the power he controls. The power will be unique in that there aren't any other powers fully like this power that Satan controls. No one would dare make war with this power at this time. The power will speak great things, the power will blaspheme against God - but remember this is a power that is worshipped so the blaspheme isn't going to be something readily seen. This power continued for many years and continues to blasphemy God, God's name, and God's tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven. We know that God's tabernacle is with man and that tabernacle is Jesus and Jesus dwells in heaven. This power will have twisted things so much that it is true blaspheme against God in many ways and yet it will be worshipped. People don't like to imagine they're worshipping any power that is against God, a power that has been in existence for a long, long time. People believe that they are too smart to be duped and this power is Godly, but it's not, it only seems to be. This power makes war against God's true people - the saints. This power influenced greatly all kindreds, tongues, and nations. This power is going to have worship from ALL whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. We have to realize that deception is an art form with Satan and He has perfected that deception to the point that out of the multitude only very few will have their names written in the book of life. The Bible tells us this...
Mat 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:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
It's an eye opening revelation to be sure that the majority of people are going to be deceived by Satan. And it is deception because the art of deception is fooling someone without their knowing it. God tells us this will happen, and also tells us this...
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
We must know the commandments of God fully if we are to be among the saints- those not deceived. We must know the faith of Jesus fully. Do you know and follow the commandments of God? Do you know what the faith of Jesus is and do you have the faith of Jesus in your life? We have to study.
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
May God bless us as we seek to study His word, to rightly divide His word to know the truth of His commandments and the faith of Jesus. We don't want to be deceived as the many will be. Open our hearts and our minds by the Holy Spirit's power guide us to You fully so that we may know You and be known by You in Your love.
Amen.
Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Satan gives this kingdom(ruling power) it's power, it's life. People will be worshipping Satan by worshipping the power he controls. The power will be unique in that there aren't any other powers fully like this power that Satan controls. No one would dare make war with this power at this time. The power will speak great things, the power will blaspheme against God - but remember this is a power that is worshipped so the blaspheme isn't going to be something readily seen. This power continued for many years and continues to blasphemy God, God's name, and God's tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven. We know that God's tabernacle is with man and that tabernacle is Jesus and Jesus dwells in heaven. This power will have twisted things so much that it is true blaspheme against God in many ways and yet it will be worshipped. People don't like to imagine they're worshipping any power that is against God, a power that has been in existence for a long, long time. People believe that they are too smart to be duped and this power is Godly, but it's not, it only seems to be. This power makes war against God's true people - the saints. This power influenced greatly all kindreds, tongues, and nations. This power is going to have worship from ALL whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. We have to realize that deception is an art form with Satan and He has perfected that deception to the point that out of the multitude only very few will have their names written in the book of life. The Bible tells us this...
Mat 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:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
It's an eye opening revelation to be sure that the majority of people are going to be deceived by Satan. And it is deception because the art of deception is fooling someone without their knowing it. God tells us this will happen, and also tells us this...
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
We must know the commandments of God fully if we are to be among the saints- those not deceived. We must know the faith of Jesus fully. Do you know and follow the commandments of God? Do you know what the faith of Jesus is and do you have the faith of Jesus in your life? We have to study.
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
May God bless us as we seek to study His word, to rightly divide His word to know the truth of His commandments and the faith of Jesus. We don't want to be deceived as the many will be. Open our hearts and our minds by the Holy Spirit's power guide us to You fully so that we may know You and be known by You in Your love.
Amen.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Retaining Knowledge of God
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient
These words jumped out at me- Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.
Do you like to retain God in your knowledge? Seriously do you? Do I? Do we? What does it mean to retain God in our knowledge?
The verse reads even as they... who are the they?
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools
The 'they' are those who when they knew God- they glorified him not as God...professing themselves to be wise they became fools. The 'they' are those who have the chance to know God and even in knowing Him they choose not to give God the glory due to Him. Anyone who knows God and chooses not to glorify him is a fool.
'Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.' The they are any of us that don't choose to retrain God in our knowledge. We fill our lives with all sorts of things, all kinds of knowledge. We increase our knowledge of characters on a television screen, we increase our knowledge of fictional beings in books, we increase our knowledge in our ability to play games, we don't ever stop learning. Daily our knowledge is increasing even when we don't imagine that it is and can say with all assumed honesty that we didn't learn anything yesterday. In truth all your actions of the day before gave you knowledge. Were you sick and just laid in bed all day moaning in misery? Did you learn anything then? You learned to appreciate feeling better that much more. It's a simple thing but a lot of our learning is just that, simple and done without us even recognizing it as learning. Our lives are one learning experience after another. Our lives are made up of the sum of our learning experiences. Even those who seeming never learn from their mistakes, are learning but choosing not to avail themselves of the knowledge they've acquired. We live and in doing so we are learning the two go hand in hand. I'm not saying that everyone who lives is a scholar of great magnitude, I'm not saying everyone obtains a degree but we are constantly learning even if our lives seem to be utter failures. This part of the verse that jumped out at me...'Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.' it jumped out at me for a reason. Often as we go about life acquiring knowledge we make choices on what we wish to retain. We focus on one thing over another, we let certain things become more important to us than other things. When a person chooses NOT to like to retain God in their knowledge they are choosing to abandon what they know of God. Just as we all learn right from wrong as we grow up, we can choose whether or not we like to retain the knowledge of right and wrong and if we choose to like the knowledge of wrong doing over right doing our lives will reflect that. What we like to retain in our minds sets a course for our lives. Anyone who chooses not to like retaining God in their knowledge is setting a course away from God and without God we have no hope for eternal life, no hope for redemption.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient
God gave them over to a reprobate mind...God allows those who don't like to retain knowledge of Him to do the things that they want to do, God will NOT force anyone to believe on Him. God will not force anyone to like to retain knowledge of Him. We make the choice ourselves whether or not we like to retain God in our knowledge. In choosing to like to retain God in our knowledge we are keeping Him ever in our minds and ever before us as the supreme being in our lives even before ourselves. We are giving God rule over us and living for Him, not for ourselves. We like to retain God in our knowledge, keeping God in our lives forever. Read further on about those who don't like to retain God in their knowledge.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them
God giving them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient- one or all or these can be symptoms of those who don't like to retain God in their knowledge but would rather He never existed to confound their lives.
Unrighteousness
Fornication
Wickedness
Covetousness
Maliciousness
Full of envy
Murder
Debate
Deceit
Malignity
Whisperers
Backbiters
Haters of God
Despiteful
Proud
Boasters
Inventors of evil things
Disobedient to parents
Without understanding
Covenantbreakers
Without natural affection
Implacable
Unmerciful
That's a long list of things isn't it? Chances are we might find ourselves in there somewhere, does that mean we aren't among those who like to retain the knowledge of God? No, but it should give us pause to seek the Lord and a much closer walk with Him so that we aren't taken over by any of those things. We will always struggle as long as Satan is there to tempt us. We are flesh and spirit and Satan will go after our fleshy side for as long as we live. The Apostle Paul called himself a wretched man who warred within himself. We are the same, we will war within ourselves and that's a good thing. It's when the warring ceases we might want to do a double check. Christ alone can save us through His righteousness. We have to keep Him forever before us. We have to like retaining the knowledge of God in our lives so that we aren't given over to a reprobate mind. By the grace of God, by the mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now and forever may we always and forever like to retain God in our knowledge, in all our knowing, know Him first and foremost. Through the Holy Spirit's guidance.
Amen.
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Mar 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
These words jumped out at me- Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.
Do you like to retain God in your knowledge? Seriously do you? Do I? Do we? What does it mean to retain God in our knowledge?
The verse reads even as they... who are the they?
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools
The 'they' are those who when they knew God- they glorified him not as God...professing themselves to be wise they became fools. The 'they' are those who have the chance to know God and even in knowing Him they choose not to give God the glory due to Him. Anyone who knows God and chooses not to glorify him is a fool.
'Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.' The they are any of us that don't choose to retrain God in our knowledge. We fill our lives with all sorts of things, all kinds of knowledge. We increase our knowledge of characters on a television screen, we increase our knowledge of fictional beings in books, we increase our knowledge in our ability to play games, we don't ever stop learning. Daily our knowledge is increasing even when we don't imagine that it is and can say with all assumed honesty that we didn't learn anything yesterday. In truth all your actions of the day before gave you knowledge. Were you sick and just laid in bed all day moaning in misery? Did you learn anything then? You learned to appreciate feeling better that much more. It's a simple thing but a lot of our learning is just that, simple and done without us even recognizing it as learning. Our lives are one learning experience after another. Our lives are made up of the sum of our learning experiences. Even those who seeming never learn from their mistakes, are learning but choosing not to avail themselves of the knowledge they've acquired. We live and in doing so we are learning the two go hand in hand. I'm not saying that everyone who lives is a scholar of great magnitude, I'm not saying everyone obtains a degree but we are constantly learning even if our lives seem to be utter failures. This part of the verse that jumped out at me...'Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.' it jumped out at me for a reason. Often as we go about life acquiring knowledge we make choices on what we wish to retain. We focus on one thing over another, we let certain things become more important to us than other things. When a person chooses NOT to like to retain God in their knowledge they are choosing to abandon what they know of God. Just as we all learn right from wrong as we grow up, we can choose whether or not we like to retain the knowledge of right and wrong and if we choose to like the knowledge of wrong doing over right doing our lives will reflect that. What we like to retain in our minds sets a course for our lives. Anyone who chooses not to like retaining God in their knowledge is setting a course away from God and without God we have no hope for eternal life, no hope for redemption.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient
God gave them over to a reprobate mind...God allows those who don't like to retain knowledge of Him to do the things that they want to do, God will NOT force anyone to believe on Him. God will not force anyone to like to retain knowledge of Him. We make the choice ourselves whether or not we like to retain God in our knowledge. In choosing to like to retain God in our knowledge we are keeping Him ever in our minds and ever before us as the supreme being in our lives even before ourselves. We are giving God rule over us and living for Him, not for ourselves. We like to retain God in our knowledge, keeping God in our lives forever. Read further on about those who don't like to retain God in their knowledge.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them
God giving them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient- one or all or these can be symptoms of those who don't like to retain God in their knowledge but would rather He never existed to confound their lives.
Unrighteousness
Fornication
Wickedness
Covetousness
Maliciousness
Full of envy
Murder
Debate
Deceit
Malignity
Whisperers
Backbiters
Haters of God
Despiteful
Proud
Boasters
Inventors of evil things
Disobedient to parents
Without understanding
Covenantbreakers
Without natural affection
Implacable
Unmerciful
That's a long list of things isn't it? Chances are we might find ourselves in there somewhere, does that mean we aren't among those who like to retain the knowledge of God? No, but it should give us pause to seek the Lord and a much closer walk with Him so that we aren't taken over by any of those things. We will always struggle as long as Satan is there to tempt us. We are flesh and spirit and Satan will go after our fleshy side for as long as we live. The Apostle Paul called himself a wretched man who warred within himself. We are the same, we will war within ourselves and that's a good thing. It's when the warring ceases we might want to do a double check. Christ alone can save us through His righteousness. We have to keep Him forever before us. We have to like retaining the knowledge of God in our lives so that we aren't given over to a reprobate mind. By the grace of God, by the mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now and forever may we always and forever like to retain God in our knowledge, in all our knowing, know Him first and foremost. Through the Holy Spirit's guidance.
Amen.
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Mar 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
Friday, February 12, 2010
How would God have us think?
Do you ever feel as if you don't quite fit in the world the way it is? Seriously, I'm not asking so I can point a finger at you and shout 'Crazy person!' We weren't created to live as we do, and as we strive to make sense of life and our place in it we can't be happy if we don't feel as if we fit in the way we should. A strange concept isn't it? To be happy if you don't fit in.
We strive so much to fit in, to be right with the world around us. We strive to live our lives in such a way things seem to be right with all we do. Unfortunately there are as many ways that seem right to us as there are people in existence. We don't often see eye to eye. Even within our immediate families there is a constant (albeit lessened) sense of not always seeing eye to eye.
Friction. We live our lives filled with friction with one another and the varying perceptions of things we all have. Finding two people who agree on a mostly consistent basis is a rare thing- they usually become friends, but as we ALL know even the best of friends have falling outs. You've heard the saying I'm all right you're all wrong haven't you? It's the way we feel on a constant basis, we are right-- my opinions, my feelings, my way of thinking is somehow more right than yours-- but it's not. We are all striving to fit in, each of our minds holding thoughts unique to us and those thoughts don't always mesh with another's thoughts.
How would God have us think, or not think?
Mat 10:34 THINK NOT that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye THINK NOT the Son of man cometh.
Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye THINK ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Joh 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will THINK that he doeth God service.
Act 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought NOT TO THINK that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, NOT TO THINK of himself more highly than he ought to THINK; but to THINK soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us NOT TO THINK of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
1Co 8:2 And if any man THINK that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to THINK any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God
Gal 6:3 For if a man THINK himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK on these things.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, THINK it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 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.
*
There are some really interesting and very enlightening scriptures here. I want to point out a few that pertain more to what I was talking about than others--
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, NOT TO THINK of himself more highly than he ought to THINK; but to THINK soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
We want to think more highly of ourselves than we should don't we? A lot of times we really do. We want to think we're *all that* and more. Our egos can sometimes grow so huge we constantly trip over them. We THINK more highly than we ought to and that gets us into trouble doesn't it? Seriously we have to note this don't we? When we begin to think we are something very special in and of ourselves outside of God's realm and God's control we are in grave danger. Grave danger meaning we are at risk of offending God by placing ourselves before Him. We have to take ourselves down a few notches and realize we are creations and by the grace of our Creator we have been given life and allowed the opportunity to surrender those lives to God.
1Co 8:2 And if any man THINK that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to THINK any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God
Gal 6:3 For if a man THINK himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
We love to spout out our knowledge don't we? The words- 'I know' are very common to our tongues. I know this and I know that and I most certainly know all about the other thing. Pay attention to your words if you can and just try to note how often you say those two words- 'I know.' Loving God is much more important than knowing anything else at all. Loving God is everything. It's better for us to be known as one who loves God rather than be known as the one who knows of anything else.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK on these things.
We are told what to think on and it certainly isn't ourselves and our own knowledge. We are to think on the true things, the honest things, the just things, the pure things, the lovely things, the things of good report, of virtues and praise. How would our lives truly be if we did this? Think about it for a long moment. Our minds get so caught up in things that depress us and drag us down into ourselves. Our minds dwell on ourselves and our emotions at the moment. Our minds get wrapped up in the cares of this life so easily. We need to ask ourselves what we should be thinking, especially when we begin to think on things that are ungodly and things that take us away not towards the Lord. If for just tomorrow you woke up and told yourself that today by the grace of God you are going to think on things that are lovely and then tried to pull your thoughts towards the lovely things of God wouldn't it be great if it made a difference in your life, even a small difference because even a small difference when that difference is directed towards a life in God is a difference that matters whole a lot.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we find our thinking what He would have it be now and forever.
Amen.
Sabbath Blessings!
We strive so much to fit in, to be right with the world around us. We strive to live our lives in such a way things seem to be right with all we do. Unfortunately there are as many ways that seem right to us as there are people in existence. We don't often see eye to eye. Even within our immediate families there is a constant (albeit lessened) sense of not always seeing eye to eye.
Friction. We live our lives filled with friction with one another and the varying perceptions of things we all have. Finding two people who agree on a mostly consistent basis is a rare thing- they usually become friends, but as we ALL know even the best of friends have falling outs. You've heard the saying I'm all right you're all wrong haven't you? It's the way we feel on a constant basis, we are right-- my opinions, my feelings, my way of thinking is somehow more right than yours-- but it's not. We are all striving to fit in, each of our minds holding thoughts unique to us and those thoughts don't always mesh with another's thoughts.
How would God have us think, or not think?
Mat 10:34 THINK NOT that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye THINK NOT the Son of man cometh.
Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye THINK ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Joh 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will THINK that he doeth God service.
Act 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought NOT TO THINK that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, NOT TO THINK of himself more highly than he ought to THINK; but to THINK soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
1Co 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us NOT TO THINK of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
1Co 8:2 And if any man THINK that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to THINK any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God
Gal 6:3 For if a man THINK himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK on these things.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, THINK it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 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.
*
There are some really interesting and very enlightening scriptures here. I want to point out a few that pertain more to what I was talking about than others--
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, NOT TO THINK of himself more highly than he ought to THINK; but to THINK soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
We want to think more highly of ourselves than we should don't we? A lot of times we really do. We want to think we're *all that* and more. Our egos can sometimes grow so huge we constantly trip over them. We THINK more highly than we ought to and that gets us into trouble doesn't it? Seriously we have to note this don't we? When we begin to think we are something very special in and of ourselves outside of God's realm and God's control we are in grave danger. Grave danger meaning we are at risk of offending God by placing ourselves before Him. We have to take ourselves down a few notches and realize we are creations and by the grace of our Creator we have been given life and allowed the opportunity to surrender those lives to God.
1Co 8:2 And if any man THINK that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to THINK any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God
Gal 6:3 For if a man THINK himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
We love to spout out our knowledge don't we? The words- 'I know' are very common to our tongues. I know this and I know that and I most certainly know all about the other thing. Pay attention to your words if you can and just try to note how often you say those two words- 'I know.' Loving God is much more important than knowing anything else at all. Loving God is everything. It's better for us to be known as one who loves God rather than be known as the one who knows of anything else.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK on these things.
We are told what to think on and it certainly isn't ourselves and our own knowledge. We are to think on the true things, the honest things, the just things, the pure things, the lovely things, the things of good report, of virtues and praise. How would our lives truly be if we did this? Think about it for a long moment. Our minds get so caught up in things that depress us and drag us down into ourselves. Our minds dwell on ourselves and our emotions at the moment. Our minds get wrapped up in the cares of this life so easily. We need to ask ourselves what we should be thinking, especially when we begin to think on things that are ungodly and things that take us away not towards the Lord. If for just tomorrow you woke up and told yourself that today by the grace of God you are going to think on things that are lovely and then tried to pull your thoughts towards the lovely things of God wouldn't it be great if it made a difference in your life, even a small difference because even a small difference when that difference is directed towards a life in God is a difference that matters whole a lot.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we find our thinking what He would have it be now and forever.
Amen.
Sabbath Blessings!
Exercised by Chastening
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Heb 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Heb 12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled
Exercised by chastening.
Our biggest hope as parents is that our children learn from their mistakes and sometimes even learn from the mistakes we've made so they don't have to go through the pain that making mistakes can bring. We need to learn from any chastening the Lord sends our way. If we don't learn then we will reap the rewards of not taking the lessons given to us by God. Being chastened by God isn't pleasant, it's a horrible experience, an experience that rips at our hearts and souls sending us into many a tailspin. The chastening is grievous and we can relate to that because we know what it feels like to be chastened by our parents or caregivers as we do wrong and need the chastening. Can you think of at least one incident of chastening in your life that you learned from? Sometimes we have a moment when we do something and we know in that moment of reckoning we vow to never do that thing again so that we don't have to experience the pain of being chastened. God wants us to learn from our mistakes. God wants to chasten us so that we learn and from that learning we will experience the peace of Christ's righteousness. We HAVE to open our hearts to God's chastening. Our first instinct is to run, to hide, to bury the pain, to do anything to get the horrible pain of chastening out of our lives. However sometimes we embrace the chastening to readily letting ourselves wallow in the pain of the chastening without learning from it. We get caught up in the wallowing and live our lives right there in the despair and pain without being exercised by it at all. We cry out why me?! And we keep crying that out daily. Christ cried out for God to take the cup from Him, but did so by saying not His own will be done, but God's. Our will isn't to suffer, but sometimes the suffering is for a reason beyond our comprehension and we have to let go and let God work His will in us and by His grace and guidance pray that we can be exercised by the chastening we suffer.
We have to lift up our hands when all they want to do is hang low and wallow. We have to take our feeble knees and lift them up high when all we want to do is fall down upon them and yes...wallow in our misery. We have to make a straight path for our feet and that path is Christ's path and keep on that path so that we will be healed. If we don't keep on God's path our entire lives will be lame, useless, the wallowing will consume us fully.
We must have peace with ALL men.
We must have holiness with ALL men.
We have to look and not just glance but really look hard for Christ in our lives so that we don't fail of the grace of God.
We have to make sure NO bitterness fills us and it will try, it will try very hard to consume us. Bitterness is an enemy of God it overshadows hope, it kills faith. We can't let bitterness take over our lives and it will try very hard to do so. Depression is a form of hopelessness and can lead to bitterness, we have to lift up our hands and knees, we have to make our paths straight, we have to follow peace and holiness with all others and we will see God because it's through God this is possible.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we cling to Christ even when we don't understand any of what is going on in our lives, even when the horrors of live assail us. By the Holy Spirit may we live grasping hold of Christ's righteousness now and forever.
Amen.
Heb 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Heb 12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled
Exercised by chastening.
Our biggest hope as parents is that our children learn from their mistakes and sometimes even learn from the mistakes we've made so they don't have to go through the pain that making mistakes can bring. We need to learn from any chastening the Lord sends our way. If we don't learn then we will reap the rewards of not taking the lessons given to us by God. Being chastened by God isn't pleasant, it's a horrible experience, an experience that rips at our hearts and souls sending us into many a tailspin. The chastening is grievous and we can relate to that because we know what it feels like to be chastened by our parents or caregivers as we do wrong and need the chastening. Can you think of at least one incident of chastening in your life that you learned from? Sometimes we have a moment when we do something and we know in that moment of reckoning we vow to never do that thing again so that we don't have to experience the pain of being chastened. God wants us to learn from our mistakes. God wants to chasten us so that we learn and from that learning we will experience the peace of Christ's righteousness. We HAVE to open our hearts to God's chastening. Our first instinct is to run, to hide, to bury the pain, to do anything to get the horrible pain of chastening out of our lives. However sometimes we embrace the chastening to readily letting ourselves wallow in the pain of the chastening without learning from it. We get caught up in the wallowing and live our lives right there in the despair and pain without being exercised by it at all. We cry out why me?! And we keep crying that out daily. Christ cried out for God to take the cup from Him, but did so by saying not His own will be done, but God's. Our will isn't to suffer, but sometimes the suffering is for a reason beyond our comprehension and we have to let go and let God work His will in us and by His grace and guidance pray that we can be exercised by the chastening we suffer.
We have to lift up our hands when all they want to do is hang low and wallow. We have to take our feeble knees and lift them up high when all we want to do is fall down upon them and yes...wallow in our misery. We have to make a straight path for our feet and that path is Christ's path and keep on that path so that we will be healed. If we don't keep on God's path our entire lives will be lame, useless, the wallowing will consume us fully.
We must have peace with ALL men.
We must have holiness with ALL men.
We have to look and not just glance but really look hard for Christ in our lives so that we don't fail of the grace of God.
We have to make sure NO bitterness fills us and it will try, it will try very hard to consume us. Bitterness is an enemy of God it overshadows hope, it kills faith. We can't let bitterness take over our lives and it will try very hard to do so. Depression is a form of hopelessness and can lead to bitterness, we have to lift up our hands and knees, we have to make our paths straight, we have to follow peace and holiness with all others and we will see God because it's through God this is possible.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we cling to Christ even when we don't understand any of what is going on in our lives, even when the horrors of live assail us. By the Holy Spirit may we live grasping hold of Christ's righteousness now and forever.
Amen.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Finisher of Our Faith
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Lay aside every weight.
Lay aside the sin that easily besets us.
Run with patience the race before us.
Look to Jesus the author of our faith.
Look to Jesus the finisher of our faith.
Jesus whose joy before Him was the result of His sacrifice- eternal life for all those who would believe in Him.
Jesus who endured the cross- the suffering, the pain.
Jesus who despised the shame.
Jesus who is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We are to lay aside how much weight? EVERY.
We are to lay aside what that easily besets us? SIN.
We are to RUN with PATIENCE the race before us.
We are to look to JESUS the AUTHOR of our FAITH.
We are to look to JESUS the FINISHER of our FAITH.
It's not easy to lay aside the weight, the problems that upset us and weigh us down. We like to cling to the problems and worry over them, we want to mull over them and get all the mileage off them we can. We want sympathy, we want justice, we want a lot of things but just setting aside the problems and worries that bother us isn't something easy to do. The sins that easily capture our attention and take over us aren't sins we want to give up readily or they wouldn't be sins that were easily besetting us. Laying aside these things that would keep us from running the race before us, and running it with patience isn't something we can do on our own. We need Jesus, we need to LOOK to Jesus. We need to take our eyes off ourselves and look to Jesus. Jesus is the author of our faith. Jesus created our faith and Jesus will be there at the end of our faith when the substance of things hoped for are realized in Jesus.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we look ever to Him and not to ourselves.
Amen.
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Lay aside every weight.
Lay aside the sin that easily besets us.
Run with patience the race before us.
Look to Jesus the author of our faith.
Look to Jesus the finisher of our faith.
Jesus whose joy before Him was the result of His sacrifice- eternal life for all those who would believe in Him.
Jesus who endured the cross- the suffering, the pain.
Jesus who despised the shame.
Jesus who is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We are to lay aside how much weight? EVERY.
We are to lay aside what that easily besets us? SIN.
We are to RUN with PATIENCE the race before us.
We are to look to JESUS the AUTHOR of our FAITH.
We are to look to JESUS the FINISHER of our FAITH.
It's not easy to lay aside the weight, the problems that upset us and weigh us down. We like to cling to the problems and worry over them, we want to mull over them and get all the mileage off them we can. We want sympathy, we want justice, we want a lot of things but just setting aside the problems and worries that bother us isn't something easy to do. The sins that easily capture our attention and take over us aren't sins we want to give up readily or they wouldn't be sins that were easily besetting us. Laying aside these things that would keep us from running the race before us, and running it with patience isn't something we can do on our own. We need Jesus, we need to LOOK to Jesus. We need to take our eyes off ourselves and look to Jesus. Jesus is the author of our faith. Jesus created our faith and Jesus will be there at the end of our faith when the substance of things hoped for are realized in Jesus.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we look ever to Him and not to ourselves.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Boldness to enter into the holiest
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh
In the Old Testament before the Messiah came the sanctuary service was the only way a person could find their way to God.
Psa 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
God who is to be first and foremost in the lives of everyone (Deu 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul), set up the sanctuary service so that when a man disobeyed God and sinned he had a way to find forgiveness and be made one with God again. No man was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place. The only person allowed into the Most Holy Place was the High Priest and then only one time a year. The Most Holy Place where God's presence was on earth. The full way to God was denied to the common man because no animal sacrifice could ever fully atone for the sins against God. Jesus came made it possible for us to have complete atonement in Him.
A veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place and Jesus' flesh, Jesus' death gave us a new way to God all in Him and through Him. Such a miracle! Such an amazing miracle was wrought for us. The blessing we have to be alive knowing that a way to God has been made for us is something so awesome and yet so many take it for granted. We need to boldly come before God, with the blood of Jesus forever before us knowing that it's only through His sacrifice that we can do so, only through the righteousness of our Lord and Savior.
May God bless us, may the Holy Spirit guide us before Him by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, forever and ever.
Amen.
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh
In the Old Testament before the Messiah came the sanctuary service was the only way a person could find their way to God.
Psa 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
God who is to be first and foremost in the lives of everyone (Deu 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul), set up the sanctuary service so that when a man disobeyed God and sinned he had a way to find forgiveness and be made one with God again. No man was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place. The only person allowed into the Most Holy Place was the High Priest and then only one time a year. The Most Holy Place where God's presence was on earth. The full way to God was denied to the common man because no animal sacrifice could ever fully atone for the sins against God. Jesus came made it possible for us to have complete atonement in Him.
A veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place and Jesus' flesh, Jesus' death gave us a new way to God all in Him and through Him. Such a miracle! Such an amazing miracle was wrought for us. The blessing we have to be alive knowing that a way to God has been made for us is something so awesome and yet so many take it for granted. We need to boldly come before God, with the blood of Jesus forever before us knowing that it's only through His sacrifice that we can do so, only through the righteousness of our Lord and Savior.
May God bless us, may the Holy Spirit guide us before Him by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, forever and ever.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Who have you provoked today?
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works
Who have you provoked today?
We tend to think of provoking as a bad thing, just look at the dictionary definition.
provoke (pre-vok´) verb, transitive
provoked, provoking, provokes
1. To incite to anger or resentment.
2. To stir to action or feeling.
3. To give rise to; evoke: provoke laughter.
4. To bring about deliberately; induce: provoke a fight.
The first meaning given is 'to incite anger or resentment'. However let's look at the subsequent meanings. 'To stir to action or feeling', that's not so bad, right? Neither is this meaning, 'to give rise to, evoke: provoke laughter.' Then again this one isn't so inspiriing in a positive way, 'to bring about deliberately; induce: provoke a fight.' When the Bible tells us this- 'provoke unto love and to good works' this is a very good thing. How are we to help each other? Provoking each other to love and good works is an amazing thing. Inciting good, stirring up good works, giving rise to love, deliberately inducing love and good works these are amazing thing and how many of us do this? How many of us provoke another person to love and good works? It's easy to provoke mischief. A simple cross word from us can incite dissent and bad feelings, can a simple loving word do the opposite? Do loving words come easy to us or do criticizing words slip more readily from our tongues? Provoking unto love and to good works. What would happen if we determined to provoke someone to love and good works today, tomorrow, everyday we live? It's a thought isn't it? The next time a cross word spills from our lips let's instantly remember this verse and see if we can't provoke love before we provoke anything else.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior we can learn to provoke to love and good works. May the love of God fill us fully, may the forgiveness of Jesus wash over us all creating clean hearts within us. May the righteousness of Christ fill our hearts, our minds, all of us so that we may be His fully and that His will may be done within us now and always.
Amen.
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works
Who have you provoked today?
We tend to think of provoking as a bad thing, just look at the dictionary definition.
provoke (pre-vok´) verb, transitive
provoked, provoking, provokes
1. To incite to anger or resentment.
2. To stir to action or feeling.
3. To give rise to; evoke: provoke laughter.
4. To bring about deliberately; induce: provoke a fight.
The first meaning given is 'to incite anger or resentment'. However let's look at the subsequent meanings. 'To stir to action or feeling', that's not so bad, right? Neither is this meaning, 'to give rise to, evoke: provoke laughter.' Then again this one isn't so inspiriing in a positive way, 'to bring about deliberately; induce: provoke a fight.' When the Bible tells us this- 'provoke unto love and to good works' this is a very good thing. How are we to help each other? Provoking each other to love and good works is an amazing thing. Inciting good, stirring up good works, giving rise to love, deliberately inducing love and good works these are amazing thing and how many of us do this? How many of us provoke another person to love and good works? It's easy to provoke mischief. A simple cross word from us can incite dissent and bad feelings, can a simple loving word do the opposite? Do loving words come easy to us or do criticizing words slip more readily from our tongues? Provoking unto love and to good works. What would happen if we determined to provoke someone to love and good works today, tomorrow, everyday we live? It's a thought isn't it? The next time a cross word spills from our lips let's instantly remember this verse and see if we can't provoke love before we provoke anything else.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior we can learn to provoke to love and good works. May the love of God fill us fully, may the forgiveness of Jesus wash over us all creating clean hearts within us. May the righteousness of Christ fill our hearts, our minds, all of us so that we may be His fully and that His will may be done within us now and always.
Amen.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Unto them that look for him shall he appear
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Unto them that look for him.
Are you looking for Jesus Christ? What do you do when you look for someone? Looking is an active pursuit not passive. You can't say you are looking for someone with your eyes closed, everyone would know that you're lying. You can't see with your eyes closed. Telling someone to look for something they can't see is a fool's game, right? It's like telling someone to look for the very breath they are breathing. We are to look for a very real Jesus Christ to return and for those of us who are looking we will see him again because He will appear to us and when He appears it will be without the sin He took upon Himself for us because the atonement will be complete. The heavenly sanctuary service will have been fulfilled.
We can't take our minds off Christ's appearing it needs to be ever before us. Our lives must be lived under the constant assurance that Christ will appear to us again as long as we look for Him.
When we fear retribution we often hide from the source of that retribution. Our looking for Jesus is like looking for love, true love that is beyond anything we can ever imagine. We can't fear the coming of the Lord, we have to live daily in hope of His return.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we look for His return, look for Him in a very real way to appear to us. Let us keep Him ever before us.
Amen.
Unto them that look for him.
Are you looking for Jesus Christ? What do you do when you look for someone? Looking is an active pursuit not passive. You can't say you are looking for someone with your eyes closed, everyone would know that you're lying. You can't see with your eyes closed. Telling someone to look for something they can't see is a fool's game, right? It's like telling someone to look for the very breath they are breathing. We are to look for a very real Jesus Christ to return and for those of us who are looking we will see him again because He will appear to us and when He appears it will be without the sin He took upon Himself for us because the atonement will be complete. The heavenly sanctuary service will have been fulfilled.
We can't take our minds off Christ's appearing it needs to be ever before us. Our lives must be lived under the constant assurance that Christ will appear to us again as long as we look for Him.
When we fear retribution we often hide from the source of that retribution. Our looking for Jesus is like looking for love, true love that is beyond anything we can ever imagine. We can't fear the coming of the Lord, we have to live daily in hope of His return.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may we look for His return, look for Him in a very real way to appear to us. Let us keep Him ever before us.
Amen.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Do you have God's law in your heart?
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:
Heb 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.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Do you have God's laws in your mind? Do you have God's law in your heart? Is God, your only God? Do all around you know the Lord? I'm not talking know Him as a personal Savior for the answer to that would be instantly, no. Do most people you know, know God, know of Him and His mercy? With the publicity that is in our world today it's hard to imagine anyone not knowing the name 'God', in fact many are blasphemers of that holy name, making themselves as gods. They know what it means to be God, the one and only true God, even if their teaching has been through ridicule of Him or abuse of Him in horror games, movies and such. There are very few people you could stop that would look at you like you're insane if you ask them who God is. They might want to give some philosphical, or mythical idea of an answer, or even say they don't believe in God, but they know the original that has been perverted in many ways to suit the warped, sinfilled people today. God is merciful to our unrighteousness and if we repent and ask for forgiveness our sins are remembered no more. The new covenant is found in the blood of Christ not the blood of innocent animals, the new covenant will live forever and ever never to wax old or vanish away. The laws of God remain always, the way to forgiveness for breaking the laws has changed. We live with a new covenant, we live with God's laws in our minds and on our hearts. God is part of our very life. God's ways are our ways. We are blessed under the new covenant and one day sin will be no more, may that day come soon, very, very soon. By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we be God's under His new covenant forever living in Him with His laws in our hearts and minds.
Amen.
Heb 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.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Do you have God's laws in your mind? Do you have God's law in your heart? Is God, your only God? Do all around you know the Lord? I'm not talking know Him as a personal Savior for the answer to that would be instantly, no. Do most people you know, know God, know of Him and His mercy? With the publicity that is in our world today it's hard to imagine anyone not knowing the name 'God', in fact many are blasphemers of that holy name, making themselves as gods. They know what it means to be God, the one and only true God, even if their teaching has been through ridicule of Him or abuse of Him in horror games, movies and such. There are very few people you could stop that would look at you like you're insane if you ask them who God is. They might want to give some philosphical, or mythical idea of an answer, or even say they don't believe in God, but they know the original that has been perverted in many ways to suit the warped, sinfilled people today. God is merciful to our unrighteousness and if we repent and ask for forgiveness our sins are remembered no more. The new covenant is found in the blood of Christ not the blood of innocent animals, the new covenant will live forever and ever never to wax old or vanish away. The laws of God remain always, the way to forgiveness for breaking the laws has changed. We live with a new covenant, we live with God's laws in our minds and on our hearts. God is part of our very life. God's ways are our ways. We are blessed under the new covenant and one day sin will be no more, may that day come soon, very, very soon. By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we be God's under His new covenant forever living in Him with His laws in our hearts and minds.
Amen.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous
One test after another and they come from such unexpected places and in such unexpected ways. A simple look at the wrong moment and doubt floods us fully, doubts about each other, doubts about life, doubts about ourselves and our Christian walk. Sure we are told we will face many obstacles, we are told our faith will be tried in the fire, yes we are told that suffering is the lot of those who will take up the cross and we believe it, we do and then it begins. Yes, it begins and the trials and tribulations start and Satan will go all out as his reigns are loosed to pound at us. We imagine ourselves strong and ready for the battle that's until a dagger is thrust into our hearts from the most unexpected source- from a loved one. The dagger thrust not once but over and over again, and not all at once but just when we think the wound is healed it's reopened again viciously.
Everyone without exception is to be tried and we're not all going to face the same tests because our lives are all so different. A high profiled person will face tests that fit their life, just as a person in poverty will face their own individual tests. Some might say the poverty alone is the test and others will agree that the life of a rich person has their tests with wealth. Jesus said it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to get to heaven and it's true- how many rich people abandon their wealth for God?
Everyone is to be tried without exception and the trying is a personal thing individually crafted to bring us closer to God, closer to the full belief that God is everything while our lives are nothing- our lives are to be sacrificed to Him, living sacrifices.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Our hearts can bleed through the suffering we endure and as they bleed we are--
Rom 8:36 ... killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Psa 44:22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
Psa 44:23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
Psa 44:24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
Psa 44:25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
Psa 44:26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.
We can't pick and choose how we are chastened, the chastening comes from completely unexpected places, we can only hope and pray that we will recognize the chastening for what it is and cling to Christ as the pain washes over us time and again and we don't know where our lives are going. As one security after another is ripped from us and we flail about in despair wondering just how will survive may God become ever more real to us. As some tell us we should abandon God because He's abandoned us, let us by the grace of God tell them that no matter what God would never abandon us, we abandon Him. Will our lives be easy for that admission? No. Will the pain lessen or the trials cease? No. One trial might end only for another to begin. By the grace of God may we holdfast to the One with the power to save us from ourselves. Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior now and forever.
In Christ.
Amen.
Everyone without exception is to be tried and we're not all going to face the same tests because our lives are all so different. A high profiled person will face tests that fit their life, just as a person in poverty will face their own individual tests. Some might say the poverty alone is the test and others will agree that the life of a rich person has their tests with wealth. Jesus said it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to get to heaven and it's true- how many rich people abandon their wealth for God?
Everyone is to be tried without exception and the trying is a personal thing individually crafted to bring us closer to God, closer to the full belief that God is everything while our lives are nothing- our lives are to be sacrificed to Him, living sacrifices.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Our hearts can bleed through the suffering we endure and as they bleed we are--
Rom 8:36 ... killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Psa 44:22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
Psa 44:23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
Psa 44:24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
Psa 44:25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
Psa 44:26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.
We can't pick and choose how we are chastened, the chastening comes from completely unexpected places, we can only hope and pray that we will recognize the chastening for what it is and cling to Christ as the pain washes over us time and again and we don't know where our lives are going. As one security after another is ripped from us and we flail about in despair wondering just how will survive may God become ever more real to us. As some tell us we should abandon God because He's abandoned us, let us by the grace of God tell them that no matter what God would never abandon us, we abandon Him. Will our lives be easy for that admission? No. Will the pain lessen or the trials cease? No. One trial might end only for another to begin. By the grace of God may we holdfast to the One with the power to save us from ourselves. Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior now and forever.
In Christ.
Amen.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Strong Crying, Suffering, Eternal Life
Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him
Jesus- in the days of his flesh offered up prayers and supplication with STRONG CRYING and TEARS unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared.
Think about that for a moment. We have this picture of Jesus as being God on earth and not subject to the need for strong crying and tears. If Jesus cried and not just a little bit, but really, really cried and He knew the Father in a way that we don't how much more should we be crying, strong crying to God. God was a reality to Jesus in a way that He isn't to a lot of us, most of us. God is a figure that is surreal and fantasy, unseen and therefore regulated to a special realm in an abstract way. Do we make God pure reality for us, for our lives? Is God real to us? It's easy to say yes He is, and maybe that's the truth. I believe in God, I believe He loves me and wants me to be His. I believe God sent His Son Jesus to die for me so that I might live through the righteousness of Jesus. I do believe but is my life reflective of a living God? I want it to be. Jesus, God's Son came to earth and offered up His prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears. The Son of God would cry as He prayed and sought God's guidance and help. God heard Him, God heard His Son and not just because He was His Son but because He had reverence towards Him. Jesus gave God the respect due Him, so why do we think we can do any less? Jesus, God's Son learned obedience by the things he suffered. Another shocker? It can be when we think that Jesus had to learn obedience through suffering. Jesus knows everything we've gone through and will go through, Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus suffered temptation as we do. Jesus learned obedience through suffering and WE need to learn obedience through suffering. When we suffer we have the choice to learn or not to learn from our suffering. We will suffer through life's many heartaches and pains and we can succumb to them and learn nothing, or we can learn obedience. Jesus being made perfect became the author of eternal salvation unto all that obey him. By the grace of God may we learn obedience through our sufferings and may we realize that Jesus cried, Jesus reverenced His Father, Jesus learned obedienced through suffering and through Jesus' perfection we can find eternal salvation and only in Him is it found.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior now and forever.
Amen.
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him
Jesus- in the days of his flesh offered up prayers and supplication with STRONG CRYING and TEARS unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared.
Think about that for a moment. We have this picture of Jesus as being God on earth and not subject to the need for strong crying and tears. If Jesus cried and not just a little bit, but really, really cried and He knew the Father in a way that we don't how much more should we be crying, strong crying to God. God was a reality to Jesus in a way that He isn't to a lot of us, most of us. God is a figure that is surreal and fantasy, unseen and therefore regulated to a special realm in an abstract way. Do we make God pure reality for us, for our lives? Is God real to us? It's easy to say yes He is, and maybe that's the truth. I believe in God, I believe He loves me and wants me to be His. I believe God sent His Son Jesus to die for me so that I might live through the righteousness of Jesus. I do believe but is my life reflective of a living God? I want it to be. Jesus, God's Son came to earth and offered up His prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears. The Son of God would cry as He prayed and sought God's guidance and help. God heard Him, God heard His Son and not just because He was His Son but because He had reverence towards Him. Jesus gave God the respect due Him, so why do we think we can do any less? Jesus, God's Son learned obedience by the things he suffered. Another shocker? It can be when we think that Jesus had to learn obedience through suffering. Jesus knows everything we've gone through and will go through, Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus suffered temptation as we do. Jesus learned obedience through suffering and WE need to learn obedience through suffering. When we suffer we have the choice to learn or not to learn from our suffering. We will suffer through life's many heartaches and pains and we can succumb to them and learn nothing, or we can learn obedience. Jesus being made perfect became the author of eternal salvation unto all that obey him. By the grace of God may we learn obedience through our sufferings and may we realize that Jesus cried, Jesus reverenced His Father, Jesus learned obedienced through suffering and through Jesus' perfection we can find eternal salvation and only in Him is it found.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior now and forever.
Amen.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of God
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
soul -- (life) and spirit -- (mind)
joints -- (bones) and marrow -- (muscle)
The word of God is so precise, so knowing, that to think it could divide the very life from the mind two things so closely united is just mind boggling. We might say that the life and mind are divided all the time in the brain dead and maybe that's true but we're talking about something that is so exacting and discerning that it can do this while we live our lives not lay in a bed in a deep coma kept alive by machines. The whole point of this example is to show the precision of the word of God, the power of the word of God. Dividing bone from muscle- something that is easy? Some might say yes, with a very sharp knife and that's the entire point. The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword. The word of God is that sharp, exacting, powerful dividing instrument. The word of God is a discerner of thoughts and intents of heart. Think about it! Something that can discern your thoughts, something that can know that intents of your heart. God can do this. Jesus, the word made flesh, the written word of God are all so powerful and yet so often not even considered as such.
Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
God knows all. People might think they are hiding their thoughts, their intents but nothing is hid from God, nothing! Some mock this fact that God knows them and they set out to defy Him, challenging Him. God is so far above our human pettiness and anything that stems from deception and lies that our challenges, our defiance only hurts us and our lives not Him. He's saddened by our consistent backsliding away from Him and His pure love and that is why forgiveness is such an unfathomable gift. Yes, His anger is shown throughout the Bible and it's justified. His love overwhelms it all because with a word we could have been taken out of existence altogether. By the grace and mercy of God we are alive and we can live for Him.
No, our thoughts and the intents of our hearts aren't always something God would approve of and we need to fall at the feet of Jesus daily asking for forgiveness for all the sin in us. Thousands of years of sin is a heavy weight upon the worlds people and soon by the grace of God it will all be over, sin will be no more. Please Lord help us to be ready for Your return, loving You, knowing You and You knowing us all by Your grace, Your forgiveness, Your righteousness.
Amen.
Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
soul -- (life) and spirit -- (mind)
joints -- (bones) and marrow -- (muscle)
The word of God is so precise, so knowing, that to think it could divide the very life from the mind two things so closely united is just mind boggling. We might say that the life and mind are divided all the time in the brain dead and maybe that's true but we're talking about something that is so exacting and discerning that it can do this while we live our lives not lay in a bed in a deep coma kept alive by machines. The whole point of this example is to show the precision of the word of God, the power of the word of God. Dividing bone from muscle- something that is easy? Some might say yes, with a very sharp knife and that's the entire point. The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword. The word of God is that sharp, exacting, powerful dividing instrument. The word of God is a discerner of thoughts and intents of heart. Think about it! Something that can discern your thoughts, something that can know that intents of your heart. God can do this. Jesus, the word made flesh, the written word of God are all so powerful and yet so often not even considered as such.
Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
God knows all. People might think they are hiding their thoughts, their intents but nothing is hid from God, nothing! Some mock this fact that God knows them and they set out to defy Him, challenging Him. God is so far above our human pettiness and anything that stems from deception and lies that our challenges, our defiance only hurts us and our lives not Him. He's saddened by our consistent backsliding away from Him and His pure love and that is why forgiveness is such an unfathomable gift. Yes, His anger is shown throughout the Bible and it's justified. His love overwhelms it all because with a word we could have been taken out of existence altogether. By the grace and mercy of God we are alive and we can live for Him.
No, our thoughts and the intents of our hearts aren't always something God would approve of and we need to fall at the feet of Jesus daily asking for forgiveness for all the sin in us. Thousands of years of sin is a heavy weight upon the worlds people and soon by the grace of God it will all be over, sin will be no more. Please Lord help us to be ready for Your return, loving You, knowing You and You knowing us all by Your grace, Your forgiveness, Your righteousness.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Labor to enter into rest
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Rest G4520 (Greek)
sabbatismos
sab-bat-is-mos'
From a derivative of G4521; a "sabbatism", that is, (figuratively) the repose of Christianity (as a type of heaven): - rest.
Works- G2041 (Greek)
ergon
er'-gon
From ergo? (a primary but obsolete word; to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication an act: - deed, doing, labour, work.
Labour- G4704 (Greek)
spoudazo
spoo-dad'-zo
From G4710; to use speed, that is, to make effort, be prompt or earnest: - do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.
***
There is a rest to the people of God. God's people will have a rest and that rest is found in Christ at His return. The rest isn't promised to us now. We aren't told that we will find peace here and now on earth. When we think of resting we think of peacefulness don't we? Can you truly rest without peace around you? Peace and quiet go hand in hand. Peace in our minds free from the stressful things that wear on us. Jesus tells us this-- Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Yes, there is a rest for those who are God's and it comes by faith in God to do as He said He would do. There is a rest that is promised us when Jesus comes again and there will be no more tears or fears in our lives.
These verses-
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
We must labor- we must make an effort, we must be earnest, we must be diligent and endeavor to enter into THAT rest. It seems somewhat contradictory doesn't it, that we are to labor to enter into rest. But in truth we have to be earnest about our faith in God, we have to endeavor to know Christ fully, the effort we make is to keep Christ before us always and not ourselves first. Our diligence must be to love God first and foremost and love our fellowman. When we aren't striving, when we aren't labouring, when we aren't making the effort to put God and our fellowman first we are only looking out for ourselves and that selfishness is a dishonor to God's will. Making God's will first is the effort we must make to enter into His rest. We can't save ourselves that is a gift from God by the grace and mercy of Jesus through the ultimate sacrifice He made on the cross. We must repent and accept that sacrifice obtaining the grace of God and it's something we must do daily. Our lives must revolve around God and if they don't then nothing else matters.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
In all our ways we have to acknowledge Him and if we can't acknowledge Him in the way we are going that tells us something doesn't it? May God bless us and help us through the Holy Spirit here on earth to labor to enter into the rest that will be ours in Christ. By the will of God in Him always now and forever.
Amen.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Rest G4520 (Greek)
sabbatismos
sab-bat-is-mos'
From a derivative of G4521; a "sabbatism", that is, (figuratively) the repose of Christianity (as a type of heaven): - rest.
Works- G2041 (Greek)
ergon
er'-gon
From ergo? (a primary but obsolete word; to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication an act: - deed, doing, labour, work.
Labour- G4704 (Greek)
spoudazo
spoo-dad'-zo
From G4710; to use speed, that is, to make effort, be prompt or earnest: - do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.
***
There is a rest to the people of God. God's people will have a rest and that rest is found in Christ at His return. The rest isn't promised to us now. We aren't told that we will find peace here and now on earth. When we think of resting we think of peacefulness don't we? Can you truly rest without peace around you? Peace and quiet go hand in hand. Peace in our minds free from the stressful things that wear on us. Jesus tells us this-- Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Yes, there is a rest for those who are God's and it comes by faith in God to do as He said He would do. There is a rest that is promised us when Jesus comes again and there will be no more tears or fears in our lives.
These verses-
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
We must labor- we must make an effort, we must be earnest, we must be diligent and endeavor to enter into THAT rest. It seems somewhat contradictory doesn't it, that we are to labor to enter into rest. But in truth we have to be earnest about our faith in God, we have to endeavor to know Christ fully, the effort we make is to keep Christ before us always and not ourselves first. Our diligence must be to love God first and foremost and love our fellowman. When we aren't striving, when we aren't labouring, when we aren't making the effort to put God and our fellowman first we are only looking out for ourselves and that selfishness is a dishonor to God's will. Making God's will first is the effort we must make to enter into His rest. We can't save ourselves that is a gift from God by the grace and mercy of Jesus through the ultimate sacrifice He made on the cross. We must repent and accept that sacrifice obtaining the grace of God and it's something we must do daily. Our lives must revolve around God and if they don't then nothing else matters.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
In all our ways we have to acknowledge Him and if we can't acknowledge Him in the way we are going that tells us something doesn't it? May God bless us and help us through the Holy Spirit here on earth to labor to enter into the rest that will be ours in Christ. By the will of God in Him always now and forever.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
He also hath ceased from his own works
Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Heb 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Heb 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
Heb 4:5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
Heb 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
Heb 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Heb 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
We are promised a rest. How sweet that sounds. Even when we sleep, even when we are physically well rested we often don't feel truly rested do we? Any rest we get here and now isn't a true rest. We wake with the burdens of life surrounding us. We wake with the heaviness of life weighing down upon us so that life seems like a chore at times and not the true miracle it is. The Bible tells us, Heb 4:1 'Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.'
A promise is left to us, a promise of entering into Jesus' rest.
A promise was left to those in Moses' day when He led the freed captives through the wilderness and a whole generation of them did not enter into the promised land, why? Because they lacked faith in God. We are promised a rest in Jesus but we won't realize that rest without faith.
God created the Sabbath for us. God created a day of rest- His rest for us. God did this as a permanent reminder to us that He is our Creator, our Savior. By faith we are going to enter in Jesus' rest, the rest that is promised in Him when as the gospel reveals He comes again to take His redeemed to heaven those that are alive and those that are dead in Him will be raised to life at that time. We can ONLY enter this rest by ceasing from all our own works and the Sabbath strives to teach us this. The Sabbath reveals God's true power over His creations and by observing the Sabbath we bow down to our Creator giving up ourselves and putting Him first fully. By faith we have to surrender ourselves to God. We have to think about what it means to cease from all our own works. We can't save ourselves we have to trust in Jesus to save us. When we believe that our salvation rests with us we deny the power of God to save us. Truly we have to believe and have faith in Jesus to save us, not faith and belief in our own works.
May God open our hearts and minds to understand His true rest and our need to cease from all our works and surrender by faith to Him and His power to save us. By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ now and forever.
Amen.
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Heb 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Heb 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
Heb 4:5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
Heb 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
Heb 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Heb 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
We are promised a rest. How sweet that sounds. Even when we sleep, even when we are physically well rested we often don't feel truly rested do we? Any rest we get here and now isn't a true rest. We wake with the burdens of life surrounding us. We wake with the heaviness of life weighing down upon us so that life seems like a chore at times and not the true miracle it is. The Bible tells us, Heb 4:1 'Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.'
A promise is left to us, a promise of entering into Jesus' rest.
A promise was left to those in Moses' day when He led the freed captives through the wilderness and a whole generation of them did not enter into the promised land, why? Because they lacked faith in God. We are promised a rest in Jesus but we won't realize that rest without faith.
God created the Sabbath for us. God created a day of rest- His rest for us. God did this as a permanent reminder to us that He is our Creator, our Savior. By faith we are going to enter in Jesus' rest, the rest that is promised in Him when as the gospel reveals He comes again to take His redeemed to heaven those that are alive and those that are dead in Him will be raised to life at that time. We can ONLY enter this rest by ceasing from all our own works and the Sabbath strives to teach us this. The Sabbath reveals God's true power over His creations and by observing the Sabbath we bow down to our Creator giving up ourselves and putting Him first fully. By faith we have to surrender ourselves to God. We have to think about what it means to cease from all our own works. We can't save ourselves we have to trust in Jesus to save us. When we believe that our salvation rests with us we deny the power of God to save us. Truly we have to believe and have faith in Jesus to save us, not faith and belief in our own works.
May God open our hearts and minds to understand His true rest and our need to cease from all our works and surrender by faith to Him and His power to save us. By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ now and forever.
Amen.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Throne of Grace
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
The throne of grace. It sounds so majestic, the throne of grace.
Grace is --
charis
khar'-ece
From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): - acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).
grace (grâs) noun
a. A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill. b. Mercy; clemency.
A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.
A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve.
8. Theology. a. Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people. b. The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God. c. An excellence or a power granted by God.
When we think of the grace of God we think of the unwarranted forgiveness that God gives to us, the reprieve, the mercy, the divine love of God given to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
To be told to come boldly unto the throne of grace is to place ourselves before God. We can't go knock on a door and be admitted to a room containing the throne of grace so that we can kneel before that throne and God upon it, can we? No. We aren't able to do that literally but figuratively we do need to do just that. We need to place ourselves before God, humbling ourselves even as we boldly take that step to put ourselves into the very real presence of God, the Holy Spirit interceding for us literally where we cannot go. Only at the throne of grace will we find the grace we need to help us. By the grace of God we are helped by God in so many, many ways. In fact it is only by the grace of God we even live.
Please Lord, let us learn to come boldly before You our only source of true help, the only place we can find the help we need to live in You and only in You. We are in a world that would tear us down and destroy us at every opportunity. We live in a world that brings pain and anguish to those we love while we remain feeling helpless to ease their heartache, their pain. How gladly we say, or think we would take their pain and bear it for them just so they didn't have to endure it themselves and yet we know that we are all tried in fire, that our faith is perfected as we are chastened and go through the hardships of life excessive or not. Please Lord I come boldly before You now and kneel at Your throne of grace pleading for Your help in our time of need. You know our needs Lord, please help us endure all that we need to in You, and through You, so that we may one day be with You forever in eternity. By Your grace Lord, by Your grace.
In Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior now and forever.
Amen.
The throne of grace. It sounds so majestic, the throne of grace.
Grace is --
charis
khar'-ece
From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): - acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).
grace (grâs) noun
a. A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill. b. Mercy; clemency.
A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.
A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve.
8. Theology. a. Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people. b. The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God. c. An excellence or a power granted by God.
When we think of the grace of God we think of the unwarranted forgiveness that God gives to us, the reprieve, the mercy, the divine love of God given to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
To be told to come boldly unto the throne of grace is to place ourselves before God. We can't go knock on a door and be admitted to a room containing the throne of grace so that we can kneel before that throne and God upon it, can we? No. We aren't able to do that literally but figuratively we do need to do just that. We need to place ourselves before God, humbling ourselves even as we boldly take that step to put ourselves into the very real presence of God, the Holy Spirit interceding for us literally where we cannot go. Only at the throne of grace will we find the grace we need to help us. By the grace of God we are helped by God in so many, many ways. In fact it is only by the grace of God we even live.
Please Lord, let us learn to come boldly before You our only source of true help, the only place we can find the help we need to live in You and only in You. We are in a world that would tear us down and destroy us at every opportunity. We live in a world that brings pain and anguish to those we love while we remain feeling helpless to ease their heartache, their pain. How gladly we say, or think we would take their pain and bear it for them just so they didn't have to endure it themselves and yet we know that we are all tried in fire, that our faith is perfected as we are chastened and go through the hardships of life excessive or not. Please Lord I come boldly before You now and kneel at Your throne of grace pleading for Your help in our time of need. You know our needs Lord, please help us endure all that we need to in You, and through You, so that we may one day be with You forever in eternity. By Your grace Lord, by Your grace.
In Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior now and forever.
Amen.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Kingdom of God
Luk 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
All of us can see the kingdom of God right now, do you believe this? Seriously. The kingdom of God is Jesus Christ and salvation through Him. If we accept Jesus as our Savior we are seeing the kingdom of God realized fully. Just as the thief on the cross was promised the kingdom, we too are promised it. The thief didn't go that very day to *heaven*, Jesus Himself didn't even go to *heaven* that day but lay in the grave. The promise of the kingdom is given now not upon death. There were some standing there when Jesus spoke those words who accepted Him as their Savior, they accepted Him as the kingdom of God come to them and they didn't see death. Maybe they lived their lives and didn't fully accept the Lord as their Savior for many years, but before they died they understood, they realized the the kingdom of God was found only in one place-- Jesus Christ. NONE shall see the kingdom of God who don't realize that Jesus is the kingdom of God and it's only through Him that any will ever experience life eternal.
Jesus said...
Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Jesus said...
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Jesus said....
Mar 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Mar 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Mar 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Mar 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
Jesus said...
Luk 10:9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
Jesus said...
Luk 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
Jesus said...
Luk 13:18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
Luk 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
Luk 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
Luk 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Jesus said...
Luk 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:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
'...the kingdom of God is within you.'
The knowledge can lie within us all, the truth, the way, Jesus is that knowledge, Jesus is the truth, Jesus is the way, Jesus is the kingdom of God for us all. By His grace and mercy may we realize the kingdom of God within us through Him and only Him as our Lord and Savior now and forever.
Amen.
All of us can see the kingdom of God right now, do you believe this? Seriously. The kingdom of God is Jesus Christ and salvation through Him. If we accept Jesus as our Savior we are seeing the kingdom of God realized fully. Just as the thief on the cross was promised the kingdom, we too are promised it. The thief didn't go that very day to *heaven*, Jesus Himself didn't even go to *heaven* that day but lay in the grave. The promise of the kingdom is given now not upon death. There were some standing there when Jesus spoke those words who accepted Him as their Savior, they accepted Him as the kingdom of God come to them and they didn't see death. Maybe they lived their lives and didn't fully accept the Lord as their Savior for many years, but before they died they understood, they realized the the kingdom of God was found only in one place-- Jesus Christ. NONE shall see the kingdom of God who don't realize that Jesus is the kingdom of God and it's only through Him that any will ever experience life eternal.
Jesus said...
Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Jesus said...
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Jesus said....
Mar 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Mar 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Mar 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Mar 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
Jesus said...
Luk 10:9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
Jesus said...
Luk 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
Jesus said...
Luk 13:18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
Luk 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
Luk 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
Luk 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Jesus said...
Luk 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:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
'...the kingdom of God is within you.'
The knowledge can lie within us all, the truth, the way, Jesus is that knowledge, Jesus is the truth, Jesus is the way, Jesus is the kingdom of God for us all. By His grace and mercy may we realize the kingdom of God within us through Him and only Him as our Lord and Savior now and forever.
Amen.
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