1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
That old saying you can't take it with you is very true. Even people who are buried with their treasures aren't really taking them with them. Seriously. They can do absolutely nothing about someone coming along and looting their grave sites right after their buried all the way to thousands of years later. The pyramids are an example. The pharaohs were buried with many, many things but they took NOTHING with them. When a person dies and sleeps death's sleep they know nothing, they are not aware of their surroundings, they can interact with absolutely nothing. They haven't a clue that their things are there with them, not a single inkling. We die with exactly what we are born with- nothing.
1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Can we?
Can we be content with having food and clothing? Seriously, is this possible? We are SO incredibly materialistic that I have to ask with all honesty if this is possible.
Many people have little choice but to live in poverty- where food is a scarcity and clothing minimal. But even those people might not be content with what they have.
The verse is…
'And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.'
Be therewith content.
Content.
At peace with- is contentment isn't it? Not being at odds with something is being content with it. Not being angry, upset, dismayed, and not being overly happy, or even happy really but rather being at a place where your situation is accepted for what it is and there is no angst at all. There is an understanding, an acceptance, a certain peace knowing God's will is being done in the harshest of situations-- in all things-- in the simplest of food and clothing.
1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
We are told to be content with simple food and raiment because the RICH fall into temptation and snares, into lots of foolish and hurtful lusts, and those all DROWN men in destruction, in perdition!
Yet so many of us WANT to be rich. So many of us want to have the good life, so many of us long to have riches beyond measure. Riches… an abundance of wealth, food in excess, food in high quality, clothing to spare, the best and latest fashions- we desire these things. We desire the abundance of things. We want the good things, the good cars, the good clothes, the good food, the good houses, the good furniture, the good everything! This materialistic desire is alive and well and living among us. We are raised on this materialistic belief and thrive on it, it's in our blood, it's in the air we breathe and when we try to extract ourselves from it, it seems all but impossible. We make excuses for our *wants*. We just want our house to look good, not fancy but good. We just want to appear neat and nice, not diva-ish. We just want a car that won't break down, doesn't have to be this year's model. We just want quality food not that stuff that is unhealthy and substandard. We just want a little extra spending money. We just want the occasional night out. We just want to go out to a restaurant once in a while. We just want to go into a store and be able to buy a few things. We just want… we just want… we just want. And our just wanting is more often than not for things other than the simplest of food and clothing.
We just don't realize how dangerous riches are, we don't realize that we are toying with our eternal life when we desire wealth. Materialism is DANGEROUS. The dangers we face are tremendous and Satan has it all set up so we don't see it, and won't see it until it's too late.
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The love of money is the root of all evil.
This isn't one of those things people say that has no real substance. This has a lot of substance, more than we realize.
The discontent we heap upon ourselves is more than just an inconvenience, it's a deadly eternal loss. This discontent we feel when our life is hard and we don't have this, that, and the other thing , is horrific- and it will pierce us with MANY sorrows.
We need to pray for contentment in what we have, and NOT allow discontentment in what we don't have pierce us with the most deadly of sorrows- eternal death.
As we feel the wanting we've grown used to experiencing well up inside us even now, even as this is read, we have to pray for God's mercy, pray for God's help to overcome the evil of riches trying to ensnare us. It is by His grace and love, in His righteousness we live and we claim salvation through Him so that we will be in the kingdom of heaven with Him.
By His LOVE!
Amen.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
My Hope!
Psa 71:5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.
What do you hope for? You do have a hope even if it's a small one, right? Think about it for a few moments, or longer if you need to. We live with hope. Very few live without hope in their lives, very few. While some people might live with a lot of hope for many things, others can live life with just a few hopes. We hope for good things for our children, we hope for good things for ourselves, we hope for good health, we hope for nice weather, we hope for gifts, we hope for love, we hope for long life, we hope for many things over the course of our lives.
In reality the hope we need to have should be in one place because all the hope we place in temporal things can fade away. Hope we place in the eternal Lord Jesus Christ our Savior will never fade away- not now, and not ever.
While we hope for our children to be successful in life- not necessarily rich monetary wise- but in many ways- is that hope always something that will be realized? Unfortunately, no. While we hope for ourselves many times our hopes are dashed aren't they, over and over some would say. We sometimes get what we hope for but more often than not we don't.
Placing hope in *things* of this world is foolish IF we don't keep that hope checked by realizing that nothing is promised to us in this life- not good health, not happiness in worldly things, not human love, not wealth, not friendship, not loving family, not peace in worldly ways, not children, not intellect, not employment, and on and on. We are NOT promised this world or anything in this world. So many want others to believe they are promised good in this world.
We are promised hope in our Lord.
We are promised happiness in our Lord.
We are promised eternal life in our Lord.
Our riches are heavenly riches.
Our hopes are heavenly hopes.
Our happiness is a heavenly happiness.
Psa 71:5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD
The Lord our God must be OUR hope first and foremost. Let's read a few more verses on hope--
Psa 39:7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
Jer 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
Lam 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation
Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Hope in God.
The blessed hope.
Lively hope.
We really need this HOPE more than any other hope we could possibly desire.
Is your hope in Christ? Or are you placing your hope in things not eternal?
Christ our Hope!
Christ our Kingdom!
Christ our Love!
Christ our everything!
In His love, His grace!
Always.
Amen.
What do you hope for? You do have a hope even if it's a small one, right? Think about it for a few moments, or longer if you need to. We live with hope. Very few live without hope in their lives, very few. While some people might live with a lot of hope for many things, others can live life with just a few hopes. We hope for good things for our children, we hope for good things for ourselves, we hope for good health, we hope for nice weather, we hope for gifts, we hope for love, we hope for long life, we hope for many things over the course of our lives.
In reality the hope we need to have should be in one place because all the hope we place in temporal things can fade away. Hope we place in the eternal Lord Jesus Christ our Savior will never fade away- not now, and not ever.
While we hope for our children to be successful in life- not necessarily rich monetary wise- but in many ways- is that hope always something that will be realized? Unfortunately, no. While we hope for ourselves many times our hopes are dashed aren't they, over and over some would say. We sometimes get what we hope for but more often than not we don't.
Placing hope in *things* of this world is foolish IF we don't keep that hope checked by realizing that nothing is promised to us in this life- not good health, not happiness in worldly things, not human love, not wealth, not friendship, not loving family, not peace in worldly ways, not children, not intellect, not employment, and on and on. We are NOT promised this world or anything in this world. So many want others to believe they are promised good in this world.
We are promised hope in our Lord.
We are promised happiness in our Lord.
We are promised eternal life in our Lord.
Our riches are heavenly riches.
Our hopes are heavenly hopes.
Our happiness is a heavenly happiness.
Psa 71:5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD
The Lord our God must be OUR hope first and foremost. Let's read a few more verses on hope--
Psa 39:7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
Jer 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
Lam 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation
Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Hope in God.
The blessed hope.
Lively hope.
We really need this HOPE more than any other hope we could possibly desire.
Is your hope in Christ? Or are you placing your hope in things not eternal?
Christ our Hope!
Christ our Kingdom!
Christ our Love!
Christ our everything!
In His love, His grace!
Always.
Amen.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Deliver us from the wicked, the unrighteous, the cruel
Psa 71:4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
Do we need to pray this? Most of us aren't in the hands of the wicked, are we? Do the unrighteous and cruel men hold us captive? Perhaps we are held captive more than we realize. Seriously. Just how much do other people influence our lives? Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, friends, neighbors, peers, schoolmates, teachers, doctors, everyone we come in contact with has a touch of influence upon our lives. The stranger that smiles, the stranger that frowns, the stranger that seems oblivious to our existence. Those we work for, those who work for us, those who help us, those we help. It's an endless ongoing influence surrounding each of us. We have even more influence from others nowadays from those who are online. Whole groups of people that would otherwise be total strangers to us are now influences that affect us.
When Christ prayed to His Father to NOT take us out of this world but to KEEP us from evil, it was a prayer that was more necessary than we really understand. Evil's influence comes in so very many forms. To pray to be delivered from the wicked, the unrighteous, and the cruel person is asking to be protected from the evil people in the world, isn't it?
The wicked-
Pro 5:22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
Pro 11:18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
Pro 12:5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
Pro 15:28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
Pro 21:10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil…
Pro 24:19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
The wicked- those who are bound up in sin, deceitful, evil.
Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies
Mar 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
Mar 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
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
The wicked surround us and when we dare to acknowledge the wicked ways we are witness to we are the ones who are often unjustly condemned. We need protection from the wicked, we need to pray as David prayed- Deliver me oh my God out of the hand of the wicked. The wicked are not simply the gangsters on the street. The wicked are not just the murderers caught and jailed. The wicked are not just the sexual predators our world is filled with. The wicked are ANY that would keep us from God. The wicked are ANY that would do anything to prevent us from worshipping our Savior as we are told to worship. The wicked are all who are unrepentant. We need to be delivered from any that would keep us from God. We need the protection of the Holy Spirit to keep us from succumbing to the grand delusions that surround us that try and convince us that God's way is wrong, that evil is good and good is evil.
We do need to pray-
Psa 71:4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
We are surrounded by people who wear false cloaks of righteousness and are eager and ready to hand us a cloak just like theirs. While we must live IN this world, we need to pray that we are kept from evil. Our Savior prayed that way for us and if He prayed that way we too need to pray that way. Deliver us from evil- from the wicked, from the unrighteous, from the cruel men that surround us. We can never cease to pray to be delivered, never. We can never become comfortable in believing all those around us only care for our well-being. We can never allow ourselves to believe there are no wicked, no unrighteous, no cruel people. While we MUST NEVER condemn another's eternal life because that is not ours to know, but we must understand that evil lurks all around us- it's not paranoia if it's true, right? Far be it from me to call another wicked, evil, unrighteous, or cruel- I have my own problems, that old beam in my own eye to removed so I can pluck a tiny mote out of another's eye. But I can't allow myself to be deceived into believing that evil, that wickedness, that unrighteousness, or that cruelty doesn't exist. I must understand my need for deliverance in all things.
God please deliver us from ALL the wicked, ALL the unrighteous, ALL that are cruel-- in YOUR righteousness alone this is possible. Keep us from evil Lord, keep us from evil by Your mercy!
Save us oh Lord, SAVE US.
In Your amazing love!
Amen.
Do we need to pray this? Most of us aren't in the hands of the wicked, are we? Do the unrighteous and cruel men hold us captive? Perhaps we are held captive more than we realize. Seriously. Just how much do other people influence our lives? Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, friends, neighbors, peers, schoolmates, teachers, doctors, everyone we come in contact with has a touch of influence upon our lives. The stranger that smiles, the stranger that frowns, the stranger that seems oblivious to our existence. Those we work for, those who work for us, those who help us, those we help. It's an endless ongoing influence surrounding each of us. We have even more influence from others nowadays from those who are online. Whole groups of people that would otherwise be total strangers to us are now influences that affect us.
When Christ prayed to His Father to NOT take us out of this world but to KEEP us from evil, it was a prayer that was more necessary than we really understand. Evil's influence comes in so very many forms. To pray to be delivered from the wicked, the unrighteous, and the cruel person is asking to be protected from the evil people in the world, isn't it?
The wicked-
Pro 5:22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
Pro 11:18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
Pro 12:5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
Pro 15:28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
Pro 21:10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil…
Pro 24:19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
The wicked- those who are bound up in sin, deceitful, evil.
Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies
Mar 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
Mar 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
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
The wicked surround us and when we dare to acknowledge the wicked ways we are witness to we are the ones who are often unjustly condemned. We need protection from the wicked, we need to pray as David prayed- Deliver me oh my God out of the hand of the wicked. The wicked are not simply the gangsters on the street. The wicked are not just the murderers caught and jailed. The wicked are not just the sexual predators our world is filled with. The wicked are ANY that would keep us from God. The wicked are ANY that would do anything to prevent us from worshipping our Savior as we are told to worship. The wicked are all who are unrepentant. We need to be delivered from any that would keep us from God. We need the protection of the Holy Spirit to keep us from succumbing to the grand delusions that surround us that try and convince us that God's way is wrong, that evil is good and good is evil.
We do need to pray-
Psa 71:4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
We are surrounded by people who wear false cloaks of righteousness and are eager and ready to hand us a cloak just like theirs. While we must live IN this world, we need to pray that we are kept from evil. Our Savior prayed that way for us and if He prayed that way we too need to pray that way. Deliver us from evil- from the wicked, from the unrighteous, from the cruel men that surround us. We can never cease to pray to be delivered, never. We can never become comfortable in believing all those around us only care for our well-being. We can never allow ourselves to believe there are no wicked, no unrighteous, no cruel people. While we MUST NEVER condemn another's eternal life because that is not ours to know, but we must understand that evil lurks all around us- it's not paranoia if it's true, right? Far be it from me to call another wicked, evil, unrighteous, or cruel- I have my own problems, that old beam in my own eye to removed so I can pluck a tiny mote out of another's eye. But I can't allow myself to be deceived into believing that evil, that wickedness, that unrighteousness, or that cruelty doesn't exist. I must understand my need for deliverance in all things.
God please deliver us from ALL the wicked, ALL the unrighteous, ALL that are cruel-- in YOUR righteousness alone this is possible. Keep us from evil Lord, keep us from evil by Your mercy!
Save us oh Lord, SAVE US.
In Your amazing love!
Amen.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
My Rock and my Fortress
Psa 71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort…
… thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
God has given the commandment to save us. Think about it-- He didn't have to save us. People think that there is that *have to* aspect to this but there isn't. God didn't have to save humanity, He almost didn't.
Gen 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Gen 6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
Gen 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
God gives the commandment to save us.
God accepts our repentance and our plea for forgiveness. Does He have to accept? No. There is a choice there is a knowing of us.
Jn 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1Jn 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
God knows all things. God knows if we have love for Him. God knows if we seek forgiveness. God knows if we repent of our wrongs. God doesn't have to save us, but God can and will save us. If we make God our strong habitation where we continually resort, if we put all our trust in God, we have to know that God will give the commandment to save us because HE is our rock and our fortress. God is our ONLY solace. God is our only hope! God is our strong habitation. God is our place of safety. We can go to God for all our eternal needs and yes, our immediate needs as well but we must understand that when we go to God for our immediate needs that He sees the BIG picture and how every detail of our life blends together to lead us to eternal life in Him and while we don't understand our sufferings, our pains, our distress and why we are called to go through things we do not want to go through, He does.
Above all no matter what we MUST remember that God is our rock and fortress, He never forsakes us, never!
2Sa 22:2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer
Psa 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Jer 16:19 O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction
My rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my strength, my buckler, my salvation, my high tower, my refuge-- this is our GOD.
No person can be all this for us and so many of us look for these qualities in another human being and are disappointed when they don't live up to the expectations. Only God can be all this perfectly for us, only God.
Do we need a fortress to go to in life? Yes.
Do we need a deliverer? Yes.
Do we need strength? Yes.
Do we need a buckler? Yes.
Do we need salvation? Yes.
Do we need a high tower? Yes.
Do we need refuge? Yes.
WE NEED GOD!
We need to know that He has given the commandment to save us.
Jer 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
Salvation is of the Lord! Praise God! All glory and honor to Him!
Psa 71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
AMEN!
… thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
God has given the commandment to save us. Think about it-- He didn't have to save us. People think that there is that *have to* aspect to this but there isn't. God didn't have to save humanity, He almost didn't.
Gen 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Gen 6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
Gen 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
God gives the commandment to save us.
God accepts our repentance and our plea for forgiveness. Does He have to accept? No. There is a choice there is a knowing of us.
Jn 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1Jn 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
God knows all things. God knows if we have love for Him. God knows if we seek forgiveness. God knows if we repent of our wrongs. God doesn't have to save us, but God can and will save us. If we make God our strong habitation where we continually resort, if we put all our trust in God, we have to know that God will give the commandment to save us because HE is our rock and our fortress. God is our ONLY solace. God is our only hope! God is our strong habitation. God is our place of safety. We can go to God for all our eternal needs and yes, our immediate needs as well but we must understand that when we go to God for our immediate needs that He sees the BIG picture and how every detail of our life blends together to lead us to eternal life in Him and while we don't understand our sufferings, our pains, our distress and why we are called to go through things we do not want to go through, He does.
Above all no matter what we MUST remember that God is our rock and fortress, He never forsakes us, never!
2Sa 22:2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer
Psa 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Jer 16:19 O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction
My rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my strength, my buckler, my salvation, my high tower, my refuge-- this is our GOD.
No person can be all this for us and so many of us look for these qualities in another human being and are disappointed when they don't live up to the expectations. Only God can be all this perfectly for us, only God.
Do we need a fortress to go to in life? Yes.
Do we need a deliverer? Yes.
Do we need strength? Yes.
Do we need a buckler? Yes.
Do we need salvation? Yes.
Do we need a high tower? Yes.
Do we need refuge? Yes.
WE NEED GOD!
We need to know that He has given the commandment to save us.
Jer 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
Salvation is of the Lord! Praise God! All glory and honor to Him!
Psa 71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
AMEN!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Be thou my strong habitation...
Psa 71:3 'Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort…'
A strong habitation. A fortified city. A protected home. Most of us have seen a strong habitation- if not in person then on television or in books. What is the most heavily guarded place you've ever seen? What comes to mind when you think of a strong habitation? Fort Knox perhaps, which is the Bullion Depository where the majority of U.S. gold is kept. That place is one of the most protected, the most fortified, the strongest habitation in the U.S. However most of us do not have access to that sort of protected place.
Where would you go if you were seeking to be protected? A friend's house? A police station? When you're in immediate danger you most likely would run to the nearest home seeking shelter and help from the danger you're in. A person usually isn't very discriminatory when they are in desperate need- though they'd choose a strong house over a little falling down shack if given a choice.
Let me ask another question, where do you go for constant protection, what place to you is a place of continuous refuge? Is it your own home? Most people feel safe in their own homes don't they? Maybe you're coming home late at night and you're in your driveway and feel a sense of foreboding so you rush into your house to safety, that sense of relief as you lock the door keeping out any danger real or imagined makes you feel better almost instantly doesn't it? You've come to a place of refuge.
Throughout life we encounter many frightening situations, we face numerous moments of vulnerability where NO strong habitation can make us feel safe. These are moments of internal terror and panic, of distress and fear, the times when we are filled with anxiety and overcome with worry. You can be in the safest place on earth and still have fear within and no lock or key, no thick walls or strong steel doors can take care of that internal distress.
When David prayed these words- 'Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort…' He was not talking about a physical habitation. He was talking about finding safety and protection in God's love, in God's strength.
Do you have a friend or loved one you might call your 'rock', someone you turn to when you need a strong shoulder to lean on, someone you know will be there to comfort you and help you in any way they possibly can? Maybe you have a whole family of strong shoulders to lean on, or maybe you don't have a single person you can rely upon. Even when we do have family and friends to lean upon all too often in life those strong shoulders seem to disappear, and disappoint. God is one who will NEVER disappear or disappoint. God is forever a strong habitation for us to continually resort to. God is REAL. Too many believe in God in a very abstract way as someone who is there but not really there. When we get to that 'not really there' bit we are not truly believing in God as being as real as you and I are real. God is more real than any of us, God is more sure than a single person, God is a more strong refuge than any earthly habitation will ever be. We have to believe this! David believed this. God was very, very real to David- and God needs to be very, very real to us!
David understood that God was a strong habitation where he could continually resort. He could continually go to God for protection, for safety. God is one who would NEVER betray, NEVER disappoint, NEVER disappear.
Satan has us so confused that we almost instantly BLAME God when things go wrong in life rather than RESORT TO God for comfort. We forget that God is good, that God is love, that God is righteous. We forget everything positive and choose to blame God for NOT letting things go the way we want them too. Not preventing death of a loved one, not stopping a storm from tearing every possession from us, not curing the chronically ill, the chronically pain-filled person's life, keeping new life from us. We BLAME God because we believe He is in control and choosing to allow bad stuff to happen to us without discretion. We believe that God DOESN'T know what is best in the eternal scheme of life. Surely if He knew better He wouldn't hurt us who love Him that way. How can we believe God truly loves us if we equally believe He will hurt us unjustly, that He allows our lives to become chaotic messes on a whim? The two beliefs are opposing, not complimenting. We CAN'T believe one thing and believe the opposite or one of those beliefs is our true belief and the other a false one. We can't believe dark is light and dark is dark. It's one or the other. We can't believe God is evil and love. When we take our OWN sinfilled natures and tack them onto our God we pervert who He truly is. We can say we love someone and then hurt them without concern for them. We can tell someone we love them and will honor them and then turn on them and hate them and dishonor them- WE DO that all the time because we are SINNERS! When we make God like us with the ability to evilly HATE us and LOVE us imperfectly we take away His Godhood and make Him human- we make Him a sinning human. Is it any wonder people question God's love when they take away His status as God? Is it any wonder people question God when they start to believe He isn't love? Satan wants us to believe badly of God or not believe at all in God, either way Satan is pleased.
David prayed-
Psa 71:3 'Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort…'
God is a strong habitation, a place of safety - He holds the safety of our eternal lives within His grasp and it is to God we must continually resort. Not just go to God once as if we are getting a God vaccine good for protection the rest of our lives if we accept Him once. How often do you think of your vaccines- the ones you've received as a child? Or even as an adult? Rarely. Occasionally. Seldom. Often. Never. We need to think of God all the time, part of that is in praying always. We need to always have God with us not the occasional thought - not the brief morning thought, not the mealtime blessing thought, not the nighttime prayer- but always. God needs to be in our lives continually. We need to resort to God continually as the source of hope and strength, of safety, of love. If we fill our lives with all that is depressing and hopeless we are NOT trusting in God, we are not continually resorting to Him but retreating from Him. The further we retreat from God the more hopeless everything becomes. Some might argue that and say that when they deny God and stopped depending upon Him their lives were instantly better. They took over their own lives, taking responsibility for all that goes on with themselves finding strength, hope, and empowerment within themselves making them better people. Do you know what that is? That's Satan gifting them with that belief so they won't find salvation in Jesus Christ. Satan is cunning and will use everything and anything at his disposal to get us to abandon God- he'll use good as well as bad things to trap us to him.
We need to pray as David prayed-
Psa 71:3 'Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort…'
Let us continually resort to You God in all things, in all ways, everyday, all day, without ceasing- knowing YOU are our strong habitation, knowing we can go to You in all situations. Instead of blaming you Lord help us to resort to You and know that all evil stems from Satan and while it is allowed- it is only allowed temporarily when compared to eternity. That the Kingdom of God will one day exist without any evil at all whatsoever and that we can possess the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!
In Your amazing love! Keep us from evil!
Amen.
A strong habitation. A fortified city. A protected home. Most of us have seen a strong habitation- if not in person then on television or in books. What is the most heavily guarded place you've ever seen? What comes to mind when you think of a strong habitation? Fort Knox perhaps, which is the Bullion Depository where the majority of U.S. gold is kept. That place is one of the most protected, the most fortified, the strongest habitation in the U.S. However most of us do not have access to that sort of protected place.
Where would you go if you were seeking to be protected? A friend's house? A police station? When you're in immediate danger you most likely would run to the nearest home seeking shelter and help from the danger you're in. A person usually isn't very discriminatory when they are in desperate need- though they'd choose a strong house over a little falling down shack if given a choice.
Let me ask another question, where do you go for constant protection, what place to you is a place of continuous refuge? Is it your own home? Most people feel safe in their own homes don't they? Maybe you're coming home late at night and you're in your driveway and feel a sense of foreboding so you rush into your house to safety, that sense of relief as you lock the door keeping out any danger real or imagined makes you feel better almost instantly doesn't it? You've come to a place of refuge.
Throughout life we encounter many frightening situations, we face numerous moments of vulnerability where NO strong habitation can make us feel safe. These are moments of internal terror and panic, of distress and fear, the times when we are filled with anxiety and overcome with worry. You can be in the safest place on earth and still have fear within and no lock or key, no thick walls or strong steel doors can take care of that internal distress.
When David prayed these words- 'Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort…' He was not talking about a physical habitation. He was talking about finding safety and protection in God's love, in God's strength.
Do you have a friend or loved one you might call your 'rock', someone you turn to when you need a strong shoulder to lean on, someone you know will be there to comfort you and help you in any way they possibly can? Maybe you have a whole family of strong shoulders to lean on, or maybe you don't have a single person you can rely upon. Even when we do have family and friends to lean upon all too often in life those strong shoulders seem to disappear, and disappoint. God is one who will NEVER disappear or disappoint. God is forever a strong habitation for us to continually resort to. God is REAL. Too many believe in God in a very abstract way as someone who is there but not really there. When we get to that 'not really there' bit we are not truly believing in God as being as real as you and I are real. God is more real than any of us, God is more sure than a single person, God is a more strong refuge than any earthly habitation will ever be. We have to believe this! David believed this. God was very, very real to David- and God needs to be very, very real to us!
David understood that God was a strong habitation where he could continually resort. He could continually go to God for protection, for safety. God is one who would NEVER betray, NEVER disappoint, NEVER disappear.
Satan has us so confused that we almost instantly BLAME God when things go wrong in life rather than RESORT TO God for comfort. We forget that God is good, that God is love, that God is righteous. We forget everything positive and choose to blame God for NOT letting things go the way we want them too. Not preventing death of a loved one, not stopping a storm from tearing every possession from us, not curing the chronically ill, the chronically pain-filled person's life, keeping new life from us. We BLAME God because we believe He is in control and choosing to allow bad stuff to happen to us without discretion. We believe that God DOESN'T know what is best in the eternal scheme of life. Surely if He knew better He wouldn't hurt us who love Him that way. How can we believe God truly loves us if we equally believe He will hurt us unjustly, that He allows our lives to become chaotic messes on a whim? The two beliefs are opposing, not complimenting. We CAN'T believe one thing and believe the opposite or one of those beliefs is our true belief and the other a false one. We can't believe dark is light and dark is dark. It's one or the other. We can't believe God is evil and love. When we take our OWN sinfilled natures and tack them onto our God we pervert who He truly is. We can say we love someone and then hurt them without concern for them. We can tell someone we love them and will honor them and then turn on them and hate them and dishonor them- WE DO that all the time because we are SINNERS! When we make God like us with the ability to evilly HATE us and LOVE us imperfectly we take away His Godhood and make Him human- we make Him a sinning human. Is it any wonder people question God's love when they take away His status as God? Is it any wonder people question God when they start to believe He isn't love? Satan wants us to believe badly of God or not believe at all in God, either way Satan is pleased.
David prayed-
Psa 71:3 'Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort…'
God is a strong habitation, a place of safety - He holds the safety of our eternal lives within His grasp and it is to God we must continually resort. Not just go to God once as if we are getting a God vaccine good for protection the rest of our lives if we accept Him once. How often do you think of your vaccines- the ones you've received as a child? Or even as an adult? Rarely. Occasionally. Seldom. Often. Never. We need to think of God all the time, part of that is in praying always. We need to always have God with us not the occasional thought - not the brief morning thought, not the mealtime blessing thought, not the nighttime prayer- but always. God needs to be in our lives continually. We need to resort to God continually as the source of hope and strength, of safety, of love. If we fill our lives with all that is depressing and hopeless we are NOT trusting in God, we are not continually resorting to Him but retreating from Him. The further we retreat from God the more hopeless everything becomes. Some might argue that and say that when they deny God and stopped depending upon Him their lives were instantly better. They took over their own lives, taking responsibility for all that goes on with themselves finding strength, hope, and empowerment within themselves making them better people. Do you know what that is? That's Satan gifting them with that belief so they won't find salvation in Jesus Christ. Satan is cunning and will use everything and anything at his disposal to get us to abandon God- he'll use good as well as bad things to trap us to him.
We need to pray as David prayed-
Psa 71:3 'Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort…'
Let us continually resort to You God in all things, in all ways, everyday, all day, without ceasing- knowing YOU are our strong habitation, knowing we can go to You in all situations. Instead of blaming you Lord help us to resort to You and know that all evil stems from Satan and while it is allowed- it is only allowed temporarily when compared to eternity. That the Kingdom of God will one day exist without any evil at all whatsoever and that we can possess the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!
In Your amazing love! Keep us from evil!
Amen.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Incline thine ear unto me
Psa 71:1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
Psa 71:2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape…
...incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
Lord, hear me! Lord, save me!
Asking God to save us is something we must do and not just once, but often. Just as there is much we need to escape from in this sin sick world there is a great need to be saved. We need to be saved from enemies seen and unseen and this is a fact. People may scoff at such talk but it's true, the unseen spiritual attacks are plentiful and unceasing. We war against principalities and powers, wickedness- not just flesh and blood.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Asking God to save us is something God's beloved David did often...
Psa 6:4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
Psa 7:1 …O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me
Psa 31:2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
Psa 31:16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.
Psa 54:1 ...Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.
Psa 55:16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
Psa 57:3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
Psa 69:1 To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
Psa 109:26 Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy
Psa 119:94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
Psa 119:146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
Psa 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
David faced a lot of physical threats to his life and where did He go for help? GOD.
David faced a lot of emotionally trying times and where did He go for help? GOD.
Isa 38:20 The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.
Jer 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
Amen!
Being saved by God there is NOTHING more important that that, nothing.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Jesus was sent into the world NOT to condemn it, NOT to find it unworthy of being saved. Jesus came to the world that though HIM the world might be SAVED.
The purpose of the sinless One taking on flesh, the purpose of a God emptying Himself to become uniquely human and God was to SAVE US!
Php 2:5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Php 2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men
Joh 5:30 I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Joh 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
Joh 5:32 It is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
Joh 5:33 Ye have sent unto John, and he hath borne witness unto the truth.
Joh 5:34 But the witness which I receive is not from man: howbeit I say these things, that ye may be saved.
Joh 10:9 I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.
We CANNOT save ourselves, we must be SAVED. Is it any wonder at all that we should cry to our God to be saved? Only by crying out to be saved do we acknowledge salvation is found without ourselves and in another.
Save me!
If we were to hear these words as we were walking down a street what would we think? That someone needed help, right?
We need help! We need the help of our Savior for only He can save us for eternity!
*******
Psa 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear
Psa 17:6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
Psa 116:1 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
Psa 116:2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
...incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
Please Lord incline Your ear to hear us! Please Lord, SAVE US, all in YOUR righteousness by YOUR grace and mercy!
Amen!
Psa 71:2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape…
...incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
Lord, hear me! Lord, save me!
Asking God to save us is something we must do and not just once, but often. Just as there is much we need to escape from in this sin sick world there is a great need to be saved. We need to be saved from enemies seen and unseen and this is a fact. People may scoff at such talk but it's true, the unseen spiritual attacks are plentiful and unceasing. We war against principalities and powers, wickedness- not just flesh and blood.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Asking God to save us is something God's beloved David did often...
Psa 6:4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
Psa 7:1 …O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me
Psa 31:2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
Psa 31:16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.
Psa 54:1 ...Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.
Psa 55:16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
Psa 57:3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
Psa 69:1 To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
Psa 109:26 Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy
Psa 119:94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
Psa 119:146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
Psa 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
David faced a lot of physical threats to his life and where did He go for help? GOD.
David faced a lot of emotionally trying times and where did He go for help? GOD.
Isa 38:20 The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.
Jer 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
Amen!
Being saved by God there is NOTHING more important that that, nothing.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Jesus was sent into the world NOT to condemn it, NOT to find it unworthy of being saved. Jesus came to the world that though HIM the world might be SAVED.
The purpose of the sinless One taking on flesh, the purpose of a God emptying Himself to become uniquely human and God was to SAVE US!
Php 2:5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Php 2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men
Joh 5:30 I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Joh 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
Joh 5:32 It is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
Joh 5:33 Ye have sent unto John, and he hath borne witness unto the truth.
Joh 5:34 But the witness which I receive is not from man: howbeit I say these things, that ye may be saved.
Joh 10:9 I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.
We CANNOT save ourselves, we must be SAVED. Is it any wonder at all that we should cry to our God to be saved? Only by crying out to be saved do we acknowledge salvation is found without ourselves and in another.
Save me!
If we were to hear these words as we were walking down a street what would we think? That someone needed help, right?
We need help! We need the help of our Savior for only He can save us for eternity!
*******
Psa 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear
Psa 17:6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
Psa 116:1 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
Psa 116:2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
...incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
Please Lord incline Your ear to hear us! Please Lord, SAVE US, all in YOUR righteousness by YOUR grace and mercy!
Amen!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Cause me to escape
Psa 71:1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
Psa 71:2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape…
Cause me to escape.
What do we need to escape from? Seriously, what?
Psa 141:10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
Wicked nets. Yes, we need to escape from the wicked and their evil nets they lay down hoping to trap those that would be God's.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Watch…pray always…to be accounted worthy to escape all these things…
Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
Luk 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Luk 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
Luk 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Luk 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
Luk 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Luk 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
Luk 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Luk 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Luk 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
Luk 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Luk 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Luk 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
Luk 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Luk 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Luk 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Luk 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luk 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luk 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luk 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luk 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Luk 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Luk 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Luk 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
So much to escape!
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
How are we worthy to escape? ONLY IN CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS! We need HIM to cause us to escape! We need to escape there is no doubt about it but it's not escaping out of the trials and tribulations, but escaping the evils of the world so that we may possess the good world- eternal life in Christ our Savior. We need to escape the EVIL that can and will seduce so many people. Snares will come on ALL them that dwell on the face of the whole earth, ALL them! Snares will come- we can escape from those snares though and that escape is in our Savior no where else!
Is it any wonder we should pray-- 'cause me to escape' ? We need to be caused to escape. On our own we cannot escape of that there is NO doubt at all whatsoever. Christ can cause us to escape through HIS righteousness- remember this- 'Deliver me in thy righteousness' it comes right before this- 'cause me to escape'. We escape the evil that would take God from us, that would strip eternal life in the goodness o our Lord and Savior only through Christ's righteousness.
Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
How shall we escape if we neglect CHRIST as our SAVIOR?! We won't, we really, really won't escape any evil whatsoever but by Christ our Lord. He is our hope! Our ONLY hope!
In His love!
Forever and always!
Amen.
Psa 71:2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape…
Cause me to escape.
What do we need to escape from? Seriously, what?
Psa 141:10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
Wicked nets. Yes, we need to escape from the wicked and their evil nets they lay down hoping to trap those that would be God's.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Watch…pray always…to be accounted worthy to escape all these things…
Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
Luk 21:9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Luk 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
Luk 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Luk 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
Luk 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Luk 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
Luk 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Luk 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Luk 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
Luk 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Luk 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Luk 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
Luk 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Luk 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Luk 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Luk 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luk 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luk 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luk 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luk 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Luk 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Luk 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Luk 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
So much to escape!
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
How are we worthy to escape? ONLY IN CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS! We need HIM to cause us to escape! We need to escape there is no doubt about it but it's not escaping out of the trials and tribulations, but escaping the evils of the world so that we may possess the good world- eternal life in Christ our Savior. We need to escape the EVIL that can and will seduce so many people. Snares will come on ALL them that dwell on the face of the whole earth, ALL them! Snares will come- we can escape from those snares though and that escape is in our Savior no where else!
Is it any wonder we should pray-- 'cause me to escape' ? We need to be caused to escape. On our own we cannot escape of that there is NO doubt at all whatsoever. Christ can cause us to escape through HIS righteousness- remember this- 'Deliver me in thy righteousness' it comes right before this- 'cause me to escape'. We escape the evil that would take God from us, that would strip eternal life in the goodness o our Lord and Savior only through Christ's righteousness.
Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
How shall we escape if we neglect CHRIST as our SAVIOR?! We won't, we really, really won't escape any evil whatsoever but by Christ our Lord. He is our hope! Our ONLY hope!
In His love!
Forever and always!
Amen.
Thy righteousness
Psa 71:2 Deliver me in thy righteousness
This does NOT say deliver me in my righteousness. This does NOT say deliver me in my friend's righteousness. This does NOT say deliver me in my loved one's righteousness.
This tell us that we are delivered in GOD'S righteousness.
Oh if only we could truly comprehend this! If only we could understand that we have NO righteousness of our own. No possible way whatsoever to deserve eternal life. No possible way to ever earn eternal life on our own merit. If we live believing that as long as we are *good* we will get to heaven, we are sadly, and lethally mistaken. God is good. God enables us to be good and it's only through HIS enabling us to be good in anyway that we have goodness in our lives. Without God no good is possible, no true goodness exists. There is a false goodness and it exists in such magnitude most believe it's real goodness because they know very little else. They know it in part as being good enough, having good intentions, good ideas, being as good as can be, mostly good, a good person overall- you know what I'm saying. We do know good and we evil, and yet so much good is evil in disguise and Satan loves it that way. If he can get whole churches of seemingly *good* people believing they are saved in their goodness he has won them without them ever suspecting. It sounds cruel but NO one is deceived unless they desire to be confused- unless they deep down desire to live their lives under a cloak of self-deception that allows them to believe more in their own selves than in their Savior, their God.
This is God's word--
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Our BEST at being good, at being righteous is as a FILTHY RAG!
Yes, I'm shouting it! Yes, I mean it, because GOD means it! Yes, I want to scream this out like a preacher of old, shouting down the rafters of a church, like a prophet of old letting His voice echo against the rocky hills. We have NO righteousness to claim as our own and if we plan on standing before God and pointing to ourselves explaining how we did this bit of goodness and that bit of righteousness and can we please live eternally - all we will get as a response is a sad no. We cannot expect any goodness in ourselves to save us, not the tiniest speck, not the largest act of kindness. People talk all the time about being redeemed by an act of goodness. We are not redeemed to eternal life by any act of goodness of our own, not by any sacrifice we make, not by any exceptional life we may truly, in fact lead. We are ONLY redeemed by our Savior through HIS righteousness, His life, His death, His love.
Accepting that our Savior Jesus Christ is our ONLY righteousness is something we need to cling to!
Any righteousness that we even think we might possess comes solely from God. We do need praise and thank God for all good because of ourselves we have none.
Joh 5:30 'I can of mine own self do nothing…'
Eph 5:9 For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth
Zec 9:17 For how great is his goodness
Whatever we do…
1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
*******
Psa 71:2 Deliver me in thy righteousness
Gen 32:11 Deliver me, I pray thee
1Sa 17:37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me
1Sa 24:15 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
Psa 25:20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
Psa 31:2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
2Ti 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Rescue, recover, save me! Deliver me in thy righteousness!
Only by your love, only by your grace, only by YOUR righteousness, all by faith.
Amen!
This does NOT say deliver me in my righteousness. This does NOT say deliver me in my friend's righteousness. This does NOT say deliver me in my loved one's righteousness.
This tell us that we are delivered in GOD'S righteousness.
Oh if only we could truly comprehend this! If only we could understand that we have NO righteousness of our own. No possible way whatsoever to deserve eternal life. No possible way to ever earn eternal life on our own merit. If we live believing that as long as we are *good* we will get to heaven, we are sadly, and lethally mistaken. God is good. God enables us to be good and it's only through HIS enabling us to be good in anyway that we have goodness in our lives. Without God no good is possible, no true goodness exists. There is a false goodness and it exists in such magnitude most believe it's real goodness because they know very little else. They know it in part as being good enough, having good intentions, good ideas, being as good as can be, mostly good, a good person overall- you know what I'm saying. We do know good and we evil, and yet so much good is evil in disguise and Satan loves it that way. If he can get whole churches of seemingly *good* people believing they are saved in their goodness he has won them without them ever suspecting. It sounds cruel but NO one is deceived unless they desire to be confused- unless they deep down desire to live their lives under a cloak of self-deception that allows them to believe more in their own selves than in their Savior, their God.
This is God's word--
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Our BEST at being good, at being righteous is as a FILTHY RAG!
Yes, I'm shouting it! Yes, I mean it, because GOD means it! Yes, I want to scream this out like a preacher of old, shouting down the rafters of a church, like a prophet of old letting His voice echo against the rocky hills. We have NO righteousness to claim as our own and if we plan on standing before God and pointing to ourselves explaining how we did this bit of goodness and that bit of righteousness and can we please live eternally - all we will get as a response is a sad no. We cannot expect any goodness in ourselves to save us, not the tiniest speck, not the largest act of kindness. People talk all the time about being redeemed by an act of goodness. We are not redeemed to eternal life by any act of goodness of our own, not by any sacrifice we make, not by any exceptional life we may truly, in fact lead. We are ONLY redeemed by our Savior through HIS righteousness, His life, His death, His love.
Accepting that our Savior Jesus Christ is our ONLY righteousness is something we need to cling to!
Any righteousness that we even think we might possess comes solely from God. We do need praise and thank God for all good because of ourselves we have none.
Joh 5:30 'I can of mine own self do nothing…'
Eph 5:9 For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth
Zec 9:17 For how great is his goodness
Whatever we do…
1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
*******
Psa 71:2 Deliver me in thy righteousness
Gen 32:11 Deliver me, I pray thee
1Sa 17:37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me
1Sa 24:15 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
Psa 25:20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
Psa 31:2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
2Ti 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Rescue, recover, save me! Deliver me in thy righteousness!
Only by your love, only by your grace, only by YOUR righteousness, all by faith.
Amen!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
In thee O LORD do I put my trust
Beautiful.
Psa 71:1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust.
This is where our trust belongs, not in ourselves, not in each other but in the LORD. Inevitably when we put our trust in others and ourselves that trust is broken. Do you think it strange that I say putting our trust in our self- ends up with a broken trust? We don't betray ourselves do we? All too often we really do. All too often we'll be filled with regret over something we've done and that's usually the result of breaking a trust we have in ourselves to do or not do something. When we sin and are filled with the regret of that sin - we've broken a trust we WANT to be able to have in ourselves. Is it any wonder Paul could say this--
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would
I do not
but the evil which I would not,
that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not,
it is no more I that do it,
but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law
that, when I would do good
evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members,
warring against the law of my mind
and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am!
who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God;
but with the flesh the law of sin.
Oh wretched PEOPLE that we are!
Paul did NOT want to sin but He couldn't trust Himself! There was only one person He could trust and that was JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!
We CANNOT trust ourselves!!!! I can't emphasize it enough, I just can't.
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust.
Our trust has to be put in the LORD and NO WHERE else!
You hear all the time that we are supposed to trust ourselves, or trust another. People will say those words right to our faces- trust me. Vows are taken where trust is pledged eternally- till death parts people. Promises are made even by the young as they look into the eyes of their parents vowing to behave, honestly meaning they will and then a short while later the parent is looking on in disappointment and the child is bewildered by their inability to behave. The trust is broken and if you've never seen the eyes of a young child as they are scolded and filled with dismay by their own actions, you've not seen the results of broken trust. It's my hope that you haven't seen the dark, deep disappointment in one you've betrayed or the awful betrayal in the eyes of one who's betrayed you. We let people down all the time and we let ourselves down, people let us down too, and we let God down, BUT God will NEVER let us down.
I know, I know most people will tell me I'm wrong, that God lets people down ALL the time. Well, they're WRONG. God thinks and acts on an eternal level beyond our comprehension. While we are lamenting what we believe is God letting us down, it's God looking out for us - for our eternal life. We might not get all we want- even of worthy things. Our life might be filled with torment and pain from the day we are born. We might be born so deprived, in the worst of poverty, in the most awful of conditions where all we ever know is hunger and pain but GOD is not letting that person down. Suffering for all it's horrific and on levels I've never had to experience, is temporary. If suffering lasts for 75, 80 years it is still TEMPORARY to ETERNITY. If the worst of the worst we can ever imagine happens to us or those we love and it seems as if the pain is going on endlessly, never endingly and death is longed for, desired more than anything else- it is temporary to eternity in God.
God is our everything! God must be our TRUST in all things. Do we have to like it? NO. We don't have to like when we are called to endure awful things, but we have to accept that there are reasons we can't comprehend and God will prevail in our love as long as HE is our trust.
Easy to say, hard to do. People would call such blind faith, such trust, incredibly stupid and naive. And Satan wants people to believe that, He revels in such belief that faith is stupid. It is ONLY by the grace of God that we can have that trust.
We need to PUT our trust in God and NO WHERE ELSE.
Does this mean that I believe we are to go around mistrusting everyone? No. It means that our full trust can never be place anywhere but in Christ. We can still trust others but know that they can break that trust at any time. We don’t want to imagine loved ones breaking our trust but it happens all the time in many, many ways.
This is my prayer…
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust, let me never be put to confusion.
Please Lord let us not be put to any confusion, or shame, let us KNOW that our trust needs to be in YOU, always in YOU eternally!
By YOUR grace Lord, by YOUR love, all in YOU!
Amen.
Psa 71:1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust.
This is where our trust belongs, not in ourselves, not in each other but in the LORD. Inevitably when we put our trust in others and ourselves that trust is broken. Do you think it strange that I say putting our trust in our self- ends up with a broken trust? We don't betray ourselves do we? All too often we really do. All too often we'll be filled with regret over something we've done and that's usually the result of breaking a trust we have in ourselves to do or not do something. When we sin and are filled with the regret of that sin - we've broken a trust we WANT to be able to have in ourselves. Is it any wonder Paul could say this--
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would
I do not
but the evil which I would not,
that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not,
it is no more I that do it,
but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law
that, when I would do good
evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members,
warring against the law of my mind
and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am!
who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God;
but with the flesh the law of sin.
Oh wretched PEOPLE that we are!
Paul did NOT want to sin but He couldn't trust Himself! There was only one person He could trust and that was JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!
We CANNOT trust ourselves!!!! I can't emphasize it enough, I just can't.
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust.
Our trust has to be put in the LORD and NO WHERE else!
You hear all the time that we are supposed to trust ourselves, or trust another. People will say those words right to our faces- trust me. Vows are taken where trust is pledged eternally- till death parts people. Promises are made even by the young as they look into the eyes of their parents vowing to behave, honestly meaning they will and then a short while later the parent is looking on in disappointment and the child is bewildered by their inability to behave. The trust is broken and if you've never seen the eyes of a young child as they are scolded and filled with dismay by their own actions, you've not seen the results of broken trust. It's my hope that you haven't seen the dark, deep disappointment in one you've betrayed or the awful betrayal in the eyes of one who's betrayed you. We let people down all the time and we let ourselves down, people let us down too, and we let God down, BUT God will NEVER let us down.
I know, I know most people will tell me I'm wrong, that God lets people down ALL the time. Well, they're WRONG. God thinks and acts on an eternal level beyond our comprehension. While we are lamenting what we believe is God letting us down, it's God looking out for us - for our eternal life. We might not get all we want- even of worthy things. Our life might be filled with torment and pain from the day we are born. We might be born so deprived, in the worst of poverty, in the most awful of conditions where all we ever know is hunger and pain but GOD is not letting that person down. Suffering for all it's horrific and on levels I've never had to experience, is temporary. If suffering lasts for 75, 80 years it is still TEMPORARY to ETERNITY. If the worst of the worst we can ever imagine happens to us or those we love and it seems as if the pain is going on endlessly, never endingly and death is longed for, desired more than anything else- it is temporary to eternity in God.
God is our everything! God must be our TRUST in all things. Do we have to like it? NO. We don't have to like when we are called to endure awful things, but we have to accept that there are reasons we can't comprehend and God will prevail in our love as long as HE is our trust.
Easy to say, hard to do. People would call such blind faith, such trust, incredibly stupid and naive. And Satan wants people to believe that, He revels in such belief that faith is stupid. It is ONLY by the grace of God that we can have that trust.
We need to PUT our trust in God and NO WHERE ELSE.
Does this mean that I believe we are to go around mistrusting everyone? No. It means that our full trust can never be place anywhere but in Christ. We can still trust others but know that they can break that trust at any time. We don’t want to imagine loved ones breaking our trust but it happens all the time in many, many ways.
This is my prayer…
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust, let me never be put to confusion.
Please Lord let us not be put to any confusion, or shame, let us KNOW that our trust needs to be in YOU, always in YOU eternally!
By YOUR grace Lord, by YOUR love, all in YOU!
Amen.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Woe- to the wise in their own eyes
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked
Rich.
Increased with goods.
Need of nothing.
How many people believe this of themselves? How many believe they are spiritually rich? Spiritually filled with knowledge. How many believe they have need of nothing spiritually? Encountering this sort of person is extremely commonplace nowadays. You go back in time and the majority of people had some sort of faith in they were a part of. Most had a *religion*, a *church* to go to. Children were raised to believe in God, but all that has changed. Today it's a sign of enlightenment not to believe, but that is tinged with something else- a need to find something other than *God*. There are more wiccans, more pagans, more satanists, more cults, more nature worshippers, more druids, more spiritualist, more scientologists, people ARE looking for something and make no mistake, they'll find it. Some are even grasping at intellectualism seeking to hold on to their belief in evolution, in what they call logic- they're too enlightened to believe in what they call fables. So many of these people when faced with very trying situations will however seek a higher power to help them. While so many believe they have no need of God, that they can take care of themselves there is a internal contradiction in most of them.
Those who believe they are rich, increased with goods, and in need of nothing DON'T know that they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked! They don't know! They don't…know! They are counseled though, counseled to buy all they need to live in Christ. Because we know they are counseled we know that they are warned. People everywhere are warned, no one is left able to say they weren't told- no one.
*
Php 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Php 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us. While many might not believe they need Christ for anything at all, that they are doing fine without Him, the truth is- their ability to do fine without Christ is because Satan is more than willing to let people believe they are fine without Christ. You are one or the others and Satan loves when a person chooses not to believe in Christ and for that matter- he loves it when people choose to not even believe in him. As long as a person doesn't believe in Christ they are His and he's happy as can be to let them believe whatever they want.
As Christians, to learn to be content in whatsoever state we are in can only happen through Christ which strengthens us. We will NEVER find contentment in ourselves, by ourselves, or in others. If we seek to have contentment as a Christian we have to be prepared to be content even in the most awful times of our lives. Seriously.
When we are abased, when we are hungry, when we suffer we MUST find contentment. When life is at its worse can we find contentment? Should we be able to do so? When we have all the right in the world to be upset, angry, devastated - we can be content. But that contentment is only found Christ - a deep, deep faith in Christ, a real faith in Christ.
Isa 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Are you wise in your own eyes?
Are you prudent in your own sight?
People are taught that to have SELF-esteem they must believe in THEMSELVES. People teach their children to be wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight. Teachers teach them this too. And it's not that we don't want our children to have confidence- but we have to want them to find that IN CHRIST! We have to teach our children self-esteem through Christ which in fact makes it Christ-esteem. We have to esteem Christ!
Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
We are not often taught to esteem OTHERS better than ourselves, are we? Usually when we do think others are better than we are it's in the way of jealousy - in a negative manner. We LAMENT that they are better. But we are supposed to esteem others better than ourselves! This is a good thing. When people are better, or we perceive them as being better it is GOOD. How can we get this into our mindset? We need Christ to do it for us, we need Christ to fill us, to fill that part in us that wants self to rule. To help us not to look to self but look to Him and when we look to Him know that our believing in others - even that they are better than we are is a very good thing.
By the grace of God may we EVER realize our need of Him, never even imagining that we have any hope without Him. By His grace He has saved us and promised us life eternal in Him. All the suffering we endure we do so knowing we can have contentment in Him and the hope of a future in Him without any of this pain and anguish.
In His LOVE! Always In HIM!
Amen.
Rich.
Increased with goods.
Need of nothing.
How many people believe this of themselves? How many believe they are spiritually rich? Spiritually filled with knowledge. How many believe they have need of nothing spiritually? Encountering this sort of person is extremely commonplace nowadays. You go back in time and the majority of people had some sort of faith in they were a part of. Most had a *religion*, a *church* to go to. Children were raised to believe in God, but all that has changed. Today it's a sign of enlightenment not to believe, but that is tinged with something else- a need to find something other than *God*. There are more wiccans, more pagans, more satanists, more cults, more nature worshippers, more druids, more spiritualist, more scientologists, people ARE looking for something and make no mistake, they'll find it. Some are even grasping at intellectualism seeking to hold on to their belief in evolution, in what they call logic- they're too enlightened to believe in what they call fables. So many of these people when faced with very trying situations will however seek a higher power to help them. While so many believe they have no need of God, that they can take care of themselves there is a internal contradiction in most of them.
Those who believe they are rich, increased with goods, and in need of nothing DON'T know that they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked! They don't know! They don't…know! They are counseled though, counseled to buy all they need to live in Christ. Because we know they are counseled we know that they are warned. People everywhere are warned, no one is left able to say they weren't told- no one.
*
Php 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Php 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us. While many might not believe they need Christ for anything at all, that they are doing fine without Him, the truth is- their ability to do fine without Christ is because Satan is more than willing to let people believe they are fine without Christ. You are one or the others and Satan loves when a person chooses not to believe in Christ and for that matter- he loves it when people choose to not even believe in him. As long as a person doesn't believe in Christ they are His and he's happy as can be to let them believe whatever they want.
As Christians, to learn to be content in whatsoever state we are in can only happen through Christ which strengthens us. We will NEVER find contentment in ourselves, by ourselves, or in others. If we seek to have contentment as a Christian we have to be prepared to be content even in the most awful times of our lives. Seriously.
When we are abased, when we are hungry, when we suffer we MUST find contentment. When life is at its worse can we find contentment? Should we be able to do so? When we have all the right in the world to be upset, angry, devastated - we can be content. But that contentment is only found Christ - a deep, deep faith in Christ, a real faith in Christ.
Isa 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Are you wise in your own eyes?
Are you prudent in your own sight?
People are taught that to have SELF-esteem they must believe in THEMSELVES. People teach their children to be wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight. Teachers teach them this too. And it's not that we don't want our children to have confidence- but we have to want them to find that IN CHRIST! We have to teach our children self-esteem through Christ which in fact makes it Christ-esteem. We have to esteem Christ!
Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
We are not often taught to esteem OTHERS better than ourselves, are we? Usually when we do think others are better than we are it's in the way of jealousy - in a negative manner. We LAMENT that they are better. But we are supposed to esteem others better than ourselves! This is a good thing. When people are better, or we perceive them as being better it is GOOD. How can we get this into our mindset? We need Christ to do it for us, we need Christ to fill us, to fill that part in us that wants self to rule. To help us not to look to self but look to Him and when we look to Him know that our believing in others - even that they are better than we are is a very good thing.
By the grace of God may we EVER realize our need of Him, never even imagining that we have any hope without Him. By His grace He has saved us and promised us life eternal in Him. All the suffering we endure we do so knowing we can have contentment in Him and the hope of a future in Him without any of this pain and anguish.
In His LOVE! Always In HIM!
Amen.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
He touched her hand
Mat 8:14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.
Mat 8:15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
A Healer. Undeniably we know that Jesus was a Healer. A touch of the hand, His fingers upon the flesh of this unnamed woman's hand that's all it took. A touch. How often do we give simple touches to people? Seriously, how often do we offer the simplest of touches? A brush of fingers against flesh, it happens a lot doesn't it? A handshake, a hug, a caress, a little push, a tiny poke. Jesus touched this woman's hand and the sickness in her that was producing a fever was gone.
You've had a fever, right? Not many people haven't had a fever once or twice in their lives if not more. You know what it's like to be sick with a fever, things just don't feel right, you feel run down, tired. A fever can take a lot out of person. A fever can lay you up and keep you from doing your normal work, going about your normal day to day life. You know what it's like to be ill. All you want when you are ill is to get better. You forget how wonderful it is to not be sick until you are sick and then you can't wait to get better. How wonderful it truly is when we begin to heal- seldom is it instantaneously though. Gradually we begin to feel better, stronger, less ill. Yet here was Jesus and with a simple touch of his hand to the woman's her illness was completely gone and she was able to get right up from the bed and tend to the men. Just imagine her wonder at what had been done for her! You could imagine your own couldn't you? There you are lying sick on your bed feverish and your hand is touched and instantly you're healed. Just imagine the wonder and thoughts going through your mind in that moment. The wonder, the gratefulness, the awe. Tending to the One who healed you so miraculously would be a joy!
Jesus our great Healer said...
Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
The Spirit of the Lord was upon Jesus. Jesus was anointed to do the work of His Father. Jesus was anointed to do these miracles. These miracles many have tried to imitate as they proclaim their own divinity - but are really false prophets. Quickly as the years passed the miracles became few and far between- this had to be. For the same reason there weren't scores of miracles before Christ was born. Were there any miracles? Yes. We know all about Moses' miracles and we know about the various miracles wrought by God through His prophets but none were like Jesus- NONE. None were like Jesus before and none after. Jesus healed to enlighten the minds and hearts of people. Jesus spoke these words...
Joh 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
Joh 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
Joh 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
Believe the works. How could ANY deny Christ was of God, how, when they witnessed and experienced first hand the wonders He did, the miracles He performed? Yet they refused to believe. They refused to accept.
I'm not saying miracles aren't performed in many ways because they are. I'm saying that Jesus' millions of miracles - miracles performed day after day, many, many miracles so numerous we probably could not count them if we tried- were the GREAT exception to the rule of miracles.
There does not exist today any person who heals others on the scale of our Savior, they can't and will never exist, there is only ONE Savior who could and did heal as He did.
Our Savior today continues to heal us through the Holy Spirit a SPIRITUAL healing that we so desperately need. Our sin sickness is so horrific - many don't even believe they are in need of any healing- that is how awful the sickness is. To not even recognize our need of a Savior leaves us without healing. The one who thinks they are completely healthy does not believe they have need of a physician.
We are all in need of healing, all in need of our Savior's touch. We can never forget this, must never forget.
As we are healed we must minister to our Savior in all we do. Of ourselves we can do nothing--
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.
By His mercy and grace may we do all things in Him!
In His love!
Amen.
Mat 8:15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
A Healer. Undeniably we know that Jesus was a Healer. A touch of the hand, His fingers upon the flesh of this unnamed woman's hand that's all it took. A touch. How often do we give simple touches to people? Seriously, how often do we offer the simplest of touches? A brush of fingers against flesh, it happens a lot doesn't it? A handshake, a hug, a caress, a little push, a tiny poke. Jesus touched this woman's hand and the sickness in her that was producing a fever was gone.
You've had a fever, right? Not many people haven't had a fever once or twice in their lives if not more. You know what it's like to be sick with a fever, things just don't feel right, you feel run down, tired. A fever can take a lot out of person. A fever can lay you up and keep you from doing your normal work, going about your normal day to day life. You know what it's like to be ill. All you want when you are ill is to get better. You forget how wonderful it is to not be sick until you are sick and then you can't wait to get better. How wonderful it truly is when we begin to heal- seldom is it instantaneously though. Gradually we begin to feel better, stronger, less ill. Yet here was Jesus and with a simple touch of his hand to the woman's her illness was completely gone and she was able to get right up from the bed and tend to the men. Just imagine her wonder at what had been done for her! You could imagine your own couldn't you? There you are lying sick on your bed feverish and your hand is touched and instantly you're healed. Just imagine the wonder and thoughts going through your mind in that moment. The wonder, the gratefulness, the awe. Tending to the One who healed you so miraculously would be a joy!
Jesus our great Healer said...
Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
The Spirit of the Lord was upon Jesus. Jesus was anointed to do the work of His Father. Jesus was anointed to do these miracles. These miracles many have tried to imitate as they proclaim their own divinity - but are really false prophets. Quickly as the years passed the miracles became few and far between- this had to be. For the same reason there weren't scores of miracles before Christ was born. Were there any miracles? Yes. We know all about Moses' miracles and we know about the various miracles wrought by God through His prophets but none were like Jesus- NONE. None were like Jesus before and none after. Jesus healed to enlighten the minds and hearts of people. Jesus spoke these words...
Joh 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
Joh 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
Joh 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
Believe the works. How could ANY deny Christ was of God, how, when they witnessed and experienced first hand the wonders He did, the miracles He performed? Yet they refused to believe. They refused to accept.
I'm not saying miracles aren't performed in many ways because they are. I'm saying that Jesus' millions of miracles - miracles performed day after day, many, many miracles so numerous we probably could not count them if we tried- were the GREAT exception to the rule of miracles.
There does not exist today any person who heals others on the scale of our Savior, they can't and will never exist, there is only ONE Savior who could and did heal as He did.
Our Savior today continues to heal us through the Holy Spirit a SPIRITUAL healing that we so desperately need. Our sin sickness is so horrific - many don't even believe they are in need of any healing- that is how awful the sickness is. To not even recognize our need of a Savior leaves us without healing. The one who thinks they are completely healthy does not believe they have need of a physician.
We are all in need of healing, all in need of our Savior's touch. We can never forget this, must never forget.
As we are healed we must minister to our Savior in all we do. Of ourselves we can do nothing--
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.
By His mercy and grace may we do all things in Him!
In His love!
Amen.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Great Faith
Mat 8:5 And when he had entered into Capharnaum, there came to him a centurion, beseeching him,
A Roman centurion came to Jesus. Here Jesus had been preaching to those of Israel, the Jews not to the gentile (non-Jews) and yet the fame of His teachings, His miracles touched the ears of the Romans. This wasn't a lowly Roman soldier, but a centurion. A centurion was a Roman commander in charge of 100 Roman soldiers. A figure the soldiers looked up to respected. Surely this Roman centurion would have little to nothing to do with the Jewish people under their thumbs. The two didn't mingle. There was no love loss between the two groups whatsoever. The Jews were being oppressed by the Romans. This is the very real situation that existed at this time and here a Roman centurion came to Jesus not at a commander, not as one to order Jesus about, not at one to demand that Jesus do as he wanted but this man, this centurion came beseeching Jesus!
After you ever beseeched someone? It's a fancy word for begging really. Have you ever begged someone for something? Maybe you've begged a loved one to seek medical attention when they were reluctant, or maybe you've begged someone not to do something you believe would be harmful for them to do. Perhaps you've begged a boss not to lay you off from your job, or maybe you've begged someone to hire you. At one time or another haven't we all begged someone over the course of our lifetime? Children begging parents, parents begging children. When we beg someone we are doing so because we want their compassion for whatever it is we're begging them for. We want them to help us with whatever it is we are begging them for. Begging someone not to do something is us wanting that someone to help us feel better by knowing that something won't be done. It's all about desiring something whether it's selfish or selfless.
The Roman centurion begged Jesus- a Jew for this--
Mat 8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, and is grievously tormented.
His servant. But note first- the commander addressed Jesus as Lord. The Centurion noted that Jesus had authority by addressing Him with that title. The news that had travelled over the area about Jesus and His miracles had come to the centurion and having a sick servant he sought Jesus to beg Him for His help. What sort of man the centurion had to be to stoop to beg a Jew for help not for himself or a family member, but for a servant!
Jesus knew what sort of man the centurion was and He didn't hesitate but answered--
Mat 8:7 And Jesus saith to him: I will come and heal him.
Jesus didn't question the centurion about the fact he was a Roman, one that didn't believe in God, that did not adhere at all to the Jewish faith. This was a man in need and that's ALL Jesus saw! Able to overlook completely everything that was unimportant- Jesus could see the man's heart and it was enough for Him. No more begging was required. Jesus was ready right then and there to go to the servant sick of the palsy, grievously tormented and heal him. He had the power to do this, the claim wasn't a false one. He didn't say he come and try to heal the servant, He didn't say show me the servant and I'll see what I can do, Jesus said 'I will come and heal him.' It was a statement of fact that could not be denied.
But it didn't end there. The centurion didn't grab Jesus' hand and start off for his home. He didn't even attempt to move away expecting to be followed. The begging Roman centurion quickly answered before Jesus could take a single step and said--
Mat 8:8 And the centurion, making answer, said: Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed.
Mat 8:9 For I also am a man subject to authority, having under me soldiers; and I say to this, Go, and he goeth, and to another Come, and he cometh, and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
I'm not worthy! This is what the centurion said. I'm not worthy. He spoke these words to a Jew. Remember the Roman's dominated the Jews! The Jews were under their authority, not the other way around and this was something this Roman centurion knew well. He'd obviously been in the Roman army for awhile- long enough to prove himself as a conqueror for Rome and become a commander. Or even if he'd been given the post due to family influence and politics he knew all about Rome's superiority and was part of that mindset. For a Roman to believe they were not worthy of a Jew was astounding, truly astounding. The Romans were the elite and everyone else beneath them. Yet here a Roman commander was telling Jesus that He knew that He was someone very special and NOT worthy of His presence in His house, not worthy of that HONOR. And the man wasn't saying it as some do - saying one thing and meaning another- he was truly contrite, truly humbled in Jesus' presence.
Going on to explain that he knew as one who also had authority that all Jesus had to do was say the word and it would be done. He wasn't questioning Jesus' ability to do this miracle sight unseen on his sick servant, he fully believed that all Jesus had to do was say the word and it would happen, the miracle would occur. The Roman centurion was there to test Jesus, he wasn't there questioning Jesus' ability to perform, he wasn't demanding to see the miracle be performed. So many Jews- especially those in authority did all they could to question Jesus' miracles. The doubting among the Jews was immense and here was a Roman centurion telling Jesus that He believed in Him without any doubt, not needing any proof, and that he wasn't worthy of Jesus. AMAZING!
What was Jesus' response?
Mat 8:10 And Jesus hearing this, marvelled; and said to them that followed him. Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel.
Jesus MARVELLED!
Jesus was astonished, amazed, in wonder over this Roman centurion's faith.
Jesus turned to those that were following Him and told them He hadn't found faith this great in Israel. He hadn't found faith like this man's among the Jews at all!
And He had more to say to the Jews following Him...
Mat 8:11 And I say to you that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven:
Mat 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Many from all over the world would sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven but the children of the kingdom would be CAST OUT! Who were the children of the kingdom supposed to be? The Jews. The Jews were the promised ones. The Jews were given the title of God's people!
Deu 7:6 Because thou art a holy people to the Lord thy God. The Lord thy God hath chosen thee, to be his peculiar people of all peoples that are upon the earth.
The people of Israel, the Jewish people were God's peculiar people, chosen by God Himself as being natural children of the kingdom but these chosen people would NOT as a whole, NOT as a corporate body sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. The chosen people would REJECT Jesus, they would REJECT salvation, the would REJECT God as they'd done in the past and been forgiven- time and again. Their rejection of salvation through Jesus Christ would be their undoing- their lack of faith would cost them eternity.
The Roman centurion had more faith- a non-Jew had more faith than any among the Jews, including His disciples. They were there and they were among those Jesus was speaking to when He said this--
Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel.
The greatest faith He'd found had been in a Roman centurion. What a resounding slap in the face of all the Jews gathered there. What shame they needed to feel knowing that a Roman commander exhibited more faith in Jesus, their Messiah, than they did.
Addressing the centurion once more after delivering that sobering message Jesus said--
Mat 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Go on, what you believe will be done. The centurion's faith that Jesus had the power, the authority to heal his servant did just that- because he believed, because of his faith- Jesus answered His request and His servant was healed. Amazing! Simply amazing! Wonderfully amazing!
It's easy for Christians to take that high road that has them feeling superior to the Jews, knowing that they were a people that Jesus condemned.
Luk 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
Luk 13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
For thousands of years Christians have turned on the Jews blaming them for the death of Christ, but no where did Jesus ever condone turning on one another. Jesus was all about turning the other cheek, not slapping the other cheek. Christians have NO right to place blame anywhere, if anything they need to forgive, not condemn. Non-Jews who believe they are better than the Jews are condemning themselves. Too many Christians are caught up in believing they are now the chosen and therefore automatically have a place at the table in the kingdom of heaven. No one has an automatic place, no one. Only by the grace of God do we have eternal life, only by the mercy and love of our Savior will we have a seat at the table in heaven. EVERY single human being as an equal opportunity to choose to follow God, to accept Jesus as their Savior, not one is left out. The opportunity comes to us all without fail, no one is automatically excluded because of their ethnicity, something they are born into and have no fault in becoming. We DO have fault when we reject salvation, when we reject the gospel of the kingdom of heaven, but not because of our race.
May God help us to have the faith that Roman centurion had.
Only by His grace, His mercy, His love, through His forgiveness, in His righteousness do we have hope.
In Him now and forever!
Amen.
A Roman centurion came to Jesus. Here Jesus had been preaching to those of Israel, the Jews not to the gentile (non-Jews) and yet the fame of His teachings, His miracles touched the ears of the Romans. This wasn't a lowly Roman soldier, but a centurion. A centurion was a Roman commander in charge of 100 Roman soldiers. A figure the soldiers looked up to respected. Surely this Roman centurion would have little to nothing to do with the Jewish people under their thumbs. The two didn't mingle. There was no love loss between the two groups whatsoever. The Jews were being oppressed by the Romans. This is the very real situation that existed at this time and here a Roman centurion came to Jesus not at a commander, not as one to order Jesus about, not at one to demand that Jesus do as he wanted but this man, this centurion came beseeching Jesus!
After you ever beseeched someone? It's a fancy word for begging really. Have you ever begged someone for something? Maybe you've begged a loved one to seek medical attention when they were reluctant, or maybe you've begged someone not to do something you believe would be harmful for them to do. Perhaps you've begged a boss not to lay you off from your job, or maybe you've begged someone to hire you. At one time or another haven't we all begged someone over the course of our lifetime? Children begging parents, parents begging children. When we beg someone we are doing so because we want their compassion for whatever it is we're begging them for. We want them to help us with whatever it is we are begging them for. Begging someone not to do something is us wanting that someone to help us feel better by knowing that something won't be done. It's all about desiring something whether it's selfish or selfless.
The Roman centurion begged Jesus- a Jew for this--
Mat 8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, and is grievously tormented.
His servant. But note first- the commander addressed Jesus as Lord. The Centurion noted that Jesus had authority by addressing Him with that title. The news that had travelled over the area about Jesus and His miracles had come to the centurion and having a sick servant he sought Jesus to beg Him for His help. What sort of man the centurion had to be to stoop to beg a Jew for help not for himself or a family member, but for a servant!
Jesus knew what sort of man the centurion was and He didn't hesitate but answered--
Mat 8:7 And Jesus saith to him: I will come and heal him.
Jesus didn't question the centurion about the fact he was a Roman, one that didn't believe in God, that did not adhere at all to the Jewish faith. This was a man in need and that's ALL Jesus saw! Able to overlook completely everything that was unimportant- Jesus could see the man's heart and it was enough for Him. No more begging was required. Jesus was ready right then and there to go to the servant sick of the palsy, grievously tormented and heal him. He had the power to do this, the claim wasn't a false one. He didn't say he come and try to heal the servant, He didn't say show me the servant and I'll see what I can do, Jesus said 'I will come and heal him.' It was a statement of fact that could not be denied.
But it didn't end there. The centurion didn't grab Jesus' hand and start off for his home. He didn't even attempt to move away expecting to be followed. The begging Roman centurion quickly answered before Jesus could take a single step and said--
Mat 8:8 And the centurion, making answer, said: Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed.
Mat 8:9 For I also am a man subject to authority, having under me soldiers; and I say to this, Go, and he goeth, and to another Come, and he cometh, and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
I'm not worthy! This is what the centurion said. I'm not worthy. He spoke these words to a Jew. Remember the Roman's dominated the Jews! The Jews were under their authority, not the other way around and this was something this Roman centurion knew well. He'd obviously been in the Roman army for awhile- long enough to prove himself as a conqueror for Rome and become a commander. Or even if he'd been given the post due to family influence and politics he knew all about Rome's superiority and was part of that mindset. For a Roman to believe they were not worthy of a Jew was astounding, truly astounding. The Romans were the elite and everyone else beneath them. Yet here a Roman commander was telling Jesus that He knew that He was someone very special and NOT worthy of His presence in His house, not worthy of that HONOR. And the man wasn't saying it as some do - saying one thing and meaning another- he was truly contrite, truly humbled in Jesus' presence.
Going on to explain that he knew as one who also had authority that all Jesus had to do was say the word and it would be done. He wasn't questioning Jesus' ability to do this miracle sight unseen on his sick servant, he fully believed that all Jesus had to do was say the word and it would happen, the miracle would occur. The Roman centurion was there to test Jesus, he wasn't there questioning Jesus' ability to perform, he wasn't demanding to see the miracle be performed. So many Jews- especially those in authority did all they could to question Jesus' miracles. The doubting among the Jews was immense and here was a Roman centurion telling Jesus that He believed in Him without any doubt, not needing any proof, and that he wasn't worthy of Jesus. AMAZING!
What was Jesus' response?
Mat 8:10 And Jesus hearing this, marvelled; and said to them that followed him. Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel.
Jesus MARVELLED!
Jesus was astonished, amazed, in wonder over this Roman centurion's faith.
Jesus turned to those that were following Him and told them He hadn't found faith this great in Israel. He hadn't found faith like this man's among the Jews at all!
And He had more to say to the Jews following Him...
Mat 8:11 And I say to you that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven:
Mat 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Many from all over the world would sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven but the children of the kingdom would be CAST OUT! Who were the children of the kingdom supposed to be? The Jews. The Jews were the promised ones. The Jews were given the title of God's people!
Deu 7:6 Because thou art a holy people to the Lord thy God. The Lord thy God hath chosen thee, to be his peculiar people of all peoples that are upon the earth.
The people of Israel, the Jewish people were God's peculiar people, chosen by God Himself as being natural children of the kingdom but these chosen people would NOT as a whole, NOT as a corporate body sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. The chosen people would REJECT Jesus, they would REJECT salvation, the would REJECT God as they'd done in the past and been forgiven- time and again. Their rejection of salvation through Jesus Christ would be their undoing- their lack of faith would cost them eternity.
The Roman centurion had more faith- a non-Jew had more faith than any among the Jews, including His disciples. They were there and they were among those Jesus was speaking to when He said this--
Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel.
The greatest faith He'd found had been in a Roman centurion. What a resounding slap in the face of all the Jews gathered there. What shame they needed to feel knowing that a Roman commander exhibited more faith in Jesus, their Messiah, than they did.
Addressing the centurion once more after delivering that sobering message Jesus said--
Mat 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Go on, what you believe will be done. The centurion's faith that Jesus had the power, the authority to heal his servant did just that- because he believed, because of his faith- Jesus answered His request and His servant was healed. Amazing! Simply amazing! Wonderfully amazing!
It's easy for Christians to take that high road that has them feeling superior to the Jews, knowing that they were a people that Jesus condemned.
Luk 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
Luk 13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
For thousands of years Christians have turned on the Jews blaming them for the death of Christ, but no where did Jesus ever condone turning on one another. Jesus was all about turning the other cheek, not slapping the other cheek. Christians have NO right to place blame anywhere, if anything they need to forgive, not condemn. Non-Jews who believe they are better than the Jews are condemning themselves. Too many Christians are caught up in believing they are now the chosen and therefore automatically have a place at the table in the kingdom of heaven. No one has an automatic place, no one. Only by the grace of God do we have eternal life, only by the mercy and love of our Savior will we have a seat at the table in heaven. EVERY single human being as an equal opportunity to choose to follow God, to accept Jesus as their Savior, not one is left out. The opportunity comes to us all without fail, no one is automatically excluded because of their ethnicity, something they are born into and have no fault in becoming. We DO have fault when we reject salvation, when we reject the gospel of the kingdom of heaven, but not because of our race.
May God help us to have the faith that Roman centurion had.
Only by His grace, His mercy, His love, through His forgiveness, in His righteousness do we have hope.
In Him now and forever!
Amen.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Remember and keep
Do we celebrate having no other God's before God?
Do we celebrate not worshipping idols?
Do we celebrate not taking the Lord God's name in vain?
Do we celebrate not murdering?
Do we celebrate not committing adultery?
Do we celebrate not stealing?
Do we celebrate not lying?
Do we celebrate not coveting?
We are told not to do these things in God's great ten commandments. But in two of the ten commandments we are told to DO something.
We are to honor our parents.
We are to honor our Creator on a day that He has chosen, once a week.
When we are told to honor our parents it's a continuous commandment isn't it? A commandment without end. We are CONSTANTLY to honor our parents, doing so without ceasing. There were no time constraints whatsoever placed upon this commandment. There were no guidelines, no limitations.
Exo 20:12 Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.
Honor them. Never dishonor them. In dishonoring our parents we only end up hurting ourselves. Just as we are to NEVER have another before God, just as we are to never worship idols, take the Lord God's name in vain, murder, commit adultery, steal, lie, or covet, we are to ALWAYS honor our parents. These commandments are eternal, ever lasting, ever important, ever pertinent, ever righteous, ever good, ever Holy. There will never come a time when any of these commandments will be changed, never.
Because we live in a world that chose to disobey God, sin entered our world. Before sin entered the world the commandments were kept perfectly, naturally. There was no reason to explain to Adam and Eve that they shouldn't murder each other. There was no reason to tell them not to lie, steal, covet. There wasn't a need for them to have to be told to worship God in not making the nature around them their God, they knew better naturally without having to be told. They were given this command-
Gen 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
This was the command given to man. DO not eat the fruit of ONE tree.
Would man obey God? Would man naturally choose to obey God? Would man in the face of temptation choose God over that temptation? What sort of creature was this man created from the very earth created by God. Created from something created, having a form unlike any other created being. Created in God's image, created not to be ethereal, but to be subjected to the world around them, a world they were created on and in need of for the very life they lived. The earth would bring forth all the food they'd need, all the water, all the air, gravity, heat would touch the planet from the created sun. Man was to be special very special.
We, as mortals are fixated on things immortal. Our very culture shows this over and over again. More than ever people are obsessed with tales of immortality. What teenager out there isn't longing for lives of immortality portrayed to them on the movie screen in the form of vampires, superheroes, varied fictional supernatural creatures?
The immortal God created man to be immortal- conditionally mortal. Yes, man was created to be a creature dependent upon the very created world that gave them form. Immortality in an exquisite world, immortal with the potential for a growing knowledge that would endlessly keep mankind living in the fascination of their Creator, God.
We were created with the condition of needing air to breath, of needing food to eat, we were created needing to eat from the tree of life.
Gen 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden…
The tree of life giving immortality! The tree whose fruit was filled with the power of immortality for all of mankind that God created.
Think about it for a moment. We tend to view our mortality as something awful because IT IS. It is NO senseless coincidence that we desire immortality. We were created to be immortal beings with free access to the fruit of immortality. Our immortal God didn't punish human beings by making them creatures dependent upon the tree of life for immortality. We were made uniquely different from other created beings- the angels. Immortal angels not dependent upon a tree laden with fruit giving them eternal life. Immortal because they were created to be immortal. Humans immortal created to be immortal. Humans being created to procreate. Angels were not created to procreate. Human beings created in God's image. Angels were not created in God's image and yet so many believe that angels are created more in God's image than mankind, it's just not true.
Our wondrous God created us marvelously and even with all our sin the miracle of our lives, our creation still shines through the thick blanket of darkness. We were created with the ability to comprehend the truth of immortality found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Immortality was lost to us, taken from us because we chose to disobey our Creator in the one thing He asked of us, choosing selfishness over God.
Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Immortality was restored to us by the promise of a coming Savior- a Savior who fulfilled that promise is His birth, life, death and resurrection- and a Savior who will return again for us bringing immortality with Him.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Just as intended we would keep immortality by trusting wholly in our God, our Creator- obeying Him in all things. We are given the promise of immortality by trusting wholly in our God, our Creator- obeying Him in all things- by the sacrifice of our Savior, in Christ's righteousness.
In the beginning of this little study the mention of the commandments was made and it was mentioned there were two of the ten commandments that are geared towards us 'DOING' something rather than us NOT doing something. We talked about honoring our parents but let's talk about the other commandment, the fourth.
Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day
We are told to--
Remember and keep.
We have to ask ourselves WHY weren't we told to remember all the other commandments? Seriously, why? Surely it's important for us to remember not to kill, steal, lie, covet, commit adultery, have only God as our God, not to make gods out of graven images, not to take God's name in vain- right?
Maybe this fourth commandment was a bridge. Seriously, maybe it was given to us to connect our worship and love of God to our love for our fellow man.
Jesus Himself said there were two great commandments upon which the rest hung.
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
It's easy for ANYONE to see in the ten commandments the ones geared towards God and the others towards our neighbors.
Maybe that fourth one isn't strictly geared towards God but more of a bridge.
Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day
First we are to REMEMBER the Sabbath day and KEEP it holy.
Six days we work.
The seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord and we aren't to work.
Not just us though… OTHERS our neighbors are not to work either! Yes, our sons, daughters, manservants, maidservants, are our neighbors too aren't they? Seriously, anyone that isn't us is one we are to love as a neighbor- surely Jesus meant it when He said the second great commandment was to love your neighbor as if they were you. Our family members have to be included in that commandment to love our neighbor as if they were us, if they're not then where else would they fit in the grand scheme of things? Many, many, MANY people do not love their family members, though we'd like to believe family members are automatically loved by other family members they're not, by far. Sometimes, or rather, often we are more cruel to family members than strangers.
So if others in our lives are NOT to do any work on the Sabbath this is the bridge reaching from each side of the commandments God and neighbors. These two laws come together perfectly on the Sabbath day- for God and man together make up the reason for the Sabbath. God made the heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them… including US, and then He made it a holy day of rest, of remembrance for the crown of His creation- US. Together God and Man, Creator and Creature.
Jesus even had to remind people of this most important fact--
Mar 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath
This heavenly WEEKLY reminder was created for US.
While many changes in our calendar have been made over time- if you look at the changes - for example the Gregorian and Julian calendars- the numbering of the day was changed, but the WEEKLY CYCLE HAS NEVER BEEN CHANGED.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th day.
God sanctified the SEVENTH DAY of the week and that's never been changed, never.
Our weekly reminder that means so incredibly much! A day set aside, a full day, not just an hour or two. A full day set aside for us to keep holy to God. 1/7th of our week God requires of us, surely by anyone's standard that isn't too much to ask. Surely by even the most selfish person 1/7th of a week is not too much to keep holy to God, a time for the love of God to be realized most fully by man. Jesus kept the seventh day Sabbath. The Pharisees may have question is actions ON the Sabbath but they never accused Him of abandoning the Sabbath, never accused Him of doing away with the Sabbath and you can be sure they would have given the most miniscule chance!
We need to celebrate the Sabbath! Celebrate this wonderful gift of time from our Creator who in His great wisdom knew we needed time set aside to be with Him more so than at any other time in our weeks.
By HIS amazing love and grace may we keep His holy Sabbath as He would have us keep it- wholly spent with HIM, in His love, by His mercy and His righteousness!
Let us also remember this---
Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Isa 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
We will be with Christ and that immortality promised to us will be kept - the tree of life will be there and we will gather from one moon to another, from one sabbath to another. The creature God created from the earth will be drawn to heaven and then in the great holy city, the New Jerusalem we will be drawn back to earth and all will be made new! We will inhabit the earth as originally intended all by the grace of our Savior, all to the glory of God! Forever we will be the humans God created in His image- perfect and immortal never again to sin, never! We will forever keep the Sabbath with Him as He intended, forever!
In His LOVE!
Amen.
Do we celebrate not worshipping idols?
Do we celebrate not taking the Lord God's name in vain?
Do we celebrate not murdering?
Do we celebrate not committing adultery?
Do we celebrate not stealing?
Do we celebrate not lying?
Do we celebrate not coveting?
We are told not to do these things in God's great ten commandments. But in two of the ten commandments we are told to DO something.
We are to honor our parents.
We are to honor our Creator on a day that He has chosen, once a week.
When we are told to honor our parents it's a continuous commandment isn't it? A commandment without end. We are CONSTANTLY to honor our parents, doing so without ceasing. There were no time constraints whatsoever placed upon this commandment. There were no guidelines, no limitations.
Exo 20:12 Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.
Honor them. Never dishonor them. In dishonoring our parents we only end up hurting ourselves. Just as we are to NEVER have another before God, just as we are to never worship idols, take the Lord God's name in vain, murder, commit adultery, steal, lie, or covet, we are to ALWAYS honor our parents. These commandments are eternal, ever lasting, ever important, ever pertinent, ever righteous, ever good, ever Holy. There will never come a time when any of these commandments will be changed, never.
Because we live in a world that chose to disobey God, sin entered our world. Before sin entered the world the commandments were kept perfectly, naturally. There was no reason to explain to Adam and Eve that they shouldn't murder each other. There was no reason to tell them not to lie, steal, covet. There wasn't a need for them to have to be told to worship God in not making the nature around them their God, they knew better naturally without having to be told. They were given this command-
Gen 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
This was the command given to man. DO not eat the fruit of ONE tree.
Would man obey God? Would man naturally choose to obey God? Would man in the face of temptation choose God over that temptation? What sort of creature was this man created from the very earth created by God. Created from something created, having a form unlike any other created being. Created in God's image, created not to be ethereal, but to be subjected to the world around them, a world they were created on and in need of for the very life they lived. The earth would bring forth all the food they'd need, all the water, all the air, gravity, heat would touch the planet from the created sun. Man was to be special very special.
We, as mortals are fixated on things immortal. Our very culture shows this over and over again. More than ever people are obsessed with tales of immortality. What teenager out there isn't longing for lives of immortality portrayed to them on the movie screen in the form of vampires, superheroes, varied fictional supernatural creatures?
The immortal God created man to be immortal- conditionally mortal. Yes, man was created to be a creature dependent upon the very created world that gave them form. Immortality in an exquisite world, immortal with the potential for a growing knowledge that would endlessly keep mankind living in the fascination of their Creator, God.
We were created with the condition of needing air to breath, of needing food to eat, we were created needing to eat from the tree of life.
Gen 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden…
The tree of life giving immortality! The tree whose fruit was filled with the power of immortality for all of mankind that God created.
Think about it for a moment. We tend to view our mortality as something awful because IT IS. It is NO senseless coincidence that we desire immortality. We were created to be immortal beings with free access to the fruit of immortality. Our immortal God didn't punish human beings by making them creatures dependent upon the tree of life for immortality. We were made uniquely different from other created beings- the angels. Immortal angels not dependent upon a tree laden with fruit giving them eternal life. Immortal because they were created to be immortal. Humans immortal created to be immortal. Humans being created to procreate. Angels were not created to procreate. Human beings created in God's image. Angels were not created in God's image and yet so many believe that angels are created more in God's image than mankind, it's just not true.
Our wondrous God created us marvelously and even with all our sin the miracle of our lives, our creation still shines through the thick blanket of darkness. We were created with the ability to comprehend the truth of immortality found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Immortality was lost to us, taken from us because we chose to disobey our Creator in the one thing He asked of us, choosing selfishness over God.
Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Immortality was restored to us by the promise of a coming Savior- a Savior who fulfilled that promise is His birth, life, death and resurrection- and a Savior who will return again for us bringing immortality with Him.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Just as intended we would keep immortality by trusting wholly in our God, our Creator- obeying Him in all things. We are given the promise of immortality by trusting wholly in our God, our Creator- obeying Him in all things- by the sacrifice of our Savior, in Christ's righteousness.
In the beginning of this little study the mention of the commandments was made and it was mentioned there were two of the ten commandments that are geared towards us 'DOING' something rather than us NOT doing something. We talked about honoring our parents but let's talk about the other commandment, the fourth.
Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day
We are told to--
Remember and keep.
We have to ask ourselves WHY weren't we told to remember all the other commandments? Seriously, why? Surely it's important for us to remember not to kill, steal, lie, covet, commit adultery, have only God as our God, not to make gods out of graven images, not to take God's name in vain- right?
Maybe this fourth commandment was a bridge. Seriously, maybe it was given to us to connect our worship and love of God to our love for our fellow man.
Jesus Himself said there were two great commandments upon which the rest hung.
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
It's easy for ANYONE to see in the ten commandments the ones geared towards God and the others towards our neighbors.
Maybe that fourth one isn't strictly geared towards God but more of a bridge.
Exo 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day
First we are to REMEMBER the Sabbath day and KEEP it holy.
Six days we work.
The seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord and we aren't to work.
Not just us though… OTHERS our neighbors are not to work either! Yes, our sons, daughters, manservants, maidservants, are our neighbors too aren't they? Seriously, anyone that isn't us is one we are to love as a neighbor- surely Jesus meant it when He said the second great commandment was to love your neighbor as if they were you. Our family members have to be included in that commandment to love our neighbor as if they were us, if they're not then where else would they fit in the grand scheme of things? Many, many, MANY people do not love their family members, though we'd like to believe family members are automatically loved by other family members they're not, by far. Sometimes, or rather, often we are more cruel to family members than strangers.
So if others in our lives are NOT to do any work on the Sabbath this is the bridge reaching from each side of the commandments God and neighbors. These two laws come together perfectly on the Sabbath day- for God and man together make up the reason for the Sabbath. God made the heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them… including US, and then He made it a holy day of rest, of remembrance for the crown of His creation- US. Together God and Man, Creator and Creature.
Jesus even had to remind people of this most important fact--
Mar 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath
This heavenly WEEKLY reminder was created for US.
While many changes in our calendar have been made over time- if you look at the changes - for example the Gregorian and Julian calendars- the numbering of the day was changed, but the WEEKLY CYCLE HAS NEVER BEEN CHANGED.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th day.
God sanctified the SEVENTH DAY of the week and that's never been changed, never.
Our weekly reminder that means so incredibly much! A day set aside, a full day, not just an hour or two. A full day set aside for us to keep holy to God. 1/7th of our week God requires of us, surely by anyone's standard that isn't too much to ask. Surely by even the most selfish person 1/7th of a week is not too much to keep holy to God, a time for the love of God to be realized most fully by man. Jesus kept the seventh day Sabbath. The Pharisees may have question is actions ON the Sabbath but they never accused Him of abandoning the Sabbath, never accused Him of doing away with the Sabbath and you can be sure they would have given the most miniscule chance!
We need to celebrate the Sabbath! Celebrate this wonderful gift of time from our Creator who in His great wisdom knew we needed time set aside to be with Him more so than at any other time in our weeks.
By HIS amazing love and grace may we keep His holy Sabbath as He would have us keep it- wholly spent with HIM, in His love, by His mercy and His righteousness!
Let us also remember this---
Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Isa 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
We will be with Christ and that immortality promised to us will be kept - the tree of life will be there and we will gather from one moon to another, from one sabbath to another. The creature God created from the earth will be drawn to heaven and then in the great holy city, the New Jerusalem we will be drawn back to earth and all will be made new! We will inhabit the earth as originally intended all by the grace of our Savior, all to the glory of God! Forever we will be the humans God created in His image- perfect and immortal never again to sin, never! We will forever keep the Sabbath with Him as He intended, forever!
In His LOVE!
Amen.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Education in things eternal
Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes
People were astonished. You know what it feels like to be astonished at something, right? There's that 'wow' factor involved. You're amazed. What you've heard is incredulous. Sometimes when we hear things that astonish us it's almost life changing, isn't it? You heard things before that have altered your life in one way or another. For instance I personally heard the gospel message and was changed, my life altered in many ways. Had I not heard the gospel message my life would not have altered, it would not have gone down the path it has. Life changing messages are something that don't come along everyday. Unfortunately Satan has his own life changing messages for people and they fall for them hook, line, and sinker. How many terrorist hear the rousing words of those inciting terrorist acts and their lives are changed by them? Obviously way too many.
Words have power, life changing power.
Do you have the memory of any words that were said to you that changed your life? Maybe they were uplifting words that changed your life in a positive way. Or maybe the words were painful and changed your life in a very negative way. Words mean so much- those that are spoken and those that are written. Try telling someone who receives horrible news in a letter that written words are less harmful than spoken. Or tell someone who just found out wonderful news in a letter that it means nothing. You know in our modern world we are using cell phones for texting, computers for instant messaging and all those words whether they are shortened so a lot of people can't recognize them, whether they are in a special code, none of it matters because they are words and words matter.
When Jesus finished speaking His listeners were astonished by what He taught them. They KNEW they are being taught, that what they were listening to wasn't just a fictional story or two, it wasn't a history lesson, it wasn't a tale without merit.
Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying--
He taught them. He is the ultimate Teacher!
Joh 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
A Teacher come from God.
The greatest Teacher we will ever have is our Savior.
The greatest lessons we have to learn come from our Savior.
You could be the most learned man or woman on earth with a mind that can figure out incredible scientific theories and at the same time be the most uneducated person on earth if you haven't learned the greatest lessons there are from the mouth of our Savior. All the learning in the world means NOTHING if the learning isn't from our Savior and used for His purpose according to His will, not our own. So many scientist take pride in themselves for not being 'duped' by the fables of a fictional cult rearing Bible and they'll realize too late that what they considered fiction is fact. There is NO pride to be had in disregarding the Bible as being uninspired. Not believing doesn't make you an intellectual genius. In a world ruled by Satan you may garner accolades for your astute ability to *think* to reason, to impressive with your vocabulary, to out think anyone you come in contact with, to debate and never lose--but that means NOTHING! Sorry, but all the worldly wisdom means NOTHING in the grand scheme of things. It's the lessons we learn from our Savior that means EVERYTHING. Choose not to learn and you rob yourself of your greatest opportunity for an education in things eternal.
By the grace of God May we learn from the greatest Master there is - a Teacher sent from God, a Teacher that was with God, a God become man's ultimate Teacher.
In His amazing love!
Amen!
Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes
People were astonished. You know what it feels like to be astonished at something, right? There's that 'wow' factor involved. You're amazed. What you've heard is incredulous. Sometimes when we hear things that astonish us it's almost life changing, isn't it? You heard things before that have altered your life in one way or another. For instance I personally heard the gospel message and was changed, my life altered in many ways. Had I not heard the gospel message my life would not have altered, it would not have gone down the path it has. Life changing messages are something that don't come along everyday. Unfortunately Satan has his own life changing messages for people and they fall for them hook, line, and sinker. How many terrorist hear the rousing words of those inciting terrorist acts and their lives are changed by them? Obviously way too many.
Words have power, life changing power.
Do you have the memory of any words that were said to you that changed your life? Maybe they were uplifting words that changed your life in a positive way. Or maybe the words were painful and changed your life in a very negative way. Words mean so much- those that are spoken and those that are written. Try telling someone who receives horrible news in a letter that written words are less harmful than spoken. Or tell someone who just found out wonderful news in a letter that it means nothing. You know in our modern world we are using cell phones for texting, computers for instant messaging and all those words whether they are shortened so a lot of people can't recognize them, whether they are in a special code, none of it matters because they are words and words matter.
When Jesus finished speaking His listeners were astonished by what He taught them. They KNEW they are being taught, that what they were listening to wasn't just a fictional story or two, it wasn't a history lesson, it wasn't a tale without merit.
Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying--
He taught them. He is the ultimate Teacher!
Joh 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
A Teacher come from God.
The greatest Teacher we will ever have is our Savior.
The greatest lessons we have to learn come from our Savior.
You could be the most learned man or woman on earth with a mind that can figure out incredible scientific theories and at the same time be the most uneducated person on earth if you haven't learned the greatest lessons there are from the mouth of our Savior. All the learning in the world means NOTHING if the learning isn't from our Savior and used for His purpose according to His will, not our own. So many scientist take pride in themselves for not being 'duped' by the fables of a fictional cult rearing Bible and they'll realize too late that what they considered fiction is fact. There is NO pride to be had in disregarding the Bible as being uninspired. Not believing doesn't make you an intellectual genius. In a world ruled by Satan you may garner accolades for your astute ability to *think* to reason, to impressive with your vocabulary, to out think anyone you come in contact with, to debate and never lose--but that means NOTHING! Sorry, but all the worldly wisdom means NOTHING in the grand scheme of things. It's the lessons we learn from our Savior that means EVERYTHING. Choose not to learn and you rob yourself of your greatest opportunity for an education in things eternal.
By the grace of God May we learn from the greatest Master there is - a Teacher sent from God, a Teacher that was with God, a God become man's ultimate Teacher.
In His amazing love!
Amen!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Spiritual Rock
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
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.
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.
*******
Those who HEAR the sayings Jesus was bringing to them and DO them- are likened unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock.
Hear and do.
Hear and do.
Hear and do.
Yes, I'm repeating this over and over because it bears repeating much more than I'm doing here, it warrants repeating until we get this embedded into our minds. We have to not only hear, but do what we hear. We have to LISTEN to our Savior and LEARN from Him. In learning we are living in the manner our Savior would have us live. These are LIFE lessons. These aren't mere stories being told to us - something to read and then forget. These are LIFE lessons we are to read and absorb until they are a part of us. Three chapters of Matthew- one hundred-seven verses- two thousand four hundred forty-one words of LESSONS.
And those who HEAR AND DO will be likened unto WISE men.
Mat 7:24 ...I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock
A wise man builds his house upon a ROCK. Why? Keep reading...
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.
Rain comes.
Floods come.
Winds come.
The house is beaten.
But as long as that house is upon the rock it's going no where!
We all know, especially living in the times we do with the internet and television news bringing us vivid instant pictures of devastation that rain, floods, and winds can bring that even houses on rocks can be swept away, obliterated by tornado winds. The ROCK here is a much stronger Rock just as the house truly represents us. If We… if our lives are built upon the Rock that is our Savior then NOTHING will be able to rip us apart, nothing will be able to tear us down, nothing will be able to take our Savior from us. They might be able to take everything we have physically but they can not take our spiritual life from us, that spiritual life that is where salvation in our Savior is found, where TRUE life is found.
There is another side of this too- Jesus goes on to say this...
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.
A house built upon the sand. Truly foolish! When we do not LIVE for our Savior, we are not on a rock but rather sand and it doesn't matter if we are on sands that imitate rocks… because if they are not THE ROCK… those sand rocks will disintegrate just as surely as if they were pure sand. Too many are standing upon imitation rocks and they will not stand in the day of rain, flood, or wind. Too many have built their lives upon sand.
Jesus' own words to us so why don't we heed them? Why? Why do we hear but not do? Why? We are given the truth and the way and the life- JESUS. We are given all the love we need to live in Him. We need to LIVE Him. We must have Him as our Rock and no other.
1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
That Rock was Christ!
Let us build our houses, our LIVES upon the Rock Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! By His grace, by His righteousness! In His love! In His mercy! Now and forever may we live!
Amen.
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.
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.
*******
Those who HEAR the sayings Jesus was bringing to them and DO them- are likened unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock.
Hear and do.
Hear and do.
Hear and do.
Yes, I'm repeating this over and over because it bears repeating much more than I'm doing here, it warrants repeating until we get this embedded into our minds. We have to not only hear, but do what we hear. We have to LISTEN to our Savior and LEARN from Him. In learning we are living in the manner our Savior would have us live. These are LIFE lessons. These aren't mere stories being told to us - something to read and then forget. These are LIFE lessons we are to read and absorb until they are a part of us. Three chapters of Matthew- one hundred-seven verses- two thousand four hundred forty-one words of LESSONS.
And those who HEAR AND DO will be likened unto WISE men.
Mat 7:24 ...I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock
A wise man builds his house upon a ROCK. Why? Keep reading...
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.
Rain comes.
Floods come.
Winds come.
The house is beaten.
But as long as that house is upon the rock it's going no where!
We all know, especially living in the times we do with the internet and television news bringing us vivid instant pictures of devastation that rain, floods, and winds can bring that even houses on rocks can be swept away, obliterated by tornado winds. The ROCK here is a much stronger Rock just as the house truly represents us. If We… if our lives are built upon the Rock that is our Savior then NOTHING will be able to rip us apart, nothing will be able to tear us down, nothing will be able to take our Savior from us. They might be able to take everything we have physically but they can not take our spiritual life from us, that spiritual life that is where salvation in our Savior is found, where TRUE life is found.
There is another side of this too- Jesus goes on to say this...
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.
A house built upon the sand. Truly foolish! When we do not LIVE for our Savior, we are not on a rock but rather sand and it doesn't matter if we are on sands that imitate rocks… because if they are not THE ROCK… those sand rocks will disintegrate just as surely as if they were pure sand. Too many are standing upon imitation rocks and they will not stand in the day of rain, flood, or wind. Too many have built their lives upon sand.
Jesus' own words to us so why don't we heed them? Why? Why do we hear but not do? Why? We are given the truth and the way and the life- JESUS. We are given all the love we need to live in Him. We need to LIVE Him. We must have Him as our Rock and no other.
1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
That Rock was Christ!
Let us build our houses, our LIVES upon the Rock Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! By His grace, by His righteousness! In His love! In His mercy! Now and forever may we live!
Amen.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Ye shall know them by their fruits
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
False prophets in sheep's clothing.
False prophets looking as if they are REAL prophets.
We've talked before quite a bit about the deception of Satan and his counterfeiting. We've expressed the opinion that only something that looks almost exactly like the real can be a good counterfeit. Satan has his prophets and they appear as if they are God's. Don't make a mistake here- the false prophets are covered in sheep's clothing, the false prophets appear as if they are sheep and we all know that our Savior loves His sheep, our Savior's sheep hear His voice and follow Him. So if we are among our Savior's sheep and there is a wolf in sheep's clothing among us we can't recognize that wolf, right?
Wrong.
Our Savior tells us to look at the fruit of the sheep. The trouble is, we don't feel as if we can judge others and each person has a walk they are called to make and they are answerable to our Savior, not us. Yet, a prophet…
G4396
προφήτης
prophētēs
prof-ay'-tace
From a compound of G4253 and G5346; a foreteller (“prophet”); by analogy an inspired speaker; by extension a poet: - prophet.
…a foreteller, an inspired speaker, anyone that claims to be a foreteller, or claims to speak inspired by our God, has to have their life completely laid open before us in all they do and while we cannot expect perfection from ANY human being, we have to see a life devoted to God above all.
The fruits we are to know the prophets by cannot be filled with corruption. The fruits we are to know the prophets by must be filled with contrition, repentance, LOVE, goodness, mercy, truth, humbleness, I could go on and on, but we all know the good things of our Savior need to be present in His prophets. Yes, they will still have their humanity, there is nothing else for them, but our God will be present within that humanity in a very real way.
Too many false prophets exist in our world, it's heartbreaking. Too many claim to be inspired by God but in reality they are only inspired by themselves with Satan cheering them on. Self the opposite of the selflessness that God is. A false prophet in sheep's clothing by definition is one hiding, one living under pretense. A false prophet's fruit will be that of one seemingly a sheep yet their lives are corrupt. The corruption doesn't necessarily mean they'll be blatantly noticeable as the wolves they are, they aren't stripping off their sheep's clothing to reveal their true selves. That sheep's clothing stays on so that we can't pick them out as wolves at all and if we are LOOKING for wolves we won't find them. We will find sheep. What we have to look at is the sheep, and look closely enough to discern by the grace of God, that their fruit is NOT that of God's. We don't have to discover an adulterous prophet- though they seem plentiful. We don't have to find out prophet embezzled, yet they're quite common as well. We don't have to see the exposed wolves as their sheep costume falls away- in fact there will be sheep that stay convincingly as sheep yet if we examine their lives as our Savior would have us do- we will notice they are filled with self-righteousness, they are filled with the inner evils that don't reveal their long teeth and their sharp claws. The self-righteousness, the pride, the cleverly disguised hatred, the prejudice, all those evils and many more like them won't present themselves as a big fluffy wolves tail, or large point ears. The fluffy, sweet lamb covered in its thick wool, will still be what we see- but we will KNOW the wolf in sheep's clothing because their fruits- all that makes up their lives will- be seen. These wolves will speak lies that sound like truths, but the Bible will reveal their falsehoods to us. When we are allowed to see the corruption beneath the thick wool we can no longer continue to follow that sheep, we can't listen to that sheep, we can't trust that sheep. Many might not see what has been revealed to us and will continue to loving stroke the sheep's wool, eager to follow that sheep as being a sheep of Christ's, when in truth they are Satan's.
Remember… MANY will believe they are Christ's. Many will be deceived. In the end the wolves will have their false clothing, their sheep's clothing ripped off and people will know all along they've been following a wolf. They loved hearing good things- they had itching ears.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
May we seek to look at the fruit and keep our eyes wide open to only truth found in Christ our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Let us examine the fruit of any we would follow and follow none blindly!
By the grace and mercy of our Savior now and forever!
Amen.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
False prophets in sheep's clothing.
False prophets looking as if they are REAL prophets.
We've talked before quite a bit about the deception of Satan and his counterfeiting. We've expressed the opinion that only something that looks almost exactly like the real can be a good counterfeit. Satan has his prophets and they appear as if they are God's. Don't make a mistake here- the false prophets are covered in sheep's clothing, the false prophets appear as if they are sheep and we all know that our Savior loves His sheep, our Savior's sheep hear His voice and follow Him. So if we are among our Savior's sheep and there is a wolf in sheep's clothing among us we can't recognize that wolf, right?
Wrong.
Our Savior tells us to look at the fruit of the sheep. The trouble is, we don't feel as if we can judge others and each person has a walk they are called to make and they are answerable to our Savior, not us. Yet, a prophet…
G4396
προφήτης
prophētēs
prof-ay'-tace
From a compound of G4253 and G5346; a foreteller (“prophet”); by analogy an inspired speaker; by extension a poet: - prophet.
…a foreteller, an inspired speaker, anyone that claims to be a foreteller, or claims to speak inspired by our God, has to have their life completely laid open before us in all they do and while we cannot expect perfection from ANY human being, we have to see a life devoted to God above all.
The fruits we are to know the prophets by cannot be filled with corruption. The fruits we are to know the prophets by must be filled with contrition, repentance, LOVE, goodness, mercy, truth, humbleness, I could go on and on, but we all know the good things of our Savior need to be present in His prophets. Yes, they will still have their humanity, there is nothing else for them, but our God will be present within that humanity in a very real way.
Too many false prophets exist in our world, it's heartbreaking. Too many claim to be inspired by God but in reality they are only inspired by themselves with Satan cheering them on. Self the opposite of the selflessness that God is. A false prophet in sheep's clothing by definition is one hiding, one living under pretense. A false prophet's fruit will be that of one seemingly a sheep yet their lives are corrupt. The corruption doesn't necessarily mean they'll be blatantly noticeable as the wolves they are, they aren't stripping off their sheep's clothing to reveal their true selves. That sheep's clothing stays on so that we can't pick them out as wolves at all and if we are LOOKING for wolves we won't find them. We will find sheep. What we have to look at is the sheep, and look closely enough to discern by the grace of God, that their fruit is NOT that of God's. We don't have to discover an adulterous prophet- though they seem plentiful. We don't have to find out prophet embezzled, yet they're quite common as well. We don't have to see the exposed wolves as their sheep costume falls away- in fact there will be sheep that stay convincingly as sheep yet if we examine their lives as our Savior would have us do- we will notice they are filled with self-righteousness, they are filled with the inner evils that don't reveal their long teeth and their sharp claws. The self-righteousness, the pride, the cleverly disguised hatred, the prejudice, all those evils and many more like them won't present themselves as a big fluffy wolves tail, or large point ears. The fluffy, sweet lamb covered in its thick wool, will still be what we see- but we will KNOW the wolf in sheep's clothing because their fruits- all that makes up their lives will- be seen. These wolves will speak lies that sound like truths, but the Bible will reveal their falsehoods to us. When we are allowed to see the corruption beneath the thick wool we can no longer continue to follow that sheep, we can't listen to that sheep, we can't trust that sheep. Many might not see what has been revealed to us and will continue to loving stroke the sheep's wool, eager to follow that sheep as being a sheep of Christ's, when in truth they are Satan's.
Remember… MANY will believe they are Christ's. Many will be deceived. In the end the wolves will have their false clothing, their sheep's clothing ripped off and people will know all along they've been following a wolf. They loved hearing good things- they had itching ears.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
May we seek to look at the fruit and keep our eyes wide open to only truth found in Christ our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Let us examine the fruit of any we would follow and follow none blindly!
By the grace and mercy of our Savior now and forever!
Amen.
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