1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
1Pe 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
Love.
Fervent love.
Not just have love above all things, but FERVENT love. This is an amazing love and it's something we NEED.
We need our sins covered by the blood of the Lamb and our Savior will do this for us purely out of LOVE for us. There is NO other motivator for our God. There is no hidden reward for Him, there is no subterfuge going on. God does NOT get a prize for saving us. God will save us only out of LOVE. Love is so incredibly important and as the end grows closer and closer, love will grow colder and colder. People are losing the ability to love, and to love truly, to love fervently. Is it any wonder there will be few saved when our Lord returns? There will be very little love left in the world. Before anyone says that's impossible there is a lot of love in the world, think about it, really, really think. True love is rare, not common. Fervent love is so hard to find. A SELFLESS love is the love we need. A selfless love will cover a multitude of sins. It is love that saves, it is love that made salvation possible.
We are to have FERVENT love.
We are to have HOSPITALITY one to another- WITHOUT grudging. Did you read that… WITHOUT GRUDGING. All too often we have hospitality but it's not given without grudging. We resent having to do for others sooooo much! We don't like the imposition. We don't want to be bothered. We don't want to take time and effort from ourselves, from our own pursuits. To give of ourselves without resentment is something we need to do, to pray to God that we can do this. We've become so incredibly self-centered that to give hospitality as we need to will be rare as well, very rare. Love, hospitality- rarities.
Please Lord we need to LOVE, we need to reveal this love in our actions, in our lives!
From Your amazing love, a love we cannot fully fathom, please Lord help us to live, to love as YOU would have us love, please LORD. Only through You are we able to love, only by You are we capable of Loving. All through YOU and ONLY YOU.
Your love makes this all possible.
In YOUR love always.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Living to the will of God
1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
Live to the lusts of men.
Live to the will of God.
One or the other, not both.
1Pe 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
1Pe 4:4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you
Lusts of men- lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, abominable idolatries.
Lusts of men- selfish pursuits. Lusts of men- fulfilling desires temporarily. Lusts of men- a constant seeking of self contentment outside of communion with God. Lusts of men- seeking to be happy by their own power, in themselves alone.
The Will of God- to live connected to Him as our source of life. The Will of God- living for Him our Creator as Creatures meant to be connected to Him. The Will of God- accepting the Way of reconciliation to Him. The Will of God- love.
Do people find it strange when you do not run in their circles of pleasure seeking, and self-fulfillment? Those who are caught up in lusts often can't imagine others not wanting to be caught up in them as well. Those pursuits have given them a temporary pleasure that rivals their mundane life outside of them and they just can't imagine that other people do not want a break from their own mundane lives to experience the sensations of fulfilling lustful desires. Seeking a permanent unselfish pleasure is foreign to those who live for self gratification. Seeking a reward that is far off when temporary rewards are plentiful all around, is crazy to self-seekers.
This is truth.
1Pe 4:5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
1Pe 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
1Pe 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
We all have to give an account of our choices to our Savior- who judges the living and the dead. The wonderful gospel is preached to those who are on that path of everlasting death as all men are until they accept the sacrifice of our Savior, and then and only then are we able to live according to God in the Spirit.
Our flesh selves must die.
1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
Living to the will of God- by the grace of God!
Living with God as the center of our lives and not with ourselves as that center. Living as a creature, not as a creator.
All by HIS LOVE!
1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
Live to the lusts of men.
Live to the will of God.
One or the other, not both.
1Pe 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
1Pe 4:4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you
Lusts of men- lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, abominable idolatries.
Lusts of men- selfish pursuits. Lusts of men- fulfilling desires temporarily. Lusts of men- a constant seeking of self contentment outside of communion with God. Lusts of men- seeking to be happy by their own power, in themselves alone.
The Will of God- to live connected to Him as our source of life. The Will of God- living for Him our Creator as Creatures meant to be connected to Him. The Will of God- accepting the Way of reconciliation to Him. The Will of God- love.
Do people find it strange when you do not run in their circles of pleasure seeking, and self-fulfillment? Those who are caught up in lusts often can't imagine others not wanting to be caught up in them as well. Those pursuits have given them a temporary pleasure that rivals their mundane life outside of them and they just can't imagine that other people do not want a break from their own mundane lives to experience the sensations of fulfilling lustful desires. Seeking a permanent unselfish pleasure is foreign to those who live for self gratification. Seeking a reward that is far off when temporary rewards are plentiful all around, is crazy to self-seekers.
This is truth.
1Pe 4:5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
1Pe 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
1Pe 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
We all have to give an account of our choices to our Savior- who judges the living and the dead. The wonderful gospel is preached to those who are on that path of everlasting death as all men are until they accept the sacrifice of our Savior, and then and only then are we able to live according to God in the Spirit.
Our flesh selves must die.
1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
Living to the will of God- by the grace of God!
Living with God as the center of our lives and not with ourselves as that center. Living as a creature, not as a creator.
All by HIS LOVE!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Arm yourselves...with the same mind
1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind…
Christ suffered in the flesh- for us.
Why do believe we shouldn't have to suffer? Seriously?
More and more it seems people love to use the argument that a loving God wouldn't allow such suffering as what exists in our world. They argue that a loving God would only ever make everything wonderful, pain free, suffering free. They don't want to worship a God that allows pain. So they believe if they don't worship God then somehow that makes it like He doesn't exist at all. Then you'll have others who are okay with the idea of a purposeful God who sees the greater picture and has to allow suffering because He's allowed free will. Those same people will quickly change their tune when the suffering hits them and their loved ones. They'll rear up as an indignant bear ready to attack and lash out at God- how dare He allow them to suffer so senselessly when HE could have prevented it and He chose not to. There are many slippery slopes as we seek to truly follow God and Satan will present more of them every day.
I write this now and some people will want to cry out at me that I don't know what I'm talking about, that if I were in their shoes I'd truly understand but because I'm not in the throes of agonizing suffering I can't possible understand. If God stripped me of my livelihood, my loved ones, my health then I'd know and I'd denounce God. This sounds so much like the Book of Job doesn't it?
It's not strange that we need to revisit that book over and over, is it? Talk about a blueprint for life and loving God. Will we all have to face the horrors that Job faced to be counted as God's? Most likely not or at least not in exactly the same manner He was tried and tested. Job isn't our only example- our Savior is our example.
1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind
Arm ourselves with the same mind.
How did Christ suffer? That's an easy one to answer, right? He was brutalized and put to death on the cross, if that's not suffering what is, right? If we dig deeper can we note Christ suffering in any other manner?
Joh 11:35 Jesus wept.
We are usually suffering in some manner when we weep, aren't we?
Oh yes, there are happy tears but this wasn’t one of those occasions for our Savior.
Joh 11:32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Joh 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
Joh 11:34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
Suffering.
Why? Why if He knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead? Why was He groaning in spirit and troubled? Why did He cry?
We can theorize as many have but the bottom line is that HE SUFFERED- for whatever reason- He was suffering.
Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Suffering.
Mat 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
Mat 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Suffering.
Mat 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Suffering.
Mat 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Suffering.
1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind...
Christ suffered in the flesh. Christ was tempted in the flesh.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
He Himself suffered - being tempted.
We suffer- being tempted.
We have to arm ourselves as Christ armed Himself, with the same mind as Christ. His mind was on the Father's will being done in ALL things and it was the Father's will that He preach repentance and forgiveness- Salvation found in Jesus Christ alone.
Arm ourselves as Christ- with the same mind.
We aren't to arm ourselves with our own mind, yet all too often we try to live on our own without Christ. All too often we live for our own lofty ideas of how things should be. We get caught up in our own thoughts and forget there is a mind we are to arm ourselves with- Christ's mind. When we count on our own mind we aren't armed at all but very, very vulnerable.
Christ lived wanting God's will to be done.
We must live wanting God's will to be done.
When we live wanting God's will then we set aside self, don't we?
Christ suffered life in the flesh- He who lived as God without flesh- took on flesh for us.
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
And in that flesh He suffered.
We too must suffer and as Jesus knew that this world and all its sin was NOT His home, we too must know it's not our home either- we are strangers here, pilgrims. And we suffer as those who long for their home. We suffer in the flesh.
May God bless us and help us to be armed as our Savior was armed, with the same mind.
All through His mercy, His love, His grace!
Christ suffered in the flesh- for us.
Why do believe we shouldn't have to suffer? Seriously?
More and more it seems people love to use the argument that a loving God wouldn't allow such suffering as what exists in our world. They argue that a loving God would only ever make everything wonderful, pain free, suffering free. They don't want to worship a God that allows pain. So they believe if they don't worship God then somehow that makes it like He doesn't exist at all. Then you'll have others who are okay with the idea of a purposeful God who sees the greater picture and has to allow suffering because He's allowed free will. Those same people will quickly change their tune when the suffering hits them and their loved ones. They'll rear up as an indignant bear ready to attack and lash out at God- how dare He allow them to suffer so senselessly when HE could have prevented it and He chose not to. There are many slippery slopes as we seek to truly follow God and Satan will present more of them every day.
I write this now and some people will want to cry out at me that I don't know what I'm talking about, that if I were in their shoes I'd truly understand but because I'm not in the throes of agonizing suffering I can't possible understand. If God stripped me of my livelihood, my loved ones, my health then I'd know and I'd denounce God. This sounds so much like the Book of Job doesn't it?
It's not strange that we need to revisit that book over and over, is it? Talk about a blueprint for life and loving God. Will we all have to face the horrors that Job faced to be counted as God's? Most likely not or at least not in exactly the same manner He was tried and tested. Job isn't our only example- our Savior is our example.
1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind
Arm ourselves with the same mind.
How did Christ suffer? That's an easy one to answer, right? He was brutalized and put to death on the cross, if that's not suffering what is, right? If we dig deeper can we note Christ suffering in any other manner?
Joh 11:35 Jesus wept.
We are usually suffering in some manner when we weep, aren't we?
Oh yes, there are happy tears but this wasn’t one of those occasions for our Savior.
Joh 11:32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Joh 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
Joh 11:34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
Suffering.
Why? Why if He knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead? Why was He groaning in spirit and troubled? Why did He cry?
We can theorize as many have but the bottom line is that HE SUFFERED- for whatever reason- He was suffering.
Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Suffering.
Mat 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
Mat 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Suffering.
Mat 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Suffering.
Mat 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Suffering.
1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind...
Christ suffered in the flesh. Christ was tempted in the flesh.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
He Himself suffered - being tempted.
We suffer- being tempted.
We have to arm ourselves as Christ armed Himself, with the same mind as Christ. His mind was on the Father's will being done in ALL things and it was the Father's will that He preach repentance and forgiveness- Salvation found in Jesus Christ alone.
Arm ourselves as Christ- with the same mind.
We aren't to arm ourselves with our own mind, yet all too often we try to live on our own without Christ. All too often we live for our own lofty ideas of how things should be. We get caught up in our own thoughts and forget there is a mind we are to arm ourselves with- Christ's mind. When we count on our own mind we aren't armed at all but very, very vulnerable.
Christ lived wanting God's will to be done.
We must live wanting God's will to be done.
When we live wanting God's will then we set aside self, don't we?
Christ suffered life in the flesh- He who lived as God without flesh- took on flesh for us.
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
And in that flesh He suffered.
We too must suffer and as Jesus knew that this world and all its sin was NOT His home, we too must know it's not our home either- we are strangers here, pilgrims. And we suffer as those who long for their home. We suffer in the flesh.
May God bless us and help us to be armed as our Savior was armed, with the same mind.
All through His mercy, His love, His grace!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
A good conscience toward God
1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1Pe 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
The Just (CHRIST) for the Unjust (US).
Why?
That he (CHRIST) might bring us to God.
Christ put to death in the flesh.
Christ brought to life by the Holy Spirit.
Christ alive to preach to those in captivity.
Luk 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
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.
People- disobedient - then and now.
Longsuffering towards the disobedient- God WAITED in the days of Noah as the ark was being built.
God WAITED and only a FEW- only EIGHT people were saved.
Now we are offered BAPTISM-a NEW life in Christ. A repentance, an asking for forgiveness, a dying to the old life and living to the new life in CHRIST. BUT…
NOT the putting away of the filth of the flesh. Did you read that? NOT the putting away of the filth of the flesh.
BUT the answer of a good conscience towards God- by the RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST our LORD, our SAVIOR, who is in heaven at the right hand of GOD, ANGELS, AUTHORITIES, POWERS- being made subject unto HIM.
We have to ANSWER to God in ALL good conscience- by Jesus.
We can put away all the filth we have in our flesh- we can but that WILL NOT make us have a good conscience towards God. We might mistake having a good conscience towards ourselves for having a good conscience towards God. We might put our good works down to an achievement that makes us believe we are right with our Savior. We can't do this! We cannot get caught up in what we perceive is our righteousness when what we really, really need is GOD'S righteousness.
People look at others and call them flesh filthy- okay, maybe they aren't doing that because so few even think in terms of the flesh and spirit, but people love to label others by their own perceived accepted beliefs, their own interpretations of truths. People love to say the truths are black and white and yet when the chosen men of God dragged the adulterous woman before Jesus as their established law dictated did Jesus pick up the first stone and throw it at her? It was black and white, it was CLEARLY established, the law was the law and meant to be kept. No one could tell any of them that there were extenuating circumstances- the law was the law! But Jesus didn't pick up that first stone, right? Jesus left all the stones on the ground and didn't make even the slightest gesture of trying to pick one up. They wanted Jesus to pick up the stone, they wanted Jesus to tell them that they were doing right by the law they were following, a law that they'd been given long, long ago and kept to the letter. They wanted their truth and the way they perceived their truth to be verified by this man who was claiming to be God's Son- or who others were saying He was. This Messiah had to uphold the law- right? If He were really God's Son He had to uphold God's laws- it was black and white- or so they thought. They really wanted to trap Jesus though, they wanted Him to NOT uphold the law so they could accuse Him of NOT upholding the law and punish Him, reveal Him as not being a man of God, of NOT being the Messiah, the Son of God.
Jesus didn't pick up the stone instead He spoke these words--
Joh 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
Joh 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
HE that is WITHOUT sin among you, let HIM first cast a stone at her.
Black and white was suddenly turned into gray.
They left without throwing a single stone.
Was she less guilty of adultery? No.
Did she deserve punishment? Yes.
Did she receive punishment? No.
She was forgiven.
While we look at others who seem to break all the laws of God and then some, living horrifically sinfilled lives we CANNOT judge their eternal lives, we just can't! We can judge that the actions that are sinful and know that we are not to commit them, but we have to pray and hope that God will save us ALL from those sins. The greatest sinner still has a chance for salvation through our Savior and we cannot believe otherwise. We CAN say that if a sinner goes on without ever repenting that their rewards will be death eternal, but we cannot ultimately judge a person- God alone is the judge.
We have to trust in our Savior and His righteousness and not our own righteous acts. Yes, live as we believe in the truth of the word of God revealed to us, but do so out of love for God, not out of hope for righteousness through our good works.
Please Lord help us, save us!
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Let us have a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST!
Please Lord, help us, save us!
In the love of our amazing God!
All praise, glory, and honor to HIM!
Amen.
1Pe 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
The Just (CHRIST) for the Unjust (US).
Why?
That he (CHRIST) might bring us to God.
Christ put to death in the flesh.
Christ brought to life by the Holy Spirit.
Christ alive to preach to those in captivity.
Luk 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
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.
People- disobedient - then and now.
Longsuffering towards the disobedient- God WAITED in the days of Noah as the ark was being built.
God WAITED and only a FEW- only EIGHT people were saved.
Now we are offered BAPTISM-a NEW life in Christ. A repentance, an asking for forgiveness, a dying to the old life and living to the new life in CHRIST. BUT…
NOT the putting away of the filth of the flesh. Did you read that? NOT the putting away of the filth of the flesh.
BUT the answer of a good conscience towards God- by the RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST our LORD, our SAVIOR, who is in heaven at the right hand of GOD, ANGELS, AUTHORITIES, POWERS- being made subject unto HIM.
We have to ANSWER to God in ALL good conscience- by Jesus.
We can put away all the filth we have in our flesh- we can but that WILL NOT make us have a good conscience towards God. We might mistake having a good conscience towards ourselves for having a good conscience towards God. We might put our good works down to an achievement that makes us believe we are right with our Savior. We can't do this! We cannot get caught up in what we perceive is our righteousness when what we really, really need is GOD'S righteousness.
People look at others and call them flesh filthy- okay, maybe they aren't doing that because so few even think in terms of the flesh and spirit, but people love to label others by their own perceived accepted beliefs, their own interpretations of truths. People love to say the truths are black and white and yet when the chosen men of God dragged the adulterous woman before Jesus as their established law dictated did Jesus pick up the first stone and throw it at her? It was black and white, it was CLEARLY established, the law was the law and meant to be kept. No one could tell any of them that there were extenuating circumstances- the law was the law! But Jesus didn't pick up that first stone, right? Jesus left all the stones on the ground and didn't make even the slightest gesture of trying to pick one up. They wanted Jesus to pick up the stone, they wanted Jesus to tell them that they were doing right by the law they were following, a law that they'd been given long, long ago and kept to the letter. They wanted their truth and the way they perceived their truth to be verified by this man who was claiming to be God's Son- or who others were saying He was. This Messiah had to uphold the law- right? If He were really God's Son He had to uphold God's laws- it was black and white- or so they thought. They really wanted to trap Jesus though, they wanted Him to NOT uphold the law so they could accuse Him of NOT upholding the law and punish Him, reveal Him as not being a man of God, of NOT being the Messiah, the Son of God.
Jesus didn't pick up the stone instead He spoke these words--
Joh 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
Joh 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
HE that is WITHOUT sin among you, let HIM first cast a stone at her.
Black and white was suddenly turned into gray.
They left without throwing a single stone.
Was she less guilty of adultery? No.
Did she deserve punishment? Yes.
Did she receive punishment? No.
She was forgiven.
While we look at others who seem to break all the laws of God and then some, living horrifically sinfilled lives we CANNOT judge their eternal lives, we just can't! We can judge that the actions that are sinful and know that we are not to commit them, but we have to pray and hope that God will save us ALL from those sins. The greatest sinner still has a chance for salvation through our Savior and we cannot believe otherwise. We CAN say that if a sinner goes on without ever repenting that their rewards will be death eternal, but we cannot ultimately judge a person- God alone is the judge.
We have to trust in our Savior and His righteousness and not our own righteous acts. Yes, live as we believe in the truth of the word of God revealed to us, but do so out of love for God, not out of hope for righteousness through our good works.
Please Lord help us, save us!
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Let us have a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST!
Please Lord, help us, save us!
In the love of our amazing God!
All praise, glory, and honor to HIM!
Amen.
A good conscience toward God
1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1Pe 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
The Just (CHRIST) for the Unjust (US).
Why?
That he (CHRIST) might bring us to God.
Christ put to death in the flesh.
Christ brought to life by the Holy Spirit.
Christ alive to preach to those in captivity.
Luk 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
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.
People- disobedient - then and now.
Longsuffering towards the disobedient- God WAITED in the days of Noah as the ark was being built.
God WAITED and only a FEW- only EIGHT people were saved.
Now we are offered BAPTISM-a NEW life in Christ. A repentance, an asking for forgiveness, a dying to the old life and living to the new life in CHRIST. BUT…
NOT the putting away of the filth of the flesh. Did you read that? NOT the putting away of the filth of the flesh.
BUT the answer of a good conscience towards God- by the RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST our LORD, our SAVIOR, who is in heaven at the right hand of GOD, ANGELS, AUTHORITIES, POWERS- being made subject unto HIM.
We have to ANSWER to God in ALL good conscience- by Jesus.
We can put away all the filth we have in our flesh- we can but that WILL NOT make us have a good conscience towards God. We might mistake having a good conscience towards ourselves for having a good conscience towards God. We might put our good works down to an achievement that makes us believe we are right with our Savior. We can't do this! We cannot get caught up in what we perceive is our righteousness when what we really, really need is GOD'S righteousness.
People look at others and call them flesh filthy- okay, maybe they aren't doing that because so few even think in terms of the flesh and spirit, but people love to label others by their own perceived accepted beliefs, their own interpretations of truths. People love to say the truths are black and white and yet when the chosen men of God dragged the adulterous woman before Jesus as their established law dictated did Jesus pick up the first stone and throw it at her? It was black and white, it was CLEARLY established, the law was the law and meant to be kept. No one could tell any of them that there were extenuating circumstances- the law was the law! But Jesus didn't pick up that first stone, right? Jesus left all the stones on the ground and didn't make even the slightest gesture of trying to pick one up. They wanted Jesus to pick up the stone, they wanted Jesus to tell them that they were doing right by the law they were following, a law that they'd been given long, long ago and kept to the letter. They wanted their truth and the way they perceived their truth to be verified by this man who was claiming to be God's Son- or who others were saying He was. This Messiah had to uphold the law- right? If He were really God's Son He had to uphold God's laws- it was black and white- or so they thought. They really wanted to trap Jesus though, they wanted Him to NOT uphold the law so they could accuse Him of NOT upholding the law and punish Him, reveal Him as not being a man of God, of NOT being the Messiah, the Son of God.
Jesus didn't pick up the stone instead He spoke these words--
Joh 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
Joh 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
HE that is WITHOUT sin among you, let HIM first cast a stone at her.
Black and white was suddenly turned into gray.
They left without throwing a single stone.
Was she less guilty of adultery? No.
Did she deserve punishment? Yes.
Did she receive punishment? No.
She was forgiven.
While we look at others who seem to break all the laws of God and then some, living horrifically sinfilled lives we CANNOT judge their eternal lives, we just can't! We can judge that the actions that are sinful and know that we are not to commit them, but we have to pray and hope that God will save us ALL from those sins. The greatest sinner still has a chance for salvation through our Savior and we cannot believe otherwise. We CAN say that if a sinner goes on without ever repenting that their rewards will be death eternal, but we cannot ultimately judge a person- God alone is the judge.
We have to trust in our Savior and His righteousness and not our own righteous acts. Yes, live as we believe in the truth of the word of God revealed to us, but do so out of love for God, not out of hope for righteousness through our good works.
Please Lord help us, save us!
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Let us have a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST!
Please Lord, help us, save us!
In the love of our amazing God!
All praise, glory, and honor to HIM!
Amen.
1Pe 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
The Just (CHRIST) for the Unjust (US).
Why?
That he (CHRIST) might bring us to God.
Christ put to death in the flesh.
Christ brought to life by the Holy Spirit.
Christ alive to preach to those in captivity.
Luk 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
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.
People- disobedient - then and now.
Longsuffering towards the disobedient- God WAITED in the days of Noah as the ark was being built.
God WAITED and only a FEW- only EIGHT people were saved.
Now we are offered BAPTISM-a NEW life in Christ. A repentance, an asking for forgiveness, a dying to the old life and living to the new life in CHRIST. BUT…
NOT the putting away of the filth of the flesh. Did you read that? NOT the putting away of the filth of the flesh.
BUT the answer of a good conscience towards God- by the RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST our LORD, our SAVIOR, who is in heaven at the right hand of GOD, ANGELS, AUTHORITIES, POWERS- being made subject unto HIM.
We have to ANSWER to God in ALL good conscience- by Jesus.
We can put away all the filth we have in our flesh- we can but that WILL NOT make us have a good conscience towards God. We might mistake having a good conscience towards ourselves for having a good conscience towards God. We might put our good works down to an achievement that makes us believe we are right with our Savior. We can't do this! We cannot get caught up in what we perceive is our righteousness when what we really, really need is GOD'S righteousness.
People look at others and call them flesh filthy- okay, maybe they aren't doing that because so few even think in terms of the flesh and spirit, but people love to label others by their own perceived accepted beliefs, their own interpretations of truths. People love to say the truths are black and white and yet when the chosen men of God dragged the adulterous woman before Jesus as their established law dictated did Jesus pick up the first stone and throw it at her? It was black and white, it was CLEARLY established, the law was the law and meant to be kept. No one could tell any of them that there were extenuating circumstances- the law was the law! But Jesus didn't pick up that first stone, right? Jesus left all the stones on the ground and didn't make even the slightest gesture of trying to pick one up. They wanted Jesus to pick up the stone, they wanted Jesus to tell them that they were doing right by the law they were following, a law that they'd been given long, long ago and kept to the letter. They wanted their truth and the way they perceived their truth to be verified by this man who was claiming to be God's Son- or who others were saying He was. This Messiah had to uphold the law- right? If He were really God's Son He had to uphold God's laws- it was black and white- or so they thought. They really wanted to trap Jesus though, they wanted Him to NOT uphold the law so they could accuse Him of NOT upholding the law and punish Him, reveal Him as not being a man of God, of NOT being the Messiah, the Son of God.
Jesus didn't pick up the stone instead He spoke these words--
Joh 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
Joh 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
HE that is WITHOUT sin among you, let HIM first cast a stone at her.
Black and white was suddenly turned into gray.
They left without throwing a single stone.
Was she less guilty of adultery? No.
Did she deserve punishment? Yes.
Did she receive punishment? No.
She was forgiven.
While we look at others who seem to break all the laws of God and then some, living horrifically sinfilled lives we CANNOT judge their eternal lives, we just can't! We can judge that the actions that are sinful and know that we are not to commit them, but we have to pray and hope that God will save us ALL from those sins. The greatest sinner still has a chance for salvation through our Savior and we cannot believe otherwise. We CAN say that if a sinner goes on without ever repenting that their rewards will be death eternal, but we cannot ultimately judge a person- God alone is the judge.
We have to trust in our Savior and His righteousness and not our own righteous acts. Yes, live as we believe in the truth of the word of God revealed to us, but do so out of love for God, not out of hope for righteousness through our good works.
Please Lord help us, save us!
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Let us have a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST!
Please Lord, help us, save us!
In the love of our amazing God!
All praise, glory, and honor to HIM!
Amen.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Suffer for well doing
1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
1Pe 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Suffering is inevitable.
We suffer so much in our life for many, many reasons and the 'eyes of the LORD are over the righteous' even in their suffering. 'His ears are open unto their prayers', even in their suffering.
We suffer and it is BETTER to suffer for well doing than for evil doing.
If a person believes they will not suffer if they are God's then they do not understand God at all. His Son suffered more than we ever could and He did so because it was the 'cup' He had to drink from. Each of us has our own walk with God. Are they perfect walks? No, none of us can lay claim to a perfect walk with Christ, we can only claim to fall at the feet of our Savior and beg for forgiveness, repenting of our wrong doing, our many, many imperfections.
We have to SANCTIFY the Lord God in our hearts.
We have to be READY to give an answer to EVERY MAN that ASKS us the REASON of the HOPE that is in US and we have to do this with MEEKNESS and FEAR.
My hope is in God, my hope is in my Savior and HIS righteousness, not any righteousness any may think I possess or don't possess.
What do we worship?
What makes up our lives?
Do we seek our Savior?
Is God a REAL part of our lives?
Do we live for ungodliness?
Do we worship ungodliness?
So many people hold so many beliefs and they don't hesitate to share them explaining them according to their belief in the Word of God, and yet their beliefs can be contrary to others.
I have a website I share with my sisters entitled - 'Who's to Say We're Right?'
We are NOT here to give the reason for our HOPE in anything but CHRIST!
As we live we can hope only in CHRIST'S righteousness, not our own in any way whatsoever.
People can keep the law to the letter. People can follow every statute they believe is meant to be kept and yet they will find NO righteousness in any of it, because the righteousness we have, the hope we have is ONLY in Christ.
We love Christ and depend wholly on Him for salvation, not on ourselves, our hope is NOT in ourselves, it can't be because we will fail miserably if we place any hope in our own actions.
By the grace of God we will follow Him and worship Him, Love HIM, live for HIM as HE wills us to do all by the mercy of our Savior.
There is a group of people who believe that we cannot say the name Jesus without invoking the false God Zeus, that those who speak the name Jesus are deceived and are going to be lead astray because they are not using the original Hebrew, the original Greek language. There are people who refuse to call their weekdays by the worldwide known Sunday, Monday, etc because these titles have origins contrary to the language of God and are from false Gods and such. There are people who live simply and hold no real ritualized Biblical practices and they are told their love of God is false when they love God more fully than those who have every 'i' dotted and every 't' crossed, they love our Savior more than those who don't ever say the name Jesus for fear they are invoking a pagan god and not the Son of God, the Son of the Father in Heaven. It is the LOVE that matters above so much that man believes matters, without the LOVE there is absolutely nothing. If those who believe they cannot say Jesus but must rather use the Hebrew language LOVE, truly LOVE Jesus they are following their hearts and their convictions and ultimately it is GOD who will judge, Jesus who will know if they are HIS or not. May we all be HIS, known by HIM!
Unfortunately here are so many whose hope is found not in Jesus, but rather in themselves and their own knowledge and these people will have to answer to God as EVERY man does, and explain to our Savior that they were wrong in NOT placing their hope in Him.
Are we perfect? NO MAN IS. We can only fall down on our knees and beg our Savior to lead us in HIS way ever lasting, in HIS LOVE.
Will we suffer? Yes. Christ suffered under the very people God had chosen to be His, they'd gone astray- losing all their true LOVE of God and yet they held their facts perfectly, rigidly. Will we suffer? YES! We will suffer, those who LOVE our Lord more than life itself, those of us who suffer living in this world longing for Jesus will be told we are not God's, by those who believe they are God's and we will suffer…suffer…suffer.
We must believe this--
1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Let us, let all of us who love the Lord, love one another- truly- love one another and pray for the love of Jesus to be found in us.
Help us LORD, helps us to be YOURS, fully YOURS guiding all who would be YOURS to the truth and helping us to walk in the truth through YOUR love, YOUR amazing, amazing LOVE.
Let us read these verses again--
1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
1Pe 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
The righteous- those who live in Christ's righteousness.
Them that do evil- those who live in their own righteousness.
Followers of that which is good- followers of our Savior.
Suffering for righteousness- for being Christ's.
Be not afraid of their terror- and oh how the evil will terrorize those who are Christ's!
Neither be troubled- yes, those who are not Christ's will try and trouble you over and over yet we must keep our HOPE in Christ!
The LORD GOD made HOLY in our hearts!
Ready to answer every man that ask-- the REASON of the HOPE in us! All in meekness and fear!
Having a GOOD conscience- they that speak evil-as evildoers- may be ashamed because they are FALSELY accusing our good conversation in CHRIST!
God's will is BEST!
If we suffer for well doing- it is better than suffering for evil doing.
By the grace of God may we suffer for well doing- for loving HIM fully and not for doing any evil.
Please Lord…please help us to be fully YOURS in all ways.
Forgive us when we fall short.
Help us to find our way all in YOU and ONLY in YOU and NO other!
All by YOUR LOVE!
Amen.
1Pe 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Suffering is inevitable.
We suffer so much in our life for many, many reasons and the 'eyes of the LORD are over the righteous' even in their suffering. 'His ears are open unto their prayers', even in their suffering.
We suffer and it is BETTER to suffer for well doing than for evil doing.
If a person believes they will not suffer if they are God's then they do not understand God at all. His Son suffered more than we ever could and He did so because it was the 'cup' He had to drink from. Each of us has our own walk with God. Are they perfect walks? No, none of us can lay claim to a perfect walk with Christ, we can only claim to fall at the feet of our Savior and beg for forgiveness, repenting of our wrong doing, our many, many imperfections.
We have to SANCTIFY the Lord God in our hearts.
We have to be READY to give an answer to EVERY MAN that ASKS us the REASON of the HOPE that is in US and we have to do this with MEEKNESS and FEAR.
My hope is in God, my hope is in my Savior and HIS righteousness, not any righteousness any may think I possess or don't possess.
What do we worship?
What makes up our lives?
Do we seek our Savior?
Is God a REAL part of our lives?
Do we live for ungodliness?
Do we worship ungodliness?
So many people hold so many beliefs and they don't hesitate to share them explaining them according to their belief in the Word of God, and yet their beliefs can be contrary to others.
I have a website I share with my sisters entitled - 'Who's to Say We're Right?'
We are NOT here to give the reason for our HOPE in anything but CHRIST!
As we live we can hope only in CHRIST'S righteousness, not our own in any way whatsoever.
People can keep the law to the letter. People can follow every statute they believe is meant to be kept and yet they will find NO righteousness in any of it, because the righteousness we have, the hope we have is ONLY in Christ.
We love Christ and depend wholly on Him for salvation, not on ourselves, our hope is NOT in ourselves, it can't be because we will fail miserably if we place any hope in our own actions.
By the grace of God we will follow Him and worship Him, Love HIM, live for HIM as HE wills us to do all by the mercy of our Savior.
There is a group of people who believe that we cannot say the name Jesus without invoking the false God Zeus, that those who speak the name Jesus are deceived and are going to be lead astray because they are not using the original Hebrew, the original Greek language. There are people who refuse to call their weekdays by the worldwide known Sunday, Monday, etc because these titles have origins contrary to the language of God and are from false Gods and such. There are people who live simply and hold no real ritualized Biblical practices and they are told their love of God is false when they love God more fully than those who have every 'i' dotted and every 't' crossed, they love our Savior more than those who don't ever say the name Jesus for fear they are invoking a pagan god and not the Son of God, the Son of the Father in Heaven. It is the LOVE that matters above so much that man believes matters, without the LOVE there is absolutely nothing. If those who believe they cannot say Jesus but must rather use the Hebrew language LOVE, truly LOVE Jesus they are following their hearts and their convictions and ultimately it is GOD who will judge, Jesus who will know if they are HIS or not. May we all be HIS, known by HIM!
Unfortunately here are so many whose hope is found not in Jesus, but rather in themselves and their own knowledge and these people will have to answer to God as EVERY man does, and explain to our Savior that they were wrong in NOT placing their hope in Him.
Are we perfect? NO MAN IS. We can only fall down on our knees and beg our Savior to lead us in HIS way ever lasting, in HIS LOVE.
Will we suffer? Yes. Christ suffered under the very people God had chosen to be His, they'd gone astray- losing all their true LOVE of God and yet they held their facts perfectly, rigidly. Will we suffer? YES! We will suffer, those who LOVE our Lord more than life itself, those of us who suffer living in this world longing for Jesus will be told we are not God's, by those who believe they are God's and we will suffer…suffer…suffer.
We must believe this--
1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Let us, let all of us who love the Lord, love one another- truly- love one another and pray for the love of Jesus to be found in us.
Help us LORD, helps us to be YOURS, fully YOURS guiding all who would be YOURS to the truth and helping us to walk in the truth through YOUR love, YOUR amazing, amazing LOVE.
Let us read these verses again--
1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
1Pe 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
The righteous- those who live in Christ's righteousness.
Them that do evil- those who live in their own righteousness.
Followers of that which is good- followers of our Savior.
Suffering for righteousness- for being Christ's.
Be not afraid of their terror- and oh how the evil will terrorize those who are Christ's!
Neither be troubled- yes, those who are not Christ's will try and trouble you over and over yet we must keep our HOPE in Christ!
The LORD GOD made HOLY in our hearts!
Ready to answer every man that ask-- the REASON of the HOPE in us! All in meekness and fear!
Having a GOOD conscience- they that speak evil-as evildoers- may be ashamed because they are FALSELY accusing our good conversation in CHRIST!
God's will is BEST!
If we suffer for well doing- it is better than suffering for evil doing.
By the grace of God may we suffer for well doing- for loving HIM fully and not for doing any evil.
Please Lord…please help us to be fully YOURS in all ways.
Forgive us when we fall short.
Help us to find our way all in YOU and ONLY in YOU and NO other!
All by YOUR LOVE!
Amen.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Heirs together
1Pe 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
1Pe 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
As long as we do well and are not afraid with any amazement.
1Pe 3:6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; whose children you became, doing good, and fearing no terror. (LITV)
1Pe 3:6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror. (RV)
As long as we do well and are not - put in fear- not fearing - not afraid-- of terror, alarm.
We face terror all the time, people will deny it but it's true. We've numbed ourselves and call it good and yet we are filled with so much anxiety it's not funny. When we read something like this, that if we do well and are not alarmed by fear, or fearful of alarming situations then we are like Sara was with Abraham.
Imagine Sarah's life with Abraham. She obeyed Him, believing in him when so much around her had to tell her to do otherwise. Her life couldn't have been an easy one. There was great reason for her to be fearful she left her homeland and journeyed away with Abraham and came face to face with those who would challenge them. She faced hunger, thirst. She faced deception and the wrath of a pharaoh, her life was filled with challenges. She had no children for Abraham and yet was assured by him that she would. She doubted, yes, but deep down she also believed. She had the necessary faith, the necessary belief in her husband, a trust that even though everything seemed to be unfolding contrary to plans that it would work out. Sarah did NOT let fear fill her up as it can so easily do when we are depending upon our husbands.
In today's world where a lot of times it's the woman who supplies the main source of income things have taken a turn for the worse. Yell at me for saying that if you want to, but it's true. Our men have been stripped of so much of their God-given right, need, to lead their families, the women and the children that it's amazing that things haven't deteriorated even faster than they have in our society. People think it's crazy to believe that way because it's male chauvinism and denying women equal rights etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. But truthfully God was NOT downgrading and debasing women when He created families as He did. God was giving us an example of our relationship with HIM. A living example that would be perpetual as long as mankind existed. Yet so many of God's examples to us are perverted and this was another one. Satan has done a really, really good job of working subtly through the years to twist things so that men have either abused their rights with caring for women or women have abused their rights in regards to men. In America today the women's rights movement has really taken a toll on the fabric of our society, in Saudi Arabia and other middle eastern countries women are abused senselessly for the most minor infractions- Satan has worked it so that it is all perverted and he loves it that way.
So when we read about Sara, about women needing to obey their husbands it's not a concept that is God's injustice at work, NOT at all, it's God's LOVE.
1Pe 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Men and women- husbands and wives. God would have us be His, all of us be His all for our good, for our benefit. Loving us and us loving
By HIS Grace we can be the men and women He wants us to be, living in HIM now and always, all through HIM.
In His love!
1Pe 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
As long as we do well and are not afraid with any amazement.
1Pe 3:6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; whose children you became, doing good, and fearing no terror. (LITV)
1Pe 3:6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror. (RV)
As long as we do well and are not - put in fear- not fearing - not afraid-- of terror, alarm.
We face terror all the time, people will deny it but it's true. We've numbed ourselves and call it good and yet we are filled with so much anxiety it's not funny. When we read something like this, that if we do well and are not alarmed by fear, or fearful of alarming situations then we are like Sara was with Abraham.
Imagine Sarah's life with Abraham. She obeyed Him, believing in him when so much around her had to tell her to do otherwise. Her life couldn't have been an easy one. There was great reason for her to be fearful she left her homeland and journeyed away with Abraham and came face to face with those who would challenge them. She faced hunger, thirst. She faced deception and the wrath of a pharaoh, her life was filled with challenges. She had no children for Abraham and yet was assured by him that she would. She doubted, yes, but deep down she also believed. She had the necessary faith, the necessary belief in her husband, a trust that even though everything seemed to be unfolding contrary to plans that it would work out. Sarah did NOT let fear fill her up as it can so easily do when we are depending upon our husbands.
In today's world where a lot of times it's the woman who supplies the main source of income things have taken a turn for the worse. Yell at me for saying that if you want to, but it's true. Our men have been stripped of so much of their God-given right, need, to lead their families, the women and the children that it's amazing that things haven't deteriorated even faster than they have in our society. People think it's crazy to believe that way because it's male chauvinism and denying women equal rights etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. But truthfully God was NOT downgrading and debasing women when He created families as He did. God was giving us an example of our relationship with HIM. A living example that would be perpetual as long as mankind existed. Yet so many of God's examples to us are perverted and this was another one. Satan has done a really, really good job of working subtly through the years to twist things so that men have either abused their rights with caring for women or women have abused their rights in regards to men. In America today the women's rights movement has really taken a toll on the fabric of our society, in Saudi Arabia and other middle eastern countries women are abused senselessly for the most minor infractions- Satan has worked it so that it is all perverted and he loves it that way.
So when we read about Sara, about women needing to obey their husbands it's not a concept that is God's injustice at work, NOT at all, it's God's LOVE.
1Pe 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Men and women- husbands and wives. God would have us be His, all of us be His all for our good, for our benefit. Loving us and us loving
By HIS Grace we can be the men and women He wants us to be, living in HIM now and always, all through HIM.
In His love!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Hidden man of the heart
1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Our adorning is to be that of the HIDDEN man of the HEART.
The hidden man of the heart that IS NOT corruptible.
A MEEK and QUIET spirit.
How many of us possess such a spirit? Meek and quiet? People call them timid and in need of coming out of their shells. People want these meek and quiet ones to stand up for themselves, to NOT take any and everything from others. They want them to grow a backbone, to 'man up', to get a spine, and so on. To be meek and quiet is not something that is acceptable for the most part. Those who are domineering like to stomp on those who are meek and quiet. They like to make them their 'subjects' in a manner of speaking.
We are to adorn ourselves with the ornament of meekness, the ornament of a quiet spirit.
Meekness-
Definition 1. mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness. Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept his dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend them against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that he is using them to purify his elect, and that he will deliver his elect in his time. (Isa_41:17, Luk_18:1-14)
Amazing and wonderful isn't it? Meekness is our disposition being one that accepts God's dealing with us NO MATTER what- no resisting, no disputing, no questioning God and His plans.
This part- 'meekness towards evil people knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict- that HE is using them to PURIFY his elect, AND that HE will deliver HIS elect in HIS time.' It's amazing isn't it? The MEEK, the QUIET in spirit KNOW this and BELIEVE this. The meek and quiet live knowing that God's will in all things is best even when we suffer horrifically.
If we live adorning our spirit rather than our bodies, if we live adorning our spirit rather than our flesh selves- then we are truly living for God and His love.
There is truly something to be said for those monks and such who take vows of meekness, of self-sacrifice, of silence, of deprivation of the flesh needs, the carnal desires. Seriously, there is something to be said for them. Those who have abandoned the materialistic way of life and live simply. Those who live off the land through hard work and much sacrifice. Those who devote themselves to God fully, wholly. Yet the majority of us don't do that, do we? We don't feel we can and maybe we can't. Maybe our walk with God, our path is to travel down a road that isn't one like that but rather to be in and among the world knowing the world and STILL being God's, is that possible? To be meek among the world, to be quiet among the awful, loud noise of the world. Rather than all of us having to take ourselves out of the world to the quietness, perhaps some have to stay in the world and live in the noise and be quite.
'...if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.'
Being won by God because of the witness of the meekness, the chasteness, the quietness. Rather than conform to the loudness, the outgoingness, the vulgar reality of our world remaining God's through the fear, the knowledge, the chasteness, quiet, and meekness. By the grace of God we need to be HIS fully, knowing whatever walk we are called to that we CAN be His and HIS alone. We can't be afraid to be meek and quiet, we can't be conformed to the world. By HIS GRACE!
1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Hidden man of the heart.
Not corruptible.
A meek and quiet spirit.
Which is in the sight of GOD of great price.
God does not wish blood sacrifice, God does not wish us to put on an outward show with rituals and such. God would have us meek and quiet in spirit - this is what God wants of us. He wants us trusting wholly in Him no matter what…no…matter…what.
By HIS grace!
His LOVE!
Amen.
1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
1Pe 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Our adorning is to be that of the HIDDEN man of the HEART.
The hidden man of the heart that IS NOT corruptible.
A MEEK and QUIET spirit.
How many of us possess such a spirit? Meek and quiet? People call them timid and in need of coming out of their shells. People want these meek and quiet ones to stand up for themselves, to NOT take any and everything from others. They want them to grow a backbone, to 'man up', to get a spine, and so on. To be meek and quiet is not something that is acceptable for the most part. Those who are domineering like to stomp on those who are meek and quiet. They like to make them their 'subjects' in a manner of speaking.
We are to adorn ourselves with the ornament of meekness, the ornament of a quiet spirit.
Meekness-
Definition 1. mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness. Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept his dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend them against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that he is using them to purify his elect, and that he will deliver his elect in his time. (Isa_41:17, Luk_18:1-14)
Amazing and wonderful isn't it? Meekness is our disposition being one that accepts God's dealing with us NO MATTER what- no resisting, no disputing, no questioning God and His plans.
This part- 'meekness towards evil people knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict- that HE is using them to PURIFY his elect, AND that HE will deliver HIS elect in HIS time.' It's amazing isn't it? The MEEK, the QUIET in spirit KNOW this and BELIEVE this. The meek and quiet live knowing that God's will in all things is best even when we suffer horrifically.
If we live adorning our spirit rather than our bodies, if we live adorning our spirit rather than our flesh selves- then we are truly living for God and His love.
There is truly something to be said for those monks and such who take vows of meekness, of self-sacrifice, of silence, of deprivation of the flesh needs, the carnal desires. Seriously, there is something to be said for them. Those who have abandoned the materialistic way of life and live simply. Those who live off the land through hard work and much sacrifice. Those who devote themselves to God fully, wholly. Yet the majority of us don't do that, do we? We don't feel we can and maybe we can't. Maybe our walk with God, our path is to travel down a road that isn't one like that but rather to be in and among the world knowing the world and STILL being God's, is that possible? To be meek among the world, to be quiet among the awful, loud noise of the world. Rather than all of us having to take ourselves out of the world to the quietness, perhaps some have to stay in the world and live in the noise and be quite.
'...if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.'
Being won by God because of the witness of the meekness, the chasteness, the quietness. Rather than conform to the loudness, the outgoingness, the vulgar reality of our world remaining God's through the fear, the knowledge, the chasteness, quiet, and meekness. By the grace of God we need to be HIS fully, knowing whatever walk we are called to that we CAN be His and HIS alone. We can't be afraid to be meek and quiet, we can't be conformed to the world. By HIS GRACE!
1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Hidden man of the heart.
Not corruptible.
A meek and quiet spirit.
Which is in the sight of GOD of great price.
God does not wish blood sacrifice, God does not wish us to put on an outward show with rituals and such. God would have us meek and quiet in spirit - this is what God wants of us. He wants us trusting wholly in Him no matter what…no…matter…what.
By HIS grace!
His LOVE!
Amen.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
When he sufferened he threatened not
1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
1Pe 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
1Pe 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
…If a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully
So many people are grieving, so many people are suffering wrongfully and in their grief and suffering they lash out- NOT enduring it patiently. We are raised to fight against injustices, but aren't raised realizing that injustices are going to be plentiful in this world dominated by Satan. We are called weak when we bow to injustice. We are called spineless when we refuse to fight against those who have wronged us. Yet our GREATEST example in all the world's history did NOT fight against the injustices committed against Him, did He? He bore ALL the indignities heaped upon Himself very patiently.
So why do we want to fight against all the wrongs done to us without cause? Is it part of the pride inside us that determines we don't deserve to be treated wrongly? No one likes being wronged or to grieve do they? Did Jesus 'like' it? I can't imagine He did at all. He knew the cup waiting for Him and asked that it be taken away. Liking something and enduring something patiently are two different things entirely. We are not told to enjoy being wronged, we are not told to enjoy grieving, to enjoy suffering. We are told we should endure it with patience just as Jesus endured.
Our example--
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Our example- Jesus Christ- committed HIMSELF to GOD the Father who judges righteously.
Not a single wrong will go unpunished, not a single one, and we have to trust that God will judge all righteously. When we commit ourselves to God, we are asking for HIS righteous judgment unfold NOT our faulty judgment. Remember we are judged how we judge so is it any wonder we are to leave our judging in the hands of God, who alone can judge righteously. If we do the judging then we are asking to be judged by faulty judgment.
We MUST commit ourselves to God's judgment and NOT seek to judge and condemn others ourselves, even if that means enduring horrible wrongs, horrible grief, awful injustices, terrible suffering that we did NOTHING to deserve.
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
We ONLY live righteously in our Savior!
We are only dead to sins by living in our Savior!
We are HEALED by our Savior's suffering!
We are only able to come to our Savior by His grace!
Truly we are as sheep gone astray needing our GREAT SHEPHERD to rescue us!
Praise God!
1Pe 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
1Pe 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
…If a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully
So many people are grieving, so many people are suffering wrongfully and in their grief and suffering they lash out- NOT enduring it patiently. We are raised to fight against injustices, but aren't raised realizing that injustices are going to be plentiful in this world dominated by Satan. We are called weak when we bow to injustice. We are called spineless when we refuse to fight against those who have wronged us. Yet our GREATEST example in all the world's history did NOT fight against the injustices committed against Him, did He? He bore ALL the indignities heaped upon Himself very patiently.
So why do we want to fight against all the wrongs done to us without cause? Is it part of the pride inside us that determines we don't deserve to be treated wrongly? No one likes being wronged or to grieve do they? Did Jesus 'like' it? I can't imagine He did at all. He knew the cup waiting for Him and asked that it be taken away. Liking something and enduring something patiently are two different things entirely. We are not told to enjoy being wronged, we are not told to enjoy grieving, to enjoy suffering. We are told we should endure it with patience just as Jesus endured.
Our example--
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Our example- Jesus Christ- committed HIMSELF to GOD the Father who judges righteously.
Not a single wrong will go unpunished, not a single one, and we have to trust that God will judge all righteously. When we commit ourselves to God, we are asking for HIS righteous judgment unfold NOT our faulty judgment. Remember we are judged how we judge so is it any wonder we are to leave our judging in the hands of God, who alone can judge righteously. If we do the judging then we are asking to be judged by faulty judgment.
We MUST commit ourselves to God's judgment and NOT seek to judge and condemn others ourselves, even if that means enduring horrible wrongs, horrible grief, awful injustices, terrible suffering that we did NOTHING to deserve.
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
We ONLY live righteously in our Savior!
We are only dead to sins by living in our Savior!
We are HEALED by our Savior's suffering!
We are only able to come to our Savior by His grace!
Truly we are as sheep gone astray needing our GREAT SHEPHERD to rescue us!
Praise God!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Honesty, good works, submission, well-doing
1Pe 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
They speak against you- as evildoers.
We remain HONEST.
Because we do not succumb to evil they'll know one day and comprehend God and glorify Him.
By OUR good works- by OUR godly lives which they will see, this is what they behold in us and they will glorify God. We might not think it's important how others see us but the truth is others will look to find faults and even falsely accuse those who call themselves God's. They want to believe we are evil because they don't comprehend God in our lives.
We need to be honest in all our conversations, we need to be honest and from that honesty our good works will be revealed all to the glory of GOD, not to our glory but to God's glory.
1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men
That with WELL DOING we may put to SILENCE the ignorance of FOOLISH MEN.
By submitting ourselves to obedience of those in authority over us we reveal the will of God in that we are as servants, as the least of them, not presuming to possess a greater personage than any other.
For the LORD'S SAKE we submit. Not because we want to submit, more often than not we might desire to disobey the government, and those with power over our lives, but we submit rather than resist. Jesus submitted remember this…
Mat 26:51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
Mat 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Mat 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Mat 26:54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Mat 26:55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
Mat 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
And this…
Luk 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Luk 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Luk 22:43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
Luk 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Jesus submitted, sweating great drops of blood, in agony, praying to His Father, He submitted.
We are to submit. God's will must be done and we aren't called to comprehend all the workings of our God. We must trust that even in the bitterest moments, even when those in authority abuse us our God's will is being done - ultimately there will be comprehension but more often than not there is not even the least bit of understanding as we struggle under the oppression of others.
It is true that with well doing we can put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, but that doesn't mean they'll be silent immediately. You might be years and years in well doing before there is silence for that ignorance.
It is God's will we submit. It is God's will we don't give up in well doing no matter the circumstances.
Only through the grace and mercy of God will this be accomplished, not by any righteousness of our own. Any good that comes from us, come from us through HIM.
ALL GLORY TO GOD!
They speak against you- as evildoers.
We remain HONEST.
Because we do not succumb to evil they'll know one day and comprehend God and glorify Him.
By OUR good works- by OUR godly lives which they will see, this is what they behold in us and they will glorify God. We might not think it's important how others see us but the truth is others will look to find faults and even falsely accuse those who call themselves God's. They want to believe we are evil because they don't comprehend God in our lives.
We need to be honest in all our conversations, we need to be honest and from that honesty our good works will be revealed all to the glory of GOD, not to our glory but to God's glory.
1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men
That with WELL DOING we may put to SILENCE the ignorance of FOOLISH MEN.
By submitting ourselves to obedience of those in authority over us we reveal the will of God in that we are as servants, as the least of them, not presuming to possess a greater personage than any other.
For the LORD'S SAKE we submit. Not because we want to submit, more often than not we might desire to disobey the government, and those with power over our lives, but we submit rather than resist. Jesus submitted remember this…
Mat 26:51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
Mat 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Mat 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Mat 26:54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Mat 26:55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
Mat 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
And this…
Luk 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Luk 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Luk 22:43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
Luk 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Jesus submitted, sweating great drops of blood, in agony, praying to His Father, He submitted.
We are to submit. God's will must be done and we aren't called to comprehend all the workings of our God. We must trust that even in the bitterest moments, even when those in authority abuse us our God's will is being done - ultimately there will be comprehension but more often than not there is not even the least bit of understanding as we struggle under the oppression of others.
It is true that with well doing we can put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, but that doesn't mean they'll be silent immediately. You might be years and years in well doing before there is silence for that ignorance.
It is God's will we submit. It is God's will we don't give up in well doing no matter the circumstances.
Only through the grace and mercy of God will this be accomplished, not by any righteousness of our own. Any good that comes from us, come from us through HIM.
ALL GLORY TO GOD!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Abstain
1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul
As strangers.
As pilgrims.
We are strangers and pilgrims- why?
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Who were 'these' that died in faith?
Abel
Enoch
Noah
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
Sara
We know these people- these Biblically historical people. They were ALL STRANGERS and PILGRIMS on earth- just as WE are supposed to be. Why? Because we seek ANOTHER COUNTRY. This earth is NOT our home.
As those who are also strangers and pilgrims we are all who claim this status to abstain from fleshly lusts, why? Because fleshly lusts WAR against us. Our flesh lusts war against us dragging us down. When we indulge our ungodly lusts we are damaging ourselves. Those lusts hurt us in many ways, they keep us from God they separate us from God. When we choose not to abstain from those lusts we are actually choosing to separate ourselves from God.
There is a war and those lusts are going to war with us. We are going to war with ourselves, our flesh selves.
Why don't we understand this fully? Why can't we make this really real to ourselves? Why is it so hard to imagine that we are in a war and that war is against our own flesh nature, a nature Satan will encourage in us and strive to get us to indulge.
1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul
Abstain. DO NOT DO these things. STOP doing these things. Stop indulging fleshly lusts!
People think those who abstain, those who deny themselves are oddballs. Truly those who do abstain from lusts that are being indulged freely by so many do appear to be odd. Fleshly lust rule our world. Fleshly lusts have become our norms in society. Take ONE night and watch several modern tv sitcoms, do it and you'll know without any doubt that fleshly lusts are very, very acceptable today. People watch these shows and so many emulate them. People get their standards from these shows. People are molded by these shows. When we think about this and realize that the Bible tells us to ABSTAIN from the lusts that are so prevalent in our world is it any wonder those who chose a life of abstaining are considered strange?
Abstain.
People indulge their desires all the time, to their own detriment.
How do we stop? Where do we find the power to deny ourselves? The only way is through Jesus, that is the ONLY way, by His grace and mercy, His power.
Please Lord, please help us to abstain from our fleshly lusts that would keep us from You. We need you so desperately.
Please help us.
As strangers.
As pilgrims.
We are strangers and pilgrims- why?
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Who were 'these' that died in faith?
Abel
Enoch
Noah
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
Sara
We know these people- these Biblically historical people. They were ALL STRANGERS and PILGRIMS on earth- just as WE are supposed to be. Why? Because we seek ANOTHER COUNTRY. This earth is NOT our home.
As those who are also strangers and pilgrims we are all who claim this status to abstain from fleshly lusts, why? Because fleshly lusts WAR against us. Our flesh lusts war against us dragging us down. When we indulge our ungodly lusts we are damaging ourselves. Those lusts hurt us in many ways, they keep us from God they separate us from God. When we choose not to abstain from those lusts we are actually choosing to separate ourselves from God.
There is a war and those lusts are going to war with us. We are going to war with ourselves, our flesh selves.
Why don't we understand this fully? Why can't we make this really real to ourselves? Why is it so hard to imagine that we are in a war and that war is against our own flesh nature, a nature Satan will encourage in us and strive to get us to indulge.
1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul
Abstain. DO NOT DO these things. STOP doing these things. Stop indulging fleshly lusts!
People think those who abstain, those who deny themselves are oddballs. Truly those who do abstain from lusts that are being indulged freely by so many do appear to be odd. Fleshly lust rule our world. Fleshly lusts have become our norms in society. Take ONE night and watch several modern tv sitcoms, do it and you'll know without any doubt that fleshly lusts are very, very acceptable today. People watch these shows and so many emulate them. People get their standards from these shows. People are molded by these shows. When we think about this and realize that the Bible tells us to ABSTAIN from the lusts that are so prevalent in our world is it any wonder those who chose a life of abstaining are considered strange?
Abstain.
People indulge their desires all the time, to their own detriment.
How do we stop? Where do we find the power to deny ourselves? The only way is through Jesus, that is the ONLY way, by His grace and mercy, His power.
Please Lord, please help us to abstain from our fleshly lusts that would keep us from You. We need you so desperately.
Please help us.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Lord is Gracious
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1Pe 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
If we taste the sincere milk of the word we KNOW the Lord is gracious.
It's the sincere milk of the WORD that helps us grow as newborn Christians.
How could God not be gracious in that He offers us eternal life through His Son, us who do NOT deserve eternal life at all whatsoever. We do NOT deserve salvation! We are sinners born with flesh desires that we nurture throughout our lives by yielding to temptations, by sinning, by living contrary to God's will, against the laws of God.
The laws- LOVE GOD.
The laws- LOVE EACH OTHER.
We seldom do either of these because we are so incredibly self centered.
The LORD is gracious! We are offered this sincere milk all by His mercy, His grace!
1Pe 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1Pe 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1Pe 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
There is great beauty in these words- a living stone.
Rocks are symbols of solidness, yes? A living rock, a living symbol of solidness- of truth, pure truth. Chosen of God, precious. We are also supposed to be lively stones- living stones- why? How? Because we are a part of the living rock, the living stone - JESUS. The spiritual house is the house of our LORD. The holy priesthood is JESUS' holy priesthood- He is OUR HIGH PRIEST! We are His priests.
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
The Spiritual House- the Holy Priesthood.
We do offer up spiritual sacrifices - not physical, fleshy sacrifices but spiritual sacrifices and these sacrifices are ACCEPTABLE to God by Jesus Christ!
Our Lord is the CHIEF CORNERSTONE. We know this, we know that our Savior is our all in all, He is EVERYTHING!
We who believe understand this, we who believe KNOW this, but those who do not believe can't understand.
To those who do not know Jesus - He is a STONE of stumbling. He is a ROCK of offence. They cannot understand, they don't want to understand that He is a living stone, the He is a ROCK, a LIVING ROCK of life to all who believe.
Our Lord is gracious beyond our comprehension. We need to cling to Him, to cling to His love, His amazing, amazing love.
Too many people stumble at the word of God- too many people are disobedient. We need to fall at the feet of Christ and beg forgiveness, repenting of our sins. He is pure LOVE in a way we scarcely can begin to comprehend. He is the purest love that exists and we need to cling to that pure love seeking to love as He loves all through HIS Holy Spirit sent to us. Of our own we are helpless, it is ONLY in Christ we are anything at all.
All through HIS love!
All through HIS mercy!
Please Lord, please… have mercy on us, forgive us, love us!
All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior the Son of God.
Amen.
1Pe 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
If we taste the sincere milk of the word we KNOW the Lord is gracious.
It's the sincere milk of the WORD that helps us grow as newborn Christians.
How could God not be gracious in that He offers us eternal life through His Son, us who do NOT deserve eternal life at all whatsoever. We do NOT deserve salvation! We are sinners born with flesh desires that we nurture throughout our lives by yielding to temptations, by sinning, by living contrary to God's will, against the laws of God.
The laws- LOVE GOD.
The laws- LOVE EACH OTHER.
We seldom do either of these because we are so incredibly self centered.
The LORD is gracious! We are offered this sincere milk all by His mercy, His grace!
1Pe 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1Pe 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1Pe 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
There is great beauty in these words- a living stone.
Rocks are symbols of solidness, yes? A living rock, a living symbol of solidness- of truth, pure truth. Chosen of God, precious. We are also supposed to be lively stones- living stones- why? How? Because we are a part of the living rock, the living stone - JESUS. The spiritual house is the house of our LORD. The holy priesthood is JESUS' holy priesthood- He is OUR HIGH PRIEST! We are His priests.
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
The Spiritual House- the Holy Priesthood.
We do offer up spiritual sacrifices - not physical, fleshy sacrifices but spiritual sacrifices and these sacrifices are ACCEPTABLE to God by Jesus Christ!
Our Lord is the CHIEF CORNERSTONE. We know this, we know that our Savior is our all in all, He is EVERYTHING!
We who believe understand this, we who believe KNOW this, but those who do not believe can't understand.
To those who do not know Jesus - He is a STONE of stumbling. He is a ROCK of offence. They cannot understand, they don't want to understand that He is a living stone, the He is a ROCK, a LIVING ROCK of life to all who believe.
Our Lord is gracious beyond our comprehension. We need to cling to Him, to cling to His love, His amazing, amazing love.
Too many people stumble at the word of God- too many people are disobedient. We need to fall at the feet of Christ and beg forgiveness, repenting of our sins. He is pure LOVE in a way we scarcely can begin to comprehend. He is the purest love that exists and we need to cling to that pure love seeking to love as He loves all through HIS Holy Spirit sent to us. Of our own we are helpless, it is ONLY in Christ we are anything at all.
All through HIS love!
All through HIS mercy!
Please Lord, please… have mercy on us, forgive us, love us!
All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior the Son of God.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Laying aside all -- evil.
1Pe 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby
*******
Malice- desire to inflict injury, harm, or suffering on another, either because of a hostile impulse or out of deep-seated meanness: the malice and spite of a lifelong enemy.
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Guile- insidious cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful deception; duplicity.
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Hypocrisies- The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.
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Envies- a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions
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Evil speaking- speaking ill of others; calumny;
censoriousness.
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*******
Lay aside ALL desire to hurt someone, to cause someone suffering. Lay aside ALL insidious cunning, ALL deception, ALL duplicity. Lay aside ALL lying. Lay aside ALL discontent. Lay aside ALL covetousness. Lay aside ALL evil speaking.
What does it mean to lay aside all these bad parts of ourselves?
It means to get rid of them, doesn't it? These things can't be a part of our lives- not willingly- not without the very real desire to live without them. When we enjoy evil what's that say about us? Something isn't right with us, in fact something is very, very wrong. By the grace of God we will NOT embrace evil but shun it!
When a person does commit evil we are quick to notice and note that it's wrong. We've prisons filled with people who have chosen evil, people who have been overcome by committing evil. We've mental hospitals filled with people who have brain malfunctions that cause them to commit evil. Evil is a huge part of our every day lives because it's all around us. Is it any wonder we are told to lay aside all that evil? That we HAVE to be told to lay it aside.
Bits and pieces of that evil creep into our lives in so many ways. We don't have to be the biggest hypocrite to be a hypocrite. We don't have to be huge liars to be a liar. We don't have to be the greatest deceivers to be a deceiver. Do you see, we ALL have to lay aside the evil in our lives. This isn't a message for the *big* sinners, this is a message for all of us, for all sinners. This is a message for all of us who would be God's.
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby
We have to lay aside all that evil and then, and ONLY then as NEWBORN BABES we have to desire the sincere milk of the word.
I speak from firsthand very, very recent experience when I say that newborn babes desire that milk often! They desire that milk more than most anything else. They do desire to be changed, and they do desire to be cuddled and loved, but their most basic need is to feed on the milk that they NEED to live, to grow.
We need to lay aside all that would keep us from desiring God and the Word of Life more than anything else. As a babe wanting milk we have to want God! Do we? Seriously, do we? Do we want God in that big of a part of our lives, taking up that much time? Newborn babes constantly eat, sleep, mess their diapers- this is their life. We have to want to eat that much- we have to want God that much in our lives. He needs to be our ALL in ALL, our source of LIFE. But for Him to be that big a part of our lives we have to lay aside all the things that would keep us from that life with God.
We have to CHOOSE to lay aside the things that would keep us from our Savior.
By the GRACE of God may we do this, may we choose to live for God fully, desiring Him in our lives more than anything else.
All through HIM and HIS LOVE!
By HIS SPIRIT!
Amen.
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby
*******
Malice- desire to inflict injury, harm, or suffering on another, either because of a hostile impulse or out of deep-seated meanness: the malice and spite of a lifelong enemy.
Pasted from
Guile- insidious cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful deception; duplicity.
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Hypocrisies- The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.
Pasted from
Envies- a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions
Pasted from
Evil speaking- speaking ill of others; calumny;
censoriousness.
Pasted from
*******
Lay aside ALL desire to hurt someone, to cause someone suffering. Lay aside ALL insidious cunning, ALL deception, ALL duplicity. Lay aside ALL lying. Lay aside ALL discontent. Lay aside ALL covetousness. Lay aside ALL evil speaking.
What does it mean to lay aside all these bad parts of ourselves?
It means to get rid of them, doesn't it? These things can't be a part of our lives- not willingly- not without the very real desire to live without them. When we enjoy evil what's that say about us? Something isn't right with us, in fact something is very, very wrong. By the grace of God we will NOT embrace evil but shun it!
When a person does commit evil we are quick to notice and note that it's wrong. We've prisons filled with people who have chosen evil, people who have been overcome by committing evil. We've mental hospitals filled with people who have brain malfunctions that cause them to commit evil. Evil is a huge part of our every day lives because it's all around us. Is it any wonder we are told to lay aside all that evil? That we HAVE to be told to lay it aside.
Bits and pieces of that evil creep into our lives in so many ways. We don't have to be the biggest hypocrite to be a hypocrite. We don't have to be huge liars to be a liar. We don't have to be the greatest deceivers to be a deceiver. Do you see, we ALL have to lay aside the evil in our lives. This isn't a message for the *big* sinners, this is a message for all of us, for all sinners. This is a message for all of us who would be God's.
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby
We have to lay aside all that evil and then, and ONLY then as NEWBORN BABES we have to desire the sincere milk of the word.
I speak from firsthand very, very recent experience when I say that newborn babes desire that milk often! They desire that milk more than most anything else. They do desire to be changed, and they do desire to be cuddled and loved, but their most basic need is to feed on the milk that they NEED to live, to grow.
We need to lay aside all that would keep us from desiring God and the Word of Life more than anything else. As a babe wanting milk we have to want God! Do we? Seriously, do we? Do we want God in that big of a part of our lives, taking up that much time? Newborn babes constantly eat, sleep, mess their diapers- this is their life. We have to want to eat that much- we have to want God that much in our lives. He needs to be our ALL in ALL, our source of LIFE. But for Him to be that big a part of our lives we have to lay aside all the things that would keep us from that life with God.
We have to CHOOSE to lay aside the things that would keep us from our Savior.
By the GRACE of God may we do this, may we choose to live for God fully, desiring Him in our lives more than anything else.
All through HIM and HIS LOVE!
By HIS SPIRIT!
Amen.
Monday, February 6, 2012
The word of the Lord endures forever!
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Born again.
What do these words bring to mind? Born again. We are born once and that birth stems from a mother and father. Nicodemus asked this--
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
A very logical question, yes?
And here is Jesus' answer--
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
When we are born again- it's to a spiritual life, a spiritual birth that is truly incorruptible because our spiritual life will remain with us forever. After the grave if we are called to sleep the sleep of the first death- we will be raised with incorruptible bodies to match our incorruptible spirit that will rise together to meet our Lord in the air. The spiritual part of us is not subject to corruption-decaying- it is what makes us who we are. Our spiritual connection to God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior will endure through all eternity. When we are born again we are accepting Jesus as our Savior, we are open to His Spirit, allowing the Holy Spirit to touch our lives.
Just as we are to die daily- we are to be born again daily.
1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
1Pe 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
1Pe 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
ALL GLORY TO GOD!
The word of the LORD endureth for ever!
Our Savior endures forever!
All flesh is like the grass.
All that a man is, is like a flower.
Grass withers.
Flowers fall.
Man dies just the same.
We cannot pretend death does not exist- it's a foolish thing to imagine. Death is all around us on a daily basis on various levels. From the insect that is buzzing about one moment and squashed to nothingness the next, to the blade of grass plucked from the ground, from the food you choose to consume there are remnants and reminders of death everywhere in our lives and if we ignore them we ignore our own inevitability. We need to understand that death is a very real part of our lives and know that once death puts us in the grave we no longer have breath to praise God, we no longer have a chance to be born again. We need to be spiritually born now- today and everyday- born to live in the Spirit and not solely in the flesh- all by the GRACE and MERCY of our God!
Born again.
What do these words bring to mind? Born again. We are born once and that birth stems from a mother and father. Nicodemus asked this--
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
A very logical question, yes?
And here is Jesus' answer--
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
When we are born again- it's to a spiritual life, a spiritual birth that is truly incorruptible because our spiritual life will remain with us forever. After the grave if we are called to sleep the sleep of the first death- we will be raised with incorruptible bodies to match our incorruptible spirit that will rise together to meet our Lord in the air. The spiritual part of us is not subject to corruption-decaying- it is what makes us who we are. Our spiritual connection to God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior will endure through all eternity. When we are born again we are accepting Jesus as our Savior, we are open to His Spirit, allowing the Holy Spirit to touch our lives.
Just as we are to die daily- we are to be born again daily.
1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
1Pe 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
1Pe 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
ALL GLORY TO GOD!
The word of the LORD endureth for ever!
Our Savior endures forever!
All flesh is like the grass.
All that a man is, is like a flower.
Grass withers.
Flowers fall.
Man dies just the same.
We cannot pretend death does not exist- it's a foolish thing to imagine. Death is all around us on a daily basis on various levels. From the insect that is buzzing about one moment and squashed to nothingness the next, to the blade of grass plucked from the ground, from the food you choose to consume there are remnants and reminders of death everywhere in our lives and if we ignore them we ignore our own inevitability. We need to understand that death is a very real part of our lives and know that once death puts us in the grave we no longer have breath to praise God, we no longer have a chance to be born again. We need to be spiritually born now- today and everyday- born to live in the Spirit and not solely in the flesh- all by the GRACE and MERCY of our God!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Fervent love
1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear
The Father
WITHOUT respect of persons
Judges according to every man's WORK
Pass the time of our sojourning here in FEAR
What do we imagine this means? Seriously, what? God doesn't hold one man to a higher level than another in the grand scheme of things. Each man has a certain accountability to God to choose Him over Satan, to choose good over evil. We make our choices and we must live by those choices. The Father in heaven does NOT prejudge us because we are born into a sinful nature. Our Father in heaven judges us according to the actions of our lives- our choices- all that we are and that is our work- our way of living the life He's given to us. We have to realize we are JUDGED. We can't be stupid and keep our heads buried deep in the sand thinking we are our own masters and have no one to answer to. We have to answer to our heavenly Father. Every single human being has to answer to the Father. You might not believe it, but you'll have to answer for your unbelief. Is it any wonder we are to pass our time here on earth in fear? The fear of failing to be judged worthy, the fear of failing to be judged upon the righteousness of Christ. If we are judged according to our own righteousness we will be judged wholly unworthy. We need to fear, we need to understand that the fear can work to instill in us desire, the need to seek the righteousness of Christ, to seek the faith we need. When we don't fear we have no reason at all to comprehend our need of God.
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers
We cannot save ourselves with bribery. We cannot save ourselves using our material, earthly wealth. We have to realize that there is NOT a single thing we do that saves us- other than choosing to believe- a choice to be saved, we can only make that single choice and allow God to save us. We must allow the sacrifice of our Savior to live in us, to live for us.
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
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.
1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently
The PRECIOUS BLOOD of CHRIST.
As a LAMB without BLEMISH without SPOT.
FORORDAINED BEFORE the FOUNDATION of the WORLD.
MANIFEST in these LAST TIMES for US.
BY JESUS WE BELIEVE in GOD.
God RAISED Jesus from the dead.
God gave Jesus GLORY so WE may have FAITH and HOPE in GOD!
We PURIFY ourselves when we OBEY the TRUTH through the HOLY SPIRIT- to UNFEIGNED LOVE REAL REAL LOVE of each other! When we LOVE each other with a PURE HEART FERVENTLY!
Read that again… UNFEIGNED LOVE for each other! Loving each other with a PURE HEART FERVENTLY!
How many of us do this?????
Seriously, how many? Do you, do I? Do we?
Do we love others FERVENTLY?
Oh, for the love of our Savior may we LOVE others fervently! Please God help us to do this at a time when the love of many is waxing so very, very cold.
Please Lord, please.
The Father
WITHOUT respect of persons
Judges according to every man's WORK
Pass the time of our sojourning here in FEAR
What do we imagine this means? Seriously, what? God doesn't hold one man to a higher level than another in the grand scheme of things. Each man has a certain accountability to God to choose Him over Satan, to choose good over evil. We make our choices and we must live by those choices. The Father in heaven does NOT prejudge us because we are born into a sinful nature. Our Father in heaven judges us according to the actions of our lives- our choices- all that we are and that is our work- our way of living the life He's given to us. We have to realize we are JUDGED. We can't be stupid and keep our heads buried deep in the sand thinking we are our own masters and have no one to answer to. We have to answer to our heavenly Father. Every single human being has to answer to the Father. You might not believe it, but you'll have to answer for your unbelief. Is it any wonder we are to pass our time here on earth in fear? The fear of failing to be judged worthy, the fear of failing to be judged upon the righteousness of Christ. If we are judged according to our own righteousness we will be judged wholly unworthy. We need to fear, we need to understand that the fear can work to instill in us desire, the need to seek the righteousness of Christ, to seek the faith we need. When we don't fear we have no reason at all to comprehend our need of God.
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers
We cannot save ourselves with bribery. We cannot save ourselves using our material, earthly wealth. We have to realize that there is NOT a single thing we do that saves us- other than choosing to believe- a choice to be saved, we can only make that single choice and allow God to save us. We must allow the sacrifice of our Savior to live in us, to live for us.
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
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.
1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently
The PRECIOUS BLOOD of CHRIST.
As a LAMB without BLEMISH without SPOT.
FORORDAINED BEFORE the FOUNDATION of the WORLD.
MANIFEST in these LAST TIMES for US.
BY JESUS WE BELIEVE in GOD.
God RAISED Jesus from the dead.
God gave Jesus GLORY so WE may have FAITH and HOPE in GOD!
We PURIFY ourselves when we OBEY the TRUTH through the HOLY SPIRIT- to UNFEIGNED LOVE REAL REAL LOVE of each other! When we LOVE each other with a PURE HEART FERVENTLY!
Read that again… UNFEIGNED LOVE for each other! Loving each other with a PURE HEART FERVENTLY!
How many of us do this?????
Seriously, how many? Do you, do I? Do we?
Do we love others FERVENTLY?
Oh, for the love of our Savior may we LOVE others fervently! Please God help us to do this at a time when the love of many is waxing so very, very cold.
Please Lord, please.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Hope to the end
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;
Hope to the end for the grace brought to us from a revealed Christ. We are cautioned to do more than hope aren't we? Gird up the loins of our minds- be sober. Some might scoff and say that's easy, I don't drink but that's not what is being said here. You don't have to be drunk on alcohol to have your mind corrupt and far from being sober. You can be drunk on selfishness so that it consumes you. You can be drunk on anger. You can be drunk on any emotion. The abnormal excesses of our fleshy desires make us drunk so that we are no where near being sober in our actions and all we do- understanding the seriousness of our lives and the eternity at stake. In ALL we do we have to put God first in our thoughts, don't we? Shouldn't we? Girding up the loins of our mind. When you gird your loins you are protecting them.
'Synonyms
3. brace, steel, fortify, strengthen.
Pasted from '
We have to protect our minds, fortify, strengthen our minds and in doing so we are protecting our THOUGHTS- the same thoughts that produce our actions. Yes, we have to HOPE for the grace of our Savior but we also need to protect our minds but not letting ourselves fall prey to excess. I say it that way because a lot of our desires are not wrong unless they are done in excess. I'm NOT saying ALL our desires by no means because desires can become perverse under the guidance of Satan, but our basic un-perverted desires are normal and yes-God given when they are NOT allowed excess in our lives- consuming us and becoming idols to us. We need to protect our minds by being sober in ALL things.
1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Lev 19:2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
Called to be holy.
Called to be Godly.
This isn't the call for a person to become a pastor, a priest, a minister- but this call is to all who would have the hope of Salvation in Jesus Christ.
How many people believe that only those called to a profession in the field of religion are expected to live godly, to live holy lives? They see a collar on a priest, a minister, or even just learn the title of a man as a pastor and automatically they are held to a higher standard than the common man. The truth is we ALL need to be held to the higher standard- God's standard. What else separates us from those who are not God's? If we blend in with the world is it because they are seemingly God's, or is it more likely the fact we are compromising and seem more like the ungodly? These are questions we NEED to ask ourselves. No, I'm not saying we need to make spectacles of ourselves in an outright effort to appear to be God's, but our lives in general should be sober lives- not given to the worldly excesses all around us. We should live lives of self-denial, shouldn't we?
Mar 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mar 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Jesus in not walking the earth today asking people to follow Him. There is NO man alive on earth today that we are to follow like that, not ONE. There is NO religious organization we are to give up all we possess and follow. Yet we ARE to --
'... 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'
We ARE to--
'...be ye holy in all manner of conversation
We ARE to--
'...Be ye holy; for I am holy.'
We ARE to--
'... be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.'
We ARE to--
'... through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.'
Knowing this--
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
By the grace of God may we gird up the loins of our minds and HOPE, 'hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ', all through Him, all through the Holy Spirit, all through our Heavenly Father.
Help us, Lord, help us, save us from ourselves, from our self-destructive ways. Please Lord, help us to gird up the loins of our minds and be sober, to be holy as You would have us be holy.
All through YOUR righteousness- Savior! All through YOUR love!
Amen.
Hope to the end for the grace brought to us from a revealed Christ. We are cautioned to do more than hope aren't we? Gird up the loins of our minds- be sober. Some might scoff and say that's easy, I don't drink but that's not what is being said here. You don't have to be drunk on alcohol to have your mind corrupt and far from being sober. You can be drunk on selfishness so that it consumes you. You can be drunk on anger. You can be drunk on any emotion. The abnormal excesses of our fleshy desires make us drunk so that we are no where near being sober in our actions and all we do- understanding the seriousness of our lives and the eternity at stake. In ALL we do we have to put God first in our thoughts, don't we? Shouldn't we? Girding up the loins of our mind. When you gird your loins you are protecting them.
'Synonyms
3. brace, steel, fortify, strengthen.
Pasted from
We have to protect our minds, fortify, strengthen our minds and in doing so we are protecting our THOUGHTS- the same thoughts that produce our actions. Yes, we have to HOPE for the grace of our Savior but we also need to protect our minds but not letting ourselves fall prey to excess. I say it that way because a lot of our desires are not wrong unless they are done in excess. I'm NOT saying ALL our desires by no means because desires can become perverse under the guidance of Satan, but our basic un-perverted desires are normal and yes-God given when they are NOT allowed excess in our lives- consuming us and becoming idols to us. We need to protect our minds by being sober in ALL things.
1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Lev 19:2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
Called to be holy.
Called to be Godly.
This isn't the call for a person to become a pastor, a priest, a minister- but this call is to all who would have the hope of Salvation in Jesus Christ.
How many people believe that only those called to a profession in the field of religion are expected to live godly, to live holy lives? They see a collar on a priest, a minister, or even just learn the title of a man as a pastor and automatically they are held to a higher standard than the common man. The truth is we ALL need to be held to the higher standard- God's standard. What else separates us from those who are not God's? If we blend in with the world is it because they are seemingly God's, or is it more likely the fact we are compromising and seem more like the ungodly? These are questions we NEED to ask ourselves. No, I'm not saying we need to make spectacles of ourselves in an outright effort to appear to be God's, but our lives in general should be sober lives- not given to the worldly excesses all around us. We should live lives of self-denial, shouldn't we?
Mar 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mar 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Jesus in not walking the earth today asking people to follow Him. There is NO man alive on earth today that we are to follow like that, not ONE. There is NO religious organization we are to give up all we possess and follow. Yet we ARE to --
'... 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'
We ARE to--
'...be ye holy in all manner of conversation
We ARE to--
'...Be ye holy; for I am holy.'
We ARE to--
'... be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.'
We ARE to--
'... through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.'
Knowing this--
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
By the grace of God may we gird up the loins of our minds and HOPE, 'hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ', all through Him, all through the Holy Spirit, all through our Heavenly Father.
Help us, Lord, help us, save us from ourselves, from our self-destructive ways. Please Lord, help us to gird up the loins of our minds and be sober, to be holy as You would have us be holy.
All through YOUR righteousness- Savior! All through YOUR love!
Amen.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Unto whom it was revealed
1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Just as the prophet of old inquired and searched diligently for the coming of their Messsiah, we are searching diligently for the second coming of our Messiah, aren't we? We are searching the Scriptures hoping, praying, seeking, longing for understanding so that we are NOT taken unaware as so many in the day of Christ's ministry upon earth. How many who claimed to be looking and longing for the coming Messiah, how many who dedicated their entire lives to the service of God- rejected the Messiah when He appeared? More than we probably realize.
Jesus did NOT find His twelve Apostles among the Jewish religious hierarchy, among the Levites, the appointed priests serving God. Jesus found His twelve Apostles among the 'common' Jewish men. Jesus did NOT find His Apostles among the learned men, the rich men of His day. Jesus found His Apostles among the average, working man, the poor men. What should this tell us? Seriously, what should this message to us be?
We have to realize that Jesus' messages are wholly true and not fables- parables, yes, fables, no.
Jesus spoke of the poor, the unlearned, the broken hearted, the broken in spirit, the meek, the lowly, the poor, the down trodden and He spoke of them as being those who could truly comprehend Him and His message of grace and mercy.
The Holy Ghost sent down from heaven will reveal to us all we need to know. We have to have faith, we have to believe, we have to trust in our Savior righteousness, His loving righteousness, His forgiveness, His mercy, His grace.
We today are longing for Christ's return, for our Savior's second appearing. We are given lots of prophecies for the end time and we truly are living in the end times.
When did the 'end times' begin? Some say they haven't begun at all but are only going to be a few short years before Christ returns, that we can't look at any of the prophecies for fulfillment before then.
Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
This is a major book of prophecy predicting Jesus' death, and time from Babylon right up till Christ's second coming. This book tells us that the time of the end would START when the book was unsealed and knowledge was increased.
NO ONE who knows the history of the world thus far can deny that mankind's knowledge took astounding and very astonishing leaps in the mid 1800's. I'm talking we were going from candles to gas light, from no electrically applications in daily life to its quick understanding so that mankind no longer lived in a world void of electricity run products.
'While it had been the early 19th century that had seen rapid progress in electrical science, the late 19th century would see the greatest progress in electrical engineering. Through such people as Nikola Tesla, Galileo Ferraris, Oliver Heaviside, Thomas Edison, Ottó Bláthy, Ányos Jedlik, Sir Charles Parsons, Joseph Swan, George Westinghouse, Ernst Werner von Siemens, Alexander Graham Bell and Lord Kelvin, electricity was turned from a scientific curiosity into an essential tool for modern life, becoming a driving force for the Second Industrial Revolution.[15]'
Pasted from
The advances made after this were incredible and to think for THOUSANDS of years man lived in a such a primitive way. Why did men gain such sudden ability to comprehend the very things they'd been living with for so long. Why did their understanding suddenly ignite where before it had been shrouded in darkness? This was by God's design.
At a time when mankind's knowledge would be increased the time of the end would begin. Many would run to and fro. Running to and fro certainly increased with knowledge increasing- cars, planes- we can't run to and fro faster can we? A plane can get up to speeds we'd find unimaginable on the ground. Truly the prophetic words have come to pass- we can't honestly look at our history and deny this, we just can't. So, by God's own word the time of the end began over 200 years ago and some would have us believe that it is impossible for the 'end times' to be going on for so long. How is it impossible? 200 years in the grand scheme of thousands of years isn't that long at all. And remember this…
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
And this…
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Just as God revealed all that was needed unto those truly seeking Him and His love, God will do the same now as we live in the end times.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into
The gospel- which things the ANGELS desire to look into.
Amazing words.
Salvation through Christ a subject the angels desire to comprehend, so amazing. The plan of Salvation found in Christ is such a mystery, so incredibly fascinating, so beyond anything else ever known to them- the angels want to understand it all. They long to understand this mystery that we have been given, this wonderful mystery, this gift of God.
By the grace and mercy of our Savior may we accept His gift of life eternal in Him.
Please Lord help us to be as those seeking, truly seeking understanding. Help us to be watchers, praying always, looking unto that perfect day coming.
All in YOUR LOVE!
Amen.
1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Just as the prophet of old inquired and searched diligently for the coming of their Messsiah, we are searching diligently for the second coming of our Messiah, aren't we? We are searching the Scriptures hoping, praying, seeking, longing for understanding so that we are NOT taken unaware as so many in the day of Christ's ministry upon earth. How many who claimed to be looking and longing for the coming Messiah, how many who dedicated their entire lives to the service of God- rejected the Messiah when He appeared? More than we probably realize.
Jesus did NOT find His twelve Apostles among the Jewish religious hierarchy, among the Levites, the appointed priests serving God. Jesus found His twelve Apostles among the 'common' Jewish men. Jesus did NOT find His Apostles among the learned men, the rich men of His day. Jesus found His Apostles among the average, working man, the poor men. What should this tell us? Seriously, what should this message to us be?
We have to realize that Jesus' messages are wholly true and not fables- parables, yes, fables, no.
Jesus spoke of the poor, the unlearned, the broken hearted, the broken in spirit, the meek, the lowly, the poor, the down trodden and He spoke of them as being those who could truly comprehend Him and His message of grace and mercy.
The Holy Ghost sent down from heaven will reveal to us all we need to know. We have to have faith, we have to believe, we have to trust in our Savior righteousness, His loving righteousness, His forgiveness, His mercy, His grace.
We today are longing for Christ's return, for our Savior's second appearing. We are given lots of prophecies for the end time and we truly are living in the end times.
When did the 'end times' begin? Some say they haven't begun at all but are only going to be a few short years before Christ returns, that we can't look at any of the prophecies for fulfillment before then.
Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
This is a major book of prophecy predicting Jesus' death, and time from Babylon right up till Christ's second coming. This book tells us that the time of the end would START when the book was unsealed and knowledge was increased.
NO ONE who knows the history of the world thus far can deny that mankind's knowledge took astounding and very astonishing leaps in the mid 1800's. I'm talking we were going from candles to gas light, from no electrically applications in daily life to its quick understanding so that mankind no longer lived in a world void of electricity run products.
'While it had been the early 19th century that had seen rapid progress in electrical science, the late 19th century would see the greatest progress in electrical engineering. Through such people as Nikola Tesla, Galileo Ferraris, Oliver Heaviside, Thomas Edison, Ottó Bláthy, Ányos Jedlik, Sir Charles Parsons, Joseph Swan, George Westinghouse, Ernst Werner von Siemens, Alexander Graham Bell and Lord Kelvin, electricity was turned from a scientific curiosity into an essential tool for modern life, becoming a driving force for the Second Industrial Revolution.[15]'
Pasted from
The advances made after this were incredible and to think for THOUSANDS of years man lived in a such a primitive way. Why did men gain such sudden ability to comprehend the very things they'd been living with for so long. Why did their understanding suddenly ignite where before it had been shrouded in darkness? This was by God's design.
At a time when mankind's knowledge would be increased the time of the end would begin. Many would run to and fro. Running to and fro certainly increased with knowledge increasing- cars, planes- we can't run to and fro faster can we? A plane can get up to speeds we'd find unimaginable on the ground. Truly the prophetic words have come to pass- we can't honestly look at our history and deny this, we just can't. So, by God's own word the time of the end began over 200 years ago and some would have us believe that it is impossible for the 'end times' to be going on for so long. How is it impossible? 200 years in the grand scheme of thousands of years isn't that long at all. And remember this…
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
And this…
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Just as God revealed all that was needed unto those truly seeking Him and His love, God will do the same now as we live in the end times.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into
The gospel- which things the ANGELS desire to look into.
Amazing words.
Salvation through Christ a subject the angels desire to comprehend, so amazing. The plan of Salvation found in Christ is such a mystery, so incredibly fascinating, so beyond anything else ever known to them- the angels want to understand it all. They long to understand this mystery that we have been given, this wonderful mystery, this gift of God.
By the grace and mercy of our Savior may we accept His gift of life eternal in Him.
Please Lord help us to be as those seeking, truly seeking understanding. Help us to be watchers, praying always, looking unto that perfect day coming.
All in YOUR LOVE!
Amen.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
In heaviness through manifold temptations
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations
We are KEPT by the power of God.
We are kept by the power of God though FAITH.
That faith will be unto our SALVATION.
Salvation that will be revealed in the LAST TIME.
Wherein in we greatly REJOICE.
Though we rejoice in this miracle promised to us we also for a SEASON, if NEEDED, we are in HEAVINESS.
The heaviness is caused by MANIFOLD TEMPTATIONS.
This heaviness is awful. Have you experienced? Do you know what is being talked about here? Our lives on earth will be filled with temptations. Temptations must be faced and fought.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
STRIVING against sin.
RESISTED unto blood.
We cannot escape the horrors of this world we live in. We cannot escape the flesh desires that exist in us. We cannot escape Satan's attacks. There is NO insulated bubble we can enter and live in that will keep us from the life of heaviness we are called to live.
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ
The TRIAL of our faith!
It is a trial because holding fast to our faith unto salvation is necessary. Satan will strive to rip our faith from us, he will stop at NOTHING to take any and all faith we possess away from any who dare to have it.
This trial that we endure, this life of one trial after another is MORE precious than gold.
We are only ever found to praise and honor and glory when our trial is over and our Savior appears to call us to be with Him. This is a trial that is ongoing until either we die or Jesus returns. There are NO time outs, there are NO exceptions, we live in faith and if we live in faith we live in the heaviness of trials- trying of our faith.
Our Savior will return and our faith will be rewarded.
1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Praise GOD!
In our FAITH we rejoice with JOY unspeakable knowing that our belief in a Savior we've never seen will be realized! Our Savior full of glory! The SALVATION of our souls!
PRAISE GOD! GLORY BE TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER!
May we hold fast through all the horrors of heaviness as Satan works endlessly attempting to rip our faith away from us. Through the power of God we are KEPT through faith! All in Him, all through HIM.
Amen.
1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations
We are KEPT by the power of God.
We are kept by the power of God though FAITH.
That faith will be unto our SALVATION.
Salvation that will be revealed in the LAST TIME.
Wherein in we greatly REJOICE.
Though we rejoice in this miracle promised to us we also for a SEASON, if NEEDED, we are in HEAVINESS.
The heaviness is caused by MANIFOLD TEMPTATIONS.
This heaviness is awful. Have you experienced? Do you know what is being talked about here? Our lives on earth will be filled with temptations. Temptations must be faced and fought.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
STRIVING against sin.
RESISTED unto blood.
We cannot escape the horrors of this world we live in. We cannot escape the flesh desires that exist in us. We cannot escape Satan's attacks. There is NO insulated bubble we can enter and live in that will keep us from the life of heaviness we are called to live.
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ
The TRIAL of our faith!
It is a trial because holding fast to our faith unto salvation is necessary. Satan will strive to rip our faith from us, he will stop at NOTHING to take any and all faith we possess away from any who dare to have it.
This trial that we endure, this life of one trial after another is MORE precious than gold.
We are only ever found to praise and honor and glory when our trial is over and our Savior appears to call us to be with Him. This is a trial that is ongoing until either we die or Jesus returns. There are NO time outs, there are NO exceptions, we live in faith and if we live in faith we live in the heaviness of trials- trying of our faith.
Our Savior will return and our faith will be rewarded.
1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Praise GOD!
In our FAITH we rejoice with JOY unspeakable knowing that our belief in a Savior we've never seen will be realized! Our Savior full of glory! The SALVATION of our souls!
PRAISE GOD! GLORY BE TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER!
May we hold fast through all the horrors of heaviness as Satan works endlessly attempting to rip our faith away from us. Through the power of God we are KEPT through faith! All in Him, all through HIM.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The Stone- Jesus
Mat 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
The Lord is the stone that the builders rejected. The pharisees, the rulers of His day rejected Him. His OWN people rejected Him. The people God chose to be His- the Israelites- abandoned God over and over again throughout their history. They went after idols many times and God's wrath fell upon them time and time again for their transgressions. Finally, God's OWN Son came and they rejected Him as well. He was of God, a God born of flesh and they called Him of the Devil!
Jesus told them they would reject Him and they did!
The Stone- Jesus.
Whoever falls on the Stone will be broken.
Whoever has the Stone fall on them will be ground to powder.
It's true. We come to Jesus and our selfishness, our self love, our flesh and its sin perverted desires will be broken. This breaking process is hard, it's painful in many ways- physically, mentally, emotionally. We will be chastised over and over again until we are close to despair. We will feel the refiners fire upon us as we are striped of our flesh and born in spirit, growing in spirit and it is very much like being broken. So much better it is for us to be broken than to be ground to powder- to nothingness.
There is NO other option for us. There is NO third option. No fourth, fifth, sixth options either. There are ONLY two options for us. To fall on the Stone or have the Stone fall upon us.
By the grace and mercy of God may we FALL upon the Stone and be broken, completely broken!
All through HIS amazing and wonderful LOVE!
Amen.
Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
The Lord is the stone that the builders rejected. The pharisees, the rulers of His day rejected Him. His OWN people rejected Him. The people God chose to be His- the Israelites- abandoned God over and over again throughout their history. They went after idols many times and God's wrath fell upon them time and time again for their transgressions. Finally, God's OWN Son came and they rejected Him as well. He was of God, a God born of flesh and they called Him of the Devil!
Jesus told them they would reject Him and they did!
The Stone- Jesus.
Whoever falls on the Stone will be broken.
Whoever has the Stone fall on them will be ground to powder.
It's true. We come to Jesus and our selfishness, our self love, our flesh and its sin perverted desires will be broken. This breaking process is hard, it's painful in many ways- physically, mentally, emotionally. We will be chastised over and over again until we are close to despair. We will feel the refiners fire upon us as we are striped of our flesh and born in spirit, growing in spirit and it is very much like being broken. So much better it is for us to be broken than to be ground to powder- to nothingness.
There is NO other option for us. There is NO third option. No fourth, fifth, sixth options either. There are ONLY two options for us. To fall on the Stone or have the Stone fall upon us.
By the grace and mercy of God may we FALL upon the Stone and be broken, completely broken!
All through HIS amazing and wonderful LOVE!
Amen.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The last shall be first, and the first last
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
The last to arrive were the first to receive their pay. The first to arrive were the last to receive their pay. That they both received the exact same pay for different amounts of time worked is solely up to their employer. No one should begrudge the good done by someone just because THEY do not receive what they might consider their due, their fair share. We truly need to count our blessings the smallest blessing as well as the largest ones. We've become so jade by our society and the desire for MORE that we forget to focus on what we do possess. Jesus told us to place our treasures in heaven, our desire should be in heaven as well, yes? And if our treasures, our desires are in heaven then we aren't caught up in the FAIR SHARES we believe we deserve down here on earth- right?
Is it fair that the last to come to Jesus- perhaps those we consider hard-core sinners, those who murder, rape, abuse children, abuse elderly, animal abusers, the worst of the worst- when those people at the very last moment before probation closes accept Jesus as their Savior and repent of their sins, truly repent and are saved before those who have been Jesus' for a long, long time? YES, it is fair because fairness is found in the truth and the acceptance of that truth. The truth is, fairness is something that doesn't matter-Salvation matters. What we call fairness is truly fantasy, a fantasy built upon a perfect society but that society isn't perfect because so many do not want the only perfection that exists and that is Jesus. They want to create their OWN idea of perfection. The perfect life being one with all they ever want they can have, and that all includes all the foods, all the parties, all the nice things, all the things that will only ever contribute to their happiness. Clothes, wealth, entertainment all these things that are treasures HERE on earth. We want treasures here on earth and this we call fairness. We are getting our desires- our flesh desires. Some might say that it's not wrong to want to live without the fear of hunger, the fear of homelessness, the fear of sickness, the fear of no transportation, and they'd be right. It's not wrong to want to live without those fears and so many people do live without them even when they have nothing at all. It seems impossible but it's true. There is a very small select group of people who do fully trust in God for all their needs and when bad things happen they still bless God, they still thank God, they still believe that somehow all things will work out. Putting our faith in God, putting our treasures in heaven, if we would ONLY live this way rather than how we do maybe, just maybe we wouldn't feel the covetousness, the selfishness, the unfairness, the envying that we fall victim too.
There is so much we need to study, to learn, to comprehend and only our Savior can help us do that, only the Holy Spirit can guide us, enlighten us.
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Yes, many are called…. but few are chosen.
By the grace and mercy of God may we be chosen
Please Lord, help us we need Your help so desperately, we need Your righteousness as our own unrighteousness is made so much more clear to us. We are so far from being what you'd have us be Lord and it's ONLY by You we have any hope at all whatsoever!
Please Lord, please help us to realize that we are NOT guaranteed fairness as such as we believe we should be. We are guaranteed YOUR TRUTH and that TRUTH is YOUR LOVE and that is ALL we need…YOU.
Bless us Lord, please we beg You, bless us.
Amen.
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
The last to arrive were the first to receive their pay. The first to arrive were the last to receive their pay. That they both received the exact same pay for different amounts of time worked is solely up to their employer. No one should begrudge the good done by someone just because THEY do not receive what they might consider their due, their fair share. We truly need to count our blessings the smallest blessing as well as the largest ones. We've become so jade by our society and the desire for MORE that we forget to focus on what we do possess. Jesus told us to place our treasures in heaven, our desire should be in heaven as well, yes? And if our treasures, our desires are in heaven then we aren't caught up in the FAIR SHARES we believe we deserve down here on earth- right?
Is it fair that the last to come to Jesus- perhaps those we consider hard-core sinners, those who murder, rape, abuse children, abuse elderly, animal abusers, the worst of the worst- when those people at the very last moment before probation closes accept Jesus as their Savior and repent of their sins, truly repent and are saved before those who have been Jesus' for a long, long time? YES, it is fair because fairness is found in the truth and the acceptance of that truth. The truth is, fairness is something that doesn't matter-Salvation matters. What we call fairness is truly fantasy, a fantasy built upon a perfect society but that society isn't perfect because so many do not want the only perfection that exists and that is Jesus. They want to create their OWN idea of perfection. The perfect life being one with all they ever want they can have, and that all includes all the foods, all the parties, all the nice things, all the things that will only ever contribute to their happiness. Clothes, wealth, entertainment all these things that are treasures HERE on earth. We want treasures here on earth and this we call fairness. We are getting our desires- our flesh desires. Some might say that it's not wrong to want to live without the fear of hunger, the fear of homelessness, the fear of sickness, the fear of no transportation, and they'd be right. It's not wrong to want to live without those fears and so many people do live without them even when they have nothing at all. It seems impossible but it's true. There is a very small select group of people who do fully trust in God for all their needs and when bad things happen they still bless God, they still thank God, they still believe that somehow all things will work out. Putting our faith in God, putting our treasures in heaven, if we would ONLY live this way rather than how we do maybe, just maybe we wouldn't feel the covetousness, the selfishness, the unfairness, the envying that we fall victim too.
There is so much we need to study, to learn, to comprehend and only our Savior can help us do that, only the Holy Spirit can guide us, enlighten us.
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Yes, many are called…. but few are chosen.
By the grace and mercy of God may we be chosen
Please Lord, help us we need Your help so desperately, we need Your righteousness as our own unrighteousness is made so much more clear to us. We are so far from being what you'd have us be Lord and it's ONLY by You we have any hope at all whatsoever!
Please Lord, please help us to realize that we are NOT guaranteed fairness as such as we believe we should be. We are guaranteed YOUR TRUTH and that TRUTH is YOUR LOVE and that is ALL we need…YOU.
Bless us Lord, please we beg You, bless us.
Amen.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Is thine eye evil....
Mat 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
Mat 20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Mat 20:3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
Mat 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Mat 20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
Mat 20:6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Mat 20:7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
Mat 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Mat 20:9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mat 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mat 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mat 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Mat 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mat 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
When reading this passage I couldn't help but apply it to our common idea of fairness. Our idea that we've tried to make it so that everyone has equality in all things and yet at the same time we promote ingenuity and the ability to get ahead. If we are promoting getting ahead we aren't promoting equality. Socialism - based on the idea that we all deserve equal shares in life with no one able to get ahead of another- we frown on that, right? We love the idea of capitalism- America was founded on this idea in many, many ways and a lot of people would say we've abused it until we've caused our own downfall. The rich have gotten way richer while the poor have become way poorer and we say this is okay because the rich have worked for their riches- or family has worked for family to be rich. We say the poor can always boost themselves up out of being poor and become rich- they just have to work for it. Remember- the American dream? Bring us your tired…hungry…you know the rest or the gist of it. We grow up believing we are entitled- even if we don't always work for it. We grow up believing life should be fair. This parable of Jesus' is telling us that we shouldn't have that illusion and if we do our 'eyes are evil'.
Life isn't fair. Those who have lots also have the right to distribute their wealth as they choose, yes? If they follow Jesus they'll do a lot to help the needy but that doesn't necessarily mean that they have to distribute their wealth equally to every single person they meet, right? Sometimes a need is greater than we realize for one and they need more than another. Fairness isn't Godliness, not in the sense that we've come to learn it.
All too often one person has to work hard to barely make ends meet, while another seems to have a nice easy job and they make more money than they know what to do with- and we call that unfair. Some people are born into wealthy families while others are born into poor families- and we call that unfair. We need to get rid of that sort of idea of fairness because it's not good- in fact it is evil. It rears up inside of us as a breeding ground for envy, for coveting, for selfishness and those are evil traits- not godly at all.
More on this tomorrow… too tired to think.
By the grace of our Lord and Savior may we learn HIS goodness, and not have an eye of evil.
In HIS love!
Amen.
Mat 20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Mat 20:3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
Mat 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Mat 20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
Mat 20:6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Mat 20:7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
Mat 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Mat 20:9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mat 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mat 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mat 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Mat 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mat 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
When reading this passage I couldn't help but apply it to our common idea of fairness. Our idea that we've tried to make it so that everyone has equality in all things and yet at the same time we promote ingenuity and the ability to get ahead. If we are promoting getting ahead we aren't promoting equality. Socialism - based on the idea that we all deserve equal shares in life with no one able to get ahead of another- we frown on that, right? We love the idea of capitalism- America was founded on this idea in many, many ways and a lot of people would say we've abused it until we've caused our own downfall. The rich have gotten way richer while the poor have become way poorer and we say this is okay because the rich have worked for their riches- or family has worked for family to be rich. We say the poor can always boost themselves up out of being poor and become rich- they just have to work for it. Remember- the American dream? Bring us your tired…hungry…you know the rest or the gist of it. We grow up believing we are entitled- even if we don't always work for it. We grow up believing life should be fair. This parable of Jesus' is telling us that we shouldn't have that illusion and if we do our 'eyes are evil'.
Life isn't fair. Those who have lots also have the right to distribute their wealth as they choose, yes? If they follow Jesus they'll do a lot to help the needy but that doesn't necessarily mean that they have to distribute their wealth equally to every single person they meet, right? Sometimes a need is greater than we realize for one and they need more than another. Fairness isn't Godliness, not in the sense that we've come to learn it.
All too often one person has to work hard to barely make ends meet, while another seems to have a nice easy job and they make more money than they know what to do with- and we call that unfair. Some people are born into wealthy families while others are born into poor families- and we call that unfair. We need to get rid of that sort of idea of fairness because it's not good- in fact it is evil. It rears up inside of us as a breeding ground for envy, for coveting, for selfishness and those are evil traits- not godly at all.
More on this tomorrow… too tired to think.
By the grace of our Lord and Savior may we learn HIS goodness, and not have an eye of evil.
In HIS love!
Amen.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Kept by the POWER of God
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 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Kept by the power of God.
Through faith.
Unto salvation.
Ready to be revealed.
In the last time.
We are ONLY kept by the power of God.
We have to believe this- and THIS is our faith.
Our Salvation by faith.
That salvation fully realized in the last time.
A promise can be believed, and a promise can be kept, and a promise can be realized and fulfilled. The promise we must believe is that we DO have salvation as our reward, salvation a gift given to us, a promise made to us by our Savior. We must believe in that promise, we must believe in the eventual fulfillment of that promise.
That there are TWO deaths seems so strange to people but the Bible tells us there is a FIRST and a SECOND death.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
There is first resurrection- to be resurrected mustn't you first be dead?
The first resurrection.
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
This speaks so plainly doesn't it? People are in their graves. People are NOT in heaven and being resurrected from the dead from heaven. IF people are in heaven already there is NO need of any other resurrection, right? It would make NO sense to have a first resurrection, a resurrection of life, if there is already life.
We are promised a resurrection from the dead - those who die in Christ will be called to the resurrection of life. They will be raised from the graves, resurrected to LIFE.
Those who are alive when our Savior returns and raises those that are His to life, do NOT taste even of the first death.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
*
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
*
There is an inheritance waiting for us in heaven, but we MUST be kept by the power of God - through faith, to receive salvation. If we die before our Savior returns we will be raised from the dead when He returns- this is a promise. If we are alive when our Savior returns we will be raised from the earth still living to receive salvation.
We have to believe we are kept by GOD'S power, not ours, but HIS POWER. We MUST BELIEVE this is the faith we must have, all by the grace of God.
All in His love!
Amen.
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Kept by the power of God.
Through faith.
Unto salvation.
Ready to be revealed.
In the last time.
We are ONLY kept by the power of God.
We have to believe this- and THIS is our faith.
Our Salvation by faith.
That salvation fully realized in the last time.
A promise can be believed, and a promise can be kept, and a promise can be realized and fulfilled. The promise we must believe is that we DO have salvation as our reward, salvation a gift given to us, a promise made to us by our Savior. We must believe in that promise, we must believe in the eventual fulfillment of that promise.
That there are TWO deaths seems so strange to people but the Bible tells us there is a FIRST and a SECOND death.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
There is first resurrection- to be resurrected mustn't you first be dead?
The first resurrection.
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
This speaks so plainly doesn't it? People are in their graves. People are NOT in heaven and being resurrected from the dead from heaven. IF people are in heaven already there is NO need of any other resurrection, right? It would make NO sense to have a first resurrection, a resurrection of life, if there is already life.
We are promised a resurrection from the dead - those who die in Christ will be called to the resurrection of life. They will be raised from the graves, resurrected to LIFE.
Those who are alive when our Savior returns and raises those that are His to life, do NOT taste even of the first death.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
*
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
*
There is an inheritance waiting for us in heaven, but we MUST be kept by the power of God - through faith, to receive salvation. If we die before our Savior returns we will be raised from the dead when He returns- this is a promise. If we are alive when our Savior returns we will be raised from the earth still living to receive salvation.
We have to believe we are kept by GOD'S power, not ours, but HIS POWER. We MUST BELIEVE this is the faith we must have, all by the grace of God.
All in His love!
Amen.
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