1 John
{5:4} For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
{5:5} Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
{5:6} This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
**
Overcometh the world.
overcome (o´ver-kùm´) verb
overcame (-kâm´) overcome, overcoming, overcomes verb, transitive
1. To defeat (another) in competition or conflict; conquer.
2. To prevail over; surmount: tried to overcome the obstacles of poverty.
3. To overpower, as with emotion; affect deeply.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Overcoming the world.
Why do we need to overcome the world?
James
{4:4} Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that
the FRIENDSHIP OF THIS WORLD IS ENMITY WITH GOD? whosoever
therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
2 Peter
{1:4} Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and
precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of
the divine nature, HAVING ESCAPED THE CORRUPTION THAT IS IN
THE WORLD through lust.
Rev.
{3:10} Because thou hast kept the word of my
patience, I also will keep thee from THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION,
WHICH SHALL COME UPON ALL THE WORLD, to try them that dwell
upon the earth.
1 John
{5:19} And we know that we are of God, AND THE WHOLE
WORLD LIETH IN WICKEDNESS.
***
Titus
{2:12} Teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and WORLDLY LUSTS, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world;
1 Corinthians
{7:31} And
they that use this world, as not abusing [it:] for THE FASHION
OF THIS WORLD PASSESTH AWAY.
2 Corinthians
{4:1} Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have
received mercy, we faint not; {4:2} But have renounced the
hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor
handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation
of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s
conscience in the sight of God. {4:3} But if our gospel be
hid, it is hid to them that are lost: {4:4} In whom THE GOD OF
THIS WORLD HATH BLINDED THE MINDS of them which believe
not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the
image of God, should shine unto them.
Ephesians
{2:1} And you [hath he quickened,] who were dead in
trespasses and sins; {2:2} Wherein IN TIME PAST YE WALKED
ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD, ACCORDING TO THE
PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, THE SPIRIT THAT NOW WORKETH IN
THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE: {2:3} Among whom also we
all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our
flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and
were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. {2:4}
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith
he loved us, {2:5} Even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Ephesians
{6:12} For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, AGAINST THE RULERS
OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, against spiritual wickedness in
high [places. ]
***
Yes, we need to overcome this world alright, the evil that dwells in it is great.
Jesus prayed to God this--
John
{17:15} I pray not that thou
shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest
keep them from the evil. {17:16} They are not of the world,
even as I am not of the world. {17:17} Sanctify them
through thy truth: thy word is truth. {17:18} As thou hast
sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into
the world. {17:19} And for their sakes I sanctify myself,
that they also might be sanctified through the truth. {17:20}
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall
believe on me through their word; {17:21} That they all
may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that
they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that
thou hast sent me. {17:22} And the glory which thou gavest
me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are
one: {17:23} I in them, and thou in me, that they may be
made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou
hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
***
We are not of this world. This world isn't what we should be living for. Jesus Himself wasn't of this world.
1 John
{5:4} For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
{5:5} Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
{5:6} This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
***
Overcoming the world, through faith. Believing Jesus is the Son of God. The Spirit bear witness and the Spirit is truth.
Overcoming the world. Prevailing over the world. The world is full of lusts and evils that would keep us attached to it, keep our minds here and here only not on the world to come. As long as we are caught up in the world we really can't overcome it can we? We need to seek to overcome it just as we struggle to overcome the trials life gives us this is one more, the greatest. Overcoming the world. Only through Christ, only through the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can we overcome. The Spirit of Truth is the Spirit that is promised to us to be our comforter in this world. We can overcome through love of our Savior.
Amen.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Let us not love in word
1 John
{3:18} My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
{3:19} And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
You ever hear the saying- You're all talk and no action? I think this refers to that. Let us not love in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth.
In deed. A deed is and action right?
deed (dêd) noun
1. Something that is carried out; an act or action.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Love in deed.
Our actions should be those of love, which is truth. Jesus is truth, Jesus is the Son of God, if you've seen the Son then you've seen the Father, God is love, truth is love.
Our actions should be motivated by love. A genuine brotherly love.
Right now it's the Christmas season and movies on television are portraying all sorts of brotherly love but only after they reveal the need for the love. Everyday we can choose to act out of love, brotherly love with kindness or we can choose not to.
Love is a choice, it's not something that some sweet people magically possess and others do not. Not that we aren't predisposed in differently to act certain ways, meaning our natures lean us towards grumpiness, cynicism and other unsavory traits, but because love is a choice we can all possess it. Love doesn't play favorites tapping some with the love hammer and others not. Love is a choice and the sooner we realize this the better off we'll be. The false concept of being sweet and loving clouds a lot of minds, minds that wake up grouchy and continue on in irritation. People play the why not me game. Why can't I be more sweet? Why can't I be more *naturally* loving? Why can't I *want* to be nice? These people believe that the sweetness, the loving, and the niceness favors some more than others but it's not true. Real love can be manifested in the worst of circumstances, to people we would think have every reason to hate life. Real love can be something everyone has by choice and it's not the feel good feeling that makes it loving. Love doesn't have to *feel* all happy and light, sweetness and flighty. You're not choosing a feeling when you're choosing to love. You're choosing to act in a certain manner, a manner that treats others as you would have them treat you, a manner that extends kindness not because it's deserved but because you choose to give it to commit an act of love.
We can't get caught up in the trap of feelings, we just can't. If we do then every time we don't feel happy we'll question the truth we know in Christ and our possession of the truth. Love is a choice, an action, something we can portray in our deeds and this is the truth. If we can make the choice to act from love without getting caught up in the feeling of love we are one step closer to the reality of things. We can still act out of love if we're having a bad day. We can still love in our deeds without sappiness and sweetness. Choose to love. Let our loving words, words that would have us say nice, loving things, become more than just words to us, let them become part of our lives in our actions.
May God help us all as we assure our hearts before Him, as we become of the truth, of love. Let our deeds be the driving force of our love, let our lives, our actions stem from love in choosing to love in Christ, by His great mercy and His truth now and forever.
Amen.
{3:18} My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
{3:19} And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
You ever hear the saying- You're all talk and no action? I think this refers to that. Let us not love in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth.
In deed. A deed is and action right?
deed (dêd) noun
1. Something that is carried out; an act or action.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Love in deed.
Our actions should be those of love, which is truth. Jesus is truth, Jesus is the Son of God, if you've seen the Son then you've seen the Father, God is love, truth is love.
Our actions should be motivated by love. A genuine brotherly love.
Right now it's the Christmas season and movies on television are portraying all sorts of brotherly love but only after they reveal the need for the love. Everyday we can choose to act out of love, brotherly love with kindness or we can choose not to.
Love is a choice, it's not something that some sweet people magically possess and others do not. Not that we aren't predisposed in differently to act certain ways, meaning our natures lean us towards grumpiness, cynicism and other unsavory traits, but because love is a choice we can all possess it. Love doesn't play favorites tapping some with the love hammer and others not. Love is a choice and the sooner we realize this the better off we'll be. The false concept of being sweet and loving clouds a lot of minds, minds that wake up grouchy and continue on in irritation. People play the why not me game. Why can't I be more sweet? Why can't I be more *naturally* loving? Why can't I *want* to be nice? These people believe that the sweetness, the loving, and the niceness favors some more than others but it's not true. Real love can be manifested in the worst of circumstances, to people we would think have every reason to hate life. Real love can be something everyone has by choice and it's not the feel good feeling that makes it loving. Love doesn't have to *feel* all happy and light, sweetness and flighty. You're not choosing a feeling when you're choosing to love. You're choosing to act in a certain manner, a manner that treats others as you would have them treat you, a manner that extends kindness not because it's deserved but because you choose to give it to commit an act of love.
We can't get caught up in the trap of feelings, we just can't. If we do then every time we don't feel happy we'll question the truth we know in Christ and our possession of the truth. Love is a choice, an action, something we can portray in our deeds and this is the truth. If we can make the choice to act from love without getting caught up in the feeling of love we are one step closer to the reality of things. We can still act out of love if we're having a bad day. We can still love in our deeds without sappiness and sweetness. Choose to love. Let our loving words, words that would have us say nice, loving things, become more than just words to us, let them become part of our lives in our actions.
May God help us all as we assure our hearts before Him, as we become of the truth, of love. Let our deeds be the driving force of our love, let our lives, our actions stem from love in choosing to love in Christ, by His great mercy and His truth now and forever.
Amen.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
...the truth is not in him...
1 John
{2:1} My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous
{2:2} And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.
{2:3} And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
{2:4} He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
{2:5} But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
{2:6} He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
**
Do you think John was talking to children? I don't. Not in the sense he was talking to seven, eight, nine year olds, but rather children in God. We are all children in God aren't we? Jesus says we have to be as little children, and He certainly didn't mean we had to act out and willful as children but rather filled with curiosity about the world around us, eager to learn, eager to love and accept love.
John is writing to people like you and I telling us he's doing so that we sin not.
Once again, continuing in sin willfully without any true remorse or repentance, sinning and mocking God as we do so, sinning and reveling in that sin will never be right with God, never. Sin separates us from God so how can it ever be right?
John here is telling us that we shouldn't sin and yet if we do, we do have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
I saw a show on tv, one of those silly reality shows and the object is getting money and winning over others doing the same while confronted with various obstacles. Well the last one standing gets a chance to earn more money etc by going into this room where they only have so long to finish the assigned tasks and if they don't finish them they lose everything-- however! Yes, there is a however, there is a panic button on the wall and if the player pushes it because they can't finish the task and are about to run out of time, the person will get 1/2 what their winnings would have been. Now the reason I'm mentioning that is probably obvious. That person doesn't want to run out of time, the person doesn't want to press the panic button, the person will do everything they possibly can so they don't have to press the panic button, but the panic button is there if they really need it.
We shouldn't sin, period. I don't need to give a song and dance reason why we shouldn't sin. Sin is wrong, we shouldn't sin, yet just like that game we have a way to be forgiven our sins if we need it. It's not something we should trifle with, Jesus' forgiveness. We don't sin willfully and believe it doesn't matter Jesus will forgive me. We don't sin and like some believe, go to church and do penance then go out and sin some more. We don't treat sinning like a game at all. We don't tally our sins up like calories on a calorie restricted diet and go, well...let me see...if I eat that piece of chocolate cake I can balance it out with an hour long jog around the park, if I sin I'll go say an extra prayer. And like that dieter they have to determine if the cake is worth the extra jogging, the sinner is trifling with forgiveness by trying to figure out if its worth the sinning, having to pray that extra bit.
Seriously, people do these things and sometimes they do them without even really realizing they're doing them. They're minds are on automatic. Instead of calling sin, sin, they say it's their little problem. Instead of anguishing over their little problem, they off-handedly say, God understands, He knows I'm weak and can't stop so He'll forgive me. We make excuses we placate ourselves, we do all sorts of things just so we can get away with sinning.
Yes, we do have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous...
{2:2} And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.
Jesus died for us all! His spilled blood is sufficient for each one of us but we can't stand in mockery of that sacrifice and hold the hammer and nail, driving them into His flesh over and over and over without caring, without understanding what we're doing when we sin. Yes, we might HATE ourselves and feel hopelessly caught up in our sins and want to give up because we feel we'll never be able to stop, but that hate is good, keep on hating the sin in yourself, it's good, we have to hate sin and hate our weakness and cling to Christ praying earnestly for forgiveness.
How do we know if we know Christ?
{2:3} And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
{2:4} He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
{2:5} But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
{2:6} He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
So beautiful the love of God. Walk as He walked. Keep His commandments. We want the truth in us, only the truth. We don't want to be filled with lies, only truth.
May God help us to walk as Jesus walked, to keep His commandments, by His grace and mercy now and forever.
Amen.
{2:1} My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous
{2:2} And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.
{2:3} And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
{2:4} He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
{2:5} But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
{2:6} He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
**
Do you think John was talking to children? I don't. Not in the sense he was talking to seven, eight, nine year olds, but rather children in God. We are all children in God aren't we? Jesus says we have to be as little children, and He certainly didn't mean we had to act out and willful as children but rather filled with curiosity about the world around us, eager to learn, eager to love and accept love.
John is writing to people like you and I telling us he's doing so that we sin not.
Once again, continuing in sin willfully without any true remorse or repentance, sinning and mocking God as we do so, sinning and reveling in that sin will never be right with God, never. Sin separates us from God so how can it ever be right?
John here is telling us that we shouldn't sin and yet if we do, we do have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
I saw a show on tv, one of those silly reality shows and the object is getting money and winning over others doing the same while confronted with various obstacles. Well the last one standing gets a chance to earn more money etc by going into this room where they only have so long to finish the assigned tasks and if they don't finish them they lose everything-- however! Yes, there is a however, there is a panic button on the wall and if the player pushes it because they can't finish the task and are about to run out of time, the person will get 1/2 what their winnings would have been. Now the reason I'm mentioning that is probably obvious. That person doesn't want to run out of time, the person doesn't want to press the panic button, the person will do everything they possibly can so they don't have to press the panic button, but the panic button is there if they really need it.
We shouldn't sin, period. I don't need to give a song and dance reason why we shouldn't sin. Sin is wrong, we shouldn't sin, yet just like that game we have a way to be forgiven our sins if we need it. It's not something we should trifle with, Jesus' forgiveness. We don't sin willfully and believe it doesn't matter Jesus will forgive me. We don't sin and like some believe, go to church and do penance then go out and sin some more. We don't treat sinning like a game at all. We don't tally our sins up like calories on a calorie restricted diet and go, well...let me see...if I eat that piece of chocolate cake I can balance it out with an hour long jog around the park, if I sin I'll go say an extra prayer. And like that dieter they have to determine if the cake is worth the extra jogging, the sinner is trifling with forgiveness by trying to figure out if its worth the sinning, having to pray that extra bit.
Seriously, people do these things and sometimes they do them without even really realizing they're doing them. They're minds are on automatic. Instead of calling sin, sin, they say it's their little problem. Instead of anguishing over their little problem, they off-handedly say, God understands, He knows I'm weak and can't stop so He'll forgive me. We make excuses we placate ourselves, we do all sorts of things just so we can get away with sinning.
Yes, we do have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous...
{2:2} And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.
Jesus died for us all! His spilled blood is sufficient for each one of us but we can't stand in mockery of that sacrifice and hold the hammer and nail, driving them into His flesh over and over and over without caring, without understanding what we're doing when we sin. Yes, we might HATE ourselves and feel hopelessly caught up in our sins and want to give up because we feel we'll never be able to stop, but that hate is good, keep on hating the sin in yourself, it's good, we have to hate sin and hate our weakness and cling to Christ praying earnestly for forgiveness.
How do we know if we know Christ?
{2:3} And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
{2:4} He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
{2:5} But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
{2:6} He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
So beautiful the love of God. Walk as He walked. Keep His commandments. We want the truth in us, only the truth. We don't want to be filled with lies, only truth.
May God help us to walk as Jesus walked, to keep His commandments, by His grace and mercy now and forever.
Amen.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Without the truth we are liars
The truth is so important, life important. Everlasting life important and we have to know the truth, follow the truth, believe in the truth, the truth has to be in us, right?
Without the truth we are liars and I don't know about you but I don't want to be a liar.
Without the truth we don't walk in the light, we walk in darkness.
Read the following...
1 John
{1:5} This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
{1:6} If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth
{1:7} But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
{1:8} If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
{1:9} If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
{1:10} If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
God is light.
In Him is NO darkness at all.
If we say we fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie!
We can't walk in darkness, we can't choose evil over good as a way of life and revel in the darkness, the evil, the ways we know aren't of God, we just can't. Yes, we get caught up in sin, we do sin and just as the word says...
If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
We aren't sinless we can't believe that we are, we know we're not sinless but even so we have to hope in Christ.
If we confess our sins HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.
Jesus will save us, eternal life is ours and it's the hope we have. Some people say we're deceived that religion is a fallacy, that it deceives and makes people fools. Some say that it's a dangerous fairy tale to hope in Christ, to stop living for here and now and live for the promised life to come. Those people are the ones deceived and they're deceiving themselves and stealing a life of hope and living here and now in such a way it is so incredibly better than life any other way. Tell me what the difference is for one who thinks this life now is all we have and one who hopes in a better life? If this is all there is then it's a lousy hope isn't it? Pain, suffering, heartache, sickness, the one surety they say of life is death. Is that a good way to believe? Does it gives a sense of satisfaction some how? Can pride be taken in believing that you aren't being duped by religion? Is that pride and supposed superiority something that gives you hope? At best it gives a temporary good feeling that won't last long, even if it lasts your lifetime it's not long, not in the grand scheme of things. The hope we have as Christians, the hope we have believing in a life everlasting is so much better, than not hoping. You can live a life of love in Christ now and in the future. Being a Christian and living in hope isn't stupidity, it isn't deception it only enriches our lives now in this world and prepares us for everlasting life.
We need to walk in the light of Christ, confessing our sins, being cleansed from unrighteousness. We can't walk in darkness and claim Jesus.
May God help us to follow the truth and walk in the light. We don't want to be liars, we don't want to be deceived, we don't want to live in unrighteousness. May God help us all now and always and may the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse us all.
Amen.
Without the truth we are liars and I don't know about you but I don't want to be a liar.
Without the truth we don't walk in the light, we walk in darkness.
Read the following...
1 John
{1:5} This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
{1:6} If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth
{1:7} But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
{1:8} If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
{1:9} If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
{1:10} If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
God is light.
In Him is NO darkness at all.
If we say we fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie!
We can't walk in darkness, we can't choose evil over good as a way of life and revel in the darkness, the evil, the ways we know aren't of God, we just can't. Yes, we get caught up in sin, we do sin and just as the word says...
If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
We aren't sinless we can't believe that we are, we know we're not sinless but even so we have to hope in Christ.
If we confess our sins HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.
Jesus will save us, eternal life is ours and it's the hope we have. Some people say we're deceived that religion is a fallacy, that it deceives and makes people fools. Some say that it's a dangerous fairy tale to hope in Christ, to stop living for here and now and live for the promised life to come. Those people are the ones deceived and they're deceiving themselves and stealing a life of hope and living here and now in such a way it is so incredibly better than life any other way. Tell me what the difference is for one who thinks this life now is all we have and one who hopes in a better life? If this is all there is then it's a lousy hope isn't it? Pain, suffering, heartache, sickness, the one surety they say of life is death. Is that a good way to believe? Does it gives a sense of satisfaction some how? Can pride be taken in believing that you aren't being duped by religion? Is that pride and supposed superiority something that gives you hope? At best it gives a temporary good feeling that won't last long, even if it lasts your lifetime it's not long, not in the grand scheme of things. The hope we have as Christians, the hope we have believing in a life everlasting is so much better, than not hoping. You can live a life of love in Christ now and in the future. Being a Christian and living in hope isn't stupidity, it isn't deception it only enriches our lives now in this world and prepares us for everlasting life.
We need to walk in the light of Christ, confessing our sins, being cleansed from unrighteousness. We can't walk in darkness and claim Jesus.
May God help us to follow the truth and walk in the light. We don't want to be liars, we don't want to be deceived, we don't want to live in unrighteousness. May God help us all now and always and may the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse us all.
Amen.
Monday, December 1, 2008
The way of truth shall be evil spoken of
Reminders we all need them don't we?
Life is full of reminders.
We write ourselves notes, we leave ourselves memos, we go to great lengths to tell people to remind us about this and that, we have calendars that we put notes on we even put messages on our own answering machines, some have little memo reminders on their cell phones, you name it seriously there are many, many ways we leave reminders for ourselves and those reminders are left why?
We remind ourselves of things that are important to us, even if it's a temporary importance. It's important to remember to bring home a gallon of milk or there will be none for breakfast the next morning. Or it's important to remember to pick up that prescription at the pharmacy. You really can't forget that doctor's appointment right? And what about that anniversary, or the recital, or the deadline for an important project?
There are many *important* things we are not to forget and if we do sometimes the consequences are grave aren't they? Sometimes a missed appointment really can mean the difference between life and death.
Our eternal life isn't something to trifle with. Our walk with Christ isn't something to ignore.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus who told us previously in the last study the things we are to seek, also tells us things we are to remember. He gives us a lot of reminders- lets read.
{1:12} Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know [them,] and be established in the present truth. {1:13} Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting [you] in remembrance
{1:14} Knowing that shortly I must put off [this] my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
{1:15} Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
*
Peter wants these things he has to say remembered even after he's dead, for people to have them ALWAYS in remembrance. They must be pretty important so we'd better pay attention.
{1:16} For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
{1:17} For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
{1:18} And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
{1:19} We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts
{1:20} Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
{1:21} For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.
*
Amazing isn't it! Just think about it! He was with Jesus, he witnessed His power firsthand! He heard the voice of the Father talking to the son. A reminder that no prophecy is of a private interpretation how can it be? It's of God to all. People would have you believe they have the answers, but the Bible itself has them. Read on and remember that Peter wants us to remember all these things-
{2:1} But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
{2:2} And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
*
The way of truth shall be evil spoken of! We can't deny this. We can't pretend it won't or doesn't exist. False teachers. These aren't people wearing big yellow hats with the words blazoned in red- I'm a False Teacher. No, these are people that are subtle, devious who privily bring heresies, and MANY shall follow them, many!
{2:3} And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation
slumbereth not.
*
With feigned words...they'll use false words, false truths, their words will be lies and many will follow them. Scary stuff. And listen to the next bit...
{2:4} For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
{2:5} And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person,] a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; {2:6} And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned [them] with an overthrow, making [them] an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly
{2:7} And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked
{2:8} (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed [his] righteous soul from day to day with [their] unlawful deeds;)
*
Did you read that?! God spared not the ANGELS that sinned. God doesn't spare sinners! We want to think He does, we want to believe we can be spared in our sin, we can't. We have to go to Jesus and we have to repent and we have to live our lives in Him through the Holy Spirit. We can't live in sin and claim salvation. No, our not sinning won't save us, only Jesus can save us, but Jesus would have us live in Him and by Him and living by Him we won't seek to live in sin but the opposite.
{2:9} The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished
*
The Lord knows how to deliver us from temptation. We can't forget that, we can't and we also can't forget that he knows how to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.
{2:10} But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous [are they,] selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
{2:11} Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
{2:12} But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption
{2:13} And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as] they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting
themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
*
Read that again! Sporting themselves with their own DECEIVINGS while they feast with YOU.
Deception!
{2:14} Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
{2:15} Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; {2:16} But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
{2:17} These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
{2:18} For when they speak great swelling [words] of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, [through much] wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
{2:19} While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
*
While they PROMISE them liberty, they themselves are the servants of CORRUPTION!
{2:20} For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
{2:21} For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it,] to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
{2:22} But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
*
Words that we truly need to heed, words we need to pay close attention to because they are all true.
We can't give into sin. We can't turn back to sin. We can't give up! We have to fight the good fight of faith and hold fast to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the promises He gives us, the hope through the Holy Spirit. We have to hold fast and not turn away no matter the temptations. We know the truth found in Jesus, we know His commandments of love, we know these things and we cannot turn from them, we have to pay attention to these words of Peter, words given to him through the Holy Spirit to guide us. These all important memos we have to take to heart as we live day to day striving to sin not as we lay hold of salvation in Christ our Redeemer. He knows how to keep us from temptation and we have to trust in Him now and always. By the grace of God, by the Will of Lord.
Amen.
Life is full of reminders.
We write ourselves notes, we leave ourselves memos, we go to great lengths to tell people to remind us about this and that, we have calendars that we put notes on we even put messages on our own answering machines, some have little memo reminders on their cell phones, you name it seriously there are many, many ways we leave reminders for ourselves and those reminders are left why?
We remind ourselves of things that are important to us, even if it's a temporary importance. It's important to remember to bring home a gallon of milk or there will be none for breakfast the next morning. Or it's important to remember to pick up that prescription at the pharmacy. You really can't forget that doctor's appointment right? And what about that anniversary, or the recital, or the deadline for an important project?
There are many *important* things we are not to forget and if we do sometimes the consequences are grave aren't they? Sometimes a missed appointment really can mean the difference between life and death.
Our eternal life isn't something to trifle with. Our walk with Christ isn't something to ignore.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus who told us previously in the last study the things we are to seek, also tells us things we are to remember. He gives us a lot of reminders- lets read.
{1:12} Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know [them,] and be established in the present truth. {1:13} Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting [you] in remembrance
{1:14} Knowing that shortly I must put off [this] my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
{1:15} Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
*
Peter wants these things he has to say remembered even after he's dead, for people to have them ALWAYS in remembrance. They must be pretty important so we'd better pay attention.
{1:16} For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
{1:17} For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
{1:18} And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
{1:19} We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts
{1:20} Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
{1:21} For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.
*
Amazing isn't it! Just think about it! He was with Jesus, he witnessed His power firsthand! He heard the voice of the Father talking to the son. A reminder that no prophecy is of a private interpretation how can it be? It's of God to all. People would have you believe they have the answers, but the Bible itself has them. Read on and remember that Peter wants us to remember all these things-
{2:1} But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
{2:2} And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
*
The way of truth shall be evil spoken of! We can't deny this. We can't pretend it won't or doesn't exist. False teachers. These aren't people wearing big yellow hats with the words blazoned in red- I'm a False Teacher. No, these are people that are subtle, devious who privily bring heresies, and MANY shall follow them, many!
{2:3} And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation
slumbereth not.
*
With feigned words...they'll use false words, false truths, their words will be lies and many will follow them. Scary stuff. And listen to the next bit...
{2:4} For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
{2:5} And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person,] a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; {2:6} And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned [them] with an overthrow, making [them] an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly
{2:7} And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked
{2:8} (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed [his] righteous soul from day to day with [their] unlawful deeds;)
*
Did you read that?! God spared not the ANGELS that sinned. God doesn't spare sinners! We want to think He does, we want to believe we can be spared in our sin, we can't. We have to go to Jesus and we have to repent and we have to live our lives in Him through the Holy Spirit. We can't live in sin and claim salvation. No, our not sinning won't save us, only Jesus can save us, but Jesus would have us live in Him and by Him and living by Him we won't seek to live in sin but the opposite.
{2:9} The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished
*
The Lord knows how to deliver us from temptation. We can't forget that, we can't and we also can't forget that he knows how to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.
{2:10} But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous [are they,] selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
{2:11} Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
{2:12} But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption
{2:13} And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as] they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting
themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
*
Read that again! Sporting themselves with their own DECEIVINGS while they feast with YOU.
Deception!
{2:14} Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
{2:15} Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; {2:16} But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
{2:17} These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
{2:18} For when they speak great swelling [words] of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, [through much] wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
{2:19} While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
*
While they PROMISE them liberty, they themselves are the servants of CORRUPTION!
{2:20} For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
{2:21} For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it,] to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
{2:22} But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
*
Words that we truly need to heed, words we need to pay close attention to because they are all true.
We can't give into sin. We can't turn back to sin. We can't give up! We have to fight the good fight of faith and hold fast to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the promises He gives us, the hope through the Holy Spirit. We have to hold fast and not turn away no matter the temptations. We know the truth found in Jesus, we know His commandments of love, we know these things and we cannot turn from them, we have to pay attention to these words of Peter, words given to him through the Holy Spirit to guide us. These all important memos we have to take to heart as we live day to day striving to sin not as we lay hold of salvation in Christ our Redeemer. He knows how to keep us from temptation and we have to trust in Him now and always. By the grace of God, by the Will of Lord.
Amen.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Be established in the present truth
2 Peter
{1:1} Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
{1:2} Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord
{1:3} According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,
**We're not left to flounder. According to the divine power we are given ALL things that pertain unto life and godliness. We get all these thing through knowledge...
{1:3}...through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.
**Knowledge of Jesus. The more we know of Jesus the more we know about how we are to live. We are called to live our lives in Jesus, not just accept Him as our savior and then go about out lives as if nothing has changed. We often despair of being able to live in Christ but we are given all we need to do so. We can't ever think we know enough of Jesus, that we've learned all there is to learn. We'll never know all there is to know even if we read the Bible a million time and memorize it backwards and forwards. Forever we need to delve into His words, His life, pray to Him, live in Him accept His Holy Spirit to guide us in our lives as a reality, not as something mystical and sort of real in an abstract way.
{1:4} Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
**
Precious promises in the knowledge of Jesus. Precious promises that through them we are part of the divine nature. We can escape the corruption in the world but only through knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
{1:5} And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge
{1:6} And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness
{1:7} And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
{1:8} For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Add to our faith- virtue.
Add to our virtue- knowledge.
Add to knowledge- temperance.
Add to temperance- patience.
Add to patience- godliness.
Add to godliness- brotherly kindness.
Add to brotherly kindness- charity.
We have to ADD these, we have to seek these, we have to pointedly bring into our lives through our love of Jesus. We should never be content with who we are if we lack any of these things...
{1:9} But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
**
We can't be this way, we can't forget that we were purged from our old sins, that we've been forgiven, that we've been offered a new life in Christ. If we're not growing in these things we have to examine our lives and ask ourselves why.
Are we seeking to strengthen our faith, our virtue, our knowledge, our patience, our godliness, our brotherly kindness, our charity?
Examine your life, we all have to examine our lives and realize that if we're found lacking that it might be because we don't remember how we were first saved by Jesus, how we first came to knowledge of our Lord, our redeemer. The new man we become in Christ as we seek forgiveness through repentance and seek to follow Him, we have to keep this ever before us, never forgetting.
{1:10} Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall
{1:11} For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
{1:12} Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. {1:13} Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance
People shout that you can't do anything to be save and I've said it before and I'll say it million times, they're right. Salvation is a gift of God, through that salvation we find hope in Christ to eternal life and that hope changes us through the Holy Spirit. We can't get caught up in thinking our walk with Christ ends the moment of acceptance, it's only just begun in truth. We have a responsibility not to save ourselves or think we do by anything we may do, but to seek Christ now and always and grow in grace, grow in knowledge, and to be fruitful in all that Jesus would have us be as we come to know Him more and more.
Amen.
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,”- 2 Peter 3:10-11
{1:1} Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
{1:2} Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord
{1:3} According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,
**We're not left to flounder. According to the divine power we are given ALL things that pertain unto life and godliness. We get all these thing through knowledge...
{1:3}...through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.
**Knowledge of Jesus. The more we know of Jesus the more we know about how we are to live. We are called to live our lives in Jesus, not just accept Him as our savior and then go about out lives as if nothing has changed. We often despair of being able to live in Christ but we are given all we need to do so. We can't ever think we know enough of Jesus, that we've learned all there is to learn. We'll never know all there is to know even if we read the Bible a million time and memorize it backwards and forwards. Forever we need to delve into His words, His life, pray to Him, live in Him accept His Holy Spirit to guide us in our lives as a reality, not as something mystical and sort of real in an abstract way.
{1:4} Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
**
Precious promises in the knowledge of Jesus. Precious promises that through them we are part of the divine nature. We can escape the corruption in the world but only through knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
{1:5} And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge
{1:6} And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness
{1:7} And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
{1:8} For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Add to our faith- virtue.
Add to our virtue- knowledge.
Add to knowledge- temperance.
Add to temperance- patience.
Add to patience- godliness.
Add to godliness- brotherly kindness.
Add to brotherly kindness- charity.
We have to ADD these, we have to seek these, we have to pointedly bring into our lives through our love of Jesus. We should never be content with who we are if we lack any of these things...
{1:9} But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
**
We can't be this way, we can't forget that we were purged from our old sins, that we've been forgiven, that we've been offered a new life in Christ. If we're not growing in these things we have to examine our lives and ask ourselves why.
Are we seeking to strengthen our faith, our virtue, our knowledge, our patience, our godliness, our brotherly kindness, our charity?
Examine your life, we all have to examine our lives and realize that if we're found lacking that it might be because we don't remember how we were first saved by Jesus, how we first came to knowledge of our Lord, our redeemer. The new man we become in Christ as we seek forgiveness through repentance and seek to follow Him, we have to keep this ever before us, never forgetting.
{1:10} Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall
{1:11} For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
{1:12} Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. {1:13} Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance
People shout that you can't do anything to be save and I've said it before and I'll say it million times, they're right. Salvation is a gift of God, through that salvation we find hope in Christ to eternal life and that hope changes us through the Holy Spirit. We can't get caught up in thinking our walk with Christ ends the moment of acceptance, it's only just begun in truth. We have a responsibility not to save ourselves or think we do by anything we may do, but to seek Christ now and always and grow in grace, grow in knowledge, and to be fruitful in all that Jesus would have us be as we come to know Him more and more.
Amen.
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,”- 2 Peter 3:10-11
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Purified your souls in obeying the truth
1 Peter
{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
Obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren.
See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.
Obeying the truth through the Spirit.
How? Unto unfeigned love of the brethren.
Love one another with a pure heart fervently.
Love.
1 John
{5:1} Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
{5:2} By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
Luke
{10:25} And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
{10:26} He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
{10:27} And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy
mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
{10:28} And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
1 John
{4:7} Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
{4:8} He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
{4:9} In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
{4:10} Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.
{4:11} Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
{4:12} No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
{4:13} Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
{4:14} And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.
{4:15} Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
{4:16} And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
{4:17} Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
{4:18} There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
{4:19} We love him, because he first loved us.
{4:20} If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
{4:21} And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
What do you suppose would happen if suddenly there was no profit at all in being a doctor? No profit. What if being a doctor earned you about as much as your average grocery clerk? Stay with me here this is all hypothetical and we're not going to get into the cost of education and all that. Right now, all the doctors in the world have been forgiven all their educational debts so that's not an issue, neither is malpractice insurance, that's all gone too. They have no extraordinary debts or costs to pay out, no more than your average grocery clerk. How many people do you suppose would become doctors if there were no money in it? If it weren't for the prestige and wealth? How many?
It's easy to see today when you're shoved into a waiting room packed with people and have to wait hours just to get shoved into another room alone to wait some more. And then the doctor comes in and spends more time fiddling with their little computer looking at your records and fussing about than they do looking at you. Oh yes, it's easy to see that hurrying up and trying to diagnose you, the answer a pill or two, a blood test or four, a urine test here and a x-ray there, lets just see what's what as quick as possible there are many more cattle needing herded through the place before the day is over. Are we even real to these people? Maybe I'm being harsh, or maybe not harsh enough. All I know is it makes me wonder how many people go into the physician field solely for monetary reasons and in truth they care very little about the people they'll be treating.
Loving your brother.
Love meaning caring more for them than yourself.
How often does that happen?
I saw evidence of it not too long ago when my daughter who has a bad back and numerous health issues started pushing the car of a stranded woman to help her out. I was floored. I was a little angry too, how dare she do such a thing, didn't she know she could really hurt herself! She obviously felt helping the stranded woman was more important than worrying about her health. Stupid? I want to think so, but in truth isn't that what's important? Helping others and not caring about yourself?
Thought of self comes first- how does *this situation* effect me? Will I like this? Will it be an inconvenience to me? Do I have other plans? What's this to me? Self first and if all is satisfactory there then maybe I can think of someone else.
God help me. God help us. Love has nothing to do with self. Nothing. Love has everything to do with others. Everything.
Love God. Love others.
No commandment to love yourself.
That ol' love others as yourself, doesn't mean loving yourself, it means love others as YOU would want to be loved. If we had to love ourselves and love others that way it would only be an obstacle especially for those that concentrate on loving themselves first before they love others, there is nothing selfless in loving yourself. No, I'm not saying hate yourself. I'm saying self is important truly only in the sense that we do all we can to remain healthy and such so that we may respect our lives because God loves us and would have us love others. We're not here on earth to serve ourselves, but to serve God and others.
Mark
{8:35} For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
John
{15:9} As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
{15:10} If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
{15:11} These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full.
{15:12} This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
{15:13} Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
{15:14} Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command
1 John
{3:16} Hereby perceive we the love [of God,] because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.
{3:17} But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
{3:18} My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
{3:19} And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him
Amen.
{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
Obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren.
See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.
Obeying the truth through the Spirit.
How? Unto unfeigned love of the brethren.
Love one another with a pure heart fervently.
Love.
1 John
{5:1} Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
{5:2} By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
Luke
{10:25} And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
{10:26} He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
{10:27} And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy
mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
{10:28} And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
1 John
{4:7} Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
{4:8} He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
{4:9} In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
{4:10} Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.
{4:11} Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
{4:12} No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
{4:13} Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
{4:14} And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.
{4:15} Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
{4:16} And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
{4:17} Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
{4:18} There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
{4:19} We love him, because he first loved us.
{4:20} If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
{4:21} And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
What do you suppose would happen if suddenly there was no profit at all in being a doctor? No profit. What if being a doctor earned you about as much as your average grocery clerk? Stay with me here this is all hypothetical and we're not going to get into the cost of education and all that. Right now, all the doctors in the world have been forgiven all their educational debts so that's not an issue, neither is malpractice insurance, that's all gone too. They have no extraordinary debts or costs to pay out, no more than your average grocery clerk. How many people do you suppose would become doctors if there were no money in it? If it weren't for the prestige and wealth? How many?
It's easy to see today when you're shoved into a waiting room packed with people and have to wait hours just to get shoved into another room alone to wait some more. And then the doctor comes in and spends more time fiddling with their little computer looking at your records and fussing about than they do looking at you. Oh yes, it's easy to see that hurrying up and trying to diagnose you, the answer a pill or two, a blood test or four, a urine test here and a x-ray there, lets just see what's what as quick as possible there are many more cattle needing herded through the place before the day is over. Are we even real to these people? Maybe I'm being harsh, or maybe not harsh enough. All I know is it makes me wonder how many people go into the physician field solely for monetary reasons and in truth they care very little about the people they'll be treating.
Loving your brother.
Love meaning caring more for them than yourself.
How often does that happen?
I saw evidence of it not too long ago when my daughter who has a bad back and numerous health issues started pushing the car of a stranded woman to help her out. I was floored. I was a little angry too, how dare she do such a thing, didn't she know she could really hurt herself! She obviously felt helping the stranded woman was more important than worrying about her health. Stupid? I want to think so, but in truth isn't that what's important? Helping others and not caring about yourself?
Thought of self comes first- how does *this situation* effect me? Will I like this? Will it be an inconvenience to me? Do I have other plans? What's this to me? Self first and if all is satisfactory there then maybe I can think of someone else.
God help me. God help us. Love has nothing to do with self. Nothing. Love has everything to do with others. Everything.
Love God. Love others.
No commandment to love yourself.
That ol' love others as yourself, doesn't mean loving yourself, it means love others as YOU would want to be loved. If we had to love ourselves and love others that way it would only be an obstacle especially for those that concentrate on loving themselves first before they love others, there is nothing selfless in loving yourself. No, I'm not saying hate yourself. I'm saying self is important truly only in the sense that we do all we can to remain healthy and such so that we may respect our lives because God loves us and would have us love others. We're not here on earth to serve ourselves, but to serve God and others.
Mark
{8:35} For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
John
{15:9} As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
{15:10} If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
{15:11} These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full.
{15:12} This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
{15:13} Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
{15:14} Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command
1 John
{3:16} Hereby perceive we the love [of God,] because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.
{3:17} But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
{3:18} My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
{3:19} And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him
Amen.
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