Hebrews {1:13} But to which of the angels said he at any times, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
None.
{1:14} Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Angels are ministering spirits.
Ministering spirits sent to minister to those who will be heirs of salvation.
Those who will inherit salvation have the help of ministering spirits, the help of angels.
Angels are real so very real. No, we generally can't see them, and movies have depicted them in many ways- human forms, ghostly spiritual forms, completely invisible. No matter how they're viewed they aren't fictional, they are real.
{2:1} Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
We have to give heed...earnest heed...to the things we've heard. Earnest heed. Not just heed, but earnest heed. We can't let things slip. We can't let salvation be lost to us because we don't listen earnestly to all that is said. Salvation isn't something we can take for granted because it means so much, it means life, it makes life worth living, it make everything have reason, it's not all for naught. All the pain and heartache isn't what life should be we all know that if not readily, deep down. Life wasn't supposed to be this way and it won't be this way, we have salvation through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Hebrews {2:2} For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward
For IF the word spoken by angels was stedfast...and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward...
{2:3} How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him
How shall WE escape...if we neglect so great salvation.
Salvation spoken first by the Lord and confirmed to us by those that heard Him.
{2:4} God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will.
God- with signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His will.
{2:5} For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. {2:6} But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?{2:7} Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands{2:8} Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put underhim. But now we see not yet all things put under him. {2:9} But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. {2:10} For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Jesus- for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory to make the captain of their salvation prefect through sufferings.
Jesus- wants to save us. Jesus wants us to be brought to glory through Him.
It's not something we can neglect, but something we need to heed earnestly.
God knows us, He knows me, He knows I need Him so desperately and I'm so far from what I should be. Only in Him through faith in Him will Salvation come to us. Faith, belief, God we believe help our unbelief. Have mercy on us Lord. The angels weren't spared, we won't be spared. Your righteousness is all in all through Jesus our Lord and Savior. Please, have mercy on us.
I heard a song on the radio this morning when I was taking my son to school and it said something like this...
'Whatever you're doing inside of me it feels like chaos somehow there's peace it's hard to surrender to what I can't see but I'm giving in to something heavenly'
That part about it feeling like chaos is so true, it really does and while somehow there is peace...it's not always peace we feel, sometimes that chaos is horrific and we just have to hold on tight to Jesus, hold on tight. Praise God, hold on tight.
Amen.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
They could not enter in because of unbelief
Hebrews
{3:7} Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice
{3:8} Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness
{3:9} When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
{3:10} Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
{3:11} So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.
{3:12} Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
{3:13} But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
{3:14} For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end
{3:15} While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
{3:16} For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
{3:17} But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
{3:18} And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
{3:19} So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
They could not enter in because of unbelief.
Into what?
Into God's rest.
We need rest don't we?
Think about it for a moment. We are almost always looking for rest time, down time, time off, time away, vacations, weekends. Who doesn't know about T.G.I.F. - Thank God It's Friday. Are they really thanking God, probably not in a very reverent manner if they are, of course some could be who am I to judge. The point being that rest isn't something we are unfamiliar with. Rest is something special in many ways. Vacations are planned for months, sometimes years, vacations from work, vacations lengthy rests. Weekends off work mean putting aside work and entering rest, or at least that's what we want it to be. Sometimes even our rest days turn into work weekends where we find more work at home and such than we did during our work week. Even people will say they need a vacation from their vacations because their vacations ended up being more work than fun and rest.
Entering into God's rest is entering into a life unlike any we know. Entering into God's rest is entering into a life filled with such joy and happiness that we can't imagine it fully in our wildest dreams. We only get miniscule glimpses of what's in store for us who will enter into His rest.
We are given cautions though, and the cautions shouldn't be ignored.
The Bible says it so much better than I ever could...
Hebrews
{3:7} Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice
{3:8} Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness
{3:9} When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
{3:10} Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
{3:11} So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.
{3:12} Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
{3:13} But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
{3:14} For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end
{3:15} While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
{3:16} For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
{3:17} But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
{3:18} And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
{3:19} So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
They could not enter into God's rest because of unbelief.
We need to believe.
We have to get rid of all that would drag us away from belief and there is so much in life that tries to do just that.
There are so many things that pull at our believing and tries to tear down our faith.
Trials, temptations lurk every where we turn, everywhere. There is no place safe from those that would tear away our faith, and *those* are not just humans, but principalities, powers, wickedness in high places. We are surrounded by things that would keep us from God's rest. Getting us to give up our beliefs and caught up in unbelief is something Satan strives for.
Unbelief will keep us from God's rest.
May God help us and here as I repeat one of my favorite Bible verses.
Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Lord help my unbelief, I do believe, I do have faith, help my faithlessness. I don't want to not believe, to not have faith, Lord I need help to believe to have faith.
By the grace of Jesus, by His mercy and love.
Amen.
{3:7} Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice
{3:8} Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness
{3:9} When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
{3:10} Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
{3:11} So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.
{3:12} Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
{3:13} But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
{3:14} For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end
{3:15} While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
{3:16} For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
{3:17} But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
{3:18} And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
{3:19} So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
They could not enter in because of unbelief.
Into what?
Into God's rest.
We need rest don't we?
Think about it for a moment. We are almost always looking for rest time, down time, time off, time away, vacations, weekends. Who doesn't know about T.G.I.F. - Thank God It's Friday. Are they really thanking God, probably not in a very reverent manner if they are, of course some could be who am I to judge. The point being that rest isn't something we are unfamiliar with. Rest is something special in many ways. Vacations are planned for months, sometimes years, vacations from work, vacations lengthy rests. Weekends off work mean putting aside work and entering rest, or at least that's what we want it to be. Sometimes even our rest days turn into work weekends where we find more work at home and such than we did during our work week. Even people will say they need a vacation from their vacations because their vacations ended up being more work than fun and rest.
Entering into God's rest is entering into a life unlike any we know. Entering into God's rest is entering into a life filled with such joy and happiness that we can't imagine it fully in our wildest dreams. We only get miniscule glimpses of what's in store for us who will enter into His rest.
We are given cautions though, and the cautions shouldn't be ignored.
The Bible says it so much better than I ever could...
Hebrews
{3:7} Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice
{3:8} Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness
{3:9} When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
{3:10} Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
{3:11} So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.
{3:12} Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
{3:13} But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
{3:14} For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end
{3:15} While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
{3:16} For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
{3:17} But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
{3:18} And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
{3:19} So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
They could not enter into God's rest because of unbelief.
We need to believe.
We have to get rid of all that would drag us away from belief and there is so much in life that tries to do just that.
There are so many things that pull at our believing and tries to tear down our faith.
Trials, temptations lurk every where we turn, everywhere. There is no place safe from those that would tear away our faith, and *those* are not just humans, but principalities, powers, wickedness in high places. We are surrounded by things that would keep us from God's rest. Getting us to give up our beliefs and caught up in unbelief is something Satan strives for.
Unbelief will keep us from God's rest.
May God help us and here as I repeat one of my favorite Bible verses.
Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Lord help my unbelief, I do believe, I do have faith, help my faithlessness. I don't want to not believe, to not have faith, Lord I need help to believe to have faith.
By the grace of Jesus, by His mercy and love.
Amen.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Inheritance of the saints
John {13:1} Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
**
Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father
Having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end.
Jesus knew that He was leaving this world. His father wasn't in this world. He didn't find *His Father* on earth. He didn't try to find Him on earth. He didn't try to bring Him to earth. Jesus didn't try to remake the world into a world for His Father. Jesus knew that the world as it was could not be the world of His Father. He knew that the world was too corrupt. He knew that He came to save people from this world, and there were people in this world (that wasn't His Father's world) that He loved.
We can argue that God made the world, of course it's His. I won't say no. God did make the world and the world as He created it was meant to be sinless.
It's like making a beautiful sculpture gorgeous and absolutely amazing, only to have time pass and the sculpture is suddenly covered in an unsightly fungus. That sculpture wasn't created to be covered in fungus and yet there it is, filled with the stuff. The fungus has taken over. Sure you can try to get rid of the fungus by washing the sculpture and it even appears clean for awhile but then the fungus quickly returns and once more the sculpture is corrupted. Maybe there is some way to get rid of the fungus once and for all, but it'll take eradicating all the fungus from existence because as long as it exists it will find a way to cover that sculpture.
God didn't create the world to be filled with sin, nonetheless sin filled the world and was corrupted, no longer a world where God could dwell fully, no longer a world He ruled. Having made a contingency plan to save the world should sin take it over the plan was put into action, and because He didn't want all the sin-filled people simply eradicated, He made a way for them to escape their sin problem.
Just as a sculptor might argue that the sculpture is no longer his because it was changed in a way he never intended, this sin-filled world the way it is, is not God's, not until the sin is gone and it is once more the way He created it to be. Just as a scupltor making his sculpture once more pure and the way he created it, the claim that *this is* the scuplture he made would be wholly true. Do you see? It happens all the time in the world. Someone creates something and another person corrupts it, the corruption changes it from being what was intended.
Our sin-filled world is no longer a world of God's dwelling, rather than destroy the entire thing He made an escape route for all that see the world as He does. For all that see the sin-filled world isn't how things were meant to be, it isn't how things were intended. Those who choose NOT to be a part of this world are promised a much better world, a sinless world the way God intended it to be.
An escape route!
Freedom!
If people are looking for instantaneous escape however they won't find it because the way to escape from the slavery of this sin-filled world is to have faith in Jesus and His promises of the world to come. There is no instant change comparable to a person enslaved by another person finding themselves free. Being freed from a sin-filled world is a *hope* we have, and one we have to have faith in as we endure the life we are given in this sin-filled world. Perhaps we are to help others, maybe just a single other person, find the way to escape, or maybe we're called to help thousands, who knows. Once we accept the truth that this isn't the world we belong to, but a foreign world invaded by sin, and that we have a way to the world we do belong to, we will be guided by the Holy Spirit who will keep us safe as we live in this sin-filled world until we are either called to our rest, or until Jesus returns to take us to heaven with Him.
Jesus didn't claim the sin-filled world as His Father's, though He did claim that there were those in the world that could be His Father's.
There were those Jesus loved in the world...
John {13:1} Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
He loved His *own*... he loved them unto the end.
Is this world your world?
It's not my world.
I want to be one of *Jesus's own* in this world. I don't want to be one of this world's.
John {14:6} Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me
John {14:28} Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
John {16:16} A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father
John {16:28} I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
Eph. {2:18} For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph. {3:13} Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
{3:14} For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
{3:15} Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
{3:16} That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
{3:17} That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love
Col. {1:12} Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.
My world is with the Father through Jesus Christ my Lord and my Savior now and forever. Praise, glory, honor, and thanks to the Father who has made it possible for us to be partakers of the world to come, the world He intended, the world we long for.
All Glory to God in the Highest!
Amen.
**
Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father
Having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end.
Jesus knew that He was leaving this world. His father wasn't in this world. He didn't find *His Father* on earth. He didn't try to find Him on earth. He didn't try to bring Him to earth. Jesus didn't try to remake the world into a world for His Father. Jesus knew that the world as it was could not be the world of His Father. He knew that the world was too corrupt. He knew that He came to save people from this world, and there were people in this world (that wasn't His Father's world) that He loved.
We can argue that God made the world, of course it's His. I won't say no. God did make the world and the world as He created it was meant to be sinless.
It's like making a beautiful sculpture gorgeous and absolutely amazing, only to have time pass and the sculpture is suddenly covered in an unsightly fungus. That sculpture wasn't created to be covered in fungus and yet there it is, filled with the stuff. The fungus has taken over. Sure you can try to get rid of the fungus by washing the sculpture and it even appears clean for awhile but then the fungus quickly returns and once more the sculpture is corrupted. Maybe there is some way to get rid of the fungus once and for all, but it'll take eradicating all the fungus from existence because as long as it exists it will find a way to cover that sculpture.
God didn't create the world to be filled with sin, nonetheless sin filled the world and was corrupted, no longer a world where God could dwell fully, no longer a world He ruled. Having made a contingency plan to save the world should sin take it over the plan was put into action, and because He didn't want all the sin-filled people simply eradicated, He made a way for them to escape their sin problem.
Just as a sculptor might argue that the sculpture is no longer his because it was changed in a way he never intended, this sin-filled world the way it is, is not God's, not until the sin is gone and it is once more the way He created it to be. Just as a scupltor making his sculpture once more pure and the way he created it, the claim that *this is* the scuplture he made would be wholly true. Do you see? It happens all the time in the world. Someone creates something and another person corrupts it, the corruption changes it from being what was intended.
Our sin-filled world is no longer a world of God's dwelling, rather than destroy the entire thing He made an escape route for all that see the world as He does. For all that see the sin-filled world isn't how things were meant to be, it isn't how things were intended. Those who choose NOT to be a part of this world are promised a much better world, a sinless world the way God intended it to be.
An escape route!
Freedom!
If people are looking for instantaneous escape however they won't find it because the way to escape from the slavery of this sin-filled world is to have faith in Jesus and His promises of the world to come. There is no instant change comparable to a person enslaved by another person finding themselves free. Being freed from a sin-filled world is a *hope* we have, and one we have to have faith in as we endure the life we are given in this sin-filled world. Perhaps we are to help others, maybe just a single other person, find the way to escape, or maybe we're called to help thousands, who knows. Once we accept the truth that this isn't the world we belong to, but a foreign world invaded by sin, and that we have a way to the world we do belong to, we will be guided by the Holy Spirit who will keep us safe as we live in this sin-filled world until we are either called to our rest, or until Jesus returns to take us to heaven with Him.
Jesus didn't claim the sin-filled world as His Father's, though He did claim that there were those in the world that could be His Father's.
There were those Jesus loved in the world...
John {13:1} Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
He loved His *own*... he loved them unto the end.
Is this world your world?
It's not my world.
I want to be one of *Jesus's own* in this world. I don't want to be one of this world's.
John {14:6} Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me
John {14:28} Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
John {16:16} A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father
John {16:28} I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
Eph. {2:18} For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph. {3:13} Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
{3:14} For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
{3:15} Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
{3:16} That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
{3:17} That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love
Col. {1:12} Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.
My world is with the Father through Jesus Christ my Lord and my Savior now and forever. Praise, glory, honor, and thanks to the Father who has made it possible for us to be partakers of the world to come, the world He intended, the world we long for.
All Glory to God in the Highest!
Amen.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
For the truth’s sake
2 John
{1:1} The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth
{1:2} For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
{1:3} Grace be with you, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
***
For the truth's sake.
For the sake of what is true.
We have to live in the truth, know the truth, which is the grace and mercy of God and Jesus Christ.
It's beautiful really, so beautiful.
Jesus said if we thirst in Him we'll thirst no more.
Jesus said if we were hungry in Him we'll be hungry no more.
How is this possible?
Because the truth of grace and mercy tells us that we are forgiven our sins by Jesus' sacrifice and love, prepared for the world to come, not this world. We will never thirst or hunger in Christ, in the world to come.
The hope that is in Jesus is eternal life, it is life in another world not this one. That hope is real and Jesus, and it must be real to us, more real than the life we live now. It must be worth more to us than this life. It's not easy to believe that way though, is it? We are alive here and now and all our senses demand we believe in what we can see, feel, hear, taste, smell. We are taught not to believe in anything else. We are called fools if we believe in something that isn't tangible. Fools, deceived, simple-minded, delusional, there are many names for us who believe in the unseen world to come. We have to have the hope in the world promised by Jesus, because hope in this world is what is really senseless. This world offers so little, but it does offer hope. The truth is in Christ Jesus, He is the truth, the world and life He offers us is the truth. Love is the truth.
We will not thrist or hunger- two basic needs so often not met in this world. In Jesus we have hope of living in a world truly govern by love. This world will never offer us that, never. Peace is something unrealized and where it is realized it is all caught up in treachery and lies, rulers under different names, peace that is forced and not realized as what is true and good, just and right, it is not borne of love.
As hard as it is to look past all that we know, all that we feel and see, we have to.
Our hope isn't here and now and the more we try to make it such the further from the truth we'll be. The more we seek happiness here, the more we seek justice and truth here, the more we lay all our hopes on our lives now, the less we'll have our hope in Christ and the world to come.
No, I'm not saying we shouldn't try to live a life that has happiness and contentment in what lot we are given, but there is so much more to it all than that. Our love for our fellow man through Christ must prevail. We need to do for others all we can do, not just seek our own contentment selfishly.
Christ's promises are all real and the truth is real in Him and it's beautiful. Questioning our lot in life health wise, monetary wise, is pointless when we live for Christ. We must strive to do all we can to live as Jesus lived, to walk in the truth of love.
May this become reality for all of us here and now, our one and true hope, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”- John 11:25
{1:1} The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth
{1:2} For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
{1:3} Grace be with you, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
***
For the truth's sake.
For the sake of what is true.
We have to live in the truth, know the truth, which is the grace and mercy of God and Jesus Christ.
It's beautiful really, so beautiful.
Jesus said if we thirst in Him we'll thirst no more.
Jesus said if we were hungry in Him we'll be hungry no more.
How is this possible?
Because the truth of grace and mercy tells us that we are forgiven our sins by Jesus' sacrifice and love, prepared for the world to come, not this world. We will never thirst or hunger in Christ, in the world to come.
The hope that is in Jesus is eternal life, it is life in another world not this one. That hope is real and Jesus, and it must be real to us, more real than the life we live now. It must be worth more to us than this life. It's not easy to believe that way though, is it? We are alive here and now and all our senses demand we believe in what we can see, feel, hear, taste, smell. We are taught not to believe in anything else. We are called fools if we believe in something that isn't tangible. Fools, deceived, simple-minded, delusional, there are many names for us who believe in the unseen world to come. We have to have the hope in the world promised by Jesus, because hope in this world is what is really senseless. This world offers so little, but it does offer hope. The truth is in Christ Jesus, He is the truth, the world and life He offers us is the truth. Love is the truth.
We will not thrist or hunger- two basic needs so often not met in this world. In Jesus we have hope of living in a world truly govern by love. This world will never offer us that, never. Peace is something unrealized and where it is realized it is all caught up in treachery and lies, rulers under different names, peace that is forced and not realized as what is true and good, just and right, it is not borne of love.
As hard as it is to look past all that we know, all that we feel and see, we have to.
Our hope isn't here and now and the more we try to make it such the further from the truth we'll be. The more we seek happiness here, the more we seek justice and truth here, the more we lay all our hopes on our lives now, the less we'll have our hope in Christ and the world to come.
No, I'm not saying we shouldn't try to live a life that has happiness and contentment in what lot we are given, but there is so much more to it all than that. Our love for our fellow man through Christ must prevail. We need to do for others all we can do, not just seek our own contentment selfishly.
Christ's promises are all real and the truth is real in Him and it's beautiful. Questioning our lot in life health wise, monetary wise, is pointless when we live for Christ. We must strive to do all we can to live as Jesus lived, to walk in the truth of love.
May this become reality for all of us here and now, our one and true hope, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”- John 11:25
Saturday, December 6, 2008
And he causeth all...
Revelation
{13:16}And he causeth all...
All, not just a few, not many, not some, not a million, but all, all.
Dict.
all
all (ôl) adjective
1. Being or representing the entire or total number, amount, or quantity:
2. Constituting, being, or representing the total extent or the whole: all Christendom.
3. Being the utmost possible of: argued the case in all seriousness.
4. Every: got into all manner of trouble.
5. Any whatsoever: beyond all doubt.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
He causeth ALL.
He causes the ENTIRE human race.
He causes EVERY human.
ALL both small and great.
Small- little ones.
Great- large ones.
Children and adults.
ALL rich and poor.
Rich- wealthy, well-to-do.
Poor- not wealthy, not rich.
We ALL fall somewhere inbetween these two- Rich and Poor.
All free and bond.
Free- people from a democratic society.
Bond- people in a dictatorship.
Free- people not enslaved by any other human.
Bond- people enslaved by others.
Again, we all fall somewhere in between these two extremes.
All.
Is there a doubt that ALL human beings are being accounted for in this statement?
{13:16}And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond...
All.
No doubt that everyone in the world is being accounted for in this statement.
Let's not leave anyone out, let's make sure everyone is accounted for. Young, old, small, great, rich, poor, free, or bond. You fall in there don't you? You're part of the all. I'm part of the all. I'm in between all those examples. We all are.
What is HE going to cause ALL beyond a doubt to do?
{13:16}...to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads
With ALL the seemingly countless numbers of people in this world from the movie stars in California, to the poorest street urchin in Africa, to the most prominent figure that can scarcely get a single moment of privacy to the least prominent person in the remotest part of the world, all will receive a mark.
How would that even be possible? How, seriously? What sort of system could ever mark all, even those who do not rely on outside help to survive. Those who have their own source of water, their own source of farm land, those who need no electricity, no telephones, no cars how will these people be marked?
To be a *real* mark we do mean a tattoo, or a brand, or a chip implant, or some other physical mark, right?
How then? In lands so remote that they have little to do with the world as we know it how will these people be marked?
All.
Remember that word, all?
All are going to receive this mark or...what's the exception to all? Can you refuse to be part of the All? Can you refuse to be part of the collective whole?
Yes, you can but there will be consequences for not becoming part of the collective whole, for not being part of all, for being a dissenter. If you don't get the mark whether literally or figuratively, and by figuratively I mean you can be marked by your beliefs.
What? Marked by our beliefs?
Yes you can be marked by your beliefs. You can be marked by your actions. You know you can. You can watch a person for a bit and say, 'He has the mark of a very meticulous man.' What do you mean by that? Surely he's not walking about with a mark only meticulous people receive, the meticulous mark. What is meant clearly is the fact by that man's actions he has marked himself to be someone who is meticulous. This holds true for all sorts of *people*, slothful, exacting, rigid, careless, the list is really endless. We can see someone for a little bit and label them according to our opinions of their behavior, their dress, their mannerisms all of this, will be right though? That's unknown from first glance in most cases, but study a person for a period of time and you'll be able to say that this or that person has the mark of a *supply adjective* man.
People can be marked by their actions. If a person goes to church they're marked by that action as being a church go-er. If they go to a bar then they're a bar patron. The beast that will cause all to be marked will do so in such a way that those NOT marked will not be able to buy or sell anything. Read this...
{13:17} And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. {13:18} Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred
threescore [and] six.
Unless they have the mark OR the name of the beast OR the number of his name.
Obviously the mark is attainable in more ways than one. The mark, the name, or the number. This mark, this name, this number will come from the beast, it will mark those that have the mark as his. They will be marked by their actions.
Think about it, in Germany during the Holocaust people were marked- the Jews had to wear stars on their clothing to label them as Jews. This wasn't that long ago, not really, 65 or so years ago. Forced to wear something that marked them. Those that weren't marked were labeled instantly and known to be non-Jews. The labeling, the marking went both ways really. Here to it will go both ways. The marked and the unmarked. Those who follow after the beast will be marked in some way so they will be able to buy and sell, they'll have his mark, his name, or the number of his name. In some manner people will be known to be the beasts. We can speculate what that mark might be, we can come up with all sorts of ideas on the situation. There have been movies made where *the beast* himself as an anti-Christ has a literally birth mark of six, six, six. Other moves have many people having this mark. Even in real life there is a group of fanatics sporting tattoos of 666. Certainly for something that ALL will receive it will have to be something that labels a person. If you think about it, even confessing the beast's name is marking you. Remember the 'Heil Hitler' and the salute? Those words marked people didn't they? Supporters of Hitler. No, Hitler wasn't THE beast, but it goes to show you again how a name can label you. Refusal to say the name in such a way as to show support, refusal to wear anything that might mark you as his, refusal to be labeled under the beast's banner will keep people from doing business with you. They won't sell you anything and they won't let you sell them anything. This on a much smaller scale was enacted already during World War II, in Germany under Hitler, an example of things to come. We say no way! We've learned from our mistake, nothing like that will ever happen again. Watch, you'll see. We don't like to believe it can happen but it will and in such a way *ALL* will be compelled to take part. ALL but very few. It won't be blatant, stand up and receive the beast's mark, no, in fact most everyone will believe they're following the right way, the good way, the best way. Deception.
Deception. Deceived.
Proverbs {14:12} There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Don't be deceived!
***
{14:9} And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand
{14:10} The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb
{14:11} And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
{14:12} Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
{14:13} And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
***
One precaution you can take perhaps as you open your Bible and study earnestly, praying for enlightenment, for guidance from the Holy Spirit, is to hold those words close to your heart. Know that the beast will seem like a *GOOD* thing and the *GOOD* thing will have almost everyone deceived. If you jump into any situation to follow the crowd and the seeming good I hope and pray that before it's too late you won't receive the mark of a follower of the beast.
Matthew {24:24} For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
***
Shall show GREAT signs and wonders! Beware! Beware of any that show great signs and wonders! These messengers of Satan will deceive almost everyone, all but the very elect! BEWARE! Don't be fooled! To God's Word and His Word only we must cling.
Mark
{13:20} And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
{13:21} And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here [is] Christ; or, lo, [he is] there; believe [him] not:
{13:22} For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect.
{13:23} But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
***
Romans
{8:31} What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?
{8:32} He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
{8:33} Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? [It is] God that justifieth.
{8:34} Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
{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?
{8:36} As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
{8:37} Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
{8:38} For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come
{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.
AMEN!
{13:16}And he causeth all...
All, not just a few, not many, not some, not a million, but all, all.
Dict.
all
all (ôl) adjective
1. Being or representing the entire or total number, amount, or quantity:
2. Constituting, being, or representing the total extent or the whole: all Christendom.
3. Being the utmost possible of: argued the case in all seriousness.
4. Every: got into all manner of trouble.
5. Any whatsoever: beyond all doubt.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
He causeth ALL.
He causes the ENTIRE human race.
He causes EVERY human.
ALL both small and great.
Small- little ones.
Great- large ones.
Children and adults.
ALL rich and poor.
Rich- wealthy, well-to-do.
Poor- not wealthy, not rich.
We ALL fall somewhere inbetween these two- Rich and Poor.
All free and bond.
Free- people from a democratic society.
Bond- people in a dictatorship.
Free- people not enslaved by any other human.
Bond- people enslaved by others.
Again, we all fall somewhere in between these two extremes.
All.
Is there a doubt that ALL human beings are being accounted for in this statement?
{13:16}And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond...
All.
No doubt that everyone in the world is being accounted for in this statement.
Let's not leave anyone out, let's make sure everyone is accounted for. Young, old, small, great, rich, poor, free, or bond. You fall in there don't you? You're part of the all. I'm part of the all. I'm in between all those examples. We all are.
What is HE going to cause ALL beyond a doubt to do?
{13:16}...to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads
With ALL the seemingly countless numbers of people in this world from the movie stars in California, to the poorest street urchin in Africa, to the most prominent figure that can scarcely get a single moment of privacy to the least prominent person in the remotest part of the world, all will receive a mark.
How would that even be possible? How, seriously? What sort of system could ever mark all, even those who do not rely on outside help to survive. Those who have their own source of water, their own source of farm land, those who need no electricity, no telephones, no cars how will these people be marked?
To be a *real* mark we do mean a tattoo, or a brand, or a chip implant, or some other physical mark, right?
How then? In lands so remote that they have little to do with the world as we know it how will these people be marked?
All.
Remember that word, all?
All are going to receive this mark or...what's the exception to all? Can you refuse to be part of the All? Can you refuse to be part of the collective whole?
Yes, you can but there will be consequences for not becoming part of the collective whole, for not being part of all, for being a dissenter. If you don't get the mark whether literally or figuratively, and by figuratively I mean you can be marked by your beliefs.
What? Marked by our beliefs?
Yes you can be marked by your beliefs. You can be marked by your actions. You know you can. You can watch a person for a bit and say, 'He has the mark of a very meticulous man.' What do you mean by that? Surely he's not walking about with a mark only meticulous people receive, the meticulous mark. What is meant clearly is the fact by that man's actions he has marked himself to be someone who is meticulous. This holds true for all sorts of *people*, slothful, exacting, rigid, careless, the list is really endless. We can see someone for a little bit and label them according to our opinions of their behavior, their dress, their mannerisms all of this, will be right though? That's unknown from first glance in most cases, but study a person for a period of time and you'll be able to say that this or that person has the mark of a *supply adjective* man.
People can be marked by their actions. If a person goes to church they're marked by that action as being a church go-er. If they go to a bar then they're a bar patron. The beast that will cause all to be marked will do so in such a way that those NOT marked will not be able to buy or sell anything. Read this...
{13:17} And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. {13:18} Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred
threescore [and] six.
Unless they have the mark OR the name of the beast OR the number of his name.
Obviously the mark is attainable in more ways than one. The mark, the name, or the number. This mark, this name, this number will come from the beast, it will mark those that have the mark as his. They will be marked by their actions.
Think about it, in Germany during the Holocaust people were marked- the Jews had to wear stars on their clothing to label them as Jews. This wasn't that long ago, not really, 65 or so years ago. Forced to wear something that marked them. Those that weren't marked were labeled instantly and known to be non-Jews. The labeling, the marking went both ways really. Here to it will go both ways. The marked and the unmarked. Those who follow after the beast will be marked in some way so they will be able to buy and sell, they'll have his mark, his name, or the number of his name. In some manner people will be known to be the beasts. We can speculate what that mark might be, we can come up with all sorts of ideas on the situation. There have been movies made where *the beast* himself as an anti-Christ has a literally birth mark of six, six, six. Other moves have many people having this mark. Even in real life there is a group of fanatics sporting tattoos of 666. Certainly for something that ALL will receive it will have to be something that labels a person. If you think about it, even confessing the beast's name is marking you. Remember the 'Heil Hitler' and the salute? Those words marked people didn't they? Supporters of Hitler. No, Hitler wasn't THE beast, but it goes to show you again how a name can label you. Refusal to say the name in such a way as to show support, refusal to wear anything that might mark you as his, refusal to be labeled under the beast's banner will keep people from doing business with you. They won't sell you anything and they won't let you sell them anything. This on a much smaller scale was enacted already during World War II, in Germany under Hitler, an example of things to come. We say no way! We've learned from our mistake, nothing like that will ever happen again. Watch, you'll see. We don't like to believe it can happen but it will and in such a way *ALL* will be compelled to take part. ALL but very few. It won't be blatant, stand up and receive the beast's mark, no, in fact most everyone will believe they're following the right way, the good way, the best way. Deception.
Deception. Deceived.
Proverbs {14:12} There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Don't be deceived!
***
{14:9} And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand
{14:10} The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb
{14:11} And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
{14:12} Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
{14:13} And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
***
One precaution you can take perhaps as you open your Bible and study earnestly, praying for enlightenment, for guidance from the Holy Spirit, is to hold those words close to your heart. Know that the beast will seem like a *GOOD* thing and the *GOOD* thing will have almost everyone deceived. If you jump into any situation to follow the crowd and the seeming good I hope and pray that before it's too late you won't receive the mark of a follower of the beast.
Matthew {24:24} For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
***
Shall show GREAT signs and wonders! Beware! Beware of any that show great signs and wonders! These messengers of Satan will deceive almost everyone, all but the very elect! BEWARE! Don't be fooled! To God's Word and His Word only we must cling.
Mark
{13:20} And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
{13:21} And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here [is] Christ; or, lo, [he is] there; believe [him] not:
{13:22} For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect.
{13:23} But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
***
Romans
{8:31} What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?
{8:32} He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
{8:33} Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? [It is] God that justifieth.
{8:34} Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
{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?
{8:36} As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
{8:37} Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
{8:38} For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come
{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.
AMEN!
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Spirit is truth
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.
{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.
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.
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