Isaiah
{5:1} Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill
{5:2} And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
{5:3} And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
{5:4} What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
{5:5} And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; [and] break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down
{5:6} And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
{5:7} For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts [is] the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
Imagine a loving person creating a beautiful vineyard, in a beautiful location. There He is putting up a protective wall around the vineyard to keep it safe. Then as any good gardener He prepares the soil by getting all the rocks out of the ground. Only when the ground is prepared does He plant the best plants He possibly can. With great hopes for His vineyard He builds a wonderful tower in the garden as the plants are growing, He even builds a winepress as He anticipates creating the best wine ever.
Then...as the time approaches to examine the grapes coming forth what does He see!? Wild grapes! He hadn't planted wild grapes, but there they are. His garden, His vineyard are ruined.
The gardener asks all those around who had been watching Him create this wonderful vineyard what He could have done more for the vineyard, didn't He do all He could to make it the most wonderful vineyard ever?
He has no choice, He has to do something with this horrible mess of a vineyard.
So He takes away the protective wall about it, it's a slow process as He lays waste to what was once was supposed to be wonderful.
The Gardener will no longer prune the vines, no longer dig at the soil to loosen it up to keep it so the water can get to the roots. He will no longer pull the weeds, the thorns, the briers. In fact there is no longer reason to water the plants they are wild and can no longer be pure and good.
What's all this mean?
As an analogy it means God lovingly created a people whom He nourished and gave all the advantages He could so that His people would flourish and become wonderful, happy, content, beautiful people. Instead, even after having all the advantages His people turn out to be spiteful, unhappy, bad. God did ALL He could do for His people. God did not leave a single thing undone and still His people turned from Him.
No true judgment but oppression.
No righteousness but a cry.
God did and does all He could and can for His people.
Free will.
The ability to choose to count on self over God.
Free will.
The ability to believe that by self you can exist and live happily, contentedly, forever.
Free will.
The ability to cut loose from the Creator and strike out on your own.
Free will.
Mankind chose to strike out on their own and as a result all they believe they can do of themselves are lies.
Man cannot save themselves. Mankind cannot live on their own- they die. A life meant to live forever was cut short because mankind with the beguiling of Satan (who had already given himself over to self) chose to live on their own power, their own steam. It's impossible for man to stay alive. From the moment of birth people are on the road to death. No one alive has ever been born, who on their own has lived forever. God's only Son became one of us, a person born to die. On His own He would be dead still. Only God's love does Jesus live. God, because His Son sacrificed Himself to save mankind- because He proved that a human being can live connected to God as intended.
We need to cling to God, He is our only hope. By the grace and mercy of Jesus alone we can do this, we can live connected to God.
It's my prayer that we grasp hold of Jesus, accept the sacrifice He's made for us; that we receive the power of the Holy Spirit sent to us so that we can be connected with God and live as God would have us live fully dependent upon Him for life.
Please Lord, hear our prayer as we cry out to You to send Your Holy Spirit to us, to guide us in Your path, to lead us in the way everlasting, in You now and forever.
Amen.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Woe unto them
Isaiah {5:20} Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;
that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put
bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! {5:21} Woe unto
[them that are] wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their
own sight! {5:22} Woe unto [them that are] mighty to drink
wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: {5:23}
Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the
righteousness of the righteous from him! {5:24} Therefore
as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth
the chaff, [so] their root shall be as rottenness, and their
blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away
the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the
Holy One of Israel. {5:25} Therefore is the anger of the
LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched
forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the
hills did tremble, and their carcases [were] torn in the midst
of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but
his hand [is] stretched out still.
Sound familiar?
Call evil good.
Call good evil.
Darkness light.
Light darkness.
Bitter for sweet.
Sweet for bitter.
Once we begin changing the meaning of something it alters so much.
Once upon a time swearing was a bad thing.
Now it's so common place you can scarcely turn on a tv show or watch a movie without swearing in it.
Already upon reading that how many of you thought- swearing? So. What's the big deal about swearing? They're just words they hurt nothing.
Why do most people teach their children not to swear?
Why do teachers frown upon children who swear?
Employers wouldn't like their employees swearing to their customers, would they?
And yet we've taken the standard of swearing and broken down so many barriers with it that children to do swear, people expect their children to swear- why not they grew up learning it from their parents. People are willing to bend their sensibilities in many ways, changing wrong to make it right.
Swearing is just a small example.
What about pregnancy before marriage? Acceptable. Has is always been so?
Sexual freedom- mulitple partners, sex in any way, shape, or form. Accepted. Has it always been so?
Lying. Accepted. Expected.
People might say that these things are *normal* and have been around since man, and I wouldn't disagree fully.
What hasn't been around since man is the acceptance of them to completely.
What hasn't been around is the mindset that not accepting these things is wrong.
Even now people are called strange, old-fashioned, unenlightened, odd, when they don't readily accept the way things are. Voicing the opinion against those who are supposedly trying to bring freedoms to people is called suppression. Change is herald loudly and those who don't go with the changes become those in the wrong.
Call evil good.
Call good evil.
Darkness light.
Light darkness.
Bitter for sweet.
Sweet for bitter.
Woe unto them.
God has been very clear in His Righteous path for mankind, very clear.
No wonder fewer and fewer people are believing in God, or changing God and His ways until they suit them.
No wonder God can scarcely find a true people on earth.
May God help us. May the blinders be stripped from our eyes so we may see His truth, His ways in their purity and follow them, follow Him, believe in Him and His ways.
May the Holy Spirit guide our understanding so that we don't call evil good, or good evil, that we don't claim darkness for light or light for darkness, so that we may know without doubt that bitter isn't sweet, and sweet isn't bitter.
We need the Lord. We need the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We need the blinders off our eyes so that only the truth in Christ remains.
By the mercy and grace of our Savior Jesus Christ our Lord now and forever.
Amen.
that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put
bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! {5:21} Woe unto
[them that are] wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their
own sight! {5:22} Woe unto [them that are] mighty to drink
wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: {5:23}
Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the
righteousness of the righteous from him! {5:24} Therefore
as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth
the chaff, [so] their root shall be as rottenness, and their
blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away
the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the
Holy One of Israel. {5:25} Therefore is the anger of the
LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched
forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the
hills did tremble, and their carcases [were] torn in the midst
of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but
his hand [is] stretched out still.
Sound familiar?
Call evil good.
Call good evil.
Darkness light.
Light darkness.
Bitter for sweet.
Sweet for bitter.
Once we begin changing the meaning of something it alters so much.
Once upon a time swearing was a bad thing.
Now it's so common place you can scarcely turn on a tv show or watch a movie without swearing in it.
Already upon reading that how many of you thought- swearing? So. What's the big deal about swearing? They're just words they hurt nothing.
Why do most people teach their children not to swear?
Why do teachers frown upon children who swear?
Employers wouldn't like their employees swearing to their customers, would they?
And yet we've taken the standard of swearing and broken down so many barriers with it that children to do swear, people expect their children to swear- why not they grew up learning it from their parents. People are willing to bend their sensibilities in many ways, changing wrong to make it right.
Swearing is just a small example.
What about pregnancy before marriage? Acceptable. Has is always been so?
Sexual freedom- mulitple partners, sex in any way, shape, or form. Accepted. Has it always been so?
Lying. Accepted. Expected.
People might say that these things are *normal* and have been around since man, and I wouldn't disagree fully.
What hasn't been around since man is the acceptance of them to completely.
What hasn't been around is the mindset that not accepting these things is wrong.
Even now people are called strange, old-fashioned, unenlightened, odd, when they don't readily accept the way things are. Voicing the opinion against those who are supposedly trying to bring freedoms to people is called suppression. Change is herald loudly and those who don't go with the changes become those in the wrong.
Call evil good.
Call good evil.
Darkness light.
Light darkness.
Bitter for sweet.
Sweet for bitter.
Woe unto them.
God has been very clear in His Righteous path for mankind, very clear.
No wonder fewer and fewer people are believing in God, or changing God and His ways until they suit them.
No wonder God can scarcely find a true people on earth.
May God help us. May the blinders be stripped from our eyes so we may see His truth, His ways in their purity and follow them, follow Him, believe in Him and His ways.
May the Holy Spirit guide our understanding so that we don't call evil good, or good evil, that we don't claim darkness for light or light for darkness, so that we may know without doubt that bitter isn't sweet, and sweet isn't bitter.
We need the Lord. We need the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We need the blinders off our eyes so that only the truth in Christ remains.
By the mercy and grace of our Savior Jesus Christ our Lord now and forever.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Isaiah 3:12-15
Isaiah
{3:12} [As for] my people, children [are] their oppressors,
and women rule over them.
Have we ever lived in a society that disrespects the elderly, or even adults, more? Have we?
Think about it carefully. We've had many, many different kinds of situations in the world where people will say oh it's always been this way, just not so noticeable. But let history speak for itself. Children oppressing those who have rule over them by sheer age and maturity, no, I've personally never heard of it being something pronounced outside of the occasional prominent spoiled rotten brat.
I suppose I've heard often enough from my mother how things weren't just like this in her day. Children didn't dream of talking back to parents and teachers, and if they did they were the rarity and punished severely.
Today the rarity is more the child who doesn't talk back and act out either at home, school, or both.
Today the child who doesn't oppress authority figures is rare.
A large percentage of elderly live in fear and with good reason.
'Children are their oppressors and women rule over them'
Alarm bells sound once more for all the feminists, but before they ring too long or loud we know factually that Biblically there have been many women in prominent positions, women that God has used for His purposes. God is not anti-feminist. God does not want women oppressed. God doesn't want anyone oppressed. In God's eyes love is what matters over all and love isn't domineering it's sharing equally, it's helping unconditionally.
When children and women are ruling over man, when they are domineering an oppressive to man they are stripping him of his God given right to be treated with respect.
Why can I just imagine all the uproar over the years of oppression men and parents have dealt their wives, their children? Because in this sinfilled world men have abused their position, parents have abused their children. The abuse goes on and on and revenge takes over and people shout it's good because the revenge means justice is being served, but it's not justice, revenge is not justice. The abused becoming the abuser is not a good thing contrary to the underdog coming out on top mentality.
Back to the disrespect multiplying throughout our society. It's not something we can overlook as unimportant. It's a symptom of the world's degradation down into sin's evil depths. It's one more sign of the times and we can't ignore them. We can't excuse them. We have to see them and understand that God allows the signs so that we know the times and the times are fast coming to a close.
Isaiah
{3:12} [As for] my people, children [are] their oppressors,
and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead
thee cause [thee] to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
{3:13} The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to
judge the people. {3:14} The LORD will enter into
judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes
thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the
poor [is] in your houses. {3:15} What mean ye [that] ye
beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor?
saith the LORD GOD of hosts.
They which lead thee cause thee to err and destroy the way of thy paths.
The corruption in our society is completey.
We are no longer outraged by scandels involving our leaders whether they're secular or religious. We barely bat an eye at the newest scandel of indecency, corruption, murder. We've become desensitized because of familiarity. Our leaders have led us down a road that glorifies the sinner, the sin, the sinning. People are hungry and thirsting for the next scandel to feast on. We no longer expect our leaders in anything to be truly outstanding and honest, upright and such. We want them to be, but we don't delude ourselves into believing they are so when their evil comes to light we aren't surprised...
...it didn't use to be this way.
This is our world today and it's only getting worse and worse, it will never get better, not really. The only 'better' it will get might be under the guise of even more evil.
May the Lord bless us by the mercy and grace of our Savior. May our eyes be open, our hearts be open, our spirits be revived so that we may see and know the truth in the world, that we may know that Christ is coming and see the signs around us, understanding them as they are revealed to us.
Bless us Lord, have mercy upon us all now and forever!
In Christ.
Amen.
{3:12} [As for] my people, children [are] their oppressors,
and women rule over them.
Have we ever lived in a society that disrespects the elderly, or even adults, more? Have we?
Think about it carefully. We've had many, many different kinds of situations in the world where people will say oh it's always been this way, just not so noticeable. But let history speak for itself. Children oppressing those who have rule over them by sheer age and maturity, no, I've personally never heard of it being something pronounced outside of the occasional prominent spoiled rotten brat.
I suppose I've heard often enough from my mother how things weren't just like this in her day. Children didn't dream of talking back to parents and teachers, and if they did they were the rarity and punished severely.
Today the rarity is more the child who doesn't talk back and act out either at home, school, or both.
Today the child who doesn't oppress authority figures is rare.
A large percentage of elderly live in fear and with good reason.
'Children are their oppressors and women rule over them'
Alarm bells sound once more for all the feminists, but before they ring too long or loud we know factually that Biblically there have been many women in prominent positions, women that God has used for His purposes. God is not anti-feminist. God does not want women oppressed. God doesn't want anyone oppressed. In God's eyes love is what matters over all and love isn't domineering it's sharing equally, it's helping unconditionally.
When children and women are ruling over man, when they are domineering an oppressive to man they are stripping him of his God given right to be treated with respect.
Why can I just imagine all the uproar over the years of oppression men and parents have dealt their wives, their children? Because in this sinfilled world men have abused their position, parents have abused their children. The abuse goes on and on and revenge takes over and people shout it's good because the revenge means justice is being served, but it's not justice, revenge is not justice. The abused becoming the abuser is not a good thing contrary to the underdog coming out on top mentality.
Back to the disrespect multiplying throughout our society. It's not something we can overlook as unimportant. It's a symptom of the world's degradation down into sin's evil depths. It's one more sign of the times and we can't ignore them. We can't excuse them. We have to see them and understand that God allows the signs so that we know the times and the times are fast coming to a close.
Isaiah
{3:12} [As for] my people, children [are] their oppressors,
and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead
thee cause [thee] to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
{3:13} The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to
judge the people. {3:14} The LORD will enter into
judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes
thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the
poor [is] in your houses. {3:15} What mean ye [that] ye
beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor?
saith the LORD GOD of hosts.
They which lead thee cause thee to err and destroy the way of thy paths.
The corruption in our society is completey.
We are no longer outraged by scandels involving our leaders whether they're secular or religious. We barely bat an eye at the newest scandel of indecency, corruption, murder. We've become desensitized because of familiarity. Our leaders have led us down a road that glorifies the sinner, the sin, the sinning. People are hungry and thirsting for the next scandel to feast on. We no longer expect our leaders in anything to be truly outstanding and honest, upright and such. We want them to be, but we don't delude ourselves into believing they are so when their evil comes to light we aren't surprised...
...it didn't use to be this way.
This is our world today and it's only getting worse and worse, it will never get better, not really. The only 'better' it will get might be under the guise of even more evil.
May the Lord bless us by the mercy and grace of our Savior. May our eyes be open, our hearts be open, our spirits be revived so that we may see and know the truth in the world, that we may know that Christ is coming and see the signs around us, understanding them as they are revealed to us.
Bless us Lord, have mercy upon us all now and forever!
In Christ.
Amen.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Isa. 3:9-11 Woe to the Wicked
Isa. {3:9} The shew of their countenance doth witness against
them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide [it] not.
Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto
themselves. {3:10} Say ye to the righteous, that [it shall be]
well [with him:] for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
{3:11} Woe unto the wicked! [it shall be] ill [with him:] for
the reward of his hands shall be given him.
They declare their sin as Sodom...they hide it not.
How true is this for our day.
So many sins are acceptable today that never were before. Sin is no longer called sin.
Adultery, fornication, selfishness, thievery, murder... yes, even murder we make excuses for, we feel less emotion for.
It's common place to hear of murder, rape, lying, stealing...common.
They declare their sin as Sodom they hide it not.
Sin isn't hidden anymore is it? It's glorified in so much we do, so much we enjoy, so much we call entertainment and fun.
We declare our sin as Sodom, we don't hide it.
The result...
'Woe unto their soul! For they have rewarded evil unto themselves.'
We do it to ourselves.
The righteous shall be well they'll eat the fruit of their doings, this is a good thing. The fruit of the righteous can only be good fruit. The fruit of the wicked is deadly.
Woe to the wicked- for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
Woe to the wicked, woe to their soul.
Do you see the big trap we've made for ourselves?
When sin is no longer called sin the complacency we are lulled into is deadly.
Woe to us.
Woe to the wicked.
As Sodom declared its sin and didn't try to hide it our world mimics Sodom.
People raise their voices to shout out their sins and call it progress, call it enlightenment, and freedom when in truth it's all death and destruction and very few will understand or see this because sin is now acceptable and those who don't accept it are the ones in the wrong. Yes, just like Sodom.
Sodom where not even 10 righteous people lived before it was destroyed.
Our generation is the same only it's not one city, it's the world.
May God have mercy on our souls and may our hearts be turned from sin and made clean by the blood of our Lord and Savior before it's too late.
By His grace, by His love, now and forever...
Amen.
them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide [it] not.
Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto
themselves. {3:10} Say ye to the righteous, that [it shall be]
well [with him:] for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
{3:11} Woe unto the wicked! [it shall be] ill [with him:] for
the reward of his hands shall be given him.
They declare their sin as Sodom...they hide it not.
How true is this for our day.
So many sins are acceptable today that never were before. Sin is no longer called sin.
Adultery, fornication, selfishness, thievery, murder... yes, even murder we make excuses for, we feel less emotion for.
It's common place to hear of murder, rape, lying, stealing...common.
They declare their sin as Sodom they hide it not.
Sin isn't hidden anymore is it? It's glorified in so much we do, so much we enjoy, so much we call entertainment and fun.
We declare our sin as Sodom, we don't hide it.
The result...
'Woe unto their soul! For they have rewarded evil unto themselves.'
We do it to ourselves.
The righteous shall be well they'll eat the fruit of their doings, this is a good thing. The fruit of the righteous can only be good fruit. The fruit of the wicked is deadly.
Woe to the wicked- for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
Woe to the wicked, woe to their soul.
Do you see the big trap we've made for ourselves?
When sin is no longer called sin the complacency we are lulled into is deadly.
Woe to us.
Woe to the wicked.
As Sodom declared its sin and didn't try to hide it our world mimics Sodom.
People raise their voices to shout out their sins and call it progress, call it enlightenment, and freedom when in truth it's all death and destruction and very few will understand or see this because sin is now acceptable and those who don't accept it are the ones in the wrong. Yes, just like Sodom.
Sodom where not even 10 righteous people lived before it was destroyed.
Our generation is the same only it's not one city, it's the world.
May God have mercy on our souls and may our hearts be turned from sin and made clean by the blood of our Lord and Savior before it's too late.
By His grace, by His love, now and forever...
Amen.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Cry Mercy!
Isa. {2:5} O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the
light of the LORD.
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.
Micah ]{4:5} For all people will walk every one in the name of his
god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God
for ever and ever. {4:6} In that day, saith the LORD, will I
assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven
out, and her that I have afflicted; {4:7} And I will make her
that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong
nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion
from henceforth, even for ever.
Gal. {5:16} [This] I say
then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the
flesh. {5:17} For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the
Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the
other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Rev. {21:22} And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God
Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. {21:23} And
the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to
shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb
[is] the light thereof. {21:24} And the nations of them
which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of
the earth do bring their glory and honour into it
Gal {5:24}
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts. {5:25} If we live in the Spirit, let us
also walk in the Spirit. {5:26} Let us not be desirous of vain
glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Walk in the light of the Lord.
Walk in the Spirit.
Walk the name of the Lord.
Walking in the light of the Lord God and the Lamb.
Walk in the Spirit-live in the Spirit.
Romans {12:1} I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies
of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.
{12:2} And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of
God.
Be not conformed to this world.
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Psalms {51:10} Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit
within me.
By the mercy of God.
God have mercy on us all.
Mercy.
Pro. {3:5} Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not
unto thine own understanding. {3:6} In all thy ways
acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths
Have mercy on us oh God, have mercy on us please!
By the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord, we cry for mercy. Show us how to walk in the light of the Lord. Teach us to walk in the Spirit, to live in the Spirit. Renew our minds. Create in us clean hearts! Please Lord, renew our spirits.
We cry mercy...mercy.
light of the LORD.
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.
Micah ]{4:5} For all people will walk every one in the name of his
god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God
for ever and ever. {4:6} In that day, saith the LORD, will I
assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven
out, and her that I have afflicted; {4:7} And I will make her
that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong
nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion
from henceforth, even for ever.
Gal. {5:16} [This] I say
then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the
flesh. {5:17} For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the
Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the
other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Rev. {21:22} And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God
Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. {21:23} And
the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to
shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb
[is] the light thereof. {21:24} And the nations of them
which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of
the earth do bring their glory and honour into it
Gal {5:24}
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts. {5:25} If we live in the Spirit, let us
also walk in the Spirit. {5:26} Let us not be desirous of vain
glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Walk in the light of the Lord.
Walk in the Spirit.
Walk the name of the Lord.
Walking in the light of the Lord God and the Lamb.
Walk in the Spirit-live in the Spirit.
Romans {12:1} I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies
of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.
{12:2} And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of
God.
Be not conformed to this world.
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Psalms {51:10} Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit
within me.
By the mercy of God.
God have mercy on us all.
Mercy.
Pro. {3:5} Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not
unto thine own understanding. {3:6} In all thy ways
acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths
Have mercy on us oh God, have mercy on us please!
By the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord, we cry for mercy. Show us how to walk in the light of the Lord. Teach us to walk in the Spirit, to live in the Spirit. Renew our minds. Create in us clean hearts! Please Lord, renew our spirits.
We cry mercy...mercy.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Think on these things...
Philippians
{4:6} Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
{4:7} And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
{4:8} Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
{4:9} Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Think on what is...
True
Honest
Just
Pure
Lovely
Good report
Virtue
Praise
truth (tr¡th) noun
plural truths (tr¡thz, tr¡ths)
1. Conformity to fact or actuality.
2. A statement proven to be or accepted as true.
3. Sincerity; integrity.
4. Fidelity to an original or a standard.
5. Reality; actuality.
6. Truth (tr¡th). Christian Science. God.
honest (òn´îst) adjective
1. Marked by or displaying integrity; upright: an honest lawyer.
2. Not deceptive or fraudulent; genuine: honest weight.
3. Equitable; fair: honest wages for an honest day's work.
4. a. Characterized by truth; not false: honest reporting. b. Sincere; frank: an honest critique.
5. a. Of good repute; respectable. b. Without affectation; plain: honest folk.
6. Virtuous; chaste.
just (jùst) adjective
1. Honorable and fair in one's dealings and actions: a just ruler. See synonyms at fair1.
2. Consistent with what is morally right; righteous: a just cause.
3. Properly due or merited: just deserts.
4. Law. Valid within the law; lawful: just claims.
5. Suitable or proper in nature; fitting: a just touch of solemnity.
6. Based on fact or sound reason; well-founded: a just appraisal.
pure (py¢r) adjective
purer, purest
1. Having a homogeneous or uniform composition; not mixed: pure oxygen.
2. Free from adulterants or impurities: pure chocolate.
3. Free of dirt, defilement, or pollution: "A memory without blot or contamination must be . . . an inexhaustible source of pure refreshment" (Charlotte Brontë).
4. Free of foreign elements.
5. Containing nothing inappropriate or extraneous: a pure literary style.
6. Complete; utter: pure folly.
7. Having no faults; sinless: "I felt pure and sweet as a new baby" (Sylvia Plath).
8. Chaste; virgin.
9. Of unmixed blood or ancestry.
10. Genetics. Produced by self-fertilization or continual inbreeding; homozygous: a pure line.
11. Music. Free from discordant qualities: pure tones.
12. Linguistics. Articulated with a single unchanging speech sound; monophthongal: a pure vowel.
13. Theoretical: pure science.
14. Philosophy. Free of empirical elements: pure reason.
lovely (lùv´lê) adjective
lovelier, loveliest
1. Full of love; loving.
2. Inspiring love or affection.
3. Having beauty that appeals to the emotions as well as to the eye. See synonyms at beautiful.
4. Enjoyable; delightful.
good report (noun)
repute: report, good report
repute
repute (rî-py¡t´) verb, transitive
reputed, reputing, reputes
1.To ascribe a particular fact or characteristic to.
2.To consider; suppose.
noun
1.Reputation.
2.A good reputation.
virtue (vûr´ch¡) noun
1. a. Moral excellence and righteousness; goodness. b. An example or kind of moral excellence: the virtue of patience.
2. Chastity, especially in a girl or woman.
3. A particularly efficacious, good, or beneficial quality; advantage: a plan with the virtue of being practical.
4. Effective force or power: believed in the virtue of prayer.
5. virtues. Theology. The fifth of the nine orders of angels.
6. Obsolete. Manly courage; valor.
praise (prâz) noun
1. Expression of approval, commendation, or admiration.
2. The extolling or exaltation of a deity, ruler, or hero.
3. Archaic. A reason for praise; merit.
verb, transitive
praised, praising, praises
1. To express warm approbation of, commendation for, or admiration for.
2. To extol or exalt; worship.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
If we are to think on these things--
True
Honest
Just
Pure
Lovely
Good report
Virtue
Praise
It stands to reason we are not to think on other things- their opposites perhaps.
Lies
Dishonesty
Unjust
Unpure
Unlovely
Bad report
Unvirtuous
Unpraiseworthy
Is it possible that when we do think on things that upset us, thoughts we know are at odds with the Word of God, that it is our duty to call upon Christ in prayer and to counter those thoughts with their opposite?
Think about it for a moment.
A thought slips into your mind about someone that isn't all that pleasant. You start thinking about how *they* think they're so much better than you, or you even start thinking that they're better and a seed of jealousy, of coveting start pricking at you. You know those thoughts are wrong, you recognize it's wrong, you ask for forgiveness and help to stop thinking that way but just looking at them, talking to them, the thoughts return. It's so easy to get caught in despair, so easy for the trap of Satan to rise up around us ensaring us in that old scenario of hopelessness. We have to be evil to think such things, there is no hope for us ever. Of course we know our hope lies in Christ and Christ alone and we should pray each and every time the thought sin arises in our lives. And because our Bibles tell us to, we need to think on good things. So we need to direct our thoughts to good things. Maybe we look at someone and think - if only I had their money, their skill, their appearance- as soon as we recognize the coveting nature of such thoughts we need to ask for forgiveness and clinging to Christ ask for help to think on things that aren't covetous. So instead of coveting their money, perhaps we need to counter it by asking ourselves would we covet their debt? Instead of coveting their skills we need to think on the fact that the only skill necessary for salvation is a contrite heart--
Ps. {51:17} The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a
contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
All the amazing skill any one can possess mean nothing if they're not used for the glory of God. And if it's coveting someone's skill who is glorifying God we have to realize that as long as we seek the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior and cling to Him we are doing all we need to do. We're not all going to have amazing skills, it's just not going to possible.
Eph. {4:11}
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers
While we might want and covet another's skill we have to be content within ourselves knowing that skill doesn't guarantee salvation, God will not just save those who have amazing skills.
Col. {4:10} But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the
last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were
also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. {4:11} Not that I
speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever
state I am, therewith to be content. {4:12} I know both
how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where
and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be
hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. {4:13} I can do
all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Heb. 13:5} Let
your conversation be without covetousness; and be
content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will
never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So when we start coveting no matter what it is we need to try and look at the big picture! Jesus.
A pretty voice, a pretty face, those things don't matter they are nice but they don't hold the promise of salvation, salvation does not lie within a pretty face or voice.
Eph. {2:8} For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: it is the gift of God: {2:9} Not of works,
lest any man should boast. {2:10} For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in
them.
The bigger picture demands we look from things temporal to things eternal. Think on those things, not temporary earthy things.
If you think you want to hurt someone, with the help of the Holy Spirit start thinking on helping someone instead.
If you think about anything you know in your heart is wrong, pray for the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts to whatever maybe good, think away from the evil to the good. And if the thoughts continue to plague you, increasing, keep praying and counteracting them with the instruction we find in God's Holy Word- think on...
Philippians
{4:6} Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
{4:7} And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
{4:8} Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
{4:9} Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Think on what is...
True
Honest
Just
Pure
Lovely
Good report
Virtue
Praise
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and our Savior now and forever! In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
{4:6} Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
{4:7} And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
{4:8} Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
{4:9} Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Think on what is...
True
Honest
Just
Pure
Lovely
Good report
Virtue
Praise
truth (tr¡th) noun
plural truths (tr¡thz, tr¡ths)
1. Conformity to fact or actuality.
2. A statement proven to be or accepted as true.
3. Sincerity; integrity.
4. Fidelity to an original or a standard.
5. Reality; actuality.
6. Truth (tr¡th). Christian Science. God.
honest (òn´îst) adjective
1. Marked by or displaying integrity; upright: an honest lawyer.
2. Not deceptive or fraudulent; genuine: honest weight.
3. Equitable; fair: honest wages for an honest day's work.
4. a. Characterized by truth; not false: honest reporting. b. Sincere; frank: an honest critique.
5. a. Of good repute; respectable. b. Without affectation; plain: honest folk.
6. Virtuous; chaste.
just (jùst) adjective
1. Honorable and fair in one's dealings and actions: a just ruler. See synonyms at fair1.
2. Consistent with what is morally right; righteous: a just cause.
3. Properly due or merited: just deserts.
4. Law. Valid within the law; lawful: just claims.
5. Suitable or proper in nature; fitting: a just touch of solemnity.
6. Based on fact or sound reason; well-founded: a just appraisal.
pure (py¢r) adjective
purer, purest
1. Having a homogeneous or uniform composition; not mixed: pure oxygen.
2. Free from adulterants or impurities: pure chocolate.
3. Free of dirt, defilement, or pollution: "A memory without blot or contamination must be . . . an inexhaustible source of pure refreshment" (Charlotte Brontë).
4. Free of foreign elements.
5. Containing nothing inappropriate or extraneous: a pure literary style.
6. Complete; utter: pure folly.
7. Having no faults; sinless: "I felt pure and sweet as a new baby" (Sylvia Plath).
8. Chaste; virgin.
9. Of unmixed blood or ancestry.
10. Genetics. Produced by self-fertilization or continual inbreeding; homozygous: a pure line.
11. Music. Free from discordant qualities: pure tones.
12. Linguistics. Articulated with a single unchanging speech sound; monophthongal: a pure vowel.
13. Theoretical: pure science.
14. Philosophy. Free of empirical elements: pure reason.
lovely (lùv´lê) adjective
lovelier, loveliest
1. Full of love; loving.
2. Inspiring love or affection.
3. Having beauty that appeals to the emotions as well as to the eye. See synonyms at beautiful.
4. Enjoyable; delightful.
good report (noun)
repute: report, good report
repute
repute (rî-py¡t´) verb, transitive
reputed, reputing, reputes
1.To ascribe a particular fact or characteristic to.
2.To consider; suppose.
noun
1.Reputation.
2.A good reputation.
virtue (vûr´ch¡) noun
1. a. Moral excellence and righteousness; goodness. b. An example or kind of moral excellence: the virtue of patience.
2. Chastity, especially in a girl or woman.
3. A particularly efficacious, good, or beneficial quality; advantage: a plan with the virtue of being practical.
4. Effective force or power: believed in the virtue of prayer.
5. virtues. Theology. The fifth of the nine orders of angels.
6. Obsolete. Manly courage; valor.
praise (prâz) noun
1. Expression of approval, commendation, or admiration.
2. The extolling or exaltation of a deity, ruler, or hero.
3. Archaic. A reason for praise; merit.
verb, transitive
praised, praising, praises
1. To express warm approbation of, commendation for, or admiration for.
2. To extol or exalt; worship.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
If we are to think on these things--
True
Honest
Just
Pure
Lovely
Good report
Virtue
Praise
It stands to reason we are not to think on other things- their opposites perhaps.
Lies
Dishonesty
Unjust
Unpure
Unlovely
Bad report
Unvirtuous
Unpraiseworthy
Is it possible that when we do think on things that upset us, thoughts we know are at odds with the Word of God, that it is our duty to call upon Christ in prayer and to counter those thoughts with their opposite?
Think about it for a moment.
A thought slips into your mind about someone that isn't all that pleasant. You start thinking about how *they* think they're so much better than you, or you even start thinking that they're better and a seed of jealousy, of coveting start pricking at you. You know those thoughts are wrong, you recognize it's wrong, you ask for forgiveness and help to stop thinking that way but just looking at them, talking to them, the thoughts return. It's so easy to get caught in despair, so easy for the trap of Satan to rise up around us ensaring us in that old scenario of hopelessness. We have to be evil to think such things, there is no hope for us ever. Of course we know our hope lies in Christ and Christ alone and we should pray each and every time the thought sin arises in our lives. And because our Bibles tell us to, we need to think on good things. So we need to direct our thoughts to good things. Maybe we look at someone and think - if only I had their money, their skill, their appearance- as soon as we recognize the coveting nature of such thoughts we need to ask for forgiveness and clinging to Christ ask for help to think on things that aren't covetous. So instead of coveting their money, perhaps we need to counter it by asking ourselves would we covet their debt? Instead of coveting their skills we need to think on the fact that the only skill necessary for salvation is a contrite heart--
Ps. {51:17} The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a
contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
All the amazing skill any one can possess mean nothing if they're not used for the glory of God. And if it's coveting someone's skill who is glorifying God we have to realize that as long as we seek the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior and cling to Him we are doing all we need to do. We're not all going to have amazing skills, it's just not going to possible.
Eph. {4:11}
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers
While we might want and covet another's skill we have to be content within ourselves knowing that skill doesn't guarantee salvation, God will not just save those who have amazing skills.
Col. {4:10} But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the
last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were
also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. {4:11} Not that I
speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever
state I am, therewith to be content. {4:12} I know both
how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where
and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be
hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. {4:13} I can do
all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Heb. 13:5} Let
your conversation be without covetousness; and be
content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will
never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So when we start coveting no matter what it is we need to try and look at the big picture! Jesus.
A pretty voice, a pretty face, those things don't matter they are nice but they don't hold the promise of salvation, salvation does not lie within a pretty face or voice.
Eph. {2:8} For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: it is the gift of God: {2:9} Not of works,
lest any man should boast. {2:10} For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in
them.
The bigger picture demands we look from things temporal to things eternal. Think on those things, not temporary earthy things.
If you think you want to hurt someone, with the help of the Holy Spirit start thinking on helping someone instead.
If you think about anything you know in your heart is wrong, pray for the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts to whatever maybe good, think away from the evil to the good. And if the thoughts continue to plague you, increasing, keep praying and counteracting them with the instruction we find in God's Holy Word- think on...
Philippians
{4:6} Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
{4:7} And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
{4:8} Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
{4:9} Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Think on what is...
True
Honest
Just
Pure
Lovely
Good report
Virtue
Praise
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and our Savior now and forever! In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Isaiah 1:4 Sinful People
Isa. {1:4} Ah sinful nation, a people
laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are
corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have
provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone
away backward.
*
Sounds like people today doesn't it? Sounds like the world today.
What nation can't fit into this? Is there one?
A sinful nation.
A people laden with iniquity.
A seed of evildoers.
Children that are corrupters.
Forsaken the Lord.
Provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger.
Gone backwards.
It's safe to say that there isn't a nation today that doesn't fit the bill.
The corruption is so great it can't even be hidden any longer.
I was thinking about that earlier. Some people will say that it was always like it is now, only hidden.
I don't believe that.
Oh, I believe that there has always been evil, I just don't believe that it's always been as pronounced as it is now. I could be wrong, I'm no authority.
I just know that before perhaps people kept their compulsions under control more than they do now, they had to or when I was growing up we would have been just as afraid to allow our children out to play as we are now. We didn't have to worry there was a sexual predator on our street, on the street over, several of them all around the neighborhood. Today you have to worry about it, flyers go out announcing the newest sexual offender to the neighborhood. You can look up online and find out just how many sexual predators live around you. Now is it because we have a different technology? No. Because you can go back and get records and they weren't just hiding the sexual offenders from people and now they're not. There weren't as many, they weren't as prevelant.
As it was in the days of Noah.
Some might argue that it's been like it was in the days of Noah forever, but I can't agree.
Seriously.
The thought crossed my mind that if things were always as bad and just hiddened, then wouldn't we have a lot more abused people in the world? Or maybe we do or have, and everyone's always kept it hidden. I don't know.
What I do know is just in my own lifetime of 45 years, almost 46, things seems so much worse in so many ways.
We're a sinful nation.
We're corrupt.
We're evildoers.
We've forsaken the Lord.
We've provoked the Holy One of Israel.
Perhaps from generation to generation it's all the same to some degree.
Is it worse?
Yes.
Does it grow worse and worse?
Yes.
Will it continue on the trend until it can get no worse?
Yes, yes...yes.
We are children of our Heavenly Father and so many of us have forsaken Him, denied Him, refuse to listen to Him, shun His amazing love.
May God help us all!
By the grace and mercy of His Son, sacrificed for us, may we seek and find Him, may we grab hold and never let go.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior this is my prayer.
Amen.
laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are
corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have
provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone
away backward.
*
Sounds like people today doesn't it? Sounds like the world today.
What nation can't fit into this? Is there one?
A sinful nation.
A people laden with iniquity.
A seed of evildoers.
Children that are corrupters.
Forsaken the Lord.
Provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger.
Gone backwards.
It's safe to say that there isn't a nation today that doesn't fit the bill.
The corruption is so great it can't even be hidden any longer.
I was thinking about that earlier. Some people will say that it was always like it is now, only hidden.
I don't believe that.
Oh, I believe that there has always been evil, I just don't believe that it's always been as pronounced as it is now. I could be wrong, I'm no authority.
I just know that before perhaps people kept their compulsions under control more than they do now, they had to or when I was growing up we would have been just as afraid to allow our children out to play as we are now. We didn't have to worry there was a sexual predator on our street, on the street over, several of them all around the neighborhood. Today you have to worry about it, flyers go out announcing the newest sexual offender to the neighborhood. You can look up online and find out just how many sexual predators live around you. Now is it because we have a different technology? No. Because you can go back and get records and they weren't just hiding the sexual offenders from people and now they're not. There weren't as many, they weren't as prevelant.
As it was in the days of Noah.
Some might argue that it's been like it was in the days of Noah forever, but I can't agree.
Seriously.
The thought crossed my mind that if things were always as bad and just hiddened, then wouldn't we have a lot more abused people in the world? Or maybe we do or have, and everyone's always kept it hidden. I don't know.
What I do know is just in my own lifetime of 45 years, almost 46, things seems so much worse in so many ways.
We're a sinful nation.
We're corrupt.
We're evildoers.
We've forsaken the Lord.
We've provoked the Holy One of Israel.
Perhaps from generation to generation it's all the same to some degree.
Is it worse?
Yes.
Does it grow worse and worse?
Yes.
Will it continue on the trend until it can get no worse?
Yes, yes...yes.
We are children of our Heavenly Father and so many of us have forsaken Him, denied Him, refuse to listen to Him, shun His amazing love.
May God help us all!
By the grace and mercy of His Son, sacrificed for us, may we seek and find Him, may we grab hold and never let go.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior this is my prayer.
Amen.
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