John {1:15} '...For the law was given by Moses, grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.'
Salvation complete.
Moses introduced the law that God gave to His people.
The law reveals sin.
Sin once revealed needs sacrifice for forgiveness.
The ceremonial law was enacted.
The ceremonial law pointing to the Lamb of God who would need to be slain to bring salvation to sinners.
Moses brought the revelation of sin and the consequence of sinning along with an imperfect forgiveness and cleansing of sin and Jesus brought grace and truth.
Grace gives all us sinners forgiveness that is undeserved, truth revals that grace is found only in Jesus.
Salvation complete.
So many want to believe that Jesus abolished Moses' law. They want to believe that with the law gone they're no longer accountable for the sins they commit. Still others believe that with the law of Moses gone they are held to a higher standard of love and not released from the burden of Moses' law at all. In truth, the law reveals sin and sin doesn't change. How can sin suddenly not be sin? Could murder ever be considered not sin? I'm not talking killing, I'm talking murder. Could stealing ever be considered not sin? You want to believe there are circumstances that make it sinless. Can coveting? Can dishonoring your parents? Again people want to make various excuses for things to be not sin when you clip on the excuses for it and I am NOT saying that there aren't abusive parents that don't deserve honor and such, but the law is the law. And to say that suddenly the laws don't matter is saying what? They were wrong? They were for that time and not relevant for today? Modern people don't need those laws they need modern laws. Some people even say Jesus did just that, He upgraded the whole system and showed that things were just wrong before. Love matters more than law. You've heard the saying/song all we need is love and it's true. If there were true love from all- the law would be automatically kept. Did you read that? Love automatically keeps the law. Seriously. What law wouldn't be kept if love were the law?
Stealing?
Murder?
False Witness?
Worshipping statues?
Taking God's name in vain?
Which one? Out of love you couldn't get rid of a single one, whether it's out of love for God or your fellow man.
The truth is, Jesus didn't come to do away with any law, but to show how out of love they are all kept. Out of love Jesus committed no sin.
Love embodies the law and vice versa, the two are together forever and trying to separate them is trying to destroy what God has created, what Jesus created.
Through grace and truth brought by Jesus may we be filled with love, accepting the forgiveness He brings, that He died to give us.
Amen.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Partakers of the heavenly
John
{1:6} There was a man sent from God, whose name [was] John.
{1:7} The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all [men] through him might believe.
{1:8} He was not that Light, but [was sent] to bear witness of that Light.
{1:9} [That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
{1:10} He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
{1:11} He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
{1:12} But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name
{1:13} Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
{1:14} And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Every man! Not a light that lights up a couple of special people, but a light offered to all mankind. There isn't a person born who lives without essential bits and pieces that make us up as human beings. Flesh, no human being is born without flesh. Blood, no human being is born without blood. Can we even imagine such a thing? What would contain the insides of our bodies if we were born without flesh? What would keep it all from just falling apart, from being prone to disease and infection? Fleshless. No, we can't imagine being a creature without flesh- even those that have flesh-eating diseases are living a life that isn't pleasant in any way, shape, or form. As for having no blood. Without blood we wouldn't live so to be born without blood would mean to be born dead. No one lives without blood. People who are fatally cut can bleed out in minutes. Their blood leaves their bodies and they die. Vital bits and pieces necessary to call us living we can't imagine not having and being called human. Every single one of us humans have these vital bits- a heart, lungs, flesh, blood and there isn't one of us born alive without the vital bits. Another vital bit is the spiritual part of us that separates us from all other living creatures. This spiritual part of us receives the Light of Jesus. The Light that is allowed to shine on every man that cometh into the world, this Light touches all of us- none of us can escape from the Light.
Like it says in verse 10 above, He was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not. Also verse 11, He came unto His own and His own received Him not.
The Light comes to all but that doesn't mean those it shines upon will accept the Light. The Light can be rejected, it can be ignored, but the Light comes to all. The Spiritual Light of Jesus' love touches all, there isn't one human being it won't shine upon but just because the Light shines for all doesn't mean all will rejoice in the Light.
Unlike flesh and blood along with our vital organs, people can live a half-life without the Light that is offered to them. They can exist but they will not become a son of God. They will live out their lives as human beings but then it is over. If they never receive the Light of Jesus Christ and accept His sacrifice for them they can never bridge that gap between humanity and spirituality, or rather they can never allow the bridge to be built for them by Jesus Himself.
We are all born with the potential to become a Son of God, partakers of the heavenly, and yet not all of us will be so. Most people will reject the Light because it isn't forced upon them. There is a choice to be made, a choice to align ourselves with God and His will through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ and the choice has to be made. We have to accept the Light, believe, have faith.
Jesus is full of grace and truth. Jesus the only begotten of the Father. Jesus the Light that Lights every man. Jesus who lives so that we may become partakers of heaven, that we may become a son of God. Our spiritual life illuminated by the greatest Light of all.
By His mercy, by His grace now and forever light our lives sweet, wonderful Jesus.
Amen.
{1:6} There was a man sent from God, whose name [was] John.
{1:7} The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all [men] through him might believe.
{1:8} He was not that Light, but [was sent] to bear witness of that Light.
{1:9} [That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
{1:10} He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
{1:11} He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
{1:12} But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name
{1:13} Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
{1:14} And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Every man! Not a light that lights up a couple of special people, but a light offered to all mankind. There isn't a person born who lives without essential bits and pieces that make us up as human beings. Flesh, no human being is born without flesh. Blood, no human being is born without blood. Can we even imagine such a thing? What would contain the insides of our bodies if we were born without flesh? What would keep it all from just falling apart, from being prone to disease and infection? Fleshless. No, we can't imagine being a creature without flesh- even those that have flesh-eating diseases are living a life that isn't pleasant in any way, shape, or form. As for having no blood. Without blood we wouldn't live so to be born without blood would mean to be born dead. No one lives without blood. People who are fatally cut can bleed out in minutes. Their blood leaves their bodies and they die. Vital bits and pieces necessary to call us living we can't imagine not having and being called human. Every single one of us humans have these vital bits- a heart, lungs, flesh, blood and there isn't one of us born alive without the vital bits. Another vital bit is the spiritual part of us that separates us from all other living creatures. This spiritual part of us receives the Light of Jesus. The Light that is allowed to shine on every man that cometh into the world, this Light touches all of us- none of us can escape from the Light.
Like it says in verse 10 above, He was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not. Also verse 11, He came unto His own and His own received Him not.
The Light comes to all but that doesn't mean those it shines upon will accept the Light. The Light can be rejected, it can be ignored, but the Light comes to all. The Spiritual Light of Jesus' love touches all, there isn't one human being it won't shine upon but just because the Light shines for all doesn't mean all will rejoice in the Light.
Unlike flesh and blood along with our vital organs, people can live a half-life without the Light that is offered to them. They can exist but they will not become a son of God. They will live out their lives as human beings but then it is over. If they never receive the Light of Jesus Christ and accept His sacrifice for them they can never bridge that gap between humanity and spirituality, or rather they can never allow the bridge to be built for them by Jesus Himself.
We are all born with the potential to become a Son of God, partakers of the heavenly, and yet not all of us will be so. Most people will reject the Light because it isn't forced upon them. There is a choice to be made, a choice to align ourselves with God and His will through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ and the choice has to be made. We have to accept the Light, believe, have faith.
Jesus is full of grace and truth. Jesus the only begotten of the Father. Jesus the Light that Lights every man. Jesus who lives so that we may become partakers of heaven, that we may become a son of God. Our spiritual life illuminated by the greatest Light of all.
By His mercy, by His grace now and forever light our lives sweet, wonderful Jesus.
Amen.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The darkness comprehended it not
John
{1:1} In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
{1:2} The same was in the beginning with God.
{1:3} All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
{1:4} In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
{1:5} And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
**
The Word was with God.
In him was life.
The life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness.
And the darkness comprehended it not.
*
Only through Jesus is eternal life given to mankind. Jesus is our only hope, our only light in a world of darkness and eternal darkness. Jesus has done all He can to bring this light to the darkness, to dispel the dark, to show mankind that there is light only in Him. The darkness comprehended it not. The darkness that invades us is deceptive, in fact the darkness is so deceptive it has people fooled into thinking they live in light when they don't. The light that surrounds us without Jesus is nothing compared to the true light that He brings. The world we live in without Jesus is completely made up of artifical light giving false hope that will fool many. The darkness comprehended it not.
We need Jesus. We need the light of men. We need life. We need to comprehend and not be lost in the darkness.
May God help us, giving us light dispelling the darkness in our lives. We need light, we need life, we need Jesus.
By His grace and mercy.
Amen.
{1:1} In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
{1:2} The same was in the beginning with God.
{1:3} All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
{1:4} In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
{1:5} And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
**
The Word was with God.
In him was life.
The life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness.
And the darkness comprehended it not.
*
Only through Jesus is eternal life given to mankind. Jesus is our only hope, our only light in a world of darkness and eternal darkness. Jesus has done all He can to bring this light to the darkness, to dispel the dark, to show mankind that there is light only in Him. The darkness comprehended it not. The darkness that invades us is deceptive, in fact the darkness is so deceptive it has people fooled into thinking they live in light when they don't. The light that surrounds us without Jesus is nothing compared to the true light that He brings. The world we live in without Jesus is completely made up of artifical light giving false hope that will fool many. The darkness comprehended it not.
We need Jesus. We need the light of men. We need life. We need to comprehend and not be lost in the darkness.
May God help us, giving us light dispelling the darkness in our lives. We need light, we need life, we need Jesus.
By His grace and mercy.
Amen.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Either God is in control or we think we are.
Either God is in control or we think we are. If God is in control then we bow to His will, not ours. If we are in control then we do whatever we feel like doing or not doing. Is it God or is it us? If God then we must obey God not doing our will. Is it God's will be done or our will be done or ours? We don't have to understand to obey, we obey and hope for understanding.
Exodus {19:5} Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine
Obey God's voice.
Deut. {13:3}...for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. {13:4} Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
Walk after the Lord your God...obey his voice.
Deut. {27:9} And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God. {27:10} Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day
Obey the voice of the LORD thy God.
Deut. {30:2} And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul
Obey his voice.
Deut. {30:20} That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, [and] that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he [is] thy life, and the length of thy days
Obey his voice.
1 Sam. {12:14} If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then
shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God
Obey his voice.
1 Sam. {15:22} And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.
Obeying the voice of the Lord. Obeying better than sacrifice.
Jere. {7:23} But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all
the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
Obey my (God's) voice.
Jere. {11:3} And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed [be] the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, {11:4} Which I commanded your fathers in the day [that] I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God
Obey my (God's) voice.
Jere. {11:7} For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day [that] I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, [even] unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. {11:8} Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart...
Obey my (God's) voice. Yet they obeyed not... everyone walked in the imagination of their evil heart. Obey God, His will be done, not ours.
Jere. {26:13} Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you
Obey the voice of the LORD your God.
Jere. {42:6} Whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.
Obey the voice of the LORD our God.
Daniel {7:27} And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
Obey him.
Daniel. {9:10} Neither have we obeyed the oice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. {9:11} Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that [is] written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
Obey him.
Zech. {6:15} And they [that are] far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And [this] shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.
Diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.
Acts {5:29} Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Obey God rather than men.
Romans {6:16} Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
His servants you are to whom you obey.
1 Pet. {4:17} For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God? {4:18} And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? {4:19} Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls [to him] in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Obey the gospel God.
Obey...
obey (o-bâ´) verb
obeyed, obeying, obeys verb, transitive
1.To carry out or fulfill the command, order, or instruction of.
2.To carry out or comply with (a command, for example).
verb, intransitive
To behave obediently.
[Middle English obeien, from Old French obeir, from Latin oboedìre, to listen to : ob-, to. See ob- + audìre, to hear.]
- obey´er noun
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
From Latin-- to listen, to hear.
Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language
1. (v. t.) To give ear to; to execute the commands of; to yield submission to; to comply with the orders of.
2. (v. t.) To submit to the authority of; to be ruled by.
3. (v. t.) To yield to the impulse, power, or operation of; as, a ship obeys her helm.
4. (v. i.) To give obedience.
Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language
1. (n.) The act of obeying, or the state of being obedient; compliance with that which is required by authority; subjection to rightful restraint or control.
2. (n.) Words or actions denoting submission to authority; dutifulness.
Submitting ourselves to God.
Subject to God's rule.
Listening, hearing, yielding to God.
Executing the commands of God.
Submission to, complying with God's orders.
Ruled by God.
Only good comes from obeying the voice of God, of harkening to His commands. Only good. Ultimate good, not earthly good necessarily. Jesus obeyed the voice of His father implicitly. There wasn't a single command of God's that Jesus broke, not one. Jesus died. Jesus' death was for us. Jesus said...
Luke {22:42} Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Nevertheless not my will but thine be done.
Jesus gave His life obeying the will of His Father. Obeying the voice of the LORD God.
Jesus is our example and we must obey the voice of the LORD our God. Not our will, but God's.
Do we have to understand? No. We are called to obey, not obey after we've picked apart everything and find it to our liking, discarding it if we don't. It's not our liking that matters, it's obeying our Creator, our Heavenly Father, the LORD God.
Ro. {5:21} That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Not our will but thine oh Lord!
Help us to obey the voice of the LORD God, through Your righteousness, by Your grace and mercy now and always.
Amen.
Exodus {19:5} Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine
Obey God's voice.
Deut. {13:3}...for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. {13:4} Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
Walk after the Lord your God...obey his voice.
Deut. {27:9} And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God. {27:10} Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day
Obey the voice of the LORD thy God.
Deut. {30:2} And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul
Obey his voice.
Deut. {30:20} That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, [and] that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he [is] thy life, and the length of thy days
Obey his voice.
1 Sam. {12:14} If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then
shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God
Obey his voice.
1 Sam. {15:22} And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.
Obeying the voice of the Lord. Obeying better than sacrifice.
Jere. {7:23} But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all
the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
Obey my (God's) voice.
Jere. {11:3} And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed [be] the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, {11:4} Which I commanded your fathers in the day [that] I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God
Obey my (God's) voice.
Jere. {11:7} For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day [that] I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, [even] unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. {11:8} Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart...
Obey my (God's) voice. Yet they obeyed not... everyone walked in the imagination of their evil heart. Obey God, His will be done, not ours.
Jere. {26:13} Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you
Obey the voice of the LORD your God.
Jere. {42:6} Whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.
Obey the voice of the LORD our God.
Daniel {7:27} And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
Obey him.
Daniel. {9:10} Neither have we obeyed the oice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. {9:11} Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that [is] written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
Obey him.
Zech. {6:15} And they [that are] far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And [this] shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.
Diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.
Acts {5:29} Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Obey God rather than men.
Romans {6:16} Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
His servants you are to whom you obey.
1 Pet. {4:17} For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God? {4:18} And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? {4:19} Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls [to him] in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Obey the gospel God.
Obey...
obey (o-bâ´) verb
obeyed, obeying, obeys verb, transitive
1.To carry out or fulfill the command, order, or instruction of.
2.To carry out or comply with (a command, for example).
verb, intransitive
To behave obediently.
[Middle English obeien, from Old French obeir, from Latin oboedìre, to listen to : ob-, to. See ob- + audìre, to hear.]
- obey´er noun
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
From Latin-- to listen, to hear.
Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language
1. (v. t.) To give ear to; to execute the commands of; to yield submission to; to comply with the orders of.
2. (v. t.) To submit to the authority of; to be ruled by.
3. (v. t.) To yield to the impulse, power, or operation of; as, a ship obeys her helm.
4. (v. i.) To give obedience.
Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language
1. (n.) The act of obeying, or the state of being obedient; compliance with that which is required by authority; subjection to rightful restraint or control.
2. (n.) Words or actions denoting submission to authority; dutifulness.
Submitting ourselves to God.
Subject to God's rule.
Listening, hearing, yielding to God.
Executing the commands of God.
Submission to, complying with God's orders.
Ruled by God.
Only good comes from obeying the voice of God, of harkening to His commands. Only good. Ultimate good, not earthly good necessarily. Jesus obeyed the voice of His father implicitly. There wasn't a single command of God's that Jesus broke, not one. Jesus died. Jesus' death was for us. Jesus said...
Luke {22:42} Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Nevertheless not my will but thine be done.
Jesus gave His life obeying the will of His Father. Obeying the voice of the LORD God.
Jesus is our example and we must obey the voice of the LORD our God. Not our will, but God's.
Do we have to understand? No. We are called to obey, not obey after we've picked apart everything and find it to our liking, discarding it if we don't. It's not our liking that matters, it's obeying our Creator, our Heavenly Father, the LORD God.
Ro. {5:21} That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Not our will but thine oh Lord!
Help us to obey the voice of the LORD God, through Your righteousness, by Your grace and mercy now and always.
Amen.
Friday, May 1, 2009
We have to ask of Him before we can receive.
Rev. {3:14} And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; {3:15} I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. {3:16} So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. {3:17} Because thou sayest, I am rich, and
increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: {3:18} I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
***
I know thy works
that thou art neither cold nor hot
I would thou wert cold or hot
So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot
I will spue thee out of my mouth
Because thou sayest I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing
and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked
How can someone believe they are rich and have need of nothing yet be wretched and miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
Self delusion. Do we do that? Really? Do we claim riches and have need of nothing and yet really be in horrific condition? What kind of fool claims such a thing? A proud person?
Yes, a very proud person. A proud country?
Look at our country today and how miserable, poor, blind, and naked a condition it is in. They claimed riches for so long when in truth they had none.
People do it all the time. Claim one thing but reality is a whole other story.
We have to look at ourselves honestly with all the trappings gone and see what we really are made of, what our lives are comprised of. A long honest, hard look at ourselves.
Are we hot or cold? Are we lukewarm?
Let's read it all...
Rev.
{3:14} And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God
{3:15} I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
{3:16} So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
{3:17} Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked
{3:18} I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
We are counseled to buy gold tried in fire...if we want real riches. We are told to buy white raiment so we maybe be truly clothed, and to buy salve and put it on our eyes so that we can see.
This was said to the angel of the church of Laodiceans-- the last church.
God's church in the last days. God's people.
The church isn't a building it is a people- God's people. To God's people this message was given. To God's people. A message from God to His people. He knows His people. He know the works of His poeple. He knows that we live in a world that celebrates being neither cold nor hot and that we too would get caught up in that way of life. Getting by, not making waves, lukewarm in life, lukewarm in our religion. God doesn't want His people to be lukewarm. If we are determined to get by on a mediocre spiritual life, thinking we're giving just enough to get by, or thinking we do this and that so it's enough, if we live our spiritual lives with set parameters can it ever change? Can it grow? Can it change from lukewarm to hot? Can we ever be truly clothed in white raiment and not be naked? Can we ever hope to see spiritually if we're content to remain blinded by our lukewarm existence. If we refuse to see because we believe we are rich enough and need nothing, that we have enough spirituality, we are truly going to be spued from the Lord's mouth.
Beware of settling, for thinking we have enough. Let our eyes and hearts be opened so that we may see our need. That the comfortable existence we are in is a trap and we need to be hot...not lukewarm.
Let us buy of Jesus all that we need and let us go to Him daily for our passion, for our clothing, for our very sight into all things spiritual, into all things that matter to eternity. He wants us to go to Him, He counsels us to buy from Him, He won't force us to come to Him, He waits at the door, He knocks, we have to open...we have to buy, we have to ask of Him before we can receive.
By the grace of God, by the mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: {3:18} I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
***
I know thy works
that thou art neither cold nor hot
I would thou wert cold or hot
So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot
I will spue thee out of my mouth
Because thou sayest I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing
and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked
How can someone believe they are rich and have need of nothing yet be wretched and miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
Self delusion. Do we do that? Really? Do we claim riches and have need of nothing and yet really be in horrific condition? What kind of fool claims such a thing? A proud person?
Yes, a very proud person. A proud country?
Look at our country today and how miserable, poor, blind, and naked a condition it is in. They claimed riches for so long when in truth they had none.
People do it all the time. Claim one thing but reality is a whole other story.
We have to look at ourselves honestly with all the trappings gone and see what we really are made of, what our lives are comprised of. A long honest, hard look at ourselves.
Are we hot or cold? Are we lukewarm?
Let's read it all...
Rev.
{3:14} And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God
{3:15} I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
{3:16} So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
{3:17} Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked
{3:18} I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
We are counseled to buy gold tried in fire...if we want real riches. We are told to buy white raiment so we maybe be truly clothed, and to buy salve and put it on our eyes so that we can see.
This was said to the angel of the church of Laodiceans-- the last church.
God's church in the last days. God's people.
The church isn't a building it is a people- God's people. To God's people this message was given. To God's people. A message from God to His people. He knows His people. He know the works of His poeple. He knows that we live in a world that celebrates being neither cold nor hot and that we too would get caught up in that way of life. Getting by, not making waves, lukewarm in life, lukewarm in our religion. God doesn't want His people to be lukewarm. If we are determined to get by on a mediocre spiritual life, thinking we're giving just enough to get by, or thinking we do this and that so it's enough, if we live our spiritual lives with set parameters can it ever change? Can it grow? Can it change from lukewarm to hot? Can we ever be truly clothed in white raiment and not be naked? Can we ever hope to see spiritually if we're content to remain blinded by our lukewarm existence. If we refuse to see because we believe we are rich enough and need nothing, that we have enough spirituality, we are truly going to be spued from the Lord's mouth.
Beware of settling, for thinking we have enough. Let our eyes and hearts be opened so that we may see our need. That the comfortable existence we are in is a trap and we need to be hot...not lukewarm.
Let us buy of Jesus all that we need and let us go to Him daily for our passion, for our clothing, for our very sight into all things spiritual, into all things that matter to eternity. He wants us to go to Him, He counsels us to buy from Him, He won't force us to come to Him, He waits at the door, He knocks, we have to open...we have to buy, we have to ask of Him before we can receive.
By the grace of God, by the mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Envious at the foolish
Ps. {73:3} For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked
Ps. {73:17} Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
**
We do envy the wicked don't we?
Trouble is we are mixed up in our head as to what wicked is any longer. We call a wicked person one who tortures and kills someone, we call thieving from the poor wicked, we call a lot of things wicked but there are a lot of things that were once considered wicked that aren't any longer and as a result we run in circles chasing our own tails about this because we are taught not to label the wicked wicked because then we are judging people and judging people is wrong we're told. In truth we have to know what is wicked don't we? We have to know what acts are wicked and then we have to judge the acts people commit- without ultimately condemning their eternal life- something we can never do.
wicked (adjective)
wicked, virtueless, unvirtuous, immoral
amoral, amoralistic, indifferent
lax, unprincipled, unscrupulous, conscienceless, dishonest
unblushing, hardened, callous, shameless, brazen, flaunting
ungodly, irreligious, profane, impious
iniquitous, unrighteous, unjust
evil, bad
evil-minded, bad-hearted, black-hearted, malevolent
evil-doing, maleficent
misbehaving, bad, naughty, disobedient
weak (see frail)
peccant, erring, sinning, transgressing
sinful, full of sin, guilty
unworthy, undeserving, unmeritorious
graceless, not in a state of grace, reprobate
hopeless, incorrigible, irreclaimable, unredeemed, irredeemable
accursed, godforsaken
That about covers things doesn't it? Wicked.
The wicked seem to have a good time being wicked. The wicked seem to prosper. The wicked seem to lead lives honest men and women can't seem to. It's the old why do things bad for you have to be so tempting. So many believe it's easier to be wicked than to be honest and they're right if by easy they mean have more temporal enjoyment and losing eternal life.
Choices. Right or wrong. Life or death. Jesus or satan. Good or evil.
Ps. {73:3} For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked
Ps. {73:17} Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
When we truly understand the end of the wicked envying them is foolish really. Yet to understand their end, we have to go into the sanctuary of God. In the sanctuary of God we find the entire plan of salvation. In the sanctuary of God we find Jesus.
While we hesitate to look at anyone and judge them- we have to look at ourselves and judge our own actions. We know in our heart of hearts when we commit good an when we commit evil. We need to ask God to open our eyes and our hearts to our own ways so that we may discern in our lives all we do. Jesus wants to know us and He can know us if we spend time with Him. When we choose to be wicked and our hearts aren't pricked in the least by remorse we need to ask God to fill our hearts with the repentance we need, the knowledge we need to feel the remorse and the need to ask for forgiveness.
Yes we get willfully caught up in sinning, we feel despair over not being able to keep from sinning, and we also feel apathy. We believe we won't ever stop and sometimes we just don't want to stop. Sin is insidious by its very nature and the only power we have over it is Jesus. The only power we have over sin is the love of Jesus. Knowing our sins killed the sinless Son of God, knowing our sins go against our very Creator. While we might not care, or say we don't, by the grace of God may there still be the voice of the Holy Spirit convicting us in our hearts and by the mercy of our Lord may we come to a place before Him, choosing the way of the Sanctuary and not the way of the wicked.
All glory and praise to our God. All mercy and grace from our Lord Jesus Christ...now and forever.
Amen.
Ps. {73:17} Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
**
We do envy the wicked don't we?
Trouble is we are mixed up in our head as to what wicked is any longer. We call a wicked person one who tortures and kills someone, we call thieving from the poor wicked, we call a lot of things wicked but there are a lot of things that were once considered wicked that aren't any longer and as a result we run in circles chasing our own tails about this because we are taught not to label the wicked wicked because then we are judging people and judging people is wrong we're told. In truth we have to know what is wicked don't we? We have to know what acts are wicked and then we have to judge the acts people commit- without ultimately condemning their eternal life- something we can never do.
wicked (adjective)
wicked, virtueless, unvirtuous, immoral
amoral, amoralistic, indifferent
lax, unprincipled, unscrupulous, conscienceless, dishonest
unblushing, hardened, callous, shameless, brazen, flaunting
ungodly, irreligious, profane, impious
iniquitous, unrighteous, unjust
evil, bad
evil-minded, bad-hearted, black-hearted, malevolent
evil-doing, maleficent
misbehaving, bad, naughty, disobedient
weak (see frail)
peccant, erring, sinning, transgressing
sinful, full of sin, guilty
unworthy, undeserving, unmeritorious
graceless, not in a state of grace, reprobate
hopeless, incorrigible, irreclaimable, unredeemed, irredeemable
accursed, godforsaken
That about covers things doesn't it? Wicked.
The wicked seem to have a good time being wicked. The wicked seem to prosper. The wicked seem to lead lives honest men and women can't seem to. It's the old why do things bad for you have to be so tempting. So many believe it's easier to be wicked than to be honest and they're right if by easy they mean have more temporal enjoyment and losing eternal life.
Choices. Right or wrong. Life or death. Jesus or satan. Good or evil.
Ps. {73:3} For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked
Ps. {73:17} Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
When we truly understand the end of the wicked envying them is foolish really. Yet to understand their end, we have to go into the sanctuary of God. In the sanctuary of God we find the entire plan of salvation. In the sanctuary of God we find Jesus.
While we hesitate to look at anyone and judge them- we have to look at ourselves and judge our own actions. We know in our heart of hearts when we commit good an when we commit evil. We need to ask God to open our eyes and our hearts to our own ways so that we may discern in our lives all we do. Jesus wants to know us and He can know us if we spend time with Him. When we choose to be wicked and our hearts aren't pricked in the least by remorse we need to ask God to fill our hearts with the repentance we need, the knowledge we need to feel the remorse and the need to ask for forgiveness.
Yes we get willfully caught up in sinning, we feel despair over not being able to keep from sinning, and we also feel apathy. We believe we won't ever stop and sometimes we just don't want to stop. Sin is insidious by its very nature and the only power we have over it is Jesus. The only power we have over sin is the love of Jesus. Knowing our sins killed the sinless Son of God, knowing our sins go against our very Creator. While we might not care, or say we don't, by the grace of God may there still be the voice of the Holy Spirit convicting us in our hearts and by the mercy of our Lord may we come to a place before Him, choosing the way of the Sanctuary and not the way of the wicked.
All glory and praise to our God. All mercy and grace from our Lord Jesus Christ...now and forever.
Amen.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Daniel {7:18} But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Possess the kingdom forever.
We sit at home, we walk the streets, we rest upon the cot at a shelter, we recover on a bed in a hospital, we sit in the gutter, we troll the streets with hands outstretched, the dirt streaked across our cheeks the last shower the night we made it to the shelter and found a spot free. We live in our tents, we make the back seat of our car our home, we wander about from room to room in our mansions and each one of us no matter where we live seeks something more.
The king in his earthly kingdom searches for treasures money can't buy when he realizes that the treasures most dear cost nothing and yet elude him. The pauper wanders the street seeking a treasure of wealth believing that most of their problems will be solved if only that two dollar lottery ticket would pay off in the millions. It's hard to say who has it worse really- the rich man realizing his money is worthless yet loathed to give up any of the earthly comforts he possesses, or the poor man always thinking money is the answer and therefore never stopping to believe the answer could be anything more. Those inbetween the two- rich and poor- those two might have it the easiest in realization. They're poor enough to want more money but do realize the money they have can't bring them complete happiness, and rich enough to be grateful for having at least something.
Honestly there are so many variables and in the end it comes down to realizing that this world doesn't have the kingdom we are meant to possess unless we are looking to Jesus, the Savior of all mankind through whom the kingdom is realized. Jesus brought the kingdom to earth when He took on humanity and made that kingdom available to all who would believe in Him.
Rich or poor, and all the varying states inbetween the two, no earthly kingdom will satisfy. Some may argue at least they'll be comfortable until they go to their everlasting punishment as reward, and that may be true but they're sacrificing much more than they realize.
We live for but a moment in time to all history. Our lives of 70 or so years are a drop in an ocean of water to all the lives in all the time that have existed. We can have eternity. We are made with the desire to want to live healthily and for as long as possible in a happy, peaceful, content existence that eludes us.
Daniel {7:18} But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
We shall take a kingdom and possess that kingdom forever and ever and ever.
We who are the saints of the Most High.
We who accept Christ as our righteousness.
All glory be to God! All honor and praise to our heavenly Father!
By the grace of Jesus Christ our Savior now and forever.
Amen.
Possess the kingdom forever.
We sit at home, we walk the streets, we rest upon the cot at a shelter, we recover on a bed in a hospital, we sit in the gutter, we troll the streets with hands outstretched, the dirt streaked across our cheeks the last shower the night we made it to the shelter and found a spot free. We live in our tents, we make the back seat of our car our home, we wander about from room to room in our mansions and each one of us no matter where we live seeks something more.
The king in his earthly kingdom searches for treasures money can't buy when he realizes that the treasures most dear cost nothing and yet elude him. The pauper wanders the street seeking a treasure of wealth believing that most of their problems will be solved if only that two dollar lottery ticket would pay off in the millions. It's hard to say who has it worse really- the rich man realizing his money is worthless yet loathed to give up any of the earthly comforts he possesses, or the poor man always thinking money is the answer and therefore never stopping to believe the answer could be anything more. Those inbetween the two- rich and poor- those two might have it the easiest in realization. They're poor enough to want more money but do realize the money they have can't bring them complete happiness, and rich enough to be grateful for having at least something.
Honestly there are so many variables and in the end it comes down to realizing that this world doesn't have the kingdom we are meant to possess unless we are looking to Jesus, the Savior of all mankind through whom the kingdom is realized. Jesus brought the kingdom to earth when He took on humanity and made that kingdom available to all who would believe in Him.
Rich or poor, and all the varying states inbetween the two, no earthly kingdom will satisfy. Some may argue at least they'll be comfortable until they go to their everlasting punishment as reward, and that may be true but they're sacrificing much more than they realize.
We live for but a moment in time to all history. Our lives of 70 or so years are a drop in an ocean of water to all the lives in all the time that have existed. We can have eternity. We are made with the desire to want to live healthily and for as long as possible in a happy, peaceful, content existence that eludes us.
Daniel {7:18} But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
We shall take a kingdom and possess that kingdom forever and ever and ever.
We who are the saints of the Most High.
We who accept Christ as our righteousness.
All glory be to God! All honor and praise to our heavenly Father!
By the grace of Jesus Christ our Savior now and forever.
Amen.
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