Matthew
{6:10} Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven
Luke
{11:2} And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
*******
Thy kingdom come.
Jesus said these words when the disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. He told them to pray to the Heavenly Father and in that prayer to pray... Thy kingdom come.
Kingdom.
Luke
{9:60} Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Jesus spoke a lot about the kingdom of God, before Jesus did though John the Baptist did.
Matt. {3:1} In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, {3:2} And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
{4:23} And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom
{5:3} Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
{5:10} Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
{5:19} Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them,] the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
{5:20} For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
{4:17} From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
{6:10} Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.
{6:13} And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
{6:33} But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you
{7:21} Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
{9:35} And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
{10:7} And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
{12:28} But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you
*******
The Kingdom of God.
We read fairy tales all the time and some of them have kingdoms- there are the tales of evil verses good and we've made them stories, games, unbelievable. We've taken the concept of good and evil and altered it so much that it is just that- fodder for entertainment. We've lost sight of true nobility, of a life dedicated to honor, to a purpose beyond the norm. We think living for a kingdom we can't touch, we can't see, we can't hear- totally ridiculous. People are called crazy who live for 'imaginary' things as if they are real. Try and make it real to another and we're more crazy still. This whole battle between good and evil isn't something real and if we make it real we're crazy. Satan surely has done his work well hasn't he? Seriously, he has. Yes, we allow for a certain amount of religion and we even tolerate zeolots, Jesus freaks, and religious nuts. We humor them and wish them to go away so they're not disturbing our little lives, lives not filled with belief of a kingdom to come, a real kingdom for you and for me.
The Kingdom of God.
Christ is the embodiment of that Kingdom. Christ preached the Kingdom. We too should preach the Kingdom as it is in Jesus.
The Kingdom is real! It's not something made up from someone's imagination, it is real as you and I are real. We are either for the Kingdom or we're not and there isn't any middle ground. Left to our own devices we are not seeking the kingdom and if not sought it won't be found.
May God help us all seek the Kingdom of God, to preach the Kingdom to others.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now and forever.
Amen.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
We are blessed for having faith.
Luke
{24:36} And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in
the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you.
{24:37} But they were terrified and affrighted, and
supposed that they had seen a spirit. {24:38} And he said
unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise
in your hearts? {24:39} Behold my hands and my feet, that
it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh
and bones, as ye see me have. {24:40} And when he had
thus spoken, he shewed them [his] hands and [his] feet.
{24:41} And while they yet believed not for joy, and
wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
{24:42} And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of
an honeycomb. {24:43} And he took [it,] and did eat before
them. {24:44} And he said unto them, These [are] the
words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you,
that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the
law of Moses, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the psalms,
concerning me. {24:45} Then opened he their
understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
{24:46} And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it
behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third
day: {24:47} And that repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in his name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem. {24:48} And ye are witnesses of
these things.
Jesus said unto the disciples gathered together on that third day, the day He rose from the grave-- Peace be unto you.
Don't you suppose that if Jesus said 'peace be unto you' that peace would overcome you instantly? You'd think that's what would happen and yet once again Jesus allows our free will reign He doesn't manipulate us of cause us to feel this way or that not without our consent. We can consent to remain sad, scared, angry. We don't have to choose to allow Jesus to bring us peace and yet peace is what He want's to give us- not the peace of this world but the peace that is found in Him.
After Jesus said, peace be unto you the Bible goes on to say- 'But they were terrified and affrighted and supposed they'd seen a spirit.'
Terrified, that's a pretty strong word isn't it? They weren't just scared but terrified, why? Because they thought they'd seen a spirit. Spirits were and are obviously something that isn't conducive to being calm about, yet worth being terrified of. If spirits were good things and things desired then you'd think that they'd have been happy to see a spirit. Yet Jesus goes on and says, 'Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.'
He wasn't a spirit, He was flesh and bones, he wanted them to look at his hands and feet. What would they see there looking at His hands and feet-- the marks of His crucifixtion? This was the crucified Christ standing there before them and they were scared, no, not just scared but terrified.
Jesus didn't tell them to calm down but rather gave the reason to calm down, to understand He was no evil spirit and worthy of being terrified of.
He told them outright He was no spirit, he asked for food and ate it in front of them, and He talked with them wanting them to understand that all things in the Scriptures (Old Testament) the Law of Moses and the prophets that talked of Him had been fulfilled in Him. Jesus opened their understanding why? Because their understanding was obviously dim, they couldn't understand what Jesus was saying, they had fear in them and so He opened their understanding, read this again--
'{24:45} Then opened he their
understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
{24:46} And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it
behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third
day: {24:47} And that repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in his name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem. {24:48} And ye are witnesses of
these things.'
Jesus opened their understanding to the reality of His being the risen Lord. He rose from the dead and this would be preached to all, His life would be preached. The fact He fulfilled all that was written in the Scriptures of HIm and He suffered, and then rose from the dead on the third day and because of this-- repentance and remission of sin should be preached in His name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem-- the disciples were witnessed to all these things.
There really is nothing like an eyewitness is there? As long as you can believe what they tell you. In our court system we have eyewitnesses who testify towards the happenstances that led up to their being in the court that day. They'll tell you they saw a person commit a crime and because of their testimony taken under oath swearing what they say is true people are put in jail, they're convicted of a crime based on eyewitnesses. The disciples were eyewitnesses to all Christ had done when He lived among them and now they were witnesses of His fulfilling prophecy and rising from the dead. The disciples were called to preach all this to others so that they could repent of their sins and be forgiven.
A lot of people want an eyewitness, not just a Holy book to reveal Christ to them and yet even should an eyewitness have been among them and they living back in the time of Jesus' death and resurrection the same people would refuse to believe the eyewitness.
No matter if it's a book or an eyewitness in the end you have to take what is said by faith and believe in it. The court system takes what an eyewitness testifies and believes in them and what they say. How often do you take the word of someone? We do it all the time. We ask someone to do something and we believe they will do it, we have faith.
Christ appeared before the disciples and they were terrified until He revealed fully that He was truly the Lord they loved risen from the grave.
The disciples in that moment didn't have to go by faith so much as fact because right before them Jesus lived, Jesus who had died was now living and they saw Him. Their understanding was being opened. We need to remember this verse-
John {20:29} Jesus saith unto him, Thomas,
because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are]
they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.
We are blessed for beliving when we haven't seen.
We are blessed for having faith.
May God open our hearts and minds to understand all that we need to understand to be prepared and to help prepare others for His soon return. May our faith be strengthened, our hearts filled with love for one another, may the Lord guide us into all truth in Him and may His grace and mercy be real to us as well as His righteousness in our lives because it's only through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that we truly live- now and forever.
Amen.
{24:36} And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in
the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you.
{24:37} But they were terrified and affrighted, and
supposed that they had seen a spirit. {24:38} And he said
unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise
in your hearts? {24:39} Behold my hands and my feet, that
it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh
and bones, as ye see me have. {24:40} And when he had
thus spoken, he shewed them [his] hands and [his] feet.
{24:41} And while they yet believed not for joy, and
wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
{24:42} And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of
an honeycomb. {24:43} And he took [it,] and did eat before
them. {24:44} And he said unto them, These [are] the
words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you,
that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the
law of Moses, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the psalms,
concerning me. {24:45} Then opened he their
understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
{24:46} And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it
behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third
day: {24:47} And that repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in his name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem. {24:48} And ye are witnesses of
these things.
Jesus said unto the disciples gathered together on that third day, the day He rose from the grave-- Peace be unto you.
Don't you suppose that if Jesus said 'peace be unto you' that peace would overcome you instantly? You'd think that's what would happen and yet once again Jesus allows our free will reign He doesn't manipulate us of cause us to feel this way or that not without our consent. We can consent to remain sad, scared, angry. We don't have to choose to allow Jesus to bring us peace and yet peace is what He want's to give us- not the peace of this world but the peace that is found in Him.
After Jesus said, peace be unto you the Bible goes on to say- 'But they were terrified and affrighted and supposed they'd seen a spirit.'
Terrified, that's a pretty strong word isn't it? They weren't just scared but terrified, why? Because they thought they'd seen a spirit. Spirits were and are obviously something that isn't conducive to being calm about, yet worth being terrified of. If spirits were good things and things desired then you'd think that they'd have been happy to see a spirit. Yet Jesus goes on and says, 'Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.'
He wasn't a spirit, He was flesh and bones, he wanted them to look at his hands and feet. What would they see there looking at His hands and feet-- the marks of His crucifixtion? This was the crucified Christ standing there before them and they were scared, no, not just scared but terrified.
Jesus didn't tell them to calm down but rather gave the reason to calm down, to understand He was no evil spirit and worthy of being terrified of.
He told them outright He was no spirit, he asked for food and ate it in front of them, and He talked with them wanting them to understand that all things in the Scriptures (Old Testament) the Law of Moses and the prophets that talked of Him had been fulfilled in Him. Jesus opened their understanding why? Because their understanding was obviously dim, they couldn't understand what Jesus was saying, they had fear in them and so He opened their understanding, read this again--
'{24:45} Then opened he their
understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
{24:46} And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it
behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third
day: {24:47} And that repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in his name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem. {24:48} And ye are witnesses of
these things.'
Jesus opened their understanding to the reality of His being the risen Lord. He rose from the dead and this would be preached to all, His life would be preached. The fact He fulfilled all that was written in the Scriptures of HIm and He suffered, and then rose from the dead on the third day and because of this-- repentance and remission of sin should be preached in His name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem-- the disciples were witnessed to all these things.
There really is nothing like an eyewitness is there? As long as you can believe what they tell you. In our court system we have eyewitnesses who testify towards the happenstances that led up to their being in the court that day. They'll tell you they saw a person commit a crime and because of their testimony taken under oath swearing what they say is true people are put in jail, they're convicted of a crime based on eyewitnesses. The disciples were eyewitnesses to all Christ had done when He lived among them and now they were witnesses of His fulfilling prophecy and rising from the dead. The disciples were called to preach all this to others so that they could repent of their sins and be forgiven.
A lot of people want an eyewitness, not just a Holy book to reveal Christ to them and yet even should an eyewitness have been among them and they living back in the time of Jesus' death and resurrection the same people would refuse to believe the eyewitness.
No matter if it's a book or an eyewitness in the end you have to take what is said by faith and believe in it. The court system takes what an eyewitness testifies and believes in them and what they say. How often do you take the word of someone? We do it all the time. We ask someone to do something and we believe they will do it, we have faith.
Christ appeared before the disciples and they were terrified until He revealed fully that He was truly the Lord they loved risen from the grave.
The disciples in that moment didn't have to go by faith so much as fact because right before them Jesus lived, Jesus who had died was now living and they saw Him. Their understanding was being opened. We need to remember this verse-
John {20:29} Jesus saith unto him, Thomas,
because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are]
they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.
We are blessed for beliving when we haven't seen.
We are blessed for having faith.
May God open our hearts and minds to understand all that we need to understand to be prepared and to help prepare others for His soon return. May our faith be strengthened, our hearts filled with love for one another, may the Lord guide us into all truth in Him and may His grace and mercy be real to us as well as His righteousness in our lives because it's only through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that we truly live- now and forever.
Amen.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Testimony of our conscience!
2 Kings
{17:15}
And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he
made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he
testified against them; and they followed vanity, and
became vain, and went after the heathen that [were] round
about them, [concerning] whom the LORD had charged
them, that they should not do like them.
Rejected God's testimonies!
Ps.
{19:7} The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the
testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.
{93:5} Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O
LORD, for ever.
God's testimonies are sure!
Ps.
{119:22} Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy
testimonies.
{119:24} Thy testimonies also [are] my delight [and] my counsellors
Kept God's testimony- God's testimonies are a delight, they are counsellors.
Think about it-- testimonies as counsellors, advisiors; how wonderful is that?
Isa.
{8:16} Bind up the testimony, seal the law
among my disciples.
2 Cor.
{1:12} For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our
conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with
fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our
conversation in the world, and more abundantly to youward.
Testimony of our conscience!
What is the testimony of your conscience? What should the testimony of our conscience be? Christ Jesus lives now and forever!
Jesus died for us and rose again that should be our testimony now and always.
God's testimony is sure, the record of God is sure. The knowledge we have of God speaks for Him, He's not left us in the dark to flounder but has given us the testimony of Himself so that we may know Him. He's a delight, He's our surety in a world that offers no surety.
The testimony of God is our testimony. We must keep this testimony in our hearts ever before our conscience.
God First Always!
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now and forever.
Amen.
{17:15}
And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he
made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he
testified against them; and they followed vanity, and
became vain, and went after the heathen that [were] round
about them, [concerning] whom the LORD had charged
them, that they should not do like them.
Rejected God's testimonies!
Ps.
{19:7} The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the
testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.
{93:5} Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O
LORD, for ever.
God's testimonies are sure!
Ps.
{119:22} Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy
testimonies.
{119:24} Thy testimonies also [are] my delight [and] my counsellors
Kept God's testimony- God's testimonies are a delight, they are counsellors.
Think about it-- testimonies as counsellors, advisiors; how wonderful is that?
Isa.
{8:16} Bind up the testimony, seal the law
among my disciples.
2 Cor.
{1:12} For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our
conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with
fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our
conversation in the world, and more abundantly to youward.
Testimony of our conscience!
What is the testimony of your conscience? What should the testimony of our conscience be? Christ Jesus lives now and forever!
Jesus died for us and rose again that should be our testimony now and always.
God's testimony is sure, the record of God is sure. The knowledge we have of God speaks for Him, He's not left us in the dark to flounder but has given us the testimony of Himself so that we may know Him. He's a delight, He's our surety in a world that offers no surety.
The testimony of God is our testimony. We must keep this testimony in our hearts ever before our conscience.
God First Always!
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now and forever.
Amen.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Be Ready
1 Pet. {3:15} But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear
Titus {3:1} Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work
Make God Holy in our hearts. Be ready ALWAYS to answer everyone that asks you why you have hope, do so with meekness and reverence.
Is God holy in your heart? Are you ready to tell others why you have hope in you? Ready not with a cockiness that some have because they feel superior in their beliefs, but ready to do so softly, quietly letting the Holy Spirit work. We have to understand that we need to be ready to walk as Christ walked and that isn't in wickedness. So many believe they can walk in wickedness and claim God. We need to be ready to every good work- ready to work for the Lord in any circumstance. God needs to be with us wherever we go in whatever we do. If we can't take God with us, if we have to tuck our religion away while we do something then in our hearts we know that what we're doing isn't something good, but something wicked.
We have to obey the laws of the land, we are subject to the law of our land and we have to obey those who enforce the laws of the land as long as there is no compelling us to contridict the word of our Lord and Savior. God first, always, and God first, God's will is that we obey those around us as servants. He who was the greatest Servant of all is our example.
If we are looking for strife, if we are looking for a cause to fight for and we want to rail against the system we live in we aren't following Christ's way. Even when there comes a time for us to make a stand for God against others we are to do so with meekness, as a servant whose Master is God. Our Master would have us represent Him properly, not wickedly.
So yes, we need to be ready to answer any man, we need to be ready to every good work, and we need to do all this with the Spirit of Christ in us, guiding us. Suffering so much, Christ didn't rail against his accusers but asked that they be forgiven will we, can we, do we the same? Do we ask that our accusers, our enemies be forgiven or are we quick to wish them evil for the evil they give?
By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior now and forever may we have the heart of Christ in us now and always to be ready to answer any man, to be ready to do good works for the Lord representing Him as He wills.
Amen.
Titus {3:1} Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work
Make God Holy in our hearts. Be ready ALWAYS to answer everyone that asks you why you have hope, do so with meekness and reverence.
Is God holy in your heart? Are you ready to tell others why you have hope in you? Ready not with a cockiness that some have because they feel superior in their beliefs, but ready to do so softly, quietly letting the Holy Spirit work. We have to understand that we need to be ready to walk as Christ walked and that isn't in wickedness. So many believe they can walk in wickedness and claim God. We need to be ready to every good work- ready to work for the Lord in any circumstance. God needs to be with us wherever we go in whatever we do. If we can't take God with us, if we have to tuck our religion away while we do something then in our hearts we know that what we're doing isn't something good, but something wicked.
We have to obey the laws of the land, we are subject to the law of our land and we have to obey those who enforce the laws of the land as long as there is no compelling us to contridict the word of our Lord and Savior. God first, always, and God first, God's will is that we obey those around us as servants. He who was the greatest Servant of all is our example.
If we are looking for strife, if we are looking for a cause to fight for and we want to rail against the system we live in we aren't following Christ's way. Even when there comes a time for us to make a stand for God against others we are to do so with meekness, as a servant whose Master is God. Our Master would have us represent Him properly, not wickedly.
So yes, we need to be ready to answer any man, we need to be ready to every good work, and we need to do all this with the Spirit of Christ in us, guiding us. Suffering so much, Christ didn't rail against his accusers but asked that they be forgiven will we, can we, do we the same? Do we ask that our accusers, our enemies be forgiven or are we quick to wish them evil for the evil they give?
By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior now and forever may we have the heart of Christ in us now and always to be ready to answer any man, to be ready to do good works for the Lord representing Him as He wills.
Amen.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
We who are Christ's are not left in darkness
1 Thess
{5:1} But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
{5:2} For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
{5:3} For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
{5:4} But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
{5:5} Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
{5:6} Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.
{5:7} For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
{5:8} But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. {5:9} For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
{5:10} Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
{5:11} Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
The day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night- unannounced, unexpectedly, without warning, surprisingly.
Have you ever had anything stolen from you? Anything? I have. When I went to look for the thing that was stolen it was missing and a sense of violation filled me. My property had been taken. My personal belongings gone forever. The memories the belongings had, the usefulness was all stolen from me. I've had it happen more than once and it's not a very good feeling. Now had I known when the thieves were going to strike do you think I would have let my property be vulnerable to them? Would I have watched the thieves come and take that which is mine? No. The whole business of being a thief is getting away with stolen goods without anyone being aware. Even if a thief steals something right out from under your nose they are doing so without your knowing and that's the whole point. Being robbed in the night is being taken advantage of without your knowing. So it stands to reason that Jesus' second coming doing so with His arriving as a thief in the night will take many by surprise, it will be that unexpected by them. However...
We who are Christ's are not left in darkness, we won't see that day as Christ's coming as a thief in the night. We will be ready and waiting for him.
We will hear people saying PEACE and SAFETY. Those are wonderful words and words we are hearing daily in our news. Peace, safety, peace, safety. Peace...peace...peace...peace...everything is peace. World peace. Have we called for world peace before as we have now? So many countries having the technology to blow up each other there has to be peace or there will be destruction. On a small scale we see destruction; destruction without nuclear bombs and yet still destruction, just enough destruction that keeps us screaming for peace. If we have peace it will end the senseless killing, the senseless destruction. Religious world leaders are calling for peace as never before, political leaders are demanding peace, peace, peace. You say they've been demanding peace forever and you're right, but right now our world is in an upheaval of change; financially, politically, things are bad. The combination of bad is in a place it never could be before. The woman is having birth pangs and they are getting stronger and stronger. No woman can stop the birth pangs of labor once they begin in earnest, this isn't false labor, this is real birth and Christ is coming and there is NO stopping Him.
The only question we have to ask ourselves is if we are ready? Are we? Are we ready so that we won't be caught off guard as those who will be such as a thief in the night?
1 Thess
{5:1} But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
{5:2} For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
{5:3} For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
{5:4} But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
{5:5} Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
{5:6} Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.
{5:7} For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
{5:8} But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. {5:9} For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
{5:10} Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
{5:11} Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
We know perfectly that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly when people are saying peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes and it's going to come as a woman in labor - no stopping the birth and the pains getting closer and closer until that birth. We aren't in darkness, we won't be overtaken. We are children of light, children of the day- we aren't not filled with darkness, we are not shrouded in the darkness that reveals nothing. We can't sleep. We CAN'T sleep! We can't let our guard down, we can't stop being vigiliant. Others will sleep, others will tell you not to worry, not to think about it, not to dwell on the bad things, but be optimistic and just forget about all that stuff that is depressing and doom and gloom. Live for now and enjoy life, sleep, rest, relax...NO!
We can't sleep as others do. We have to WATCH and be SOBER. People everywhere sleep and are drunken lost to the night, to the darkness they desire because the light of truth is something they've shunned. We can see it all around us people sleeping, people drunken, people shutting out any light that might take their darkness from them. We can't sleep! We must be sober.
We have to put on Christ.
The breastplate of fiath and love, the helmet of hope of salvation.
We are not to fight against others, we are to obtain our salvation through Jesus Christ- through love.
Whether we are awake, alive or whether we sleep, dead- we will live together with Christ, He died for us.
We need to comfort one another, build each other up in Christ. We must be aware, alert to the goings on and alerting others around us that believe as we believe.
The birthing is near, the labor intense and growing more and more intense. We are witnesses to this now and we know what is to come we are not left in the dark.
Praise be to God for His glorious love towards us allowing us to be alert, to know what is to be and for keeping us awake. All glory to God!
May the Lord bless and keep us in His love, in His mercy, in His grace now and forever. Amen.
{5:1} But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
{5:2} For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
{5:3} For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
{5:4} But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
{5:5} Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
{5:6} Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.
{5:7} For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
{5:8} But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. {5:9} For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
{5:10} Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
{5:11} Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
The day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night- unannounced, unexpectedly, without warning, surprisingly.
Have you ever had anything stolen from you? Anything? I have. When I went to look for the thing that was stolen it was missing and a sense of violation filled me. My property had been taken. My personal belongings gone forever. The memories the belongings had, the usefulness was all stolen from me. I've had it happen more than once and it's not a very good feeling. Now had I known when the thieves were going to strike do you think I would have let my property be vulnerable to them? Would I have watched the thieves come and take that which is mine? No. The whole business of being a thief is getting away with stolen goods without anyone being aware. Even if a thief steals something right out from under your nose they are doing so without your knowing and that's the whole point. Being robbed in the night is being taken advantage of without your knowing. So it stands to reason that Jesus' second coming doing so with His arriving as a thief in the night will take many by surprise, it will be that unexpected by them. However...
We who are Christ's are not left in darkness, we won't see that day as Christ's coming as a thief in the night. We will be ready and waiting for him.
We will hear people saying PEACE and SAFETY. Those are wonderful words and words we are hearing daily in our news. Peace, safety, peace, safety. Peace...peace...peace...peace...everything is peace. World peace. Have we called for world peace before as we have now? So many countries having the technology to blow up each other there has to be peace or there will be destruction. On a small scale we see destruction; destruction without nuclear bombs and yet still destruction, just enough destruction that keeps us screaming for peace. If we have peace it will end the senseless killing, the senseless destruction. Religious world leaders are calling for peace as never before, political leaders are demanding peace, peace, peace. You say they've been demanding peace forever and you're right, but right now our world is in an upheaval of change; financially, politically, things are bad. The combination of bad is in a place it never could be before. The woman is having birth pangs and they are getting stronger and stronger. No woman can stop the birth pangs of labor once they begin in earnest, this isn't false labor, this is real birth and Christ is coming and there is NO stopping Him.
The only question we have to ask ourselves is if we are ready? Are we? Are we ready so that we won't be caught off guard as those who will be such as a thief in the night?
1 Thess
{5:1} But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
{5:2} For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
{5:3} For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
{5:4} But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
{5:5} Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
{5:6} Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.
{5:7} For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
{5:8} But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. {5:9} For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
{5:10} Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
{5:11} Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
We know perfectly that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly when people are saying peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes and it's going to come as a woman in labor - no stopping the birth and the pains getting closer and closer until that birth. We aren't in darkness, we won't be overtaken. We are children of light, children of the day- we aren't not filled with darkness, we are not shrouded in the darkness that reveals nothing. We can't sleep. We CAN'T sleep! We can't let our guard down, we can't stop being vigiliant. Others will sleep, others will tell you not to worry, not to think about it, not to dwell on the bad things, but be optimistic and just forget about all that stuff that is depressing and doom and gloom. Live for now and enjoy life, sleep, rest, relax...NO!
We can't sleep as others do. We have to WATCH and be SOBER. People everywhere sleep and are drunken lost to the night, to the darkness they desire because the light of truth is something they've shunned. We can see it all around us people sleeping, people drunken, people shutting out any light that might take their darkness from them. We can't sleep! We must be sober.
We have to put on Christ.
The breastplate of fiath and love, the helmet of hope of salvation.
We are not to fight against others, we are to obtain our salvation through Jesus Christ- through love.
Whether we are awake, alive or whether we sleep, dead- we will live together with Christ, He died for us.
We need to comfort one another, build each other up in Christ. We must be aware, alert to the goings on and alerting others around us that believe as we believe.
The birthing is near, the labor intense and growing more and more intense. We are witnesses to this now and we know what is to come we are not left in the dark.
Praise be to God for His glorious love towards us allowing us to be alert, to know what is to be and for keeping us awake. All glory to God!
May the Lord bless and keep us in His love, in His mercy, in His grace now and forever. Amen.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Honor found in God
John
{5:44} How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only?
Receiving honor from one another.
Here's a quick dictionary definition of the word honor-
honor
1. High respect, as that shown for special merit; esteem: the honor shown to a Nobel laureate.
2. a. Good name; reputation. b. A source or cause of credit: was an honor to the profession.
3. a. Glory or recognition; distinction. b. A mark, token, or gesture of respect or distinction: the place of honor at the table. c. A military decoration. d. A title conferred for achievement.
4. Nobility of mind; probity.
5. High rank.
6. The dignity accorded to position: awed by the honor of his office.
7. Great privilege: I have the honor to present the governor.
8. Honor. Used with His, Her, or Your as a title and form of address for certain officials, such as judges and mayors: Her Honor the Mayor.
9. a. A code of integrity, dignity, and pride, chiefly among men, that was maintained in some societies, as in feudal Europe, by force of arms. b. Principled uprightness of character; personal integrity. c. A woman's chastity or reputation for chastity.
10. honors. Social courtesies offered to guests: did the honors at tea.
11. honors. a. Special recognition for unusual academic achievement: graduated with honors. b. A program of individual advanced study for exceptional students: planned to take honors in history.
12. Sports. The right of being first at the tee in golf.
13. Games. a. Any of the four or five highest cards, especially the ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of the trump suit, in card games such as bridge or whist. b. The points allotted to these cards. Often used in the plural.
verb, transitive
honored, honoring, honors
1. a. To hold in respect; esteem. b. To show respect for. c. To bow to (another dancer) in square dancing: Honor your partner.
2. To confer distinction on: He has honored us with his presence.
3. To accept or pay as valid: honor a check; a store that honors all credit cards.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
*******
Receiving - respect, esteem, recognition, distinction.
When we receive honor one of another, from one another, we are getting their respect, their esteem, their recognition and distinction from them. We care so much about what people think, at least some of us do, and some more than others. We want to be treated with respect we feel we deserve respect and to be recognized as deserving that respect. We might not say to one another that we want to be honored, that word has a connotation of superiority to it and yet the verb form of honor simply says- 'To hold in respect, esteem. To show respect for.' So no, we don't tell someone they should honor us but sometimes we tell others that they need to respect us, especially when we're dealing with disrespectful situations. We feel a right to be respected simply because we exist. Some of the worst people have no trouble telling others they should respect them- thinking they truly deserve it just because they live. Is feeling like you deserve respect wrong?Is feeling like you deserve to be honored wrong? Is honoring another wrong? We are told to honor our mother and father so that can't be, and yet something about honoring others is wrong.
John
{5:44} How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only?
Seeking honor of others and not the honor that God alone possesses is wrong. Seeking respect from mankind and not seeking respect that comes from God, is wrong. Seeking to be esteemed by man, seeking recognition and distinction from man is wrong. The ONLY one we need to seek honor from is God. God first, always.
God first. If God is kept first in our lives then we won't care what others think of us, whether or not they respect us or esteem us. If God comes first then nothing else matters. If you suffer disrespect, if you aren't given the recognition you think you deserve, if you're given no distinction at all and not esteemed in the slightest- then you should bear it with joy (not that it feels good- but that's not the point). People suffer for well doing (1 Pet. 3:17) and it is good, better than suffering for evil. When we suffer in any way for God, keeping God first in our lives, then all is good.
We can have faith in God when we seek God first before all else. When we seek our fellow man first we lose our faith. God first, always.
There is an honor that come from God only and that honor is something we should seek. How? Faith.
We're not going to receive a pat on the back from God. He's not going to wink at us and tell us, 'Well done.' God isn't going to shower us with tokens of His appreciation. We won't receive a new company car because we've managed to honor God and He wants to show us we've done well.
How many people seek such honor from man? How many long to hear that little word of gratitude- thanks? How many live hoping to please others and never once concern themselves with pleasing God?
Is it fear that keeps a person from seeking God first? Fear of what their fellow man will think of them? How they might be labeled by others. Jesus freak, God crazy, religious jerk, holy nut, you get the picture. Sometimes we think of the extreme man on the street in a toga dancing and trying to hand out pamphlets, or maybe a looney who wears a billboard shouting about the second coming of Christ. We think of those we call extremist and guess what... In Jesus' day His apostles, His disciples were considered extremists.
Am I saying go out and be an extremist for Christ- yes, I am.
We need to live for Christ, seeking the honor that comes from God. Our only concern should be what God thinks, not what others think.
What God thinks. Perhaps because He's not visible to us to give us physical reassurance that following Him is the only good and right way, we tend to look to that which we can get reactions from and live by their reactions. We seek approval of one another and that is a down fall. The only approval we need is from God and that approval is based on faith.
Faith- the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebs.11:1)
Our hope is Christ.
Faith.
1 John {5:4} For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.
Faith. Live for God. Live seeking the honor that comes solely from God.
May God bless and keep us in Him, through the grace and mercy of Christ help us to seek the honor found in God and not in man.
Amen.
{5:44} How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only?
Receiving honor from one another.
Here's a quick dictionary definition of the word honor-
honor
1. High respect, as that shown for special merit; esteem: the honor shown to a Nobel laureate.
2. a. Good name; reputation. b. A source or cause of credit: was an honor to the profession.
3. a. Glory or recognition; distinction. b. A mark, token, or gesture of respect or distinction: the place of honor at the table. c. A military decoration. d. A title conferred for achievement.
4. Nobility of mind; probity.
5. High rank.
6. The dignity accorded to position: awed by the honor of his office.
7. Great privilege: I have the honor to present the governor.
8. Honor. Used with His, Her, or Your as a title and form of address for certain officials, such as judges and mayors: Her Honor the Mayor.
9. a. A code of integrity, dignity, and pride, chiefly among men, that was maintained in some societies, as in feudal Europe, by force of arms. b. Principled uprightness of character; personal integrity. c. A woman's chastity or reputation for chastity.
10. honors. Social courtesies offered to guests: did the honors at tea.
11. honors. a. Special recognition for unusual academic achievement: graduated with honors. b. A program of individual advanced study for exceptional students: planned to take honors in history.
12. Sports. The right of being first at the tee in golf.
13. Games. a. Any of the four or five highest cards, especially the ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of the trump suit, in card games such as bridge or whist. b. The points allotted to these cards. Often used in the plural.
verb, transitive
honored, honoring, honors
1. a. To hold in respect; esteem. b. To show respect for. c. To bow to (another dancer) in square dancing: Honor your partner.
2. To confer distinction on: He has honored us with his presence.
3. To accept or pay as valid: honor a check; a store that honors all credit cards.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
*******
Receiving - respect, esteem, recognition, distinction.
When we receive honor one of another, from one another, we are getting their respect, their esteem, their recognition and distinction from them. We care so much about what people think, at least some of us do, and some more than others. We want to be treated with respect we feel we deserve respect and to be recognized as deserving that respect. We might not say to one another that we want to be honored, that word has a connotation of superiority to it and yet the verb form of honor simply says- 'To hold in respect, esteem. To show respect for.' So no, we don't tell someone they should honor us but sometimes we tell others that they need to respect us, especially when we're dealing with disrespectful situations. We feel a right to be respected simply because we exist. Some of the worst people have no trouble telling others they should respect them- thinking they truly deserve it just because they live. Is feeling like you deserve respect wrong?Is feeling like you deserve to be honored wrong? Is honoring another wrong? We are told to honor our mother and father so that can't be, and yet something about honoring others is wrong.
John
{5:44} How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only?
Seeking honor of others and not the honor that God alone possesses is wrong. Seeking respect from mankind and not seeking respect that comes from God, is wrong. Seeking to be esteemed by man, seeking recognition and distinction from man is wrong. The ONLY one we need to seek honor from is God. God first, always.
God first. If God is kept first in our lives then we won't care what others think of us, whether or not they respect us or esteem us. If God comes first then nothing else matters. If you suffer disrespect, if you aren't given the recognition you think you deserve, if you're given no distinction at all and not esteemed in the slightest- then you should bear it with joy (not that it feels good- but that's not the point). People suffer for well doing (1 Pet. 3:17) and it is good, better than suffering for evil. When we suffer in any way for God, keeping God first in our lives, then all is good.
We can have faith in God when we seek God first before all else. When we seek our fellow man first we lose our faith. God first, always.
There is an honor that come from God only and that honor is something we should seek. How? Faith.
We're not going to receive a pat on the back from God. He's not going to wink at us and tell us, 'Well done.' God isn't going to shower us with tokens of His appreciation. We won't receive a new company car because we've managed to honor God and He wants to show us we've done well.
How many people seek such honor from man? How many long to hear that little word of gratitude- thanks? How many live hoping to please others and never once concern themselves with pleasing God?
Is it fear that keeps a person from seeking God first? Fear of what their fellow man will think of them? How they might be labeled by others. Jesus freak, God crazy, religious jerk, holy nut, you get the picture. Sometimes we think of the extreme man on the street in a toga dancing and trying to hand out pamphlets, or maybe a looney who wears a billboard shouting about the second coming of Christ. We think of those we call extremist and guess what... In Jesus' day His apostles, His disciples were considered extremists.
Am I saying go out and be an extremist for Christ- yes, I am.
We need to live for Christ, seeking the honor that comes from God. Our only concern should be what God thinks, not what others think.
What God thinks. Perhaps because He's not visible to us to give us physical reassurance that following Him is the only good and right way, we tend to look to that which we can get reactions from and live by their reactions. We seek approval of one another and that is a down fall. The only approval we need is from God and that approval is based on faith.
Faith- the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebs.11:1)
Our hope is Christ.
Faith.
1 John {5:4} For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.
Faith. Live for God. Live seeking the honor that comes solely from God.
May God bless and keep us in Him, through the grace and mercy of Christ help us to seek the honor found in God and not in man.
Amen.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Seek salvation in Christ
John
{3:16} For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life. {3:17} For God sent not
his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the
world through him might be saved.
*******
Matthew
{21:12} And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast
out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and
overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of
them that sold doves, {21:13} And said unto them, It is
written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye
have made it a den of thieves.
*******
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but thta the world through him might be saved...
Jesus went into the temple of God and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers and seats of them that sold doves.
We want Jesus to condemn don't we? Seriously. When He overthrew tables and chairs and cast out the wrongdoers in the temple the imagery of it all is amazing. Jesus filled with a righteous wrath because overthrowing and casting out isn't done with smiles. We want evil to be condemned and we feel inside ourselves this righteous wrath when we are injured, when we are despitefully used, when we are treated with disrespect, we feel this anger inside of us and is it righteous? Is the anger we feel justified? Is the anger akin to Jesus' wrath as He over turned furniture and kicked people out of the temple? We want to believe it is, but truly can it be?
Jesus was sinless in His wrath. There was no personal injury on His behalf that He was trying to champion, no personal wrong that He was trying to avenge. He said unto those in the temple- It is written My house shall be called the house of prayer - but ye have made it a den of thieves.
It is written.
God's house shall be called a house of prayer.
Buying and selling, exchaning money even for animal sacrifices to be made in the temple wasn't in accord with God's will. It wasn't written you shall buy and sell in my house, that you should cheat people and sell for gain, that you shall barter a price on a sacrifice, that you should make my house a place of haggling and forget all about it being a place of prayer. There was a sacredness in the temple and people had lost sight of that. Jesus saw the totally disregard for His father's house and righteously revealed the evil going on right in the temple.
Our anger isn't sinless, it isn't righteous because more often than not our supposed righteous indignation comes from selfish origins. You want to protest not always and maybe you're right, I can't condemn you for anything it's not my place. Jesus came into the world to save the world, not to condemn the world. If we want condemnation we aren't looking to Jesus.
Jesus came to save. Yes, Jesus felt a righteous indignation as His father's house was descrated but it wasn't a selfish indignation. He didn't condemn the world in that act, He condemned actions. Jesus can condemn and has to condemn sin, but the sinner He longs to save.
May God help us to recognize the actions in our lives that are worthy of condemnation and may we beg for forgiveness for those actions and seek salvation in Christ, by His everlasting mercy and grace.
Amen.
{3:16} For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life. {3:17} For God sent not
his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the
world through him might be saved.
*******
Matthew
{21:12} And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast
out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and
overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of
them that sold doves, {21:13} And said unto them, It is
written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye
have made it a den of thieves.
*******
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but thta the world through him might be saved...
Jesus went into the temple of God and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers and seats of them that sold doves.
We want Jesus to condemn don't we? Seriously. When He overthrew tables and chairs and cast out the wrongdoers in the temple the imagery of it all is amazing. Jesus filled with a righteous wrath because overthrowing and casting out isn't done with smiles. We want evil to be condemned and we feel inside ourselves this righteous wrath when we are injured, when we are despitefully used, when we are treated with disrespect, we feel this anger inside of us and is it righteous? Is the anger we feel justified? Is the anger akin to Jesus' wrath as He over turned furniture and kicked people out of the temple? We want to believe it is, but truly can it be?
Jesus was sinless in His wrath. There was no personal injury on His behalf that He was trying to champion, no personal wrong that He was trying to avenge. He said unto those in the temple- It is written My house shall be called the house of prayer - but ye have made it a den of thieves.
It is written.
God's house shall be called a house of prayer.
Buying and selling, exchaning money even for animal sacrifices to be made in the temple wasn't in accord with God's will. It wasn't written you shall buy and sell in my house, that you should cheat people and sell for gain, that you shall barter a price on a sacrifice, that you should make my house a place of haggling and forget all about it being a place of prayer. There was a sacredness in the temple and people had lost sight of that. Jesus saw the totally disregard for His father's house and righteously revealed the evil going on right in the temple.
Our anger isn't sinless, it isn't righteous because more often than not our supposed righteous indignation comes from selfish origins. You want to protest not always and maybe you're right, I can't condemn you for anything it's not my place. Jesus came into the world to save the world, not to condemn the world. If we want condemnation we aren't looking to Jesus.
Jesus came to save. Yes, Jesus felt a righteous indignation as His father's house was descrated but it wasn't a selfish indignation. He didn't condemn the world in that act, He condemned actions. Jesus can condemn and has to condemn sin, but the sinner He longs to save.
May God help us to recognize the actions in our lives that are worthy of condemnation and may we beg for forgiveness for those actions and seek salvation in Christ, by His everlasting mercy and grace.
Amen.
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