Rev. {22:1} And he shewed me a pure river of water of life,
clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of
the Lamb. {22:2} In the midst of the street of it, and on
either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which
bare twelve [manner] of fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every
month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of
the nations.
*******
The kingdom of God.
A pure river of water of life clear as crystal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Tree of life bare twelve manner of fruits, yielded her fruit every month.
The leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations.
Do you need healing? I know I need healing. There are so many manners of sickness in us- physical, mental, emotional. So many sicknesses. We need healing. A world heavy laden with sin needs to be healed. When Christ comes and we are raised to meet Him in the air we are changed. We don't know how we are changed but we are. And we are to heal. The leaves of the tree of life are for the healing. It's ludicrous to think that our minds are changed in the sense we aren't who we are. What point would their be in being who we are if we are no longer that core being that we are? The us without the sin corrupting us. Who are we without that? Do we even know? We get glimpses of what we can be when we look at Christ's life. No. We'll never be Christ, never be God, we'll always be the created and they the creators and that alone will forever be true sin or no sin. Christ took on humanity, our humanity and by looking to Him and His life we are given that glimpse of what life is without sin, without the corruption. We are given a hint of the love that God possesses, that He possessed as we were created in the likeness of God, creatures made of love by love, for love. When we are raised from the dead or from life into incorruption and when we are changed taking on immortality, we keep part of ourselves that is yielded to God. We keep part of ourselves that Christ makes new within us.
May this mystery of life be revealed in God's time to us and may we be ready when Christ comes so that we may enjoy the kingdom of God He came and preached to us, that He died to give to us.
By the grace and mercy of Jesus, now and forever.
Amen.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
If the will of God be so... we suffer.
1 Pet. {3:17} For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
If the will of God be so.
All is done by the will of God. The good, the bad, the happiness, the suffering it is allowed by God there is no getting away from that. Allowed but not orginating from God. Sin orginated with Satan. Some might argue that God created all things so He had to have created sin too. Any parent that creates a child and raises them and the child goes on to be something totally unexpected- a monster of sorts, a criminal- is it automatically the parents fault that the child has gone wrong? No. Yes, when God created something called free will He allowed for the possibility of good or evil. If God had created free will without any possibility of there being a choice, is it truly free will? If a person is only given one road to walk on do they have a choice of walking any other?
The will of God wasn't to live in a world where He ruled without other beings allowed a choice. Angels were given that free will. We have no clue how long angels lived without sinning, none. What we do know is an angel finally chose not to love and trust in God.
There are mysteries we can't possibly understand and some would say because they can't understand everything, the whole deal is a huge fable. Some don't want to live by faith and that is their choice they are free to make.
If the will of God be so.
The will of God. We live by the will of God. We were created by the will of God. Some call God a monster for His will. They scream that God shouldn't allow this or that, yet the minds that are scream it do not know that end from the beginning as God does.
If the will of God be so that you suffer for well doing it's better than suffering for evil doing.
Some are called to suffer even though they do no wrong, they harm no one, they are good and they suffer for it. How much better is it for us to suffer for good? Much, much better.
Suffer for good.
If the will of God be so... we suffer.
Ultimately it is the will of God that we be His, but only we can make that choice. He offers us everything, but before everything we may be called to suffer. Jesus suffered.
1 Pet. {3:14} But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy [are ye:] and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; {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.
Suffer for righteousness' sake - happy are ye.
We don't have to understand, we want to be we don't have to.
May the will of God be done now and forever and may we all suffer for good, suffer for righteousness sake, suffer in faith knowing that any suffering now is nothing compared to the promises given us. Easy to say, yes, very easy. May God bless us and keep us in Him no matter what.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Amen.
If the will of God be so.
All is done by the will of God. The good, the bad, the happiness, the suffering it is allowed by God there is no getting away from that. Allowed but not orginating from God. Sin orginated with Satan. Some might argue that God created all things so He had to have created sin too. Any parent that creates a child and raises them and the child goes on to be something totally unexpected- a monster of sorts, a criminal- is it automatically the parents fault that the child has gone wrong? No. Yes, when God created something called free will He allowed for the possibility of good or evil. If God had created free will without any possibility of there being a choice, is it truly free will? If a person is only given one road to walk on do they have a choice of walking any other?
The will of God wasn't to live in a world where He ruled without other beings allowed a choice. Angels were given that free will. We have no clue how long angels lived without sinning, none. What we do know is an angel finally chose not to love and trust in God.
There are mysteries we can't possibly understand and some would say because they can't understand everything, the whole deal is a huge fable. Some don't want to live by faith and that is their choice they are free to make.
If the will of God be so.
The will of God. We live by the will of God. We were created by the will of God. Some call God a monster for His will. They scream that God shouldn't allow this or that, yet the minds that are scream it do not know that end from the beginning as God does.
If the will of God be so that you suffer for well doing it's better than suffering for evil doing.
Some are called to suffer even though they do no wrong, they harm no one, they are good and they suffer for it. How much better is it for us to suffer for good? Much, much better.
Suffer for good.
If the will of God be so... we suffer.
Ultimately it is the will of God that we be His, but only we can make that choice. He offers us everything, but before everything we may be called to suffer. Jesus suffered.
1 Pet. {3:14} But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy [are ye:] and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; {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.
Suffer for righteousness' sake - happy are ye.
We don't have to understand, we want to be we don't have to.
May the will of God be done now and forever and may we all suffer for good, suffer for righteousness sake, suffer in faith knowing that any suffering now is nothing compared to the promises given us. Easy to say, yes, very easy. May God bless us and keep us in Him no matter what.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Amen.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Keys to the Kingdom
Matthew
{16:13} When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea
Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say
that I the Son of man am?
{16:14} And they said, Some
[say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others,
Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
{16:15} He saith unto
them, But whom say ye that I am?
{16:16} And Simon
Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God.
Jesus talking with His disciples wanted to know who they thought He was and Simon spoke up first revealing that he didn't think Jesus was a prophet, he wasn't Eliah, or Jeremiah, or even John the Baptist- but He was the Son of God! The Christ!
How pleased Jesus was to hear those words. His disciple knew and believed the truth of who He was. He told Simon he was blessed because no man had revealed the truth to him but God Himself, the Heavenly Father revealed the Sonship of Jesus.
{16:17} And Jesus answered and said unto him,
Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath
not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in
heaven.
Next Jesus points something very important out to Peter, emphasizing that Peter was himself just as if we were talking to a friend and wanted to make a pointed distinction- You are you and I am this...
Some don't believe that's true they'd rather believe that Jesus was telling Peter that he was extra special but in truth hadn't Jesus already told the disciples the greatest is the least? Jesus wasn't about to set up a pecking order it wasn't how He worked.
{16:18} And I say also unto thee, That thou art
Peter.
And upon this rock...
Who is the rock? What does the Bible tell us?
1 Cor. {10:4} And did all drink the
same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock
that followed them: and that Rock was Christ
Ps. {89:26} He shall cry unto me, Thou [art] my father, my God, and the
rock of my salvation.
Ps. {78:35} And they remembered that God [was] their rock, and the high God
their redeemer
Ps. {62:7} In God [is] my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength,
[and] my refuge, [is] in God.
2 Sam. {23:3} The God of Israel
said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over
men [must be] just, ruling in the fear of God
2 Sam. {22:32} For who [is] God, save the LORD? and who
[is] a rock, save our God? {22:33} God [is] my strength
[and] power: and he maketh my way perfect.
2 Sam. {22:3} The God of my rock; in
him will I trust: [he is] my shield, and the horn of my
salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou
savest me from violence.
1 Sam. {2:2} [There is] none holy as the LORD: for
[there is] none beside thee: neither [is there] any rock like
our God.
Deut. {32:15} But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art
waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered [with
fatness;] then he forsook God [which] made him, and lightly
esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
Deut. {32:3} Because I will publish the name of the LORD:
ascribe ye greatness unto our God. {32:4} [He is] the Rock,
his work [is] perfect: for all his ways [are] judgment: a God
of truth and without iniquity, just and right [is] he.
Is there any doubt at all who the Rock is? It isn't Peter, he isn't the bringer of Salvation, he isn't perfect, he isn't God. Jesus was talking of Himself- the Rock of Salvation. Upon that Rock Jesus was going to build His Church- His people and the gates of hell, the gates of the grave, the gates of death would not be able to prevail again Jesus the One who defeated the grave and death.
{16:18}...I will build my church; and the
gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
{16:19} And I will
give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven.
Jesus would give unto manking the keys to the kingdom of heaven. He didn't hand over a set of keys to Peter, these were figurative keys- like I have the key to solving that riddle, does that mean I have a physical key or rather the knowledge which is the key to solve the puzzle? Just as having the keys of the kingdom is having the knowledge of heaven. Those keys are simple really- Jesus says whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven- meaning what? Meaning that the keys to heaven are the keys to salvation and those who understand, those who have the knowledge of salvation and are either freed by it or bound up by it. Freed in Christ or bound up in death.
It's true, salvation is offered to all but not all will accept it and those who don't accept the salvation offered will be bound by their decision, just as those who do accept salvation will be freed by their decision, free from death and given life everlasting in Christ who alone gives us that freedom. Whether bound or free here on earth it will be so in heaven as well. You can't be bound up in death not accepting salvation on earth and be saved in heaven- it doesn't work that way. Many believe it does work just like that. They believe that anyone and everyone upon death suddenly deserve to live on in heaven, that death itself absolves them of any and all sin. I'm not saying all believe that, there are those who aren't particularly fond of a person that might wish them to burn in hell, but even then they have the smallest doubt that maybe in that mysterious life that is supposed to exist after death the person somehow squeaked by and might just be in heaven. Of course we know through our exhaustive study on death that death is a sleep until Christ returns to raise the dead in Him to life. No one goes immediately to heaven or are burned up in a hell. Still upon a persons death people hope for one outcome or another for the dead person- may they rest in heaven or in hell, may they be saved or not saved. Salvation is something a person acquires before death not upon death or after death. Bound or loosed on earth, unsaved or saved on earth-- the same it will be in heaven. Truly the keys to heaven are in Christ through the salvation He offers to each of us, the keys are given to us to use or not use.
May God bless and keep us in Him through the love and mercy of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, the author of Salvation for all of us, the Rock, the One who gives us the keys to the kingdom in Him, through His righteousness.
Amen.
{16:13} When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea
Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say
that I the Son of man am?
{16:14} And they said, Some
[say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others,
Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
{16:15} He saith unto
them, But whom say ye that I am?
{16:16} And Simon
Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God.
Jesus talking with His disciples wanted to know who they thought He was and Simon spoke up first revealing that he didn't think Jesus was a prophet, he wasn't Eliah, or Jeremiah, or even John the Baptist- but He was the Son of God! The Christ!
How pleased Jesus was to hear those words. His disciple knew and believed the truth of who He was. He told Simon he was blessed because no man had revealed the truth to him but God Himself, the Heavenly Father revealed the Sonship of Jesus.
{16:17} And Jesus answered and said unto him,
Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath
not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in
heaven.
Next Jesus points something very important out to Peter, emphasizing that Peter was himself just as if we were talking to a friend and wanted to make a pointed distinction- You are you and I am this...
Some don't believe that's true they'd rather believe that Jesus was telling Peter that he was extra special but in truth hadn't Jesus already told the disciples the greatest is the least? Jesus wasn't about to set up a pecking order it wasn't how He worked.
{16:18} And I say also unto thee, That thou art
Peter.
And upon this rock...
Who is the rock? What does the Bible tell us?
1 Cor. {10:4} And did all drink the
same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock
that followed them: and that Rock was Christ
Ps. {89:26} He shall cry unto me, Thou [art] my father, my God, and the
rock of my salvation.
Ps. {78:35} And they remembered that God [was] their rock, and the high God
their redeemer
Ps. {62:7} In God [is] my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength,
[and] my refuge, [is] in God.
2 Sam. {23:3} The God of Israel
said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over
men [must be] just, ruling in the fear of God
2 Sam. {22:32} For who [is] God, save the LORD? and who
[is] a rock, save our God? {22:33} God [is] my strength
[and] power: and he maketh my way perfect.
2 Sam. {22:3} The God of my rock; in
him will I trust: [he is] my shield, and the horn of my
salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou
savest me from violence.
1 Sam. {2:2} [There is] none holy as the LORD: for
[there is] none beside thee: neither [is there] any rock like
our God.
Deut. {32:15} But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art
waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered [with
fatness;] then he forsook God [which] made him, and lightly
esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
Deut. {32:3} Because I will publish the name of the LORD:
ascribe ye greatness unto our God. {32:4} [He is] the Rock,
his work [is] perfect: for all his ways [are] judgment: a God
of truth and without iniquity, just and right [is] he.
Is there any doubt at all who the Rock is? It isn't Peter, he isn't the bringer of Salvation, he isn't perfect, he isn't God. Jesus was talking of Himself- the Rock of Salvation. Upon that Rock Jesus was going to build His Church- His people and the gates of hell, the gates of the grave, the gates of death would not be able to prevail again Jesus the One who defeated the grave and death.
{16:18}...I will build my church; and the
gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
{16:19} And I will
give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven.
Jesus would give unto manking the keys to the kingdom of heaven. He didn't hand over a set of keys to Peter, these were figurative keys- like I have the key to solving that riddle, does that mean I have a physical key or rather the knowledge which is the key to solve the puzzle? Just as having the keys of the kingdom is having the knowledge of heaven. Those keys are simple really- Jesus says whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven- meaning what? Meaning that the keys to heaven are the keys to salvation and those who understand, those who have the knowledge of salvation and are either freed by it or bound up by it. Freed in Christ or bound up in death.
It's true, salvation is offered to all but not all will accept it and those who don't accept the salvation offered will be bound by their decision, just as those who do accept salvation will be freed by their decision, free from death and given life everlasting in Christ who alone gives us that freedom. Whether bound or free here on earth it will be so in heaven as well. You can't be bound up in death not accepting salvation on earth and be saved in heaven- it doesn't work that way. Many believe it does work just like that. They believe that anyone and everyone upon death suddenly deserve to live on in heaven, that death itself absolves them of any and all sin. I'm not saying all believe that, there are those who aren't particularly fond of a person that might wish them to burn in hell, but even then they have the smallest doubt that maybe in that mysterious life that is supposed to exist after death the person somehow squeaked by and might just be in heaven. Of course we know through our exhaustive study on death that death is a sleep until Christ returns to raise the dead in Him to life. No one goes immediately to heaven or are burned up in a hell. Still upon a persons death people hope for one outcome or another for the dead person- may they rest in heaven or in hell, may they be saved or not saved. Salvation is something a person acquires before death not upon death or after death. Bound or loosed on earth, unsaved or saved on earth-- the same it will be in heaven. Truly the keys to heaven are in Christ through the salvation He offers to each of us, the keys are given to us to use or not use.
May God bless and keep us in Him through the love and mercy of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, the author of Salvation for all of us, the Rock, the One who gives us the keys to the kingdom in Him, through His righteousness.
Amen.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Appointed to death.
Matt. {6:25} Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought
for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor
yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more
than meat, and the body than raiment?
Is not life more than meat? So much of our lives are spent around eating, around food. How do you tell a starving person that life is more than meat, more than eating? Is it true that many die of starvation- even among those who believe in God and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior? It is true. We say this verse as if God will take care of all our physical needs and we shouldn't think about our life and eating, drinking, and clothing. Is it true that sometimes we do go very hungry, very thirsty and wear threadbare clothing? Yes, it's true and some might like to point out that God is going back on this promise when those needs aren't met, seriously, when they aren't met and I'm not talking you want a feast and are only given grain, I'm talking when there is no feast and no grain to be had, when there is nothing. In truth if we answer this question we have the answer to a lot of things.
Is not the life more than meat?
Is not life more than living?
Wait! That's a strange thing to say. Is not life more than living? Some would jump up and say sure- it's dying but then there is no life in death unless of course you're one of the million, billions who are fooled into believing there is immediate access to another plane of conscious life upon death- a white light to drift off into.
There is life in death and not the life many believe. Jesus died so that we may live eternally and when we die we sleep in that promise of life eternal in a world He is preparing for us. Life in death is by faith in God's promises. In this world we will be persecuted and we will be put to death, again this isn't any sort of reality to those of us living in the US but it is reality to those living in countries that are putting Christians to death. If we choose to have *things*, if we choose to have life here and now rather than choosing Christ and submitting ourselves to death if need be then we forfeit life eternal. If we choose a life that is wrapped up in the *things* of life we leave no room for God. Things become our obsessions and we believe that we can't live without things. Sure, we believe we can live without the unseen God but not that steak in front of us. Or even more harder for those truly starving- can they make that choice between a bit of bread and God, are they called to do so? Is it cruel that they would be?
People want to paint the picture of God as cruel and mean, nasty, and sadistic, they forget that He isn't the author of lies, of that pain in the world. Once again if we point the finger at Satan we are told God allows Satan to reign here on earth so ultimately it is a cruel God that allows. That's the very small picture of life, not the bigger picture that includes life eternal in Christ.
This is an apostle talking here--
1 Cor. {4:9} For I think
that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were
appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the
world, and to angels, and to men.
Appointed to death.
Made a spectacle unto the WORLD, and to ANGELS, and to MEN.
A spectacle why? Because no man is greater than Christ who was innocent and died for our sins. No man. Jesus even said that the greatest is the least, that we should be servants. He shed His pure Spiritual existence and set aside the powers that could have spared Him from suffering and death and instead took on the human flesh that could feel, that could suffer, that could die and He did so when He didn't have to because He loves us.
We might have to suffer and suffer terribly in ways we can never imagine. We might be tempted to blame God for allowing the suffering, but may the Holy Spirit strength us, comfort us, and keep us in Christ knowing that no matter the suffering there is a world beyond this one and it is promised to those who believe in Jesus and His love, accepting His amazing sacrifice, accepting it is Christ's righteousness not any of our own.
In Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, by His grace and mercy now and forever!
Amen.
for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor
yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more
than meat, and the body than raiment?
Is not life more than meat? So much of our lives are spent around eating, around food. How do you tell a starving person that life is more than meat, more than eating? Is it true that many die of starvation- even among those who believe in God and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior? It is true. We say this verse as if God will take care of all our physical needs and we shouldn't think about our life and eating, drinking, and clothing. Is it true that sometimes we do go very hungry, very thirsty and wear threadbare clothing? Yes, it's true and some might like to point out that God is going back on this promise when those needs aren't met, seriously, when they aren't met and I'm not talking you want a feast and are only given grain, I'm talking when there is no feast and no grain to be had, when there is nothing. In truth if we answer this question we have the answer to a lot of things.
Is not the life more than meat?
Is not life more than living?
Wait! That's a strange thing to say. Is not life more than living? Some would jump up and say sure- it's dying but then there is no life in death unless of course you're one of the million, billions who are fooled into believing there is immediate access to another plane of conscious life upon death- a white light to drift off into.
There is life in death and not the life many believe. Jesus died so that we may live eternally and when we die we sleep in that promise of life eternal in a world He is preparing for us. Life in death is by faith in God's promises. In this world we will be persecuted and we will be put to death, again this isn't any sort of reality to those of us living in the US but it is reality to those living in countries that are putting Christians to death. If we choose to have *things*, if we choose to have life here and now rather than choosing Christ and submitting ourselves to death if need be then we forfeit life eternal. If we choose a life that is wrapped up in the *things* of life we leave no room for God. Things become our obsessions and we believe that we can't live without things. Sure, we believe we can live without the unseen God but not that steak in front of us. Or even more harder for those truly starving- can they make that choice between a bit of bread and God, are they called to do so? Is it cruel that they would be?
People want to paint the picture of God as cruel and mean, nasty, and sadistic, they forget that He isn't the author of lies, of that pain in the world. Once again if we point the finger at Satan we are told God allows Satan to reign here on earth so ultimately it is a cruel God that allows. That's the very small picture of life, not the bigger picture that includes life eternal in Christ.
This is an apostle talking here--
1 Cor. {4:9} For I think
that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were
appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the
world, and to angels, and to men.
Appointed to death.
Made a spectacle unto the WORLD, and to ANGELS, and to MEN.
A spectacle why? Because no man is greater than Christ who was innocent and died for our sins. No man. Jesus even said that the greatest is the least, that we should be servants. He shed His pure Spiritual existence and set aside the powers that could have spared Him from suffering and death and instead took on the human flesh that could feel, that could suffer, that could die and He did so when He didn't have to because He loves us.
We might have to suffer and suffer terribly in ways we can never imagine. We might be tempted to blame God for allowing the suffering, but may the Holy Spirit strength us, comfort us, and keep us in Christ knowing that no matter the suffering there is a world beyond this one and it is promised to those who believe in Jesus and His love, accepting His amazing sacrifice, accepting it is Christ's righteousness not any of our own.
In Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, by His grace and mercy now and forever!
Amen.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
If God is not first in our lives then where is He?
Deut. {32:15} But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered [with fatness;] then he forsook God [which] made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
Growing fat means what? That you have plenty, in fact that you have more than enough to eat. You are overeating right? To grow fat you have limited activity and excess intake of food- barring any medical conditions and let's suffice it to say that Jeshurun didn't have a medical condition. Jeshurun was being gluttonous, he was grown thick, covered in fat and... to top it all off, he forsook God which made him! He lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation!
How many of us forsake God and lightly esteem the Rock of our salvation? How many of us grow satisfied with what we have, with the things we've acquired, how many of us are happy with our lives and the excesses in them and we seek the excesses rather than God? We grow fat with our own desires, our own wants, our own pleasures and we forsake God for them. Denying ourselves is something shunned as being a good work and God forbid we try to do good works thinking they'll save us. Good works will never save us, never. But not denying ourselves, not taking up our cross, not living for Christ, as Christ, not living for God we are forsaking Him. We console our consciences by saying God would want us to be happy. God would understand. And yes, God understands He really does and He knows when our hearts are caught up in ourselves rather than in Him, He knows us better than we know ourselves.
Do we want to forsake God, to lightly esteem the Rock of our salvation? What is the end of that?
Deut.
{32:16} They provoked him to jealousy with strange [gods,] with abominations provoked they him to anger. {32:17} They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new [gods that] came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. {32:18} Of the Rock [that] begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. {32:19} And when the LORD saw [it,] he abhorred [them,] because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. {32:20} And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end [shall be:] for they [are] a very froward generation, children in whom [is] no faith. {32:21} They have moved me to jealousy with [that which is] not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with [those which are] not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. {32:22} For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains. {32:23} I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them. {32:24} [They shall be] burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust. {32:25} The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling [also] with the man of gray hairs. {32:26} I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men: {32:27} Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, [and] lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the LORD hath not done all this. {32:28} For they [are] a nation void of counsel, neither [is there any] understanding in them. {32:29} O that they were wise, [that] they understood this, [that] they would consider their latter end! {32:30} How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? {32:31} For their rock [is] not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves [being] judges. {32:32} For their vine [is] of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes [are] grapes of gall, their clusters [are] bitter: {32:33} Their wine [is] the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps. {32:34} [Is] not this laid up in store with me, [and] sealed up among my treasures? {32:35} To me [belongeth] vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in [due] time: for the day of their calamity [is] at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. {32:36} For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that [their] power is gone, and [there is] none shut up, or left. {32:37} And he shall say, Where [are] their gods, [their] rock in whom they trusted, {32:38} Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, [and] drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, [and] be your protection. {32:39} See now that I, [even] I, [am] he, and [there is] no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither [is there any] that can deliver out of my hand. {32:40} For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever. {32:41} If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. {32:42} I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; [and that] with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy. {32:43} Rejoice, O ye nations, [with] his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, [and] to his people.
God is an exacting God and He will claim vengeance as His, not ours, but His. When a person hurts another God claims the right to punish in ways we have no power to punish with. If our pain can lead one to Christ praise God that our pain was not in vain. We have to seek God not forsake Him. We have to esteem the Rock of our salvation, not lightly regard Him.
If God is not first in our lives then where is He? Who is first in our lives? We have to ask ourselves these questions, we have to learn the answers because God knows and He will hold us accountable for knowing as well.
2 Tim. {2:15} Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Show thyself approved unto God.
1 Tim. {5:22} ...keep thyself pure.
1 Tim. {4:16} Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Ro. {14:22} Hast thou faith? have [it] to thyself before God. Happy [is] he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he
alloweth.
We are to look to ourselves. We are to take heed to ourselves. We are to have faith before God. We are to show ourselves approved unto God. For those who say it is wrong to take our lives under scrutiny, that we are wrong to believe that our actions mean something, I say the Word of God says otherwise.
No, all the scrutiny in the world will not save us, but out of our love for God we will do His will and know what we are doing. We can't use the excuse in the day of the Lord that we were confused, not when the Word of God enlightens us.
By faith we seek Christ and repent, confessing our sins and giving our lives over to Him fully. By the mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ now and forever.
Amen.
*******
Growing fat means what? That you have plenty, in fact that you have more than enough to eat. You are overeating right? To grow fat you have limited activity and excess intake of food- barring any medical conditions and let's suffice it to say that Jeshurun didn't have a medical condition. Jeshurun was being gluttonous, he was grown thick, covered in fat and... to top it all off, he forsook God which made him! He lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation!
How many of us forsake God and lightly esteem the Rock of our salvation? How many of us grow satisfied with what we have, with the things we've acquired, how many of us are happy with our lives and the excesses in them and we seek the excesses rather than God? We grow fat with our own desires, our own wants, our own pleasures and we forsake God for them. Denying ourselves is something shunned as being a good work and God forbid we try to do good works thinking they'll save us. Good works will never save us, never. But not denying ourselves, not taking up our cross, not living for Christ, as Christ, not living for God we are forsaking Him. We console our consciences by saying God would want us to be happy. God would understand. And yes, God understands He really does and He knows when our hearts are caught up in ourselves rather than in Him, He knows us better than we know ourselves.
Do we want to forsake God, to lightly esteem the Rock of our salvation? What is the end of that?
Deut.
{32:16} They provoked him to jealousy with strange [gods,] with abominations provoked they him to anger. {32:17} They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new [gods that] came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. {32:18} Of the Rock [that] begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. {32:19} And when the LORD saw [it,] he abhorred [them,] because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. {32:20} And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end [shall be:] for they [are] a very froward generation, children in whom [is] no faith. {32:21} They have moved me to jealousy with [that which is] not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with [those which are] not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. {32:22} For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains. {32:23} I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them. {32:24} [They shall be] burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust. {32:25} The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling [also] with the man of gray hairs. {32:26} I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men: {32:27} Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, [and] lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the LORD hath not done all this. {32:28} For they [are] a nation void of counsel, neither [is there any] understanding in them. {32:29} O that they were wise, [that] they understood this, [that] they would consider their latter end! {32:30} How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? {32:31} For their rock [is] not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves [being] judges. {32:32} For their vine [is] of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes [are] grapes of gall, their clusters [are] bitter: {32:33} Their wine [is] the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps. {32:34} [Is] not this laid up in store with me, [and] sealed up among my treasures? {32:35} To me [belongeth] vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in [due] time: for the day of their calamity [is] at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. {32:36} For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that [their] power is gone, and [there is] none shut up, or left. {32:37} And he shall say, Where [are] their gods, [their] rock in whom they trusted, {32:38} Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, [and] drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, [and] be your protection. {32:39} See now that I, [even] I, [am] he, and [there is] no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither [is there any] that can deliver out of my hand. {32:40} For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever. {32:41} If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. {32:42} I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; [and that] with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy. {32:43} Rejoice, O ye nations, [with] his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, [and] to his people.
God is an exacting God and He will claim vengeance as His, not ours, but His. When a person hurts another God claims the right to punish in ways we have no power to punish with. If our pain can lead one to Christ praise God that our pain was not in vain. We have to seek God not forsake Him. We have to esteem the Rock of our salvation, not lightly regard Him.
If God is not first in our lives then where is He? Who is first in our lives? We have to ask ourselves these questions, we have to learn the answers because God knows and He will hold us accountable for knowing as well.
2 Tim. {2:15} Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Show thyself approved unto God.
1 Tim. {5:22} ...keep thyself pure.
1 Tim. {4:16} Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Ro. {14:22} Hast thou faith? have [it] to thyself before God. Happy [is] he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he
alloweth.
We are to look to ourselves. We are to take heed to ourselves. We are to have faith before God. We are to show ourselves approved unto God. For those who say it is wrong to take our lives under scrutiny, that we are wrong to believe that our actions mean something, I say the Word of God says otherwise.
No, all the scrutiny in the world will not save us, but out of our love for God we will do His will and know what we are doing. We can't use the excuse in the day of the Lord that we were confused, not when the Word of God enlightens us.
By faith we seek Christ and repent, confessing our sins and giving our lives over to Him fully. By the mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ now and forever.
Amen.
*******
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
We all have to be thirsty.
Rev. {21:1} And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the
first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there
was no more sea. {21:2} And I John saw the holy city, new
Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared
as a bride adorned for her husband. {21:3} And I heard a
great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of
God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they
shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them,
[and be] their God. {21:4} And God shall wipe away all
tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more
pain: for the former things are passed away. {21:5} And he
that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and
faithful. {21:6} And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha
and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him
that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
{21:7} He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will
be his God, and he shall be my son. {21:8} But the fearful,
and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars,
shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and
brimstone: which is the second death.
A new heaven and a new earth- for the first heaven and first earth were passed away. The world as we know it will be no more. A holy city, a new Jerusalem will come down from God out of heaven.
A holy city so special and amazing as a bride is on her wedding day. I've heard tell that on her wedding day adorned in her wedding gown a bride is made to feel as a princess, a queen. Even before wedding gowns brides were given special attention on that day as they were prepared for their grooms. A wedding day is special, incredibly special and here an entire new holy city, a new Jerusalem that has been prepared for us, for those of us that have united with Christ accepting His glorious sacrifice so that we may live in His righteousness.
The tabernacle of God is with men. God will dwell with us! We shall be God's people! How amazing is that? How wondrous is that? Love unlike anything we imagine.
Last night on some tv show I heard one of the actors say- 'How could God allow this to happen?' She was speaking of the tortured life of someone she loved. Where was the blame given to Satan? Where? It was alright and normal to question God but where were the accusations towards Satan? Why didn't she instead say 'Damn Satan for doing this!' People blame God, not Satan, he's just an afterthought, a given while God is the One who is supposed to intervene- and He has but He's intervened for eternity, not now, not for this life.
Soon, 'God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.'
In the new earth there will be no death, no sorrow, no crying, no pain- those things will be done away with.
It's true! Christ died to offer this life to us, all of us if we but repent and confess, accepting Christ's sacrifice and living for Him.
Rev. 'And he
that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and
faithful. {21:6} And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha
and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him
that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
{21:7} He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will
be his God, and he shall be my son. {21:8} But the fearful,
and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars,
shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and
brimstone: which is the second death.
Him that is athirst.
He that overcometh.
We need to thrist of the water of life that is found in Christ. We need to overcome this world we live in by living for Christ, in Christ. Overcoming isn't easy no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. On the outside people might think you have everything a person could want but in truth, your life is still to be a life of overcoming. It's harder to overcome a life of ease and riches than it is for a poor, hard working man to overcome. For a rich person living a life of ease they have to overcome their luxuries, their easy existence and it's not easy giving up good things, things that bring us ease and pleasure here on earth now. No wonder Christ said it is easier for a camel to get through an eye of a needle than a rich man to get to heaven. Who ever really thinks about having to overcome a life of ease?
We all have to be thirsty.
We all have to overcome if we are to inherit all God has for us to inherit in Him.
Those who aren't thirsty, those who aren't overcoming but giving in to their lives - those who are fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars... they will not inherit the new promised world, they will not take part in the new Jerusalem, in fact they will be blotted out of existence entirely and endure the lake of fire.
May God have mercy upon us all through the Grace of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! Only by His grace, only through His righteousness can we hope to be saved and it is that hope, that faith in Him that we need, by his mercy.
Amen.
first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there
was no more sea. {21:2} And I John saw the holy city, new
Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared
as a bride adorned for her husband. {21:3} And I heard a
great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of
God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they
shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them,
[and be] their God. {21:4} And God shall wipe away all
tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more
pain: for the former things are passed away. {21:5} And he
that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and
faithful. {21:6} And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha
and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him
that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
{21:7} He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will
be his God, and he shall be my son. {21:8} But the fearful,
and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars,
shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and
brimstone: which is the second death.
A new heaven and a new earth- for the first heaven and first earth were passed away. The world as we know it will be no more. A holy city, a new Jerusalem will come down from God out of heaven.
A holy city so special and amazing as a bride is on her wedding day. I've heard tell that on her wedding day adorned in her wedding gown a bride is made to feel as a princess, a queen. Even before wedding gowns brides were given special attention on that day as they were prepared for their grooms. A wedding day is special, incredibly special and here an entire new holy city, a new Jerusalem that has been prepared for us, for those of us that have united with Christ accepting His glorious sacrifice so that we may live in His righteousness.
The tabernacle of God is with men. God will dwell with us! We shall be God's people! How amazing is that? How wondrous is that? Love unlike anything we imagine.
Last night on some tv show I heard one of the actors say- 'How could God allow this to happen?' She was speaking of the tortured life of someone she loved. Where was the blame given to Satan? Where? It was alright and normal to question God but where were the accusations towards Satan? Why didn't she instead say 'Damn Satan for doing this!' People blame God, not Satan, he's just an afterthought, a given while God is the One who is supposed to intervene- and He has but He's intervened for eternity, not now, not for this life.
Soon, 'God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.'
In the new earth there will be no death, no sorrow, no crying, no pain- those things will be done away with.
It's true! Christ died to offer this life to us, all of us if we but repent and confess, accepting Christ's sacrifice and living for Him.
Rev. 'And he
that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and
faithful. {21:6} And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha
and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him
that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
{21:7} He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will
be his God, and he shall be my son. {21:8} But the fearful,
and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars,
shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and
brimstone: which is the second death.
Him that is athirst.
He that overcometh.
We need to thrist of the water of life that is found in Christ. We need to overcome this world we live in by living for Christ, in Christ. Overcoming isn't easy no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. On the outside people might think you have everything a person could want but in truth, your life is still to be a life of overcoming. It's harder to overcome a life of ease and riches than it is for a poor, hard working man to overcome. For a rich person living a life of ease they have to overcome their luxuries, their easy existence and it's not easy giving up good things, things that bring us ease and pleasure here on earth now. No wonder Christ said it is easier for a camel to get through an eye of a needle than a rich man to get to heaven. Who ever really thinks about having to overcome a life of ease?
We all have to be thirsty.
We all have to overcome if we are to inherit all God has for us to inherit in Him.
Those who aren't thirsty, those who aren't overcoming but giving in to their lives - those who are fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars... they will not inherit the new promised world, they will not take part in the new Jerusalem, in fact they will be blotted out of existence entirely and endure the lake of fire.
May God have mercy upon us all through the Grace of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! Only by His grace, only through His righteousness can we hope to be saved and it is that hope, that faith in Him that we need, by his mercy.
Amen.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Believing until the belief is forever realized.
2 Corinthians {5:7} For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Throughout life how are we asked to take things by faith. Would you buy a car by faith? Would you buy a house? Marry someone? Yes sometimes all these things happen but they are the rarity not the norm. By faith we might take someone at their word because they prove they can be trusted to follow through. If you have faith in someone that's a great thing isn't it?
Walking by faith.
Not by sight.
By faith.
Believing in the unseen. We have to believe in the unseen. The great unseen, the great I Am. In a Savior we've never touched, never seen, never spoken to we need to believe. We have to take the leap of faith and believe no matter what anyone says that God exists, that Jesus saves and that we are given the Holy Spirit to enable us to keep that faith.
Believing without proof. Believing without sight.
We walk by faith.
We have to believe in that, have faith in the fact we walk by faith. Have faith in faith? Seems impossible? Seems like one of those things that is a conundrum?
Have faith in faith. Believe in the unseen. In all actuality, faith multiplies that way, it grows that way. Faith is a constantly growing living thing. Believing is unending. Believing until the belief is forever realized. Believing in a God who loves us and will always love us and that one day we will be transformed into the creatures He intended us to be without all the sin and the results of sin. Faith.
We walk by faith, not by sight.
We need to remember this is the way we live- by faith now and forever.
May the grace and mercy of our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ increase our quality of faith in Him now and forever, by His love.
Amen.
Throughout life how are we asked to take things by faith. Would you buy a car by faith? Would you buy a house? Marry someone? Yes sometimes all these things happen but they are the rarity not the norm. By faith we might take someone at their word because they prove they can be trusted to follow through. If you have faith in someone that's a great thing isn't it?
Walking by faith.
Not by sight.
By faith.
Believing in the unseen. We have to believe in the unseen. The great unseen, the great I Am. In a Savior we've never touched, never seen, never spoken to we need to believe. We have to take the leap of faith and believe no matter what anyone says that God exists, that Jesus saves and that we are given the Holy Spirit to enable us to keep that faith.
Believing without proof. Believing without sight.
We walk by faith.
We have to believe in that, have faith in the fact we walk by faith. Have faith in faith? Seems impossible? Seems like one of those things that is a conundrum?
Have faith in faith. Believe in the unseen. In all actuality, faith multiplies that way, it grows that way. Faith is a constantly growing living thing. Believing is unending. Believing until the belief is forever realized. Believing in a God who loves us and will always love us and that one day we will be transformed into the creatures He intended us to be without all the sin and the results of sin. Faith.
We walk by faith, not by sight.
We need to remember this is the way we live- by faith now and forever.
May the grace and mercy of our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ increase our quality of faith in Him now and forever, by His love.
Amen.
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