Prov. {30:5} Every word of God [is] pure: he
[is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Luke {4:4} And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written,
That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word
of God.
Eph. {6:17} And take
the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God
*******
The word of God is pure, the word of God is sustenance, the word of God is a sword. The word of God is powerful- protecting, sustaining, defending. To have such protection is something we'd all want, right? To have *magic* words of protection, words we could use to keep us safe, words we could use to ward off harm, words that could keep us alive as food might. Those are special words! We have such words and they aren't from a spell book of sorcery but true and holy- the word of God. Do we keep the word of God as holy? Do we revere the word of God as some might revere words of false gods? Do we protect the word of God as others might keep their special words under lock and key? God's words aren't to be muffled but shared and taken to heart by all. God is love! God doesn't want His words hid. The evil one would have his words hid- would have his evil words seemingly so powerful that only those that are special can invoke them. The words of God are powerful, truly powerful and they aren't hidden away and kept special for only those who are considered special enough to read them. The word of God is available to everyone! Everyone! Just as the love of God is available to everyone! Just as salvation is for everyone that believes in the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ- the word of God personified.
No wonder people would die for the word of God. No wonder people consider the Bible worth more than their own lives because in it is life. The words in the Bible are life giving words. The words are special and we can't even begin to fathom just how special. We are told how special and yet we disregard them.
Every word of God is pure. God is a shield, He gives us protection when we trust in Him. God protects our eternal life. We are to live by the word of God. Do you live by the word of God? What does it mean to live by the word of God? Do we feed on the word of God? Our bodies are fashioned in such a way that we need to put food in them to sustain them properly. We have built in sensors so to speak that tell us when we are hungry, when we are thirsty, and we know that we are to feed ourselves and get something to drink to ease the hungry and thirst. Food and drink won't give us full life. We might not be physically hungry or thirsty but there is a spiritual hunger in us that we need to feed. How often? If we are to live by every word of God we need to live by it at least as often as we live by food and drink, right? It makes sense. God does nothing without reason. God designed us in the way He did so that we couldn't forget to feed our spiritual self right along with our physical. We choose to forget. We choose to leave our spiritual selves starving. We feed our spiritual selves sparingly so that most people are stick thin spiritually without ever having to diet. This is one time that we should feast and feast and become fat in the word of God, become sated by the word of God because it is by the word of God we have our sword to fight off the unseen powers assailing us.
Just as we need to pick up food and put it into our mouths, just as we need to pour our drink and take it to our mouths we need to bring the word of God to our hearts, to our minds. We have to open the word, we have to read the word, we have to take the word of God into us make it real to us, feed ourselves with the word. There is a reason why Jesus blessed bread and wine, breaking the bread and telling His apostles to eat of it, and drinking the wine telling His apostles to drink. There is a reason He equated the bread and wine with Himself and it wasn't so we could become cannibals. He wanted us to realize the importance of what He was giving us. A spiritual recipe, a spiritual command to sustain ourselves on the Word of God, on Him who brought the word of God to life for us. The apostles went from house to house breaking bread and drinking wine, bringing Christ's message of salvation to all they could. Christ wanted His message brought to all, not reserved for a special few ordained by man. He wanted His word to spread far and wide, not remain hidden in the hearts of a select sect.
May God bless and keep us in His Word now and forever by His mercy and grace, by the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Make us unblameable in His Holiness.
Heb. {13:21} Make you perfect in every good work to
do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his
sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and
ever. Amen.
God will make us perfect. Who? God? God will make us perfect. God will make us perfect in every good work to do his will. God will make us perfect to do His will. God will work in us that which pleases him. And He works in us through Jesus Christ. All glory to God forever.
We worry about making ourselves perfect when in truth we can't make ourselves perfect. Only in Christ can we be made perfect. Only by the grace of God.
1 Thess. {3:12} And
the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one
toward another, and toward all [men,] even as we [do]
toward you: {3:13} To the end he may stablish your hearts
unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another towards all men. The Lord will establish our hearts, unblameable in holiness before God. Unblameable in holiness. Not unblameable in ourselves, but in holiness. Unblameable before God our Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ! Christ does this for us. We CAN'T do it ourselves.
Unless Christ is standing on our behalf we are blameable. All our sins our on are heads and the wages of our sins is death. Death. Unless Christ is there pleading for us, unless Christ stands in our place, unless Christ places our names in the Book of Life, we will die. We will have to pay for all our sins every single one of them even though it only takes one sin to kill us eternally.
We are made perfect, we are unblameable in His holiness before God.
Only the greatest fool would not grasp hold of Christ's righteousnes. Only the greatest fool would not accept his sacrifice for them. He came and died for us so that we may live.
John {8:36} If the Son
therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John {8:32} And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall
make you free
Make us free.
Make us perfect.
Make us to increase in love.
Make us unblameable in His Holiness.
We get so caught up in trying to do for ourelves that we forget the power of the one who came and died for us has the same power to give us that life. He wouldn't have died for us if He weren't able to give us life. He wouldn't have sacrificed all for us if there were no way to lay claim to the promise He came to give us life eternal. It's all through Him, all in Him, in Christ now and forever.
Christ our Righteousness and through faith in Christ and His Righteousness we are saved by grace, His Grace!
All glory, all praise, all honor to God!
Amen.
do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his
sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and
ever. Amen.
God will make us perfect. Who? God? God will make us perfect. God will make us perfect in every good work to do his will. God will make us perfect to do His will. God will work in us that which pleases him. And He works in us through Jesus Christ. All glory to God forever.
We worry about making ourselves perfect when in truth we can't make ourselves perfect. Only in Christ can we be made perfect. Only by the grace of God.
1 Thess. {3:12} And
the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one
toward another, and toward all [men,] even as we [do]
toward you: {3:13} To the end he may stablish your hearts
unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another towards all men. The Lord will establish our hearts, unblameable in holiness before God. Unblameable in holiness. Not unblameable in ourselves, but in holiness. Unblameable before God our Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ! Christ does this for us. We CAN'T do it ourselves.
Unless Christ is standing on our behalf we are blameable. All our sins our on are heads and the wages of our sins is death. Death. Unless Christ is there pleading for us, unless Christ stands in our place, unless Christ places our names in the Book of Life, we will die. We will have to pay for all our sins every single one of them even though it only takes one sin to kill us eternally.
We are made perfect, we are unblameable in His holiness before God.
Only the greatest fool would not grasp hold of Christ's righteousnes. Only the greatest fool would not accept his sacrifice for them. He came and died for us so that we may live.
John {8:36} If the Son
therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John {8:32} And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall
make you free
Make us free.
Make us perfect.
Make us to increase in love.
Make us unblameable in His Holiness.
We get so caught up in trying to do for ourelves that we forget the power of the one who came and died for us has the same power to give us that life. He wouldn't have died for us if He weren't able to give us life. He wouldn't have sacrificed all for us if there were no way to lay claim to the promise He came to give us life eternal. It's all through Him, all in Him, in Christ now and forever.
Christ our Righteousness and through faith in Christ and His Righteousness we are saved by grace, His Grace!
All glory, all praise, all honor to God!
Amen.
Monday, June 22, 2009
God of ALL Grace
1 Peter {5:10} But the God of all grace, who hath called us
unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen,
settle [you. ]{5:11} To him [be] glory and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen.
* God of all grace! God who has called us to HIS eternal glory by Christ Jesus! We might suffer a while and how long is a while- our lifetime in fact because this life is so conducive to suffering. We live in a world that promises suffering in one way or another. We live a life that offers us pain in so many ways. Yes, there are good things, happy thing, glorious things even, but most people would have to admit there is more pain than good, more evil than good. We are tormented not just by other people but by things we can't even see. We are assailed by wicked things constantly and the wicked things take pleasure in causing us all the hardship they can. Finding peace amidst the suffering is all we are allowed and that peace isn't from pain but peace that is in spite of the pain. A smile when tortured, a peace when tried, we are given that and able to find that only by the God of all Grace through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Is it easy? No. It's a knowledge, not a feeling. A knowing not an emotional happenstance. If we wait for a peace we equate with happiness we will wait in vain because peace is a knowing that the suffering now isn't for eternity. We suffer a while and made perfect, we're established, strengthened and settled in Christ. All gloyr and dominion to our God whose promises are sure and based on knowledge not slippery feelings that are wrought by the slightest wind of upset or joy.
May the Lord Bless and Keep us all in Him now and forever. May we know our suffering now is just for a while and for our own good in ways we cannot fathom. May we know that God, the God of ALL grace who calls each of us through Jesus Christ will keep us safe in Him, know it even if we don't feel it. By His mercy and grace, by His love beyond measure.
Amen.
unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen,
settle [you. ]{5:11} To him [be] glory and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen.
* God of all grace! God who has called us to HIS eternal glory by Christ Jesus! We might suffer a while and how long is a while- our lifetime in fact because this life is so conducive to suffering. We live in a world that promises suffering in one way or another. We live a life that offers us pain in so many ways. Yes, there are good things, happy thing, glorious things even, but most people would have to admit there is more pain than good, more evil than good. We are tormented not just by other people but by things we can't even see. We are assailed by wicked things constantly and the wicked things take pleasure in causing us all the hardship they can. Finding peace amidst the suffering is all we are allowed and that peace isn't from pain but peace that is in spite of the pain. A smile when tortured, a peace when tried, we are given that and able to find that only by the God of all Grace through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Is it easy? No. It's a knowledge, not a feeling. A knowing not an emotional happenstance. If we wait for a peace we equate with happiness we will wait in vain because peace is a knowing that the suffering now isn't for eternity. We suffer a while and made perfect, we're established, strengthened and settled in Christ. All gloyr and dominion to our God whose promises are sure and based on knowledge not slippery feelings that are wrought by the slightest wind of upset or joy.
May the Lord Bless and Keep us all in Him now and forever. May we know our suffering now is just for a while and for our own good in ways we cannot fathom. May we know that God, the God of ALL grace who calls each of us through Jesus Christ will keep us safe in Him, know it even if we don't feel it. By His mercy and grace, by His love beyond measure.
Amen.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
He that overcomes.
Rev. {21:7} He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
He that overcomes.
Rev. {3:21} To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne
To him that overcomes.
Even as I also overcame.
Rev. {3:12} Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
Him that overcomes.
Rev. {3:5} He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
He that overcomes.
Rev. {2:26} And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations
He that overcomes.
Rev. {2:17} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it.]
To him that overcomes.
Rev. {2:11} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
He that overcomes.
Rev. {2:7} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
To him that overcomes.
1 John {4:4} Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Have overcome them.
1 John {5:5} Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
He that overcomes.
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.
Overcomes the world.
1 John {2:14} I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one
Overcome the wicked one.
Ro. {12:21} Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Overcome evil.
Dictonary-
overcome (o´ver-kùm´) verb
overcame (-kâm´) overcome, overcoming, overcomes verb, transitive
1. To defeat (another) in competition or conflict; conquer. See synonyms at defeat.
2. To prevail over; surmount: tried to overcome the obstacles of poverty.
3. To overpower, as with emotion; affect deeply.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
To prevail over.
Dictionary-
prevail (prî-vâl´) verb, intransitive
prevailed, prevailing, prevails
1.To be greater in strength or influence; triumph: prevailed against great odds.
2.To be or become effective; win out: hoped justice would prevail.
3.To be most common or frequent; be predominant: a region where snow and ice prevail.
4.To be in force, use, or effect; be current: an ancient tradition that still prevails.
5.To use persuasion or inducement successfully. Often used with on, upon, or with. See synonyms at persuade.
[Middle English prevailen, from Old French prevaloir, prevaill-, from Latin praevalêre, to be stronger : prae-, pre- + valêre, to be strong.]
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
To be greater in strength or influence; triumph: prevailed against great odds.
*******
To overcome, there has to be a fight, a situation to overcome in order to overcome, right? To prevail against someone or something there has to be something or someone to prevail over. We know who and what we are to prevail over, to overcome don't we?
Eph. {6:12} For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places.]
We are to overcome principalities, powers, rulers of darkness in the world, spiritual wickedness in high places. We are to overcome evil.
We are to overcome and it is our faith that has us overcoming. Our faith in God alone is our hope.
We are to overcome and the only way to overcome is through Christ, through faith in Christ. The life we live is full of hardship, full of pain and full of misery. If your life isn't like this and you're shaking your head saying that your life is fine, then you have to realize that the evil deception that is in Satan's power has to be overcome no matter the shape it takes in our lives. We have to search our hearts and pray like never before to overcome by faith. To overcome evil in way it comes into our lives. Are we selfish? Are we self-righteous? Are we greedy? Are we filled with angry and scorn? Do we struggle with sins of the flesh in a world that proclaims there are no such things as sins of the flesh that all is good and normal? Do we have the need to put ourselves first? Do we give to others so we can reap praise? Or does your pain come from others- those seeking to hurt you emotionally, physically? Do you live in a situation that has you living at the mercy of others whims. Are you constantly manipulated by others? Perhaps you live a life that is filled with goodness and you haven't faced the hardships yet. It's very possible because some live all their lives in a settled way only to have their world turn upside-down on them. There are so many scenarios that we call our lives and in each one we as individuals have to overcome through Christ. We have to overcome through faith in God. We need Christ in us. We need Christ's love in us.
To him that overcomes the promises are given and we only overcome through faith. There is no power of our own that we can overcome with, and if we look to oursevles then we'll fail. We have to ever look to Christ. In Christ alone there is hope, their is life.
May God help us to look to Him, may our faith in Him grow endlessly. Each day no matter what it brings- good or bad - may we give God the glory and praise, the thanksgiving and the love in faith that He alone deserves. By His grace, by His mercy. Through the Holy Spirit's comforting, guiding power.
Amen.
He that overcomes.
Rev. {3:21} To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne
To him that overcomes.
Even as I also overcame.
Rev. {3:12} Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
Him that overcomes.
Rev. {3:5} He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
He that overcomes.
Rev. {2:26} And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations
He that overcomes.
Rev. {2:17} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it.]
To him that overcomes.
Rev. {2:11} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
He that overcomes.
Rev. {2:7} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
To him that overcomes.
1 John {4:4} Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Have overcome them.
1 John {5:5} Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
He that overcomes.
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.
Overcomes the world.
1 John {2:14} I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one
Overcome the wicked one.
Ro. {12:21} Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Overcome evil.
Dictonary-
overcome (o´ver-kùm´) verb
overcame (-kâm´) overcome, overcoming, overcomes verb, transitive
1. To defeat (another) in competition or conflict; conquer. See synonyms at defeat.
2. To prevail over; surmount: tried to overcome the obstacles of poverty.
3. To overpower, as with emotion; affect deeply.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
To prevail over.
Dictionary-
prevail (prî-vâl´) verb, intransitive
prevailed, prevailing, prevails
1.To be greater in strength or influence; triumph: prevailed against great odds.
2.To be or become effective; win out: hoped justice would prevail.
3.To be most common or frequent; be predominant: a region where snow and ice prevail.
4.To be in force, use, or effect; be current: an ancient tradition that still prevails.
5.To use persuasion or inducement successfully. Often used with on, upon, or with. See synonyms at persuade.
[Middle English prevailen, from Old French prevaloir, prevaill-, from Latin praevalêre, to be stronger : prae-, pre- + valêre, to be strong.]
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
To be greater in strength or influence; triumph: prevailed against great odds.
*******
To overcome, there has to be a fight, a situation to overcome in order to overcome, right? To prevail against someone or something there has to be something or someone to prevail over. We know who and what we are to prevail over, to overcome don't we?
Eph. {6:12} For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places.]
We are to overcome principalities, powers, rulers of darkness in the world, spiritual wickedness in high places. We are to overcome evil.
We are to overcome and it is our faith that has us overcoming. Our faith in God alone is our hope.
We are to overcome and the only way to overcome is through Christ, through faith in Christ. The life we live is full of hardship, full of pain and full of misery. If your life isn't like this and you're shaking your head saying that your life is fine, then you have to realize that the evil deception that is in Satan's power has to be overcome no matter the shape it takes in our lives. We have to search our hearts and pray like never before to overcome by faith. To overcome evil in way it comes into our lives. Are we selfish? Are we self-righteous? Are we greedy? Are we filled with angry and scorn? Do we struggle with sins of the flesh in a world that proclaims there are no such things as sins of the flesh that all is good and normal? Do we have the need to put ourselves first? Do we give to others so we can reap praise? Or does your pain come from others- those seeking to hurt you emotionally, physically? Do you live in a situation that has you living at the mercy of others whims. Are you constantly manipulated by others? Perhaps you live a life that is filled with goodness and you haven't faced the hardships yet. It's very possible because some live all their lives in a settled way only to have their world turn upside-down on them. There are so many scenarios that we call our lives and in each one we as individuals have to overcome through Christ. We have to overcome through faith in God. We need Christ in us. We need Christ's love in us.
To him that overcomes the promises are given and we only overcome through faith. There is no power of our own that we can overcome with, and if we look to oursevles then we'll fail. We have to ever look to Christ. In Christ alone there is hope, their is life.
May God help us to look to Him, may our faith in Him grow endlessly. Each day no matter what it brings- good or bad - may we give God the glory and praise, the thanksgiving and the love in faith that He alone deserves. By His grace, by His mercy. Through the Holy Spirit's comforting, guiding power.
Amen.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled
John {16:33} These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world.
******* In Christ alone there is peace- no where else. As soon as we begin to believe that we have peace in any other way we'll be proven wrong. Maybe we won't be proven wrong in that first moment or even that first day or month, or even year but any peace built outside of Christ is temporary. When we are caught up in that peace we've manufactured outside of Christ it's deceptive and powerful in that deception because when it slips away whether gradually or in the space of mere moments, we are left despairing, our hearts aching and desolate and we turn around and blame the very one whose peace we are to cling to and not any of our own. Christ didn't lie, He couldn't lie. He told us we would have tribulation in the world.
Dict. tribulation (trîb´ye-lâ´shen) noun
1. Great affliction, trial, or distress; suffering: the tribulations of the persecuted. See synonyms at trial.
2. An experience that tests one's endurance, patience, or faith.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
He told us we'd have tribulation in the world- we'd have great afflictions, great trials, great distress, great suffering. That doesn't sound very pleasant does it? It sounds rather uninviting if you want to be truthful. Christ isn't trying to deceive us, He couldn't there is no deception in Him. It's Satan who likes us to blame God for life and it's many horrific hardships. Christ tells us that we will have these horrific hardships but we are to be of good cheer? Why? Because He overcame the world. Christ overcame Satan and the hardships and because He overcame we too will overcome through Him and Him alone. So while we may be buffetted about by all the heartache and pain the world has to offer, our only hope is found in Christ's overcoming- not ours but His and us through Him.
John {14:27} Peace I leave with
you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give
I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid.
Christ's peace is left with us, not the peace of the world, but Christ's peace is given to us- it's only in Christ's peace that we can let our heart release the trouble in it, only in Christ's peace that we can let the fear in our hearts go.
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world.
******* In Christ alone there is peace- no where else. As soon as we begin to believe that we have peace in any other way we'll be proven wrong. Maybe we won't be proven wrong in that first moment or even that first day or month, or even year but any peace built outside of Christ is temporary. When we are caught up in that peace we've manufactured outside of Christ it's deceptive and powerful in that deception because when it slips away whether gradually or in the space of mere moments, we are left despairing, our hearts aching and desolate and we turn around and blame the very one whose peace we are to cling to and not any of our own. Christ didn't lie, He couldn't lie. He told us we would have tribulation in the world.
Dict. tribulation (trîb´ye-lâ´shen) noun
1. Great affliction, trial, or distress; suffering: the tribulations of the persecuted. See synonyms at trial.
2. An experience that tests one's endurance, patience, or faith.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
He told us we'd have tribulation in the world- we'd have great afflictions, great trials, great distress, great suffering. That doesn't sound very pleasant does it? It sounds rather uninviting if you want to be truthful. Christ isn't trying to deceive us, He couldn't there is no deception in Him. It's Satan who likes us to blame God for life and it's many horrific hardships. Christ tells us that we will have these horrific hardships but we are to be of good cheer? Why? Because He overcame the world. Christ overcame Satan and the hardships and because He overcame we too will overcome through Him and Him alone. So while we may be buffetted about by all the heartache and pain the world has to offer, our only hope is found in Christ's overcoming- not ours but His and us through Him.
John {14:27} Peace I leave with
you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give
I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid.
Christ's peace is left with us, not the peace of the world, but Christ's peace is given to us- it's only in Christ's peace that we can let our heart release the trouble in it, only in Christ's peace that we can let the fear in our hearts go.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Our imperfect love reaches out for His perfect love
Love me.
Words we hear, words we say, words we think all the time. Love me. We want to be loved. We imagine love is something amazing and special, something that will protect us to the best of its ability, something that will be there for us no matter what, something we can count on, something special, something that makes us unique. How often does love let us down? How often do we have expectations of love that fall apart? How often do we feel secure in that love and it lets us down. People are hurt by love all the time. People give their all and end up broken hearted. Why does that happen? Is it love letting people down or rather people letting love down?
Seriously. Love is something so amazing. Most parents have it for children and yet even parents have let love down.
The concept of love is a real one, one that we fantasize about, one that we apsire to or not. People write about it, read about it, make movies about it, dream of it, and love is always something really special- that special one either we're looking for it or we're wanting to be special to someone or both. Love. We want loving parents, loving friends, loving partners, loving children, we want this and yet inevitably love gets twisted. We equate love with trust and then we feel betrayed when the trust is broken. We want to find love and be loved and we can only find real true love in one place and it's not in another human being who can twist love into something that resembles love but misses the mark.
Ever wonder how so many people can love their pets? Pets are more trustworthy than humans aren't they? They seldom betray the love we give them and when they do it's excuseable because they are only animals and they don't know any better- humans are supposed to know better.
God wants to be loved and He knew as sinners it was beyond us to love Him with that perfect love so He sent His Son, He sent perfect love to us to reveal Himself to us and give us a chance to accept that love, to embrace that perfect love into our lives, to cling to that perfect love so that perfect love can be our perfect love for Him because we can't love Him perfectly on our own.
Ex. {20:6} And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Deut. {5:10} And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
Prov. {8:17} I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
John {8:42} Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of
myself, but he sent me.
John {10:17} Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
John {14:15} If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John {14:23} Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto
him, and make our abode with him. {14:24} He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. {14:25} These things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with you. {14:26} But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. {14:27} Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. {14:28} Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. {14:29} And now I have told you before it
come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. {14:30} Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. {14:31} But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
If we love Jesus we will keep His words which are God's words. The Comforter- the Holy Ghost is given to us to teach us everything, to bring things to our remembrance, everything Jesus has said. It's important we read the Bible, that we read all of what Jesus has said.
Love. Our imperfect love reaches out for His perfect love.
Please Lord.
By Your mercy, by Your grace, by Your love.
Amen.
Words we hear, words we say, words we think all the time. Love me. We want to be loved. We imagine love is something amazing and special, something that will protect us to the best of its ability, something that will be there for us no matter what, something we can count on, something special, something that makes us unique. How often does love let us down? How often do we have expectations of love that fall apart? How often do we feel secure in that love and it lets us down. People are hurt by love all the time. People give their all and end up broken hearted. Why does that happen? Is it love letting people down or rather people letting love down?
Seriously. Love is something so amazing. Most parents have it for children and yet even parents have let love down.
The concept of love is a real one, one that we fantasize about, one that we apsire to or not. People write about it, read about it, make movies about it, dream of it, and love is always something really special- that special one either we're looking for it or we're wanting to be special to someone or both. Love. We want loving parents, loving friends, loving partners, loving children, we want this and yet inevitably love gets twisted. We equate love with trust and then we feel betrayed when the trust is broken. We want to find love and be loved and we can only find real true love in one place and it's not in another human being who can twist love into something that resembles love but misses the mark.
Ever wonder how so many people can love their pets? Pets are more trustworthy than humans aren't they? They seldom betray the love we give them and when they do it's excuseable because they are only animals and they don't know any better- humans are supposed to know better.
God wants to be loved and He knew as sinners it was beyond us to love Him with that perfect love so He sent His Son, He sent perfect love to us to reveal Himself to us and give us a chance to accept that love, to embrace that perfect love into our lives, to cling to that perfect love so that perfect love can be our perfect love for Him because we can't love Him perfectly on our own.
Ex. {20:6} And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Deut. {5:10} And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
Prov. {8:17} I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
John {8:42} Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of
myself, but he sent me.
John {10:17} Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
John {14:15} If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John {14:23} Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto
him, and make our abode with him. {14:24} He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. {14:25} These things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with you. {14:26} But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. {14:27} Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. {14:28} Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. {14:29} And now I have told you before it
come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. {14:30} Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. {14:31} But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
If we love Jesus we will keep His words which are God's words. The Comforter- the Holy Ghost is given to us to teach us everything, to bring things to our remembrance, everything Jesus has said. It's important we read the Bible, that we read all of what Jesus has said.
Love. Our imperfect love reaches out for His perfect love.
Please Lord.
By Your mercy, by Your grace, by Your love.
Amen.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
We Can't Be Ashamed of Christ
Luke
{19:10} For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
{19:11} And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the
kingdom of God should immediately appear.
{19:12} He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
{19:13} And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
{19:14} But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this [man] to reign over us.
{19:15} And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
{19:16} Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
{19:17} And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten
cities.
{19:18} And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
{19:19} And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
{19:20} And another came, saying, Lord, behold, [here is] thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin
{19:21} For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
{19:22} And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, [thou] wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow
{19:23} Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
{19:24} And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give [it] to him that hath ten pounds.
{19:25} (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
{19:26} For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken
away from him.
{19:27} But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay [them] before me.
*******
Christ went away to receive a kingdom with the plan of returning.
Before He went away He told His followers to take that which He'd given to them and to take care of it for Him doing what He'd want them to do with it, what He'd do with it.
Those that weren't His followers hated Him and made sure all around knew that they hated Him and wanted nothing to do with Him or the followers of Him.
Then it came to pass that He returned as promised, having done all He set out to do.
Back from where He'd gone, Christ called His servants to Him. Christ wanted to know what His servants had done with the commission He'd given them.
The first follower told Him he'd done well with the commission He'd given them. He went out and multiplied it, gaining, adding to, making more.
The second follower told Him he'd he'd done well with the commission given to him, not as well as the first one but he'd done what he could.
The third follower told Him that he didn't do anything but kept the commission safe.
Christ was pleased with the first two followers but not the third. He at least wanted the third servant to put the commission to use to earn more against it even it if wasn't much. The last thing He wanted was to hide the commission. If the commission wasn't going to be put to use He at least wanted it in a place that it could naturally earn usury, get interest on the commission.
Christ wants us - His followers not to hide our commission and what is that commission? To be His and not ashamed.
Mark {8:38} Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels
We can't hide our Christianity and I'm not talking about those who hide it to stay alive and witness in other ways and even then they don't deny it ultimately. If we are Christians and NO ONE knows we are Christians what does that mean? Are we hiding the commission given us by Christ? Are we hiding the one talent given to us to hold onto until Christ returns? Are was ashamed of being Christ's? Are we afraid of revealing the talent given even to the point of letting it earn interest for Christ. Not everyone can be bold and speak up, believe me I know. Some are speechless, some are timid, some scared, others just don't want to appear different but would rather fit in with things. No matter how or why, laziness or fearfulness, if we aren't noticeably Christians we are hiding the commission given to us by Christ. If no one else knows we are Christians we are ashamed of that fact. If we don't preach Christ's salvation and His second coming, we are ashamed. No, we all aren't called to be evangelists, or preachers, or teachers, but we are all called to be Christ's and not to be ashamed of that. When we are not ashamed we are noticeably Christians and any that notice that in even the smallest of ways earns interest for Christ and when He returns we will be able to say that we were His boldly as we could be letting others know because we weren't ashamed and that alone in some small way was able to produce an interest on the commission we were given.
We can't hide the talent given us, the commission given to us. We can't be ashamed of Christ. We need to ask ourselves if we are hiding and ashamed, it's a serious question to ask, one of the most serious because Christ will no longer call us His if we are ashamed and if we hide what He's given us, if we hide the salvation we've received in Him.
May the Lord Jesus Christ through His mercy and grace give us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. May the Holy Spirit dwell in us and Christ's Righteousness fill us producing in us for Him what we cannot produce ourselves. Through Christ and His power, His love now and always.
Amen.
{19:10} For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
{19:11} And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the
kingdom of God should immediately appear.
{19:12} He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
{19:13} And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
{19:14} But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this [man] to reign over us.
{19:15} And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
{19:16} Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
{19:17} And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten
cities.
{19:18} And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
{19:19} And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
{19:20} And another came, saying, Lord, behold, [here is] thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin
{19:21} For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
{19:22} And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, [thou] wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow
{19:23} Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
{19:24} And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give [it] to him that hath ten pounds.
{19:25} (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
{19:26} For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken
away from him.
{19:27} But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay [them] before me.
*******
Christ went away to receive a kingdom with the plan of returning.
Before He went away He told His followers to take that which He'd given to them and to take care of it for Him doing what He'd want them to do with it, what He'd do with it.
Those that weren't His followers hated Him and made sure all around knew that they hated Him and wanted nothing to do with Him or the followers of Him.
Then it came to pass that He returned as promised, having done all He set out to do.
Back from where He'd gone, Christ called His servants to Him. Christ wanted to know what His servants had done with the commission He'd given them.
The first follower told Him he'd done well with the commission He'd given them. He went out and multiplied it, gaining, adding to, making more.
The second follower told Him he'd he'd done well with the commission given to him, not as well as the first one but he'd done what he could.
The third follower told Him that he didn't do anything but kept the commission safe.
Christ was pleased with the first two followers but not the third. He at least wanted the third servant to put the commission to use to earn more against it even it if wasn't much. The last thing He wanted was to hide the commission. If the commission wasn't going to be put to use He at least wanted it in a place that it could naturally earn usury, get interest on the commission.
Christ wants us - His followers not to hide our commission and what is that commission? To be His and not ashamed.
Mark {8:38} Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels
We can't hide our Christianity and I'm not talking about those who hide it to stay alive and witness in other ways and even then they don't deny it ultimately. If we are Christians and NO ONE knows we are Christians what does that mean? Are we hiding the commission given us by Christ? Are we hiding the one talent given to us to hold onto until Christ returns? Are was ashamed of being Christ's? Are we afraid of revealing the talent given even to the point of letting it earn interest for Christ. Not everyone can be bold and speak up, believe me I know. Some are speechless, some are timid, some scared, others just don't want to appear different but would rather fit in with things. No matter how or why, laziness or fearfulness, if we aren't noticeably Christians we are hiding the commission given to us by Christ. If no one else knows we are Christians we are ashamed of that fact. If we don't preach Christ's salvation and His second coming, we are ashamed. No, we all aren't called to be evangelists, or preachers, or teachers, but we are all called to be Christ's and not to be ashamed of that. When we are not ashamed we are noticeably Christians and any that notice that in even the smallest of ways earns interest for Christ and when He returns we will be able to say that we were His boldly as we could be letting others know because we weren't ashamed and that alone in some small way was able to produce an interest on the commission we were given.
We can't hide the talent given us, the commission given to us. We can't be ashamed of Christ. We need to ask ourselves if we are hiding and ashamed, it's a serious question to ask, one of the most serious because Christ will no longer call us His if we are ashamed and if we hide what He's given us, if we hide the salvation we've received in Him.
May the Lord Jesus Christ through His mercy and grace give us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. May the Holy Spirit dwell in us and Christ's Righteousness fill us producing in us for Him what we cannot produce ourselves. Through Christ and His power, His love now and always.
Amen.
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