The Testimony of Jesus
*
2 Tim {1:7} For God hath not given us the spirit
of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
{1:8} Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our
Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the
afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
*
Rev. {1:1} The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave
unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must
shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his
angel unto his servant John: {1:2} Who bare record of the
word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all
things that he saw.
*
Rev.{1:9} I John, who also am your brother, and companion in
tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,
was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God,
and for the testimony of Jesus Christ
*
Rev.{6:9} And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under
the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of
God, and for the testimony which they held
*
Rev. {11:7} And when they shall
have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of
the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall
overcome them, and kill them.
*
Rev.{12:11} And
they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the
word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto
the death.
*
Rev.{12:17} And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and
went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep
the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus
Christ.
*
Rev.{15:5} And after that I looked, and, behold,
the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was
opened:
*
Rev. {19:10} And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said
unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of
thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God:
for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
*
{2:1} And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with
excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the
testimony of God. {2:2} For I determined not to know any
thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
{2:3} And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in
much trembling. {2:4} And my speech and my preaching
[was] not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power: {2:5} That your
faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the
power of God. {2:6} Howbeit we speak wisdom among
them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor
of the princes of this world, that come to nought: {2:7} But
we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the
hidden [wisdom,] which God ordained before the world
unto our glory: {2:8} Which none of the princes of this
world knew: for had they known [it,] they would not have
crucified the Lord of glory. {2:9} But as it is written, Eye
hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the
heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them
that love him. {2:10} But God hath revealed [them] unto us
by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the
deep things of God. {2:11} For what man knoweth the
things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?
even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of
God. {2:12} Now we have received, not the spirit of the
world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know
the things that are freely given to us of God. {2:13} Which
things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing
spiritual things with spiritual. {2:14} But the natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them,] because
they are spiritually discerned. {2:15} But he that is spiritual
judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
{2:16} For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he
may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
*******
The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. From the moment Jesus started preaching what was it He was preaching exactly? The gospel. What is the gospel? The good news. What is the good news? The good news is that we sinners have a was to be forgiven. Us wayward children of God now have a way to become reconciled with God. Our sins can be forgiven by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. How is this the Spirit of prophecy which we are told is the testimony of Jesus? Prophecy is a prediction of a future event. The future event predicted by Christ Himself was total reconciliation with God encompassing us living and dead being made new in Him and being caught up to heaven with Him when He returns to take us with Him. Not once did He tell the disciples they were on their own, that there was no hope of a future with Him, that they had this life on earth now and that was that. Jesus preached hope! Jesus preached salvation! Jesus preached to us of a new world, a new life and the prophectic aspect of receiving the fulness of that hope in time. Jesus' testimony is most certainly prophectic. We accept Jesus Christ and a lot of times people fall back away from Him giving up hope in what? In the prophectic prediction of Jesus' that He will come again. It's like a reliable human being, someone you've always been able to count on in the past, telling you they'll be there to pick you up between a certain time, say 12 noon and 12 midnight. So you wait, and you wait and you wait until finally you grow tired of waiting and you focus on the fact they said 12 noon. Sure they also said 12 midnight, but surely they meant somewhere closer to 12 noon not the later time. So it comes to 6 pm, halfway through the time and you're pacing, and pacing. You begin to lose hope even though you KNOW that they could still be considered on time if they arrive at midnight. Finally it's 9 pm and you don't want to wait any longer. Taking that analogy to Jesus we need to substitute years and years and years for hours but it holds true. The fact remains Jesus predicted He would return and He WILL return. The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy simply because He preached prophetically of salvation and life everlasting.
We must have the testimony of Jesus if we are to overcome this world by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. We must have the Spirit of prophecy in us, the willingness to believe and holdfast until Christ comes to redeem us unto Him as He promises.
May we all holdfast to that which is holy, good, and true. May we cling tightly to God and have the Testimony of Jesus.
By His amazing mercy and unending grace now and forever.
Amen.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Rev. 12 - Overcome by the Blood of the Lamb
Rev.
{12:1} And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars
*Woman-
Rev. {17:18} And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
*John {3:28} Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. {3:29} He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom. Christ has the bride- and Christ's bride are His people, Christ's bride is His church.
*Gal. {4:26} But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
The great wonder in heaven. God's people victorious.
Light we equate with goodness, darkness we equate with evil. To be clothed with light is to be clothed with goodness. To have the moon under her feet is to have the darkness (because the moon has NO light of her own) under her. Victorious over the darkness. A crown of victory, twleve stars- perfected, the perfect crown.
1. Twelve PATRIARCHS - from Seth to Noah and his family, and twelve from Shem to Jacob.
2. 12 Tribes of Isreal
3. 12 Judges
4. In the Temple the number 12 is a predominant number.
5. The twelve Apostles.
6. The twelve foundations in the heavenly Jerusalem.
7. The twelve gates.
8. The twelve pearls.
9. The twelve angels.
The Measurement of New Jerusalem will be 12,000 furlongs square, while the wall will be 144 (12 x 12) cubits, Revelation 21:16,17.
You can see that the number 12 is important, having 12 stars in the crown is perfect victory the woman possesses as God's people.
*******
{12:2} And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
From God's people a child was ready to be born. A special child and God's people were in need of this child. As with any child about to be birthed there is travail, there is pain in delivery and it was the same for this special child. The woman- God's people were suffering under the yoke of their existence. As God's people captive by the Egyptians lived in a time of suffering and travail, God's people under the oppressive rule of the Romans suffered.
*******
{12:3} And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
One wonder was the woman of God- God's victorous people. Another wonder was a great fiery dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his head. A great beast existed at the same time as God's people, victorous because they are God's an no one else's. The great beast comprised of many heads, many horns with crowns on those heads- this beast's rule extends outward and encompasses many. While having only 7 heads it has 10 horns, the crowns are not upon the horns but the heads. We see similar beasts in the book of Daniel.
We have two opposites here representing Good and Evil. God and Satan.
*******
{12:4} And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
This second wonder the great fiery dragon drew a third part of the stars of heaven with him and cast them to earth. Who cast them? The tail of the dragon took the stars- and stars represent angels. Job {38:7} When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
The dragon took 1/3 part of the stars, the angels with him to earth. And the dragon- Satan stood before the woman, the church, God's people right before Christ was born, ready to devour the child, ready to defeat Christ.
*******
{12:5} And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne.
{12:6} And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.
The child was born! Christ was born! Christ who would rule all nations with a rod of iron. The child was caught up to God and to his throne. The church- God's people fled into the wilderness they were preserved for a long, long time. And it's true. God's people have suffered a lot and have prevailed even as they were almost wiped out over and over again. The wilderness where things can hide, it's not a city, not the mainstream, not where the great poplace exists.
*******
{12:7} And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels
{12:8} And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
{12:9} And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
{12:10} And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his
Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
When was Satan cast down? When was the war in heaven? When did the dragon and angels fight?
It says NOW is come salvation, when was salvation come? When Jesus came to the world to save us, right? So the war in heaven took place AFTER Jesus was come into the world to give us salvation. The war took place and then the dragon was cast out and those 1/3rd of the angels were cast out with him.
It makes sense that they would have been cast out to earth AFTER the earth was well formed and man established upon it. Some say that Satan was cast out to earth before man was put on earth and they'd be wrong. What sort of God would throw the lambs to the lion like that? Remember in Job -- {1:6} Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. {1:7} And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. {1:8} And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? {1:9} Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? {1:10} Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. {1:11} But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. {1:12} And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath [is] in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Satan was going to heaven to stand before God then, he hadn't been cast out to earth. Jesus had not yet come to earth to bring salvation to man. Satan was telling God that he was walking the earth as if it were his and God said what about Job. And Satan accused God of favoring Job and if he no longer favored him then he wouldn't be his. So...God removed the protection from all but Job's life so Satan could try to tear Job away from loving God. The whole earth wasn't Satan's, it wasn't his and God loves those who love Him and there were those that loved him and didn't follow Satan and his evil ways. While Satan could work on earth he wasn't cast out to earth until salvation was assured for man.
*******
{12:11} And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
{12:12} Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
{12:13} And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man [child. ]
{12:14} And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
{12:15} And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
{12:16} And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
{12:17} And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
We overcome by the blood of the Lamb. We overcome by the word of the testimony of Jesus. We overcome because we love not our lives to death.
Satan would have us, Satan would devour us, Satan makes war with us who claim to be the Lord's, His church, His people. We keep the commandments of God and the have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Make no mistake, Satan would have each of us and he will stop at nothing to get us, to get ANY who are truly God's. Having the Love of Jesus in us makes us targets of Satan's and our only hope is to hold fast to Jesus, hold fast and never let go. By His grace and mercy will will overcome, only by his grace and mercy and not loving our own lives unto death- being willing to die for Jesus, for His love. May we be His now and forever.
Amen.
{12:1} And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars
*Woman-
Rev. {17:18} And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
*John {3:28} Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. {3:29} He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom. Christ has the bride- and Christ's bride are His people, Christ's bride is His church.
*Gal. {4:26} But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
The great wonder in heaven. God's people victorious.
Light we equate with goodness, darkness we equate with evil. To be clothed with light is to be clothed with goodness. To have the moon under her feet is to have the darkness (because the moon has NO light of her own) under her. Victorious over the darkness. A crown of victory, twleve stars- perfected, the perfect crown.
1. Twelve PATRIARCHS - from Seth to Noah and his family, and twelve from Shem to Jacob.
2. 12 Tribes of Isreal
3. 12 Judges
4. In the Temple the number 12 is a predominant number.
5. The twelve Apostles.
6. The twelve foundations in the heavenly Jerusalem.
7. The twelve gates.
8. The twelve pearls.
9. The twelve angels.
The Measurement of New Jerusalem will be 12,000 furlongs square, while the wall will be 144 (12 x 12) cubits, Revelation 21:16,17.
You can see that the number 12 is important, having 12 stars in the crown is perfect victory the woman possesses as God's people.
*******
{12:2} And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
From God's people a child was ready to be born. A special child and God's people were in need of this child. As with any child about to be birthed there is travail, there is pain in delivery and it was the same for this special child. The woman- God's people were suffering under the yoke of their existence. As God's people captive by the Egyptians lived in a time of suffering and travail, God's people under the oppressive rule of the Romans suffered.
*******
{12:3} And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
One wonder was the woman of God- God's victorous people. Another wonder was a great fiery dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his head. A great beast existed at the same time as God's people, victorous because they are God's an no one else's. The great beast comprised of many heads, many horns with crowns on those heads- this beast's rule extends outward and encompasses many. While having only 7 heads it has 10 horns, the crowns are not upon the horns but the heads. We see similar beasts in the book of Daniel.
We have two opposites here representing Good and Evil. God and Satan.
*******
{12:4} And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
This second wonder the great fiery dragon drew a third part of the stars of heaven with him and cast them to earth. Who cast them? The tail of the dragon took the stars- and stars represent angels. Job {38:7} When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
The dragon took 1/3 part of the stars, the angels with him to earth. And the dragon- Satan stood before the woman, the church, God's people right before Christ was born, ready to devour the child, ready to defeat Christ.
*******
{12:5} And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne.
{12:6} And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.
The child was born! Christ was born! Christ who would rule all nations with a rod of iron. The child was caught up to God and to his throne. The church- God's people fled into the wilderness they were preserved for a long, long time. And it's true. God's people have suffered a lot and have prevailed even as they were almost wiped out over and over again. The wilderness where things can hide, it's not a city, not the mainstream, not where the great poplace exists.
*******
{12:7} And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels
{12:8} And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
{12:9} And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
{12:10} And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his
Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
When was Satan cast down? When was the war in heaven? When did the dragon and angels fight?
It says NOW is come salvation, when was salvation come? When Jesus came to the world to save us, right? So the war in heaven took place AFTER Jesus was come into the world to give us salvation. The war took place and then the dragon was cast out and those 1/3rd of the angels were cast out with him.
It makes sense that they would have been cast out to earth AFTER the earth was well formed and man established upon it. Some say that Satan was cast out to earth before man was put on earth and they'd be wrong. What sort of God would throw the lambs to the lion like that? Remember in Job -- {1:6} Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. {1:7} And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. {1:8} And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? {1:9} Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? {1:10} Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. {1:11} But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. {1:12} And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath [is] in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Satan was going to heaven to stand before God then, he hadn't been cast out to earth. Jesus had not yet come to earth to bring salvation to man. Satan was telling God that he was walking the earth as if it were his and God said what about Job. And Satan accused God of favoring Job and if he no longer favored him then he wouldn't be his. So...God removed the protection from all but Job's life so Satan could try to tear Job away from loving God. The whole earth wasn't Satan's, it wasn't his and God loves those who love Him and there were those that loved him and didn't follow Satan and his evil ways. While Satan could work on earth he wasn't cast out to earth until salvation was assured for man.
*******
{12:11} And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
{12:12} Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
{12:13} And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man [child. ]
{12:14} And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
{12:15} And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
{12:16} And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
{12:17} And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
We overcome by the blood of the Lamb. We overcome by the word of the testimony of Jesus. We overcome because we love not our lives to death.
Satan would have us, Satan would devour us, Satan makes war with us who claim to be the Lord's, His church, His people. We keep the commandments of God and the have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Make no mistake, Satan would have each of us and he will stop at nothing to get us, to get ANY who are truly God's. Having the Love of Jesus in us makes us targets of Satan's and our only hope is to hold fast to Jesus, hold fast and never let go. By His grace and mercy will will overcome, only by his grace and mercy and not loving our own lives unto death- being willing to die for Jesus, for His love. May we be His now and forever.
Amen.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
This life or Eternal life?
Proverbs
{8:1} Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
{8:2} She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
{8:3} She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
{8:4} Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man.
{8:5} O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
{8:6} Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.
{8:7} For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.
{8:8} All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them.
{8:9} They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
{8:10} Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
{8:11} For wisdom [is] better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
{8:12} I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
How many people do you know would choose to have knowledge over riches? Seriously.
You might think some would want knowledge because then the knowledge would make them rich, they could use that knowledge to get rich, but what if it wasn't that kind of knowledge? What if the knowledge was how to find life eternal. Would you choose the knowledge of life eternal or material, earthly riches? Seriously, ask yourself the question because it if very pertinent. Oh, you might be saying you'll take earthly riches because you know all about life eternal, or you might be saying how do I know eternal life is even real, I know now is real so give me earthly riches. Or you might be saying you might as well take the riches because eternal life is a long way off and you have to live in the meanwhile.
So there we have it... Earthly riches to spend now and *no* chance for eternal life, or the knowledge of Christ Jesus and His mercy and grace, giving to us eternal life through Him. Choose.
Choose.
Wisdom is better than rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
ALL things that may be desired do not compare to wisdom.
If you're like me you've had many desires in your life, we start out wanting this, that, and the other thing don't we? As we get older we seemingly only want more things, our desire is for more or if not more then better. Perhaps our desires are just to keep all we've accumlated. ALL things that may be desired. It doesn't give specifics there does it? It doesn't say if you desire this or that, it says ALL things that may be desired don't compare to WISDOM.
Receive knowledge rather than choice gold.
What is all this telling us? That there is a life beyond now and no matter what we do, no matter how we live this life it won't change that fact. Whether we are part of eternal life or not it will exist. If we focus only on the earthly things then our reward will be earthly and it is true that whatever is now will be all there is for us, this life will be it, there will be no more. Knowledge and wisdom tells us through Jesus that there is a better life to be had. Just the fact we have to struggle through the heartache and pain of this life should tell us that something is wrong with this world, this existence. Somehow we instinctively know that when all things were being created that there was a glitch in the program somewhere. The fact we can even imagine a perfect world should tell us something. What's that old saying- if we can imagine it then it has possibility. Some scoff at that but if you look at those who imagined an airplane, or a steel boat and tell them it was impossible what does that say? What about going into outerspace, crazy talk. Yet it was imagined first and then realized. All the man-made things we use daily were imagined first. Some imagine peace on earth fully believing it can be realized and it will be in the new world with Christ- true peace on earth. We imagine and that should tell us that things should be different that this isn't all there is and a supposed lucky few have a good life here and now while the rest suffer. Luck should have nothing to do with it. We are truly all designed for a life of real peace without tears, without pain, without heartache. All of us have the chance for that life only it's not going to be now. We have been blessed by God and given the understanding through His Holy word that the way things are now are not how it was intended and that a way has been made for us to receive a life of how it was intended but we have to choose and choose wisdom and knowledge of that over anything earthly.
*
{8:13} The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
{8:14} Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.
{8:15} By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
{8:16} By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.
{8:17} I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
{8:18} Riches and honour [are] with me; [yea,] durable riches and righteousness.
{8:19} My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
{8:20} I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment
{8:21} That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
{8:22} The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
{8:23} I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
{8:24} When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.
{8:25} Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth
{8:26} While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
{8:27} When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
{8:28} When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep
{8:29} When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth
{8:30} Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him:] and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him
{8:31} Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
{8:32} Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.
{8:33} Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
{8:34} Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
{8:35} For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
{8:36} But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
All praise and glory to God! Let us find Him and find life! Let us find favor with the Lord. Let us be blessed by hearing, watching, and waiting. Let us listen to instruction and be wise in Him, let us not refuse to hear. By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ let us keep God's ways now and forever in Him, through Him, by Him now and always.
Amen.
{8:1} Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
{8:2} She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
{8:3} She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
{8:4} Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man.
{8:5} O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
{8:6} Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.
{8:7} For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.
{8:8} All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them.
{8:9} They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
{8:10} Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
{8:11} For wisdom [is] better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
{8:12} I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
How many people do you know would choose to have knowledge over riches? Seriously.
You might think some would want knowledge because then the knowledge would make them rich, they could use that knowledge to get rich, but what if it wasn't that kind of knowledge? What if the knowledge was how to find life eternal. Would you choose the knowledge of life eternal or material, earthly riches? Seriously, ask yourself the question because it if very pertinent. Oh, you might be saying you'll take earthly riches because you know all about life eternal, or you might be saying how do I know eternal life is even real, I know now is real so give me earthly riches. Or you might be saying you might as well take the riches because eternal life is a long way off and you have to live in the meanwhile.
So there we have it... Earthly riches to spend now and *no* chance for eternal life, or the knowledge of Christ Jesus and His mercy and grace, giving to us eternal life through Him. Choose.
Choose.
Wisdom is better than rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
ALL things that may be desired do not compare to wisdom.
If you're like me you've had many desires in your life, we start out wanting this, that, and the other thing don't we? As we get older we seemingly only want more things, our desire is for more or if not more then better. Perhaps our desires are just to keep all we've accumlated. ALL things that may be desired. It doesn't give specifics there does it? It doesn't say if you desire this or that, it says ALL things that may be desired don't compare to WISDOM.
Receive knowledge rather than choice gold.
What is all this telling us? That there is a life beyond now and no matter what we do, no matter how we live this life it won't change that fact. Whether we are part of eternal life or not it will exist. If we focus only on the earthly things then our reward will be earthly and it is true that whatever is now will be all there is for us, this life will be it, there will be no more. Knowledge and wisdom tells us through Jesus that there is a better life to be had. Just the fact we have to struggle through the heartache and pain of this life should tell us that something is wrong with this world, this existence. Somehow we instinctively know that when all things were being created that there was a glitch in the program somewhere. The fact we can even imagine a perfect world should tell us something. What's that old saying- if we can imagine it then it has possibility. Some scoff at that but if you look at those who imagined an airplane, or a steel boat and tell them it was impossible what does that say? What about going into outerspace, crazy talk. Yet it was imagined first and then realized. All the man-made things we use daily were imagined first. Some imagine peace on earth fully believing it can be realized and it will be in the new world with Christ- true peace on earth. We imagine and that should tell us that things should be different that this isn't all there is and a supposed lucky few have a good life here and now while the rest suffer. Luck should have nothing to do with it. We are truly all designed for a life of real peace without tears, without pain, without heartache. All of us have the chance for that life only it's not going to be now. We have been blessed by God and given the understanding through His Holy word that the way things are now are not how it was intended and that a way has been made for us to receive a life of how it was intended but we have to choose and choose wisdom and knowledge of that over anything earthly.
*
{8:13} The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
{8:14} Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength.
{8:15} By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
{8:16} By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.
{8:17} I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
{8:18} Riches and honour [are] with me; [yea,] durable riches and righteousness.
{8:19} My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
{8:20} I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment
{8:21} That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
{8:22} The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
{8:23} I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
{8:24} When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.
{8:25} Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth
{8:26} While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
{8:27} When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
{8:28} When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep
{8:29} When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth
{8:30} Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him:] and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him
{8:31} Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.
{8:32} Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.
{8:33} Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
{8:34} Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
{8:35} For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
{8:36} But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
All praise and glory to God! Let us find Him and find life! Let us find favor with the Lord. Let us be blessed by hearing, watching, and waiting. Let us listen to instruction and be wise in Him, let us not refuse to hear. By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ let us keep God's ways now and forever in Him, through Him, by Him now and always.
Amen.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Every Eye Shall See Him
Rev. {1:4} John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; {1:5} And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, {1:6} And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. {1:7} Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. {1:8} I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Grace be unto you and peace.
2 John {1:3} Grace be with you, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth
and love.
Grace be with you, mercy and peace.
2 Cor. {12:9} And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Christ's grace is sufficient for us.
Grace and peace from God which is the great I Am. Grace and peace from the seven Spirits- the symbolic number of perfection, seven -- the perfect Spirit. Grace from Jesus Christ- the faithful witness- Jesus was faithful to the end a witness of God's love to us all. The first begotten from the dead- Jesus, the first raised up to new life giving us the promise of new life with Him. The prince of the kings of the earth. Him that loved us, washed us from our sins in his own blood. Jesus who has made us kings and priest unto God, His Father to Him be glory and dominion forever. Behold he comes with clouds-- every eye shall see him.
EVERY EYE shall see him! When Christ returns every eye shall see him. They which pierced him! Think about it, every eye will see Jesus when He returns. The eyes of those who killed Him.
Such amazing love for us, such amazing grace. We are given so much from God, so much. We have to keep these words, we have to keep the knowledge of the love of Christ in us always. The truth is He will return and we can be among those who wail or among those who glory in His return. I want to be among those who glory in the return of my Savior, the Bringer of my peace, the One who gives me His grace, His peace.
May God be with us now and forever, by the grace and mercy of our Lord and our Savior. Help us Lord, help us keep Your words, give us understanding, the understanding we need to be Yours forever.
Amen.
Grace be unto you and peace.
2 John {1:3} Grace be with you, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth
and love.
Grace be with you, mercy and peace.
2 Cor. {12:9} And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Christ's grace is sufficient for us.
Grace and peace from God which is the great I Am. Grace and peace from the seven Spirits- the symbolic number of perfection, seven -- the perfect Spirit. Grace from Jesus Christ- the faithful witness- Jesus was faithful to the end a witness of God's love to us all. The first begotten from the dead- Jesus, the first raised up to new life giving us the promise of new life with Him. The prince of the kings of the earth. Him that loved us, washed us from our sins in his own blood. Jesus who has made us kings and priest unto God, His Father to Him be glory and dominion forever. Behold he comes with clouds-- every eye shall see him.
EVERY EYE shall see him! When Christ returns every eye shall see him. They which pierced him! Think about it, every eye will see Jesus when He returns. The eyes of those who killed Him.
Such amazing love for us, such amazing grace. We are given so much from God, so much. We have to keep these words, we have to keep the knowledge of the love of Christ in us always. The truth is He will return and we can be among those who wail or among those who glory in His return. I want to be among those who glory in the return of my Savior, the Bringer of my peace, the One who gives me His grace, His peace.
May God be with us now and forever, by the grace and mercy of our Lord and our Savior. Help us Lord, help us keep Your words, give us understanding, the understanding we need to be Yours forever.
Amen.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Behold
Rev. {1:18} I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
*Christ has the keys of hell and of death, Christ was dead and is alive for evermore. Christ lives! No other went through what He went through. Christ, our Savior. No other has the power over death, not one, no other has the power over the grave. Truly Christ died for us and lives for us, loving us more than we can ever imagine.
{3:8} I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast
kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
*Christ knows our works. Christ has set before us an open door, a door no one can shut the door that Christ has opened for those who have kept His word and not denied His name. All glory to God! There is a door no man can shut for those who love Jesus, because those who love Him keep His words and would not deny Him.
{3:11} Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown
*Hold fast to what we have in Christ, hold fast so that NO one takes our reward of a crown. Hold fast! If we tell someone to hold on we are telling them to hope. If I tell someone to hold on I'll be there in a bit they have that hope that I'm there in a bit. If that someone thinks I'm taking to long they might just leave and not wait for me. If we don't hold fast to the hope we have in Christ's return then we give up that hope of eternal life. We don't know how long it will be. Many have held fast their entire lives some living right close to a hundred years or more and while we term that a long, long, long time to wait, in the scheme of eternity 100 years is nothing. We have to hold fast to what we have, and what we have is hope in Christ, faith in Christ. We don't want anyone stealing our crown, our place in eternal life because we give up hoping. Hold fast!
{3:20}
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
*Christ is right there wanting us with Him. If we hear His voice and we open our hearts to Him, He will come in and sup with us, and us with Him. It's a beautiful thing to think on, Christ knocking on our door, a door only we can open. That's our place in the scheme of things- opening the door to let Christ in. The door is open by faith. We let Christ in our hearts through faith, through the hope, through the belief we have in Him. Once we believe we will reap the rewards of that belief and we will be partakers of all Christ has to offer us. Such amazing love.
{16:15}
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
*If we watch, no thief can steal from us. If we don't watch anything can be stolen. We know that Christ is coming at a time that we don't expect Him, that there is no date we can mark on any calendar in existence that we can look at and know that is the day Christ is returning. Christ's return will be like a thief's in unexpectedness and yet we are told to watch for His return. People set up alarms, they buy guard dogs, they even hire security people to watch their belongings so no thief steals from them. We can't hire anyone to watch for Christ for us. We have to watch for ourselves. We have to be ready. We have to watch the signs of the times, watch our own lives, watch and keep our garments, keep Christ's righteousness about us. We can't turn our backs and leave off watching or we will lose all we have- we will lose our chance at eternal life.
{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.
*All things made new, how marvelous does that sound? We look at our world, our lives and we see the decay, we see the constant efforts to keep things from deterioration. We know first hand what it is to watch things go from being new to being old and to know that Christ will make all things new is just amazing. It's a wonderful hope, a wonderful promise that is true and faithful, something we can believe in with all our heart.
{22:7} Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
*Christ will return. We are bless when we take to heart the things He has told us in His word. If we keep our hope in His word to us we are blessed. To keep the sayings of His words, to keep His sayings of the prophecy in His word means we believe what is told to us, we have faith in what we've read, of what we've been told will come to pass.
{22:12} And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
*Our reward will be according to our work. Our work is our hope in Christ. If we place our hope anywhere else, in anything else we might think we're able to do then our reward will not be very good. What reward do we have to give ourselves? None. We have no reward to give to ourselves so we can't place our hope in ourselves. Our hope has to be in Christ and Christ alone and our reward will come from Christ.
May God bless and keep us as we hope in Him, as we invite Christ into our hearts to live forever. By the mercy and grace of Christ we live, He is our hope, our rewarder, our love for eternity.
Amen.
*Christ has the keys of hell and of death, Christ was dead and is alive for evermore. Christ lives! No other went through what He went through. Christ, our Savior. No other has the power over death, not one, no other has the power over the grave. Truly Christ died for us and lives for us, loving us more than we can ever imagine.
{3:8} I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast
kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
*Christ knows our works. Christ has set before us an open door, a door no one can shut the door that Christ has opened for those who have kept His word and not denied His name. All glory to God! There is a door no man can shut for those who love Jesus, because those who love Him keep His words and would not deny Him.
{3:11} Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown
*Hold fast to what we have in Christ, hold fast so that NO one takes our reward of a crown. Hold fast! If we tell someone to hold on we are telling them to hope. If I tell someone to hold on I'll be there in a bit they have that hope that I'm there in a bit. If that someone thinks I'm taking to long they might just leave and not wait for me. If we don't hold fast to the hope we have in Christ's return then we give up that hope of eternal life. We don't know how long it will be. Many have held fast their entire lives some living right close to a hundred years or more and while we term that a long, long, long time to wait, in the scheme of eternity 100 years is nothing. We have to hold fast to what we have, and what we have is hope in Christ, faith in Christ. We don't want anyone stealing our crown, our place in eternal life because we give up hoping. Hold fast!
{3:20}
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
*Christ is right there wanting us with Him. If we hear His voice and we open our hearts to Him, He will come in and sup with us, and us with Him. It's a beautiful thing to think on, Christ knocking on our door, a door only we can open. That's our place in the scheme of things- opening the door to let Christ in. The door is open by faith. We let Christ in our hearts through faith, through the hope, through the belief we have in Him. Once we believe we will reap the rewards of that belief and we will be partakers of all Christ has to offer us. Such amazing love.
{16:15}
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
*If we watch, no thief can steal from us. If we don't watch anything can be stolen. We know that Christ is coming at a time that we don't expect Him, that there is no date we can mark on any calendar in existence that we can look at and know that is the day Christ is returning. Christ's return will be like a thief's in unexpectedness and yet we are told to watch for His return. People set up alarms, they buy guard dogs, they even hire security people to watch their belongings so no thief steals from them. We can't hire anyone to watch for Christ for us. We have to watch for ourselves. We have to be ready. We have to watch the signs of the times, watch our own lives, watch and keep our garments, keep Christ's righteousness about us. We can't turn our backs and leave off watching or we will lose all we have- we will lose our chance at eternal life.
{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.
*All things made new, how marvelous does that sound? We look at our world, our lives and we see the decay, we see the constant efforts to keep things from deterioration. We know first hand what it is to watch things go from being new to being old and to know that Christ will make all things new is just amazing. It's a wonderful hope, a wonderful promise that is true and faithful, something we can believe in with all our heart.
{22:7} Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
*Christ will return. We are bless when we take to heart the things He has told us in His word. If we keep our hope in His word to us we are blessed. To keep the sayings of His words, to keep His sayings of the prophecy in His word means we believe what is told to us, we have faith in what we've read, of what we've been told will come to pass.
{22:12} And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
*Our reward will be according to our work. Our work is our hope in Christ. If we place our hope anywhere else, in anything else we might think we're able to do then our reward will not be very good. What reward do we have to give ourselves? None. We have no reward to give to ourselves so we can't place our hope in ourselves. Our hope has to be in Christ and Christ alone and our reward will come from Christ.
May God bless and keep us as we hope in Him, as we invite Christ into our hearts to live forever. By the mercy and grace of Christ we live, He is our hope, our rewarder, our love for eternity.
Amen.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Suffering
Rev. {3:10} Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. {3:11} Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
James {5:10} Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Examples for suffering affliction and patience.
The two must go hand in hand. The hour of temptation will come upon all the world and only if we keep the word of God's patience will we be kept from that hour.
I was going to do an indepth study on the prophets and their suffering and realized as I began to look up each prophet that there would be no way to know all the suffering they experienced and the patience they had to possess to get through the suffering. That's what suffering does isn't it... makes us stronger?
I was telling my daughter the other day that old saying about what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger and it's true I told her but I added a bit. It's only true if we don't let the suffering, the affliction in whatever form it takes, over come us. We don't have to let it make us stronger in fact a lot of people succumb to their suffering because by its very nature suffering is something to be abhored, something to avoid at all costs. No one wants to suffer. We have painkillers for just about everything, maybe ineffective in the most serious cases, but strong painkillers, painkillers that can end all suffering by causing death. We have drugs to muffle emotional suffering and mental anguish. It's nothing to grasp at medication to rid ourselves of whatever kind of pain we are in. I, myself have told others that there is nothing wrong with treating things with medication because we treat physical pain why shouldn't we treat mental and emotional pain. We've come so far in science that we know that chemicals in the brain- things we have NO control over by our will alone- can be messed up and drugs will help out with that. It's become a physical ailment now that we've advanced in our science so amazingly. I have no doubt that there are physical things in play that effect us all, chemical embalances that can make us seem crazy, make us depressed, make some into serial killers those with no remorse for what they do, that things can be so twisted in our chemical make up that we truly have no choice but to be what we are. I believe some people are born what we term homosexual through no fault of their own in fact even calling it a fault now has become wrong because so many can't help that they've been given the chemical make up that has their perception, their lives far from what is deemed normal.
What I don't believe is that this is something totally new. Afflictions are not new to the world, suddenly appearing after a couple, four thousand years. I believe from the moment man sin things were altered in what made man perfect unto God, made in His Image. Sin's result brought death- not instantaneous so the devil could gloat that God lied right up until Abel was murdered by his brother and Adam and Eve saw the death of one of their own. They did see the death of their beloved animals as they were slain in sacrifice to make coverings for their new nakedness, to cover their sinfilled selves. They saw that death right off but not the death of another human- something Satan said God lied about when Adam and Eve weren't immediately snuffed out of existence for their wrong doing. Death was the result of sinning, death was inevitable from that moment on. A life of toil and suffering had begun.
I told my daughter and son the other day as we were talking about how they are going to get their educations and go to work and how it's all part of life to do so. My son's vacation is being cut short with college starting a month sooner than he believed it would and telling him that it was life, that working with a few days off here and there was the life he had to look forward to wasn't something pleasant to hear. Sure he knew it already, he's not stupid, but making it reality as he seeks his higher education and future employment is altogether unpleasant because who wouldn't rather play and not work? The new world after Christ comes to take us home with Him will not be filled with toil and work in the way we know it to be. It wasn't until Adam and Eve sinned that the toiling began, up until that point all the tending in the garden and such was pure enjoyment not troublesome in the least. The huge beautiful garden of the world where all the animals came to be named, where the fruit of the trees were in full readiness to be enjoyed, where no weed threatened to choke any plant to destroy it... that world was the world we were made for. Is it no wonder we want to play and not work? Is it any wonder we go to great lengths to have free time rather than work time? We weren't made for the toiling and suffering of the world we have, the world that has evolved after sin.
Suffering. We think the suffering people undergo today inhumane and horrific and we look back in our history and see times of great horror. We wonder why it all came to be, how people could stand and allow the suffering to take place. How could the thousands of people sit in the colliseum and cheer on the slaughter of other people as sport? How could they watch and be entertained by the suffering of others? And yet they could. If the vast majority didn't accept such a way of life it wouldn't have lasted long. But the majority of people agreed to what was going on and participated in the events by their support. Then we have the inquisitions where thousands were tortured under the guise of it being God's will. In more modern times we have the Holocaust where millions were slaughtered and we have to ask ourselves how it could be allowed to happen. Even today, right now there are horrors taking place around the world and the suffering is great.
The prophets of God, those close to God, chosen by God to preach of Him, write of Him, witness of Him suffered and they didn't end their lives even when the suffering was beyond what anyone should have to endure. They suffered over and over, their afflictions were great, they weren't given super human powers that included super human protection from suffering. They suffered and even today any prophets of God suffer and it's better that they suffer and endure so it works patience and proves an example to us to cultivate patience, than to give in and end their suffering.
In a world where we are so caught up in ending our pain no matter its source, accepting that some are called to suffer and endure the pain seems absurd.
Even with all the medication and such, even with all the therapy we can afford, it's not always enough and we have to find a place within us that accepts that we are how we are, that chemical embalance or whatever it may be and I mean that- not in a mocking manner- it must be embraced as our lot in life and pray to God that we can somehow let it work in us the patience we need so that we may endure unto the end.
One more note- I was watching a popular tv show the other day and a woman who believes in ghosts (promoting spiritualism and the great lie Satan told Eve in the garden before she ate the fruit) said out right that there is no such thing as demons. Another great lie. In one breath she'll talk of God giving her this special ability, and the next deny the existence of demons when we know for a fact that Jesus cast out demons.
We wrestle against principalities and powers, against spiritual wickedness in high places- not flesh and blood- and so I say that a lot of our so called afflications do come from outside sources in our lives and we are made to ignore them in favor of keeping the inside sources and something we can control.
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 told the prophets are example in patience, the suffering they endured working that patience. May God help us all to realize that no matter our affliction we can endure by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Does it seem like we can endure? No, not always, but we holdfast to the profession of our faith in Jesus to save us and not us saving ourselves. Our suffering in whatever form it takes can make us stronger in Christ but we have to look to the author and finisher of our faith always and not look to ourselves or other humans around us.
May God bless us all and keep us in Him now and forever by the grace of His Son's sacrifice, His Son's righteousness.
Amen.
James {5:10} Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Examples for suffering affliction and patience.
The two must go hand in hand. The hour of temptation will come upon all the world and only if we keep the word of God's patience will we be kept from that hour.
I was going to do an indepth study on the prophets and their suffering and realized as I began to look up each prophet that there would be no way to know all the suffering they experienced and the patience they had to possess to get through the suffering. That's what suffering does isn't it... makes us stronger?
I was telling my daughter the other day that old saying about what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger and it's true I told her but I added a bit. It's only true if we don't let the suffering, the affliction in whatever form it takes, over come us. We don't have to let it make us stronger in fact a lot of people succumb to their suffering because by its very nature suffering is something to be abhored, something to avoid at all costs. No one wants to suffer. We have painkillers for just about everything, maybe ineffective in the most serious cases, but strong painkillers, painkillers that can end all suffering by causing death. We have drugs to muffle emotional suffering and mental anguish. It's nothing to grasp at medication to rid ourselves of whatever kind of pain we are in. I, myself have told others that there is nothing wrong with treating things with medication because we treat physical pain why shouldn't we treat mental and emotional pain. We've come so far in science that we know that chemicals in the brain- things we have NO control over by our will alone- can be messed up and drugs will help out with that. It's become a physical ailment now that we've advanced in our science so amazingly. I have no doubt that there are physical things in play that effect us all, chemical embalances that can make us seem crazy, make us depressed, make some into serial killers those with no remorse for what they do, that things can be so twisted in our chemical make up that we truly have no choice but to be what we are. I believe some people are born what we term homosexual through no fault of their own in fact even calling it a fault now has become wrong because so many can't help that they've been given the chemical make up that has their perception, their lives far from what is deemed normal.
What I don't believe is that this is something totally new. Afflictions are not new to the world, suddenly appearing after a couple, four thousand years. I believe from the moment man sin things were altered in what made man perfect unto God, made in His Image. Sin's result brought death- not instantaneous so the devil could gloat that God lied right up until Abel was murdered by his brother and Adam and Eve saw the death of one of their own. They did see the death of their beloved animals as they were slain in sacrifice to make coverings for their new nakedness, to cover their sinfilled selves. They saw that death right off but not the death of another human- something Satan said God lied about when Adam and Eve weren't immediately snuffed out of existence for their wrong doing. Death was the result of sinning, death was inevitable from that moment on. A life of toil and suffering had begun.
I told my daughter and son the other day as we were talking about how they are going to get their educations and go to work and how it's all part of life to do so. My son's vacation is being cut short with college starting a month sooner than he believed it would and telling him that it was life, that working with a few days off here and there was the life he had to look forward to wasn't something pleasant to hear. Sure he knew it already, he's not stupid, but making it reality as he seeks his higher education and future employment is altogether unpleasant because who wouldn't rather play and not work? The new world after Christ comes to take us home with Him will not be filled with toil and work in the way we know it to be. It wasn't until Adam and Eve sinned that the toiling began, up until that point all the tending in the garden and such was pure enjoyment not troublesome in the least. The huge beautiful garden of the world where all the animals came to be named, where the fruit of the trees were in full readiness to be enjoyed, where no weed threatened to choke any plant to destroy it... that world was the world we were made for. Is it no wonder we want to play and not work? Is it any wonder we go to great lengths to have free time rather than work time? We weren't made for the toiling and suffering of the world we have, the world that has evolved after sin.
Suffering. We think the suffering people undergo today inhumane and horrific and we look back in our history and see times of great horror. We wonder why it all came to be, how people could stand and allow the suffering to take place. How could the thousands of people sit in the colliseum and cheer on the slaughter of other people as sport? How could they watch and be entertained by the suffering of others? And yet they could. If the vast majority didn't accept such a way of life it wouldn't have lasted long. But the majority of people agreed to what was going on and participated in the events by their support. Then we have the inquisitions where thousands were tortured under the guise of it being God's will. In more modern times we have the Holocaust where millions were slaughtered and we have to ask ourselves how it could be allowed to happen. Even today, right now there are horrors taking place around the world and the suffering is great.
The prophets of God, those close to God, chosen by God to preach of Him, write of Him, witness of Him suffered and they didn't end their lives even when the suffering was beyond what anyone should have to endure. They suffered over and over, their afflictions were great, they weren't given super human powers that included super human protection from suffering. They suffered and even today any prophets of God suffer and it's better that they suffer and endure so it works patience and proves an example to us to cultivate patience, than to give in and end their suffering.
In a world where we are so caught up in ending our pain no matter its source, accepting that some are called to suffer and endure the pain seems absurd.
Even with all the medication and such, even with all the therapy we can afford, it's not always enough and we have to find a place within us that accepts that we are how we are, that chemical embalance or whatever it may be and I mean that- not in a mocking manner- it must be embraced as our lot in life and pray to God that we can somehow let it work in us the patience we need so that we may endure unto the end.
One more note- I was watching a popular tv show the other day and a woman who believes in ghosts (promoting spiritualism and the great lie Satan told Eve in the garden before she ate the fruit) said out right that there is no such thing as demons. Another great lie. In one breath she'll talk of God giving her this special ability, and the next deny the existence of demons when we know for a fact that Jesus cast out demons.
We wrestle against principalities and powers, against spiritual wickedness in high places- not flesh and blood- and so I say that a lot of our so called afflications do come from outside sources in our lives and we are made to ignore them in favor of keeping the inside sources and something we can control.
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 told the prophets are example in patience, the suffering they endured working that patience. May God help us all to realize that no matter our affliction we can endure by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Does it seem like we can endure? No, not always, but we holdfast to the profession of our faith in Jesus to save us and not us saving ourselves. Our suffering in whatever form it takes can make us stronger in Christ but we have to look to the author and finisher of our faith always and not look to ourselves or other humans around us.
May God bless us all and keep us in Him now and forever by the grace of His Son's sacrifice, His Son's righteousness.
Amen.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The word of my patience
Revelation
{3:7} And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth
{3:8} I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast
kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
{3:9} Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to
come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
{3:10} Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
{3:11} Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
{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.
{3:13} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
*******
Rev. {3:10} Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. {3:11} Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
*******
Patience- Being patient
Dictionary Definition
patient (pâ..shent) adjective
1. Bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance with calmness.
2. Marked by or exhibiting calm endurance of pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance.
3. Tolerant; understanding: an unfailingly patient leader and guide.
4. Persevering; constant: With patient industry, she revived the failing business and made it thrive.
5. Capable of calmly awaiting an outcome or a result; not hasty or impulsive.
6. Capable of bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance: "My uncle Toby was a man patient of injuries" (Laurence Sterne).
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
We are told because we have kept the word of Christ's patience that He will keep us from the hour of temptation which will come upon ALL the world.
What is this hour of temptation? The fact that the entire world will suffer through the temptation says it's something huge. Only those who have kept the word of Christ's patience will be kept by Christ from that hour of temptation. The hour of temptation will come, it will be something we all have to face but some will be kept by Christ, others won't. Those who haven't kept the word of Christ's patience will not be kept from the temptation but they will fall to it. Obviously this means it's eternal life important that we keep the word of Christ's patience. Taking a look at what patience means from just a few verses in the Bible we can understand just how important patience is.
*******
Hebrews {6:12} That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews {10:35} Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. {10:36} For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. {10:37} For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Hebrews {12:1} Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
James {1:3} Knowing [this,] that the trying of your faith worketh patience
James {5:10} Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
James {5:11} Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
2 Pet. {1:6} And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness
*******
An example of suffering afflication and patience comes from where? The prophets.
Maybe we need to look a bit at the suffering of the prophets. We might not be prophets, but we have been told that we have example in the prophets suffering. We need an example why? Because examples given to allows us to realize how we too must be. If someone shows you an example of behavior to follow then you follow it or suffer consequences. Our lives are filled with such examples. We watch others and know generally what is acceptable behavior. We see those who don't follow examples and the results aren't pleasant. We are told the prophets are an example of patience and we need patience, we need to keep the word of God's patience if we're to be kept from the hour of temptation that comes upon all the world.
This study is going to be a long study- here is a list of the prophets (from offline and needing to be checked for accuracy which we'll do as we go along). I think it's important though to pay attention to them because we can learn from examples and they are our examples in patience and we need the patience of God's word.
May God bless and keep us as we seek to understand more and more of what He would have us do, to be in Christ. By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior now and forever!
Amen.
A
Aaron (Exodus 7:1)
Abel (Luke 11:50-51)
Abraham (Genesis 20:7)
Agabus (Acts 21:10)
Agur (Book of Proverbs 30:1)
Ahijah (1 Kings 11:29)
Amos (Amos 7:8)
Anna (Luke 2:36)
Azariah (2 Chronicles 15:1)
B
Barnabas (Acts 13:31)
D
Daniel (Matthew 24:15)
David (Hebrews 11:32)
Deborah (Judges 4:4)
E
Elijah (1 Kings 18:22)
Elisha (1 Kings 19:16)
Enoch (Jude 1:14)
Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:3)
G
Gad (2 Samuel 24:11)
Gideon (Hebrews 11:32)
H
Habakkuk (Habakkuk 1:1)
Haggai (Haggai 1:1)
Hosea (Hosea 1:1)
Huldah (2Kings 22:14)
I
Iddo (2 Chronicles 13:22)
Isaiah (Isaiah 1:1)
J
Jacob (Genesis 28:11 - 16)
Jehu (1 Kings 16:7)
Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:11)
Joel (Joel 1:1)
John the Baptist (Luke 7:28)
John of Patmos (Revelation 1:1)
Jonah (Jonah 1:1)
Joshua (Joshua 1:1)
Judas Barsabbas (Acts 15:32)
L
Lucius of Cyrene (Acts 13:1)Jhon lucianus
M
Malachi (Malachi 1:1)
Manahen (Acts 13:1)
Micah (Micah 1:1)
Micaiah (1 Kings 22:8)
Miriam (Exodus 15:20)
Moses (Deuteronomy 34:10)
N
Nahum (Nahum 1:1)
Nathan (2 Samuel 7:2)
Noah (Genesis 7:1)
O
Obadiah (Obadiah 1:1)
Oded (2 Chronicles 15:8)
P
Paul of Tarsus (Acts 16:9)
Philip the Evangelist (Acts 8:26) Note: His four daughters also prophesied (Acts 21:8, 9)
S
Samuel (1 Samuel 3:20)
Shemaiah (1 Kings 22:12)
Silas (Acts 15:32)
Simeon Niger (Acts 13:1)
T
The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11:3
Z
Zechariah son of Berechiah (Zechariah 1:1)
Zechariah son of Jehoiada (Luke) 11:50-51)
Zephaniah (Zephaniah 1:1)
{3:7} And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth
{3:8} I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast
kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
{3:9} Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to
come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
{3:10} Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
{3:11} Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
{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.
{3:13} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
*******
Rev. {3:10} Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. {3:11} Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
*******
Patience- Being patient
Dictionary Definition
patient (pâ..shent) adjective
1. Bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance with calmness.
2. Marked by or exhibiting calm endurance of pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance.
3. Tolerant; understanding: an unfailingly patient leader and guide.
4. Persevering; constant: With patient industry, she revived the failing business and made it thrive.
5. Capable of calmly awaiting an outcome or a result; not hasty or impulsive.
6. Capable of bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance: "My uncle Toby was a man patient of injuries" (Laurence Sterne).
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
We are told because we have kept the word of Christ's patience that He will keep us from the hour of temptation which will come upon ALL the world.
What is this hour of temptation? The fact that the entire world will suffer through the temptation says it's something huge. Only those who have kept the word of Christ's patience will be kept by Christ from that hour of temptation. The hour of temptation will come, it will be something we all have to face but some will be kept by Christ, others won't. Those who haven't kept the word of Christ's patience will not be kept from the temptation but they will fall to it. Obviously this means it's eternal life important that we keep the word of Christ's patience. Taking a look at what patience means from just a few verses in the Bible we can understand just how important patience is.
*******
Hebrews {6:12} That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews {10:35} Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. {10:36} For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. {10:37} For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Hebrews {12:1} Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
James {1:3} Knowing [this,] that the trying of your faith worketh patience
James {5:10} Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
James {5:11} Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
2 Pet. {1:6} And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness
*******
An example of suffering afflication and patience comes from where? The prophets.
Maybe we need to look a bit at the suffering of the prophets. We might not be prophets, but we have been told that we have example in the prophets suffering. We need an example why? Because examples given to allows us to realize how we too must be. If someone shows you an example of behavior to follow then you follow it or suffer consequences. Our lives are filled with such examples. We watch others and know generally what is acceptable behavior. We see those who don't follow examples and the results aren't pleasant. We are told the prophets are an example of patience and we need patience, we need to keep the word of God's patience if we're to be kept from the hour of temptation that comes upon all the world.
This study is going to be a long study- here is a list of the prophets (from offline and needing to be checked for accuracy which we'll do as we go along). I think it's important though to pay attention to them because we can learn from examples and they are our examples in patience and we need the patience of God's word.
May God bless and keep us as we seek to understand more and more of what He would have us do, to be in Christ. By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior now and forever!
Amen.
A
Aaron (Exodus 7:1)
Abel (Luke 11:50-51)
Abraham (Genesis 20:7)
Agabus (Acts 21:10)
Agur (Book of Proverbs 30:1)
Ahijah (1 Kings 11:29)
Amos (Amos 7:8)
Anna (Luke 2:36)
Azariah (2 Chronicles 15:1)
B
Barnabas (Acts 13:31)
D
Daniel (Matthew 24:15)
David (Hebrews 11:32)
Deborah (Judges 4:4)
E
Elijah (1 Kings 18:22)
Elisha (1 Kings 19:16)
Enoch (Jude 1:14)
Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:3)
G
Gad (2 Samuel 24:11)
Gideon (Hebrews 11:32)
H
Habakkuk (Habakkuk 1:1)
Haggai (Haggai 1:1)
Hosea (Hosea 1:1)
Huldah (2Kings 22:14)
I
Iddo (2 Chronicles 13:22)
Isaiah (Isaiah 1:1)
J
Jacob (Genesis 28:11 - 16)
Jehu (1 Kings 16:7)
Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:11)
Joel (Joel 1:1)
John the Baptist (Luke 7:28)
John of Patmos (Revelation 1:1)
Jonah (Jonah 1:1)
Joshua (Joshua 1:1)
Judas Barsabbas (Acts 15:32)
L
Lucius of Cyrene (Acts 13:1)Jhon lucianus
M
Malachi (Malachi 1:1)
Manahen (Acts 13:1)
Micah (Micah 1:1)
Micaiah (1 Kings 22:8)
Miriam (Exodus 15:20)
Moses (Deuteronomy 34:10)
N
Nahum (Nahum 1:1)
Nathan (2 Samuel 7:2)
Noah (Genesis 7:1)
O
Obadiah (Obadiah 1:1)
Oded (2 Chronicles 15:8)
P
Paul of Tarsus (Acts 16:9)
Philip the Evangelist (Acts 8:26) Note: His four daughters also prophesied (Acts 21:8, 9)
S
Samuel (1 Samuel 3:20)
Shemaiah (1 Kings 22:12)
Silas (Acts 15:32)
Simeon Niger (Acts 13:1)
T
The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11:3
Z
Zechariah son of Berechiah (Zechariah 1:1)
Zechariah son of Jehoiada (Luke) 11:50-51)
Zephaniah (Zephaniah 1:1)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)