Perfect

PERFECT (pûr´fîkt) adjective
Abbr. perf.
1.Lacking nothing essential to the whole; complete of its nature or kind.
2.Being without defect or blemish: a PERFECT specimen.
3.Thoroughly skilled or talented in a certain field or area; proficient.
4.Completely suited for a particular purpose or situation: She was the PERFECT actress for the part.
5.a. Completely corresponding to a description, standard, or type: a PERFECT circle; a PERFECT gentleman. b. Accurately reproducing an original: a PERFECT copy of the painting.
6.Complete; thorough; utter: a PERFECT fool.
7.Pure; undiluted; unmixed: PERFECT red.
8.Excellent and delightful in all respects: a PERFECT day.
9.Botany. Having both stamens and pistils in the same flower; monoclinous.
10.Grammar. Of, relating to, or constituting a verb form expressing action completed prior to a fixed point of reference in time.
11.Music. a. Designating the three basic intervals of the octave, fourth, and fifth. b. Designating a cadence or chord progression from the dominant to the tonic at the end of a phrase or piece of music.

noun
Abbr. perf.
1.Grammar. The PERFECT tense.
2.A verb or verb form in the PERFECT tense.

verb, transitive
PERFECTed, PERFECTing, PERFECTs (per-fèkt´)
To bring to PERFECTion or completion.

[Middle English perfit, from Old French parfit, from Latin PERFECTus, past participle of perficere, to finish : per-, per- + facere, to do.]
- PERFECT´er noun
- per´fectness noun

Synonyms: PERFECT, consummate, faultless, flawless, impeccable. The central meaning shared by these adjectives is "being wholly without flaw": a PERFECT diamond; a consummate performer; faultless logic; a flawless instrumental technique; speaks impeccable French.
Antonyms: imPERFECT.


Usage Note: PERFECT has often been described as an absolute term like chief and prime, hence not allowing modification by more, quite, relatively, and other qualifiers of degree. But the qualification of PERFECT has numerous reputable precedents (most notably in the preamble to the U.S. Constitution in the phrase "in order to form a more PERFECT Union"). What is more, the stricture is philosophically dubious. There can be no mathematically PERFECT forms in nature; therefore to say that any actual circle is "PERFECT" can mean only that it approximates the geometric ideal of circularity, a quality that it can obviously have to a greater or lesser degree. By the same token, PERFECT freely allows comparison in examples such as There could be no more PERFECT spot for the picnic, where it is used to mean "ideal for the purposes." See Usage Note at complete, equal, parallel, unique.

Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary

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Nave's Topcial Dict.

PERFECTION
-(Moral completeness) -Ascribed to .Noah #Ge 6:8,9| .Jacob #Nu 23:21| .David #1Ki 11:4,6| .Asa #1Ki 15:14| .Job #Job 1:1| .Zacharias and Elizabeth #Lu 1:6| .Nathanael #Joh 1:47|

.See GOD, PERFECTION OF .See HOLINESS .See SANTIFICATION

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R.A. Torrey's New Topical Textbook-

PERFECTION
- Is of God Ps 18:32; 138:8
- All saints have, in Christ 1Co 2:6; Php 3:15; Col 2:10
- God's PERFECTion the standard of Mt 5:48
- IMPLIES . Entire devotedness Mt 19:21 . Purity and holiness in speech Jas 3:2
- Saints commanded to aim at Ge 17:1; De 18:13
- Saints claim not Job 9:20; Php 3:12
- Saints follow after Pr 4:18; Php 3:12
- Ministers appointed to lead saints to Eph 4:12; Col 1:28
- Exhortation to 2Co 7:1; 13:11
- Impossibility of attaining to 2Ch 6:36; Ps 119:96
- THE WORD OF GOD IS . The rule of Jas 1:25 . Designed to lead us to 2Ti 3:16,17
- Charity is the bond of Col 3:14
- Patience leads to Jas 1:4
- Pray for Heb 13:20,21; 1Pe 5:10
- The Church shall attain to Joh 17:23; Eph 4:13
- Blessedness of Ps 37:37; Pr 2:21

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PERFECTION-IMPERFECTION

(A) PERFECTION
(1) Some Essential Elements of Benevolence Mt 19:21 Love Col 3:14 Good Works Jas 2:22 Control of the Tongue Jas 3:2 Obedience 1Jo 2:5; 4:12
(2) The Duty of Striving after Ge 17:1; De 18:13; 1Ki 8:61; Mt 5:48; 2Co 13:11 Eph 4:13; Php 3:15; Col 1:28; 2Ti 3:17; Heb 6:1; 13:21 Jas 1:4; 1Pe 5:10
--SEE Spiritual Growth, DEVELOPMENT
(B) PERFECTION DIVINE, of God De 32:4; 2Sa 22:31; Ps 18:30; Ec 3:14; Mt 5:48
--SEE God's Holiness, HOLINESS God's Righteousness, RIGHTEOUSNESS God of Truth, TRUTH Divine Excellencies, EXCELLENCIES, DIVINE
(C) CHRIST'S PERFECTION Joh 1:14; 19:4; Heb 2:10; 5:9; 7:28
--SEE Fulness of Christ, FULNESS
(D) CHRIST'S SINLESSNESS, general references to Isa 53:9; Lu 23:41; Joh 8:46; 2Co 5:21; Heb 1:9; 4:15 Heb 7:26; 9:14; 1Pe 1:19; 2:22; 1Jo 3:5
--SEE Righteousness
(2) RIGHTEOUSNESS
(E) IMPERFECTION, HUMAN
(1) General References to Job 9:20; Ec 7:20; Php 3:12; Jas 3:2; Re 3:2
--SEE Unbelief
(1), UNBELIEF Sin, SIN Half-heartedness, INDIFFERENCE
(2) Exemplified in the Lives of the Best Men Ge 20:2; Nu 20:12; 1Ki 3:3; 22:43; 2Ch 16:12; Jon 1:3 Lu 9:54; 22:24; Ga 2:13
--SEE Deception, FALSEHOOD Sin Universal, SIN

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Genesis 6:9
9 ¶ These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and PERFECT in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Genesis 17:1
 1And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou PERFECT.

Leviticus 22:21
 21And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be PERFECT to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.

Deuteronomy 18:13
 13Thou shalt be PERFECT with the LORD thy God.

Deuteronomy 25:15
 15But thou shalt have a PERFECT and just weight, a PERFECT and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Deuteronomy 32:4
 4He is the Rock, his work is PERFECT: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

1 Samuel 14:41
 41Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a PERFECT lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.

2 Samuel 22:31
 31As for God, his way is PERFECT; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

2 Samuel 22:33
 33God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way PERFECT.

1 Kings 8:61
 61Let your heart therefore be PERFECT with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.

1 Kings 11:4
 4For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not PERFECT with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

1 Kings 15:3
 3And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not PERFECT with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.

1 Kings 15:14
 14But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was PERFECT with the LORD all his days.

2 Kings 20:3
 3I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a PERFECT heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

1 Chronicles 12:38
 38All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a PERFECT heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.

1 Chronicles 28:9
  9 ¶ And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a PERFECT heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

1 Chronicles 29:9
 9Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with PERFECT heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

1 Chronicles 29:19
 19And give unto Solomon my son a PERFECT heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.

2 Chronicles 4:21
 21And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that PERFECT gold

2 Chronicles 15:17
 17But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was PERFECT all his days.

2 Chronicles 16:9
 9For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is PERFECT toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

2 Chronicles 19:9
 9And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a PERFECT heart.

2 Chronicles 25:2
 2And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a PERFECT heart.

Ezra 7:12
 12Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, PERFECT peace, and at such a time.

Job 1:1
 1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was PERFECT and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

Job 1:8
 8And 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?

Job 2:3
 3And 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? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

Job 8:20
 20Behold, God will not cast away a PERFECT man, neither will he help the evil doers

Job 9:20-22
 20If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am PERFECT, it shall also prove me perverse.  21Though I were PERFECT, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.  22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the PERFECT and the wicked.

Job 22:3
 3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways PERFECT?

Job 36:4
 4For truly my words shall not be false: he that is PERFECT in knowledge is with thee.

Job 37:16
 16Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is PERFECT in knowledge?

Psalms 18:30
 30As for God, his way is PERFECT: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Psalms 18:32
 32It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way PERFECT.

Psalms 19:7
 7The law of the LORD is PERFECT, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Psalms 37:37
 37Mark the PERFECT man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Psalms 64:4
 4That they may shoot in secret at the PERFECT: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

Psalms 101:2
 2I will behave myself wisely in a PERFECT way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a PERFECT heart.

Psalms 101:6
 6Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a PERFECT way, he shall serve me.

Psalms 138:8
 8The LORD will PERFECT that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Psalms 139:22
 22I hate them with PERFECT hatred: I count them mine enemies.

Proverbs 2:21
 21For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the PERFECT shall remain in it.

Proverbs 4:18
 18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the PERFECT day.

Proverbs 11:5
 5The righteousness of the PERFECT shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

Isaiah 18:5
 5For afore the harvest, when the bud is PERFECT, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.

Isaiah 26:3
 3Thou wilt keep him in PERFECT peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Isaiah 38:3
 3And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a PERFECT heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

Isaiah 42:19
 19Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is PERFECT, and blind as the LORD'S servant?

Ezekiel 16:14
14And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was PERFECT through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 27:3
 3And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of PERFECT beauty.

Ezekiel 27:11
 11The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty PERFECT.

Ezekiel 28:12
 12Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and PERFECT in beauty.

Ezekiel 28:15
 15Thou wast PERFECT in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Matthew 5:48
 48Be ye therefore PERFECT, even as your Father which is in heaven is PERFECT.

Matthew 19:21
 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be PERFECT, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Luke 1:3
 3It seemed good to me also, having had PERFECT understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

Luke 6:40
 40The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is PERFECT shall be as his master.

John 17:23
 23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made PERFECT in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Acts 3:16
 16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this PERFECT soundness in the presence of you all.

Acts 22:3
 3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the PERFECT manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

Acts 24:22
 22 And when Felix heard these things, having more PERFECT knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.

Romans 12:2
 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and PERFECT, will of God.

1 Corinthians 2:6
 6Howbeit 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

1 Corinthians 13:10
 10But when that which is PERFECT is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

2 Corinthians 12:9
 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.

2 Corinthians 13:11
 11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be PERFECT, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Galatians 3:3
 3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made PERFECT by the flesh?

Ephesians 4:13
 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a PERFECT man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Philippians 3:12
 12Not as though I had already attained, either were already PERFECT: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:15
 15Let us therefore, as many as be PERFECT, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Colossians 1:28
 28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man PERFECT in Christ Jesus:

Colossians 4:12
 12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand PERFECT and complete in all the will of God.

1 Thessalonians 3:10
 10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might PERFECT that which is lacking in your faith?

2 Timothy 3:17
 17 That the man of God may be PERFECT, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Hebrews 2:10
 10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation PERFECT through sufferings.

Hebrews 5:9
 9And being made PERFECT, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Hebrews 7:19
 19For the law made nothing PERFECT, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Hebrews 9:9
 9Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service PERFECT, as pertaining to the conscience;

Hebrews 9:11
 11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more PERFECT tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Hebrews 10:1
 1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto PERFECT.

Hebrews 11:40
 40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made PERFECT.

Hebrews 12:23
 23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made PERFECT,

Hebrews 13:21
 21Make 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.

James 1:4
 4 But let patience have her PERFECT work, that ye may be PERFECT and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:17
 17Every good gift and every PERFECT gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

James 1:25
 25 But whoso looketh into the PERFECT law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

James 2:22
 22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made PERFECT?

James 3:2
 2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a PERFECT man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

1 Peter 5:10
 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.

1 John 4:17-18
 17Herein is our love made PERFECT, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.  18There is no fear in love; but PERFECT love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made PERFECT in love.

Revelation of John 3:2
 2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works PERFECT before God.

PERFECTION

Job 11:7
7Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto PERFECTion?

Job 15:29
 29He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the PERFECTion thereof upon the earth.

Job 28:3
 3He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all PERFECTion: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.

Psalms 50:2
 2Out of Zion, the PERFECTion of beauty, God hath shined.

Psalms 119:96
 96I have seen an end of all PERFECTion: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

Isaiah 47:9
 9But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their PERFECTion for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.

Lamentations 2:15
 15All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The PERFECTion of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?

Luke 8:14
 14And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to PERFECTion.

2 Corinthians 13:9
 9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your PERFECTion.

Hebrews 6:1
 1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto PERFECTion; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Hebrews 7:11
 11If therefore PERFECTion were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

PERFECTED

2 Chronicles 8:16
16Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was PERFECTed.

2 Chronicles 24:13
 13So the workmen wrought, and the work was PERFECTed by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.

Ezekiel 27:4
 4Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have PERFECTed thy beauty.

Matthew 21:16
 16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast PERFECTed praise?

Luke 13:32
 32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be PERFECTed.

Hebrews 10:14
 14For by one offering he hath PERFECTed for ever them that are sanctified.

1 John 2:5
 5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God PERFECTed: hereby know we that we are in him.

1 John 4:12
 12No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is PERFECTed in us.

PERFECTING

2 Corinthians 7:1
1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTing holiness in the fear of God.

Ephesians 4:12
 12 For the PERFECTing of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ

Because they trust in God

Ps. {37:37} Mark the perfect [man,] and behold the upright: for the end of
[that] man [is] peace.
{37:38} But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of
the wicked shall be cut off.
{37:39} But the salvation of the righteous [is] of the LORD: [he is]
their strength in the time of trouble.
{37:40} And the LORD shall help them and deliver them: he shall deliver
them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.


The perfect man.
The upright man.


Peace.


Sinners destroyed.
Wicked cut off.


Salvation of the righteous of the Lord-
The Lord is their strength in the time of trouble.


The LORD shall help them
Deliver them


Delivered from the wicked.


Saved from the wicked.


Because they trust in God.


*

The Lord is their strength- not The Lord gives them strength. The LORD IS their strength. Having trust in God is the key. Without that trust nothing else matters.


Heb. {11:6} But
without faith [it is] impossible to please [him:] for he that
cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek him.


We shall be delivered, we shall be saved. The wicked may kill the flesh and blood in us but our Spirit - our breath of life returns to God. We are delivered. The Lords is our strength. The time of trouble is on its way and the only way to survive is by trusting in the Lord and His righteousness.


May God help us find our strength in Him, our trust in Him. May we diligently seek Christ, believing in Him now and forever.


By His mercy and grace.


Amen.

With God all things are possible

Mark
{1:35} And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.


Jesus prayed.


Strange? No. Not strange and yet some people might think so because if Jesus, the Son of God, prayed that shows weakness and a need to commune with another and why would the Son of God show such weakness if He had power to do miracles and such? We often associate praying solely with the thought in mind of petitioning God for help in some way. We tell others to pray when they're in need. We tell them to pray for others that need help. Praying and need seem to go hand in hand and this isn't so far off because of our own selves we are nothing. Jesus said He does nothing of himself.


John
{8:28} Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [he,] and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
{8:29} And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.


'I do nothing of myself' Those are Jesus' own words! He does NOTHING of Himself, NOTHING. Jesus relied on God just as we need to rely on God. Jesus prayed, He communed with God all the time. He needed God, apart from God, Jesus had nothing. We need to pray. It's more important than we realize to have this communion with the Father. Why do we think we can get by without praying when Jesus Himself prayed all the time. Prayer gives us the strength of God. Not that we have any of the strength ourselves but we connect ourselves to God and through God all things are possible.


Mark {10:27} And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men [it is] impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.


Jesus taught us this with His entire life holding true to this. Why we think we can do anything of ourselves is a trap that Satan wants us to hold fast to and not let go of. He wants us to flail and wail as life hands us hardship after hardship and we fail to meet the hardships and just let it overwhelm us. He wants us to look to ourselves and call ourselves failures and he also glories in our taking the credit for our successes. You hear people say- where was God when this or that happened. Basically where was God when I needed Him most. And yet throughout their lives as God has blessed them none of that matters, nothing. Satan will get us any way he can using everything he can and the bottom line is if he can break our faith in God to see us through no matter what comes our way, then he wins. Good or bad, worldly success or failure. The worse life, the best life through it all God is the same for all of us no matter what.


May God bless and keep us as we live. May our lives be realized ONLY in Him. May we pray to Him always. All by the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior may we find all we need to survive all that life gives us - the good and the bad - and prepare us for life eternal in Jesus our Savior now and forever!


Amen.

Preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew
{10:6} But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. {10:7} And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.


The Apostles were charged to 'Go, preach.' Preach what? 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'


The message is salvation through Jesus Christ, because only through salvation do we find the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven being ours is amazing! The promise of eternal life, amazing! The message being brought to the 'lost sheep of the house of Israel', at that time only the house of Israel was to be preached to- God's chosen was to get the message first. God's people who were entrenched in the rituals given to Moses so that they might have a way of being forgiven for their sins, a way to be reconciled to God. The outcome of being reconciled with God is to be made right with Him. To be His and His alone, nothing between the two, nothing separating us from God. The sacrificial system they'd been given represented daily the need to be reconciled with God, to have nothing, not a single sin standing between a person and God. The Israelites were blessed with this marvelous life, this chance and the out come of the reconciling was supposed to result in a permanently fixed relationship with God once the Messiah came to save the people from all their enemies, from all the hardships. The Messiah was to come and set the captive frees, heal the people, bring new life, new hope. They looked forward to the Messiah doing all this for them, raising them up to complete reconciliation with God, taking sin away.


We today live in a world where the Messiah came and did all that in the way of God's love- not man's love. Man's love is twisted and warped, it's full of getting not giving. Not that it isn't normal to desire to receive all the best from God, but God's love is about giving. The Messiah came and gave all that the people of Israel were promised but not in the way they expected.


Isn't that the trouble with a lot of things in life? We imagine things and expect things to happen in certain ways and we're unable to accept when they come to us in different ways. We want to make sense of things and we do that by keeping things in order. Chaos seems to come when we find things out of order to our natural way of thinking, with our expectations shot to pieces. So we try to reorder things, to put things back into order to make sense of them. Sometimes people can do that, other times they just want to do away with the reality of things and keep to their same plan of order wanting it to come in another way, in a future way where things make sense to them again.


Things not coming in the way we've imagined and expected in all truthfulness should be... expected. A paradox, yes, a paradox that leaves us going in circles if we're not careful. Expecting the unexpected. Some people are taught just that. They have it drilled into their heads to be prepared for anything, and yet as prepared as they become they are still surprised by situations. We can be prepared to a degree but only to a degree and then even the most prepare find the unexpected troublesome.


We'll continue to live a life of expectation, but we all really do need to be able to accept when the unexpected happens and to find the truth through any lies that might be present. Isn't that the most important thing of all? To accept that thing might not turn out how we imagine them, but have an open heart and mind to realize that whatever God's will may be that we'll find it through His love if we only seek to find Him and His way, always.


The kingdom of heaven is the gospel Jesus preached and wanted His disciples to preach. When Jesus died and rose from the grave He sent his Holy Spirit to us and He told His disciples to continue to preach His message - His message being that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. The kingdom of heaven is at hand and has been at hand and will be at hand until Christ comes again. We who believe in Him, believe in this and in believing we hope and wait and we're full of expectations.


May the Lord bless and keep us in Him now and forever, always His, by His mercy and grace prepared.


Amen.

Upon them the light has sprung up

Matthew
{4:12} Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee
{4:13} And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
{4:14} That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying
{4:15} The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, [by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles
{4:16} The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. {4:17} From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Isaiah
{9:2} The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath
the light shined.


People walked in darkness
People have seen a great light
Us who dwell in the land of the shadow of death
Upon them the light has sprung up.


Jesus began to preach-


Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.


When you've walked in darkness and see a great light it's a good thing. People as a rule seek the light, they see the daylight and are more at ease in the day than they are at night. People seek shelter at night, they settle down to sleep away the darkness so they can be awake during the day. Daylight is more productive. Light is equated with goodness, and darkness evil. Light is equated with knowledge, darkness the lack of knowledge. When we walk in the light we have enlightenment, our knowlege is increased and in this case, we who live forever under the shadow of a future death are offered life in the kingdom of Heaven. We are called to repentance. To acknowledge that in and of our own selves we are nothing and we cannot escape the shadow of death that lingers over us. Only through Christ, only through salvation through Christ are we given real life, life everlasting. Only through Christ are we given the hope, the light that springs out of the darkness. Repent, acknowledge we are sinners worthy of that death, sinners worthy of nothing more but darkness, sinners who know that the way to escape lies not within ourselves but through Christ. Repent, feel remorse for our sinful state, a state so far from that of Christ's.


By the grace of God, by the mercy of our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ let us cling to Him begging His forgiveness through repentance may we find the kingdom of heaven He offers in Him and Him alone.


Amen.

For what is your life? It is even a vapour

James
{4:13} Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: {4:14} Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
{4:15} For that ye [ought] to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
{4:16} But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
{4:17} Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.


Planning our lives. We all make plans or I should say, most of us make plans for our future whether it is just our immediate future or possibly our far future. We might make plans to go to the store in an hour, or go to work the next day, or take a vacation in six months, retire in thirty years. We make our plans with the belief that we will be alive to fulfil those plans and why shouldn't we? There's no sense in planning on not being about to do so. Living day to day without any planning could leave you in very dire straits. It's not impossible to live that way, but it's not very wise either. Yet life, as it says in the verse above, 'It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away.' We have very little control over when we die. You can be the healthiest person by all medical standards and you'll still die. Health is no preventor of the freak accident. Our lives are but vapours- wisps of air in the grand scheme that is called life. So, do we not plan because we might die? No. We do plan but we do so by the grace of God at His mercy, His will. 'If the Lord will we shall lie and do this or that.' If the Lord will may all our plans be realized. So, is it safe to say that if something doesn't go according to our planning that God doesn't will that it happen? I believe it's safe and comforting to know that if we live with God's will the most prominent thing in our lives that we can trust Him to see us through to the end no matter what happens. If our plans fall apart and we want to cry we need to take comfort that the Lord's will, will be done some how, some way even through the disappointments that we cannot comprehend.


If we boast that we are in control of our destinies, that we've attained this or that by our own will, by our own effort it is wrong and it is ungodly to do so. We cannot boast of our successes as if they were all our and due to our planning, and the realization of that planning. By the grace of God we can boast in HIM. Give glory to Him, give praise to Him that made it all possible. It's so wonderful to see a winning athelete down on their knees thanking God and not taking the credit for their victory even as people look on and want to say- but the athelete did all the hard work, why are they thanking God. Perhaps the athelete realizes that all the hard work in the world will not give a victory, a true victory. Perhaps they realize that their very strength to do all the work comes from God, their Creator. When people thank God it is an acknowledgement that God is in control, God reigns, and God wills. We can boast all we want and it will be evil because we don't hold the control over our life or our death. If we know to do good and we choose not to... we sin. If we know our lives are by the grace and mercy of our Lord and we lay claim to them ourselves as if God had nothing to do with them, we sin. If we know better and still do it...we sin. With the knowledge of right from wrong we have an obligation to choose the right over the wrong, or it is sin.


May the Lord Jesus Christ bless and keep us by His grace and His everlasting mercy and love for us. May we have discernment by that grace through the Holy Spirit living in us to know right from wrong and to choose the right over the wrong so that we may not willfully sin. May we boast only in Christ and not in ourselves at all. God is the giver of all life and it is in Him that we live and breath to accomplish His good will, not our own, whatever that will maybe.


All praise, honor, and glory to God!


In Christ,
Amen

Jesus Sacrificed His Life So We Could Live Forever With Him

Rev. {14:14} And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud [one] sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
14:15} And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
{14:16} And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
{14:17} And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
{14:18} And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
{14:19} And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
{14:20} And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space
of a thousand [and] six hundred furlongs.

*******

We've said it before and we have to say it again, there are two sides to life.


Good and Evil.


We will number among one or the other.


The Good side is God's side and when the end of the world is come- when the harvest is ripe those that are God's will be harvested by Him, brought into Him, taken to Him as something special.


When we sow gardens we watch them and wait for the harvest of whatever we've planted. God has sown this harvest and He watches, He waits for the time of the harvest. When the harvest of humanity is ripe- when man has become all they can become and the time for the harvest arrives there will be a reaping. For every crop sown there is a harvest. Will every seed sprout? No. Will every seed reach full growth? No. Will the plot of land the harvest was sown upon stay free of weeds? Will bad seeds producing a weak, unacceptable fruit be kept from this harvest? If one comes to finally harvest what they've sown they look for any weak, sickly fruit and they don't accept them into the harvest- they reject the weeds that have grown alongside the good plants. It is at harvest time the result is fully known. All the plants are brought up so the ground is cleared, the good plants are kept all the bad plants and the unacceptable plants are tossed into the garbage, the fire, the wine press- they're destroyed.


This analogy is correct and given to us for a reason.


We are the plants to be harvested.


We are either good or bad, in this harvest there is nothing that will be considered so-so, no place at all for anything but the acceptable and unacceptable.


Jesus will come again and take His people home with Him. The rest will be destroyed. Those not with God, those not receiving the love of God that they might be saved will be lost. We know He's coming for us.


Jesus came and died on that cross for us so He could return and take us home with Him. He died to save us. He died to give us hope of a future in Him, with Him, for Him.


If I were going to make a sacrifice in my life so someone could reap the benefits of that sacrifice, I am not making that sacrifice without a reason. I hope and expect there to be those who will take advantage of the opportunity my sacrifice affords them.


You've sacrificed before haven't you? Perhaps you sacrificed a night out so you could help another, is your sacrifice worth it if the other refuses your help? It's worth it to your own integrity, but you would not have made that sacrifice if you didn't think it would result in something, right?


Sacrifices are made for reasons and Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for a reason too. We cannot talk of Jesus' love without realizing that His love meant that He died to save us. Save us for what? For an eternity with Him. He promised when he walked the earth before He was sacrificed, that he would come again.


John {14:3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also


Jesus died so we could live. Jesus died so we could live forever with Him. In love with Him we seek to be ready for Him when He returns as countless people have done throughout the ages. Countless people looked for His return. It is prophesized that among those- the last of God's people- many will be lukewarm, that zeal for Christ will be gone. We've more than reached that age when God's people have come to a place where they no longer have a fire for the message Jesus brought with Him, the message He lived and died for. Christ is coming again! He is, and while many stay in a place where they are neither hot nor cold, we can't be among them! We must have a fire, a zeal for God. We must have a fiery heat that is alive for Christ and His returning.


May God help us to be among those harvested as Christ's. May we become on fire for Him, our zeal scorching hot as we await His return! Christ lived and died for us and He lives again forever for us. By His mercy, by His grace, may we live for Him and be acceptable to Him, through Him our Righteousness.


Amen.