Col.
{1:19} For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell
{1:20} And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say,] whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven.
{1:21} And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
{1:22} In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight
{1:23} If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister
{1:24} Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church
{1:25} Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
{1:26} [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints
{1:27} To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
{1:28} Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus
{1:29} Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Paul labors...strives according to the work of Jesus Christ, a work that works even in him.
Striving is important. People tend to equate striving with trying to work their way to heaven and we all know that works mean nothing, we're saved by faith. The striving is to minister the word of Christ's salvation being offered to all.
Preaching- warning- teaching all wisdom and that wisdom is Christ, in Christ, and we must have Christ in our lives.
We need to continue in the faith grounded and settled- when you're grounded and settled in something it's part of your life. If hope becomes part of our lives we can't lose it can we? The hope is Christ and Him crucified for us. Christ suffered and died for us and it's something we can't forget. We can't forget that Christ lives for us. We live because He lives. Every breath we take we take for Him.
Our minds have us committing wicked works which cause alienation between us and Christ. We can be reconciled to Christ because Christ came for that purpose and that purpose only. Only through Christ do we live. Accepting what Christ had done for us is what we need to do, relying solely on Him and not upon ourselves at all. We need to spread this same hope to all, to let all others know that they too can have that hope, the hope that is found in Christ, the only hope that truly matters.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we find our hope only in Him, striving, labouring, ministering, preaching as He would have us do.
Amen.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Do you believe Jesus died?
1 Thess.
{5:1} But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
{5:2} For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
{5:3} For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
{5:4} But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
{5:5} Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
{5:6} Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.
{5:7} For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
{5:8} But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. {5:9} For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ
{5:10} Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
{5:11} Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Matthew
{24:36} But of that day and hour knoweth no [man,] no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
{24:37} But as the days of Noe [were,] so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
{24:38} For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark
{24:39} And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
{24:40} Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
{24:41} Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
{24:42} Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
{24:43} But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
{24:44} Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Rev.
{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.
Matthew
{24:22} And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be
shortened.
{24:23} Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not.
{24:24} For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were]
possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
{24:25} Behold, I have told you before.
{24:26} Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, [he is] in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe [it] not.
{24:27} For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
1 Thess.
{4:14} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
{4:15} For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
{4:16} For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first
{4:17} Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
{4:18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words
1 Cor.
{15:51} Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
{15:52} In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
{15:53} For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.
{15:54} So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
{15:55} O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory?
It's true. Christ is coming again. Christ is coming because He promised He would come and there would be a people waiting for Him. Not only would there be a people waiting for Him, but the dead in Christ would rise to meet Him.
Do you believe Jesus died?
Do you believe that Jesus rose again?
Are you one of millions who celebrate the resurrection of your Savior from the dead?
Then you have to believe that the breath of life that returns to God who gave it, when a person dies, will once more return to those who have died -fallen asleep in Christ. That breath of life will return to themand they will rise first before any of those still alive when Christ returns. Those dead in Christ will rise first and meet the Lord in the air, and then we who are alive will join them.
The dead will be raised incorruptible.
We will all be changed into these marvelous new beings of which Christ was the first.
Every eye shall see Him when He comes and how this is done only the Lord Himself knows. Every eye shall see Him. And when He comes it will be too late to prepare for the journey we are to take with Him. When you are going on a trip somewhere you prepare for it, you pack your suitcase, duffle bag, you make sure you have all the things you'll need for that journey. Rarely, and unless someone is running from the law, for their life, or are mentally/emotionally unstable do they just up and leave. For a trip of a lifetime you plan don't you? Well, we know we are to undertake a journey- our final one and that is to be with Christ. Those of us alive must be ready to meet Him. So many won't be. They'll be so many just too caught up in the here and now, too caught up in the cares of this life whether they be happy cares or sad ones, they'll be tied to this earth by their own lack of faith in a life everlasting. We have the promise of a life eternal and that life isn't here on earth. Right now here on earth we are travailing as a woman in labor travails and the birth of new life will be when Christ comes again. Yes, there will be one taken and one left, but everyone will see it happening and know why- it will not be a secret because every eye will see Christ when He returns, when the dead and those alive in Him are called to meet Him in the air. It'll be sudden, it'll be unexpected, it will be as a thief because no one knows when a thief will strike. Christ will come and only those who are looking for Him will be ready. By the time He's in the air calling His to Him it will be too late to suddenly decide to take the journey. We have so much given to us to prepare us, so much to help us and the only one to blame in that day if we aren't among those meeting Christ in the air, is ourselves.
By faith, by love, by hope in the Lord Jesus Christ; through His mercy and grace by His sacrifice and forgiveness may we all be found ready in Him.
May the Holy Spirit guide us to Him and through all the travailing of this world around us.
Amen.
{5:1} But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
{5:2} For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
{5:3} For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
{5:4} But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
{5:5} Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
{5:6} Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.
{5:7} For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
{5:8} But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. {5:9} For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ
{5:10} Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
{5:11} Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Matthew
{24:36} But of that day and hour knoweth no [man,] no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
{24:37} But as the days of Noe [were,] so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
{24:38} For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark
{24:39} And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
{24:40} Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
{24:41} Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
{24:42} Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
{24:43} But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
{24:44} Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Rev.
{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.
Matthew
{24:22} And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be
shortened.
{24:23} Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not.
{24:24} For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were]
possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
{24:25} Behold, I have told you before.
{24:26} Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, [he is] in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe [it] not.
{24:27} For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
1 Thess.
{4:14} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
{4:15} For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
{4:16} For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first
{4:17} Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
{4:18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words
1 Cor.
{15:51} Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
{15:52} In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
{15:53} For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.
{15:54} So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
{15:55} O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory?
It's true. Christ is coming again. Christ is coming because He promised He would come and there would be a people waiting for Him. Not only would there be a people waiting for Him, but the dead in Christ would rise to meet Him.
Do you believe Jesus died?
Do you believe that Jesus rose again?
Are you one of millions who celebrate the resurrection of your Savior from the dead?
Then you have to believe that the breath of life that returns to God who gave it, when a person dies, will once more return to those who have died -fallen asleep in Christ. That breath of life will return to themand they will rise first before any of those still alive when Christ returns. Those dead in Christ will rise first and meet the Lord in the air, and then we who are alive will join them.
The dead will be raised incorruptible.
We will all be changed into these marvelous new beings of which Christ was the first.
Every eye shall see Him when He comes and how this is done only the Lord Himself knows. Every eye shall see Him. And when He comes it will be too late to prepare for the journey we are to take with Him. When you are going on a trip somewhere you prepare for it, you pack your suitcase, duffle bag, you make sure you have all the things you'll need for that journey. Rarely, and unless someone is running from the law, for their life, or are mentally/emotionally unstable do they just up and leave. For a trip of a lifetime you plan don't you? Well, we know we are to undertake a journey- our final one and that is to be with Christ. Those of us alive must be ready to meet Him. So many won't be. They'll be so many just too caught up in the here and now, too caught up in the cares of this life whether they be happy cares or sad ones, they'll be tied to this earth by their own lack of faith in a life everlasting. We have the promise of a life eternal and that life isn't here on earth. Right now here on earth we are travailing as a woman in labor travails and the birth of new life will be when Christ comes again. Yes, there will be one taken and one left, but everyone will see it happening and know why- it will not be a secret because every eye will see Christ when He returns, when the dead and those alive in Him are called to meet Him in the air. It'll be sudden, it'll be unexpected, it will be as a thief because no one knows when a thief will strike. Christ will come and only those who are looking for Him will be ready. By the time He's in the air calling His to Him it will be too late to suddenly decide to take the journey. We have so much given to us to prepare us, so much to help us and the only one to blame in that day if we aren't among those meeting Christ in the air, is ourselves.
By faith, by love, by hope in the Lord Jesus Christ; through His mercy and grace by His sacrifice and forgiveness may we all be found ready in Him.
May the Holy Spirit guide us to Him and through all the travailing of this world around us.
Amen.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Enemies of the Cross
Philippians {3:18} (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross
of Christ: {3:19} Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.) {3:20} For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: {3:21} Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Many walk...the enemies of the cross...whose end is destruction. Whose God is their belly. Whose glory is their shame. Who mind earthly things.
Is this you? Is this me?
We don't think of ourselves as enemies of the cross and yet if our *God* is our belly... if our glory is found in things shameful... if we only mind earthly things aren't we enemies of the cross?
Pro. {14:12} There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
We think our ways are right, but are they?
What would we do to have food? Kill? We like to think not, but people have and people will. We commit shameful acts and in a world where the line is blurred and shameful acts are glorified we don't hardly even call them shameful. We glory in our audacity, our daringness to be different, to be coarse and bold, to act deplorably. We laugh at things we've no business laughing at because the world has now declared it acceptable to laugh. Think back to sixty years ago when the world was so much different. When children rarely dared to speak out against their parents without reprecussions in the name of respect. Slowly in some ways, quickly in others the perversions of the world have taken over and now they rule our lives. They rule our entertainment, they rule us in many jobs, they rule our vacations, we wake up to them, we go to sleep to them. We glorify self and perversions we call finding self and letting self reign regardless of any others. We applaud those who dare to stand up to propriety, and we make all forms of fornication acceptable, pleasure has become the god of so many lives. 'Whose glory is their shame' is so appropriate and when we glory in shame we are enemies of the cross how can we not be?
Minding earthly things- are we entrenched in 'living life to the fullest', in not letting life pass us by, in making the most of the life we have. There is a saying about when you go to the grave you want to go kicking and screaming and yelling what a ride... this is minding the things of the earth, of this life. We get so caught up in earthly things and to do otherwise we are called lunatics. To tell people you are living for another life than this one makes you crazy, people nod and smile but secretly they think you're very, very strange.
If our treasures are in heaven where they should be, then accumlating treasures here on earth is what? Senseless, right? People who have everything taken from them- through natural disasters, through accidents - they feel that devestation of loss of all things temporal. It is devestating and don't let anyone tell you different. There is no bright side unless people are grateful just to be alive and a lot are.
Philippians {3:18} (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross
of Christ: {3:19} Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.) {3:20} For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: {3:21} Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Enemies of the cross. We don't want to be enemies of the cross. We don't want to be deceived by the world. We need to cling to the cross and all it represents and all it represents is the heavenly, not the earthly. Jesus came to save us, to give us eternal life with Him in heaven, He didn't come to give us eternal life in this existence we now live. We have to remember the cross, we have to keep the cross before us. We have to love God with all our heart, love Jesus, love what He's done for us by the cross.
By His grace and mercy may we find forgiveness in Him now and forever, friends with the cross, not enemies. Friends with Him not the world.
Amen.
of Christ: {3:19} Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.) {3:20} For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: {3:21} Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Many walk...the enemies of the cross...whose end is destruction. Whose God is their belly. Whose glory is their shame. Who mind earthly things.
Is this you? Is this me?
We don't think of ourselves as enemies of the cross and yet if our *God* is our belly... if our glory is found in things shameful... if we only mind earthly things aren't we enemies of the cross?
Pro. {14:12} There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
We think our ways are right, but are they?
What would we do to have food? Kill? We like to think not, but people have and people will. We commit shameful acts and in a world where the line is blurred and shameful acts are glorified we don't hardly even call them shameful. We glory in our audacity, our daringness to be different, to be coarse and bold, to act deplorably. We laugh at things we've no business laughing at because the world has now declared it acceptable to laugh. Think back to sixty years ago when the world was so much different. When children rarely dared to speak out against their parents without reprecussions in the name of respect. Slowly in some ways, quickly in others the perversions of the world have taken over and now they rule our lives. They rule our entertainment, they rule us in many jobs, they rule our vacations, we wake up to them, we go to sleep to them. We glorify self and perversions we call finding self and letting self reign regardless of any others. We applaud those who dare to stand up to propriety, and we make all forms of fornication acceptable, pleasure has become the god of so many lives. 'Whose glory is their shame' is so appropriate and when we glory in shame we are enemies of the cross how can we not be?
Minding earthly things- are we entrenched in 'living life to the fullest', in not letting life pass us by, in making the most of the life we have. There is a saying about when you go to the grave you want to go kicking and screaming and yelling what a ride... this is minding the things of the earth, of this life. We get so caught up in earthly things and to do otherwise we are called lunatics. To tell people you are living for another life than this one makes you crazy, people nod and smile but secretly they think you're very, very strange.
If our treasures are in heaven where they should be, then accumlating treasures here on earth is what? Senseless, right? People who have everything taken from them- through natural disasters, through accidents - they feel that devestation of loss of all things temporal. It is devestating and don't let anyone tell you different. There is no bright side unless people are grateful just to be alive and a lot are.
Philippians {3:18} (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross
of Christ: {3:19} Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.) {3:20} For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: {3:21} Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Enemies of the cross. We don't want to be enemies of the cross. We don't want to be deceived by the world. We need to cling to the cross and all it represents and all it represents is the heavenly, not the earthly. Jesus came to save us, to give us eternal life with Him in heaven, He didn't come to give us eternal life in this existence we now live. We have to remember the cross, we have to keep the cross before us. We have to love God with all our heart, love Jesus, love what He's done for us by the cross.
By His grace and mercy may we find forgiveness in Him now and forever, friends with the cross, not enemies. Friends with Him not the world.
Amen.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Bread of Life
John
{6:26} Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
{6:27} Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
{6:28} Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
{6:29} Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
{6:30} They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
{6:31} Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
{6:32} Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
{6:33} For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
{6:34} Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
{6:35} And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
{6:36} But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
{6:37} All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
{6:38} For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
{6:39} And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
{6:40} And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
{6:41} The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
{6:42} And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came
down from heaven?
{6:43} Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
{6:44} No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
{6:45} It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the
Father, cometh unto me.
{6:46} Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
{6:47} Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
{6:48} I am that bread of life.
{6:49} Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
{6:50} This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
{6:51} I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
{6:52} The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?
{6:53} Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
{6:54} Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
{6:55} For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
{6:56} He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
{6:57} As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
{6:58} This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
{6:59} These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
{6:60} Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard [this,] said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
{6:61} When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
{6:62} [What] and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
{6:63} It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.
{6:64} But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should
betray him.
{6:65} And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father
**
Luke {4:4} And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Deut. {8:1} All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.
{8:2} And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
{8:3} And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
God fed His people with a source of food unlike any other that ever existed, unlike any they'd ever known. Food that rained down from heaven- who ever heard of such a thing? And yet it was true. God fed His people. God wanted His people to realize that HE was their source of life. He and He alone saved them from a life of bondage and once He'd set them free He continued to keep them alive. Isn't that the way... we are set free when we accept Jesus as our Savior and then we need to be kept alive in Christ as we continue on in our lives. So that the children of God didn't forget who their source of life was, God fed them food from heaven. Daily, day in and day out they ate of the bread from heaven. Day in and day out they knew that it was only by the grace of God they were kept alive. It was God who supplied what they needed to live and it is God that provides us with what we need to live eternally.
In the end it is eternal life we live for. Jesus came to make that point real to us. Jesus came and made the point so well that only the spiritually blind can't see it. Jesus came to give life eternal, not life here and now, but life everlasting. Our minds are to be taken off life here and now except to realize that it is in this life that we accept that life eternal. Once we accept life eternal as ours through Jesus Christ we truly begin to live.
When Jesus talks of being the bread of life, of having the blood we must drink to live He even goes on to say this-- John {6:63} It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.
The very flesh He said we must eat to live He goes on to explain- the flesh profiteth nothing... 'the WORDS THAT I SPEAK UNTO YOU THEY ARE SPIRIT AND THEY ARE LIFE'
God's lesson in the wilderness was given so that His people would realize that they were alive by His word. The manna was of God. They ate and they lived.
The flesh and blood of Jesus is Jesus giving us His life, telling us that HIS WORDS are spirit and life. We have to accept Jesus' death and His life for us, we have to believe on His words. We have to trust in Him and Him alone if we are to live. If we don't accept all of Jesus we won't have life, we won't live. Just like a person cannot live without food, they cannot live eternally without Jesus. If we think we can have eternal life without Jesus we are wrong and we'll die. Do we have to eat Jesus' actual flesh and drink His actual blood? No. That wasn't what He was saying in truth, but only those that truly love Him can truly understand the meanings of His words. We are to always and forever remember that our lives are sustained by the life and death of our Lord and Savior. We are to never forget, never. And by equating our eating and drinking with accepting the life and death of Jesus is something we can never forget. Each time we eat and drink we are doing so and it is keeping us alive. We are to be kept alive eternally by eating and drinking of all Jesus offers to us, His life, His love, His forgiveness, His death for us. He is our sustainer in all things eternal and by no other are we to live now or forever, only Him.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we forever live in the perpetual acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as our Savior. In His love!
Amen.
{6:26} Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
{6:27} Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
{6:28} Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
{6:29} Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
{6:30} They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
{6:31} Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
{6:32} Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
{6:33} For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
{6:34} Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
{6:35} And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
{6:36} But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
{6:37} All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
{6:38} For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
{6:39} And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
{6:40} And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
{6:41} The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
{6:42} And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came
down from heaven?
{6:43} Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
{6:44} No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
{6:45} It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the
Father, cometh unto me.
{6:46} Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
{6:47} Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
{6:48} I am that bread of life.
{6:49} Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
{6:50} This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
{6:51} I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
{6:52} The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?
{6:53} Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
{6:54} Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
{6:55} For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
{6:56} He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
{6:57} As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
{6:58} This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
{6:59} These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
{6:60} Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard [this,] said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
{6:61} When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
{6:62} [What] and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
{6:63} It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.
{6:64} But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should
betray him.
{6:65} And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father
**
Luke {4:4} And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Deut. {8:1} All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.
{8:2} And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
{8:3} And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
God fed His people with a source of food unlike any other that ever existed, unlike any they'd ever known. Food that rained down from heaven- who ever heard of such a thing? And yet it was true. God fed His people. God wanted His people to realize that HE was their source of life. He and He alone saved them from a life of bondage and once He'd set them free He continued to keep them alive. Isn't that the way... we are set free when we accept Jesus as our Savior and then we need to be kept alive in Christ as we continue on in our lives. So that the children of God didn't forget who their source of life was, God fed them food from heaven. Daily, day in and day out they ate of the bread from heaven. Day in and day out they knew that it was only by the grace of God they were kept alive. It was God who supplied what they needed to live and it is God that provides us with what we need to live eternally.
In the end it is eternal life we live for. Jesus came to make that point real to us. Jesus came and made the point so well that only the spiritually blind can't see it. Jesus came to give life eternal, not life here and now, but life everlasting. Our minds are to be taken off life here and now except to realize that it is in this life that we accept that life eternal. Once we accept life eternal as ours through Jesus Christ we truly begin to live.
When Jesus talks of being the bread of life, of having the blood we must drink to live He even goes on to say this-- John {6:63} It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.
The very flesh He said we must eat to live He goes on to explain- the flesh profiteth nothing... 'the WORDS THAT I SPEAK UNTO YOU THEY ARE SPIRIT AND THEY ARE LIFE'
God's lesson in the wilderness was given so that His people would realize that they were alive by His word. The manna was of God. They ate and they lived.
The flesh and blood of Jesus is Jesus giving us His life, telling us that HIS WORDS are spirit and life. We have to accept Jesus' death and His life for us, we have to believe on His words. We have to trust in Him and Him alone if we are to live. If we don't accept all of Jesus we won't have life, we won't live. Just like a person cannot live without food, they cannot live eternally without Jesus. If we think we can have eternal life without Jesus we are wrong and we'll die. Do we have to eat Jesus' actual flesh and drink His actual blood? No. That wasn't what He was saying in truth, but only those that truly love Him can truly understand the meanings of His words. We are to always and forever remember that our lives are sustained by the life and death of our Lord and Savior. We are to never forget, never. And by equating our eating and drinking with accepting the life and death of Jesus is something we can never forget. Each time we eat and drink we are doing so and it is keeping us alive. We are to be kept alive eternally by eating and drinking of all Jesus offers to us, His life, His love, His forgiveness, His death for us. He is our sustainer in all things eternal and by no other are we to live now or forever, only Him.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we forever live in the perpetual acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as our Savior. In His love!
Amen.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Travailing in Birth
Galations {4:19} My little
children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be
formed in you,
Interesing choice of words here. Paul speaking to the Galations saying... my little children of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.
Jesus told us we had to be born again. Born of water and Spirit.
We are told in Peter that we are born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible.
John {3:3}
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto
thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God. {3:4} Nicodemus saith unto him, How can
a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time
into his mother’s womb, and be born? {3:5} Jesus
answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be
born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God. {3:6} That which is born of the flesh is
flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. {3:7}
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
1 Pet. {1:23}
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth
for ever. {1:24} For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory
of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the
flower thereof falleth away: {1:25} But the word of the
Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the
gospel is preached unto you.
When Paul says he travails with them in birth, he's talking about how a Christian lives as Christ is being formed within them.
Colossians {1:27} To whom God would make known what [is]
the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
Christ being formed in us.
As a baby is formed in a mother's womb the mother of a normal, healthy pregnancy feels little pain. It's the birth that brings the travail. When Christ says we must be born again it is a travailing time.
Dictionary Def.
travail
travail (tre-vâl´, tràv´âl´) noun
1. Work, especially when arduous or involving painful effort; toil. See synonyms at work.
2. Tribulation or agony; anguish.
3. The labor of childbirth.
verb, intransitive
travailed, travailing, travails
1. To work strenuously; toil.
2. To be in the labor of childbirth.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Being a Christian, accepting Christ into our lives is asking to be born again- asking to travail and be birthed until Christ is formed in us. It's not instantaneous. Christ is being formed in our lives, we are being born of Spirit, born of the Word of God and this is a process that isn't easy, but very painful in many ways. Painful to our natural self. The self we have to let die to have Christ in us. The pain is real and we live it every day. We travail as the old creatures in us are done away with and the new creatures are being formed. Day to day we travail and recognizing that our lives are but one more process of growth that we must go through to be Christs is something important. As babes in a womb we are not fully formed. As young children we are not fully formed. We like to think as adults we are fully formed and yet we are not and the only way to keep growing is to accept Christ's love into our lives, accept His grace and His wondrous forgiveness, His mercy. As we keep growing once we accept Christ the growth process isn't something that is accomplished instantly, but each of us has our own growth process as Christians just as we do as people. I may have been a delayed walker while you may have first walked at 9 months. We grow constantly at different rates in body and in Spirit. We have to accept our lives as the Spiritual growing process, the travail as we seek to be born of the Spirit. When Christ comes again then we will complete our birthing in Him, becoming the new creatures He's always meant us to be.
So, while we suffer now and rightly so- in many and varied ways- it will result in the birth of wonder in God transforming us.
May God bless and keep us in Him as we seek to have Christ formed in us. May the suffering we experience now be realized when Jesus comes again and we are finally, fully, completely birthed into the new creatures of the Spirit, His creatures. By His glory! All praise unto Him now and ever!
Amen.
children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be
formed in you,
Interesing choice of words here. Paul speaking to the Galations saying... my little children of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.
Jesus told us we had to be born again. Born of water and Spirit.
We are told in Peter that we are born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible.
John {3:3}
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto
thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God. {3:4} Nicodemus saith unto him, How can
a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time
into his mother’s womb, and be born? {3:5} Jesus
answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be
born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God. {3:6} That which is born of the flesh is
flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. {3:7}
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
1 Pet. {1:23}
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth
for ever. {1:24} For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory
of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the
flower thereof falleth away: {1:25} But the word of the
Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the
gospel is preached unto you.
When Paul says he travails with them in birth, he's talking about how a Christian lives as Christ is being formed within them.
Colossians {1:27} To whom God would make known what [is]
the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
Christ being formed in us.
As a baby is formed in a mother's womb the mother of a normal, healthy pregnancy feels little pain. It's the birth that brings the travail. When Christ says we must be born again it is a travailing time.
Dictionary Def.
travail
travail (tre-vâl´, tràv´âl´) noun
1. Work, especially when arduous or involving painful effort; toil. See synonyms at work.
2. Tribulation or agony; anguish.
3. The labor of childbirth.
verb, intransitive
travailed, travailing, travails
1. To work strenuously; toil.
2. To be in the labor of childbirth.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Being a Christian, accepting Christ into our lives is asking to be born again- asking to travail and be birthed until Christ is formed in us. It's not instantaneous. Christ is being formed in our lives, we are being born of Spirit, born of the Word of God and this is a process that isn't easy, but very painful in many ways. Painful to our natural self. The self we have to let die to have Christ in us. The pain is real and we live it every day. We travail as the old creatures in us are done away with and the new creatures are being formed. Day to day we travail and recognizing that our lives are but one more process of growth that we must go through to be Christs is something important. As babes in a womb we are not fully formed. As young children we are not fully formed. We like to think as adults we are fully formed and yet we are not and the only way to keep growing is to accept Christ's love into our lives, accept His grace and His wondrous forgiveness, His mercy. As we keep growing once we accept Christ the growth process isn't something that is accomplished instantly, but each of us has our own growth process as Christians just as we do as people. I may have been a delayed walker while you may have first walked at 9 months. We grow constantly at different rates in body and in Spirit. We have to accept our lives as the Spiritual growing process, the travail as we seek to be born of the Spirit. When Christ comes again then we will complete our birthing in Him, becoming the new creatures He's always meant us to be.
So, while we suffer now and rightly so- in many and varied ways- it will result in the birth of wonder in God transforming us.
May God bless and keep us in Him as we seek to have Christ formed in us. May the suffering we experience now be realized when Jesus comes again and we are finally, fully, completely birthed into the new creatures of the Spirit, His creatures. By His glory! All praise unto Him now and ever!
Amen.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found
Isaiah
{55:6} Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near
***
We need to seek the Lord.
We need to call upon the Lord.
We need to put ourselves out there so to speak. Many people don't put themselves out there. They don't seek, but rather expect to be sought.
We need God to live, God doesn't need us to live. Long before we were, He was. We are His creation and sometimes, often we forget that. And we are a wicked people if we can forget something so amazing. Our very breath comes from God. Our very heart beat comes from God. Maybe we're not always thrilled with our lives. Some people are born with defects that make them curse God and yet they have a chance to praise Him for His giving them life and knowing that one day, should they choose to worship and love Him, He will take away all their imperfections and give them glory they can't even realize. Easy to say, I know, I know-- very hard to do. We are so turned inward to ourselves that nothing else seems to matter but us and how we feel, what we think, what we want, what we know, we could careless about other things except as they affect our lives. Sure we can help others but how many people do so because they want the recognition, the glory for their helping? Selflessness is so important and until we realize that and make it a reality in our lives we'll forever be chained down to ourselves and not looking to God. God will help us become the selfless creatures that we need to become, but only if we seek Him- only if we call upon Him.
Isa. {55:7} Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
We need to forsake our wicked ways, we need to forsake our unrighteous thoughts- we need to return to the Lord and find mercy and pardon in Him.
{55:8} For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
God's thoughts and His ways are not our thoughts and ways. He is past our understanding and by faith we have to believe that He knows what is best for us beyond anything we could ever imagine.
{55:9} For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
{55:10} For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater
{55:11} So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
{55:12} For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
{55:13} Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the
LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
{56:1} Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. {56:2} Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
We are giving blessings from God for following His ways. We have to do the following, that is our part. We have to do the seeking, the calling, it is our part to seek and follow, to call to God. We can't do nothing and hope it happens. We have a part to play. Is it a works? No. It's by the Grace and Mercy of our Lord and Savior, now and forever, only by Him that we will ever become one with Him, fully with Him and through Him with the Father. May the Holy Spirit guide us and as we seek may He take over and make our miniscule effort into something amazingly wonderful, something beyond our comprehension.
In Christ forever!
Amen.
{55:6} Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near
***
We need to seek the Lord.
We need to call upon the Lord.
We need to put ourselves out there so to speak. Many people don't put themselves out there. They don't seek, but rather expect to be sought.
We need God to live, God doesn't need us to live. Long before we were, He was. We are His creation and sometimes, often we forget that. And we are a wicked people if we can forget something so amazing. Our very breath comes from God. Our very heart beat comes from God. Maybe we're not always thrilled with our lives. Some people are born with defects that make them curse God and yet they have a chance to praise Him for His giving them life and knowing that one day, should they choose to worship and love Him, He will take away all their imperfections and give them glory they can't even realize. Easy to say, I know, I know-- very hard to do. We are so turned inward to ourselves that nothing else seems to matter but us and how we feel, what we think, what we want, what we know, we could careless about other things except as they affect our lives. Sure we can help others but how many people do so because they want the recognition, the glory for their helping? Selflessness is so important and until we realize that and make it a reality in our lives we'll forever be chained down to ourselves and not looking to God. God will help us become the selfless creatures that we need to become, but only if we seek Him- only if we call upon Him.
Isa. {55:7} Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
We need to forsake our wicked ways, we need to forsake our unrighteous thoughts- we need to return to the Lord and find mercy and pardon in Him.
{55:8} For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
God's thoughts and His ways are not our thoughts and ways. He is past our understanding and by faith we have to believe that He knows what is best for us beyond anything we could ever imagine.
{55:9} For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
{55:10} For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater
{55:11} So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
{55:12} For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
{55:13} Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the
LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
{56:1} Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. {56:2} Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
We are giving blessings from God for following His ways. We have to do the following, that is our part. We have to do the seeking, the calling, it is our part to seek and follow, to call to God. We can't do nothing and hope it happens. We have a part to play. Is it a works? No. It's by the Grace and Mercy of our Lord and Savior, now and forever, only by Him that we will ever become one with Him, fully with Him and through Him with the Father. May the Holy Spirit guide us and as we seek may He take over and make our miniscule effort into something amazingly wonderful, something beyond our comprehension.
In Christ forever!
Amen.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
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
*******
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
*******
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
*******
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
*******
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
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
*******
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
*******
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
*******
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
*******
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
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