Jude {1:17} But, beloved, remember ye the words which were
spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
{1:18} How that they told you there should be mockers in
the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
{1:19} These be they who separate themselves, sensual,
having not the Spirit. {1:20} But ye, beloved, building up
yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy
Ghost, {1:21} Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking
for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
{1:22} And of some have compassion, making a difference:
{1:23} And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the
fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
{1:24} Now unto him that is able to keep you from
falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of
his glory with exceeding joy, {1:25} To the only wise God
our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power,
both now and ever. Amen.
Are there mockers today? Many of them, a lot of them.
mock (mòk) verb
mocked, mocking, mocks verb, transitive
1. To treat with ridicule or contempt; deride.
2. a. To mimic, as in sport or derision. See synonyms at ridicule. b. To imitate; counterfeit.
3. To frustrate the hopes of; disappoint.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Mockers- ridiculers frustrating the hopes of those who would be God's.
Mockers '...who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. {1:19} These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
Has it ever been more blatant that mankind would walk after their own ungodly lusts? Selfish lusts, selfish desire, are glorified today. If it feels good, do it is the motto. Take care of self first. We grow up on this, it's fed to us in our lives- schools, television, movies, magazines, promoting self above all.
They separate themselves, sensusal having not the Spirit.
sensual (sèn´sh¡-el) adjective
1. Relating to or affecting any of the senses or a sense organ; sensory.
2. a. Of, relating to, given to, or providing gratification of the physical and especially the sexual appetites. See synonyms at sensuous. b. Suggesting sexuality; voluptuous. c. Physical rather than spiritual or intellectual. d. Lacking in moral or spiritual interests; worldly.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Sensual having not the Spirit.
Take away the spiritual and we are left with trying to live a life solely based on the pleasure we can extract from all that is around us. Does the spiritual offer pleasure? The spiritual offers pleasures unlike any we'll ever know on earth now. Seriously, we can't comprehend the joy of the future and it's not a selfish pleasure, it's not a self-seeking pleasure. Joy found in Christ is beyond imagination and yet for those who want pleasure now, for those who are mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts, for those who are sensual they can't imagine sacrificing self because they believe self is all they have.
Jude {1:17} But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; {1:18} How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. {1:19} These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
{1:20} But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, {1:21} Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
{1:22} And of some have compassion, making a difference: {1:23} And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
{1:24} Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, {1:25} To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Building ourselves up on the most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.
Keeping ourselves in the love of God.
Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Are we to shun those who are mockers, those who are sensual and not Spiritual? No, not entirely because there are some that is if we have compassion upon them it will make a difference. Some will be saved with fear- hating that which keeps them from God, from being spiritual.
Christ alone is able to keep us from falling, Christ alone saves us by His mercy, by His love, by the Love of God. We must pray in the Holy Spirit, pray...pray. Keeping ourselves in the love of God, looking to His mercy always!
Senusal or Spiritual.
There is a fight between the two.
One is for self, the other for God.
We are carnal by nature and yet offered Spiritual through Christ.
We have to cling to Christ, look to Christ, pray in the Holy Spirit, resist temptations, resist the devil, resist self and all things sensual.
Luke {9:23} And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come
after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,
and follow me.
Sensual or Spiritual.
Self or denying self?
Mockers or Christ's?
We have choices to make, that cross is to be taken up daily...daily.
May God help us, may the Holy Spirit live within us, may we pray in the Holy Spirit keeping ourselves in the love of God, through the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior without Him we are nothing!
Amen.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
We would be sealed by God's angel
James
{5:7} Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.
Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth,
and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
{5:8} Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth
nigh.
Hosea
{6:3}Then shall we know, [if] we follow on to know the LORD:
his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain,
as the latter [and] former rain unto the earth.
Heb.
{8:10} For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,
saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind,
and write them in their hearts:
and I will be to them a God,
and they shall be to me a people:
{8:11} And they shall not teach every man his neighbour,
and every man his brother, saying,
Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
{8:12} For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,
and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Rev. {14:6} And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth,
and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
{14:7} Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him;
for the hour of his judgment is come
and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
{14:8} And there followed another angel, saying,
Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city,
because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
{14:9} And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,
If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
{14:10} The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God,
which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation;
and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels,
and in the presence of the Lamb:
{14:11} And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever:
and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image,
and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
{14:12} Here is the patience of the saints:
here [are] they that keep the commandments of God,
and the faith of Jesus.
{14:13} And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write,
Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth
Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours;
and their works do follow them.
Joel
{2:23} Be glad then, ye children of Zion,
and rejoice in the LORD your God:
for he hath given you the former rain moderately,
and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain,
and the latter rain in the first [month. ]
{2:24} And the floors shall be full of wheat,
and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
{2:25} And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten,
the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm,
my great army which I sent among you.
{2:26} And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the LORD your God,
that hath dealt wondrously with you:
and my people shall never be ashamed.
{2:27} And ye shall know that I [am] in the midst of Israel,
and [that] I [am] the LORD your God, and none else:
and my people shall never be ashamed.
{2:28} And it shall come to pass afterward,
[that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
your young men shall see visions:
{2:29} And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
{2:30} And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
{2:31} The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood,
before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
{2:32} And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered:
for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance,
as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Rev. {7:3} Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. {7:4} And I heard the number of them which were sealed:
[and there were] sealed an hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Eph. {1:12} That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
{1:13} In whom ye also [trusted,] after that ye heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed,
ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise
{1:14} Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession,
unto the praise of his glory.
Sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.
All glory and honor, all praise to the Lord our God the maker of heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is!
Praise be to God that we are not left without comfort- Heavenly Comfort.
John {14:16} And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,
that he may abide with you for ever;
{14:17} [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,
because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him;
for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
{14:18} I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you
The Spirit of truth dwells within us, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter from Heaven. Jesus prayed that the Father would give the Comforter to those that Love Him.
Does having a Comforter mean we'll feel no pain? On the contrary, having a Comforter is the Hope of a future beyond the pain of existing in the world we live in. No matter the pain everyone has pain. The Spirit of Truth brings us comfort and hope, the truth as it is found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. He preached of the coming world, of His return, He knew He had to leave and yet He wasn't abandoning anyone. Just as a good parent provides a care giver for their children when they have to leave, Jesus provides for us a care giver while He ministers in Heaven and prepares a place for us there. The Holy Spirit is real, as real as Jesus, as real as God. Can we know the ways of the Holy Spirit? No, no more than we can know the ways of God.
All praise to God!
If the Holy Spirit is to be poured out in a way exceptional to the every day offer of the promise of His being with us, may we be ready to receive whatever the Spirit can give us through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.
We would be sealed by God's angel, sealed unto Christ, completely marked as His and His alone! We offer all we are to God, and we long for the out pouring of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter.
Please Lord, have us Yours.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior now and forever.
Amen.
{5:7} Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.
Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth,
and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
{5:8} Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth
nigh.
Hosea
{6:3}Then shall we know, [if] we follow on to know the LORD:
his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain,
as the latter [and] former rain unto the earth.
Heb.
{8:10} For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,
saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind,
and write them in their hearts:
and I will be to them a God,
and they shall be to me a people:
{8:11} And they shall not teach every man his neighbour,
and every man his brother, saying,
Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
{8:12} For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,
and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Rev. {14:6} And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth,
and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
{14:7} Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him;
for the hour of his judgment is come
and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
{14:8} And there followed another angel, saying,
Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city,
because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
{14:9} And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,
If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
{14:10} The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God,
which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation;
and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels,
and in the presence of the Lamb:
{14:11} And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever:
and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image,
and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
{14:12} Here is the patience of the saints:
here [are] they that keep the commandments of God,
and the faith of Jesus.
{14:13} And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write,
Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth
Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours;
and their works do follow them.
Joel
{2:23} Be glad then, ye children of Zion,
and rejoice in the LORD your God:
for he hath given you the former rain moderately,
and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain,
and the latter rain in the first [month. ]
{2:24} And the floors shall be full of wheat,
and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
{2:25} And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten,
the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm,
my great army which I sent among you.
{2:26} And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the LORD your God,
that hath dealt wondrously with you:
and my people shall never be ashamed.
{2:27} And ye shall know that I [am] in the midst of Israel,
and [that] I [am] the LORD your God, and none else:
and my people shall never be ashamed.
{2:28} And it shall come to pass afterward,
[that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
your young men shall see visions:
{2:29} And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
{2:30} And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
{2:31} The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood,
before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
{2:32} And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered:
for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance,
as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Rev. {7:3} Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. {7:4} And I heard the number of them which were sealed:
[and there were] sealed an hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Eph. {1:12} That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
{1:13} In whom ye also [trusted,] after that ye heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed,
ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise
{1:14} Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession,
unto the praise of his glory.
Sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.
All glory and honor, all praise to the Lord our God the maker of heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is!
Praise be to God that we are not left without comfort- Heavenly Comfort.
John {14:16} And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,
that he may abide with you for ever;
{14:17} [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,
because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him;
for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
{14:18} I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you
The Spirit of truth dwells within us, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter from Heaven. Jesus prayed that the Father would give the Comforter to those that Love Him.
Does having a Comforter mean we'll feel no pain? On the contrary, having a Comforter is the Hope of a future beyond the pain of existing in the world we live in. No matter the pain everyone has pain. The Spirit of Truth brings us comfort and hope, the truth as it is found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. He preached of the coming world, of His return, He knew He had to leave and yet He wasn't abandoning anyone. Just as a good parent provides a care giver for their children when they have to leave, Jesus provides for us a care giver while He ministers in Heaven and prepares a place for us there. The Holy Spirit is real, as real as Jesus, as real as God. Can we know the ways of the Holy Spirit? No, no more than we can know the ways of God.
All praise to God!
If the Holy Spirit is to be poured out in a way exceptional to the every day offer of the promise of His being with us, may we be ready to receive whatever the Spirit can give us through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.
We would be sealed by God's angel, sealed unto Christ, completely marked as His and His alone! We offer all we are to God, and we long for the out pouring of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter.
Please Lord, have us Yours.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior now and forever.
Amen.
Monday, August 10, 2009
The Spirit knows all things, the deep things of God.
1 Cor.
{2:9} But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
{2:10} But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
{2:11} For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
{2:12} Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
{2:13} Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
{2:14} But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them,] because they are spiritually discerned.
{2:15} But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
{2:16} For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
*
Neither have entered into the heart of man.
The natural man we are, apart from the spiritual part of us that longs for the connection with something more, cannot understand, cannot comprehend the things of God. It's not possible that a man apart from the Holy Spirit can comprehend. It's like learning another language- it's pure gibberish holding no meaning whatsoever until comprehension is brought about from one who knows, or something that teaches. Left to our own devices do we naturally learns how to read? Do we naturally know how to do math? Is the structure of language something we understand all on our own? Do we naturally know how to tie our laces? How to tie a necktie? How to knit a blanket, mend a shirt. Do we know how to go into another human being's body and operate on them? Do we know how to fight for the rights of a person if we don't know the law?
The heart of man does not fully understand anything of God, but God reveals to us by HIS Spirit the things He chooses.
The Spirit knows all things, the deep things of God.
Man knows the evil within him, man's spirit the thing we know makes us who we are in the natural sense, yes, we know the ways of ourselves, our natural inclinations and they are not naturally inclined towards God.
The things of God man doesn't know, but the Spirit of God knows. We when accept Christ as our Savior, God as our Creator, we don't receive the spirit of man, tht is already ours. What we receive is the Spirit of God that we can understand what God gives to us as His creatures. Man's wisdom cannot teach God's wisdom. Man can be brilliant in the spirit of man knowing all there is to know in a natural sense but man doesn't know God's ways until the Holy Ghost teaches us. The spiritual with the spiritual. We receive the ability to comprehend the spiritual things of God. This isn't something we are naturally given in fact to those who are not inclined to listen to the Holy Spirit the things of the Spirit of God are FOOLISHNESS to them, and they cannot know them. So if you wonder why others don't understands, if you wonder why they can talk circles of seeming logic around your faith poking holes it it until you are forced to succumb to their natural understanding that's why. As they poke holes and doubts begin to form in your mind it's because the natural man inside us all can't understand the spiritual things of God. We really aren't forced to succumb are we? We can cling to our faith in God, to the spiritual things that have been revealed to us through the Holy Spirit. We can acknowledge the very fact that not all will understand and many will not understand at all.
{2:15} But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
{2:16} For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Christ judges all things, and is judged of no man. Christ alone lives in the spiritual relying upon God for all things. The Holy Spirit sent to us by Jesus to live with us and bring us hope, understanding, encouragement all things we need Spiritually from God to be God's through Jesus, this Holy Spirit alone can give us the mind of Christ- the understanding that God is all things and God's way are not our ways but God's ways are the true ways. Having the mind of Christ is everything, and we truly can have the same mind through Christ. The Holy Spirit will teach us and through faith we believe not because it makes sense to the natural man within us, but because it is Spiritually true.
Faith, hope, love. Choosing to love God is the first step. Leaping by faith the next. Faith is hope when we can't see.
May God send His Holy Spirit to live in us now and always until Jesus returns again. By the grace and mercy of God may we let the Holy Spirit work in us giving us Spiritual understanding, teaching us everything we need to know of God.
By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, now and forever.
Amen.
{2:9} But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
{2:10} But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
{2:11} For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
{2:12} Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
{2:13} Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
{2:14} But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them,] because they are spiritually discerned.
{2:15} But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
{2:16} For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
*
Neither have entered into the heart of man.
The natural man we are, apart from the spiritual part of us that longs for the connection with something more, cannot understand, cannot comprehend the things of God. It's not possible that a man apart from the Holy Spirit can comprehend. It's like learning another language- it's pure gibberish holding no meaning whatsoever until comprehension is brought about from one who knows, or something that teaches. Left to our own devices do we naturally learns how to read? Do we naturally know how to do math? Is the structure of language something we understand all on our own? Do we naturally know how to tie our laces? How to tie a necktie? How to knit a blanket, mend a shirt. Do we know how to go into another human being's body and operate on them? Do we know how to fight for the rights of a person if we don't know the law?
The heart of man does not fully understand anything of God, but God reveals to us by HIS Spirit the things He chooses.
The Spirit knows all things, the deep things of God.
Man knows the evil within him, man's spirit the thing we know makes us who we are in the natural sense, yes, we know the ways of ourselves, our natural inclinations and they are not naturally inclined towards God.
The things of God man doesn't know, but the Spirit of God knows. We when accept Christ as our Savior, God as our Creator, we don't receive the spirit of man, tht is already ours. What we receive is the Spirit of God that we can understand what God gives to us as His creatures. Man's wisdom cannot teach God's wisdom. Man can be brilliant in the spirit of man knowing all there is to know in a natural sense but man doesn't know God's ways until the Holy Ghost teaches us. The spiritual with the spiritual. We receive the ability to comprehend the spiritual things of God. This isn't something we are naturally given in fact to those who are not inclined to listen to the Holy Spirit the things of the Spirit of God are FOOLISHNESS to them, and they cannot know them. So if you wonder why others don't understands, if you wonder why they can talk circles of seeming logic around your faith poking holes it it until you are forced to succumb to their natural understanding that's why. As they poke holes and doubts begin to form in your mind it's because the natural man inside us all can't understand the spiritual things of God. We really aren't forced to succumb are we? We can cling to our faith in God, to the spiritual things that have been revealed to us through the Holy Spirit. We can acknowledge the very fact that not all will understand and many will not understand at all.
{2:15} But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
{2:16} For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Christ judges all things, and is judged of no man. Christ alone lives in the spiritual relying upon God for all things. The Holy Spirit sent to us by Jesus to live with us and bring us hope, understanding, encouragement all things we need Spiritually from God to be God's through Jesus, this Holy Spirit alone can give us the mind of Christ- the understanding that God is all things and God's way are not our ways but God's ways are the true ways. Having the mind of Christ is everything, and we truly can have the same mind through Christ. The Holy Spirit will teach us and through faith we believe not because it makes sense to the natural man within us, but because it is Spiritually true.
Faith, hope, love. Choosing to love God is the first step. Leaping by faith the next. Faith is hope when we can't see.
May God send His Holy Spirit to live in us now and always until Jesus returns again. By the grace and mercy of God may we let the Holy Spirit work in us giving us Spiritual understanding, teaching us everything we need to know of God.
By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, now and forever.
Amen.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Commit to Jesus
1 Peter {2:23} Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously: {2:24} Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. {2:25} For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls
Jesus committed HIMSELF to Him that judgeth righteously.
Who could that be but God?
We have to commit ourselves to Jesus just as Jesus committed Himself to His Father. A complete surrender holding nothing back at all whatsoever.
God judgeth righteously there is NO other way for Him to judge. Jesus as the Father's Son pleads before the righteous Judge for us, on our behalf asking that His sacrifice be enough for those who fully surrender their hearts and souls to Him, those who commit themselves to Him and by committing themselves to Him they commit themselves to the Father.
Jesus bare our sins- and accepting that sacrifice we should live in HIS righteousness. Can we kill our sins? Can we do away with our own sins? No and no. If we can't do away with our own sins what maks us think we can live in our own righteousness? We can't. We have to live unto Christ's righteousness- because it's by His stripes we are healed. He took the pain of our unrighteousness upon Himself and offers His righteousness in place of our unrighteousness. We have to commit ourselves to Jesus. We have to look to Him and His righteousness trusting in Him that all that is not right will be made right by Him in His time, not ours, nothing of ourselves. Does this mean sin with joy? NEVER!
We are as sheep going astray, but now the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls has us in His grasp. We have to listen to the Shepherd, follow our Shepherd's leading, trusting in Him in ALL things- He will care for us.
By the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, now and forever, by His Righteousness, by His amazing Love, may we cling to Him and all He's done for us, believing in Him now and forever!
Amen!
Jesus committed HIMSELF to Him that judgeth righteously.
Who could that be but God?
We have to commit ourselves to Jesus just as Jesus committed Himself to His Father. A complete surrender holding nothing back at all whatsoever.
God judgeth righteously there is NO other way for Him to judge. Jesus as the Father's Son pleads before the righteous Judge for us, on our behalf asking that His sacrifice be enough for those who fully surrender their hearts and souls to Him, those who commit themselves to Him and by committing themselves to Him they commit themselves to the Father.
Jesus bare our sins- and accepting that sacrifice we should live in HIS righteousness. Can we kill our sins? Can we do away with our own sins? No and no. If we can't do away with our own sins what maks us think we can live in our own righteousness? We can't. We have to live unto Christ's righteousness- because it's by His stripes we are healed. He took the pain of our unrighteousness upon Himself and offers His righteousness in place of our unrighteousness. We have to commit ourselves to Jesus. We have to look to Him and His righteousness trusting in Him that all that is not right will be made right by Him in His time, not ours, nothing of ourselves. Does this mean sin with joy? NEVER!
We are as sheep going astray, but now the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls has us in His grasp. We have to listen to the Shepherd, follow our Shepherd's leading, trusting in Him in ALL things- He will care for us.
By the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, now and forever, by His Righteousness, by His amazing Love, may we cling to Him and all He's done for us, believing in Him now and forever!
Amen!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
We get so caught up in ourselves
We get so caught up in ourselves. I've said it before and I think I'm going to keep saying it till who knows when. It's true though and I'm just as guilty as the next person of doing the same, of getting caught up in myself. How can we not we yell and scream, we live. We are alive and asked to live in this world with all it's external temptations that give us internal temptations, that flood us with cravings for all that is bad for us! We live here, unless we lock ourselves away in seclusion as some monks and others do, with no temptation to hit us, is there a chance for us to overcome? Really? Is there? Even those monks and such, aren't they tempted with believing what they are doing is a good thing and when they believe that they are doing that good thing, aren't they counting on their own righteousness and not that of God's? Seriously. There are dangers just in living and as long as we insist on being wrapped around ourselves we'll never be free, never. As long as we keep looking at ourselves and our sinfulness and dwelling on our own inabilities we have no hope, why? Because we are placing the hope within ourselves. There's a reason for life being the way it is, there is a good reason and the one lesson we all need to learn, every single one of us is that we can't look at ourselves there is only unrighteousness there no matter what we do, no matter who or what we seem to be.
Isa. {64:6} 'But we are all as an unclean [thing,] and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags...'
That says it all so completely! We are ALL as an unclean thing, and ALL our righteousness are as filthy rags!
Does this mean we should embrace and enjoy our wickedness? God forbid. We should ever ask forgiveness and when we think the battle too hard to fight, when we believe that to give in to sin is the better way then look to Jesus, look to Him who knew no unrighteousness and yet DIED so YOU and I could live. Is giving into sin better? No. Is it easier, yes.
We find hope only in Christ, not in ourselves. And we have to give ourselves to Him completely.
1 Cor. {5:21} For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Only in Him can we have any righteousness. Only in Him, only in Christ.
It's not easy to constantly fight, especially when we war against principalities and powers and wickedness in high places. It's not easy when we long to give into the pleasures of sin and yes, they have a certain pleasure and if we want pleasure that is temporary and NOTHING compared what is waiting for us who deny ourselves the pleasures of the world now- not in hopes of gaining salvation but only through Christ's prompting, through the Holy Spirit's guiding us closer to Christ.
The easy way is the way most will take, the way we are all in danger of taking.
Matthew {7:13} Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many
there be which go in thereat: {7:14} Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
We don't want the strait and narrow it's a tricky bit of a path, we want the broad way because that is the more pleasant, more enticing path for us to take.
So as we struggle with our day to day lives and day to day temptations we have to beg Christ to help us to seek Him and His way, not our own way. Reveal our hearts to Him, our longings to be with Him living in a world without any PAIN of any sort. If you think all the pleasures we indulge ourselves in now will keep the pain of the world away, you're wrong, I'd be wrong if I thought it. For all the pleasure here the pain often outweighs the pleasure and if living for temporary pleasure is all you want from life then it's all you'll get.
May God help us ALL as we struggle to cling to the cross, cling to Jesus and claim HIS righteousness because we have NONE of our own. May our hope be solely in HIM, not in ourselves and any of our own actions. Choosing Christ, let that be our sole endeavor, choosing Christ and having faith in Him to see us through with the Holy Spirit's guidance.
By His unfathomable mercy and grace, now and forever!
Thank you Lord Jesus,
Amen.
Isa. {64:6} 'But we are all as an unclean [thing,] and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags...'
That says it all so completely! We are ALL as an unclean thing, and ALL our righteousness are as filthy rags!
Does this mean we should embrace and enjoy our wickedness? God forbid. We should ever ask forgiveness and when we think the battle too hard to fight, when we believe that to give in to sin is the better way then look to Jesus, look to Him who knew no unrighteousness and yet DIED so YOU and I could live. Is giving into sin better? No. Is it easier, yes.
We find hope only in Christ, not in ourselves. And we have to give ourselves to Him completely.
1 Cor. {5:21} For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Only in Him can we have any righteousness. Only in Him, only in Christ.
It's not easy to constantly fight, especially when we war against principalities and powers and wickedness in high places. It's not easy when we long to give into the pleasures of sin and yes, they have a certain pleasure and if we want pleasure that is temporary and NOTHING compared what is waiting for us who deny ourselves the pleasures of the world now- not in hopes of gaining salvation but only through Christ's prompting, through the Holy Spirit's guiding us closer to Christ.
The easy way is the way most will take, the way we are all in danger of taking.
Matthew {7:13} Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many
there be which go in thereat: {7:14} Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
We don't want the strait and narrow it's a tricky bit of a path, we want the broad way because that is the more pleasant, more enticing path for us to take.
So as we struggle with our day to day lives and day to day temptations we have to beg Christ to help us to seek Him and His way, not our own way. Reveal our hearts to Him, our longings to be with Him living in a world without any PAIN of any sort. If you think all the pleasures we indulge ourselves in now will keep the pain of the world away, you're wrong, I'd be wrong if I thought it. For all the pleasure here the pain often outweighs the pleasure and if living for temporary pleasure is all you want from life then it's all you'll get.
May God help us ALL as we struggle to cling to the cross, cling to Jesus and claim HIS righteousness because we have NONE of our own. May our hope be solely in HIM, not in ourselves and any of our own actions. Choosing Christ, let that be our sole endeavor, choosing Christ and having faith in Him to see us through with the Holy Spirit's guidance.
By His unfathomable mercy and grace, now and forever!
Thank you Lord Jesus,
Amen.
Friday, August 7, 2009
The power of God is all things
1 Cor.
{2:5} That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
{2:6} Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
{2:7} But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom,] which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
{2:8} Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it,] they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
{2:9} But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men.
What does that mean exactly? Men have their own wisdom, God another.
wisdom (wîz´dem) noun
1. Understanding of what is true, right, or lasting; insight
2. Common sense; good judgment
3. a. The sum of scholarly learning through the ages; knowledge b. Wise teachings of the ancient sages.
4. A wise outlook, plan, or course of action.
5. Wisdom. Bible. Wisdom of Solomon.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
'The sum of scholarly learning through the ages, knowledge.' Our faith is not explained in all the knowledge of the world in a logical way. Faith itself defies logic to those thinking only in facts, only in the wisdom of men.
'{2:5} That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.'
The power of God gives us faith. We can't concern ourselves with anything that would tear down our faith no matter what it might be. Not the most logical reasoning should rip the faith from us. We can't let faith rest on the wisdom man possesses, it has to rest on the power of God alone.
1 Cor. {2:6} Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
{2:7} But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom,] which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
{2:8} Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it,] they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
We speak wisdom among them that are perfect- NOT wisdom of this world.
The princes of this world might have great wisdom but it's not the wisdom that matters a bit.
The wisdom of God is a mystery, hidden wisdom- a wisdom that produced our salvation for God ordained before the world this glory. Yet all the wise of the world, those holding high positions in wisdom as the world knows it, all of the didn't know, couldn't comprehend such a mystery, such wisdom of God.
1 Cor. {2:9} But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
This statement says so incredibly much, doesn't it? Seriously, the things God has prepared for us go way beyond our comprehension, way beyond our imaginations. The greatest thing we can imagine that is in store for us who love God, falls far short of what ways for us.
Eye hasn't seen!
Ears haven't heard!
Our hearts are clueless.
God's love is way beyond our own.
May we grasp hold of our Lord and Savior and never let go of Him, letting our faith, a faith given and helped by Him, please Him. May His wisdom be real to us, He's all wise, all knowing.
The power of God is that faith. The power of God is all things.
By His grace and mercy, by His love now and forever!
Amen.
{2:5} That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
{2:6} Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
{2:7} But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom,] which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
{2:8} Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it,] they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
{2:9} But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men.
What does that mean exactly? Men have their own wisdom, God another.
wisdom (wîz´dem) noun
1. Understanding of what is true, right, or lasting; insight
2. Common sense; good judgment
3. a. The sum of scholarly learning through the ages; knowledge b. Wise teachings of the ancient sages.
4. A wise outlook, plan, or course of action.
5. Wisdom. Bible. Wisdom of Solomon.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
'The sum of scholarly learning through the ages, knowledge.' Our faith is not explained in all the knowledge of the world in a logical way. Faith itself defies logic to those thinking only in facts, only in the wisdom of men.
'{2:5} That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.'
The power of God gives us faith. We can't concern ourselves with anything that would tear down our faith no matter what it might be. Not the most logical reasoning should rip the faith from us. We can't let faith rest on the wisdom man possesses, it has to rest on the power of God alone.
1 Cor. {2:6} Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
{2:7} But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom,] which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
{2:8} Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it,] they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
We speak wisdom among them that are perfect- NOT wisdom of this world.
The princes of this world might have great wisdom but it's not the wisdom that matters a bit.
The wisdom of God is a mystery, hidden wisdom- a wisdom that produced our salvation for God ordained before the world this glory. Yet all the wise of the world, those holding high positions in wisdom as the world knows it, all of the didn't know, couldn't comprehend such a mystery, such wisdom of God.
1 Cor. {2:9} But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
This statement says so incredibly much, doesn't it? Seriously, the things God has prepared for us go way beyond our comprehension, way beyond our imaginations. The greatest thing we can imagine that is in store for us who love God, falls far short of what ways for us.
Eye hasn't seen!
Ears haven't heard!
Our hearts are clueless.
God's love is way beyond our own.
May we grasp hold of our Lord and Savior and never let go of Him, letting our faith, a faith given and helped by Him, please Him. May His wisdom be real to us, He's all wise, all knowing.
The power of God is that faith. The power of God is all things.
By His grace and mercy, by His love now and forever!
Amen.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
It should be all about JESUS and Him crucified
1 Cor.
{2:1} And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with
excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the
testimony of God. {2:2} For I determined not to know any
thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
The IMPORTANT thing- not excellency in speaking; not excellency in wisdom; not holding a PHD in religion, or in public speaking, or in charisma- but rather KNOWING Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
We tend to give credit to people who are naturally attractive and well poised. We tend to give our attention to those who can make us feel good about ourselves. We look up to people who are sheer genius and go- now why couldn't I have done/thought of that? Our hats go off to those who are accomplished in society. We applaud those who can come across as someone you can trust just by speaking to us. How many people have lost millions of dollars over the years to those who have 'talked them' out of their life savings? These brilliant, captivating people who seemingly have an excellency of speech with a healthy side order of wisdom can bilk hundreds, thousands of people and yet we still are amazed and wowed by those who make us feel good about OURSELVES. A man cannot talk another man into investing thousands of dollars unless they've made the person feel good about what they are doing. The best way to talk a man out of his money is to make it seem like he is doing the SMART thing, the WISE thing, the GOOD thing, the thing that will prove to be right in their own eyes. The more you can convince a man of HIS own genius the more money you can take from him.
Is it any wonder at all that Paul says here - I came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom declaring unto you the testimony of God. It really is no wonder at all. Paul wasn't a smooth talker, able to sway with his special charasmatic manner or brilliant wisdom as the world knew. Paul was determined to just know Jesus Christ and Him crucified- that's it! To know Christ! To know the wonder of the cross! If more of us would seek the wonder of the cross and get our minds off ourselves and the superficial things how much better off we would be. If instead of looking to Christ to puff ourselves up we looked to Him just to KNOW Him our eyes would be taken off our selves and trained up the only righteousness that exists, Christ's.
I've heard the saying- 'You are making this ALL about YOU.' Have you heard that? Maybe you've had a disagreement with someone and there's a bit of arguing and the retort that is thrown into your face is- 'You are making this ALL about YOU.' Arguments usually result when one person believes they are right and another not quite so right. One person believes their thoughts and such are on the right track, while another's aren't. The last argument you had- think about it if you can, did you want to drive your own opinion, your own beliefs, your own point home? Did you want to get the other person to somehow agree that you are in the right over them? If they'd just stop arguing and listen to... who? You? Yes. If they'd just stop all their fussing and see reason, why they'd surely see your point of view on the matter. Why do they have to be so stubborn?
Don't you see, it's all about US.
When it should be all about JESUS and Him crucified. The power of God is in the cross. Knowing Jesus and Him crucified should be our ONLY concern.
The other saying, 'What would Jesus do?' Is very appropriate in the sense, what would the Lord Jesus have me doing in light of His crucifiction; what would Jesus have me do to glorify Him to point all others and myself solely to Him and the cross? We can't get caught up in this - I know what Jesus would do and bad me, I'm doing just the opposite or I know what Jesus would do and look at me, I'm doing it. Our doing anything other than seeking Him in the wonder of the cross is nothing. We could help fifty old ladies across the street because we believe that's what Jesus would do, but unless we know Jesus as our constant and personal Lord and Savior we could do what Jesus would do forever and still not be known by Him.
May the Lord turn our eyes solely upon Him and His wondrous sacrifice. Make we seek to know Christ and Him crucified first and foremost. That is- KNOW CHRIST, not know ourselves. We must seek to know CHRIST not self even in the light of Christ. Christ first always!
By His mercy, by His grace, by His love and sacrifice we are saved, now and forever.
Amen.
{2:1} And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with
excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the
testimony of God. {2:2} For I determined not to know any
thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
The IMPORTANT thing- not excellency in speaking; not excellency in wisdom; not holding a PHD in religion, or in public speaking, or in charisma- but rather KNOWING Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
We tend to give credit to people who are naturally attractive and well poised. We tend to give our attention to those who can make us feel good about ourselves. We look up to people who are sheer genius and go- now why couldn't I have done/thought of that? Our hats go off to those who are accomplished in society. We applaud those who can come across as someone you can trust just by speaking to us. How many people have lost millions of dollars over the years to those who have 'talked them' out of their life savings? These brilliant, captivating people who seemingly have an excellency of speech with a healthy side order of wisdom can bilk hundreds, thousands of people and yet we still are amazed and wowed by those who make us feel good about OURSELVES. A man cannot talk another man into investing thousands of dollars unless they've made the person feel good about what they are doing. The best way to talk a man out of his money is to make it seem like he is doing the SMART thing, the WISE thing, the GOOD thing, the thing that will prove to be right in their own eyes. The more you can convince a man of HIS own genius the more money you can take from him.
Is it any wonder at all that Paul says here - I came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom declaring unto you the testimony of God. It really is no wonder at all. Paul wasn't a smooth talker, able to sway with his special charasmatic manner or brilliant wisdom as the world knew. Paul was determined to just know Jesus Christ and Him crucified- that's it! To know Christ! To know the wonder of the cross! If more of us would seek the wonder of the cross and get our minds off ourselves and the superficial things how much better off we would be. If instead of looking to Christ to puff ourselves up we looked to Him just to KNOW Him our eyes would be taken off our selves and trained up the only righteousness that exists, Christ's.
I've heard the saying- 'You are making this ALL about YOU.' Have you heard that? Maybe you've had a disagreement with someone and there's a bit of arguing and the retort that is thrown into your face is- 'You are making this ALL about YOU.' Arguments usually result when one person believes they are right and another not quite so right. One person believes their thoughts and such are on the right track, while another's aren't. The last argument you had- think about it if you can, did you want to drive your own opinion, your own beliefs, your own point home? Did you want to get the other person to somehow agree that you are in the right over them? If they'd just stop arguing and listen to... who? You? Yes. If they'd just stop all their fussing and see reason, why they'd surely see your point of view on the matter. Why do they have to be so stubborn?
Don't you see, it's all about US.
When it should be all about JESUS and Him crucified. The power of God is in the cross. Knowing Jesus and Him crucified should be our ONLY concern.
The other saying, 'What would Jesus do?' Is very appropriate in the sense, what would the Lord Jesus have me doing in light of His crucifiction; what would Jesus have me do to glorify Him to point all others and myself solely to Him and the cross? We can't get caught up in this - I know what Jesus would do and bad me, I'm doing just the opposite or I know what Jesus would do and look at me, I'm doing it. Our doing anything other than seeking Him in the wonder of the cross is nothing. We could help fifty old ladies across the street because we believe that's what Jesus would do, but unless we know Jesus as our constant and personal Lord and Savior we could do what Jesus would do forever and still not be known by Him.
May the Lord turn our eyes solely upon Him and His wondrous sacrifice. Make we seek to know Christ and Him crucified first and foremost. That is- KNOW CHRIST, not know ourselves. We must seek to know CHRIST not self even in the light of Christ. Christ first always!
By His mercy, by His grace, by His love and sacrifice we are saved, now and forever.
Amen.
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