Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
He's coming but we don't know when. It's proper to give warning when you go visiting isn't it? In some cases to ask permission to visit. Having Ol' Aunt Agna show up on your doorstep without nary a phone call or even a post card, well that's not a very pleasant surprise is it? Imagine standing there in your bathrobe, hair all sticking out this way and that, the remainder of last night's wrinkle cream caked in a few wrinkle crevices, with coffee on your breath and a few dribbles of it on that bath robe and there she is, Ol' Aunt Agna smiling away with every white hair on her perfectly coiffed head in place, a delicate patting of powder on her face, red rosy cheeks and sparkling blue eyes. She's happy to be there, happy to surprise you and now expects you to be happy to see her when all you can think about is...OH NO! Why didn't she call first! I would have prepared, I would have been ready! I would have had the numbers to a few decent motels close at hand. Too late. You could shut the door in her face, you could tell her she's got the wrong address while using a fake accent, you could apologize and tell her to come back later that the kiddos are all sick and very contagious. But she's not old and senile, or rather she's not senile just old and she'd know that if you tried to do anything but invite her inside her little surprise would have been a very bad one and who wants to hurt sweet Ol' Agna's feelings? The old woman never hurt a flea. The thing is, you really do love Ol' Aunt Agna and would love to have her visit, you just wanted to be prepared for her, ready for her arrival. You wanted your untidy house tided, your unruly mop of hair tamed, you wanted the children in their best clothes, not flopped about in their raggedy but very comfortable jammies. Had you known she was coming you would have been happy to see her there on your doorstep.
How many people have that sort of relationship with Christ? You want Him to visit, you want Him to return to redeem you from earth and take you home with Him to heaven to live a life of eternity in love with Him. Yet perhaps you want to know when He's coming so you can be ready, rather than be ready at all times for Him. How many people consider it a waste of time to be watching when you don't know when to expect Him? Being in a constant state of readiness and watching is perhaps considered tedious? If so, if that's the way of it don't you realize that you won't be happy in heaven? You aren't prepared. Your heart isn't caught up with the Lord's love.
Think of it this way--
Your lover is called away overseas unexpectedly and tells you they don't have a clue when they'll return it could be tomorrow or next year, possible two or three years, it's a top secret mission. You watch your lover go and now begins the waiting. Every day could be the day of your lover's return. This is someone you've truly fallen deeply in love with and it's unthinkable that the love would disappear. You're prepared to wait for eternity for your lover to return. Every day you wake up and wonder, is this the day? Will my lover return today? On the chance that your lover just might come back you make sure you're ready. No, you don't go all out everyday with party streamers or dusting off the special occasion balloons, but you are prepared in your heart for the return of one so dear to you. You are ready, truly ready at any time of the day for your lover to come back, ready to welcome them with open arms. There isn't a moment that you'd ever think - 'I hope they don't come back just yet, I'm not ready.' You don't even care if you're in your old night clothes or in the middle of a meal. You don't care if you're in the middle of a work project that means the security of keeping your job, you'd still embrace your lover with all the joy and happiness you possess.
There's a big difference in how we watch and wait for Christ to return, isn't there? We can be ready at all times, eager for Him no matter the situation we are in- or we can have reservations about things. If we have reservations we have to ask ourselves if our love for Christ is first and foremost. Our love. We can't put things like our readiness in front of that love, if we do then we have our eyes on ourselves and you know something- we will NEVER be ready in and of ourselves it's only through that love of Christ we are made ready. He won't see the wrinkle cream or the tangled hair, He won't be looking for clothes from the best designers. He's not interested in the dust-free house. Christ wants to be welcomed with open, loving arms ready to embrace Him without a thought at all to self.
Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Keeping our garments, guarding our garments, and what garments are we talking about here?
Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
The white raiment is Christ's righteousness not ours. We need to guard the gift of Christ's righteousness given to us to cloth us. If we aren't covered in Christ's righteousness then we will be naked and all our shame, all our sins, all our unrighteousness will be visible.
Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
No wonder we are to guard, to keep our garments they are garments fashioned by Christ Himself to prepare us for the great day of the wedding between Christ and His bride- His church- His people.
We need to look forward to Christ's return, to be eager for Him to come at any moment in time and in our watching we need to forever keep upon us Christ's righteousness- not our own filthy rags. We will be blessed in Him by His mercy and grace now and forever let us be found ready.
Amen.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Endurance
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus
Patience
hupomone?
hoop-om-on-ay'
From G5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).
Keep
te?reo?
tay-reh'-o
From teros (a watch; perhaps akin to G2334); to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon...)
The endurance of the saints. It sounds like a movie title doesn't it? Perhaps a show on saints through time and their common link through endurance- a documentary of sorts. Or maybe it could be a touching story of a family with the last name Saints and it's a tale of courage and faith beyond all odds- enduring hardships and such to make the story appropriately exciting and something people would want to watch. The meaning here in Revelation 14:2 is prophetic and it's talking about those in the future who are on God's side as the world comes to an end. People with endurance, people with hopeful endurance. People who will watch, who will guard the commandments of God.
We've talked about this several times but it bears studying even more. It's too easy to lose hope, it's too easy to stop hanging in there- to stop enduring with patience. It would be so incredibly easy for us to just give up hope, to believe it's all too much and that things would never change.
People will argue that they've known others who have held fast to their faith for a long time, growing from being young to old, to very old without ever having their hope realized. They would say they were fools to believe and that it's foolish for them to believe when it's always hope without realization. The endurance means nothing, the patience means stupidity. The watching and guarding the commandments of God is silly to them because the love in those commandments isn't seen at all- only the restrictiveness.
It's what we call human nature to want to rebel against anything that might restrict our lives, but in truth it's not human nature at all, it's the sin nature. Most don't want to diffrientiate between the two arguing that they're one and the same because we're all sinfilled from our birth- caught up in the nature we inherit from our parents who ultimately inherited it from the first human to sin- Eve. But in truth and that's what we are interested in here, truth, we weren't originially created human with sin. We were created human without sin. There are a group of people who believe it's that nature Jesus took on but that's clearly not true. Jesus was tempted taking on our nature through his sinful mother... yes, some have claimed that Mary was sinless but that's not true. People want to believe that Jesus didn't have our sinning nature- yet remained without sin. People want to believe that Jesus was like Adam and Eve who were not in any way tainted by thousands of years of sinning. Jesus took on a nature that had for thousands of years been prone to sinning and with that nature HE did not sin. The temptations of Christ were real, He was touched by our infirmities not absolved and shielded from them.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
ALL points tempted like we are. Does that sound like He was absolved from the nature, the humanity we possess? No. He wasn't protected in some special way - He became human and endured all the temptations we endure- if he'd been given some special attributes that we don't possess then Satan would call His sacrifice superficial and non-acceptable. Satan can't call His sacrifice unacceptable though. Jesus didn't use His power as a Son of God to defeat sin. Jesus defeated sin in the same way it's possible for us, in humanity- through God and God alone He prevailed.
So to say that as humans we want to be in charge of our own fate- to choose not to believe in what we call fairy tales and fables, would be false. To say that we as humans tainted by sin want that - would in fact be the truth. God did not create us to defy Him, but to love Him. There will be a people- the saints - who will hold fast to the truth in Christ and believe in the commandments of God all the commands that He's given us out of His love. These people will have salvation through Christ's sacrifice, believing in God and all He is. These people and I pray I'm among them will hold fast to the faith of Jesus, clinging to Him who while tempted like we are endured without sinning, laying down His life to redeem ours.
By the grace and mercy of Christ now and forever...
Amen.
Patience
hupomone?
hoop-om-on-ay'
From G5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).
Keep
te?reo?
tay-reh'-o
From teros (a watch; perhaps akin to G2334); to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon...)
The endurance of the saints. It sounds like a movie title doesn't it? Perhaps a show on saints through time and their common link through endurance- a documentary of sorts. Or maybe it could be a touching story of a family with the last name Saints and it's a tale of courage and faith beyond all odds- enduring hardships and such to make the story appropriately exciting and something people would want to watch. The meaning here in Revelation 14:2 is prophetic and it's talking about those in the future who are on God's side as the world comes to an end. People with endurance, people with hopeful endurance. People who will watch, who will guard the commandments of God.
We've talked about this several times but it bears studying even more. It's too easy to lose hope, it's too easy to stop hanging in there- to stop enduring with patience. It would be so incredibly easy for us to just give up hope, to believe it's all too much and that things would never change.
People will argue that they've known others who have held fast to their faith for a long time, growing from being young to old, to very old without ever having their hope realized. They would say they were fools to believe and that it's foolish for them to believe when it's always hope without realization. The endurance means nothing, the patience means stupidity. The watching and guarding the commandments of God is silly to them because the love in those commandments isn't seen at all- only the restrictiveness.
It's what we call human nature to want to rebel against anything that might restrict our lives, but in truth it's not human nature at all, it's the sin nature. Most don't want to diffrientiate between the two arguing that they're one and the same because we're all sinfilled from our birth- caught up in the nature we inherit from our parents who ultimately inherited it from the first human to sin- Eve. But in truth and that's what we are interested in here, truth, we weren't originially created human with sin. We were created human without sin. There are a group of people who believe it's that nature Jesus took on but that's clearly not true. Jesus was tempted taking on our nature through his sinful mother... yes, some have claimed that Mary was sinless but that's not true. People want to believe that Jesus didn't have our sinning nature- yet remained without sin. People want to believe that Jesus was like Adam and Eve who were not in any way tainted by thousands of years of sinning. Jesus took on a nature that had for thousands of years been prone to sinning and with that nature HE did not sin. The temptations of Christ were real, He was touched by our infirmities not absolved and shielded from them.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
ALL points tempted like we are. Does that sound like He was absolved from the nature, the humanity we possess? No. He wasn't protected in some special way - He became human and endured all the temptations we endure- if he'd been given some special attributes that we don't possess then Satan would call His sacrifice superficial and non-acceptable. Satan can't call His sacrifice unacceptable though. Jesus didn't use His power as a Son of God to defeat sin. Jesus defeated sin in the same way it's possible for us, in humanity- through God and God alone He prevailed.
So to say that as humans we want to be in charge of our own fate- to choose not to believe in what we call fairy tales and fables, would be false. To say that we as humans tainted by sin want that - would in fact be the truth. God did not create us to defy Him, but to love Him. There will be a people- the saints - who will hold fast to the truth in Christ and believe in the commandments of God all the commands that He's given us out of His love. These people will have salvation through Christ's sacrifice, believing in God and all He is. These people and I pray I'm among them will hold fast to the faith of Jesus, clinging to Him who while tempted like we are endured without sinning, laying down His life to redeem ours.
By the grace and mercy of Christ now and forever...
Amen.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
All Thanksgiving to God
Rev 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.
God is worthy of our awe, our praise. God the maker of heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of water is worthy to judge His creations. We are His creations. Yet God will look to His Son and the sacrifice He made for the creatures He created and He will honor the sacrifice by deeming worthy the unworthy. He's paid for our worthiness. He's paid for our redemption. He only is worthy and we need to cling to Him. We need to give Him glory, give Him praise, give Him honor, give Him all He asks. Living our lives as a living tribute to our Lord reveals our awe of Him. He is all.
Thank you Lord. Thank you for making life worth living knowing that through You we live not only now but with the hope of forever in You. Thank you for giving us our lives, for enlightening our minds and spirit with You. Open our hearts that You've created clean by the blood of the Lamb. Thank you for all Your blessings. All honor and glory, all praise and thanksgiving unto You!
By Your will, by Your grace, now and forever.
Amen.
God is worthy of our awe, our praise. God the maker of heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of water is worthy to judge His creations. We are His creations. Yet God will look to His Son and the sacrifice He made for the creatures He created and He will honor the sacrifice by deeming worthy the unworthy. He's paid for our worthiness. He's paid for our redemption. He only is worthy and we need to cling to Him. We need to give Him glory, give Him praise, give Him honor, give Him all He asks. Living our lives as a living tribute to our Lord reveals our awe of Him. He is all.
Thank you Lord. Thank you for making life worth living knowing that through You we live not only now but with the hope of forever in You. Thank you for giving us our lives, for enlightening our minds and spirit with You. Open our hearts that You've created clean by the blood of the Lamb. Thank you for all Your blessings. All honor and glory, all praise and thanksgiving unto You!
By Your will, by Your grace, now and forever.
Amen.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
No Guile
Rev 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Let's get a dictionary look at what guile is. Obviously it's something we shouldn't be found with so we can be without fault before the throne of God so it's really something we should be aware of in ourselves.
*******
Greek- Guile
dolos
dol'-os
dello (an obsolete primary probably meaning to decoy; compare G1185); a trick (bait), that is, (figuratively) wile: - craft, deceit, guile, subtilty.
*******
guile (gìl) noun
1.Treacherous cunning; skillful deceit.
2.Obsolete. A trick or stratagem.
verb, transitive
guiled, guiling, guiles
Archaic.
To beguile; deceive.
*******
God would not have us deceitful, He would not have us using trickery, or treacherous cunning - these are not God's ways. To have no guile would mean that we don't resort to being wily, crafty, deceitful that we're upstanding, forthright, and honest in our ways. It's no wonder that those who stand before God will have no guile in their mouths- no deceit before the throne of God.
There is no misleading, no tricking, no lying in all they do. We need this in our lives and before any one jumps up and says they have no guile we need to really look at our lives in all we do and see if there isn't something in them that we judge acceptable because we deem it harmless deception. I read the other day in Reader's Digest one of those little sections of information where it was stated that most people lie 6 times a day at least. Can you imagine!? Can you? And they say the lie most often told is this... When asked how they are they say, fine. We do it don't we? We tell others we're fine, we're okay. Have a great day. When in truth things might not be so fine at all, and having a great day is the last thing you're concerned about another doing. We call it politeness and you know I've raised my kids to be liars that way-- haven't we all? If not by outright telling them to lie we tell them to act certain ways in public, to do what is proper and keep private things private and so on and so forth. Sure people say it's harmless to say you're fine to a stranger because you're not going to tell them your life story which might be full of woe, but in truth and that's what this is all about-- in truth -- isn't it better to say something along the lines of - Oh, I'm hanging in there, and that would be the truth. You're not offering a tale of woe but at the same time you're not lying either. We really don't like to think about the little ways we tell untruths (lies) because they are so ingrained in us. Let's take time to notice though, shall we? Just out of curiosity to gauge the guile within. We are to have NO guile at all before God.
Psa 34:13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
Psa 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
Joh 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
1Pe 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1Pe 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.
1Pe 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile
***
Lying, cheating, deceiving, we know all these things are contrary to good things- pure things, righteous things. By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Saviour may we be found without guile before God now and forever.
Amen.
Let's get a dictionary look at what guile is. Obviously it's something we shouldn't be found with so we can be without fault before the throne of God so it's really something we should be aware of in ourselves.
*******
Greek- Guile
dolos
dol'-os
dello (an obsolete primary probably meaning to decoy; compare G1185); a trick (bait), that is, (figuratively) wile: - craft, deceit, guile, subtilty.
*******
guile (gìl) noun
1.Treacherous cunning; skillful deceit.
2.Obsolete. A trick or stratagem.
verb, transitive
guiled, guiling, guiles
Archaic.
To beguile; deceive.
*******
God would not have us deceitful, He would not have us using trickery, or treacherous cunning - these are not God's ways. To have no guile would mean that we don't resort to being wily, crafty, deceitful that we're upstanding, forthright, and honest in our ways. It's no wonder that those who stand before God will have no guile in their mouths- no deceit before the throne of God.
There is no misleading, no tricking, no lying in all they do. We need this in our lives and before any one jumps up and says they have no guile we need to really look at our lives in all we do and see if there isn't something in them that we judge acceptable because we deem it harmless deception. I read the other day in Reader's Digest one of those little sections of information where it was stated that most people lie 6 times a day at least. Can you imagine!? Can you? And they say the lie most often told is this... When asked how they are they say, fine. We do it don't we? We tell others we're fine, we're okay. Have a great day. When in truth things might not be so fine at all, and having a great day is the last thing you're concerned about another doing. We call it politeness and you know I've raised my kids to be liars that way-- haven't we all? If not by outright telling them to lie we tell them to act certain ways in public, to do what is proper and keep private things private and so on and so forth. Sure people say it's harmless to say you're fine to a stranger because you're not going to tell them your life story which might be full of woe, but in truth and that's what this is all about-- in truth -- isn't it better to say something along the lines of - Oh, I'm hanging in there, and that would be the truth. You're not offering a tale of woe but at the same time you're not lying either. We really don't like to think about the little ways we tell untruths (lies) because they are so ingrained in us. Let's take time to notice though, shall we? Just out of curiosity to gauge the guile within. We are to have NO guile at all before God.
Psa 34:13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
Psa 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
Joh 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
1Pe 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1Pe 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.
1Pe 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile
***
Lying, cheating, deceiving, we know all these things are contrary to good things- pure things, righteous things. By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Saviour may we be found without guile before God now and forever.
Amen.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Book of Life
Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
All that dwell on the earth will worship the beast/dragon - one who is blaspheming God! It sounds shocking doesn't it? That ALL that dwell on the earth will be caught up in this horror. All but... those who have their names written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
What?! Wait... the Lamb slain from when? The foundation of the world. That's before sin entered isn't it? The world had to be created, the creatures placed up on it and the choice to be made to follow God out of love or look to self and sin. The foundation of the world, the founding of the world. In making this world the provision was made. In making human beings- creatures a little lower than the angels, creatures made in God's own image- a provision was needed. The what if this happens provision. Christ was the provision. God made of Spirit willing to be made into flesh forever. Christ willing to die for us. God's Son willing to be slain, knowing the price that would have to be paid should man sin before the foundation of the world was even created. This Lamb of God has a book of life for all those who He claims as His. If our names are not in that book we will be among all the others on the earth worshipping the devil through his various devices and deceptions.
By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior may we have our names in His book of life. This world is not our final home. This life is not how life for us was intended to be. We are here but a short while suffering through many trials and tribulations and then by the grace of God will will go to Him when Christ returns, or sleep and be woken when the glorious day arrives.
Amen.
Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
All that dwell on the earth will worship the beast/dragon - one who is blaspheming God! It sounds shocking doesn't it? That ALL that dwell on the earth will be caught up in this horror. All but... those who have their names written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
What?! Wait... the Lamb slain from when? The foundation of the world. That's before sin entered isn't it? The world had to be created, the creatures placed up on it and the choice to be made to follow God out of love or look to self and sin. The foundation of the world, the founding of the world. In making this world the provision was made. In making human beings- creatures a little lower than the angels, creatures made in God's own image- a provision was needed. The what if this happens provision. Christ was the provision. God made of Spirit willing to be made into flesh forever. Christ willing to die for us. God's Son willing to be slain, knowing the price that would have to be paid should man sin before the foundation of the world was even created. This Lamb of God has a book of life for all those who He claims as His. If our names are not in that book we will be among all the others on the earth worshipping the devil through his various devices and deceptions.
By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior may we have our names in His book of life. This world is not our final home. This life is not how life for us was intended to be. We are here but a short while suffering through many trials and tribulations and then by the grace of God will will go to Him when Christ returns, or sleep and be woken when the glorious day arrives.
Amen.
Monday, November 23, 2009
For Thy Pleasure
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
For God's pleasure we were created. Some might start up instantly saying, see God's just toying with us as if we were nothing but play toys. God gets His amusement from our pain. Untrue. God is forever, for eternity and God lives in eternity while we live in finite time. Our days are numbered in this life of agony and yes, for many it is agony. In fact for all of us it is agony in some degree, on some level emotionally, mentally, or physically, possibly all three. We have heartache, we have pain, we have tears, we live in a world where things are imperfect from our beginnings. We live in a world where all our far ancestors no longer exist and all we have is the knowledge that they had to exist so we could be where we are now. We live in a world where we produce more of us to live on after us and this is what we call eternity- living through our future generations. God lives in eternity always and He knows that our finite lives are temporary because of things gone wrong. The future we are told by God, won't have any agony to be endured. We are and were created for God's pleasure and it is His pleasure that we exist at all as His creations. It is His pleasure just as it is a parent's pleasure to behold their own children and hope for the brightest of futures for their children. God knows that we have the potential to be the creatures He wants us to be and the day will come that the creatures He has created for His pleasure will be as He intended them to be and then for all eternity.
How foolish is it for the creature to question the Creator? Without the Creator there would be no creation to question. Our very existence we owe to God and it's an existence with the possibility for a future of perfection in Him.
We are redeemed to God by the Blood of the Lamb. God paid a price for us and it was no small price when the Word became Flesh- when Spirit took on Flesh, when eternity became finite with the possibility of remaining so forever, but by the grace and mercy of our Lord eternity was restored to God made flesh as Jesus lived and died for us, only to live again to redeem us to Him.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
They loved not their lives unto death.
We can't love our lives not in the sense that this life is all there is and we get so caught up in it that nothing else matters. We truly need to live as if Heaven is a reality, that Jesus' second coming is a reality, that life eternal is found in Jesus and the life we have here is temporary and not something we should love in and of itself but love God and trust in Him for everlasting life in Jesus.
May God bless and keep us in Him by His mercy and grace now and forever!
Amen.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
For God's pleasure we were created. Some might start up instantly saying, see God's just toying with us as if we were nothing but play toys. God gets His amusement from our pain. Untrue. God is forever, for eternity and God lives in eternity while we live in finite time. Our days are numbered in this life of agony and yes, for many it is agony. In fact for all of us it is agony in some degree, on some level emotionally, mentally, or physically, possibly all three. We have heartache, we have pain, we have tears, we live in a world where things are imperfect from our beginnings. We live in a world where all our far ancestors no longer exist and all we have is the knowledge that they had to exist so we could be where we are now. We live in a world where we produce more of us to live on after us and this is what we call eternity- living through our future generations. God lives in eternity always and He knows that our finite lives are temporary because of things gone wrong. The future we are told by God, won't have any agony to be endured. We are and were created for God's pleasure and it is His pleasure that we exist at all as His creations. It is His pleasure just as it is a parent's pleasure to behold their own children and hope for the brightest of futures for their children. God knows that we have the potential to be the creatures He wants us to be and the day will come that the creatures He has created for His pleasure will be as He intended them to be and then for all eternity.
How foolish is it for the creature to question the Creator? Without the Creator there would be no creation to question. Our very existence we owe to God and it's an existence with the possibility for a future of perfection in Him.
We are redeemed to God by the Blood of the Lamb. God paid a price for us and it was no small price when the Word became Flesh- when Spirit took on Flesh, when eternity became finite with the possibility of remaining so forever, but by the grace and mercy of our Lord eternity was restored to God made flesh as Jesus lived and died for us, only to live again to redeem us to Him.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
They loved not their lives unto death.
We can't love our lives not in the sense that this life is all there is and we get so caught up in it that nothing else matters. We truly need to live as if Heaven is a reality, that Jesus' second coming is a reality, that life eternal is found in Jesus and the life we have here is temporary and not something we should love in and of itself but love God and trust in Him for everlasting life in Jesus.
May God bless and keep us in Him by His mercy and grace now and forever!
Amen.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Kept from the hour of temptation...
Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth
Patience--
hupomone
hoop-om-on-ay'
From G5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).
patience (pâ´shens) noun
1. The capacity, quality, or fact of being patient.
patient (pâ´shent) adjective
1. Bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance with calmness.
2. Marked by or exhibiting calm endurance of pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance.
3. Tolerant; understanding: an unfailingly patient leader and guide.
4. Persevering; constant: With patient industry, she revived the failing business and made it thrive.
5. Capable of calmly awaiting an outcome or a result; not hasty or impulsive.
6. Capable of bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance: "My uncle Toby was a man patient of injuries" (Laurence Sterne).
Keeping the word of someone's patience means what? If someone keeps your word what is your word about? It's your beliefs right? When you speak and give someone your words you are telling them things that you believe, in Jesus' case He is giving the truth to us through His words. The words of Jesus give life.
Luk 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
1Jn 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life
The Word of life, the word of Jesus' patience. The word, Jesus' words are life to us and the word of His patience is what? What does Jesus have to say about patience?
Luk 8:15 ... having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
And here's what the Word of God has to say further --
Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Rom 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
2Co 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
2Co 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness
1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
2Th 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure
1Ti 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
2Ti 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us
Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Jas 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.
Jas 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Jas 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
Rev 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ
Apparantly there is a lot to say about patience, a lot! No wonder this is said--
Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth
We need to endure and keep the word of Christ's patience, we need to be kept from the hour of temptation but we can't keep ourselves from temptation Christ will have to keep us from that hour of temptation, an hour that will come upon ALL the world. We need to be patience through Christ, in Christ, for Christ. By the grace of God may we keep the word of Christ's patience.
Amen.
Patience--
hupomone
hoop-om-on-ay'
From G5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).
patience (pâ´shens) noun
1. The capacity, quality, or fact of being patient.
patient (pâ´shent) adjective
1. Bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance with calmness.
2. Marked by or exhibiting calm endurance of pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance.
3. Tolerant; understanding: an unfailingly patient leader and guide.
4. Persevering; constant: With patient industry, she revived the failing business and made it thrive.
5. Capable of calmly awaiting an outcome or a result; not hasty or impulsive.
6. Capable of bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance: "My uncle Toby was a man patient of injuries" (Laurence Sterne).
Keeping the word of someone's patience means what? If someone keeps your word what is your word about? It's your beliefs right? When you speak and give someone your words you are telling them things that you believe, in Jesus' case He is giving the truth to us through His words. The words of Jesus give life.
Luk 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
1Jn 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life
The Word of life, the word of Jesus' patience. The word, Jesus' words are life to us and the word of His patience is what? What does Jesus have to say about patience?
Luk 8:15 ... having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
And here's what the Word of God has to say further --
Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Rom 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
2Co 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
2Co 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness
1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
2Th 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure
1Ti 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
2Ti 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us
Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Jas 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.
Jas 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Jas 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
Rev 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ
Apparantly there is a lot to say about patience, a lot! No wonder this is said--
Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth
We need to endure and keep the word of Christ's patience, we need to be kept from the hour of temptation but we can't keep ourselves from temptation Christ will have to keep us from that hour of temptation, an hour that will come upon ALL the world. We need to be patience through Christ, in Christ, for Christ. By the grace of God may we keep the word of Christ's patience.
Amen.
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