Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
*
a·bom·i·na·tion (e-bòm´e-nâ¹shen) noun
1. Abhorrence; disgust.
2. A cause of abhorrence or disgust.
*
ab·hor·rence (àb-hôr¹ens, -hòr¹-) noun
1. One that is disgusting, loathsome, or repellent.
2. A feeling of repugnance or loathing.
Working something disgusting, something loathsome, repellent... repugnant. What's more loathsome than sin?
Sin...
Something regarded as being shameful, deplorable, or utterly wrong.
Working abomination, defiling -
1. To make filthy or dirty; pollute: defile a river with sewage.
2. To debase the pureness or excellence of; corrupt: a country landscape that was defiled by urban sprawl.
3. To profane or sully (a good name, for example).
4. To make unclean or unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate: defile a temple.
5. To violate the chastity of.
Lying-
1. A false statement deliberately presented as being true; a falsehood.
2. Something meant to deceive or give a wrong impression.
ANYTHING that defiles, works abomination, or lies will not enter God's Holy City.
We tend to immediately shake our heads and say no way, we wouldn't defile anything, we wouldn't work any abominations, and we wouldn't lie. We're not among the evil. These are all good things, realizing that we're not those who will be kept out of God's glorious Holy City. There is one more prerequisite though, our name has to be written in the book of life.
Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
We are told when we are born again we will see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
When we are born again it's logical to assume we are written into the Lamb's Book of Life. No, this isn't advocating 'once saved always saved' because you can have your name taken out of the Book of Life.
Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Our names can be blotted out.
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ may we have our names written in the Book of Life and never blotted out. By His righteousness, by His love may we find life everlasting.
Amen.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Victory...Even Our Faith
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Believe.
God is love, this is true and we are told that the greatest thing is love. Without love having faith would mean nothing. It's because love exists in God that we can have faith in Him, believe in that love, the all consuming, all meaningful love that brings life everlasting.
Believing means nothing in and of itself, it's the belief in love- in God that matters.
If we ever hope to overcome life and all its agonies great and small, all its imperfections, all its sin induced pain it's not through anything of this world we overcome with- but through God. We have to be born of God and hope in the overcoming that is fully realized in the inheritance that awaits us in Christ. We need to be God's and we can be God's through belief in His love manifested in His Gift to the world, His Son Jesus Christ.
If we choose not to believe in the love of God and accept His Gift- we are condemned. You don't have to be a worldly evil person to be evil in God's eyes. You could be sweet and never harm a fly and still reject the Son of God, the love of God. You could be an amazing atheist someone who is outstanding and peaceful in all ways and yet without the belief in God, in His Son, it means nothing. If you have this wonderful life and attribute it to just being good in and of yourself you are claiming you have no Creator deserving of your love, you have no redeemer deserving of your love. Men love darkness because their deeds are evil. The light does away with the darkness and men who want darkness can't abide the light. Embracing the Light means illuminating the evil in us which reveals our need for a Savior. We need God and Satan would have us believe we have no need of God that we can live well enough in our temporary lives without God. Darkness and light war with each other and the Light will forever and ultimately expel the darkness.
By the grace and mercy of God may we be found welcoming the Light into our lives revealing the darkness, the evils within us, and by that grace and mercy may we find salvation and inherit all that entails in Christ, the fulness of His love forever in us.
Amen.
1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Believe.
God is love, this is true and we are told that the greatest thing is love. Without love having faith would mean nothing. It's because love exists in God that we can have faith in Him, believe in that love, the all consuming, all meaningful love that brings life everlasting.
Believing means nothing in and of itself, it's the belief in love- in God that matters.
If we ever hope to overcome life and all its agonies great and small, all its imperfections, all its sin induced pain it's not through anything of this world we overcome with- but through God. We have to be born of God and hope in the overcoming that is fully realized in the inheritance that awaits us in Christ. We need to be God's and we can be God's through belief in His love manifested in His Gift to the world, His Son Jesus Christ.
If we choose not to believe in the love of God and accept His Gift- we are condemned. You don't have to be a worldly evil person to be evil in God's eyes. You could be sweet and never harm a fly and still reject the Son of God, the love of God. You could be an amazing atheist someone who is outstanding and peaceful in all ways and yet without the belief in God, in His Son, it means nothing. If you have this wonderful life and attribute it to just being good in and of yourself you are claiming you have no Creator deserving of your love, you have no redeemer deserving of your love. Men love darkness because their deeds are evil. The light does away with the darkness and men who want darkness can't abide the light. Embracing the Light means illuminating the evil in us which reveals our need for a Savior. We need God and Satan would have us believe we have no need of God that we can live well enough in our temporary lives without God. Darkness and light war with each other and the Light will forever and ultimately expel the darkness.
By the grace and mercy of God may we be found welcoming the Light into our lives revealing the darkness, the evils within us, and by that grace and mercy may we find salvation and inherit all that entails in Christ, the fulness of His love forever in us.
Amen.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Blessed are they which are....
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
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.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Granted to be arrayed in fine linen- a bride, what bride doesn't want to be arrayed in fine linen? A fine gown, a bridal gown the fancier the better right? In most cases a bride with a traditional wedding ceremony puts great store in finding the perfect wedding gown. All eyes feast upon the bride's gown, she's the crowning jewel in the wedding- prepared for the groom.
Read this excerpt from a web page -
'The bride and bridegroom would be elaborately clothed. They would act and be treated like a king and a queen, even being adorned with crowns.
Song of Solomon. 3:11--- "Go forth, O daughters of Zion, and gaze on King Solomon with the crown with which his mother has crowned him on the day of his wedding, and on the day of his gladness of heart."
Isaiah 61:10---For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Jeremiah 2:32--- "Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire?"
The bride imagery in Ezekiel is also indicative of the preparation and adornment of the bride:
Ezekiel 16:8-14--- "Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine," declares the Lord GOD. "Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you, and anointed you with oil. I also clothed you with embroidered cloth, and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk. And I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands, and a necklace around your neck. I also put a ring in your nostril, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you," declares the Lord GOD.
(KJV- Eze 16:8 Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.
Eze 16:9 Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.
Eze 16:10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.
Eze 16:11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.
Eze 16:12 And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.
Eze 16:13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
Eze 16:14 And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD)
(From- http://ldolphin.org/risk/ult.shtml)
The clothing we need for our bridal attire is Christ's Righteousness.
'...for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.'
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Php 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
We can't rely on our own clothing. There isn't a single piece of clothing we can ever manufacture and wear that is pure.
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away
We can't rely on our own righteousness- we have NONE.
We have to have total dependence upon Christ's righteousness so we can be clothed in fine linen- His bride when He returns for us.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord, Jesus Christ may we claim the righteousness of Christ's as our clothing, stripping off our filthy rags and letting Him clothe us in His fine linen, a bride ready for Him.
Amen.
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.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Granted to be arrayed in fine linen- a bride, what bride doesn't want to be arrayed in fine linen? A fine gown, a bridal gown the fancier the better right? In most cases a bride with a traditional wedding ceremony puts great store in finding the perfect wedding gown. All eyes feast upon the bride's gown, she's the crowning jewel in the wedding- prepared for the groom.
Read this excerpt from a web page -
'The bride and bridegroom would be elaborately clothed. They would act and be treated like a king and a queen, even being adorned with crowns.
Song of Solomon. 3:11--- "Go forth, O daughters of Zion, and gaze on King Solomon with the crown with which his mother has crowned him on the day of his wedding, and on the day of his gladness of heart."
Isaiah 61:10---For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Jeremiah 2:32--- "Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire?"
The bride imagery in Ezekiel is also indicative of the preparation and adornment of the bride:
Ezekiel 16:8-14--- "Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine," declares the Lord GOD. "Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you, and anointed you with oil. I also clothed you with embroidered cloth, and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk. And I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands, and a necklace around your neck. I also put a ring in your nostril, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you," declares the Lord GOD.
(KJV- Eze 16:8 Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.
Eze 16:9 Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.
Eze 16:10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.
Eze 16:11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.
Eze 16:12 And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.
Eze 16:13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
Eze 16:14 And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD)
(From- http://ldolphin.org/risk/ult.shtml)
The clothing we need for our bridal attire is Christ's Righteousness.
'...for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.'
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Php 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
We can't rely on our own clothing. There isn't a single piece of clothing we can ever manufacture and wear that is pure.
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away
We can't rely on our own righteousness- we have NONE.
We have to have total dependence upon Christ's righteousness so we can be clothed in fine linen- His bride when He returns for us.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord, Jesus Christ may we claim the righteousness of Christ's as our clothing, stripping off our filthy rags and letting Him clothe us in His fine linen, a bride ready for Him.
Amen.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Come Out of Sinning
Rev 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
*******
Babylon (bàb´e-len, -lòn´) noun
1. A city or place of great luxury, sensuality, and often vice and corruption.
*
In John's day Babylon as a wild city was long gone. The memory of it's abhorrent behavior lived on as part of the history of the Jewish people. The Jewish people had at one point in their past, 500 or so BC been taken captive by the King of Babylon. In their history they knew this and that includes John.
The imagery provoked by Babylon is one of corruption, one of being the anti-God. Babylon even in our dictionary has this to say-
A city or place of great luxury, sensuality, and often vice and corruption.
When John was given his vision of hearing an angel saying- Babylon the great is fallen is fallen is become the habitation of devils and the hold of every four spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all the nations have drunk the wine of the wrath of her fornication; John knew that Babylon history as did all Jews. John also knew this is a future vision- future to the end of days and Babylon is no longer in existence as a super powerful sin-city. There are a lot of various suppositions and just looking at this without pulling in all those theories isn't ANYTHING that takes us into sin figurative of living in Babylon? Living a life of sin and following any that promote that sinning way creates the need for us to come out of Babylon- come out of the sinning ways. I'm not trying to belittle the deeper meanings of the prophecy at all- but it needs to be said that if you are caught up in sin you need to come out of that sin and God wants us out of the sinning ways so we do find forgiveness with Christ Jesus and aren't overcome by the plagues.
We are ordered to come out of Babylon...come out, that's an action that needs to be taken and we are all called to do so. If we choose to keep on sinning and living in a life surrounded by purposeful sin we are guilty of not heeding the warning to come out and not partake of the sins. We can then expect the plagues, the punishment of God to fall upon us. Not something pleasant to look forward to and NO sin pleasure now, no matter what it is will ever be worth the end result. The price paid for choosing self-indulgence over choosing to love God will be something none will want to pay yet it's not a reality to people. Just as in history the prophecies weren't reality until they came to pass and today people have been lulled into a deep sleep unwilling to wake to see that Biblical prophecies have proven true throughtout our history. It's the past, it's ancient history and therefore nothing we should bother over. Wrong. The prophecies go all the way until the end of days when Jesus returns and ultimately when all the sinners are destroyed and sin completely wiped away. We've not come to that day- we are still living in the days of unfulfilled prophecies and we have to ask ourselves a question- if prophecies of old have come to pass, what will stop the prophecies of the future from coming to pass?
The answer... nothing. Nothing can stop it and it's up to us to decide where we wish to be found in when that prophecy comes to pass.
May God help us all to come out of Babylon, come out of our sinning ways and cling to Him asking for our Savior to save us by His merciful grace and overwhelming love.
Amen.
Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
*******
Babylon (bàb´e-len, -lòn´) noun
1. A city or place of great luxury, sensuality, and often vice and corruption.
*
In John's day Babylon as a wild city was long gone. The memory of it's abhorrent behavior lived on as part of the history of the Jewish people. The Jewish people had at one point in their past, 500 or so BC been taken captive by the King of Babylon. In their history they knew this and that includes John.
The imagery provoked by Babylon is one of corruption, one of being the anti-God. Babylon even in our dictionary has this to say-
A city or place of great luxury, sensuality, and often vice and corruption.
When John was given his vision of hearing an angel saying- Babylon the great is fallen is fallen is become the habitation of devils and the hold of every four spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all the nations have drunk the wine of the wrath of her fornication; John knew that Babylon history as did all Jews. John also knew this is a future vision- future to the end of days and Babylon is no longer in existence as a super powerful sin-city. There are a lot of various suppositions and just looking at this without pulling in all those theories isn't ANYTHING that takes us into sin figurative of living in Babylon? Living a life of sin and following any that promote that sinning way creates the need for us to come out of Babylon- come out of the sinning ways. I'm not trying to belittle the deeper meanings of the prophecy at all- but it needs to be said that if you are caught up in sin you need to come out of that sin and God wants us out of the sinning ways so we do find forgiveness with Christ Jesus and aren't overcome by the plagues.
We are ordered to come out of Babylon...come out, that's an action that needs to be taken and we are all called to do so. If we choose to keep on sinning and living in a life surrounded by purposeful sin we are guilty of not heeding the warning to come out and not partake of the sins. We can then expect the plagues, the punishment of God to fall upon us. Not something pleasant to look forward to and NO sin pleasure now, no matter what it is will ever be worth the end result. The price paid for choosing self-indulgence over choosing to love God will be something none will want to pay yet it's not a reality to people. Just as in history the prophecies weren't reality until they came to pass and today people have been lulled into a deep sleep unwilling to wake to see that Biblical prophecies have proven true throughtout our history. It's the past, it's ancient history and therefore nothing we should bother over. Wrong. The prophecies go all the way until the end of days when Jesus returns and ultimately when all the sinners are destroyed and sin completely wiped away. We've not come to that day- we are still living in the days of unfulfilled prophecies and we have to ask ourselves a question- if prophecies of old have come to pass, what will stop the prophecies of the future from coming to pass?
The answer... nothing. Nothing can stop it and it's up to us to decide where we wish to be found in when that prophecy comes to pass.
May God help us all to come out of Babylon, come out of our sinning ways and cling to Him asking for our Savior to save us by His merciful grace and overwhelming love.
Amen.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Blessed in Watching and Keeping
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.
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.
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.
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