Step out of the ordinary and fall face first into adversity. Watch yourself succumb to anger, upset, and things you know are harsh and wrong. What do you do? It's almost like watching yourself outside of yourself and you feel as helpless to stop that nasty person from emerging as truly if they were a stranger.
What happened? Was it a test of faith and did you fail that test? What does it mean to fail a test of faith?
Gold tried in fire is literally metal heated until it is melted to a liquid state. It takes tremendous heat to melt metal- we live in a world with metal all around us and we don't live in a world with puddles of melted metal around every corner. An exceptionally high heat is needed to reduce metal to a liquid state. If our faith is tried like gold in fire what does that tell us? The fire is going to get hotter than we can really imagine.
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ
Faith tested and tried.
Isn't it the test and PASSING the test what matters?
We go through life having to pass various tests. Tests in school, in higher education, in jobs- our skills are tested and based on our ability to score high enough on the tests we either pass or fail. If we fail the result can be loss of moving up a grade in school, it can mean the loss of a job, or the loss of a promotion.
I know a man who tried to pass an exam so he could advance in his job but after many years of trying to pass that test before retiring, he never did. He tried at a cost to himself- each exam taking money out of his own pocket just so he could advance to a higher pay grade and in prestige.
Whether successful or not, each position has its results, its consequences.
When our faith is tried we want to pass the test right? We want success because that success means eternal life with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
But you know what?
We have to ask ourselves a question. Does God measure our success and failure the same way we do? Jesus suffered and died - that was a success. However, many in that day considered His life and especially His death a failure. He should have been able to save Himself, kept Himself from being hurt, from being tortured.
That man who kept trying and failing I told you about- was there a special kind of success in His ability to keep trying to pass the test even though he never did? You hear the old saying all the time that it's not whether you win or lose but how you play the game. That failure is only giving up. Are they true?
Our test of faith- we might fail in our own eyes, but maybe not in God's. He may measure things differently than we do. What I mean is a test may come and just having the recognition of failure, the recognition that it was a test may go a long way to building your faith, having your faith become stronger so that in the end it really isn't an ultimate failure but a temporary setback. Perhaps this faith being like gold tried in fire is never giving up though the trials will come and some of them come without any warning with such a vileness you are all but destroyed. The ultimate test might just be having to cling to Christ and only Christ.
We don't know the end from the beginning, but we do know that Satan would have us so caught up in our seeming failures that we just give up looking to Christ at all.
We can't give up! We must understand that the trying of our faith strengthens it- not necessarily passing the test. One failed test may ultimately keep us from failing in the future. We might have to fail our test over and over again but we can't give up! We can't!
God is the one critiquing our lives and He judges differently. We have to hope and pray that we hold fast, that we don't let our faith fail no matter what test it is put to. Easier said than done, yes, but it is my prayer that God bless and keep us so that we never give up our faith, never.
By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now and forever!
Amen.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Two Paths
Doing God's will does tend to separate us from those who choose not to do God's will. It seems inevitable. God's will and man's will clash. There is a separation that exists when one chooses to follow God's will and give up their own- even for a short period of time. The separation is very noticeable, it looms large. It's like that old saying- you can't ignore an elephant in a small room and often people do just that. It's there, it's very loud in its silence and it speaks volumes without uttering a single sound yet it is ignored because the two paths chosen are so different. Being there in that room, living in that existence there's a tendency on both sides to want to draw the other to them and their side. Forces are at work behind the scenes so to speak, forces that war against each other even though the victory has been won. The loser would have all that he can have on his side and until the Victor arrives to claim His people the loser will do all he can to woo them from the Victor's side. On the opposite side of things, the Victor wants all that will to be His as well and has laid down His life for His people no greater sacrifice exists. The Victor will not use nefarious means to seduce people to Himself while the loser stops at absolutely nothing to get people.
People think that being a Christian is some sort of cop out. People think that weak people turn to Christianity and use it as a crutch. Others believe that it's to put on airs for a 'better than thou' attitude. There are countless beliefs out there and those who choose not to follow God, doing His will, come up with the ones that suit them best to silence within themselves the small still voice that nudges them to follow God as well. Some men consider themselves too manly to succumb to God's will. Real men don't need that wussy stuff. Some women consider themselves to independent to need God in their lives. They've fought too hard to get where they are to give any of that glory to God, it was their hard work and that alone. If a person would look at their lives and ask themselves if they are doing God's will they'd be able to answer themselves too. Maybe the answer wouldn't be a positive one, but the answer would be out there for better or worse. The reason would be known.
As time winds down, as the sands in that ol' hourglass slip quickly though, the decision that ALL people will have to make on where they stand with God will have been made. Before Christ returns it will all be decided. If some people are waiting for His return hoping that He'll begin a new ministry on earth so they can turn to Him then they will be very mistaken and all Jesus will need to do is point to His word. The truth is in His word. Those people who are not following God's will, God's truth as it is revealed in His Word will hear the sad words to get away from Christ- He never knew them. KNEW them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
KNEW. Past tense. The time to KNOW Jesus is NOW! NOW! It can't be stressed enough. Seeking God, seeking to know His will, His truth is something we do now- not something we should put off for a later date.
It is easy to do God's will? Was it easy for Jesus? More and more it will be difficult to do God's will and those who stress otherwise are wrong. That path is narrow and the way is fraught with manifold temptations.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Few there be that find it. That narrow gate is something to be searched for diligently. The most precious treasure in all the world is found beyond that gate- life everlasting in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Few will find that gate compared to the number that will find and walk through that broad gate.
Jesus uses an analogy that we can all relate to-
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it
May God help us to hear the sayings of Jesus and to do them so that we may be like a wise man. Doing the will of God, not of ourselves no matter how many around us - those near and dear to us, or those far away yet still influential over our lives- choose not to do the will of God. It's not putting on airs, it's not something done to alienate others, in fact it's something that would draw people together if only the love of God would be first in all our lives.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, now and forever may His will be done in us.
Amen.
People think that being a Christian is some sort of cop out. People think that weak people turn to Christianity and use it as a crutch. Others believe that it's to put on airs for a 'better than thou' attitude. There are countless beliefs out there and those who choose not to follow God, doing His will, come up with the ones that suit them best to silence within themselves the small still voice that nudges them to follow God as well. Some men consider themselves too manly to succumb to God's will. Real men don't need that wussy stuff. Some women consider themselves to independent to need God in their lives. They've fought too hard to get where they are to give any of that glory to God, it was their hard work and that alone. If a person would look at their lives and ask themselves if they are doing God's will they'd be able to answer themselves too. Maybe the answer wouldn't be a positive one, but the answer would be out there for better or worse. The reason would be known.
As time winds down, as the sands in that ol' hourglass slip quickly though, the decision that ALL people will have to make on where they stand with God will have been made. Before Christ returns it will all be decided. If some people are waiting for His return hoping that He'll begin a new ministry on earth so they can turn to Him then they will be very mistaken and all Jesus will need to do is point to His word. The truth is in His word. Those people who are not following God's will, God's truth as it is revealed in His Word will hear the sad words to get away from Christ- He never knew them. KNEW them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
KNEW. Past tense. The time to KNOW Jesus is NOW! NOW! It can't be stressed enough. Seeking God, seeking to know His will, His truth is something we do now- not something we should put off for a later date.
It is easy to do God's will? Was it easy for Jesus? More and more it will be difficult to do God's will and those who stress otherwise are wrong. That path is narrow and the way is fraught with manifold temptations.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Few there be that find it. That narrow gate is something to be searched for diligently. The most precious treasure in all the world is found beyond that gate- life everlasting in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Few will find that gate compared to the number that will find and walk through that broad gate.
Jesus uses an analogy that we can all relate to-
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it
May God help us to hear the sayings of Jesus and to do them so that we may be like a wise man. Doing the will of God, not of ourselves no matter how many around us - those near and dear to us, or those far away yet still influential over our lives- choose not to do the will of God. It's not putting on airs, it's not something done to alienate others, in fact it's something that would draw people together if only the love of God would be first in all our lives.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, now and forever may His will be done in us.
Amen.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
The Breach Will Be Healed
Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Human's sin. Sinless creations give into temptation and sin. Man's first sin didn't result in the instant disappearance of mankind. Satan would have enjoyed that don't you think? Seriously. The death of the human race. The death of a race of created beings. Beings that didn't exist until God created them and created them in His image. Angels weren't created in God's image, only mankind was created in God's image. Some might argue that angels were created to be more like God than man, angels are spirit and God is spirit, even so, man alone was created in God's image. We were created a little lower than the angels and yet the angels are to minister unto us.
Psa 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Heb 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
Heb 2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Heb 2:7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands
Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Angels are to be ministers to those who shall be heirs of salvation. Surely Satan would much rather mankind just disappeared upon succumbing to sin. Instead mankind didn't just disappeared but they opened themselves up to all of Satan's wile, all His deceptions. If mankind wouldn't just go away then capturing them was the next best thing to keep God from having them.
2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
What was the first thing God did after man sinned? He didn't know where they were did He? We chuckle and say of course He knew, He knows everything. Yet this indication of God asking revealed what?
Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Man had separated himself from God. The unbroken connection between God and man was now broken. Man hid knowing He'd done wrong. God didn't abandon man though. The first thing God did after man sinned was seek him out- 'Where art thou?' Man hadn't poofed into non-existence, there was no instantaneous disappearance in death. Man had created a separation between Himself and His creator- just as Satan had created a separation between Himself and God because of sin. However angels were created spirit beings and not fleshy at all whatsoever. In all our newness, our newly created existence we were created with flesh- we were given a solid form as well as a spirit that was connected to God. Sin disconnected that part of man from God and brought about the corruption of the flesh into something called death, something an angel had never be subject to- death. Man's flesh instantly began its slow descent into corruption- the nakedness revealed was the connection severed from God. Only God didn't want to be separated from mankind. Instantly He sought him out-
'Where art thou?' God asked. He didn't have to do that, He could have remained silent and let sin-filled man fend for Himself. Some say that He did because He only ended up passing sentence upon them and cast them from the garden of Eden, He didn't immediately take them under His wing and absolve them of their guilt. Sin was something much too grievous to do that. Much like our lives and how we deal with criminals -- we've labeled crimes as misdemeanors or felonies, the misdemeanors being minor crimes compared to the more serious felonies. Sin by it's very existence is the cause of all crimes great or small, something with such power could not be ignore. Every single bad thing great or small that we can imagine is the result of sin. Yes, God past judgment upon them but He didn't leave them without hope when He did so.
Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Between God's chosen and Satan there would be a hatred, Satan's head would be wounded even as Satan would wound the heel of the seed of God's chosen.
God, right there in the presence of newly sinning mankind revealed that there was a plan in place for God's chosen to prevail over Satan. The bringer of sin to mankind would be destroyed.
God from the start sought a reconcilation with mankind- not abandoning them, and all through history He's continued to bring the reconcilation to mankind. In times before Christ it was through a sanctuary service that pointed to Christ, and then after Christ (the woman's seed to be bruised) it was through Christ Himself and it's remained that way, and until man is fully reconciled to God again, the separation completely healed and sin is no more it will be Christ who reconciles us to God. One day the breach will be gone, the full reuniting will take place and I pray to God that we, through His Son will find ourselves joined with Him once again, that we'll be among the forgiven, among those surrendered to God fully.
By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God now and forever!
Amen.
Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Human's sin. Sinless creations give into temptation and sin. Man's first sin didn't result in the instant disappearance of mankind. Satan would have enjoyed that don't you think? Seriously. The death of the human race. The death of a race of created beings. Beings that didn't exist until God created them and created them in His image. Angels weren't created in God's image, only mankind was created in God's image. Some might argue that angels were created to be more like God than man, angels are spirit and God is spirit, even so, man alone was created in God's image. We were created a little lower than the angels and yet the angels are to minister unto us.
Psa 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Heb 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
Heb 2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Heb 2:7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands
Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Angels are to be ministers to those who shall be heirs of salvation. Surely Satan would much rather mankind just disappeared upon succumbing to sin. Instead mankind didn't just disappeared but they opened themselves up to all of Satan's wile, all His deceptions. If mankind wouldn't just go away then capturing them was the next best thing to keep God from having them.
2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
What was the first thing God did after man sinned? He didn't know where they were did He? We chuckle and say of course He knew, He knows everything. Yet this indication of God asking revealed what?
Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Man had separated himself from God. The unbroken connection between God and man was now broken. Man hid knowing He'd done wrong. God didn't abandon man though. The first thing God did after man sinned was seek him out- 'Where art thou?' Man hadn't poofed into non-existence, there was no instantaneous disappearance in death. Man had created a separation between Himself and His creator- just as Satan had created a separation between Himself and God because of sin. However angels were created spirit beings and not fleshy at all whatsoever. In all our newness, our newly created existence we were created with flesh- we were given a solid form as well as a spirit that was connected to God. Sin disconnected that part of man from God and brought about the corruption of the flesh into something called death, something an angel had never be subject to- death. Man's flesh instantly began its slow descent into corruption- the nakedness revealed was the connection severed from God. Only God didn't want to be separated from mankind. Instantly He sought him out-
'Where art thou?' God asked. He didn't have to do that, He could have remained silent and let sin-filled man fend for Himself. Some say that He did because He only ended up passing sentence upon them and cast them from the garden of Eden, He didn't immediately take them under His wing and absolve them of their guilt. Sin was something much too grievous to do that. Much like our lives and how we deal with criminals -- we've labeled crimes as misdemeanors or felonies, the misdemeanors being minor crimes compared to the more serious felonies. Sin by it's very existence is the cause of all crimes great or small, something with such power could not be ignore. Every single bad thing great or small that we can imagine is the result of sin. Yes, God past judgment upon them but He didn't leave them without hope when He did so.
Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Between God's chosen and Satan there would be a hatred, Satan's head would be wounded even as Satan would wound the heel of the seed of God's chosen.
God, right there in the presence of newly sinning mankind revealed that there was a plan in place for God's chosen to prevail over Satan. The bringer of sin to mankind would be destroyed.
God from the start sought a reconcilation with mankind- not abandoning them, and all through history He's continued to bring the reconcilation to mankind. In times before Christ it was through a sanctuary service that pointed to Christ, and then after Christ (the woman's seed to be bruised) it was through Christ Himself and it's remained that way, and until man is fully reconciled to God again, the separation completely healed and sin is no more it will be Christ who reconciles us to God. One day the breach will be gone, the full reuniting will take place and I pray to God that we, through His Son will find ourselves joined with Him once again, that we'll be among the forgiven, among those surrendered to God fully.
By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God now and forever!
Amen.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Born to Life Everlasting
Rev 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Prophecy speaks of the birth of Jesus and today; the day the world traditionally celebrates the day Christ was born (even though it's not *really* His birthday) I'm going to touch on this verse in Revelation.
Sin had been in the world for thousands of years before it was time for Christ to be born. Satan, once a covering angel in heaven, close to God, chose to let pride well in His heart as he developed delusions of being like God Himself-- the created being thinking himself as powerful and deserving as a creator in his own right. Thousands of years this sinning angel not yet cast from heaven was allowed to move back and forth between earth and heaven.
Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Now, it's time for Christ to be born--
Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
Rev 12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
Rev 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
A woman in prophecy is symbolically depicting God's people. God's people had reached the pinnacle of travailing and it was time for the Savior to be born. At that time Satan didn't want a Savior born into the world he wanted to claim as his own. He drew one third of the angels of heaven to earth as his angels-- it is here at this time they are cast down from heaven-- Satan has marshaled all his forces in an effort to defeat the Savior wanting from birth to destroy him, to destroy God's own. It was by God's will alone that Jesus escaped the murder of infants ordered by the king who wanted to destroy the prophesized Savior. Jesus was born and then He was caught up unto God, slain on Calvary so that we may live. He died in our place, taking upon Himself our sins.
Born to die. Some would say it's the fate of all mankind to be born and die and they wouldn't be far off, most are born only to eventually die. They say the only surety in life is death. Jesus gave up His place in heaven to take on humanity starting His life on earth as an infant, born in human flesh. He gave up the power that would keep Him from dying, He gave up more than we can ever realize and as His life progressed He taught us all that we-- like Him -- need to look to God, the Father, for all things.
We are tempted and taunted on all sides by Satan, just as Christ was make no mistake- from the moment of His birth Christ was the promised Savior and Satan was His sworn enemy. We do need to recognize the miracle of the birth of Christ, the birth of the Savior and we need to remember that He came to save us from something. Jesus was born for a purpose and He fulfilled that purpose. We can't trivialize the reason Christ was born because to do so is at an eternal loss. Until Christ comes again we need to remember His birth, His death, and His defeat of death in rising again from the grave victorious. Christ was born to save us from sin, from Satan a very real power on earth with his forces of angels. We might not see them but we see daily the results of their working.
May God bless and keep us all in Him. We praise God for His love, for the glory of His love in His Son's birth, death, and rising again to life everlasting. Thank you Lord for all You've done and will do. By Your will now and forever.
Amen.
Prophecy speaks of the birth of Jesus and today; the day the world traditionally celebrates the day Christ was born (even though it's not *really* His birthday) I'm going to touch on this verse in Revelation.
Sin had been in the world for thousands of years before it was time for Christ to be born. Satan, once a covering angel in heaven, close to God, chose to let pride well in His heart as he developed delusions of being like God Himself-- the created being thinking himself as powerful and deserving as a creator in his own right. Thousands of years this sinning angel not yet cast from heaven was allowed to move back and forth between earth and heaven.
Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Now, it's time for Christ to be born--
Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
Rev 12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
Rev 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
A woman in prophecy is symbolically depicting God's people. God's people had reached the pinnacle of travailing and it was time for the Savior to be born. At that time Satan didn't want a Savior born into the world he wanted to claim as his own. He drew one third of the angels of heaven to earth as his angels-- it is here at this time they are cast down from heaven-- Satan has marshaled all his forces in an effort to defeat the Savior wanting from birth to destroy him, to destroy God's own. It was by God's will alone that Jesus escaped the murder of infants ordered by the king who wanted to destroy the prophesized Savior. Jesus was born and then He was caught up unto God, slain on Calvary so that we may live. He died in our place, taking upon Himself our sins.
Born to die. Some would say it's the fate of all mankind to be born and die and they wouldn't be far off, most are born only to eventually die. They say the only surety in life is death. Jesus gave up His place in heaven to take on humanity starting His life on earth as an infant, born in human flesh. He gave up the power that would keep Him from dying, He gave up more than we can ever realize and as His life progressed He taught us all that we-- like Him -- need to look to God, the Father, for all things.
We are tempted and taunted on all sides by Satan, just as Christ was make no mistake- from the moment of His birth Christ was the promised Savior and Satan was His sworn enemy. We do need to recognize the miracle of the birth of Christ, the birth of the Savior and we need to remember that He came to save us from something. Jesus was born for a purpose and He fulfilled that purpose. We can't trivialize the reason Christ was born because to do so is at an eternal loss. Until Christ comes again we need to remember His birth, His death, and His defeat of death in rising again from the grave victorious. Christ was born to save us from sin, from Satan a very real power on earth with his forces of angels. We might not see them but we see daily the results of their working.
May God bless and keep us all in Him. We praise God for His love, for the glory of His love in His Son's birth, death, and rising again to life everlasting. Thank you Lord for all You've done and will do. By Your will now and forever.
Amen.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Created for His 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.
When we think of pleasure we don't automatically think of strife, do we? We think the opposite, we think of good things. What sort of things bring you pleasure? Most people do not answer with things that are harmful to themselves or others.
Pleasure -
The state or feeling of being pleased or gratified.
A source of enjoyment or delight.
God created us for His pleasure. Some might automatically start up with how sadistic God must be if that's the case but they don't realize that God never intended for us to sin. Just as we as parents never intend our children to grow up to be criminals, or failures in any way. God didn't intend for us to live with pain, sadness, and all that sin has marred His creation with. We were created for His pleasure. It's clear throughout the Bible that God doesn't find pleasure in sin at all.
1Ch 29:17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness.
Psa 5:4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
Eze 18:23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
For God's pleasure we were created and the alternative was not to have been created at all. God is merciful, loving, He is all that is good. And yes, he hates sin and one day sin will be no more. Life will be as it should be, we will be as He created us to be happy in Him, love abounding always.
It's all but impossible for us to imagine such a thing because so much of our lives are wrapped up in sin and getting pleasure from sin. It will be a reality some day and the joy will be unimaginable. Giving up the short lived pleasures we have here and now, for joy everlasting in Jesus, joy not marred by sin at all. It's a dream, it's a happily ever after that will be realized. It's not a fairy tale at all, there is a happy ending.
May God fill our hearts with His love, may we be His now and forever! By the grace and mercy of Christ may we find joy in Him now and forever.
Amen.
When we think of pleasure we don't automatically think of strife, do we? We think the opposite, we think of good things. What sort of things bring you pleasure? Most people do not answer with things that are harmful to themselves or others.
Pleasure -
The state or feeling of being pleased or gratified.
A source of enjoyment or delight.
God created us for His pleasure. Some might automatically start up with how sadistic God must be if that's the case but they don't realize that God never intended for us to sin. Just as we as parents never intend our children to grow up to be criminals, or failures in any way. God didn't intend for us to live with pain, sadness, and all that sin has marred His creation with. We were created for His pleasure. It's clear throughout the Bible that God doesn't find pleasure in sin at all.
1Ch 29:17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness.
Psa 5:4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
Eze 18:23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
For God's pleasure we were created and the alternative was not to have been created at all. God is merciful, loving, He is all that is good. And yes, he hates sin and one day sin will be no more. Life will be as it should be, we will be as He created us to be happy in Him, love abounding always.
It's all but impossible for us to imagine such a thing because so much of our lives are wrapped up in sin and getting pleasure from sin. It will be a reality some day and the joy will be unimaginable. Giving up the short lived pleasures we have here and now, for joy everlasting in Jesus, joy not marred by sin at all. It's a dream, it's a happily ever after that will be realized. It's not a fairy tale at all, there is a happy ending.
May God fill our hearts with His love, may we be His now and forever! By the grace and mercy of Christ may we find joy in Him now and forever.
Amen.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Overcome Doing God's Will
A few days ago we talked about Christ saying- 'I know thy works...' Also in Revelation along those same lines it says- 'He that overcometh...'
When we talk about overcoming we immediately think of action. How many people overcome things by doing nothing? You might argue that by stopping certain actions people do overcome various obstacles, but to stop an action often takes a lot of effort asked any addict who is trying to overcome an addiction, trying to stop something, trying to NOT do something. Overcoming is an action. So why do people often believe and fight to believe that the Christian life is one of inaction and just belief? Live your life any way you choose as long as you believe you're okay. It's not what the Bible says at all.
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 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
1Jn 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
'He that is begotten of God KEEPETH himself'
'Keep yourselves from idols.'
Do you see the close connection between believing and a reflection of that belief in our lives? Why would the Bible spout faith and believing and in the same breath say- keep yourselves from idols? That's an action. We have to keep our lives in line with God's. We have to follow God's will in all we do. We have to put God before us as we live and hold our lives accountable to God. We accept Him, believe in Him and through faith we do so. It's no good at all to keep from idols if we don't believe in God. People say being good is enough, living a good life, honest and upright, friendly and helpful, but the nicest person in the world will not be saved unless they believe in God and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. God first in all things. Jesus put God's will first in all things. It was God's will not His when He allowed Himself to be crucified.
Luk 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
It was Christ's will to do His Father's will no matter what it meant. That didn't stop Christ from saying to His Father- 'if thou be willing remove this cup from me'.
He knew God's will and was willing to do God's will, but at the same time if He had His choice He would rather not have to endure what was being asked of Him.
This is an example for our lives too. God asks of us to do His will, we don't have to like it. Too many think we should like it, but it's not always something enjoyable we are being asked to do. Give up ourselves and submit to God, this is hard and yet through Christ it is possible.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord may we seek to serve Him to do His will now and forever.
Amen.
When we talk about overcoming we immediately think of action. How many people overcome things by doing nothing? You might argue that by stopping certain actions people do overcome various obstacles, but to stop an action often takes a lot of effort asked any addict who is trying to overcome an addiction, trying to stop something, trying to NOT do something. Overcoming is an action. So why do people often believe and fight to believe that the Christian life is one of inaction and just belief? Live your life any way you choose as long as you believe you're okay. It's not what the Bible says at all.
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 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
1Jn 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
'He that is begotten of God KEEPETH himself'
'Keep yourselves from idols.'
Do you see the close connection between believing and a reflection of that belief in our lives? Why would the Bible spout faith and believing and in the same breath say- keep yourselves from idols? That's an action. We have to keep our lives in line with God's. We have to follow God's will in all we do. We have to put God before us as we live and hold our lives accountable to God. We accept Him, believe in Him and through faith we do so. It's no good at all to keep from idols if we don't believe in God. People say being good is enough, living a good life, honest and upright, friendly and helpful, but the nicest person in the world will not be saved unless they believe in God and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. God first in all things. Jesus put God's will first in all things. It was God's will not His when He allowed Himself to be crucified.
Luk 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
It was Christ's will to do His Father's will no matter what it meant. That didn't stop Christ from saying to His Father- 'if thou be willing remove this cup from me'.
He knew God's will and was willing to do God's will, but at the same time if He had His choice He would rather not have to endure what was being asked of Him.
This is an example for our lives too. God asks of us to do His will, we don't have to like it. Too many think we should like it, but it's not always something enjoyable we are being asked to do. Give up ourselves and submit to God, this is hard and yet through Christ it is possible.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord may we seek to serve Him to do His will now and forever.
Amen.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Things of the Spirit
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Minding things of the Spirit.
Do you mind things of the Spirit? Seriously. Think about it for a few moments. How much minding of the Spirit do you do? Tending to the flesh is rather easy isn't it? Think about it. It's easy to grab up a bite to eat, pop it in our mouths, chew it, swallow it and fulfill the need of hunger our flesh feels. When you're thirsty it's simple to get a glass of water and take care of that thirst, for the most part- in most parts of the world anyway. Do you think it's easier for someone who is finding it hard to find food and drink to tend to their spirit? It's something to think about.
Another thing to think about, do we have spiritual pangs to tell us we're in need of spiritual tending? Have we so warped ourselves that we can't recognize our spiritual need- passing it off as something else entirely.
We have so many mental and emotional illnesses we can scarcely count them. People today take so many pills geared to just help them get through the day it's unbelievable. Yet we refuse to recognize anything as a spiritual illness. The spiritual is a choice people say. We don't have to be spiritual. We can choose to not believe in the spiritual side of things. And people fully believe that in making that choice their spiritual side simply no longer exists. If they don't believe it, then it isn't there, it isn't a part of them. They don't need that bit- if it's even real- discard it like a diseased appendix, or a rotten tooth, toss it aside as the deadened flesh of the remainder of an umbilical cord that was once attached to everyone of us and needed to dry up and fall away. Why such a graphic example? Because how many of us think about that bit of our flesh that was knotted off and allowed to perish away as useless? Sure we might consider our belly button, our navels on occasion perhaps to decorate them with jewelry or tug a piece of fuzz out of but how often do we think about the tiny bit of flesh that had to die off to form it? Our spiritual side exists even if we don't admit to it. Our spiritual side can starve.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Minding things of the spirit. We can't mind things of the spirit unless we recognize the spirit has needs. We know what minding the flesh is- doing anything and everything to satisfy our desires and boy does the flesh have a lot of desires. Some of those desires we want to be satisfied once a day, others a few times a day, some once a week, or once a month it varies according to our individual desires and fleshy appetites and I'm not just talking sex here, there are many 'things of the flesh'. Given the choice of eating to satisfy a flesh hunger, or studying God's word to satisfy a spiritual hunger it's easy to believe the majority would choose to eat to satisfy a flesh hunger in part because they recognize the physical pangs of hunger much more readily than they do their spiritual hunger. As long as Satan has people disbelieving in their Spiritual need it's easy for Him to seduce them to His side without their even knowing.
How many Christmas stories do we see on television this time of year that play up the believing or disbelieving in Santa Claus? How many people secretly wish He REALLY did exist? Many of those shows satisfy that delusion just to play up that part inside of us, but we know the reality is that He doesn't exist. Those shows a lot of times give the impression if you only BELIEVE then it will be real and it's as simple as disbelieving to do away with Santa. Our spiritual lives demand belief in God who is Spirit.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
We have to believe.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
And this is where a lot of people shrug spiritual things off as if they aren't important, as if they don't even exist. They choose not to believe. Anything that demands faith- believing without seeing is easy to simply not believe. It's much easier to believe something doesn't exist when it's unseen than to believe it does exist.
Our spirit that needs feeding goes on to starve and our lives become more and more selfish, more self-centered, more filled with whatever it is that will keep us from recognizing the spiritual side. It's not so far fetched to say that everyone has their own person demons that work in very personalized ways to keep each of us from tending to things spiritual.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Help us Lord to be after the Spirit and not after the flesh. Help us to recognize that the Spirit is the part of us that connects with God- who is a Spirit. Help us to understand that we need to truly mind the things of the Spirit. As we live day to day tending to our flesh, help us to recognize that we need to tend our Spirit, feed our Spirit from Your word, in prayer, in study, in knowing that in all things God should be first and foremost.
By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we live in Him now and forever.
Amen.
Minding things of the Spirit.
Do you mind things of the Spirit? Seriously. Think about it for a few moments. How much minding of the Spirit do you do? Tending to the flesh is rather easy isn't it? Think about it. It's easy to grab up a bite to eat, pop it in our mouths, chew it, swallow it and fulfill the need of hunger our flesh feels. When you're thirsty it's simple to get a glass of water and take care of that thirst, for the most part- in most parts of the world anyway. Do you think it's easier for someone who is finding it hard to find food and drink to tend to their spirit? It's something to think about.
Another thing to think about, do we have spiritual pangs to tell us we're in need of spiritual tending? Have we so warped ourselves that we can't recognize our spiritual need- passing it off as something else entirely.
We have so many mental and emotional illnesses we can scarcely count them. People today take so many pills geared to just help them get through the day it's unbelievable. Yet we refuse to recognize anything as a spiritual illness. The spiritual is a choice people say. We don't have to be spiritual. We can choose to not believe in the spiritual side of things. And people fully believe that in making that choice their spiritual side simply no longer exists. If they don't believe it, then it isn't there, it isn't a part of them. They don't need that bit- if it's even real- discard it like a diseased appendix, or a rotten tooth, toss it aside as the deadened flesh of the remainder of an umbilical cord that was once attached to everyone of us and needed to dry up and fall away. Why such a graphic example? Because how many of us think about that bit of our flesh that was knotted off and allowed to perish away as useless? Sure we might consider our belly button, our navels on occasion perhaps to decorate them with jewelry or tug a piece of fuzz out of but how often do we think about the tiny bit of flesh that had to die off to form it? Our spiritual side exists even if we don't admit to it. Our spiritual side can starve.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Minding things of the spirit. We can't mind things of the spirit unless we recognize the spirit has needs. We know what minding the flesh is- doing anything and everything to satisfy our desires and boy does the flesh have a lot of desires. Some of those desires we want to be satisfied once a day, others a few times a day, some once a week, or once a month it varies according to our individual desires and fleshy appetites and I'm not just talking sex here, there are many 'things of the flesh'. Given the choice of eating to satisfy a flesh hunger, or studying God's word to satisfy a spiritual hunger it's easy to believe the majority would choose to eat to satisfy a flesh hunger in part because they recognize the physical pangs of hunger much more readily than they do their spiritual hunger. As long as Satan has people disbelieving in their Spiritual need it's easy for Him to seduce them to His side without their even knowing.
How many Christmas stories do we see on television this time of year that play up the believing or disbelieving in Santa Claus? How many people secretly wish He REALLY did exist? Many of those shows satisfy that delusion just to play up that part inside of us, but we know the reality is that He doesn't exist. Those shows a lot of times give the impression if you only BELIEVE then it will be real and it's as simple as disbelieving to do away with Santa. Our spiritual lives demand belief in God who is Spirit.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
We have to believe.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
And this is where a lot of people shrug spiritual things off as if they aren't important, as if they don't even exist. They choose not to believe. Anything that demands faith- believing without seeing is easy to simply not believe. It's much easier to believe something doesn't exist when it's unseen than to believe it does exist.
Our spirit that needs feeding goes on to starve and our lives become more and more selfish, more self-centered, more filled with whatever it is that will keep us from recognizing the spiritual side. It's not so far fetched to say that everyone has their own person demons that work in very personalized ways to keep each of us from tending to things spiritual.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Help us Lord to be after the Spirit and not after the flesh. Help us to recognize that the Spirit is the part of us that connects with God- who is a Spirit. Help us to understand that we need to truly mind the things of the Spirit. As we live day to day tending to our flesh, help us to recognize that we need to tend our Spirit, feed our Spirit from Your word, in prayer, in study, in knowing that in all things God should be first and foremost.
By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may we live in Him now and forever.
Amen.
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