1Co 15:11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
1Co 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1Co 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
1Co 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
1Co 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
1Co 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1Co 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
*******
The dead do rise, when?
Every man in his own order- Christ, the first fruits, then they that are Christ's at His coming.
Yes, the dead to rise, but they don't rise immediately upon dying as some believe. You hear all the time about friends and loved one going to heaven and seeing you from heaven as if they live on right after death. The mainstream belief is that loved ones KNOW you love them, see you, and understand everything going on in your life. This isn't true.
Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
The dead know not any thing. This is a far cry from the belief the dead know everything, the complete opposite in fact. We try to placate our own grief, or guilt, by believing the dead know we love them and miss them and are sorry for anything we did to hurt them in any way. The belief is a selfish belief because truthfully if the dead have risen and know everything going on in our lives can they be happy? Think about it truthfully. Can a loved one alive and well in heaven look down upon our grief, upon our sicknesses, our tragedies and be happy? Yet we believe they are up there in heaven where there is only happiness. Do you see the great contradiction. We make up this fantasy to appease ourselves and who cares about the contradictions. The truth is this...
1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1Co 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
Fallen asleep.
1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Of them that slept.
Joh 11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Joh 11:12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Joh 11:13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Joh 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
Lazarus sleeps and Jesus will go to wake him, yet his disciples questioned by he would wake a sick man when sleep is good for the sick. Jesus then made it clear that the sleep Lazarus was experience was death's sleep.
Death's sleep. People will believe what they want to irregardless of Scripture. People will believe in traditions of men and fables of men and not care about Scripture facts and there is nothing anyone can do about this. But truthfully if a person stopped and thought about death as a temporary sleep- temporary meaning that when Christ returns the dead in Him will rise up to new life in Him- it's so much more comforting to believe rather then a loved one witnessing the suffering of life and loved ones and believing they are somehow happy no matter what they see and know.
My father sleeps in Christ and has slept for 25 years now. It's comforting to me to know that he is not witnessing any of the suffering our family has experienced. It's comforting knowing his trials are over and he has been resting in true peace of nothingness, the same peace we have with a dreamless, wonderful, very restful night's sleep. The next thing my father will know is Jesus at His coming when He shall rise in Christ to live with Him forevermore.
The dead do rise, but not until Jesus returns.
May we all find comfort in the knowledge the Bible provides to us, the truth in Christ now and forever. By the love, by the grace, by the mercy and forgiveness of our Lord and Savior, always.
Amen.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Christ Risen, Living In His Grace
1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
Many people saw Jesus after He'd been raised from the dead. There is NO doubt He was killed, murdered on the cross, no doubt. Jesus had become quite a sensation for stirring up the people. Miracles performed as never a man had performed them before. Some were in awe of Him others in fear of Him, some were angry with Him and that anger turned into hatred and they sought to have Him killed. With no doubt of His death, no contesting the fact He was dead at all, Jesus was buried in a tomb. The problem had been solved, the relief of those who hated Him and wanted Him dead had to be tremendous. But Jesus didn't stay dead, he rose again! Just as there was no doubt of His death there was no doubt of His rising again... 500 people saw Him at once! He didn't just appear to a few chosen few. There was NO DOUBT of His rising from the dead, no doubt.
1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
1Co 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
By the grace of God I am what I am. Grace is a REAL thing, not just something to mutter in prayer. Paul said- His grace whish was bestowed upon me was NOT in vain. Given this gift of grace, freed from sin, forgiven by the Lord, Paul used this miracle as we all should as God directs us. Paul said- but I laboured more abundantly than they all yet not I but the grace of God which was with me. Paul laboured for Christ, but knows it wasn't of himself but by the grace of God with Him. Left to His own devices Paul would have continued to persecute Christ's followers. He knew this. By the grace of God bestowed on Him he lived and laboured. We can all have the grace of God given to us. Do we labour with the grace we receive to bring Christ to others? Can the grace bestowed upon us be in vain? God forbid.
May we receive the grace of God and by that grace live in Him, for Him, always.
Amen.
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
Many people saw Jesus after He'd been raised from the dead. There is NO doubt He was killed, murdered on the cross, no doubt. Jesus had become quite a sensation for stirring up the people. Miracles performed as never a man had performed them before. Some were in awe of Him others in fear of Him, some were angry with Him and that anger turned into hatred and they sought to have Him killed. With no doubt of His death, no contesting the fact He was dead at all, Jesus was buried in a tomb. The problem had been solved, the relief of those who hated Him and wanted Him dead had to be tremendous. But Jesus didn't stay dead, he rose again! Just as there was no doubt of His death there was no doubt of His rising again... 500 people saw Him at once! He didn't just appear to a few chosen few. There was NO DOUBT of His rising from the dead, no doubt.
1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
1Co 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
By the grace of God I am what I am. Grace is a REAL thing, not just something to mutter in prayer. Paul said- His grace whish was bestowed upon me was NOT in vain. Given this gift of grace, freed from sin, forgiven by the Lord, Paul used this miracle as we all should as God directs us. Paul said- but I laboured more abundantly than they all yet not I but the grace of God which was with me. Paul laboured for Christ, but knows it wasn't of himself but by the grace of God with Him. Left to His own devices Paul would have continued to persecute Christ's followers. He knew this. By the grace of God bestowed on Him he lived and laboured. We can all have the grace of God given to us. Do we labour with the grace we receive to bring Christ to others? Can the grace bestowed upon us be in vain? God forbid.
May we receive the grace of God and by that grace live in Him, for Him, always.
Amen.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Love
1Co 13:4
Charity suffereth long
and is kind
charity envieth not
charity vaunteth not itself
is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5
Doth not behave itself unseemly
seeketh not her own
is not easily provoked
thinketh no evil
1Co 13:6
Rejoiceth not in iniquity
but rejoiceth in the truth;
1Co 13:7
Beareth all things
believeth all things
hopeth all things
endureth all things.
1Co 13:8
Charity never faileth
but whether there be prophecies
they shall fail
whether there be tongues
they shall cease
whether there be knowledge
it shall vanish away.
1Co 13:9
For we know in part
and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10
But when that which is perfect is come
then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11
When I was a child
I spake as a child
I understood as a child
I thought as a child
but when I became a man
I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12
For now we see through a glass, darkly
but then face to face
now I know in part
but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13
And now abideth faith,
hope,
charity,
these three;
but the greatest of these is charity.
Charity suffereth long
and is kind
charity envieth not
charity vaunteth not itself
is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5
Doth not behave itself unseemly
seeketh not her own
is not easily provoked
thinketh no evil
1Co 13:6
Rejoiceth not in iniquity
but rejoiceth in the truth;
1Co 13:7
Beareth all things
believeth all things
hopeth all things
endureth all things.
1Co 13:8
Charity never faileth
but whether there be prophecies
they shall fail
whether there be tongues
they shall cease
whether there be knowledge
it shall vanish away.
1Co 13:9
For we know in part
and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10
But when that which is perfect is come
then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11
When I was a child
I spake as a child
I understood as a child
I thought as a child
but when I became a man
I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12
For now we see through a glass, darkly
but then face to face
now I know in part
but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13
And now abideth faith,
hope,
charity,
these three;
but the greatest of these is charity.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Who Delivers Us? Jesus Christ!
1Co 9:27
(ASV) but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.
(Bishops) But I tame my body, and bryng it into subiection, lest by any meanes, that when I haue preached to other, I my selfe shoulde be a castaway.
(CEV) I keep my body under control and make it my slave, so I won't lose out after telling the good news to others.
(DRB) But I chastise my body and bring it into subjection: lest perhaps, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway.
(KJV) But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
(KJV+) ButG235 I keep underG5299 myG3450 body,G4983 andG2532 bring it into subjection:G1396 lest that by any means,G3381 when I have preachedG2784 to others,G243 I myselfG848 should beG1096 a castaway.G96
(KJV-1611) But I keepe vnder my body, and bring it into subiection: lest that by any meanes when I haue preached to others, I my selfe should be a castaway.
(KJVA) But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
(Vulgate) sed castigo corpus meum et in servitutem redigo ne forte cum aliis praedicaverim ipse reprobus efficiar
*******
Buffet my body
Tame my body
Keep my body under control
Chastise my body
Keep under my body
Buffet, tame, keep, chastise this sounds like something hard to do doesn't it? When you have to tame something that means it's wild, when you have to keep something under control that means it can be out of control, when you chastise something it's because it needs chastising. Paul here is talking about keeping himself in check. He doesn't want to be one who preaches to others how they should act and be found not following his own counsel. Living Godly isn't easy, it was Paul who also said this...
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Who delivers us from the body? Christ.
We can't accept Christ and then willfully let ourselves go out of control. We make choices and those choices are reflected in our actions. Knowing that our own bodies are carnal and desiring of carnal lusts we do have to make choices to keep it under control- buffet, tame, chastise ourselves.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
WITH THE TEMPTATION ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE!
A way to escape. What's that suggest? When you are trying to escape what are you trying to do? Get free from something holding you captive. To escape from a something bothersome to you. You are trying to get away from something. Escaping... do you have escape from something not keeping you captive? You might say you want to escape from everyday life, a figurative statement meaning that you want to go on a vacation and get away from everyday life. You might want to escape a boring lecture, you want to get away from that lecture. You might be compelled to stay at the lecture because it means points towards a grade, but you feel as if you are suffering through the lecture, right? Escaping a temptation is getting away from that temptation without succumbing to it. Can you escape something if you don't do anything? Can a prisoner escape a captor if they just sit in their prison? Can you escape your everyday life if you never go on vacation? Can you escape that lecture if you stay in the room? No. To escape an action must be taken. 'With the temptation also make a way to escape.' A way to escape.
We know we have to bring our bodies under control. We know that we sin in our carnal nature, the war in our members wars against our minds. Wars, captivity, taming, control, escaping. This is life as we know it and ONLY JESUS CHRIST can save us from our sinning selves. We need to escape to HIM. A way to escape...we have to look to Jesus for our escape. 'I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.' Jesus will save us. We have to give up self to Him and let Him live in us doing His will in us by His righteousness.
Life isn't easy no one said it was, but we have a way of escape ready for us in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We can find forgiveness in Him, we find pure love in Him, we find righteousness in Him.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord may we do these things all through Him in His power not our own.
Amen.
(ASV) but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.
(Bishops) But I tame my body, and bryng it into subiection, lest by any meanes, that when I haue preached to other, I my selfe shoulde be a castaway.
(CEV) I keep my body under control and make it my slave, so I won't lose out after telling the good news to others.
(DRB) But I chastise my body and bring it into subjection: lest perhaps, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway.
(KJV) But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
(KJV+) ButG235 I keep underG5299 myG3450 body,G4983 andG2532 bring it into subjection:G1396 lest that by any means,G3381 when I have preachedG2784 to others,G243 I myselfG848 should beG1096 a castaway.G96
(KJV-1611) But I keepe vnder my body, and bring it into subiection: lest that by any meanes when I haue preached to others, I my selfe should be a castaway.
(KJVA) But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
(Vulgate) sed castigo corpus meum et in servitutem redigo ne forte cum aliis praedicaverim ipse reprobus efficiar
*******
Buffet my body
Tame my body
Keep my body under control
Chastise my body
Keep under my body
Buffet, tame, keep, chastise this sounds like something hard to do doesn't it? When you have to tame something that means it's wild, when you have to keep something under control that means it can be out of control, when you chastise something it's because it needs chastising. Paul here is talking about keeping himself in check. He doesn't want to be one who preaches to others how they should act and be found not following his own counsel. Living Godly isn't easy, it was Paul who also said this...
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Who delivers us from the body? Christ.
We can't accept Christ and then willfully let ourselves go out of control. We make choices and those choices are reflected in our actions. Knowing that our own bodies are carnal and desiring of carnal lusts we do have to make choices to keep it under control- buffet, tame, chastise ourselves.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
WITH THE TEMPTATION ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE!
A way to escape. What's that suggest? When you are trying to escape what are you trying to do? Get free from something holding you captive. To escape from a something bothersome to you. You are trying to get away from something. Escaping... do you have escape from something not keeping you captive? You might say you want to escape from everyday life, a figurative statement meaning that you want to go on a vacation and get away from everyday life. You might want to escape a boring lecture, you want to get away from that lecture. You might be compelled to stay at the lecture because it means points towards a grade, but you feel as if you are suffering through the lecture, right? Escaping a temptation is getting away from that temptation without succumbing to it. Can you escape something if you don't do anything? Can a prisoner escape a captor if they just sit in their prison? Can you escape your everyday life if you never go on vacation? Can you escape that lecture if you stay in the room? No. To escape an action must be taken. 'With the temptation also make a way to escape.' A way to escape.
We know we have to bring our bodies under control. We know that we sin in our carnal nature, the war in our members wars against our minds. Wars, captivity, taming, control, escaping. This is life as we know it and ONLY JESUS CHRIST can save us from our sinning selves. We need to escape to HIM. A way to escape...we have to look to Jesus for our escape. 'I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.' Jesus will save us. We have to give up self to Him and let Him live in us doing His will in us by His righteousness.
Life isn't easy no one said it was, but we have a way of escape ready for us in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We can find forgiveness in Him, we find pure love in Him, we find righteousness in Him.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord may we do these things all through Him in His power not our own.
Amen.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Bought With a Price
1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
The temple of the Holy Ghost.
People have spent millions of dollars over the years, maybe more, to discover hidden temples. Temples are places that are revered and held to be holy places. People have built all sorts of temples to worship false gods. Today there are temples dedicated to God, churches, meeting halls, houses people make special to honor God but what does God want from us now? What temple does God truly honor now? Where is God's Spirit? Has He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell inside stone, wooden, plastic walls? No. The temple where God's Holy Spirit dwells is us. God gives us His grace, His love, the Comforter which is the Holy Spirit who will dwell with us when we give our lives to God. We aren't our own. We aren't. So many people tell others to take charge of their lives, self-empowerment is the word of the day. Self it glorified. We believe we are our own, we are told we are our own, that we control our own lives fully and this is true right up to the point we decide whether or not we want God in our lives. If we choose God then our lives are His and no longer our own. Satan likes to use this aspect as something to deter people from accepting Christ, as if giving up self is the worst thing that could happen. Self cannot save self. Self cannot promise self eternal life. Self has so little control over so much in life and yet people revere self as it's own god, making themselves as god to be in control of so much yet the control is an illusion.
Our body is a temple of the Holy Ghost, we are NOT the Holy Ghost, we have no power of our own. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost which God has given to us, we are NOT our own. We are bought with a price and that price was the life of Jesus Christ God's Son. We have to glorify GOD in our body, and in our SPIRIT-- both of which are God's not our own.
May God bless and keep us in HIM, our spirit with the Holy Spirit given to us by God, paid for by Christ's sacrifice.
In Christ's Love now and forever.
Amen.
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
The temple of the Holy Ghost.
People have spent millions of dollars over the years, maybe more, to discover hidden temples. Temples are places that are revered and held to be holy places. People have built all sorts of temples to worship false gods. Today there are temples dedicated to God, churches, meeting halls, houses people make special to honor God but what does God want from us now? What temple does God truly honor now? Where is God's Spirit? Has He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell inside stone, wooden, plastic walls? No. The temple where God's Holy Spirit dwells is us. God gives us His grace, His love, the Comforter which is the Holy Spirit who will dwell with us when we give our lives to God. We aren't our own. We aren't. So many people tell others to take charge of their lives, self-empowerment is the word of the day. Self it glorified. We believe we are our own, we are told we are our own, that we control our own lives fully and this is true right up to the point we decide whether or not we want God in our lives. If we choose God then our lives are His and no longer our own. Satan likes to use this aspect as something to deter people from accepting Christ, as if giving up self is the worst thing that could happen. Self cannot save self. Self cannot promise self eternal life. Self has so little control over so much in life and yet people revere self as it's own god, making themselves as god to be in control of so much yet the control is an illusion.
Our body is a temple of the Holy Ghost, we are NOT the Holy Ghost, we have no power of our own. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost which God has given to us, we are NOT our own. We are bought with a price and that price was the life of Jesus Christ God's Son. We have to glorify GOD in our body, and in our SPIRIT-- both of which are God's not our own.
May God bless and keep us in HIM, our spirit with the Holy Spirit given to us by God, paid for by Christ's sacrifice.
In Christ's Love now and forever.
Amen.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
A Spectacle Unto the World
1Co 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?
What do we have that we don't receive? Seriously. Think about it. The very air we breath is a gift from God. All that we have we receive in one way or another. Yes, there are a lot of things in life we wish we didn't have to receive such as the angst and all that Satan as prince of this world strives to overcome us with. God allows things to happen for reasons beyond our comprehension but in the end those who trust in Him no matter how they suffer now will have the reward of eternal life in love, with Him. But seriously, when we receive we can't take credit for it can we? We need to give the glory to the one we've received from. When we glory in ourselves as if we could do anything without the Creator, we fail to honor God. Part of learning to give up self is learning that we receive and need to glorify the Giver of all life, rather than patting ourselves on the back and thinking that we give life and have power over life.
1Co 4:8 Already are ye filled, already ye are become rich, ye have come to reign without us: yea and I would that ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
1Co 4:9 For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men.
Wow. Doomed to death. A spectacle unto the world- unto both angels and men.
Read that again. A spectacle unto the world to both ANGELS and MEN.
We don't like to think of being a spectacle to unseen beings do we? I mean hidden cameras are a frightening thought because people would watch us live our lives and all the private things we do are revealed. There's something demeaning when we think of being watch at our most vulnerable moments and not necessarily because we are committing any sins, but just because we generally aren't raised in a society that promotes full revelation at all times. Yet we are a spectacle. No, we're not apostles, but we are all watched. God sees all. Paul was watched closely, all the apostles were watched closely as their faith so new in a world that hadn't known Christ was tested and tried in many ways. All but one apostle was killed for their faith. The apostles were a spectacle all they did was watched. As Christians our lives are watched too and yet many take this to mean they have to seem pious and perfect. As Christians we need to proclaim Christ's love first and foremost and sometimes love is revealed only after harsh times. That saying- Christians aren't perfect just forgiven is true, and yet it's not an excuse either. Our hearts need to be revealed and with Christ in us it is His love that is shown- not ours. Of ourselves we have nothing.
Paul goes on to say...
1Co 4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor.
1Co 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place;
1Co 4:12 and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
1Co 4:13 being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.
1Co 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
WOW.
Being reviled- we bless
Being persecuted- we endure
Being defamed- we entreat
Reviled, persecuted, defamed. None of us wants any of that at all whatsoever, it's completely alien to our way of life. When people revile, persecute, or defame you in our society we try to get them in trouble for hurting us- we sue them, we tell on them, often people take them to court so they are punished for their vile ways of treating others. How often do we even consider blessing someone that reviles another? How often do people simply endure persecution, of defamation? It's ludicrous to our way of thinking. Turning the other cheek isn't promoted, not really.
There are many today that are being reviled, persecuted, and defamed for their Christian ways, for believing in Christ. And Christ's way is far above our so called civilized ways where self comes first and foremost.
May God help us, bless us, keep us in Him. As we are spectacles to the world, to men and angels, may they see Christ in us as we claim Christ's righteousness through the forgiveness He offers us and count on nothing of ourselves.
In the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now and forever.
Amen
What do we have that we don't receive? Seriously. Think about it. The very air we breath is a gift from God. All that we have we receive in one way or another. Yes, there are a lot of things in life we wish we didn't have to receive such as the angst and all that Satan as prince of this world strives to overcome us with. God allows things to happen for reasons beyond our comprehension but in the end those who trust in Him no matter how they suffer now will have the reward of eternal life in love, with Him. But seriously, when we receive we can't take credit for it can we? We need to give the glory to the one we've received from. When we glory in ourselves as if we could do anything without the Creator, we fail to honor God. Part of learning to give up self is learning that we receive and need to glorify the Giver of all life, rather than patting ourselves on the back and thinking that we give life and have power over life.
1Co 4:8 Already are ye filled, already ye are become rich, ye have come to reign without us: yea and I would that ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
1Co 4:9 For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men.
Wow. Doomed to death. A spectacle unto the world- unto both angels and men.
Read that again. A spectacle unto the world to both ANGELS and MEN.
We don't like to think of being a spectacle to unseen beings do we? I mean hidden cameras are a frightening thought because people would watch us live our lives and all the private things we do are revealed. There's something demeaning when we think of being watch at our most vulnerable moments and not necessarily because we are committing any sins, but just because we generally aren't raised in a society that promotes full revelation at all times. Yet we are a spectacle. No, we're not apostles, but we are all watched. God sees all. Paul was watched closely, all the apostles were watched closely as their faith so new in a world that hadn't known Christ was tested and tried in many ways. All but one apostle was killed for their faith. The apostles were a spectacle all they did was watched. As Christians our lives are watched too and yet many take this to mean they have to seem pious and perfect. As Christians we need to proclaim Christ's love first and foremost and sometimes love is revealed only after harsh times. That saying- Christians aren't perfect just forgiven is true, and yet it's not an excuse either. Our hearts need to be revealed and with Christ in us it is His love that is shown- not ours. Of ourselves we have nothing.
Paul goes on to say...
1Co 4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor.
1Co 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place;
1Co 4:12 and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
1Co 4:13 being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.
1Co 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
WOW.
Being reviled- we bless
Being persecuted- we endure
Being defamed- we entreat
Reviled, persecuted, defamed. None of us wants any of that at all whatsoever, it's completely alien to our way of life. When people revile, persecute, or defame you in our society we try to get them in trouble for hurting us- we sue them, we tell on them, often people take them to court so they are punished for their vile ways of treating others. How often do we even consider blessing someone that reviles another? How often do people simply endure persecution, of defamation? It's ludicrous to our way of thinking. Turning the other cheek isn't promoted, not really.
There are many today that are being reviled, persecuted, and defamed for their Christian ways, for believing in Christ. And Christ's way is far above our so called civilized ways where self comes first and foremost.
May God help us, bless us, keep us in Him. As we are spectacles to the world, to men and angels, may they see Christ in us as we claim Christ's righteousness through the forgiveness He offers us and count on nothing of ourselves.
In the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now and forever.
Amen
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Each Man Have His Praise from God
1Co 4:5 Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God.
Nothing is hidden from God. The counsel of our hearts are manifested to Him always. We can judge nothing really because we can't see the counsels of the hearts, we can't see the things hidden in the darkness of our lives, things we'd rather keep hidden eternally. God sees it all and He judges. When the Lord comes all will be revealed. May we live in Him and have His righteousness stand as our in the day of His coming. May we have His praise, amazing praise from God as we are found alive in Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior now and forever.
Amen.
Nothing is hidden from God. The counsel of our hearts are manifested to Him always. We can judge nothing really because we can't see the counsels of the hearts, we can't see the things hidden in the darkness of our lives, things we'd rather keep hidden eternally. God sees it all and He judges. When the Lord comes all will be revealed. May we live in Him and have His righteousness stand as our in the day of His coming. May we have His praise, amazing praise from God as we are found alive in Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior now and forever.
Amen.
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