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.
Not everyone will enter the kingdom of heaven.
We don't want to think about that do we. Watching television and going to movies we are convinced that everyone goes on to a BETTER place. Or that people go on to a better or WORSE place upon death. To the bright light, which is good or to terror and darkness, which is bad. The Bible doesn't promote these beliefs and yet people will say they do.
Upon death we sleep but... the very next thing we'll know will be that we rise up and are changed to immortality or we rise up only to eventually die eternally without ever waking again. So yes, in a way there will be eternal light or eternal nothingness waiting for everyone of us after death's sleep whether it's a person who died 6000 years ago or the day before Christ returns the waking from death's sleep is when we all meet our eternal fate.
Jesus plainly stated, NOT EVERYONE will enter the kingdom of heaven... those who do enter are those who do the WILL of His Father in heaven. We must do the will of God, we must live our lives with God's will being done in us. The Lord's Prayer, a common passage from the Bible even talks of God's will.
Luk 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Luk 11:3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
Luk 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
Thy will be done.
Yes, Lord THY will be done now and always by the mercy and grace of our Savior may Your will be done in us.
Amen.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Consent Not
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
Pro 1:10-19
Consent not.
Have you ever gone against your better judgment in situations where others are tempting you to do things that are inappropriate? Have you ever gone along with others at their urging to do something wrong? Seriously. Have you been guilty of this on a lesser level than robbery? In small things do we consent to sinners when we're enticed by them? When we know right from wrong, when our hearts convict us of right from wrong and yet we still do things unbecoming of a Christian, what does that say? Our faith is weak? We are weak? We are treading on dangerous ground when we follow a path that isn't of God and we know it. But to live in this world today it seems like it is the ONLY path to follow unless we run to the hills to become hermits without any outside influences to tempt us in the ways of the world.
Paul talked about how it was better to remain unmarried because the heart could be fully God's that way and not torn between God and an ungodly spouse. The Bible says how it's better to lose everything and gain eternity. The Word also says the way is narrow. We are told that mothers, brother, sisters, fathers, daughters and sons will all be capable of pulling us from the right way. Yet we don't want to think of things like that, we just don't. We want to believe we can have it all and yet with it all comes a lot of compromising and we try to believe the compromises will be accepted, that God will understand.
In our weekly Bible study we talked about how narrow the path is and how few that are going to find it and it's no wonder at all is it. In a delusional mind, in a mind clouded by half-truths and false hopes people believe they're good and they're going to heaven no matter what but the Bible paints a different story. The words came from our Savior's lips--
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. This is from our Savior Himself! FEW. So why do so many have the attitude that it's easy and everyone will eventually find eternal life?
Proverbs 1:10-19 talks about temptation to evil... about consenting to sinners enticing. By the grace of God may we NOT consent and by His grace may we not be the ones doing the tempting. May we seek the Lord and the narrow way the strait gate, may we find life in Him and Him alone in love. By His mercy.
Amen.
If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
Pro 1:10-19
Consent not.
Have you ever gone against your better judgment in situations where others are tempting you to do things that are inappropriate? Have you ever gone along with others at their urging to do something wrong? Seriously. Have you been guilty of this on a lesser level than robbery? In small things do we consent to sinners when we're enticed by them? When we know right from wrong, when our hearts convict us of right from wrong and yet we still do things unbecoming of a Christian, what does that say? Our faith is weak? We are weak? We are treading on dangerous ground when we follow a path that isn't of God and we know it. But to live in this world today it seems like it is the ONLY path to follow unless we run to the hills to become hermits without any outside influences to tempt us in the ways of the world.
Paul talked about how it was better to remain unmarried because the heart could be fully God's that way and not torn between God and an ungodly spouse. The Bible says how it's better to lose everything and gain eternity. The Word also says the way is narrow. We are told that mothers, brother, sisters, fathers, daughters and sons will all be capable of pulling us from the right way. Yet we don't want to think of things like that, we just don't. We want to believe we can have it all and yet with it all comes a lot of compromising and we try to believe the compromises will be accepted, that God will understand.
In our weekly Bible study we talked about how narrow the path is and how few that are going to find it and it's no wonder at all is it. In a delusional mind, in a mind clouded by half-truths and false hopes people believe they're good and they're going to heaven no matter what but the Bible paints a different story. The words came from our Savior's lips--
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. This is from our Savior Himself! FEW. So why do so many have the attitude that it's easy and everyone will eventually find eternal life?
Proverbs 1:10-19 talks about temptation to evil... about consenting to sinners enticing. By the grace of God may we NOT consent and by His grace may we not be the ones doing the tempting. May we seek the Lord and the narrow way the strait gate, may we find life in Him and Him alone in love. By His mercy.
Amen.
Monday, May 17, 2010
'...but fools despise wisdom and instruction'
Pro 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
Pro 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
Pro 1:3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
Pro 1:4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
Pro 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
Pro 1:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
*******
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
wisdom-
H2451
chokma?h
khok-maw'
From H2449; wisdom (in a good sense): - skillful, wisdom, wisely, wit.
instruction-
H4148
mu?sa?r
moo-sawr'
From H3256; properly chastisement; figuratively reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint: - bond, chastening ([-eth]), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke.
Not many people truly consider themselves foolish. Oh, some might like to "act" the fool, but in "acting" they are only pretending to be the fool, playing the part of a fool to get laughs and whatnot. But a person never likes to consider themselves a real fool, a person who is by definition someone who is deficient in judgment, acting unwisely. Yet how many people despise wisdom and instruction? How many people abhor being chastized or corrected? People don't like being corrected because they feel they are being called stupid, they are being made to look the fool because they NEED correction. Needing correction means you were doing something wrong and who likes to be thought of as doing wrong, of being unwise.
Sure we have criminals who spend their lives in wrong doing yet to them they justify their deeds in one way or another. That criminal would even despise instruction and chastizing by being told they are committing their atrocities in a less effiecent manner. Forget the fact the act itself is wrong, they wouldn't want to be criticized on how they go about doing their wrong.
I know I don't like being made to look like a fool and I feel foolish and laughed at, ridiculed, when I'm caught even innocently doing something unintentionally stupid. It's no wonder we are told this--
'...but fools despise wisdom and instruction'
It's easy to despise wisdom and instruction when it makes you appear like a fool, and yet you are a fool in despising wisdom and instruction.
Yes, on the surface that seems like a very good proverb there and we readily agree to it but at the same time it's sooooooo incredibly easy to to just that- despise wisdom and instruction because being full of pride we never like being wrong and worse yet, we never like being laughed at and made to feel a fool, to feel stupid, by others when we are wrong.
The other day I mentioned that it's hard not to consider myself stupid when I'm constantly reminded of my failings and ridiculed for them- even if the one doing the ridiculing isn't doing so with malicious intent but rather for self-amusement. Perhaps I need to contemplate more this saying - 'but fools despise wisdom and instruction', and when the instruction comes as it always does as it points out my failings, I should just by the grace of God be thankful for the instruction and pray that I learn from my mistakes not despising the wisdom and instruction.
In an ideal world people wouldn't be amused at the foolishness of others, they wouldn't laugh at each others mistakes making the person feel deficient, but we CAN'T change anyone else, we can't even really change ourselves, we need to seek Christ and pray He changes us to be the people He would have us be in Him. Wishing others were different means wishing we ourselves were different because we are all guilty of also being the one instigation another's despising of wisdom and instruction.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, In His love now and forever.
Amen.
Pro 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
Pro 1:3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
Pro 1:4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
Pro 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
Pro 1:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
*******
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
wisdom-
H2451
chokma?h
khok-maw'
From H2449; wisdom (in a good sense): - skillful, wisdom, wisely, wit.
instruction-
H4148
mu?sa?r
moo-sawr'
From H3256; properly chastisement; figuratively reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint: - bond, chastening ([-eth]), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke.
Not many people truly consider themselves foolish. Oh, some might like to "act" the fool, but in "acting" they are only pretending to be the fool, playing the part of a fool to get laughs and whatnot. But a person never likes to consider themselves a real fool, a person who is by definition someone who is deficient in judgment, acting unwisely. Yet how many people despise wisdom and instruction? How many people abhor being chastized or corrected? People don't like being corrected because they feel they are being called stupid, they are being made to look the fool because they NEED correction. Needing correction means you were doing something wrong and who likes to be thought of as doing wrong, of being unwise.
Sure we have criminals who spend their lives in wrong doing yet to them they justify their deeds in one way or another. That criminal would even despise instruction and chastizing by being told they are committing their atrocities in a less effiecent manner. Forget the fact the act itself is wrong, they wouldn't want to be criticized on how they go about doing their wrong.
I know I don't like being made to look like a fool and I feel foolish and laughed at, ridiculed, when I'm caught even innocently doing something unintentionally stupid. It's no wonder we are told this--
'...but fools despise wisdom and instruction'
It's easy to despise wisdom and instruction when it makes you appear like a fool, and yet you are a fool in despising wisdom and instruction.
Yes, on the surface that seems like a very good proverb there and we readily agree to it but at the same time it's sooooooo incredibly easy to to just that- despise wisdom and instruction because being full of pride we never like being wrong and worse yet, we never like being laughed at and made to feel a fool, to feel stupid, by others when we are wrong.
The other day I mentioned that it's hard not to consider myself stupid when I'm constantly reminded of my failings and ridiculed for them- even if the one doing the ridiculing isn't doing so with malicious intent but rather for self-amusement. Perhaps I need to contemplate more this saying - 'but fools despise wisdom and instruction', and when the instruction comes as it always does as it points out my failings, I should just by the grace of God be thankful for the instruction and pray that I learn from my mistakes not despising the wisdom and instruction.
In an ideal world people wouldn't be amused at the foolishness of others, they wouldn't laugh at each others mistakes making the person feel deficient, but we CAN'T change anyone else, we can't even really change ourselves, we need to seek Christ and pray He changes us to be the people He would have us be in Him. Wishing others were different means wishing we ourselves were different because we are all guilty of also being the one instigation another's despising of wisdom and instruction.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, In His love now and forever.
Amen.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Scriptures
Jesus spoke of searching the scriptures-
Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
He was talking about the old testament at the time, the only scriptures that existed. Some will argue that He was also including the new testament scriptures, prophesizing of a future time when the scriptures would include the words written after His life on earth. They could be right but Jesus meant ALL the scriptures. I think people like to neglect the old testament as something Jesus did away with but it's not true. Jesus is found in the old testament.
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound
But not only in these verses-- Jesus told us this--
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
If we know Jesus we know the Father. There is no disputing the old testament reveals the Father, and in truth it reveals Jesus. Jesus reflects His Father, the ways of Jesus don't supercede the ways of the Father it only reveals them more fully. We need to study ALL scripture not pick and choose one testament over another. Jesus tells us this...
Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
And we better listen to Him and search! We need to grow ever closer to Jesus, ever closer to the Lord, ever closer to the Father for only in growing closer to them do we learn of them and they know us as well.
By the grace and mercy of Jesus may we search, may we seek Him who is the Way the Truth, and the Life. In His righteousness now and always!
Amen.
Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
He was talking about the old testament at the time, the only scriptures that existed. Some will argue that He was also including the new testament scriptures, prophesizing of a future time when the scriptures would include the words written after His life on earth. They could be right but Jesus meant ALL the scriptures. I think people like to neglect the old testament as something Jesus did away with but it's not true. Jesus is found in the old testament.
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound
But not only in these verses-- Jesus told us this--
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
If we know Jesus we know the Father. There is no disputing the old testament reveals the Father, and in truth it reveals Jesus. Jesus reflects His Father, the ways of Jesus don't supercede the ways of the Father it only reveals them more fully. We need to study ALL scripture not pick and choose one testament over another. Jesus tells us this...
Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
And we better listen to Him and search! We need to grow ever closer to Jesus, ever closer to the Lord, ever closer to the Father for only in growing closer to them do we learn of them and they know us as well.
By the grace and mercy of Jesus may we search, may we seek Him who is the Way the Truth, and the Life. In His righteousness now and always!
Amen.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Love His Appearing
2Timothy 4:8 (KJV) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
We aren't given a crown of righteousness while here on earth but the crown is laid up for us and it's a crown the Lord, our righteous judge, will give to us.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Think about it... there are a countless number of people who put themselves through rigourous training to get a corruptible crown. Countless train all around the world to compete in competitions and in the end there is only one winner in each race. One person out of many that have put themselves through almost torturous training just to gain something that isn't eternal. How much more should we who want to win the ultimate race train to obtain the prize, the crown of Jesus' righteousness. No, I'm not condoning a work for salvation attitude at all, but a spiritual training- seeking Christ the author and finisher of our faith.
Lam 5:16 The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!
We have no crowns here and now, not one.
We can obtain a crown, we can be winners, victors in life all through Christ!
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Promised to them that love him. Given unto ALL them also that love his appearing. Our love for the Lord has to be a real viable thing. Our love has to be something tangible to Him. Do we want the Lord to appear? The facts of the matter are that He will return and we who wish to be with Him will LOVE his appearing- not fear it, not loathe for it to happen, no dreading that day. The question was asked recently about how I'd feel about Christ's coming, am I ready for it and truthfully the answer to that is - I am ready but only by Christ's righteousness not because I've obtain some special place in my life that leaves me believing I'm sinless, God forbit that I ever believe I'm at that place. My Savior is my hope I'm not my own hope. Am I ready for Christ to return to take us home with Him- yes, as long as being ready means knowing it's by His amazing grace and righteousness, through His mercy and love that I can live with Him.
Come Lord Jesus, come Son of God, Son of Man, come Savior, come Messiah, come soon Your appearing is the only thing in life worth living for, nothing earthly, nothing corruptible gives us the hope of eternal life in love with You.
Amen.
We aren't given a crown of righteousness while here on earth but the crown is laid up for us and it's a crown the Lord, our righteous judge, will give to us.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Think about it... there are a countless number of people who put themselves through rigourous training to get a corruptible crown. Countless train all around the world to compete in competitions and in the end there is only one winner in each race. One person out of many that have put themselves through almost torturous training just to gain something that isn't eternal. How much more should we who want to win the ultimate race train to obtain the prize, the crown of Jesus' righteousness. No, I'm not condoning a work for salvation attitude at all, but a spiritual training- seeking Christ the author and finisher of our faith.
Lam 5:16 The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!
We have no crowns here and now, not one.
We can obtain a crown, we can be winners, victors in life all through Christ!
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Promised to them that love him. Given unto ALL them also that love his appearing. Our love for the Lord has to be a real viable thing. Our love has to be something tangible to Him. Do we want the Lord to appear? The facts of the matter are that He will return and we who wish to be with Him will LOVE his appearing- not fear it, not loathe for it to happen, no dreading that day. The question was asked recently about how I'd feel about Christ's coming, am I ready for it and truthfully the answer to that is - I am ready but only by Christ's righteousness not because I've obtain some special place in my life that leaves me believing I'm sinless, God forbit that I ever believe I'm at that place. My Savior is my hope I'm not my own hope. Am I ready for Christ to return to take us home with Him- yes, as long as being ready means knowing it's by His amazing grace and righteousness, through His mercy and love that I can live with Him.
Come Lord Jesus, come Son of God, Son of Man, come Savior, come Messiah, come soon Your appearing is the only thing in life worth living for, nothing earthly, nothing corruptible gives us the hope of eternal life in love with You.
Amen.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Courage
Courage. Life demands we be courageous doesn't it? Courage isn't merely something that exists in extraordinary circumstances though some will argue that it does. For some people day to day life takes courage, in fact for a lot of people. Life holds many challenges and for some merely getting through a day is remarkable. Our hearts can grow weak and we need them to be strengthened and only the Lord can do that for us. People will tell others to be strong, to pull themselves together, to take care of themselves, they will point to a person and tell them only they can fix themselves and that leaves a person of little courage very little, in not no hope at all because they have no faith at all in themselves to be able to fix themselves, to manufacture courage from thin air. We have to point to someone much stronger than we are, someone that isn't just another person able to let us down because even the most celebrated person with an ability to help others will let people down. Only God can truly help us. God asks us to trust Him and when we turn from trusting Him to trying to trust ourselves or other people we will always fail, maybe not immediately because Satan loves to set us up for great falls, but we will fail when we put our trust anywhere but in the Lord.
We need to wait on the Lord. Wait. People don't like to wait, they consider waiting a waste of time that could be otherwise used elsewhere doing better things. If they have to wait, why it better be a short wait, the shorter the better. When we are told to wait on the Lord we are told to be of 'good courage'.
courage (kûr´îj, kùr´-) noun
The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery.
Good courage- able to face danger, fear... It's plausible to say that good courage enables us to face life without falling apart.
'Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart, wait, I say, on the LORD.'
Wait...trust, believe, have faith in the Lord, the Lord will strengthen our hearts, but we need to wait on Him. Jesus said, 'In the world ye shall have tribulation...but be of good cheer...I have overcome the world.'
WE SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION!
Tribulation is never fun, never easy and is often painful in many ways. Our courage has to be found in the LORD knowing that HE overcame the world for us. We have to wait on the LORD, trust in the LORD, be of good cheer-- find our happiness in knowing Jesus overcame the world for us.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord, by the righteousness of our Savior, in His love now and forever.
Amen.
Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psa 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
cheer
tharseo?
thar-seh'-o
From G2294; to have courage: - be of good cheer (comfort). Compare G2292.
Act 28:15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
We need to wait on the Lord. Wait. People don't like to wait, they consider waiting a waste of time that could be otherwise used elsewhere doing better things. If they have to wait, why it better be a short wait, the shorter the better. When we are told to wait on the Lord we are told to be of 'good courage'.
courage (kûr´îj, kùr´-) noun
The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery.
Good courage- able to face danger, fear... It's plausible to say that good courage enables us to face life without falling apart.
'Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart, wait, I say, on the LORD.'
Wait...trust, believe, have faith in the Lord, the Lord will strengthen our hearts, but we need to wait on Him. Jesus said, 'In the world ye shall have tribulation...but be of good cheer...I have overcome the world.'
WE SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION!
Tribulation is never fun, never easy and is often painful in many ways. Our courage has to be found in the LORD knowing that HE overcame the world for us. We have to wait on the LORD, trust in the LORD, be of good cheer-- find our happiness in knowing Jesus overcame the world for us.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord, by the righteousness of our Savior, in His love now and forever.
Amen.
Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psa 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
cheer
tharseo?
thar-seh'-o
From G2294; to have courage: - be of good cheer (comfort). Compare G2292.
Act 28:15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wiles of the Devil
Eph 6:11
(ASV) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
(Bishops) Put on all the armour of God, that ye may stande agaynst the assaultes of the deuyll.
(CEV) Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil's tricks.
(DRB) Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil.
(KJV) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
(KJV-1611) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the deuill.
(KJVA) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Wiles
Assaults
Tricks
Deceits
When we think of the devil we do think of an evil being, a figment of an evil being, an imaginary evil, and when we start to believe he's a real force in the world we scare *sane* people.
The devil isn't an imaginary scapegoat used by people to place blame upon so they don't have to take responsibility for their own actions- though some probably do try to do that. Some flippantly, some realistically.
The devil has wiles and he knows exactly how to use them having thousands of years to practice them on human beings. The devil has tricks, deceits and he does assault people in many, many ways, in fact in any way that will deceive you into following him. He especially loves it when people follow him while they think they are following God. The satsifaction he must receive watching people pray and worship him in disguise has to be tremendous.
We are told to put on the WHOLE armor of God to stand against the devil's wiles. The whole armor not just one piece of it. Fat lot of good it will do someone being assaulted in the chest if they're only wearing a helmet and not their breastplate. Put on the WHOLE armor of God. Dress appropriately every single day because the battle you're in goes on every day without end until Christ returns.
Helmet
Breastplate
Girt loins
Shod feet
Shield
Sword
Prayer
Salvation
Righteousness
Truth
Peace
Faith
Word of God
Prayer
Dressed for God in the battle between Him and satan, a battle won by Christ- a battle we win in Christ through His righteousness. It's wonderful to know which side has won and we are fools if in knowing we still choose to join the losing side.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord, our Savior God's Son, may we be fully dressed in the armor of God every day as we face the unending wiles, deceit, trickery, and assaults of the devil.
In Christ's amazing love!
Amen.
(ASV) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
(Bishops) Put on all the armour of God, that ye may stande agaynst the assaultes of the deuyll.
(CEV) Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil's tricks.
(DRB) Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil.
(KJV) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
(KJV-1611) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the deuill.
(KJVA) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Wiles
Assaults
Tricks
Deceits
When we think of the devil we do think of an evil being, a figment of an evil being, an imaginary evil, and when we start to believe he's a real force in the world we scare *sane* people.
The devil isn't an imaginary scapegoat used by people to place blame upon so they don't have to take responsibility for their own actions- though some probably do try to do that. Some flippantly, some realistically.
The devil has wiles and he knows exactly how to use them having thousands of years to practice them on human beings. The devil has tricks, deceits and he does assault people in many, many ways, in fact in any way that will deceive you into following him. He especially loves it when people follow him while they think they are following God. The satsifaction he must receive watching people pray and worship him in disguise has to be tremendous.
We are told to put on the WHOLE armor of God to stand against the devil's wiles. The whole armor not just one piece of it. Fat lot of good it will do someone being assaulted in the chest if they're only wearing a helmet and not their breastplate. Put on the WHOLE armor of God. Dress appropriately every single day because the battle you're in goes on every day without end until Christ returns.
Helmet
Breastplate
Girt loins
Shod feet
Shield
Sword
Prayer
Salvation
Righteousness
Truth
Peace
Faith
Word of God
Prayer
Dressed for God in the battle between Him and satan, a battle won by Christ- a battle we win in Christ through His righteousness. It's wonderful to know which side has won and we are fools if in knowing we still choose to join the losing side.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord, our Savior God's Son, may we be fully dressed in the armor of God every day as we face the unending wiles, deceit, trickery, and assaults of the devil.
In Christ's amazing love!
Amen.
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