Psa 40:11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
Continually preserve me. We need continual preservation, don't we? If someone could preserve you - keep you for God wouldn't you jump at the chance to be preserved? We need our LORD's lovingkindness and His truth to preserve us. We CAN'T preserve ourselves. Yes, I'm stressing this point, we CAN'T preserve ourselves. God's beloved men and women of the past ages didn't preserve themselves, their faith in God to preserve them is what endeared them to God. They believed in Him, they trust in Him, and they kept God first and foremost in their lives. Did they always do that? No, perhaps not, they- like us- lived in a world of sin and they had their temptations to face and their failures to trust, but they sought forgiveness from the only source of forgiveness- God. They understood the errors of their ways and repented, seeking to reestablish that connection with God. We don't want God to withhold His tender mercies from us. We need His tender mercies. We need God's lovingkindness and for His truth to preserve us. Without God's truth, without His lovingkindness we cannot prevail, we will not be preserved. When something isn't preserved it decays. We paint on preserver over wood for our patios, for pool decks, for garden rails, for fences and we do that or buy them pre-preserved so they'll last as long as possible, so nature's elements won't decay them. Throughout the years we take measures to keep the wood preserved by reapplying the necessary preserver- even if it's constant fresh coats of paint. We don't want the things we own to decay faster than they have to and we don't want our relationship with God to decay, do we? We need to be preserved by Him. Only He can preserve us. We can't go out and buy preservation for eternal life. There are no relationship preserver cans stocked on our stores shelves, we can't slather on spiritual preserver as we can put paint on a fence rail. We can go to our great Preserver and ask Him to continually preserve us with His lovingkindness and His truth by His tender mercy.
Listen to this next verse--
Psa 40:12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
Can you relate to that verse? Seriously, can you? I know I can. We need to be preserved because evil will compass about us. Our cherished sins will take hold of us so that the weight of them will drag us done, keeping us from even looking upwards. How many sins? One? Two? Can you look at your life and pick out the sins? Can you number your sins? Or are they more than the hair on your head? For anyone who is bald you know can remember having a head filled with hair as a youth, yes? Could you count the numbers of hair you had on your head then? Can we who have a head filled with hair now count them? It's feasible right? But what would possess someone to do so? The analogy here is the reality that sins in our lives can be so incredibly numerous they weigh us down, they hold onto us refusing to allow us to look up even, causing our hearts to fail and yes, really fail. When hearts ache in spiritual pain it's a real thing, a real spiritual agony in our lives. Have you known spiritual agony? Who is the ONLY one that can help us when spiritual oppression covers us, when evils surround us, when we are beset on every side by satan and his followers- human or angels? The LORD is the only help we have and we only need the LORD, not a thousand different remedies. There is only ONE cure, ONE remedy, ONE help and it's so incredibly powerful it can defeat innumerable sin attacks. Like any remedy we have to take it. Remedies don't just come to us out of nowhere and force themselves upon us. We have to take them. Some might argue and say they can remember being forced to take medicine as a child, or even as an adult who isn't entirely lucid. That may all be true, but the sin remedy is NEVER forced upon us, NEVER! We have to willingly take this remedy and take it often and always.
We have to pray...
Psa 40:13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
This reminds me of one of my favorite Bible verses-
Mar 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Lord deliver me! Lord make haste to help me! Lord I believe, help mine unbelief!
Praise God He hears us! Praise God He love us! Praise God! All glory and honor to our Creator, to our Redeemer, to our Preserver!
In His love, His grace, His righteousness now and forever!
Amen.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Jesus Suffered- Being Tempted
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
The nature of angels- spiritual and yet able to appear human. Appear being the key word there- for as much as angels can appear as men to mankind when necessary that will NEVER give them true flesh and blood, never give them humanity.
Jesus didn't choose an angel's form to come to us.
Jesus didn't choose to keep His spirit form that could disappear at will. He didn't choose a spirit form that had powers to do things humans can't. However, while He didn't choose to keep His spirit form but rather took on humanity in its flesh filled with blood- His relationship with the Father enabled Him to do things sinning humans who have separated themselves from God by sin cannot do. Jesus relied on the power of God and did the following supernatural acts...
Joh 6:19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
(Walked on water)
Luk 4:28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
Luk 4:29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
Luk 4:30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way
(Was able to disappear as He was being led away.)
Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
(Transfigured)
So, while Jesus was connected to the Father- One with Him in a way that we cannot be until His return and sin no longer separates us from our God- He was able to claim the power of His Father which He used to perform miracles and to do miraculous acts. He did NOT take on the nature of angels, He took on OUR nature.
Why is it important to differentiate between this fact- that Jesus did not take on the nature of angels but of humans? Because angels were made a little superior to us. Angels were NOT made in God's image. Angels do not possess flesh and blood. Angels already decided their fate- 1/3 of them chose to follow Satan, 2/3 chose to remain with God and there is NO chance for them to repent any more, no chance for them to find salvation because that part of their existence has been decided. These beings who do not die at the end of a set number of years, these beings have no flesh to fast corruption over time, these beings do not age - growing old and dying, decaying through the ravages of time. These beings- these angels face a choice having free will to disobey God and once that choice was made that was that. Can they be blotted out of existence? Yes. And the evil angels will face their ultimate punishment of no longer existing when sin is done away with once and for all. Jesus did NOT take on the nature of the created angels. Jesus took on our humanity because it was us He was to sacrifice Himself for.
Heb 2:17… Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
That HE might be a MERCIFUL and FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST in things pertaining to God.
To MAKE a RECONCILIATION for the SINS of the PEOPLE.
Made like his BRETHERN! Made like you and me so He could understand only the way one being us could understand.
Because HE HIMSELF SUFFERED BEING TEMPTED
He is able to SUCCOUR THEM that ARE TEMPTED
He faced temptation. REAL temptation. He wasn't place in some protective wrapping, encased in a sin repelling suit. There was NOTHING artificial about Jesus' humanity. Like I mentioned before, the ONLY thing Jesus had that we don't is being ONE with the Father, without sin separating Him from Him. It wasn't until Jesus took on the sins of humanity that He was separated from His Father and cried out in anguish- 'Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?'
Yes, I've spoken of this before and yes, just recently, but it warrants repeating again and again. Jesus SUFFERED being tempted. He SUFFERED.
Have you ever suffered being tempted to sin? What does that suffering mean? It means there is a war inside you, a desire to give into the temptation. You only suffer because you DO NOT give into the temptation. If you'd just give in, you'd no longer suffer the fight- but you might suffer with remorse. Jesus NEVER suffered the remorse of giving into a temptation and sinning. He suffered the temptation! The very, very real temptation. Again, people don't like to believe in our Savior's humanity, the part of our Savior that was human enough to even suffer a being tempted. Jesus? Tempted? NO, no way, not my Jesus. Yes! Your Jesus! He felt our desires, He felt our ambitions, He felt all of that because if He did not, then He DID NOT suffer being tempted as we are and He is NOT able to succor US who are tempted. If HE wasn't tempted like WE are tempted He couldn't fully understand on the level of being human what it means to be tempted. Because He didn't sin, because He never broke the bond, the at-one-ment with His Father He was and is worthy to save us. Even with the full force of temptation facing Him, the worst of the worst of temptations in His own right, as each of our temptations are different from one another's, He never gave into the temptation. He suffered though, and if you don't want to believe that our GOD Jesus suffered with temptation then His suffering was in vain to you. You can keep your delusions if you like, but one day the delusions will be wiped away and only truth will remain and that truth tells us that Jesus suffered being tempted… and is now able, because of all He went through, to succor us- help us.
What a marvelous Gift we were given, a priceless Gift.
As we face temptation whether it's in the next minute, the next hour, the next day, or next week - we need to cling to our Savior, praying to Him, seeking that connection with Him, going to His word, pleading HIS righteousness, His power to save and by His grace resist that temptation- even if it means resisting unto blood. We've taken sin and trivialized it way too much so that it's seemingly lost it's power of destruction, of causing death. We've sugar-coated sin, especially our pet temptations and pampered sins that really aren't so bad because they aren't like those disgusting sins. Sin is sin is sin. Temptation is something our Savior faced and He knew we'd face it too. Only by His grace can we overcome through HIM, not of ourselves. But we need to … Resist the devil!
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We need to… resist unto blood!
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
By the grace of God we are SAVED! May we, through the power of the Holy Spirit, resist the devil even if it means resisting unto blood. May we see sin for what it is and not trivialize it away. Let the horrors of sin be faced, may all sin be seen for what it is and be repented of, resisted. Let us cling to our Savior, our Lord now and forever!
Amen.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
The nature of angels- spiritual and yet able to appear human. Appear being the key word there- for as much as angels can appear as men to mankind when necessary that will NEVER give them true flesh and blood, never give them humanity.
Jesus didn't choose an angel's form to come to us.
Jesus didn't choose to keep His spirit form that could disappear at will. He didn't choose a spirit form that had powers to do things humans can't. However, while He didn't choose to keep His spirit form but rather took on humanity in its flesh filled with blood- His relationship with the Father enabled Him to do things sinning humans who have separated themselves from God by sin cannot do. Jesus relied on the power of God and did the following supernatural acts...
Joh 6:19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
(Walked on water)
Luk 4:28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
Luk 4:29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
Luk 4:30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way
(Was able to disappear as He was being led away.)
Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
(Transfigured)
So, while Jesus was connected to the Father- One with Him in a way that we cannot be until His return and sin no longer separates us from our God- He was able to claim the power of His Father which He used to perform miracles and to do miraculous acts. He did NOT take on the nature of angels, He took on OUR nature.
Why is it important to differentiate between this fact- that Jesus did not take on the nature of angels but of humans? Because angels were made a little superior to us. Angels were NOT made in God's image. Angels do not possess flesh and blood. Angels already decided their fate- 1/3 of them chose to follow Satan, 2/3 chose to remain with God and there is NO chance for them to repent any more, no chance for them to find salvation because that part of their existence has been decided. These beings who do not die at the end of a set number of years, these beings have no flesh to fast corruption over time, these beings do not age - growing old and dying, decaying through the ravages of time. These beings- these angels face a choice having free will to disobey God and once that choice was made that was that. Can they be blotted out of existence? Yes. And the evil angels will face their ultimate punishment of no longer existing when sin is done away with once and for all. Jesus did NOT take on the nature of the created angels. Jesus took on our humanity because it was us He was to sacrifice Himself for.
Heb 2:17… Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
That HE might be a MERCIFUL and FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST in things pertaining to God.
To MAKE a RECONCILIATION for the SINS of the PEOPLE.
Made like his BRETHERN! Made like you and me so He could understand only the way one being us could understand.
Because HE HIMSELF SUFFERED BEING TEMPTED
He is able to SUCCOUR THEM that ARE TEMPTED
He faced temptation. REAL temptation. He wasn't place in some protective wrapping, encased in a sin repelling suit. There was NOTHING artificial about Jesus' humanity. Like I mentioned before, the ONLY thing Jesus had that we don't is being ONE with the Father, without sin separating Him from Him. It wasn't until Jesus took on the sins of humanity that He was separated from His Father and cried out in anguish- 'Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?'
Yes, I've spoken of this before and yes, just recently, but it warrants repeating again and again. Jesus SUFFERED being tempted. He SUFFERED.
Have you ever suffered being tempted to sin? What does that suffering mean? It means there is a war inside you, a desire to give into the temptation. You only suffer because you DO NOT give into the temptation. If you'd just give in, you'd no longer suffer the fight- but you might suffer with remorse. Jesus NEVER suffered the remorse of giving into a temptation and sinning. He suffered the temptation! The very, very real temptation. Again, people don't like to believe in our Savior's humanity, the part of our Savior that was human enough to even suffer a being tempted. Jesus? Tempted? NO, no way, not my Jesus. Yes! Your Jesus! He felt our desires, He felt our ambitions, He felt all of that because if He did not, then He DID NOT suffer being tempted as we are and He is NOT able to succor US who are tempted. If HE wasn't tempted like WE are tempted He couldn't fully understand on the level of being human what it means to be tempted. Because He didn't sin, because He never broke the bond, the at-one-ment with His Father He was and is worthy to save us. Even with the full force of temptation facing Him, the worst of the worst of temptations in His own right, as each of our temptations are different from one another's, He never gave into the temptation. He suffered though, and if you don't want to believe that our GOD Jesus suffered with temptation then His suffering was in vain to you. You can keep your delusions if you like, but one day the delusions will be wiped away and only truth will remain and that truth tells us that Jesus suffered being tempted… and is now able, because of all He went through, to succor us- help us.
What a marvelous Gift we were given, a priceless Gift.
As we face temptation whether it's in the next minute, the next hour, the next day, or next week - we need to cling to our Savior, praying to Him, seeking that connection with Him, going to His word, pleading HIS righteousness, His power to save and by His grace resist that temptation- even if it means resisting unto blood. We've taken sin and trivialized it way too much so that it's seemingly lost it's power of destruction, of causing death. We've sugar-coated sin, especially our pet temptations and pampered sins that really aren't so bad because they aren't like those disgusting sins. Sin is sin is sin. Temptation is something our Savior faced and He knew we'd face it too. Only by His grace can we overcome through HIM, not of ourselves. But we need to … Resist the devil!
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We need to… resist unto blood!
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
By the grace of God we are SAVED! May we, through the power of the Holy Spirit, resist the devil even if it means resisting unto blood. May we see sin for what it is and not trivialize it away. Let the horrors of sin be faced, may all sin be seen for what it is and be repented of, resisted. Let us cling to our Savior, our Lord now and forever!
Amen.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Our Brother
Heb 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren
Sanctified
SANC'TIFIED, pp.
1. Made holy; consecrated; set apart for sacred services.
2. Affectedly holy.
He that makes holy and those who are made holy by Him are all of one. That thought is amazing really. There is no special criteria to meet except we be made holy. No snickering and thinking- 'Is that all.' Seriously. We aren't to make ourselves holy but be made holy. We can't make ourselves holy- there is nothing in us to do that. We have no power to make anything holy, we have no holiness of our own- none. HE that sanctifieth- we can be sanctified and by God's will and His grace, through His love we will be made holy and be one with the One who makes us holy. Imagine, our God- imagine, our Savior-imagine, our Redeemer, our Sanctifier not being ashamed to call us brothers.
Brothers. Related to Christ by HIS choice. It's amazing that we have such a wonderful Savior who doesn't want to rule over us with an iron fist, who doesn't want to punish us arbitrarily.
Listen to these words...
Heb 2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Heb 2:13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
We are partakers of Jesus' death and His life saving blood. We are a part of His plan of salvation. Jesus gave His life, Jesus gave His flesh, Jesus gave His blood and through that sacrifice we find life. We are partakers of the life of Christ. We are part of that life, that continued life, the life that is eternal, the life that rose from the grave and ascended to heaven, the life that is related to ours- brothers, relatives, partakers together. The amazing realization that we part take of Christ's life today, right now, right this moment, is something that is too overwhelming to fully comprehend. We have to comprehend it though, we have to make it REAL. We have to have a living, viable life with Christ as a REAL person- yes, I said person!!! Yes, He is a God, God the Son. He is also a human being and we tend to take him out of that realm completely and only think of Him on His throne in heaven. Jesus was real flesh and blood, He had bones, muscles, He had hair, eyes, hands, feet, fingers, toes-- He was human! He was a divine human, yes, there is no doubt about that at all. He was divine but He became one of us, for us. That miracle, that blessing in undeniably beyond anything we can understand. By His grace we will be with Him one day, thanking Him in person, face to face, falling to our knees before Him, our God, our Brother, our Holy Brother.
In His love!
Amen.
Sanctified
SANC'TIFIED, pp.
1. Made holy; consecrated; set apart for sacred services.
2. Affectedly holy.
He that makes holy and those who are made holy by Him are all of one. That thought is amazing really. There is no special criteria to meet except we be made holy. No snickering and thinking- 'Is that all.' Seriously. We aren't to make ourselves holy but be made holy. We can't make ourselves holy- there is nothing in us to do that. We have no power to make anything holy, we have no holiness of our own- none. HE that sanctifieth- we can be sanctified and by God's will and His grace, through His love we will be made holy and be one with the One who makes us holy. Imagine, our God- imagine, our Savior-imagine, our Redeemer, our Sanctifier not being ashamed to call us brothers.
Brothers. Related to Christ by HIS choice. It's amazing that we have such a wonderful Savior who doesn't want to rule over us with an iron fist, who doesn't want to punish us arbitrarily.
Listen to these words...
Heb 2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Heb 2:13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
We are partakers of Jesus' death and His life saving blood. We are a part of His plan of salvation. Jesus gave His life, Jesus gave His flesh, Jesus gave His blood and through that sacrifice we find life. We are partakers of the life of Christ. We are part of that life, that continued life, the life that is eternal, the life that rose from the grave and ascended to heaven, the life that is related to ours- brothers, relatives, partakers together. The amazing realization that we part take of Christ's life today, right now, right this moment, is something that is too overwhelming to fully comprehend. We have to comprehend it though, we have to make it REAL. We have to have a living, viable life with Christ as a REAL person- yes, I said person!!! Yes, He is a God, God the Son. He is also a human being and we tend to take him out of that realm completely and only think of Him on His throne in heaven. Jesus was real flesh and blood, He had bones, muscles, He had hair, eyes, hands, feet, fingers, toes-- He was human! He was a divine human, yes, there is no doubt about that at all. He was divine but He became one of us, for us. That miracle, that blessing in undeniably beyond anything we can understand. By His grace we will be with Him one day, thanking Him in person, face to face, falling to our knees before Him, our God, our Brother, our Holy Brother.
In His love!
Amen.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Captain of Our Salvation
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
The captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
What does that mean exactly? Perfect through sufferings.
Luk 22:15 and he said unto them, `With desire I did desire to eat this passover with you before my suffering
Act 1:3 to whom also he did present himself alive after his suffering, in many certain proofs, through forty days being seen by them, and speaking the things concerning the reign of God.
Pe 2:19 for this is gracious, if because of conscience toward God any one doth endure sorrows, suffering unrighteously;
1Pe 2:20 for what renown is it , if sinning and being buffeted, ye do endure it ? but if, doing good and suffering for it , ye do endure, this is gracious with God,
1Pe 2:21 for to this ye were called, because Christ also did suffer for you, leaving to you an example, that ye may follow his steps,
1Pe 2:22 who did not commit sin, nor was guile found in his mouth,
1Pe 2:23 who being reviled--was not reviling again, suffering--was not threatening, and was committing himself to Him who is judging righteously
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange at the fiery suffering among you that is coming to try you, as if a strange thing were happening to you,
1Pe 4:13 but, according as ye have fellowship with the sufferings of the Christ, rejoice ye, that also in the revelation of his glory ye may rejoice--exulting;
1Pe 4:19 so that also those suffering according to the will of god, as to a stedfast Creator, let them commit their own souls in good doing.
Suffering.
Suffering
SUF'FERING, ppr. Bearing; undergoing pain, inconvenience or damage; permitting; allowing.
SUF'FERING, n. The bearing of pain, inconvenience or loss; pain endured; distress, loss or injury incurred; as sufferings by pain or sorrow; sufferings by want or by wrongs.
Pain, sorrow, damage…
Christ suffered. Christ who relived the suffering of so many. Christ who took away the pain many suffered with for years. Christ who healed, who helped, who forgave so many during His ministry was called to suffer.
I have a question… the Son of God, pure from sin lived in a world filled with sin and pain, and suffering. Could it be that He suffered more than we can fully comprehend? He did say this…
Luk 22:15 and he said unto them, `With desire I did desire to eat this passover with you before my suffering
Could it be that it wasn't until He was to cry out these words-- Mat 27:46 and about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a great voice, saying, `Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, `My God, my God, why didst Thou forsake me?'
…that He didn't feel the full effect of the suffering, when He was alone on the cross. Yes, He felt the pain of the physical abuse, abuse that He suffered without deserving it at all whatsoever, but the mental , emotional anguish of feeling abandoned had to be beyond our comprehension, why? Because we are not alone- ever. We have not been abandoned even at our lowest point. We have access to our forgiving Father, our longsuffering Father, our Savior, no matter what we go through. Christ was alone. He had to bear the pain, the suffering alone to give to us salvation. We are called to suffer, Christ being our example.
1Pe 2:21 for to this ye were called, because Christ also did suffer for you, leaving to you an example, that ye may follow his steps,
People think this is horrible, that we are called to suffer. But if you live in this world, you suffer. There is no way you can live here and live in Christ's love without suffering. This world is filled with so much suffering that our suffering can even come from watching others suffer. If we are heartless, if we give ourselves over to Satan we will have a lack of compassion, we won't suffer as much. Compassion won't be as prominent in our lives. Have you ever wondered how some people can abuse others, how they can purposely cause them pain, and even enjoy it? Have you ever witnessed the suffering of another without your heart aching for their pain? Maybe you can answer yes to those questions, I don't know, but if the answer is yes then falling on your knees and begging God to give you a heart that truly loves your fellowman is in order. Satan has twisted us, Satan has warped us into self-centered people whose main purpose is self- even when we help others He's twisted it into being a selfish act. Take some time to notice the selfishness in other- not to condemn them NO WAY, but sometimes when we see something in another it can be a reflection for us. We can see ourselves in them. We need to recognize how selfish we are in so many ways, even little ways. Our greatest example, the greatest light we need to look to is our SAVIOR, in His light we can see our failings and cling to His light, not ours. We need to be bathed fully in HIS light, having NONE of our own. HE is the LIGHT! We are to be illuminated by Him, any light we have to show to others is HIS light, not our light. When our light shines before others it's to glorify GOD, not to bring us glory. When we suffer, even if it's pain from witnessing the suffering of others we are following in the example of our Lord and Savior. It's when we no longer suffer that we really should wonder about our walk with Christ. I'm not saying we can't have any joy in our lives. We can praise and glorify our Lord and Savior and we can even find the Peace that passes understanding in Christ, but in this world of sin, reeking of thousands of years of sin ruled by the prince of darkness, suffering will be ours. We may count it JOY when we suffer, but that joy is in the knowledge that we have a Savior whose suffering brought us salvation. There is hope and joy in the world to come, in living with our Lord and Savior. Our joy needs to be in Christ. If we find joy in ourselves without Christ we are deceiving ourselves, or being deceived. Our joy, our hope, our faith, our love, our light is all IN CHRIST!
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
The captain of OUR salvation perfect through sufferings.
Sin brings suffering.
Joy in suffering is knowing sin has been defeated by our Lord, by our Savior!
May God bless and keep us always IN HIM! May we suffer as He suffered and count it all joy knowing salvation is found in Him, that beyond ALL suffering lives our Savior and life everlasting in HIM!
By His Grace!
Amen.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
The captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
What does that mean exactly? Perfect through sufferings.
Luk 22:15 and he said unto them, `With desire I did desire to eat this passover with you before my suffering
Act 1:3 to whom also he did present himself alive after his suffering, in many certain proofs, through forty days being seen by them, and speaking the things concerning the reign of God.
Pe 2:19 for this is gracious, if because of conscience toward God any one doth endure sorrows, suffering unrighteously;
1Pe 2:20 for what renown is it , if sinning and being buffeted, ye do endure it ? but if, doing good and suffering for it , ye do endure, this is gracious with God,
1Pe 2:21 for to this ye were called, because Christ also did suffer for you, leaving to you an example, that ye may follow his steps,
1Pe 2:22 who did not commit sin, nor was guile found in his mouth,
1Pe 2:23 who being reviled--was not reviling again, suffering--was not threatening, and was committing himself to Him who is judging righteously
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange at the fiery suffering among you that is coming to try you, as if a strange thing were happening to you,
1Pe 4:13 but, according as ye have fellowship with the sufferings of the Christ, rejoice ye, that also in the revelation of his glory ye may rejoice--exulting;
1Pe 4:19 so that also those suffering according to the will of god, as to a stedfast Creator, let them commit their own souls in good doing.
Suffering.
Suffering
SUF'FERING, ppr. Bearing; undergoing pain, inconvenience or damage; permitting; allowing.
SUF'FERING, n. The bearing of pain, inconvenience or loss; pain endured; distress, loss or injury incurred; as sufferings by pain or sorrow; sufferings by want or by wrongs.
Pain, sorrow, damage…
Christ suffered. Christ who relived the suffering of so many. Christ who took away the pain many suffered with for years. Christ who healed, who helped, who forgave so many during His ministry was called to suffer.
I have a question… the Son of God, pure from sin lived in a world filled with sin and pain, and suffering. Could it be that He suffered more than we can fully comprehend? He did say this…
Luk 22:15 and he said unto them, `With desire I did desire to eat this passover with you before my suffering
Could it be that it wasn't until He was to cry out these words-- Mat 27:46 and about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a great voice, saying, `Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, `My God, my God, why didst Thou forsake me?'
…that He didn't feel the full effect of the suffering, when He was alone on the cross. Yes, He felt the pain of the physical abuse, abuse that He suffered without deserving it at all whatsoever, but the mental , emotional anguish of feeling abandoned had to be beyond our comprehension, why? Because we are not alone- ever. We have not been abandoned even at our lowest point. We have access to our forgiving Father, our longsuffering Father, our Savior, no matter what we go through. Christ was alone. He had to bear the pain, the suffering alone to give to us salvation. We are called to suffer, Christ being our example.
1Pe 2:21 for to this ye were called, because Christ also did suffer for you, leaving to you an example, that ye may follow his steps,
People think this is horrible, that we are called to suffer. But if you live in this world, you suffer. There is no way you can live here and live in Christ's love without suffering. This world is filled with so much suffering that our suffering can even come from watching others suffer. If we are heartless, if we give ourselves over to Satan we will have a lack of compassion, we won't suffer as much. Compassion won't be as prominent in our lives. Have you ever wondered how some people can abuse others, how they can purposely cause them pain, and even enjoy it? Have you ever witnessed the suffering of another without your heart aching for their pain? Maybe you can answer yes to those questions, I don't know, but if the answer is yes then falling on your knees and begging God to give you a heart that truly loves your fellowman is in order. Satan has twisted us, Satan has warped us into self-centered people whose main purpose is self- even when we help others He's twisted it into being a selfish act. Take some time to notice the selfishness in other- not to condemn them NO WAY, but sometimes when we see something in another it can be a reflection for us. We can see ourselves in them. We need to recognize how selfish we are in so many ways, even little ways. Our greatest example, the greatest light we need to look to is our SAVIOR, in His light we can see our failings and cling to His light, not ours. We need to be bathed fully in HIS light, having NONE of our own. HE is the LIGHT! We are to be illuminated by Him, any light we have to show to others is HIS light, not our light. When our light shines before others it's to glorify GOD, not to bring us glory. When we suffer, even if it's pain from witnessing the suffering of others we are following in the example of our Lord and Savior. It's when we no longer suffer that we really should wonder about our walk with Christ. I'm not saying we can't have any joy in our lives. We can praise and glorify our Lord and Savior and we can even find the Peace that passes understanding in Christ, but in this world of sin, reeking of thousands of years of sin ruled by the prince of darkness, suffering will be ours. We may count it JOY when we suffer, but that joy is in the knowledge that we have a Savior whose suffering brought us salvation. There is hope and joy in the world to come, in living with our Lord and Savior. Our joy needs to be in Christ. If we find joy in ourselves without Christ we are deceiving ourselves, or being deceived. Our joy, our hope, our faith, our love, our light is all IN CHRIST!
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
The captain of OUR salvation perfect through sufferings.
Sin brings suffering.
Joy in suffering is knowing sin has been defeated by our Lord, by our Savior!
May God bless and keep us always IN HIM! May we suffer as He suffered and count it all joy knowing salvation is found in Him, that beyond ALL suffering lives our Savior and life everlasting in HIM!
By His Grace!
Amen.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
World to Come- Salvation
Heb 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
Salvation. We are saved for a purpose, for life eternal. We are saved from this world that isn't anything like the world we need and long to be from. We are saved from eternal death, from eternal nothingness, from eternal darkness and given life in Christ from whom all love flows. We only get glimpses, tiny glimpses into the world of unconditional love, unselfish love, teeny tiny insights in our lives that are all markers pointing us to the one unconditional, unselfish love that saves us. We can look on the outside of people and some appear to be very unselfish, and very Christ-like, but the fact remains we don't know their hearts. By their fruit we shall know them and some appear to have the best fruit in the world- so Christ-like it puts us to total shame. What it comes down to is our own lives- because they are the only thing we really know. I know my heart and wish it were more Christ-like. I know my failings, my sins, my inner evils just as you all know your own. We can ask for forgiveness, we can repent, and we can be saved! We can be given the world to come. We can hope for a place in that world ruled by love in its purest form without sin marring anything. We can pray and have faith that we will be in that world to come a world that angels will be in subjection to.
1. Being in a position or in circumstances that place one under the power or authority of another or others
Pasted from
Angels will be under the power and authority of God. We will share in that world with God, with angels. God's power, God's authority will always and forever be supreme! God- from whom ALL blessings flow.
Angels- spiritual beings we imagine act of their own accord but God's angels are all in subjection to God and do the bidding of the Lord. Does this mean they are enslaved to God? Some would have you believe that's exactly what is means, that God wants to make us all slaves to Him. That's not true, not true at all whatsoever. When you serve the one you love, when you put yourself into subjection of the one you love to obey them you are NOT a slave to them. Freely the love is given, freely the serving is offered. The angels consider themselves blessed to serve God. While the devil would have us twist things and make subjection to God seem like a punishment, and evil all on its own, it's a lie from the father of lies.
*
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
Psa 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Psa 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Psa 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
Psa 8:7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
Psa 8:8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
Psa 8:9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Man- made a little lower than the angels and yet crowned with glory and honor.
There have been movies about angels detesting humans because God made angels to be above them and yet has crowned them with glory and honor. Angels of God by their very nature minister unto man all through love, there is no animosity though Satan would have us believe there is. Satan would have us put our sinful nature onto the unfallen angels and give them traits that fallen humans have, or that evil fallen angels have. It's not like that at all.
What is man? We are God's creation. We are so important to Him that His Son took on our flesh and became human so He could save us through the sacrifice of Himself. We don't understand, we can't understand just how important we are to God, just how much He loves us. Our love towards God is unequaled to His love for us and our righteousness is filthy, unequal to Christ's pure righteousness that we so desperately need to claim while giving up our selfish need to believe we can be righteous on our own.
Praise God for His amazing LOVE! Praise God!
May we fully be immersed in the Love of God, may we live for the world to come where self is nothing compared to selflessness in Christ.
By His glory, by His grace!
Amen.
Salvation. We are saved for a purpose, for life eternal. We are saved from this world that isn't anything like the world we need and long to be from. We are saved from eternal death, from eternal nothingness, from eternal darkness and given life in Christ from whom all love flows. We only get glimpses, tiny glimpses into the world of unconditional love, unselfish love, teeny tiny insights in our lives that are all markers pointing us to the one unconditional, unselfish love that saves us. We can look on the outside of people and some appear to be very unselfish, and very Christ-like, but the fact remains we don't know their hearts. By their fruit we shall know them and some appear to have the best fruit in the world- so Christ-like it puts us to total shame. What it comes down to is our own lives- because they are the only thing we really know. I know my heart and wish it were more Christ-like. I know my failings, my sins, my inner evils just as you all know your own. We can ask for forgiveness, we can repent, and we can be saved! We can be given the world to come. We can hope for a place in that world ruled by love in its purest form without sin marring anything. We can pray and have faith that we will be in that world to come a world that angels will be in subjection to.
1. Being in a position or in circumstances that place one under the power or authority of another or others
Pasted from
Angels will be under the power and authority of God. We will share in that world with God, with angels. God's power, God's authority will always and forever be supreme! God- from whom ALL blessings flow.
Angels- spiritual beings we imagine act of their own accord but God's angels are all in subjection to God and do the bidding of the Lord. Does this mean they are enslaved to God? Some would have you believe that's exactly what is means, that God wants to make us all slaves to Him. That's not true, not true at all whatsoever. When you serve the one you love, when you put yourself into subjection of the one you love to obey them you are NOT a slave to them. Freely the love is given, freely the serving is offered. The angels consider themselves blessed to serve God. While the devil would have us twist things and make subjection to God seem like a punishment, and evil all on its own, it's a lie from the father of lies.
*
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
Psa 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Psa 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Psa 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
Psa 8:7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
Psa 8:8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
Psa 8:9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Man- made a little lower than the angels and yet crowned with glory and honor.
There have been movies about angels detesting humans because God made angels to be above them and yet has crowned them with glory and honor. Angels of God by their very nature minister unto man all through love, there is no animosity though Satan would have us believe there is. Satan would have us put our sinful nature onto the unfallen angels and give them traits that fallen humans have, or that evil fallen angels have. It's not like that at all.
What is man? We are God's creation. We are so important to Him that His Son took on our flesh and became human so He could save us through the sacrifice of Himself. We don't understand, we can't understand just how important we are to God, just how much He loves us. Our love towards God is unequaled to His love for us and our righteousness is filthy, unequal to Christ's pure righteousness that we so desperately need to claim while giving up our selfish need to believe we can be righteous on our own.
Praise God for His amazing LOVE! Praise God!
May we fully be immersed in the Love of God, may we live for the world to come where self is nothing compared to selflessness in Christ.
By His glory, by His grace!
Amen.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Salvation- God bears witness
Heb 2:3 ...how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him
Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will
So great salvation- first spoken by the Lord- confirmed by those who heard the Lord.
God also bore witness of this great salvation. How?
With signs.
With wonders.
With different miracles.
With gifts of the Holy Ghost.
To reveal salvation to the world many steps were taken. The unveiling was in reality miraculous in many ways so that it would be undeniable.
Salvation undeniable yet denied by the vast majority of those who witnessed first hand and by the vast majority today, and all throughout the ages.
If signs and wonders, if miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost were not enough- nothing would be enough. Do we want this today? Do we demand today to see signs, to witness wonders, to experience miracles, to be declared by a tongue of fire that the Holy Ghost has gifted us? Would we even recognize a sign, a wonder, a miracle, a gift? We are so jaded by so many things and our skepticism has only grown deeply embedded in our lifestyles. We are quick to judge on the side of negativity and we call it by the name realism- we are just being realistic about things. The truth of the matter is that we join with the throngs that stood in a crowd and cried out for our Savior to be crucified when we deny active faith, when we refuse to believe real miracles, real signs, real wonders, and real gifts from the Holy Ghost. Yes, we do have to be extremely cautious because Satan will try and imitate all of these things and he will succeed in deceiving many, but just because Satan will use these things, doesn't mean God won't use them. We can differentiate between the two by taking everything to the Word of God. Should we seek signs and wonders, miracles and gifts? Not to the exclusion of a faith that stands on just that… faith alone.
All has to be done according to God's will- not our will. All was done according to God's will when God's Son took on humanity and chose to offer His life to bring us salvation.
Salvation is REAL!
Salvation! A word that means what exactly?
sal·va·tion
[sal-vey-shuhn]
Show IPA
–noun
1.
the act of saving or protecting from harm, risk, loss, destruction, etc.
2.
the state of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.
3.
a source, cause, or means of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.
4.
Theology . deliverance from the power and penalty of sin; redemption.
Pasted from
Saved! Redeemed! Delivered!
So many people today don't even believe they are in need of salvation. Satan has done His work well. People don't believe they are in a state of captivity because the captivity is to sin and they don't believe in sin. Yes, they might believe in *certain* sins but they don't commit those *certain* sins - they aren't criminals and so they have no need of being saved, they aren't captive to anything at all, thank you very much.
Satan worked with all stops out when Jesus was working His ministry on earth and since Jesus won salvation for all that would accept it, Satan has stopped at nothing, working harder and harder to deceive using every single tactic he can. So what if you believe, he'll steer that belief into the 'saved by works' mentality. So what if you show faith in God, he'll guide you to have more faith in yourself. For every single bit of godliness that exists, Satan and his minions have counter measures to put into place. Is it no wonder the path is so narrow? Is it no wonder few there be that find that path? Ask for God to take the spiritual blinders off you, ask for the eyesalve so needed so we can see all the truth, so that we can see His ways and then by His grace, by His power walk in those ways.
Salvation! Brought to us undeserving sinners by God! We can't neglect this so great salvation, God has done all He can to bear witness to its reality.
By His grace, by His mercy, in His love, His righteousness now and forever!
Amen!
Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will
So great salvation- first spoken by the Lord- confirmed by those who heard the Lord.
God also bore witness of this great salvation. How?
With signs.
With wonders.
With different miracles.
With gifts of the Holy Ghost.
To reveal salvation to the world many steps were taken. The unveiling was in reality miraculous in many ways so that it would be undeniable.
Salvation undeniable yet denied by the vast majority of those who witnessed first hand and by the vast majority today, and all throughout the ages.
If signs and wonders, if miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost were not enough- nothing would be enough. Do we want this today? Do we demand today to see signs, to witness wonders, to experience miracles, to be declared by a tongue of fire that the Holy Ghost has gifted us? Would we even recognize a sign, a wonder, a miracle, a gift? We are so jaded by so many things and our skepticism has only grown deeply embedded in our lifestyles. We are quick to judge on the side of negativity and we call it by the name realism- we are just being realistic about things. The truth of the matter is that we join with the throngs that stood in a crowd and cried out for our Savior to be crucified when we deny active faith, when we refuse to believe real miracles, real signs, real wonders, and real gifts from the Holy Ghost. Yes, we do have to be extremely cautious because Satan will try and imitate all of these things and he will succeed in deceiving many, but just because Satan will use these things, doesn't mean God won't use them. We can differentiate between the two by taking everything to the Word of God. Should we seek signs and wonders, miracles and gifts? Not to the exclusion of a faith that stands on just that… faith alone.
All has to be done according to God's will- not our will. All was done according to God's will when God's Son took on humanity and chose to offer His life to bring us salvation.
Salvation is REAL!
Salvation! A word that means what exactly?
sal·va·tion
[sal-vey-shuhn]
Show IPA
–noun
1.
the act of saving or protecting from harm, risk, loss, destruction, etc.
2.
the state of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.
3.
a source, cause, or means of being saved or protected from harm, risk, etc.
4.
Theology . deliverance from the power and penalty of sin; redemption.
Pasted from
Saved! Redeemed! Delivered!
So many people today don't even believe they are in need of salvation. Satan has done His work well. People don't believe they are in a state of captivity because the captivity is to sin and they don't believe in sin. Yes, they might believe in *certain* sins but they don't commit those *certain* sins - they aren't criminals and so they have no need of being saved, they aren't captive to anything at all, thank you very much.
Satan worked with all stops out when Jesus was working His ministry on earth and since Jesus won salvation for all that would accept it, Satan has stopped at nothing, working harder and harder to deceive using every single tactic he can. So what if you believe, he'll steer that belief into the 'saved by works' mentality. So what if you show faith in God, he'll guide you to have more faith in yourself. For every single bit of godliness that exists, Satan and his minions have counter measures to put into place. Is it no wonder the path is so narrow? Is it no wonder few there be that find that path? Ask for God to take the spiritual blinders off you, ask for the eyesalve so needed so we can see all the truth, so that we can see His ways and then by His grace, by His power walk in those ways.
Salvation! Brought to us undeserving sinners by God! We can't neglect this so great salvation, God has done all He can to bear witness to its reality.
By His grace, by His mercy, in His love, His righteousness now and forever!
Amen!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Plead my cause, oh LORD!
During my recent Bible studies on Friday evenings we've been studying Spiritual Warfare. As most people know - when we get closer to the Lord the Devil gets mad. We are attacked. It's not fiction- it's reality. Satan would have us believe it's fiction, Satan would have us believe any attacks by him have to be the stuff of exorcisms. The every day ordinary life is Satan-free, right? That's how Satan would have us think. The nasty little every day irritations can't be from him, He doesn't bother himself with tiny stuff.
It's a lie, and He's the father of lies. Satan works his evil in every way he can in the smallest ways possible. He's not going to exert any more effort than needed to capture the spiritual life of a person. Satan will not go to great lengths if only small upsets are enough to take over a person and bring them to despair that they'll ever be able to be the Lord's fully.
Today I was attacked spiritually in a very vicious way and I didn't exhibit any Christ-like qualities as I was assaulted. The attack came from more than one side and just threw me for a loop. No, I'm not going to relate some amazing, supernatural occurrence to you. It wasn't a supernatural occurrence but rather situations set up to entice me to be overcome by the sin of unrighteous anger. In the blink of an eye one occurrence took place and while that spark ignited the fire a heart beat later another occurrence caused that small flame to explode and I felt an awful rage of anger and logically there was no real reason for any of it to happen! None! I don't understand why, I just know that I succumbed to the attack and reacted just how Satan wanted me to react. The guilt, the shame, the awful knowledge that my spiritual life was so lacking I could be so easily goaded into sinning pained me something awful. Knowing that others witnessed my unwarranted anger, knowing others were the victims of my failing made me feel sick. Recognizing it all for what it was- a Satanic attack- not of the spectacular but of the ordinary- was a blessing. Asking for forgiveness, letting the others know it was an attack- helped me get through it without too much spiritual damage- PRAISE GOD!
The reason I'm writing about this here in my Bible Study is because we need to recognize the enemy for what He is and what He does. We need to realize His workings not as an excuse like some think we use it for, but for the reality we live in. We need to BLAME Satan for what He does, for what He orchestrates, for the evil He incites, we CAN'T let Him place the blame on us as if He doesn't exist, or worse still we can't let Him place the blame on God.
This Psalm of David has been brought to my attention several times lately and with good reason-
Psa 35:1 A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
Psa 35:2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
Psa 35:3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
Psa 35:4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
Psa 35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
Psa 35:6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
The angel of the LORD chase them.
The angel of the LORD persecute them.
Satan is an evil angel and he has many minions of like kind. We might read something like the verses above and instantly imagine living in a time of warfare with human enemies after us- something I know I don't live with at all in that respect. What I live with is spiritual warfare. I need to pray this prayer- I need to ask the Lord to strive with me, to fight against them that fight against me- and those who are the 'them' might just be evil angels, not other human beings. We are told to put on armor- Spiritual armor. We are told to take a helmet, a shield, a sword, a belt, boots, a breastplate- armor. Here in this Psalm David is pleading to God- 'take hold of a shield and buckler- draw out the spear.' Spiritual armor! We need our spiritual enemies to be just as confounded, to be put to shame, to turn back, to be brought to confusion. We need the spiritual enemy to be as chaff in the wind- we need the angel of the Lord to persecute them.
We are in a battle! We are, we really, really are and we can't let anything in this world convince us otherwise. As soon as we begin to believe the battle is fictional we are lost.
It is my prayer along with David's- Plead my cause, O LORD. Plead my cause! Please God- Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation!
By His grace!
Amen.
It's a lie, and He's the father of lies. Satan works his evil in every way he can in the smallest ways possible. He's not going to exert any more effort than needed to capture the spiritual life of a person. Satan will not go to great lengths if only small upsets are enough to take over a person and bring them to despair that they'll ever be able to be the Lord's fully.
Today I was attacked spiritually in a very vicious way and I didn't exhibit any Christ-like qualities as I was assaulted. The attack came from more than one side and just threw me for a loop. No, I'm not going to relate some amazing, supernatural occurrence to you. It wasn't a supernatural occurrence but rather situations set up to entice me to be overcome by the sin of unrighteous anger. In the blink of an eye one occurrence took place and while that spark ignited the fire a heart beat later another occurrence caused that small flame to explode and I felt an awful rage of anger and logically there was no real reason for any of it to happen! None! I don't understand why, I just know that I succumbed to the attack and reacted just how Satan wanted me to react. The guilt, the shame, the awful knowledge that my spiritual life was so lacking I could be so easily goaded into sinning pained me something awful. Knowing that others witnessed my unwarranted anger, knowing others were the victims of my failing made me feel sick. Recognizing it all for what it was- a Satanic attack- not of the spectacular but of the ordinary- was a blessing. Asking for forgiveness, letting the others know it was an attack- helped me get through it without too much spiritual damage- PRAISE GOD!
The reason I'm writing about this here in my Bible Study is because we need to recognize the enemy for what He is and what He does. We need to realize His workings not as an excuse like some think we use it for, but for the reality we live in. We need to BLAME Satan for what He does, for what He orchestrates, for the evil He incites, we CAN'T let Him place the blame on us as if He doesn't exist, or worse still we can't let Him place the blame on God.
This Psalm of David has been brought to my attention several times lately and with good reason-
Psa 35:1 A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
Psa 35:2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
Psa 35:3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
Psa 35:4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
Psa 35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
Psa 35:6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
The angel of the LORD chase them.
The angel of the LORD persecute them.
Satan is an evil angel and he has many minions of like kind. We might read something like the verses above and instantly imagine living in a time of warfare with human enemies after us- something I know I don't live with at all in that respect. What I live with is spiritual warfare. I need to pray this prayer- I need to ask the Lord to strive with me, to fight against them that fight against me- and those who are the 'them' might just be evil angels, not other human beings. We are told to put on armor- Spiritual armor. We are told to take a helmet, a shield, a sword, a belt, boots, a breastplate- armor. Here in this Psalm David is pleading to God- 'take hold of a shield and buckler- draw out the spear.' Spiritual armor! We need our spiritual enemies to be just as confounded, to be put to shame, to turn back, to be brought to confusion. We need the spiritual enemy to be as chaff in the wind- we need the angel of the Lord to persecute them.
We are in a battle! We are, we really, really are and we can't let anything in this world convince us otherwise. As soon as we begin to believe the battle is fictional we are lost.
It is my prayer along with David's- Plead my cause, O LORD. Plead my cause! Please God- Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation!
By His grace!
Amen.
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