Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
The Lord is my helper.
Does this mean the Lord will help us by keeping us from all the worldly problems we may encounter? Does this mean we can expect help in the way we desire it when we ask for it?
What happens when we ask for help from the Lord and it doesn't seem to be happening? What if a bad situation just keep getting worse and worse? What if others hear us asking the Lord for help and then mock our belief when it appears the Lord isn't helping at all?
The rest of this verse… and I will not fear what man shall do unto me, explains it all, doesn't it?
We aren't living for this world!
Our prayer should be help us Lord, help us on our way to You, let all things work together for good towards our eternal life in You.
Am I saying we shouldn't pray for earthly things? NO! No! No! But first and foremost has to be our Heavenly Father and His will in all things leading towards eternal life in Him.
When I ask people to pray for someone who may be sick or injured, I do want them to pray for their wellbeing. Do I want them to pray for them first and foremost? No. First and foremost God's eternal will must be our prayer.
Remember the prayer the Lord gave to the disciples when they asked Him to teach them to pray?
Ma 6:9 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
What was first? Our Father which are in heaven- Hallowed be they name. Thy kingdom come.
God is first! The kingdom of God is first! It has to be first and foremost because we aren't living for this world we are living in hopes of the next world in Christ. If we don't make God first, if we don't make eternal life first we get all caught up in the trap of wanting our lives here and now to be easy, to be tolerable, to be good. We pray for things to change here and now so we can live here and now easily. We don't want to live with afflictions, we don't want our loved ones to suffer, we don't want the pain and heartache that comes with life.
Let me emphasize- IT'S NOT WRONG TO PRAY AND ASK FOR THINGS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER, TO HELP OTHERS, TO MAKE LIFE LESS PAINFUL. What is wrong is making that our priority.
Our priority must be our God! Our priority must be eternal life! Our priority must be God's will be done right here, right now on earth… as God's will is done in heaven…as God will WILL be done in eternity!
Then after we make God our priority, after we make eternity our priority, AFTER we have things eternal in mind and our priorities are straight… then we pray…
Give us this day our daily bread. Lord please supply our needs, physical, mental, emotional, supply our needs as we need them.
We really need to understand this because too many ridicule God and our belief in God as not being the great wish fulfiller. He's not our great wish fulfiller, He is God and with God our eternal life is first and foremost.
Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
THE LORD IS MY HELPER!
I won't fear what man shall do unto me. I won't fear what comes in this life. I won't fear that my eternal life can be lost by circumstances beyond my control.
May God help this to be all our prayer, may we all BOLDLY say THE LORD IS MY HELPER!
By His grace!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Be without covetousness
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Our lives need to be without covetousness, and living in a world where covetousness is an accepted way of life and even promoted telling someone their life needs to be without covetousness seems like telling them they have to do the impossible.
We fool ourselves by telling ourselves that it's NORMAL to covet better things. What makes it normal? Because it's part of our carnal nature, does that make it acceptable? So many people do so many things based upon their impulses, their desires and they call them normal because they have them and they can't help they have these desires- they just do. Our desires, the things we covet- and I'm not just talking about material things here but we covet people, we covet situations, we covet beauty, we can covet many, many things. And YES, we covet from a sin-filled nature. We have to war against the flesh we possess, the fleshy desires that are contrary to God and His will.
1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul
Our fleshly lusts will war against us! We will have these lusts, these desires and they will be powerful! These covetous lusts will try to control us, not have us control them. Satan has done His job well and has convinced us that it's impossible to fight temptations, it's impossible for us to control our NATURAL desires. We have child molesters that will describe in great detail how they couldn't HELP doing what they've done. Murderers, serial killers, they'll tell you they were compelled to do what they've done- unable to stop themselves. We have psychologists/psychiatrists/therapists/physicians and many tests that will be used in court to prove that parts of a psychopath's brain doesn't function like normal peoples. We have so much that goes on to prove why people can't control their coveting, why they can't abstain from their fleshly lusts. We make excuses even as we lock the rapists and murderers up in jail and there is a pinprick of sympathy for the poor soul who was just born bad through NO fault of his own.
I'm no expert at all and don't claim to be. There really could be people who lack the control to abstain from coveting and such- there really could be those who have no control over their actions. I know I have a hard enough time with my own personal *problems*. However we are told in God's word that with every temptation there is a way out of that temptation.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
IF we believe in God we have to believe His word to us. If we claim Christ as our Savior, if we've been born again in our Savior and place our lives in His hands we have to believe what we are told.
The temptations we face are COMMON. Often we feel as if we are the only ones struggling but we aren't! Temptation is common, it's not something rare! God WILL make a way to escape, He will make us able to BEAR the temptation without succumbing to it. He will! And we have to resist unto blood if necessary.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
A way to escape, striving against sin. It's not easy- it's horrifically hard to strive against sin.
We are to pray-
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
We are told by our Savior-
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
The FLESH is weak! We must WATCH, we must PRAY- that we enter NOT into temptation!
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.
We must ENDURE temptation not succumb to temptation, we must endure it without giving into it.
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
We have to live without coveting- the root of a lot of our temptations is coveting. We need to be CONTENT with how things are. We need to be content without the things we covet, living in such a way that by the grace of our Lord we stop coveting. We need to be content with this wonderful, amazing fact-- Jesus will NEVER leave us or forsake us! We might lose EVERYTHING we hold dear in this world, but we CAN'T lose our Savior, NO ONE can take our Savior from us, NOTHING can take our Savior from us! He will NEVER leave us! He will NEVER forsake us! Our eternal life is secure in HIM! We might live in horror in this world, but we have the promise of true life in HIM, in our SAVIOR! Too many people believe God is giving up on them when their lives here and now become living torture- whether emotionally, mentally, physically it doesn't matter. Satan would have us believe God has left us, that we are no longer loved by God, that we've been deserted just when we need our Savior most- but that's wrong! Our Savior was HERE In this world suffering, dying when we needed Him most to do so and He did! He was an example to us- He lived a very painful existence emotionally, mentally, and finally physically He lived a torturous life and we are called to do NO less. If we are blessed enough not to be called to endure horror it's not because of something we've done, it's not because God loves us more than others, we can't know all the reasoning behind life, all the whys and wherefores. We suffer, we live, we love, we need to claim our Savior in ALL things! He will NEVER LEAVE US! He will NEVER FORSAKE US! By His grace we live!
May we cling to our Savior as Satan surrounds us with constant temptation to covetousness, may we cling to our Lord, our Redeemer and resist unto blood!
All in His name! In His holy, holy name! In His love! In His righteousness! His grace! His mercy!
Amen!!!
Our lives need to be without covetousness, and living in a world where covetousness is an accepted way of life and even promoted telling someone their life needs to be without covetousness seems like telling them they have to do the impossible.
We fool ourselves by telling ourselves that it's NORMAL to covet better things. What makes it normal? Because it's part of our carnal nature, does that make it acceptable? So many people do so many things based upon their impulses, their desires and they call them normal because they have them and they can't help they have these desires- they just do. Our desires, the things we covet- and I'm not just talking about material things here but we covet people, we covet situations, we covet beauty, we can covet many, many things. And YES, we covet from a sin-filled nature. We have to war against the flesh we possess, the fleshy desires that are contrary to God and His will.
1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul
Our fleshly lusts will war against us! We will have these lusts, these desires and they will be powerful! These covetous lusts will try to control us, not have us control them. Satan has done His job well and has convinced us that it's impossible to fight temptations, it's impossible for us to control our NATURAL desires. We have child molesters that will describe in great detail how they couldn't HELP doing what they've done. Murderers, serial killers, they'll tell you they were compelled to do what they've done- unable to stop themselves. We have psychologists/psychiatrists/therapists/physicians and many tests that will be used in court to prove that parts of a psychopath's brain doesn't function like normal peoples. We have so much that goes on to prove why people can't control their coveting, why they can't abstain from their fleshly lusts. We make excuses even as we lock the rapists and murderers up in jail and there is a pinprick of sympathy for the poor soul who was just born bad through NO fault of his own.
I'm no expert at all and don't claim to be. There really could be people who lack the control to abstain from coveting and such- there really could be those who have no control over their actions. I know I have a hard enough time with my own personal *problems*. However we are told in God's word that with every temptation there is a way out of that temptation.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
IF we believe in God we have to believe His word to us. If we claim Christ as our Savior, if we've been born again in our Savior and place our lives in His hands we have to believe what we are told.
The temptations we face are COMMON. Often we feel as if we are the only ones struggling but we aren't! Temptation is common, it's not something rare! God WILL make a way to escape, He will make us able to BEAR the temptation without succumbing to it. He will! And we have to resist unto blood if necessary.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
A way to escape, striving against sin. It's not easy- it's horrifically hard to strive against sin.
We are to pray-
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
We are told by our Savior-
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
The FLESH is weak! We must WATCH, we must PRAY- that we enter NOT into temptation!
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.
We must ENDURE temptation not succumb to temptation, we must endure it without giving into it.
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
We have to live without coveting- the root of a lot of our temptations is coveting. We need to be CONTENT with how things are. We need to be content without the things we covet, living in such a way that by the grace of our Lord we stop coveting. We need to be content with this wonderful, amazing fact-- Jesus will NEVER leave us or forsake us! We might lose EVERYTHING we hold dear in this world, but we CAN'T lose our Savior, NO ONE can take our Savior from us, NOTHING can take our Savior from us! He will NEVER leave us! He will NEVER forsake us! Our eternal life is secure in HIM! We might live in horror in this world, but we have the promise of true life in HIM, in our SAVIOR! Too many people believe God is giving up on them when their lives here and now become living torture- whether emotionally, mentally, physically it doesn't matter. Satan would have us believe God has left us, that we are no longer loved by God, that we've been deserted just when we need our Savior most- but that's wrong! Our Savior was HERE In this world suffering, dying when we needed Him most to do so and He did! He was an example to us- He lived a very painful existence emotionally, mentally, and finally physically He lived a torturous life and we are called to do NO less. If we are blessed enough not to be called to endure horror it's not because of something we've done, it's not because God loves us more than others, we can't know all the reasoning behind life, all the whys and wherefores. We suffer, we live, we love, we need to claim our Savior in ALL things! He will NEVER LEAVE US! He will NEVER FORSAKE US! By His grace we live!
May we cling to our Savior as Satan surrounds us with constant temptation to covetousness, may we cling to our Lord, our Redeemer and resist unto blood!
All in His name! In His holy, holy name! In His love! In His righteousness! His grace! His mercy!
Amen!!!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
God will judge
Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Let's get the meaning of the Greek words whoremaster and adulterer--
Webster-
WHOREMONGER, n. The same as whoremaster.
Whoremaster
WHOREMASTER, n. [supra.] One who practices lewdness.
Strong's-
Whoremonger-
pornos
por'-nos
From πέρνημι pernēmi (to sell; akin to the base of G4097); a (male) prostitute (as venal), that is, (by analogy) a debauchee (libertine): - fornicator, whoremonger.
Websters-
Adulterer
ADUL'TERER, n. [L. adulter.]
1. A man guilty of adultery; a man who has sexual commerce with any married woman, except his wife. [See Adultery.]
2. In scripture, an idolator. Ezek 23.
3. An apostate from the true faith, or one who violates his covenant engagements; a very wicked person. Jer 9 and 23.
4. One devoted to earthly things. James 4.
Strong's
Adulterer-
moichos
moy-khos'
Perhaps a primary word; a (male) paramour; figuratively apostate: - adulterer.
*******
Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Marriage is honorable.
Adultery, whoredom- is not honorable and God will judge those who take part in these.
What is the principle example of marriage- Christ and His Bride(the Church), Christ and His people joining- becoming one.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
A bride needs a bridegroom, and a bridegroom needs a bride- one without the other is useless.
All of us can be part of the bride of Christ. Every single human being has this capacity. Every single person can be part of this heavenly marriage, this heavenly relationship. The possibility exists for us to have this amazing marriage, the BEST marriage ever!
If the possibility exists to have an amazing marriage then the opposite is true, isn't it? No marriage.
We are made inherently to want companions and when we meet people who don't have a companion but rather are living their lives alone it's inevitable that people feel sorry for them. Being alone is lonely. There is something missing, that other half isn't there.
Today in our warped world with it's warped perceptions I'm sure many will say that being alone doesn't necessarily mean being lonely, that we don't all need companions, that having another half isn't true for everyone. I'm not going to debate this, I'm not a debater in the best of circumstances. I believe what I believe and I'm not asking anyone to join me in my beliefs. If anyone agrees with something I say that's great but my relationship is with God first not any other. I have to answer to God and God alone. I will be judged by God and God alone and it's my personal belief that we human beings created male and female were made to desire companionship to be complete.
Being made with this desire is a perfect way for us to understand the relationship God desires with His people. Companionship.
We have an opportunity to be wedded to our God, and we also have an opportunity to MISS being wedded to our God. God will not marry every human being but ONLY those who are His, only those who have been born again.
We can choose to be God's, in fact to be His we need to choose to be, and by the power of Christ it is possible. If we don't choose to be God's we won't be. If we choose to be God's and then choose to leave God we won't be God's any longer- HE DOES NOT FORCE US TO STAY HIS! We can choose to become apostates . We can choose to become adulterers, leaving our God for a substitute god. We can choose to be whoremongers and try to find others to fill the place of God as a companion, and Satan will do anything and everything he can to keep us from our Bridegroom, to snatch us away once we are betrothed to Him.
Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Whether marriage between a man and woman or the promised marriage to come this verse applies.
God will judge those who are whoremongers and adulterers. God will NOT judge those who are married to Him. God will not judge those who are honorable in their marriages.
Those who choose not to be God's will be judged without any doubt. Those who choose to be God's will have an advocate and that advocate is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and He will plead in our behalf, He has paid the price for our sins, and we will not be found guilty. PRAISE GOD!
By the grace of our Lord and Savior now and forever may be we ready for our Bridegroom when He comes to take us into the marriage feast, His Bride!
In His eternal love!
Amen.
Let's get the meaning of the Greek words whoremaster and adulterer--
Webster-
WHOREMONGER, n. The same as whoremaster.
Whoremaster
WHOREMASTER, n. [supra.] One who practices lewdness.
Strong's-
Whoremonger-
pornos
por'-nos
From πέρνημι pernēmi (to sell; akin to the base of G4097); a (male) prostitute (as venal), that is, (by analogy) a debauchee (libertine): - fornicator, whoremonger.
Websters-
Adulterer
ADUL'TERER, n. [L. adulter.]
1. A man guilty of adultery; a man who has sexual commerce with any married woman, except his wife. [See Adultery.]
2. In scripture, an idolator. Ezek 23.
3. An apostate from the true faith, or one who violates his covenant engagements; a very wicked person. Jer 9 and 23.
4. One devoted to earthly things. James 4.
Strong's
Adulterer-
moichos
moy-khos'
Perhaps a primary word; a (male) paramour; figuratively apostate: - adulterer.
*******
Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Marriage is honorable.
Adultery, whoredom- is not honorable and God will judge those who take part in these.
What is the principle example of marriage- Christ and His Bride(the Church), Christ and His people joining- becoming one.
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
A bride needs a bridegroom, and a bridegroom needs a bride- one without the other is useless.
All of us can be part of the bride of Christ. Every single human being has this capacity. Every single person can be part of this heavenly marriage, this heavenly relationship. The possibility exists for us to have this amazing marriage, the BEST marriage ever!
If the possibility exists to have an amazing marriage then the opposite is true, isn't it? No marriage.
We are made inherently to want companions and when we meet people who don't have a companion but rather are living their lives alone it's inevitable that people feel sorry for them. Being alone is lonely. There is something missing, that other half isn't there.
Today in our warped world with it's warped perceptions I'm sure many will say that being alone doesn't necessarily mean being lonely, that we don't all need companions, that having another half isn't true for everyone. I'm not going to debate this, I'm not a debater in the best of circumstances. I believe what I believe and I'm not asking anyone to join me in my beliefs. If anyone agrees with something I say that's great but my relationship is with God first not any other. I have to answer to God and God alone. I will be judged by God and God alone and it's my personal belief that we human beings created male and female were made to desire companionship to be complete.
Being made with this desire is a perfect way for us to understand the relationship God desires with His people. Companionship.
We have an opportunity to be wedded to our God, and we also have an opportunity to MISS being wedded to our God. God will not marry every human being but ONLY those who are His, only those who have been born again.
We can choose to be God's, in fact to be His we need to choose to be, and by the power of Christ it is possible. If we don't choose to be God's we won't be. If we choose to be God's and then choose to leave God we won't be God's any longer- HE DOES NOT FORCE US TO STAY HIS! We can choose to become apostates . We can choose to become adulterers, leaving our God for a substitute god. We can choose to be whoremongers and try to find others to fill the place of God as a companion, and Satan will do anything and everything he can to keep us from our Bridegroom, to snatch us away once we are betrothed to Him.
Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Whether marriage between a man and woman or the promised marriage to come this verse applies.
God will judge those who are whoremongers and adulterers. God will NOT judge those who are married to Him. God will not judge those who are honorable in their marriages.
Those who choose not to be God's will be judged without any doubt. Those who choose to be God's will have an advocate and that advocate is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and He will plead in our behalf, He has paid the price for our sins, and we will not be found guilty. PRAISE GOD!
By the grace of our Lord and Savior now and forever may be we ready for our Bridegroom when He comes to take us into the marriage feast, His Bride!
In His eternal love!
Amen.
Monday, November 22, 2010
In the body
Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Remember those in prison. Let me ask you something, were they talking about all prisoners? Seriously, were they talking about the criminals? Or were they talking about remember fellow believers that are bound? Those in the body of Christ are believers of Christ as their Savior. They live in Christ, they are born again in Christ, they are part of the body of Christ. We cannot believe everyone is part of the body of Christ. Not everyone even wants to be part of the body of Christ and Christ forces no one.
People get upset when we start to differentiate between those who are with Christ and those who are not. They throw up the fact that we are to love all without bias, and that's true. We are to love without bias, we are to love as Jesus loved and loves. Did Jesus speak against anyone when He walked the earth?
Mat 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees- does that sound as if Jesus is just 'loving' them without any reservation, without any restraint, without any thought for the manner of person they are or what they believe or how they act? No.
While we are not Jesus and we cannot see into people's hearts as He can and know their hearts. We need to be discerning though, don't we?
Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Dogs, swine, how are we to know who are the dogs, who are the swine if we are not able to discern between those who are of the body of Christ and those who aren't?
I've mentioned it before- we can't judge someone's eternal life, but we have to be able to judge actions. We have to be able to discern between good and evil and the acts of those who choose to do good or evil. If you know there is a party going on and you get to see the guest list of those at the party you'd be able to tell what sort of party it might be, wouldn't you? If you see a known drug addict, a known pervert on the list what would you assume? That the party isn't quite the type of party you'd want to attend based on your knowledge of those attending. Does this make you unlike Jesus? He went in and supped with sinners. We have to ask ourselves why he went in and supped with known sinners. He did so knowing there was an opportunity for Him to open their eyes to the truth in Him, open their eyes to the forgiveness and new life He offers. He did not JOIN them in their sinning. If we did attend a party where we know it will be anything but Godly and we did so with the intention of witnessing for Christ, that's one thing, but it's a whole other thing if we go to that party and simply accept the debauchery that takes place without saying a word. We aren't to put ourselves into situations or align ourselves with those we know want nothing to do with our Lord and Savior. We can pray for everyone, we can pray that people are convicted by the Holy Spirit and their eyes are opened, their hearts are softened so they can accept the love of Jesus, and sometimes that's all we can do. We can meet the sinner's basic needs- if we see a known godless person hungering, yes, we can feed them and hope the act of kindness reveals the love of Jesus in us. We just can't ignore the fact that there are godless, that there are those who don't love Jesus and we are not to mingle with them unless it's for witnessing. Too many Christians have the 'Holier than Thou' attitude and too many have the 'casting their pearls before swine without a thought' attitude, too many 'give what is holy to the dogs' thinking they are doing God's work.
We are all sinners, but some are sinners who are repenting of their sin and seeking forgiveness, others are not. We can witness, our lives witness for us, and we can pray, all without entering into the dog pits or the swine pen. Even as I say it, I know some are going to believe I'm wrong and who knows maybe I am, but maybe I'm not. Right or wrong we need to fall on our knees and ask for the guidance of our Savior and not presume we know that is best.
Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
As being yourselves also in the body. We are in the body of Christ.
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
We need to remember those who are in bonds and them which suffer adversity because we are all in one body in Christ. When our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ suffer - we are suffering with them- their suffering is OUR suffering and we can't forget that.
Our lives are caught up in so much. Everyday some of us come face to face with unbelievers, with those who aren't of the body. I don't personally know anyone who is shut off from the world and only living among those who believe as they believe. We aren't told to hide ourselves away. We are told to keep ourselves from evil and not to put ourselves in situations where we can be tempted by that evil. If you are weak when it comes to alcohol then going to witness for your Savior in a bar is foolish! If you have trouble with promiscuity then going to a street corner where people are offering you a chance to be promiscuous under the belief you are just going to witness is WRONG. We aren't to put ourselves in temptation's way but keep ourselves from the evil that would overcome us. We can witness for our Savior and be a part of Christ's body even if you are witnessing to just one single person in your own household. Even if your life reflects Christ's teachings when you deal with the mail man, or the grocery store clerk, or the telemarketer, or any other human being for whatever reason at all you are witnessing when you treat them with Christ's love.
Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
We are to remember our fellow followers of Christ- strengthening each other in whatever situation we are in, and not forget we need to do this- HELP each other, even as we help our enemies. We shouldn't cast our pearls before swine and we shouldn't give that which is holy unto the dogs, but we still have to love our enemies- overcoming evil with good.
By the grace of our Lord and Savior may we be found helping those in need whether they are of the body of Christ or our enemies, never forgetting that no matter the eternal state of another - of which we cannot know- that we are to be revealers of God's love in all we do.
In the love of our Savior now and always!!!
By His amazing, wonderful grace!
Amen!
Remember those in prison. Let me ask you something, were they talking about all prisoners? Seriously, were they talking about the criminals? Or were they talking about remember fellow believers that are bound? Those in the body of Christ are believers of Christ as their Savior. They live in Christ, they are born again in Christ, they are part of the body of Christ. We cannot believe everyone is part of the body of Christ. Not everyone even wants to be part of the body of Christ and Christ forces no one.
People get upset when we start to differentiate between those who are with Christ and those who are not. They throw up the fact that we are to love all without bias, and that's true. We are to love without bias, we are to love as Jesus loved and loves. Did Jesus speak against anyone when He walked the earth?
Mat 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees- does that sound as if Jesus is just 'loving' them without any reservation, without any restraint, without any thought for the manner of person they are or what they believe or how they act? No.
While we are not Jesus and we cannot see into people's hearts as He can and know their hearts. We need to be discerning though, don't we?
Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Dogs, swine, how are we to know who are the dogs, who are the swine if we are not able to discern between those who are of the body of Christ and those who aren't?
I've mentioned it before- we can't judge someone's eternal life, but we have to be able to judge actions. We have to be able to discern between good and evil and the acts of those who choose to do good or evil. If you know there is a party going on and you get to see the guest list of those at the party you'd be able to tell what sort of party it might be, wouldn't you? If you see a known drug addict, a known pervert on the list what would you assume? That the party isn't quite the type of party you'd want to attend based on your knowledge of those attending. Does this make you unlike Jesus? He went in and supped with sinners. We have to ask ourselves why he went in and supped with known sinners. He did so knowing there was an opportunity for Him to open their eyes to the truth in Him, open their eyes to the forgiveness and new life He offers. He did not JOIN them in their sinning. If we did attend a party where we know it will be anything but Godly and we did so with the intention of witnessing for Christ, that's one thing, but it's a whole other thing if we go to that party and simply accept the debauchery that takes place without saying a word. We aren't to put ourselves into situations or align ourselves with those we know want nothing to do with our Lord and Savior. We can pray for everyone, we can pray that people are convicted by the Holy Spirit and their eyes are opened, their hearts are softened so they can accept the love of Jesus, and sometimes that's all we can do. We can meet the sinner's basic needs- if we see a known godless person hungering, yes, we can feed them and hope the act of kindness reveals the love of Jesus in us. We just can't ignore the fact that there are godless, that there are those who don't love Jesus and we are not to mingle with them unless it's for witnessing. Too many Christians have the 'Holier than Thou' attitude and too many have the 'casting their pearls before swine without a thought' attitude, too many 'give what is holy to the dogs' thinking they are doing God's work.
We are all sinners, but some are sinners who are repenting of their sin and seeking forgiveness, others are not. We can witness, our lives witness for us, and we can pray, all without entering into the dog pits or the swine pen. Even as I say it, I know some are going to believe I'm wrong and who knows maybe I am, but maybe I'm not. Right or wrong we need to fall on our knees and ask for the guidance of our Savior and not presume we know that is best.
Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
As being yourselves also in the body. We are in the body of Christ.
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
We need to remember those who are in bonds and them which suffer adversity because we are all in one body in Christ. When our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ suffer - we are suffering with them- their suffering is OUR suffering and we can't forget that.
Our lives are caught up in so much. Everyday some of us come face to face with unbelievers, with those who aren't of the body. I don't personally know anyone who is shut off from the world and only living among those who believe as they believe. We aren't told to hide ourselves away. We are told to keep ourselves from evil and not to put ourselves in situations where we can be tempted by that evil. If you are weak when it comes to alcohol then going to witness for your Savior in a bar is foolish! If you have trouble with promiscuity then going to a street corner where people are offering you a chance to be promiscuous under the belief you are just going to witness is WRONG. We aren't to put ourselves in temptation's way but keep ourselves from the evil that would overcome us. We can witness for our Savior and be a part of Christ's body even if you are witnessing to just one single person in your own household. Even if your life reflects Christ's teachings when you deal with the mail man, or the grocery store clerk, or the telemarketer, or any other human being for whatever reason at all you are witnessing when you treat them with Christ's love.
Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
We are to remember our fellow followers of Christ- strengthening each other in whatever situation we are in, and not forget we need to do this- HELP each other, even as we help our enemies. We shouldn't cast our pearls before swine and we shouldn't give that which is holy unto the dogs, but we still have to love our enemies- overcoming evil with good.
By the grace of our Lord and Savior may we be found helping those in need whether they are of the body of Christ or our enemies, never forgetting that no matter the eternal state of another - of which we cannot know- that we are to be revealers of God's love in all we do.
In the love of our Savior now and always!!!
By His amazing, wonderful grace!
Amen!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Open to Me the Gates of Righteousness!
Psa 118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
Psa 118:20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
Gate-
H8179sha‛ar
shah'-ar
From H8176 in its original sense; an opening, that is, door or gate: - city, door, gate, port (X -er).
Who is our door to salvation? Jesus.
Jesus is the way. Jesus is our gate to salvation.
The gates of righteousness.
Who is the source of all righteousness? Jesus.
1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous
1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
This gate of the LORD - into which the righteous shall enter.
We have to enter into the righteousness of Christ this is our only way to salvation- Christ's righteousness. PRAISE THE LORD!
Psa 118:21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone
1Pe 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner
Psa 118:23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
PRAISE THE LORD!
Psa 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psa 118:25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
Psa 118:26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
Psa 118:27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
Psa 118:28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
Psa 118:29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
These words are so wonderful! These prophetic words of David's are all about our beloved SAVIOR! David knew even long before the Savior was to come, David knew that the only way to salvation would be through the righteousness of the Messiah- the gate of righteousness, the stone the builder refused, the head stone of the corner! Praise the Lord! Our wonderful, wonderful Lord! The promise of our Lord to come, the promise of our Lord realized, the promise of our Lord to come again. Every human being has lived with our Lord a reality! No human will ever live without the Lord being the way to Salvation!
How wondrous is our God! Never have we been without the possibility of be saved, never! Just as David lived knowing the way to Salvation, we living knowing the way to Salvation and it's not through our own righteousness.
As David said- OPEN TO ME THE GATES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS- I too say OPEN TO ME THE GATES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS I WILL GO INTO THEM!
PRAISE THE LORD!
Psa 118:20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
Gate-
H8179sha‛ar
shah'-ar
From H8176 in its original sense; an opening, that is, door or gate: - city, door, gate, port (X -er).
Who is our door to salvation? Jesus.
Jesus is the way. Jesus is our gate to salvation.
The gates of righteousness.
Who is the source of all righteousness? Jesus.
1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous
1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
This gate of the LORD - into which the righteous shall enter.
We have to enter into the righteousness of Christ this is our only way to salvation- Christ's righteousness. PRAISE THE LORD!
Psa 118:21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone
1Pe 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner
Psa 118:23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
PRAISE THE LORD!
Psa 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psa 118:25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
Psa 118:26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
Psa 118:27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
Psa 118:28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
Psa 118:29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
These words are so wonderful! These prophetic words of David's are all about our beloved SAVIOR! David knew even long before the Savior was to come, David knew that the only way to salvation would be through the righteousness of the Messiah- the gate of righteousness, the stone the builder refused, the head stone of the corner! Praise the Lord! Our wonderful, wonderful Lord! The promise of our Lord to come, the promise of our Lord realized, the promise of our Lord to come again. Every human being has lived with our Lord a reality! No human will ever live without the Lord being the way to Salvation!
How wondrous is our God! Never have we been without the possibility of be saved, never! Just as David lived knowing the way to Salvation, we living knowing the way to Salvation and it's not through our own righteousness.
As David said- OPEN TO ME THE GATES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS- I too say OPEN TO ME THE GATES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS I WILL GO INTO THEM!
PRAISE THE LORD!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Ignorance or Presumption
Num 15:29 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.
Num 15:30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Sin through ignorance.
Sin through presumption.
Ignorance-
H7684
shegâgâh
sheg-aw-gaw'
From H7683; a mistake or inadvertent transgression: - error, ignorance, at unawares, unwittingly.
Presumptuously-
H7311
רוּם
rûm
room
A primitive root; to be high actively to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively): - bring up, exalt (self), extol, give, go up, haughty, heave (up), (be, lift up on, make on, set up on, too) high (-er, one), hold up, levy, lift (-er) up, (be) lofty, (X a-) loud, mount up, offer (up), + presumptuously, (be) promote (-ion), proud, set up, tall (-er), take (away, off, up), breed worms.
Sin through mistakes, sin inadvertently, sin through error, sin unaware, sin unwittingly.
Sin haughtily, sin loftily, sin proudly, sin through self exaltation.
When you are commanded NOT to do something and you do it knowingly, when you do it because you believe YOU know better, that YOU are in control of yourself- that God has no power to command you- this is a blatant sin, a presumptuous sin.
A sin committed in error, a sin committed through the weakness of our flesh, a sin committed that you know is a mistake, this is a sin of ignorance.
People sin all the time but many sin living as if God doesn't even exist, that God's will doesn't matter. People who sin proudly flaunting their supposed superiority over God have no place of forgiveness because they've made themselves to be their own god, denying the power of the one, true God. They have no conviction to even seek repentance and forgiveness. God will not forgive a person who does not seek forgiveness.
We can't make the mistake of believing there is no hope for those who are truly seeking forgiveness. Some would have us believe that we can never be forgiven, ever, no matter what because we sinned knowingly. DAVID sinned knowingly! It's not sinning knowingly that is presumptuous, it's sinning with the presumption that it doesn't matter if you sin. David knew He'd done wrong, David didn't presume that His sin didn't matter, that God's commands didn't matter. It was in the weakness of flesh that David sinned. DON'T get me wrong here, I'm not saying we can use our flesh weakness to presumptuously sin, NO WAY. The presumption - being haughty, being proud, exalting in that sin- will forever be wrong! And again DON'T get me wrong… God KNOWS our hearts, He knows what is TRUE flesh weakness and what is presumption. We CAN'T fool God! We can try to fool ourselves but God will not be fooled!
God knows the depths of our suffering, God knows even when we renounce Him out of pain whether we are doing so presumptuously or ignorantly- through our weakness. There is a grand difference between presumption and ignorance and Satan would have us believe that we are inevitably lost wanting us to give up on God's grace, on God's power of forgiveness. Satan wants us any way He can get us!
God gives us commands. Jesus reinforced those commands and added commands, these commandments reveal God to us, these commandments reveal God's love for us.
Why is eternal death the end result of breaking the commandments of God? Why was death a punishment, a sentence given and followed through on for breaking the commandments of God? Why would God make the punishment so severe? People want to believe that God didn't command death to those who broke the commandments, but He did. People will say that doesn't sound like a very loving, caring, forgiving God at all. What they mean is that doesn't sound like their imaginary God who will never punish but forever just give a tap on the wrist and forever give chance after chance.
We have an EXACTING God! We have a God who is a CONSUMING FIRE! This is OUR GOD! Our very, very loving God!
People will point out torture in the Bible and say if God condones that then He's not loving. People will point out at the innocent suffering and say that's NOT a loving God. People are very quick to judge God- and people are very quick to PRESUME they know better than God. People will reject God and in doing so they set themselves us as their own god. As soon as you make the presumption that YOU and YOUR thoughts, YOUR beliefs are better than God's- you have put yourself in place of God whether you go about claiming that title or not. Satan would love to keep you in the dark about your presumption and where it places you, as long as you are not claiming God, Satan is thrilled. Many would be appalled to realize that they are claiming to be a god. They don't look at it quite that way, they're just saying they don't understand God, they'll back paddle quickly if they have to come face to face with the fact that when they deny God they claim their own godhood. It's not like saying you don't believe in the President of the United States and that makes you the President of the United States - that's a MAN to MAN level, human to human level. We aren't dealing with a human to human level but a God to human level. Men can, and will, and do claim there is no God, men can, and will, and do claim to be in control of themselves, dependent upon no one. Men can, and will, and do claim to be their own god- their own creator (human creating human), their own sustainer.
We are dependent creatures. If that statement bothers you then you might be guilty of self-exaltation. Seriously. We are dependent upon God. God gives us life and yes, God can take that life away. We are dependent creatures who have the power of choice. That power of choice allows us to acknowledge our dependence or ignore it, deny it, rebel against it. We are told outright the results of our actions- if we choose to acknowledge our dependence or if we choose not to acknowledge our dependence. If we choose to acknowledge our Creator, our Redeemer, or if we choose not to acknowledge our Creator, our Redeemer- there are consequences for our choices. You can choose to not acknowledge and still live out your life here and now- but you give up life eternal. There will be NO automatic save. There will be NO second chance. There will be no holding pen while you acknowledge you are wrong.
If you choose to believe that God is unjust and therefore you don't want to follow Him- He won't force you to do so. If you choose to defy God and suffer for it, it's because YOU CHOSE to disobey- perhaps believing you have no need of God, perhaps believing He doesn't exist, either way it was YOUR choice. God will NOT force us to believe! God will NOT make it IMPOSSIBLE for you to have a choice. We have that choice, each and everyone of us has that choice of faith. Each of us is accountable to God for our choice- even the choice not to believe He exists. We are dependent, accountable beings and our God love us and has shown it in many, many ways. Our God could have destroyed us all outright, out of Love He's not destroyed us but given us a chance to live in Him, for Him, with Him.
God has revealed Himself to us. God sent His Son and His Son revealed God to us. We aren't left to wonder endlessly what God is like, He's shown us over and over. God has told us what He condones and what He doesn't condone. We can choose to live as He's revealed we should live- under the grace of our Savior, through our Savior's righteousness, yielding ourselves servant to our Savior, servant's to His righteousness- OR we can choose to live to ourselves, to sin.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We choose.
We are informed and we make a choice. Every day, every hour, every moment we make a choice.
By the grace and mercy of our loving Savior may we make the right choice now and always!
In His love!
Amen.
Num 15:30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Sin through ignorance.
Sin through presumption.
Ignorance-
H7684
shegâgâh
sheg-aw-gaw'
From H7683; a mistake or inadvertent transgression: - error, ignorance, at unawares, unwittingly.
Presumptuously-
H7311
רוּם
rûm
room
A primitive root; to be high actively to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively): - bring up, exalt (self), extol, give, go up, haughty, heave (up), (be, lift up on, make on, set up on, too) high (-er, one), hold up, levy, lift (-er) up, (be) lofty, (X a-) loud, mount up, offer (up), + presumptuously, (be) promote (-ion), proud, set up, tall (-er), take (away, off, up), breed worms.
Sin through mistakes, sin inadvertently, sin through error, sin unaware, sin unwittingly.
Sin haughtily, sin loftily, sin proudly, sin through self exaltation.
When you are commanded NOT to do something and you do it knowingly, when you do it because you believe YOU know better, that YOU are in control of yourself- that God has no power to command you- this is a blatant sin, a presumptuous sin.
A sin committed in error, a sin committed through the weakness of our flesh, a sin committed that you know is a mistake, this is a sin of ignorance.
People sin all the time but many sin living as if God doesn't even exist, that God's will doesn't matter. People who sin proudly flaunting their supposed superiority over God have no place of forgiveness because they've made themselves to be their own god, denying the power of the one, true God. They have no conviction to even seek repentance and forgiveness. God will not forgive a person who does not seek forgiveness.
We can't make the mistake of believing there is no hope for those who are truly seeking forgiveness. Some would have us believe that we can never be forgiven, ever, no matter what because we sinned knowingly. DAVID sinned knowingly! It's not sinning knowingly that is presumptuous, it's sinning with the presumption that it doesn't matter if you sin. David knew He'd done wrong, David didn't presume that His sin didn't matter, that God's commands didn't matter. It was in the weakness of flesh that David sinned. DON'T get me wrong here, I'm not saying we can use our flesh weakness to presumptuously sin, NO WAY. The presumption - being haughty, being proud, exalting in that sin- will forever be wrong! And again DON'T get me wrong… God KNOWS our hearts, He knows what is TRUE flesh weakness and what is presumption. We CAN'T fool God! We can try to fool ourselves but God will not be fooled!
God knows the depths of our suffering, God knows even when we renounce Him out of pain whether we are doing so presumptuously or ignorantly- through our weakness. There is a grand difference between presumption and ignorance and Satan would have us believe that we are inevitably lost wanting us to give up on God's grace, on God's power of forgiveness. Satan wants us any way He can get us!
God gives us commands. Jesus reinforced those commands and added commands, these commandments reveal God to us, these commandments reveal God's love for us.
Why is eternal death the end result of breaking the commandments of God? Why was death a punishment, a sentence given and followed through on for breaking the commandments of God? Why would God make the punishment so severe? People want to believe that God didn't command death to those who broke the commandments, but He did. People will say that doesn't sound like a very loving, caring, forgiving God at all. What they mean is that doesn't sound like their imaginary God who will never punish but forever just give a tap on the wrist and forever give chance after chance.
We have an EXACTING God! We have a God who is a CONSUMING FIRE! This is OUR GOD! Our very, very loving God!
People will point out torture in the Bible and say if God condones that then He's not loving. People will point out at the innocent suffering and say that's NOT a loving God. People are very quick to judge God- and people are very quick to PRESUME they know better than God. People will reject God and in doing so they set themselves us as their own god. As soon as you make the presumption that YOU and YOUR thoughts, YOUR beliefs are better than God's- you have put yourself in place of God whether you go about claiming that title or not. Satan would love to keep you in the dark about your presumption and where it places you, as long as you are not claiming God, Satan is thrilled. Many would be appalled to realize that they are claiming to be a god. They don't look at it quite that way, they're just saying they don't understand God, they'll back paddle quickly if they have to come face to face with the fact that when they deny God they claim their own godhood. It's not like saying you don't believe in the President of the United States and that makes you the President of the United States - that's a MAN to MAN level, human to human level. We aren't dealing with a human to human level but a God to human level. Men can, and will, and do claim there is no God, men can, and will, and do claim to be in control of themselves, dependent upon no one. Men can, and will, and do claim to be their own god- their own creator (human creating human), their own sustainer.
We are dependent creatures. If that statement bothers you then you might be guilty of self-exaltation. Seriously. We are dependent upon God. God gives us life and yes, God can take that life away. We are dependent creatures who have the power of choice. That power of choice allows us to acknowledge our dependence or ignore it, deny it, rebel against it. We are told outright the results of our actions- if we choose to acknowledge our dependence or if we choose not to acknowledge our dependence. If we choose to acknowledge our Creator, our Redeemer, or if we choose not to acknowledge our Creator, our Redeemer- there are consequences for our choices. You can choose to not acknowledge and still live out your life here and now- but you give up life eternal. There will be NO automatic save. There will be NO second chance. There will be no holding pen while you acknowledge you are wrong.
If you choose to believe that God is unjust and therefore you don't want to follow Him- He won't force you to do so. If you choose to defy God and suffer for it, it's because YOU CHOSE to disobey- perhaps believing you have no need of God, perhaps believing He doesn't exist, either way it was YOUR choice. God will NOT force us to believe! God will NOT make it IMPOSSIBLE for you to have a choice. We have that choice, each and everyone of us has that choice of faith. Each of us is accountable to God for our choice- even the choice not to believe He exists. We are dependent, accountable beings and our God love us and has shown it in many, many ways. Our God could have destroyed us all outright, out of Love He's not destroyed us but given us a chance to live in Him, for Him, with Him.
God has revealed Himself to us. God sent His Son and His Son revealed God to us. We aren't left to wonder endlessly what God is like, He's shown us over and over. God has told us what He condones and what He doesn't condone. We can choose to live as He's revealed we should live- under the grace of our Savior, through our Savior's righteousness, yielding ourselves servant to our Savior, servant's to His righteousness- OR we can choose to live to ourselves, to sin.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We choose.
We are informed and we make a choice. Every day, every hour, every moment we make a choice.
By the grace and mercy of our loving Savior may we make the right choice now and always!
In His love!
Amen.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Be not forgetful
13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Have you ever forgotten something? Of course you have. You might have forgotten something just this morning or perhaps yesterday. We forget and some of us seem more forgetful than others. When we forget something we are usually at least a tiny bit upset with ourselves for forgetting whatever it was we forgot- at least if it were something important. We generally don't get upset if we forget a bit of history we may have learned in grade school, but we would get very upset if we forget a friend's birthday. We forget, it's part of our nature. No one, perhaps I should rephrase that for the very few, most people forget, there are a tiny fraction of people who have perfect memory- so tiny it's likely most of us don't even know one of those few.
We forget. We are forgetful. Do we forget on purpose? Is it even possible to forget something on purpose? I don't know that it is. It is however, possible for us to NOT take steps that would keep us from forgetting something. We mostly have it in our power to take step to keep from forgetting. We can write ourselves notes, we can recite something over and over, we could put an object in our midst that would jog our memory. We have ways to help us remember. No, maybe we don't have ways to help us remember every single fact we learn but we have ways to keep us from forgetting important things, right?
If someone tells you not to forget something it's a good guess it's something important- at least to that person.
Forget--
G1950
epilanthanomai
ep-ee-lan-than'-om-ahee
Middle voice from G1909 and G2990; to lose out of mind; by implication to neglect: - (be) forget (-ful of).
Lose out of mind- by implication to neglect.
Have you ever had someone in your life feel as if they were being neglected when you've forgotten something they've wanted you to remember? They feel the neglect and are HURT, their feelings are hurt. They judge your forgetfulness to mean you don't care enough to remember. Their feelings are being neglected, their wish for you to remember something is being slighted. You might not feel that way about it though. You might feel as if you have NO control over the things you forget or remember. You don't realize that you might need to create some system that allows you to remember things that people tell you, especially your loved ones who are most likely to feel hurt, to feel purposely neglected by your poor memory. Because you didn't purposely forget you want to be forgiven, but that doesn't do away with the hurt the forgetting causes. You can be forgiven but at the same time the neglect whether blatant or not, is still real.
When God tells us in His word not to forget how should He feel when we do forget? Should we expect automatic forgiveness? Or should we expect punishment for allowing ourselves to forget, for neglecting to do whatever it is God told us not to forget.
If we are told NOT to forget by God we better make sure we remember! No, I'm not saying God wouldn't forgive us if we truly repent , but we are accountable for our neglecting to remember.
13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Be not forgetful- to entertain strangers.
Entertain strangers-
G5381
philonexia
fil-on-ex-ee'-ah
From G5382; hospitableness: - entertain strangers, hospitality.
Hospitality (Webster)
HOSPITAL'ITY, n. [L. hospitalitas.] The act or practice of receiving and entertaining strangers or guests without reward, or with kind and generous liberality.
We cannot forget to be kind to those we don't know.
How easy it is to be indifferent to those we don't know. How easy it is to go about in our own little worlds keeping the unknown at bay. I know it's very easy for me to do so. I don't live in a small town where everyone knows everyone, I wasn't raised in a small town like that either. Keeping to myself is much more my style, in fact it's very hard for me to talk to strangers. I like to think that if someone came to me in need I wouldn't turn them away and in that way I'd be able to entertain strangers, but to go out and actively seek strangers to entertain isn't something I feel very comfortable doing. Not everyone is outgoing and being shy doesn't mean a person is ungodly. We all have our roles, we all have our places in life and as long as we put ourselves at God's disposal He will use us as He needs to.
We can't forget what God tells us not to forget. We can't forget what God tells us to remember and we need to do all we can to remember the words of the Lord to us. If it means writing ourselves notes, or going to great lengths to remember we need to do this, we really do.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, in His love, by His righteousness now and forever!
Amen.
Have you ever forgotten something? Of course you have. You might have forgotten something just this morning or perhaps yesterday. We forget and some of us seem more forgetful than others. When we forget something we are usually at least a tiny bit upset with ourselves for forgetting whatever it was we forgot- at least if it were something important. We generally don't get upset if we forget a bit of history we may have learned in grade school, but we would get very upset if we forget a friend's birthday. We forget, it's part of our nature. No one, perhaps I should rephrase that for the very few, most people forget, there are a tiny fraction of people who have perfect memory- so tiny it's likely most of us don't even know one of those few.
We forget. We are forgetful. Do we forget on purpose? Is it even possible to forget something on purpose? I don't know that it is. It is however, possible for us to NOT take steps that would keep us from forgetting something. We mostly have it in our power to take step to keep from forgetting. We can write ourselves notes, we can recite something over and over, we could put an object in our midst that would jog our memory. We have ways to help us remember. No, maybe we don't have ways to help us remember every single fact we learn but we have ways to keep us from forgetting important things, right?
If someone tells you not to forget something it's a good guess it's something important- at least to that person.
Forget--
G1950
epilanthanomai
ep-ee-lan-than'-om-ahee
Middle voice from G1909 and G2990; to lose out of mind; by implication to neglect: - (be) forget (-ful of).
Lose out of mind- by implication to neglect.
Have you ever had someone in your life feel as if they were being neglected when you've forgotten something they've wanted you to remember? They feel the neglect and are HURT, their feelings are hurt. They judge your forgetfulness to mean you don't care enough to remember. Their feelings are being neglected, their wish for you to remember something is being slighted. You might not feel that way about it though. You might feel as if you have NO control over the things you forget or remember. You don't realize that you might need to create some system that allows you to remember things that people tell you, especially your loved ones who are most likely to feel hurt, to feel purposely neglected by your poor memory. Because you didn't purposely forget you want to be forgiven, but that doesn't do away with the hurt the forgetting causes. You can be forgiven but at the same time the neglect whether blatant or not, is still real.
When God tells us in His word not to forget how should He feel when we do forget? Should we expect automatic forgiveness? Or should we expect punishment for allowing ourselves to forget, for neglecting to do whatever it is God told us not to forget.
If we are told NOT to forget by God we better make sure we remember! No, I'm not saying God wouldn't forgive us if we truly repent , but we are accountable for our neglecting to remember.
13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Be not forgetful- to entertain strangers.
Entertain strangers-
G5381
philonexia
fil-on-ex-ee'-ah
From G5382; hospitableness: - entertain strangers, hospitality.
Hospitality (Webster)
HOSPITAL'ITY, n. [L. hospitalitas.] The act or practice of receiving and entertaining strangers or guests without reward, or with kind and generous liberality.
We cannot forget to be kind to those we don't know.
How easy it is to be indifferent to those we don't know. How easy it is to go about in our own little worlds keeping the unknown at bay. I know it's very easy for me to do so. I don't live in a small town where everyone knows everyone, I wasn't raised in a small town like that either. Keeping to myself is much more my style, in fact it's very hard for me to talk to strangers. I like to think that if someone came to me in need I wouldn't turn them away and in that way I'd be able to entertain strangers, but to go out and actively seek strangers to entertain isn't something I feel very comfortable doing. Not everyone is outgoing and being shy doesn't mean a person is ungodly. We all have our roles, we all have our places in life and as long as we put ourselves at God's disposal He will use us as He needs to.
We can't forget what God tells us not to forget. We can't forget what God tells us to remember and we need to do all we can to remember the words of the Lord to us. If it means writing ourselves notes, or going to great lengths to remember we need to do this, we really do.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, in His love, by His righteousness now and forever!
Amen.
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