Psa 119:113 ...I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love
Jer 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Vanity.
Solomon had this to say-
Ecc 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Ecc 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecc 12:8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
All the thoughts we could ever have- good or bad are vanity in comparison to the law of God. Our ways are nothing compared to God's way.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
The Lord has given us His law for very important reasons we need to consider. They are to be the guide to our lives in Him.
Read the following and you have to ask yourself if David LOVED God's law. If he Really LOVED the law of God.
Psa 119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Psa 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Psa 119:3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
Psa 119:4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
Psa 119:5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Psa 119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
Psa 119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
Psa 119:8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Psa 119:9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Psa 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psa 119:12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
Psa 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
Psa 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
Psa 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Psa 119:17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
Psa 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
Psa 119:19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
Psa 119:20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
Psa 119:21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.
Psa 119:22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.
Psa 119:23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
Psa 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
Psa 119:25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
Psa 119:26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
Psa 119:28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
Psa 119:29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
Psa 119:30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
Psa 119:31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.
Psa 119:32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
Psa 119:33 HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
Psa 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Psa 119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
Psa 119:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
Psa 119:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
Psa 119:38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
Psa 119:39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
Psa 119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
Psa 119:41 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
Psa 119:42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
Psa 119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
Psa 119:44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
Psa 119:45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
Psa 119:46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
Psa 119:47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
Psa 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
Psa 119:49 ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
Psa 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
Psa 119:51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.
Psa 119:52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.
Psa 119:53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
Psa 119:54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
Psa 119:55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.
Psa 119:56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.
Psa 119:57 CHETH. Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.
Psa 119:58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.
Psa 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
Psa 119:60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
Psa 119:61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.
Psa 119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.
Psa 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
Psa 119:64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:65 TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Psa 119:66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
Psa 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Psa 119:68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
Psa 119:70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
Psa 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Psa 119:72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
Psa 119:73 JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
Psa 119:74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
Psa 119:75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Psa 119:76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
Psa 119:77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
Psa 119:78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
Psa 119:79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
Psa 119:80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.
Psa 119:81 CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.
Psa 119:82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
Psa 119:83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
Psa 119:84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
Psa 119:85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.
Psa 119:86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
Psa 119:87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
Psa 119:88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
Psa 119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Psa 119:90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
Psa 119:91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.
Psa 119:92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
Psa 119:93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
Psa 119:94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
Psa 119:95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
Psa 119:96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
Psa 119:97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Psa 119:98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
Psa 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
Psa 119:100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
Psa 119:101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
Psa 119:102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
Psa 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psa 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
Psa 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psa 119:106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
Psa 119:107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Psa 119:108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
Psa 119:109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
Psa 119:110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
Psa 119:111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
Psa 119:112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.
Psa 119:113 SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
We have to ask ourselves this- if David found such delight in the law, if David lived to love God in His law, if God's law meant more to David than thousands of gold and silver, if David hid God's law in his heart, if David loved God's law and meditated upon it ALL day- what does this tell us? David was LIVING God's law. And David was loved by God. David recognized God as His ALL IN ALL! God was everything to David.
Do we even come close to living God's law?! Do we even come close to understanding the LOVE in God's law? Do we even comprehend the depths of love God has towards us by giving us His law? By revealing Himself to us in His law? That Jesus came to be the one to reveal that law to us, to be the perfect embodiment of that law is something we don't study near enough. Every act of our Savior revealed the love of God in His law to us! Jesus lived the law! His every act was an act of love to God and to His fellow man!
We need to be like David, we need to LOVE the law of God knowing that God's love is revealed in that law perfectly and Jesus our Lord and Savior loves the law of His father, the law of His, the law that He fully upholds, the law He's lived and lives.
Open our hearts Lord! Open our understanding! Help us to HATE vain thoughts and to LOVE the law!
Amen
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever!
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Psa 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Isa 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am
Read these words again- John 8:58 Jesus said unto them- verily, verily I say unto you…BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM
And this….
Joh 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Jesus witnessed Abraham rejoicing in the knowledge that a Messiah (that HE) would one day come and offer salvation to all.
To witness Abraham rejoicing, Jesus according to the Jews about Him, would have had to have been alive when Abraham was and that was IMPOSSIBLE to their thinking because they did not acknowledge the divinity that Jesus possessed. They did not understand that He was born of the Spirit, that He was God having taken on flesh as they possessed. The Jews were waiting for a Messiah, but not a lowly human who didn't come to conquer their enemies. They'd made their Messiah into one like Moses, one who would take them out of bondage from the Romans and set up a kingdom on earth for them, freeing them from all tyrannical rule. Yes, the promised Messiah was going to free them, the promised Messiah was going to set up a way to eternal life that could never be denied. All that was foretold and all that came to pass in Jesus, but they refused to see because they'd confounded the heavenly meaning with their earthly interpretations. Seeing a man they imagined to be just like them proclaiming to be the Son of God, proclaiming to have existed before Abraham- they were enraged by the sheer audacity, by the blasphemy they believed was coming from this mere mortal man.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit, and those worshipping Him, in spirit and truth it doth behove to worship.
The Spirit who became flesh, who was to be called the Son of God upon His birth into humanity, existed at Creation.
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Word was WITH God, the Word WAS God. Two Gods. One of those Gods- the Word- was made flesh and called the Son of God.
Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee SHALL BE called the Son of God.
Young's Literal Translation (1898)
Luk 1:35 And the messenger answering said to her, `The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also the holy-begotten thing shall be called Son of God
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The ONLY begotten of the Father.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus could truthfully say He was before Abraham, that all things were created by Him because it's true. He was there, a God, with God. And He divested Himself of His divinity to become human, to be called the Son of God- born of God. PRAISE GOD! Resisting all temptation to sin, God in human form, taking on our flesh, taking on our carnal nature prone to sin and remaining sinless, God who had created mankind- was able to redeem mankind!
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Jesus who was there in Creation, Jesus who was there throughout all history from Abraham to Moses, to David and there with all the patriarchs in between, with all the prophets- this SAME Jesus who was there during the Ten Commandments, this SAME Jesus witnessed EVERYTHING from the beginning onwards and can say truthfully-
Jesus Christ the SAME yesterday, today, and for ever!
Jesus Christ the SAME from the beginning, the present, the future!
We cannot take Jesus out of life at all whatsoever- He is the giver of all life. He didn't fall asleep and let God the Father just take over only to be nudged awake so He could go to earth and take on flesh. He was very much wide awake and aware of all that transpired from the beginning and through all history. When we say the God of the Old Testament was different, He was mean and nasty, we are speaking of the same God in the New Testament. Jesus was there in the beginning and throughout - agreeing and taking part in all that was done.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
PRAISE GOD! All glory to God! There is NO confusion!
Joh 10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye do not believe; the works that I do in the name of my Father, these testify concerning me
Joh 10:30 I and the Father are one.
They didn't just become one in their actions, their agreements when Jesus became flesh, but LONG before Jesus took on flesh they were one in all that was taking place.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Glory to God in the Highest!!!!
All praise and majesty to our King!!!!
We have a faithful Savior who has promised us life in Him and all His promises are true! We have a wonderful Father in Heaven witnessing all that transpires! We have a Holy Spirit sent to guide us on earth, guide us to all the knowledge we'll ever need to claim Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our Redeemer!
We can't praise God, we can't praise our Savior, we can't praise the Holy Spirit enough, not ever!
Amen!
Psa 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Isa 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am
Read these words again- John 8:58 Jesus said unto them- verily, verily I say unto you…BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM
And this….
Joh 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Jesus witnessed Abraham rejoicing in the knowledge that a Messiah (that HE) would one day come and offer salvation to all.
To witness Abraham rejoicing, Jesus according to the Jews about Him, would have had to have been alive when Abraham was and that was IMPOSSIBLE to their thinking because they did not acknowledge the divinity that Jesus possessed. They did not understand that He was born of the Spirit, that He was God having taken on flesh as they possessed. The Jews were waiting for a Messiah, but not a lowly human who didn't come to conquer their enemies. They'd made their Messiah into one like Moses, one who would take them out of bondage from the Romans and set up a kingdom on earth for them, freeing them from all tyrannical rule. Yes, the promised Messiah was going to free them, the promised Messiah was going to set up a way to eternal life that could never be denied. All that was foretold and all that came to pass in Jesus, but they refused to see because they'd confounded the heavenly meaning with their earthly interpretations. Seeing a man they imagined to be just like them proclaiming to be the Son of God, proclaiming to have existed before Abraham- they were enraged by the sheer audacity, by the blasphemy they believed was coming from this mere mortal man.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit, and those worshipping Him, in spirit and truth it doth behove to worship.
The Spirit who became flesh, who was to be called the Son of God upon His birth into humanity, existed at Creation.
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Word was WITH God, the Word WAS God. Two Gods. One of those Gods- the Word- was made flesh and called the Son of God.
Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee SHALL BE called the Son of God.
Young's Literal Translation (1898)
Luk 1:35 And the messenger answering said to her, `The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also the holy-begotten thing shall be called Son of God
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The ONLY begotten of the Father.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus could truthfully say He was before Abraham, that all things were created by Him because it's true. He was there, a God, with God. And He divested Himself of His divinity to become human, to be called the Son of God- born of God. PRAISE GOD! Resisting all temptation to sin, God in human form, taking on our flesh, taking on our carnal nature prone to sin and remaining sinless, God who had created mankind- was able to redeem mankind!
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Jesus who was there in Creation, Jesus who was there throughout all history from Abraham to Moses, to David and there with all the patriarchs in between, with all the prophets- this SAME Jesus who was there during the Ten Commandments, this SAME Jesus witnessed EVERYTHING from the beginning onwards and can say truthfully-
Jesus Christ the SAME yesterday, today, and for ever!
Jesus Christ the SAME from the beginning, the present, the future!
We cannot take Jesus out of life at all whatsoever- He is the giver of all life. He didn't fall asleep and let God the Father just take over only to be nudged awake so He could go to earth and take on flesh. He was very much wide awake and aware of all that transpired from the beginning and through all history. When we say the God of the Old Testament was different, He was mean and nasty, we are speaking of the same God in the New Testament. Jesus was there in the beginning and throughout - agreeing and taking part in all that was done.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
PRAISE GOD! All glory to God! There is NO confusion!
Joh 10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye do not believe; the works that I do in the name of my Father, these testify concerning me
Joh 10:30 I and the Father are one.
They didn't just become one in their actions, their agreements when Jesus became flesh, but LONG before Jesus took on flesh they were one in all that was taking place.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Glory to God in the Highest!!!!
All praise and majesty to our King!!!!
We have a faithful Savior who has promised us life in Him and all His promises are true! We have a wonderful Father in Heaven witnessing all that transpires! We have a Holy Spirit sent to guide us on earth, guide us to all the knowledge we'll ever need to claim Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our Redeemer!
We can't praise God, we can't praise our Savior, we can't praise the Holy Spirit enough, not ever!
Amen!
Friday, November 26, 2010
Whose Faith Follow
Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Remember them- which have rule over you
Remember them - who have spoken unto you the word of God.
Remember them - whose faith follow
Remember them- considering the end of their conversation.
Different versions read that first part like this-
Remember your guides
(Bishops) Remember them which haue the ouersyght of you
(CEV) Don't forget about your leaders who taught you God's message.
(LITV) Remember your leaders who spoke the Word of God to you
(YLT) Be mindful of those leading you
Whose faith should we be following? Who leads us?
1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gal 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus
Eph 6:21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things
Col 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ
Col 4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
2Th 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
The only faith we should follow is that of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we are blessed to have others who are followers of our Lord in our lives and they speak according to His word and there is truth in them - then we can know they are faithful followers. We don't have the apostles to follow today, we don't have many who are faithful- truly faithful. We know that the way is NARROW, we know that many will be led astray and many will try to lead others astray. We know that in the last days it will be as the days of Noah, the days of Lot- where there will be FEW, very, very FEW in comparison to the number of people alive, who will be faithful. Knowing these facts we can't assume there is ANYONE on earth today we should follow. Seriously.
2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2Ti 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
2Ti 3:9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
2Ti 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2Ti 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Pay attention to this next part carefully….
2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Our teacher must be the WORD of GOD!.
Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
We don't have a faithful servant Onesimus, or a faithful servant Paul, or a faithful servant Tychicus to come to us and for us to learn from. We have the WORD of GOD as our faithful servant. The words of faith exist in the Word of God to us. We can 'remember them which have the rule over us', we can remember those 'who have spoken unto you the word of God' we can remember those 'whose faith follow', we can remember so many 'considering the end of their conversation.'
We have the Bible.
We have the faithful witness of God's word to us. A faithful witness that has managed to endure by God's divine hand even though many times there were those who would have seen it destroyed completely. There was a time it was ILLEGAL to have a Bible, wait… even today it is ILLEGAL to have a Bible in some parts of our world.
'In restricted nations around the world, persecuted believers have two requests: "Please pray for us" and "Please send Bibles!" Believers, as well as those seeking Christ, often wait years to own their own copy of God's Word, and they do so at great risk. But the requests continue: "Please send Bibles!"
Pasted from '
The Bible is our faithful witness! Those of us who have easy access to this faithful witness we are to have rule over us, whose faith we are to follow, considering the words of the faithful within-- don't realize how precious a gift this word of God is.
We might not have living flesh and blood to witness to us as faithful witnesses but we do have God's living word and the Holy Spirit will open our understanding to its marvelous truths.
Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
We have to remember, we have to follow, we have to consider the END of their conversation. Let's look for just a brief moment at the end of the letters written by these faithful.
2Ti 4:22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.
Rom 16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.
Eph 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.
1Pe 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
1Co 16:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1Co 16:24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus and Timotheus.
These are just snippets, just the tiniest bit of the endings of the letters (some lengthy- some not) that have been written for US. Where are they guiding us who have them for a faithful witness- To our LORD and SAVIOR!
Always the end, the culmination of these faithful witnesses was about our Savior. The entire Bible is filled with the faithful witnesses that will NEVER lead us astray, that will never deceive us. We really need to delve into the word of God so much more than we do. This is our true life, not the world around us. Serving self desires will NOT be the paramount theme in eternity, not by a LONG, LONG shot! When we choose to do things that are pleasing to our base human nature over the things we know will serve our spiritual nature- we choose wrongly. Which nature rules us? Which nature to we CHOOSE to rule? Which nature do we feed? Which nature do we encourage? These are thoughts we need to be thinking about. We need to evaluate ourselves, our lives, our hearts. If we don't like what we see we need to drop to our knees and pray to God to be in us, to create clean hearts within us, to forgive us, to help us. We can't ignore ourselves. We can't ignore our hearts and our ways and expect all is well.
1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves…
This is for us to do by the grace and mercy of our Savior. Out of our love for God we are to do all that we can, all that the faithful witnesses have professed we should do.
May God bless and keep us in Him now and always, through the love, the mercy, the grace, the righteousness of our Savior and King!
Amen!
Remember them- which have rule over you
Remember them - who have spoken unto you the word of God.
Remember them - whose faith follow
Remember them- considering the end of their conversation.
Different versions read that first part like this-
Remember your guides
(Bishops) Remember them which haue the ouersyght of you
(CEV) Don't forget about your leaders who taught you God's message.
(LITV) Remember your leaders who spoke the Word of God to you
(YLT) Be mindful of those leading you
Whose faith should we be following? Who leads us?
1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gal 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus
Eph 6:21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things
Col 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ
Col 4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
2Th 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
The only faith we should follow is that of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we are blessed to have others who are followers of our Lord in our lives and they speak according to His word and there is truth in them - then we can know they are faithful followers. We don't have the apostles to follow today, we don't have many who are faithful- truly faithful. We know that the way is NARROW, we know that many will be led astray and many will try to lead others astray. We know that in the last days it will be as the days of Noah, the days of Lot- where there will be FEW, very, very FEW in comparison to the number of people alive, who will be faithful. Knowing these facts we can't assume there is ANYONE on earth today we should follow. Seriously.
2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2Ti 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
2Ti 3:9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
2Ti 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2Ti 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Pay attention to this next part carefully….
2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Our teacher must be the WORD of GOD!.
Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
We don't have a faithful servant Onesimus, or a faithful servant Paul, or a faithful servant Tychicus to come to us and for us to learn from. We have the WORD of GOD as our faithful servant. The words of faith exist in the Word of God to us. We can 'remember them which have the rule over us', we can remember those 'who have spoken unto you the word of God' we can remember those 'whose faith follow', we can remember so many 'considering the end of their conversation.'
We have the Bible.
We have the faithful witness of God's word to us. A faithful witness that has managed to endure by God's divine hand even though many times there were those who would have seen it destroyed completely. There was a time it was ILLEGAL to have a Bible, wait… even today it is ILLEGAL to have a Bible in some parts of our world.
'In restricted nations around the world, persecuted believers have two requests: "Please pray for us" and "Please send Bibles!" Believers, as well as those seeking Christ, often wait years to own their own copy of God's Word, and they do so at great risk. But the requests continue: "Please send Bibles!"
Pasted from
The Bible is our faithful witness! Those of us who have easy access to this faithful witness we are to have rule over us, whose faith we are to follow, considering the words of the faithful within-- don't realize how precious a gift this word of God is.
We might not have living flesh and blood to witness to us as faithful witnesses but we do have God's living word and the Holy Spirit will open our understanding to its marvelous truths.
Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
We have to remember, we have to follow, we have to consider the END of their conversation. Let's look for just a brief moment at the end of the letters written by these faithful.
2Ti 4:22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.
Rom 16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.
Eph 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.
1Pe 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
1Co 16:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1Co 16:24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus and Timotheus.
These are just snippets, just the tiniest bit of the endings of the letters (some lengthy- some not) that have been written for US. Where are they guiding us who have them for a faithful witness- To our LORD and SAVIOR!
Always the end, the culmination of these faithful witnesses was about our Savior. The entire Bible is filled with the faithful witnesses that will NEVER lead us astray, that will never deceive us. We really need to delve into the word of God so much more than we do. This is our true life, not the world around us. Serving self desires will NOT be the paramount theme in eternity, not by a LONG, LONG shot! When we choose to do things that are pleasing to our base human nature over the things we know will serve our spiritual nature- we choose wrongly. Which nature rules us? Which nature to we CHOOSE to rule? Which nature do we feed? Which nature do we encourage? These are thoughts we need to be thinking about. We need to evaluate ourselves, our lives, our hearts. If we don't like what we see we need to drop to our knees and pray to God to be in us, to create clean hearts within us, to forgive us, to help us. We can't ignore ourselves. We can't ignore our hearts and our ways and expect all is well.
1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves…
This is for us to do by the grace and mercy of our Savior. Out of our love for God we are to do all that we can, all that the faithful witnesses have professed we should do.
May God bless and keep us in Him now and always, through the love, the mercy, the grace, the righteousness of our Savior and King!
Amen!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
The Lord is my helper
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!
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!
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!
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