Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
What city are we seeking to come?
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels
Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Rev 21:13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Rev 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
Rev 21:17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
Rev 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
Rev 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
Rev 21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
12,000 furlongs = 7,920,000 feet 1,500 miles !
This city of God's is HUGE!
This city of God's REAL!
Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
We might live on earth in city, but this earthly city will NOT continue! None of the cities on earth right now will continue. The only city we as God's children, as followers of our Lord and Savior, can look for and live for is the heavenly city that will one day come down out of heaven from God.
Truly we are NOT to live for this world, we are to live for heaven and the heavenly city there which we will dwell in and one day that heavenly city will come down to earth and we will live in an earth made new where sin no longer dwells. The devil will be destroyed forever and ever, never more to torment, never more to bring pain and anguish, heartache, and misery.
Right now we live in a world dominated by Satan and all the heartache he can bring and there will be NO changing this- we are strangers in a strange land, we are pilgrims on earth, we have NO continuing city, but we seek one to come! This is how we must live- in search of the heavenly city. When you are in search of something you are actively seeking it. When you are journeying you are ever moving forwards towards the end of that journey. We might not be moving from place to place constantly on the road, but we are on a spiritual journey and we MUST move onwards always. Our spiritual journey will take us to a real heavenly city, the city of God, and God who is Spirit dwells in that City.
We have NO continuing city here.
We DO seek a city to come.
Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
This ties in with our spiritual journey- having spiritual treasures. If we have spiritual treasures here and now that we lay up in heaven this proves we are looking for the reality of our spiritual home . We have to live spiritual lives, and our spiritual lives have to be dominant in our lives now. We have to feed our spiritual natures with spiritual food, we have to exercise our spiritual lives. We MUST live as if our spiritual nature is a REAL part of us and by the grace and mercy of our Savior we will live.
Amen!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Let us go forth...without the camp
Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
The sacrificial system was set up by God to point the way to the Messiah, the Innocent Lamb to be slain once - for all. The way to become one with God was guaranteed in our Savior and the sacrifice He made. No lamb, no bullock, no turtledove, no ram, no animal whatsoever- however pure without blemish or spot - once sacrificed could repair the breech created by man's disobeying God. All those thousands upon thousands, maybe millions of animals sacrificed pointed towards the ONE sacrifice that could repair the breech.
Isa 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Isa 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Once the Lord sacrificed Himself for us NO animal sacrifice was needed because we could LOOK to the Lord as our Sacrifice.
Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Jesus sacrificed Himself, and where He sacrificed Himself automatically became the altar- the cross was the altar upon which Jesus was sacrificed. We do have an altar and those who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, sacrificed Himself on that altar for them have NO right to the salvation offered through Him, no right at all. Everyone that believes that they still need to offer animal sacrifices, that they still need to symbolize what has already happened in the great sacrifice of Christ, can't believe that they are saved through Christ- they reject the one and only way to salvation.
Jesus is the complete sacrifice for sin! Jesus was sacrificed as the typified sacrifices were. He was the ULTIMATE sacrifice. There is NOTHING Satan can use to say that Jesus got it wrong that His sacrifice was insufficient, nothing!
We too must go without the camp to Jesus! We have to go where Jesus went. We have to go the altar. We have to be willing to be with Jesus no matter where that leads us, no matter what reproach that brings to us.
These are the 'deep things' of Christ we are to delve into!
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
This is the MEAT we are to be eating as Christians who are no longer babes needing milk.
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
We need to eat this STRONG MEAT!
We need to understand this--
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
We aren't to stay WITHIN the camp.
We have to GO FORTH therefore UNTO HIM.
How many are staying within the camp?
How many are still sacrificing at the altar that is within the camp?
How many are NOT trusting in Jesus to be their all in all?
How many are still looking to rituals to save them?
We look to a man, not to things. We look to our Savior not within the camp but without!
May God help us to do so, may He help us to feed on all the strong meat He presents to us, growing stronger in knowledge of Him through the Holy Spirit, by His grace!
Amen.
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
The sacrificial system was set up by God to point the way to the Messiah, the Innocent Lamb to be slain once - for all. The way to become one with God was guaranteed in our Savior and the sacrifice He made. No lamb, no bullock, no turtledove, no ram, no animal whatsoever- however pure without blemish or spot - once sacrificed could repair the breech created by man's disobeying God. All those thousands upon thousands, maybe millions of animals sacrificed pointed towards the ONE sacrifice that could repair the breech.
Isa 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Isa 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Once the Lord sacrificed Himself for us NO animal sacrifice was needed because we could LOOK to the Lord as our Sacrifice.
Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Jesus sacrificed Himself, and where He sacrificed Himself automatically became the altar- the cross was the altar upon which Jesus was sacrificed. We do have an altar and those who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, sacrificed Himself on that altar for them have NO right to the salvation offered through Him, no right at all. Everyone that believes that they still need to offer animal sacrifices, that they still need to symbolize what has already happened in the great sacrifice of Christ, can't believe that they are saved through Christ- they reject the one and only way to salvation.
Jesus is the complete sacrifice for sin! Jesus was sacrificed as the typified sacrifices were. He was the ULTIMATE sacrifice. There is NOTHING Satan can use to say that Jesus got it wrong that His sacrifice was insufficient, nothing!
We too must go without the camp to Jesus! We have to go where Jesus went. We have to go the altar. We have to be willing to be with Jesus no matter where that leads us, no matter what reproach that brings to us.
These are the 'deep things' of Christ we are to delve into!
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
This is the MEAT we are to be eating as Christians who are no longer babes needing milk.
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
We need to eat this STRONG MEAT!
We need to understand this--
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
We aren't to stay WITHIN the camp.
We have to GO FORTH therefore UNTO HIM.
How many are staying within the camp?
How many are still sacrificing at the altar that is within the camp?
How many are NOT trusting in Jesus to be their all in all?
How many are still looking to rituals to save them?
We look to a man, not to things. We look to our Savior not within the camp but without!
May God help us to do so, may He help us to feed on all the strong meat He presents to us, growing stronger in knowledge of Him through the Holy Spirit, by His grace!
Amen.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Established with grace
Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Divers and strange doctrines.
Throughout the many, many years since our Lord walked the earth there have been divers and strange doctrines that we are NOT to be carried about by.
People will say just about anything to trick others. People with delusions of grandeur who believe they need followers have created all sorts of sects for easily deceived people to join. They'll make up their own rules, their own doctrines complete with various rituals to follow. Some people have created elaborate religions based on their beliefs and they have millions of followers- it's true. However Satan has used his deceptive ways and the divers and strange doctrines have been so entrenched in people they believe they are true doctrines. People love to pick apart the Bible leaving out the bits that don't agree with their beliefs and they love to change things to suit their needs.
We are all guilty of trying to make sense of God's will for us. We are all guilty of holding to beliefs we see as important but others might not. We all want to do God's will don't we? That is the hope any way.
Doing God's will, not our will. We confuse the two all too often.
Heb 13:9 '…it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace…'
A heart established with grace.
Our hearts need to be established with grace- not with ANYTHING that doesn't profit us towards the will and grace of God. Some will become caught up in doctrines- strange and different- doctrines that make God's grace second not first. We have to find God's grace in all we do first and foremost. If we can't find God's grace in any doctrine we choose to follow, if we don't follow a doctrine out of God's grace then we are in danger of being deceived.
You can hold fast to all the doctrines you want and you can follow them to the letter never failing but that will profit you nothing. You can defend your doctrines and claim them to be God's will all you want but they are all MEANINGLESS without the grace of our Lord and Savior, without the love of God overflowing in those doctrines, those beliefs.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
God's love first! We can't forget this, we just can't. No matter what we believe, we can't forget God's love first.
No, I'm not say our beliefs are unimportant, God forbid! God has a holy law given in love for us to follow. That's the key though- given in LOVE! If we don't keep God's law out of love we keep it in VAIN!
Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
The heart has to be established with grace and the love of God is fully revealed in the grace our hearts are to be established in. We can't have God's grace without having His love.
Amen.
Divers and strange doctrines.
Throughout the many, many years since our Lord walked the earth there have been divers and strange doctrines that we are NOT to be carried about by.
People will say just about anything to trick others. People with delusions of grandeur who believe they need followers have created all sorts of sects for easily deceived people to join. They'll make up their own rules, their own doctrines complete with various rituals to follow. Some people have created elaborate religions based on their beliefs and they have millions of followers- it's true. However Satan has used his deceptive ways and the divers and strange doctrines have been so entrenched in people they believe they are true doctrines. People love to pick apart the Bible leaving out the bits that don't agree with their beliefs and they love to change things to suit their needs.
We are all guilty of trying to make sense of God's will for us. We are all guilty of holding to beliefs we see as important but others might not. We all want to do God's will don't we? That is the hope any way.
Doing God's will, not our will. We confuse the two all too often.
Heb 13:9 '…it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace…'
A heart established with grace.
Our hearts need to be established with grace- not with ANYTHING that doesn't profit us towards the will and grace of God. Some will become caught up in doctrines- strange and different- doctrines that make God's grace second not first. We have to find God's grace in all we do first and foremost. If we can't find God's grace in any doctrine we choose to follow, if we don't follow a doctrine out of God's grace then we are in danger of being deceived.
You can hold fast to all the doctrines you want and you can follow them to the letter never failing but that will profit you nothing. You can defend your doctrines and claim them to be God's will all you want but they are all MEANINGLESS without the grace of our Lord and Savior, without the love of God overflowing in those doctrines, those beliefs.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
God's love first! We can't forget this, we just can't. No matter what we believe, we can't forget God's love first.
No, I'm not say our beliefs are unimportant, God forbid! God has a holy law given in love for us to follow. That's the key though- given in LOVE! If we don't keep God's law out of love we keep it in VAIN!
Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
The heart has to be established with grace and the love of God is fully revealed in the grace our hearts are to be established in. We can't have God's grace without having His love.
Amen.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love
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
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
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!
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