Phm 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
Phm 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house
Fellowsoldier.
Soldiers- a soldier is a person engaged in military service. Military service is belonging to a group of people whose job it is to defend territory-or beliefs, a system.
Soldiers for Christ.
Fellowsoldier.
Paul, Timothy, Philemon, Apphia, Archippus- they were in a war, they KNEW they were in a war, and they knew WHO their war was against.
It's easy for US to call each other brother and sister in Christ, it sounds so nice. I'm not suggesting it's wrong to call each other brother and sister, it's fine, but we are soldiers all of us. We might not all become prisoners for Christ, but we are ALL soldiers - fellowsoldiers. We have an army we belong to, we have a leader we follow and take orders from. We aren't tossed the armor and told we are on our own. We are constantly told we are in Christ, that the Holy Spirit is sent to us. We are told we can stay in continuous communication with our leader through prayer and we are given a handbook with all the information we need to survive. As soldiers we are NOT protecting our flesh lives we are protecting our eternal spiritual lives AND we are to protect others- that's what a soldier does, right? A soldier fights for their leader, a soldier follows orders, a soldier protects the lives of others.
We are soldiers fighting for Christ.
We are soldiers following the orders of Christ.
We are soldiers loving our fellow man, fighting for them.
The commandments of our God give us the code of conduct we need.
First we must choose to have NO other leaders before God.
Second we must have NO idols in our lives to worship before God.
Third we must NOT speak of our Lord in a bad way.
Fourth we MUST devote the seventh day of the week towards complete worship of our God.
Fifth we MUST Honor our father and mother.
Sixth we MUST NOT murder.
Seventh we MUST NOT sexually be with one that is not our husband or wife.
Eighth we MUST NOT take ANYTHING that is not ours.
Ninth we MUST NOT tell untruths.
Tenth we MUST NOT desire to possess the things others have.
We are soldiers and we have our orders- LOVE GOD and LOVE OUR FELLOWMAN. We are given armor. We are promised life everlasting at the end of the war. We are told we will suffer. We are told we will engage the enemy and that enemy wants to devour us- stopping at nothing to capture us and turn us from our leader. Brainwashing and all manner of spiritual torture is at the enemy's disposal. The war we are in is real, we are soldiers of Jesus Christ.
2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Such amazing words.
No man who is a soldier of Jesus Christ- warring- will get mixed up with the affairs of this life-- choosing this life, letting the cares of this life overwhelm them .
We have to UNDERSTAND the distinction between living in this world as a soldier of Jesus Christ- as a pilgrim- and being part of this world. We are called to consider heaven our home, laying our treasures in heaven not here on earth.
We are fellowsoldiers- you and I, we are real soldiers in a real war- yet so many of us live as if we are free from oppression already. We will not be free from oppression until our Savior comes to free us. If we really believe the life we are living right now is the live we are intended to live then we are sorely deceived.
May God help us to fully realize that we are soldiers of Jesus Christ, fellow soldiers one with another.
By the grace and mercy of our Savior may we not get entangled in the affairs of this life- forgetting life eternal.
Amen.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Prisoner of Christ
Phm 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer
A prisoner of Jesus Christ.
We know that Paul was jailed several times over his life because of his belief in Jesus Christ, a belief that was contrary to many. Today there sits in MANY prisons around the world people who are jailed for their belief in Jesus Christ.
To say Paul was a PRISONER OF JESUS CHRIST- seems to imply that He is held captive by Jesus Himself. Can we be captive willingly? We hear love songs about it all the time, our hearts being held captive by another. If we are to be a prisoner, held captive by our Savior it would be a willing captivity. The truth is our Savior doesn't use force for anything and He certainly does not hold us to Him against our will. Being held captive because we love our Savior and believe in Him is something that happens ALL the time and has since the time of Christ.
Phm 1:9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
Eph 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles
Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called
Eph 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
2Ti 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God
Read this again- 'Be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord…nor of me his prisoner…' We can't be ashamed to be held captive for our beliefs. The rest of that verse- '…be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.'
Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel.
Afflictions of the gospel.
2Ti 2:9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
Suffering trouble as an evil doer- jailed- all because of a love for Jesus Christ, a belief in Jesus Christ.
Jailed for beliefs.
Living here in the United States we aren't jailed for our beliefs. Our prisons aren't filled with people who hold a belief contrary to the government's- at least that's the way it's supposed to be. As long as the beliefs we hold are harmless- not terrorist related- we aren't imprisoned. This is the society I live in. If I lived in say- Pakistan, China, or any number of the many countries that don't allow people to have beliefs contrary to theirs- I could be jailed for my belief in my Savior. It seems surreal to me because I've never lived under such circumstances. I have the knowledge of the factual information given to me, but no real sense of what it must be like to be imprisoned for my beliefs, no idea what it's like to persecuted for my faith.
2Ti 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God
We can't be ashamed of our belief in our Savior.
We have to be active in living for our Savior.
We must understand that NO matter what- we have to be partakers of the afflictions of the gospel as the power of God would have us.
Is it easy for me to say when I don't live where I suffer for my beliefs.
Being a prisoner of Christ, suffering for our beliefs. We might not be called to suffer in the way Paul was called- the way many are called to suffer, put into prisons, beaten, abused, but we are accountable for the freedom we possess to witness for our Savior.
By the grace of God may we live as Christians boldly, bravely, free to believe openly, unafraid to be believers in our life giving Savior and unhesitant to share that belief- a belief many have died for, a belief many are suffering in prisons for.
By the mercy of our LORD! By His will! Through His power!
Guide us, help us, please Lord, we long to be all you would have us be for YOU.
Please.
A prisoner of Jesus Christ.
We know that Paul was jailed several times over his life because of his belief in Jesus Christ, a belief that was contrary to many. Today there sits in MANY prisons around the world people who are jailed for their belief in Jesus Christ.
To say Paul was a PRISONER OF JESUS CHRIST- seems to imply that He is held captive by Jesus Himself. Can we be captive willingly? We hear love songs about it all the time, our hearts being held captive by another. If we are to be a prisoner, held captive by our Savior it would be a willing captivity. The truth is our Savior doesn't use force for anything and He certainly does not hold us to Him against our will. Being held captive because we love our Savior and believe in Him is something that happens ALL the time and has since the time of Christ.
Phm 1:9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
Eph 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles
Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called
Eph 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
2Ti 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God
Read this again- 'Be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord…nor of me his prisoner…' We can't be ashamed to be held captive for our beliefs. The rest of that verse- '…be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.'
Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel.
Afflictions of the gospel.
2Ti 2:9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
Suffering trouble as an evil doer- jailed- all because of a love for Jesus Christ, a belief in Jesus Christ.
Jailed for beliefs.
Living here in the United States we aren't jailed for our beliefs. Our prisons aren't filled with people who hold a belief contrary to the government's- at least that's the way it's supposed to be. As long as the beliefs we hold are harmless- not terrorist related- we aren't imprisoned. This is the society I live in. If I lived in say- Pakistan, China, or any number of the many countries that don't allow people to have beliefs contrary to theirs- I could be jailed for my belief in my Savior. It seems surreal to me because I've never lived under such circumstances. I have the knowledge of the factual information given to me, but no real sense of what it must be like to be imprisoned for my beliefs, no idea what it's like to persecuted for my faith.
2Ti 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God
We can't be ashamed of our belief in our Savior.
We have to be active in living for our Savior.
We must understand that NO matter what- we have to be partakers of the afflictions of the gospel as the power of God would have us.
Is it easy for me to say when I don't live where I suffer for my beliefs.
Being a prisoner of Christ, suffering for our beliefs. We might not be called to suffer in the way Paul was called- the way many are called to suffer, put into prisons, beaten, abused, but we are accountable for the freedom we possess to witness for our Savior.
By the grace of God may we live as Christians boldly, bravely, free to believe openly, unafraid to be believers in our life giving Savior and unhesitant to share that belief- a belief many have died for, a belief many are suffering in prisons for.
By the mercy of our LORD! By His will! Through His power!
Guide us, help us, please Lord, we long to be all you would have us be for YOU.
Please.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Our hope, our trust, our faith, our EVERYTHING must be in Christ!
I just had to go back to these two verses, the last in the book of Jude.
Jud 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
We really need to remember this-live this- breathe this-
HIM that is able to keep you from FALLING.
HIM that is able to present you FAULTLESS.
We don't keep ourselves from falling, and no one around us keeps us from falling, there is only ONE that can keep us from falling.
We can't present ourselves faultless, our friends can't present us faultless, there is only ONE that can present us faultless.
We try so incredibly hard - we really do and that's not altogether a bad thing. We are to strive against sin, we are to sin no more, we do have our part to play but that's just it- it's a part of submission. Our striving, our sinning no more is a work of submission to the ONE that can keep us from falling. Our egos fueled by our flesh, encouraged by Satan and His minions, demands that WE keep in control of all aspects of our lives, that we submit to no one and if we do submit it's because it serves our egos to do so. We are to submit those egos to our Savior. Our desires are NOT to be paramount. Our needs are NOT to be first and foremost.
Here's something to think about- are you rich? I can imagine the majority will answer no to this question. We have some idealistic, perverted idea of what being rich is. Yet by whose standards are we rich or not- the world's or God's?
What is God's standard of being rich? Is it the same as ours? In my country I'm considered to be living at poverty level. But this exact same poverty level given to another in a poorer country would be considered RICH. Seriously, we don't often think about being rich in this manner. We look at man's standards forgetting God has much different standards. The Bible tells us that it is easier for a camel to fit through an eye of a needle than a rich man to get into heaven and why is that? Why did Jesus tell the rich man to go and sell all he had and follow Him? What do our possessions do to us that keeps us from following our Savior? They serve self. They allow us to have comfort and ease, they entrap us in selfishness and they feed our egos. I'm not talking on the scale of Donald Trump, you can be rich and not possess any where near the fortune of Donald Trump or Bill Gates, or Steve Jobs, or mega movie stars and famous athletes. Our idea of rich is seriously skewed and Satan loves that because as long as we don't consider ourselves rich we don't sense the possible danger we might be in. When our possessions however meager we consider them to be keep us caught up in them- then we are in great danger. We consider people CRAZY who give away their possessions, their fortunes. CRAZY we call them, and yes, with capital letters. It frightens us to even imagine having to give up our possessions. We tell ourselves God would not want that. God doesn't want a bunch of destitute people. God provides and He's provided all this for me so He must want me to have it all. Jesus isn't around today to follow about here and there, having Him provide food for us miraculously so there is NO way Jesus would tell us today to sell all we have and follow Him. Hey, we don't even use camels for transport today so we don't have to worry about any needle for that camel to go through. Jesus didn't say it's easier for a Mercedes to go through an eye of a needle than a rich man to get to heaven, things change you know.
I do know. I know that ANYTHING that keeps of us from living in Christ, from living selflessly, will keep us from heaven. If we cherish one possession more than we cherish our Savior, if we cherish even one person more than we cherish our Savior then we put ourselves at risk.
Of course now the thought creeps in- there is NO way I can do all that is required of me, no way at all. And then a sense of depression raises it's ugly little head and despair is right behind that inkling of depression ready to pounce and devour. But you know what, no matter what place we are in - rich or poor, we need to SUBMIT to Christ. Maybe we aren't to be called to give up all we have- Christ didn't tell Nicodemus ( a very rich man) to give up all his wealth. We are called to submit to Christ, that wherever we find ourselves, in whatever state, we are to KNOW, to BELIEVE, to have FAITH only in Christ for salvation! You could give away everything you have to the poor and become a homeless, poor person yourself and still be caught up in selfishness, still believing that YOUR actions will save you, that you've saved yourself by becoming poor so now it will be easy for you to get into heaven. It's Christ's actions that save us. It's our submitting to Christ that saves us. What does Christ ask us to do?
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1Jn 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1Jn 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
2Jn 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
2Jn 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
2Jn 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
We need to OBEY our Savior fully, unconditionally obey Him.
The rich man kept all the commandments but lacked one thing- obedience to the Savior. Anything the Savior asks of us we must be willing to do. No, Christ isn't walking upon the earth today giving us direction but we have His word and we have the Holy Spirit that will guide us into all truth.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
2Ti 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Jud 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Our hope, our trust, our faith, our EVERYTHING must be in Christ!
If you are at a crossroad in life, if you have something you are conflicted about, if you feel the conviction of something weighing upon you the pray, pray…pray asking for Christ to keep you from falling, asking for Christ to present you faultless before Him, ask Him to deliver you from every evil work and preserve you to his heavenly kingdom and keep trusting in Him.
REMEMBER…
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ
Our eyes have to be upon Jesus, not upon ourselves.
All to Jesus we must surrender.
By His amazing LOVE!
In His mercy, by His grace, through HIS righteousness!
Amen.
Jud 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
We really need to remember this-live this- breathe this-
HIM that is able to keep you from FALLING.
HIM that is able to present you FAULTLESS.
We don't keep ourselves from falling, and no one around us keeps us from falling, there is only ONE that can keep us from falling.
We can't present ourselves faultless, our friends can't present us faultless, there is only ONE that can present us faultless.
We try so incredibly hard - we really do and that's not altogether a bad thing. We are to strive against sin, we are to sin no more, we do have our part to play but that's just it- it's a part of submission. Our striving, our sinning no more is a work of submission to the ONE that can keep us from falling. Our egos fueled by our flesh, encouraged by Satan and His minions, demands that WE keep in control of all aspects of our lives, that we submit to no one and if we do submit it's because it serves our egos to do so. We are to submit those egos to our Savior. Our desires are NOT to be paramount. Our needs are NOT to be first and foremost.
Here's something to think about- are you rich? I can imagine the majority will answer no to this question. We have some idealistic, perverted idea of what being rich is. Yet by whose standards are we rich or not- the world's or God's?
What is God's standard of being rich? Is it the same as ours? In my country I'm considered to be living at poverty level. But this exact same poverty level given to another in a poorer country would be considered RICH. Seriously, we don't often think about being rich in this manner. We look at man's standards forgetting God has much different standards. The Bible tells us that it is easier for a camel to fit through an eye of a needle than a rich man to get into heaven and why is that? Why did Jesus tell the rich man to go and sell all he had and follow Him? What do our possessions do to us that keeps us from following our Savior? They serve self. They allow us to have comfort and ease, they entrap us in selfishness and they feed our egos. I'm not talking on the scale of Donald Trump, you can be rich and not possess any where near the fortune of Donald Trump or Bill Gates, or Steve Jobs, or mega movie stars and famous athletes. Our idea of rich is seriously skewed and Satan loves that because as long as we don't consider ourselves rich we don't sense the possible danger we might be in. When our possessions however meager we consider them to be keep us caught up in them- then we are in great danger. We consider people CRAZY who give away their possessions, their fortunes. CRAZY we call them, and yes, with capital letters. It frightens us to even imagine having to give up our possessions. We tell ourselves God would not want that. God doesn't want a bunch of destitute people. God provides and He's provided all this for me so He must want me to have it all. Jesus isn't around today to follow about here and there, having Him provide food for us miraculously so there is NO way Jesus would tell us today to sell all we have and follow Him. Hey, we don't even use camels for transport today so we don't have to worry about any needle for that camel to go through. Jesus didn't say it's easier for a Mercedes to go through an eye of a needle than a rich man to get to heaven, things change you know.
I do know. I know that ANYTHING that keeps of us from living in Christ, from living selflessly, will keep us from heaven. If we cherish one possession more than we cherish our Savior, if we cherish even one person more than we cherish our Savior then we put ourselves at risk.
Of course now the thought creeps in- there is NO way I can do all that is required of me, no way at all. And then a sense of depression raises it's ugly little head and despair is right behind that inkling of depression ready to pounce and devour. But you know what, no matter what place we are in - rich or poor, we need to SUBMIT to Christ. Maybe we aren't to be called to give up all we have- Christ didn't tell Nicodemus ( a very rich man) to give up all his wealth. We are called to submit to Christ, that wherever we find ourselves, in whatever state, we are to KNOW, to BELIEVE, to have FAITH only in Christ for salvation! You could give away everything you have to the poor and become a homeless, poor person yourself and still be caught up in selfishness, still believing that YOUR actions will save you, that you've saved yourself by becoming poor so now it will be easy for you to get into heaven. It's Christ's actions that save us. It's our submitting to Christ that saves us. What does Christ ask us to do?
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1Jn 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1Jn 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
2Jn 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
2Jn 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
2Jn 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
We need to OBEY our Savior fully, unconditionally obey Him.
The rich man kept all the commandments but lacked one thing- obedience to the Savior. Anything the Savior asks of us we must be willing to do. No, Christ isn't walking upon the earth today giving us direction but we have His word and we have the Holy Spirit that will guide us into all truth.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
2Ti 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Jud 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Our hope, our trust, our faith, our EVERYTHING must be in Christ!
If you are at a crossroad in life, if you have something you are conflicted about, if you feel the conviction of something weighing upon you the pray, pray…pray asking for Christ to keep you from falling, asking for Christ to present you faultless before Him, ask Him to deliver you from every evil work and preserve you to his heavenly kingdom and keep trusting in Him.
REMEMBER…
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ
Our eyes have to be upon Jesus, not upon ourselves.
All to Jesus we must surrender.
By His amazing LOVE!
In His mercy, by His grace, through HIS righteousness!
Amen.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Jude 20-25 Compassion and Fear
Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jud 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
We are to have COMPASSION.
Our compassion will make a difference in the eternal life of others. This is something we don't fully understand. Compassion.
[[[[Webster-
COMPASSION, n.
1. A suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration. Compassion is a mixed passion, compounded of love and sorrow; at least some portion of love generally attends the pain or regret, or is excited by it. Extreme distress of an enemy even changes enmity into at least temporary affection.
He being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity. Psa 78.
His father had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luke 15.
COMPASSION, v.t. To pity.]]]
Of SOME we are to have compassion- and that compassion will make a difference in deciding eternity for some. Seriously. We have to understand just how important we are to others. It's not just a pastor or preacher, a minister or priest who preaches to a congregation- big or small- who affects peoples lives in regards to their place in the eternal realm. The message of our Savior is given to all and for all to give. And the compassion we show towards others as they struggle in this evil world may make a difference to them- the difference between deciding to accept the love of Jesus into their hearts and lives and deciding not to.
Ultimately we are each responsible for our own decision in regards to salvation, but those who have compassion on others which makes a difference are actual laborers with Christ. Christ wanted His followers to share the good news with others.
Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Mat 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Act 5:19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
Act 5:20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Christ wants us to be laborers with Him.
1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
1Co 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Compassion - making a difference. A difference how? Some will be saved by our compassion- saved because we have labored to bring Christ to them through our compassion. Our pity, our suffering with them, our sympathy, our commiseration, our love will truly save others. We don't want to believe that because then that makes us accountable for others. We'd much rather just be concerned with ourselves and our own salvation. We pat ourselves on the back and soothe ourselves by saying we have NO power to save therefore we are NOT responsible for anyone whatsoever. We cry out at the top of our lungs that ONLY Jesus can save, and then we turn our backs on others hoping and praying they'll find the love of Jesus but not doing anything whatsoever to help them. If EVERYONE was responsible only to themselves then why was it so important to our Savior for us to preach to others? Why was it so important for Him to send the apostles out, to train disciples to go out to others? Why did He give them powers?
Mat 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not
Mat 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand
And as ye go- PREACH.
Go to others and HEAL them- COMPASSION.
And as ye go- PREACH.
Act 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Act 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
WITNESSES UNTO JESUS everywhere!
Jesus taught first and foremost- COMPASSION on others, this is truly loving others when you have compassion on them- deserving or not. When we reveal compassion first that is a revelation of our Savior. Some will be saved by compassion that we reveal…others...
Jud 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Others are saved by fear.
You've heard of the old fire and brimstone preaching, and there is merit for that.
The Greek word for fear here is --
[[[[Strong's-
G5401
φόβος
phobos
fob'-os
From a primary φέβομαι phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright: - be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror.]]]
Alarm, fright, be afraid, exceeding fear, terror.
Some will be saved by fear! We will pull them out of the fire, we will hate the flesh nature surrounding them, the fleshy sin-filled nature they have clinging to them, covering their lives. And we will pull them from the fire- pull them from destruction using fear to make them understand that their path leads to eternal death. We need to have compassion and we need to preach the unvarnished truth of the two paths we can take, not trying to pretty up the gospel to suit anyone's desire to hear soothing things.
The truth must be the only thing that passes our lips - in compassion and fear- whatever it takes to reveal the love of our Savior and the desire He has that all would come to Him and be saved. We have a part to play in life and maybe it's not to become an evangelist, or a teacher, or do anything on a grand scale but we need to reveal the love of our Savior in our everyday lives.
By the grace of God!
Jud 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jud 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
We are to have COMPASSION.
Our compassion will make a difference in the eternal life of others. This is something we don't fully understand. Compassion.
[[[[Webster-
COMPASSION, n.
1. A suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration. Compassion is a mixed passion, compounded of love and sorrow; at least some portion of love generally attends the pain or regret, or is excited by it. Extreme distress of an enemy even changes enmity into at least temporary affection.
He being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity. Psa 78.
His father had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luke 15.
COMPASSION, v.t. To pity.]]]
Of SOME we are to have compassion- and that compassion will make a difference in deciding eternity for some. Seriously. We have to understand just how important we are to others. It's not just a pastor or preacher, a minister or priest who preaches to a congregation- big or small- who affects peoples lives in regards to their place in the eternal realm. The message of our Savior is given to all and for all to give. And the compassion we show towards others as they struggle in this evil world may make a difference to them- the difference between deciding to accept the love of Jesus into their hearts and lives and deciding not to.
Ultimately we are each responsible for our own decision in regards to salvation, but those who have compassion on others which makes a difference are actual laborers with Christ. Christ wanted His followers to share the good news with others.
Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Mat 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Act 5:19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
Act 5:20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Christ wants us to be laborers with Him.
1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
1Co 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Compassion - making a difference. A difference how? Some will be saved by our compassion- saved because we have labored to bring Christ to them through our compassion. Our pity, our suffering with them, our sympathy, our commiseration, our love will truly save others. We don't want to believe that because then that makes us accountable for others. We'd much rather just be concerned with ourselves and our own salvation. We pat ourselves on the back and soothe ourselves by saying we have NO power to save therefore we are NOT responsible for anyone whatsoever. We cry out at the top of our lungs that ONLY Jesus can save, and then we turn our backs on others hoping and praying they'll find the love of Jesus but not doing anything whatsoever to help them. If EVERYONE was responsible only to themselves then why was it so important to our Savior for us to preach to others? Why was it so important for Him to send the apostles out, to train disciples to go out to others? Why did He give them powers?
Mat 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not
Mat 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand
And as ye go- PREACH.
Go to others and HEAL them- COMPASSION.
And as ye go- PREACH.
Act 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Act 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
WITNESSES UNTO JESUS everywhere!
Jesus taught first and foremost- COMPASSION on others, this is truly loving others when you have compassion on them- deserving or not. When we reveal compassion first that is a revelation of our Savior. Some will be saved by compassion that we reveal…others...
Jud 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Others are saved by fear.
You've heard of the old fire and brimstone preaching, and there is merit for that.
The Greek word for fear here is --
[[[[Strong's-
G5401
φόβος
phobos
fob'-os
From a primary φέβομαι phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright: - be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror.]]]
Alarm, fright, be afraid, exceeding fear, terror.
Some will be saved by fear! We will pull them out of the fire, we will hate the flesh nature surrounding them, the fleshy sin-filled nature they have clinging to them, covering their lives. And we will pull them from the fire- pull them from destruction using fear to make them understand that their path leads to eternal death. We need to have compassion and we need to preach the unvarnished truth of the two paths we can take, not trying to pretty up the gospel to suit anyone's desire to hear soothing things.
The truth must be the only thing that passes our lips - in compassion and fear- whatever it takes to reveal the love of our Savior and the desire He has that all would come to Him and be saved. We have a part to play in life and maybe it's not to become an evangelist, or a teacher, or do anything on a grand scale but we need to reveal the love of our Savior in our everyday lives.
By the grace of God!
Jud 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Jude 14-21 Judgment
Jud 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Jud 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Execute judgment upon ALL.
All that are ungodly will be convinced of their ungodly actions they've committed, and everything they've spoken against the Lord.
This is going to happen!!!
Ignore it if you want but it will happen!!!
Jud 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
Murmurers
Complainers
Selfish
Arrogant
Opportunists
Do you know anyone like that?
Are you like this?
The world is FILLED with these people, filled! Only by the grace of God can we escape being numbered among the murmurers, the complainers, the selfish, the arrogant, the opportunists.
We need to listen, we need to understand the reality here. Judgment is coming, and if that means being a freak who yells out the truth and others believe that I'm crazy, so be it. Judgment is coming for all. We WILL all be judged. You live right now and believe that you have years before you are judged yet you have to realize that you might not have tomorrow. We live right now by the grace of God. We live right now with the opportunity to make a choice - to choose our Savior and live or live to ourselves and die eternally.
Jud 1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Jud 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Jud 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
Mockers in the last time.
Those who walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Those who separate themselves.
Those who are sensual.
Those who HAVE NOT the Spirit.
They exist now! Everywhere! May God keep us in Him! We live in frightful times, we live in ungodly times, we live surrounded by evil on every side. Please Lord SAVE US!
Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Amen!
We must BUILD UP ourselves on our MOST holy FAITH!
Praying in the Holy Ghost!
We must KEEP ourselves in the love of God!
We must look for the MERCY of our Lord Jesus Christ all unto ETERNAL LIFE!
AMEN!
Jud 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Execute judgment upon ALL.
All that are ungodly will be convinced of their ungodly actions they've committed, and everything they've spoken against the Lord.
This is going to happen!!!
Ignore it if you want but it will happen!!!
Jud 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
Murmurers
Complainers
Selfish
Arrogant
Opportunists
Do you know anyone like that?
Are you like this?
The world is FILLED with these people, filled! Only by the grace of God can we escape being numbered among the murmurers, the complainers, the selfish, the arrogant, the opportunists.
We need to listen, we need to understand the reality here. Judgment is coming, and if that means being a freak who yells out the truth and others believe that I'm crazy, so be it. Judgment is coming for all. We WILL all be judged. You live right now and believe that you have years before you are judged yet you have to realize that you might not have tomorrow. We live right now by the grace of God. We live right now with the opportunity to make a choice - to choose our Savior and live or live to ourselves and die eternally.
Jud 1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Jud 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Jud 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
Mockers in the last time.
Those who walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Those who separate themselves.
Those who are sensual.
Those who HAVE NOT the Spirit.
They exist now! Everywhere! May God keep us in Him! We live in frightful times, we live in ungodly times, we live surrounded by evil on every side. Please Lord SAVE US!
Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Amen!
We must BUILD UP ourselves on our MOST holy FAITH!
Praying in the Holy Ghost!
We must KEEP ourselves in the love of God!
We must look for the MERCY of our Lord Jesus Christ all unto ETERNAL LIFE!
AMEN!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Jude 9-13
Jud 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Michael and the Devil in a dispute. Their dispute was over the body of Moses.
This is what we know of Moses' death-
Deu 34:5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
Deu 34:6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.
Deu 34:7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
The LORD buried Moses.
No MAN knows where He was buried.
Moses' death was unnatural. He didn't die of old age, he didn't die naturally. God brought death to Him and we don't know exactly how this was done, but the One who gives the breath of life can take that breath away. The giver of life can take that life. He caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep when He created Eve - taking one of Adam's ribs to do so. God who can cause a deep sleep can surely - painlessly- take the breath of life from someone in order to bring death to them that isn't a death caused naturally. However it was done, God BURIED Moses after He died and He buried him in such a way that NO man who looked for Moses would find him.
However, the Devil is not a man. The Devil knew where Moses was buried. The Devil who has dominion over the earth (Just read this-
Mat 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
The devil showed Jesus ALL the kingdom of the world and then… he said this… ALL these will I give thee. All those kingdoms belonged to who? Whose were they to give? The devil's. Jesus didn't reply- No, these kingdoms already belong to me… Jesus answered by telling the devil this…
Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Satan wanted Jesus to worship him and then he'd give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world! They are satan's to give! Jesus answered that He would ONLY worship and serve God. Jesus didn't want the kingdoms of the world, He wanted what His Father wanted and that was ALL He wanted.
So here we have the devil, the ruler of the whole world, the king over the world having dominion over the world and He KNOWS where God buried Moses. He KNOWS! And for some reason this happens--
Jud 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
There is a dispute about Moses' body. For whatever reason this dispute has Michael the archangel NOT bringing a railing accusation against the devil, but rather His defense was 'The Lord rebuke thee'. If ever anyone could be accused of wrong doing it would be the devil, he is the epitome of evil and wrongness, he is the father of lies. All evil stems from the devil's influence. Yet no accusation was going to be brought against the devil by the archangel - it was enough to say, 'The Lord rebuke thee.'
Remember we are talking about all this--
Jud 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jud 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
We are talking about the EVIL people of which Sodom and Gomorrha are a prime example of those who will suffer eternal extinction. Those who are filthy dreamers defiling the flesh, those who despise dominion, those who speak evil of dignities.
The speak evil of dignities- honor, nobleness of mind, propriety, truth, justice, opposition to sin.
They love to rail, they love to speak evil of any they can, but speaking evil of others is NOT what God would have us do- no matter how deserving, as Satan is endlessly deserving of railing, but it is NOT God's way.
Jud 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
Evil people speak evil and corrupt themselves!
Jud 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Evil people go in the way of Cain- which is the way contrary to God. No one can dispute the fact Cain was contrary to God and all those who follow in Cain's way- seeking their own will above God's are going the exact same path.
The way of Core being this--
G2879
Κορέ
Kore
Thayer Definition:
Korah = “baldness”
1) a man who, with others, rebelled against Moses
Those who with others rebel. Rebelling against God's way- once again this is the path those who are not with God take. They might believe they are harmlessly just doing their own thing, proud in their suppose superior intellect but in truth they are rebels against their Creator, against their Savior.
Jud 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Jud 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
READ THOSE WORDS AGAIN!
They live and breath among us and will until Jesus comes to redeem us to Himself. We cannot fully separate ourselves from them.
Mat 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Mat 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Mat 13:26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
Mat 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
Mat 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
Mat 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Mat 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Mat 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
Mat 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
The wheat and the tares together until the harvest.
God's children, Satan's children together until the end of the world.
We mustn't delude ourselves into believing that we even CAN live among others and all be God's children. It's not up to us to EVER determine another person's eternal life- that's for God and God alone. But we have to be discerning and follow God as we are told in His word and that will mean being a stranger in and among others- a stranger that the world will try to convince to change our ways to be as they are- to conform, to become part of the family of Satan. No, they won't say those words but that's exactly what it amounts to. If you are not a child of God's you can only be a child of the wicked one.
We get so confused, and the devil enjoys our confusion. We must live and exist in a world where the tares outnumber the wheat greatly so that there is hardly any wheat left. We live in a world where wheat can turn into a tare and a tare into wheat. We must choose to never change, to never become a tare knowing that we must do our very best to allow God to work through us to by HIS grace and HIS grace alone have tares become wheat.
All glory to God in the Highest!
All praise and honor to our King!
May we be found in Him, His now and His always!
Amen.
Michael and the Devil in a dispute. Their dispute was over the body of Moses.
This is what we know of Moses' death-
Deu 34:5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
Deu 34:6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.
Deu 34:7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
The LORD buried Moses.
No MAN knows where He was buried.
Moses' death was unnatural. He didn't die of old age, he didn't die naturally. God brought death to Him and we don't know exactly how this was done, but the One who gives the breath of life can take that breath away. The giver of life can take that life. He caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep when He created Eve - taking one of Adam's ribs to do so. God who can cause a deep sleep can surely - painlessly- take the breath of life from someone in order to bring death to them that isn't a death caused naturally. However it was done, God BURIED Moses after He died and He buried him in such a way that NO man who looked for Moses would find him.
However, the Devil is not a man. The Devil knew where Moses was buried. The Devil who has dominion over the earth (Just read this-
Mat 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
The devil showed Jesus ALL the kingdom of the world and then… he said this… ALL these will I give thee. All those kingdoms belonged to who? Whose were they to give? The devil's. Jesus didn't reply- No, these kingdoms already belong to me… Jesus answered by telling the devil this…
Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Satan wanted Jesus to worship him and then he'd give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world! They are satan's to give! Jesus answered that He would ONLY worship and serve God. Jesus didn't want the kingdoms of the world, He wanted what His Father wanted and that was ALL He wanted.
So here we have the devil, the ruler of the whole world, the king over the world having dominion over the world and He KNOWS where God buried Moses. He KNOWS! And for some reason this happens--
Jud 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
There is a dispute about Moses' body. For whatever reason this dispute has Michael the archangel NOT bringing a railing accusation against the devil, but rather His defense was 'The Lord rebuke thee'. If ever anyone could be accused of wrong doing it would be the devil, he is the epitome of evil and wrongness, he is the father of lies. All evil stems from the devil's influence. Yet no accusation was going to be brought against the devil by the archangel - it was enough to say, 'The Lord rebuke thee.'
Remember we are talking about all this--
Jud 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jud 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
We are talking about the EVIL people of which Sodom and Gomorrha are a prime example of those who will suffer eternal extinction. Those who are filthy dreamers defiling the flesh, those who despise dominion, those who speak evil of dignities.
The speak evil of dignities- honor, nobleness of mind, propriety, truth, justice, opposition to sin.
They love to rail, they love to speak evil of any they can, but speaking evil of others is NOT what God would have us do- no matter how deserving, as Satan is endlessly deserving of railing, but it is NOT God's way.
Jud 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
Evil people speak evil and corrupt themselves!
Jud 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Evil people go in the way of Cain- which is the way contrary to God. No one can dispute the fact Cain was contrary to God and all those who follow in Cain's way- seeking their own will above God's are going the exact same path.
The way of Core being this--
G2879
Κορέ
Kore
Thayer Definition:
Korah = “baldness”
1) a man who, with others, rebelled against Moses
Those who with others rebel. Rebelling against God's way- once again this is the path those who are not with God take. They might believe they are harmlessly just doing their own thing, proud in their suppose superior intellect but in truth they are rebels against their Creator, against their Savior.
Jud 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Jud 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
READ THOSE WORDS AGAIN!
They live and breath among us and will until Jesus comes to redeem us to Himself. We cannot fully separate ourselves from them.
Mat 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Mat 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Mat 13:26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
Mat 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
Mat 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
Mat 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Mat 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Mat 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
Mat 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
The wheat and the tares together until the harvest.
God's children, Satan's children together until the end of the world.
We mustn't delude ourselves into believing that we even CAN live among others and all be God's children. It's not up to us to EVER determine another person's eternal life- that's for God and God alone. But we have to be discerning and follow God as we are told in His word and that will mean being a stranger in and among others- a stranger that the world will try to convince to change our ways to be as they are- to conform, to become part of the family of Satan. No, they won't say those words but that's exactly what it amounts to. If you are not a child of God's you can only be a child of the wicked one.
We get so confused, and the devil enjoys our confusion. We must live and exist in a world where the tares outnumber the wheat greatly so that there is hardly any wheat left. We live in a world where wheat can turn into a tare and a tare into wheat. We must choose to never change, to never become a tare knowing that we must do our very best to allow God to work through us to by HIS grace and HIS grace alone have tares become wheat.
All glory to God in the Highest!
All praise and honor to our King!
May we be found in Him, His now and His always!
Amen.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
More Jude
Jud 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Jud 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Jud 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jud 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
God's pure goodness demands that evil be destroyed. Allowing evil to exist, allowing suffering to continue would be cruel. Only a sadist enjoys given pain to others and God is not a sadist. Enjoying evil and pain is wrong. God does not enjoy evil, it is an aberration.
We know that free choice brings with it the ability to choose between things and allowing freedom of choice is the revelation of one not wishing to dominate, not wishing to subdue, not wishing to be a master to forced slaves, but rather a father to children, a teacher to pupils.
Angels were created beings not of flesh but of spirit.
Angels were created with the ability to choose.
Angels were created with the ability to love, with the ability to reason, with feelings.
Angels could keep their first estate, or they could leave it. They could keep their own habitation or leave it. Some of the angels chose NOT to keep their first estate and left. Some chose to leave their own habitation. When they did that it was completely unacceptable- it was a wrong action.
First Estate, habitation- When you leave your first estate, when you leave your habitation you are effectively leaving a way of life. You are leaving more than a location. A rich man leaving his riches behind to live the life of a poor- begins to live an entire new way of life. When you leave one country to go to another you have new laws to follow. It isn't like leaving one house for another of similar conditions. There weren't two first estates to hop back and forth between. Choosing to leave a habitation that held God and all that God represents was choosing to leave all that is good, all that is love.
Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The people crept in UNAWARE- UNGODLY men.
Jud 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Jud 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Jud 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jud 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
Those who even NOW, in our day, live in a manner like those of Sodom and Gomorrha will be PUNISHED. These people exist and it's not hard to notice them, not today, not in a world where all you have to do is watch the news, look on an internet news site , read a newspaper, listen to news radio and you will hear all about the people who exist today that are likened to those living in Sodom and Gomorrha.
These filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, speak evil of dignitaries and more….
Yes, I'm going to continue to talk about this kind of stuff right now because the Bible talks of this and warns us and we need to heed the warnings not hide behind a heavy blanket of love and sweetness refusing to believe there is love in the warnings, love in leaving the soft, sweetness and recognizing God's love in so much more.
May God continue to bless us, to forgive us, to love us as we continue to study, to pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance into all truth.
In our Savior's love, by His mercy, through His righteousness and grace.
More tomorrow, God willing.
Amen.
Jud 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Jud 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jud 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
God's pure goodness demands that evil be destroyed. Allowing evil to exist, allowing suffering to continue would be cruel. Only a sadist enjoys given pain to others and God is not a sadist. Enjoying evil and pain is wrong. God does not enjoy evil, it is an aberration.
We know that free choice brings with it the ability to choose between things and allowing freedom of choice is the revelation of one not wishing to dominate, not wishing to subdue, not wishing to be a master to forced slaves, but rather a father to children, a teacher to pupils.
Angels were created beings not of flesh but of spirit.
Angels were created with the ability to choose.
Angels were created with the ability to love, with the ability to reason, with feelings.
Angels could keep their first estate, or they could leave it. They could keep their own habitation or leave it. Some of the angels chose NOT to keep their first estate and left. Some chose to leave their own habitation. When they did that it was completely unacceptable- it was a wrong action.
First Estate, habitation- When you leave your first estate, when you leave your habitation you are effectively leaving a way of life. You are leaving more than a location. A rich man leaving his riches behind to live the life of a poor- begins to live an entire new way of life. When you leave one country to go to another you have new laws to follow. It isn't like leaving one house for another of similar conditions. There weren't two first estates to hop back and forth between. Choosing to leave a habitation that held God and all that God represents was choosing to leave all that is good, all that is love.
Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The people crept in UNAWARE- UNGODLY men.
Jud 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Jud 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Jud 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jud 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
Those who even NOW, in our day, live in a manner like those of Sodom and Gomorrha will be PUNISHED. These people exist and it's not hard to notice them, not today, not in a world where all you have to do is watch the news, look on an internet news site , read a newspaper, listen to news radio and you will hear all about the people who exist today that are likened to those living in Sodom and Gomorrha.
These filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, speak evil of dignitaries and more….
Yes, I'm going to continue to talk about this kind of stuff right now because the Bible talks of this and warns us and we need to heed the warnings not hide behind a heavy blanket of love and sweetness refusing to believe there is love in the warnings, love in leaving the soft, sweetness and recognizing God's love in so much more.
May God continue to bless us, to forgive us, to love us as we continue to study, to pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance into all truth.
In our Savior's love, by His mercy, through His righteousness and grace.
More tomorrow, God willing.
Amen.
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