Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Holding fast of the faithful word.
The faithful word is the word spoken to us by God.
The faithful word is every word that came from Jesus.
Sound doctrine is the doctrines of our God, our Savior.
Pro 4:2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine-
The doctrine of Jesus (Matthew 5:3-7:27) People were astonished at the doctrine of Jesus. People were being TAUGHT by Jesus. The disciples were being taught by Jesus- the message they would carry with them always. Do we study it enough? Do we study the doctrine of our Savior enough? Do we know the doctrine of our Savior so that we can exhort and convince the gainsayers- those that would contradict the word of God, those that would deny the word of God?
The message of salvation is paramount in all the teachings of our Savior- yet our Lord had so much more to say and at the end of His long discourse He said this…
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
If we hear and do we will be wise.
If we hear and do not do we will be foolish.
People complain all the time that they don't know how God would have them live and yet we are given this counsel from the Lord Himself. The sound doctrine of Jesus is the sound doctrine we are to have. It's not OUR word, it is not OUR doctrines that can do anything at all- it is the doctrine of our Lord and Savior.
Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The apostle' doctrine was the doctrine Jesus gave to them.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
How true is this. People don't want to endure sound doctrine- people want to go after their own lusts.
Sound doctrine.
Jesus alone gives us sound doctrine. We don't have apostles today going about preaching the Lord's sound doctrine. We do have the words of our Savior that we can study for ourselves. The apostles wrote down the words they were given. The sound doctrine of Christ was written for our learning. We can't expect to understand or to accept sound doctrine if we don't learn it. Not just read, but learn it. Not just those that HEAR but those that HEAR AND DO the words of Christ will be wise.
We need to study the sound doctrines and make them a part of our lives.
We need Christ in our lives, we need to live as Christ would have us live in Him.
There is no guess work involved here- there is TRUTH.
People don't want to endure TRUTH, it doesn't satisfy their own desires.
We can follow all the unsound doctrine we like and it will allow us to satisfy our lusts, but following the sound doctrine of our Savior will war against our natural desires. One will give us life eternal the other death eternal-- we choose.
May God help us to follow only SOUND doctrine, Christ's doctrine, by His grace.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
That I May ProveThem
Exo 16:4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
Exo 16:5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.
The Lord wanted to PROVE the children of Israel that He'd just delivered from slavery in Egypt. Would they walk in his law or no? Would they listen to God or not? What was the test?
Manna.
The people needed food, God would provide food but there was a catch. God would place conditions on this food. The people were NOT to store the food from heaven over night, there were to be NO leftovers allowed. Not all people listened though, some did try to keep leftovers and this happened when they did…
Exo 16:20 Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.
The leftovers were covered in worms and stank.
Praise God it was only SOME of them and not all, because if all of them hadn't listened, well who knows what might have happened.
God would feed His people but they had to obey Him if they wanted food from Him - it was that simple. This food would not keep overnight. You were to take ONLY that which you could eat that day and no more.
But that wasn't all--
God had laws and He wanted His people to have these laws, these commandments, and God wanted to know whether or not the people were going to obey Him.
God told the people through Moses to gather TWICE as much on the sixth day.
Why?
Because God had a law, God had a commandment that was first instituted in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, a commandment the people had not been at liberty to keep as slaves. That law, that commandment was to REST on the SEVENTH DAY.
GOD who needs no rest created a REST DAY for man. God created a day for man to remember HIM- their Creator. This day was so important that God conditioned the food He would give people upon it. Is there any better reminder than to condition food- life's sustenance upon- upon this command of God's?
We eat daily. We were created to eat daily. God provided food for every single day- but not ON every single day.
On ONE special day God would double the allotment of food, why? So people would have food on a day God only wanted them to rest upon and NOT go out to gather the food.
God wanted to PROVE the people to know whether or not they would obey Him. If they would obey him in this then there was a chance they'd obey Him completely- He who only had their best interest at heart, He who loved them, created them and would redeem them.
Why do we believe that God no longer proves His people?
Why do we believe it was a one time thing?
Why do we believe that God no longer cares what we do?
Why do we believe God's laws no longer matter?
Why do we believe that God Son decided that God's law were no longer any good?
We want to believe that we can do ANYTHING, that we can live ANY way we choose, that we don't have to follow ANY laws, ANY commandments. We are in essence believing God created His holy laws for no reason, it was a meaningless act He could do away with on a whim.
Every one of His commandments is still in effect today and that's the truth.
We are still being proved.
Exo 16:4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
Could it be possible that God offers us salvation through Christ daily- the Bread of Life- and He does so to prove us? On the Sabbath Day we have that which we have gathered double on the preparation day. EVERY DAY the food is available the distinction being made that on one of those days the BREAD from HEAVEN will already have been gathered for that day, the time spent gathering the food would now be spent solely upon God. As we go from day to day studying and praying, seeking to know more of our Savior and to live for Him as He would have us live- on that seventh day we are to set aside ALL the ordinary distractions that we can so we can devote that day to a deeper study, a deeper prayer.
We are proved by God whether we will walk in His law or not.
By the grace of God we will, because it is only by the grace of God that we can.
God hasn't changed.
God's desire for a people that love Him as He loves them remains the same.
By His grace.
Amen.
Exo 16:5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.
The Lord wanted to PROVE the children of Israel that He'd just delivered from slavery in Egypt. Would they walk in his law or no? Would they listen to God or not? What was the test?
Manna.
The people needed food, God would provide food but there was a catch. God would place conditions on this food. The people were NOT to store the food from heaven over night, there were to be NO leftovers allowed. Not all people listened though, some did try to keep leftovers and this happened when they did…
Exo 16:20 Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.
The leftovers were covered in worms and stank.
Praise God it was only SOME of them and not all, because if all of them hadn't listened, well who knows what might have happened.
God would feed His people but they had to obey Him if they wanted food from Him - it was that simple. This food would not keep overnight. You were to take ONLY that which you could eat that day and no more.
But that wasn't all--
God had laws and He wanted His people to have these laws, these commandments, and God wanted to know whether or not the people were going to obey Him.
God told the people through Moses to gather TWICE as much on the sixth day.
Why?
Because God had a law, God had a commandment that was first instituted in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, a commandment the people had not been at liberty to keep as slaves. That law, that commandment was to REST on the SEVENTH DAY.
GOD who needs no rest created a REST DAY for man. God created a day for man to remember HIM- their Creator. This day was so important that God conditioned the food He would give people upon it. Is there any better reminder than to condition food- life's sustenance upon- upon this command of God's?
We eat daily. We were created to eat daily. God provided food for every single day- but not ON every single day.
On ONE special day God would double the allotment of food, why? So people would have food on a day God only wanted them to rest upon and NOT go out to gather the food.
God wanted to PROVE the people to know whether or not they would obey Him. If they would obey him in this then there was a chance they'd obey Him completely- He who only had their best interest at heart, He who loved them, created them and would redeem them.
Why do we believe that God no longer proves His people?
Why do we believe it was a one time thing?
Why do we believe that God no longer cares what we do?
Why do we believe God's laws no longer matter?
Why do we believe that God Son decided that God's law were no longer any good?
We want to believe that we can do ANYTHING, that we can live ANY way we choose, that we don't have to follow ANY laws, ANY commandments. We are in essence believing God created His holy laws for no reason, it was a meaningless act He could do away with on a whim.
Every one of His commandments is still in effect today and that's the truth.
We are still being proved.
Exo 16:4 Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
Could it be possible that God offers us salvation through Christ daily- the Bread of Life- and He does so to prove us? On the Sabbath Day we have that which we have gathered double on the preparation day. EVERY DAY the food is available the distinction being made that on one of those days the BREAD from HEAVEN will already have been gathered for that day, the time spent gathering the food would now be spent solely upon God. As we go from day to day studying and praying, seeking to know more of our Savior and to live for Him as He would have us live- on that seventh day we are to set aside ALL the ordinary distractions that we can so we can devote that day to a deeper study, a deeper prayer.
We are proved by God whether we will walk in His law or not.
By the grace of God we will, because it is only by the grace of God that we can.
God hasn't changed.
God's desire for a people that love Him as He loves them remains the same.
By His grace.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Christ's Goodness
Phm 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
When we communicate our faith it's not always effective is it? We hope for it to be effective in bringing knowledge of the Lord's love, His message of salvation to others, but we can't always know that it is.
Here Paul is exhorting believers- fellow soldiers in Christ- telling them that he hopes the sharing of their faith is effective BY acknowledging all that is good in them through Christ Jesus. Our 'goodness' is not OUR goodness, but Christ's. Any good that comes from us comes from Christ.
When we share our faith with others it's not about US doing good, but about Christ doing good through us. We are not faith sharers because of our own volition to be faith sharers. All glory must go to Christ who awakes in us the desire to communicate His love with others and gives us the means to do so.
Too many today are asleep to the workings of the Holy Spirit, not understanding that we are given the Holy Spirit's guidance when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit gives us all we need and it is from the Holy Spirit that we are able to communicate to others effectively.
IF we have any goodness in us, it is from our Savior. We have not manufactured the goodness, we have not created the good things in us. Of ourselves we are NOT innately good. Sure, you might know a person who is a Pagan, openly worshipping nature and not God; you might know a Moslem person who openly believes that Jesus Christ was NOT God's Son and Salvation is NOT found in Him- these people might be the friendliest, the nicest people you could ever meet and yet you know from what the Bible tells you that these people are not saved because they refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior- and adamantly so. The same goes for atheist and even professed witches- of the religion Wiccan, they too might be the sweetest, kindest people you know- above many professed Christians. Where does their goodness come from? We know that even Satan can appear to people as an angel of light.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
The Bible also tells us this-- speaking of Satan--
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Satan's ministers- transformed as the minister of righteousness.
There is deception all around us even in GOOD things. Our goodness must be Christ's goodness- no goodness of our own, no goodness we falsely believe comes from within ourselves. All goodness we can communicate to others must be Christ's, we can take no glory to ourselves, to do so is to believe falsely that somehow we have the power to make ourselves good and if we have that power we have no need of Christ's power to work in us, transforming us by His grace and mercy into the beings He would have us become.
Phm 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
Acknowledging every good this in us- IN CHRIST JESUS.
We don't want to boast to ourselves, to anything good we might think we have, let's give all glory and honor to our Savior that anything that is a good thing in us IS in us from our Savior, through HIS love!
All glory to God!!!
Amen.
When we communicate our faith it's not always effective is it? We hope for it to be effective in bringing knowledge of the Lord's love, His message of salvation to others, but we can't always know that it is.
Here Paul is exhorting believers- fellow soldiers in Christ- telling them that he hopes the sharing of their faith is effective BY acknowledging all that is good in them through Christ Jesus. Our 'goodness' is not OUR goodness, but Christ's. Any good that comes from us comes from Christ.
When we share our faith with others it's not about US doing good, but about Christ doing good through us. We are not faith sharers because of our own volition to be faith sharers. All glory must go to Christ who awakes in us the desire to communicate His love with others and gives us the means to do so.
Too many today are asleep to the workings of the Holy Spirit, not understanding that we are given the Holy Spirit's guidance when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit gives us all we need and it is from the Holy Spirit that we are able to communicate to others effectively.
IF we have any goodness in us, it is from our Savior. We have not manufactured the goodness, we have not created the good things in us. Of ourselves we are NOT innately good. Sure, you might know a person who is a Pagan, openly worshipping nature and not God; you might know a Moslem person who openly believes that Jesus Christ was NOT God's Son and Salvation is NOT found in Him- these people might be the friendliest, the nicest people you could ever meet and yet you know from what the Bible tells you that these people are not saved because they refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior- and adamantly so. The same goes for atheist and even professed witches- of the religion Wiccan, they too might be the sweetest, kindest people you know- above many professed Christians. Where does their goodness come from? We know that even Satan can appear to people as an angel of light.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
The Bible also tells us this-- speaking of Satan--
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Satan's ministers- transformed as the minister of righteousness.
There is deception all around us even in GOOD things. Our goodness must be Christ's goodness- no goodness of our own, no goodness we falsely believe comes from within ourselves. All goodness we can communicate to others must be Christ's, we can take no glory to ourselves, to do so is to believe falsely that somehow we have the power to make ourselves good and if we have that power we have no need of Christ's power to work in us, transforming us by His grace and mercy into the beings He would have us become.
Phm 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
Acknowledging every good this in us- IN CHRIST JESUS.
We don't want to boast to ourselves, to anything good we might think we have, let's give all glory and honor to our Savior that anything that is a good thing in us IS in us from our Savior, through HIS love!
All glory to God!!!
Amen.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Fellow Soldiers
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.
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.
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!!!
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