We've been talking about learning from our Savior the sweet message of salvation, and the last message we were expounding on was …
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Then yesterday we talked about in part the final judgment and the fact the end of the world as we know it is fast approaching and when Christ comes our ultimate fate for eternal life or eternal death will have been decided.
Let's look at a few more verses on righteousness, we are supposed to be HUNGERING and THIRSTING for righteousness so the more we know about it the better, right? Right.
Psa 9:8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
The people of the world are judge in righteousness. Our Savior- our righteousness. Unlike our earthly judges our Savior will not be subject to any sort of flights of fancy. A bad mood won't affect His judging. No preconceived ideas will color His rulings. The only way we are judged is in righteousness and uprightly. NO ONE will be able to accuse our Savior of favoritism, or unjust judging. We can be assured of an HONEST and FAIR judging more so than at any other moment in our lives. We may get the raw end of the deal here and now when we go into courts and our cases are judged but we won't when it really, really matters.
Psa 35:24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me
Judged according to God's righteousness- not man's. How wondrous it is to know that our Creator who loves us more than we can ever imagine will be the One judging us. None of those who are devoid of God's love will be able to rejoice over those who are judged by God's righteousness. Those who depend fully upon their Savior will be judged righteous and those who would be enemies of the Savior will be judged as being unrighteous. We need God to judge us, we should want God to judge us but only ACCORDING to HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Judged on our own merits, on our own righteousness we will forever come up very, very short.
Psa 36:6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
So amazing! So true!
Psa 71:2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
Yes, Lord! Please Lord! Deliver us in YOUR righteousness. Cause us to escape! Incline Your ear to us and save us!
Psa 96:13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
This is truth. No matter any single person's life on earth- no matter if they don't believe- no matter if they are against the LORD- no matter if they worship other gods- no matter if they are rich, poor, smart, stupid, pretty, ugly, think or fat- NO MATTER ANYTHING that seems to matter most to us in our temporal world- we WILL ALL BE JUDGED! You can't escape judgment- the WORLD will be judged with righteousness - the people with HIS TRUTH. You might think if you don't believe in God you will escape His notice but that's not true at all. You're precious to Him and He desires your love. There isn't a single person born that our Lord doesn't not long to be His.
Let's read some more verses on righteousness--
Psa 118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
Psa 118:20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
Praise God! Please God! Open that gate of righteousness to us!
Psa 119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
Quicken us in YOUR righteousness!
Psa 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
Glory to God!
Psa 119:144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.
Give us understanding so we may live! Please Lord!
Psa 119:172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
Praise God, Your truth! Your commandments ARE righteousness!
Pro 12:17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
Dear Lord, there is no mystery in Your words of truth You would have us learn from you- no mystery at all!
The hunger and thirst for righteousness we must have to be filled please, please we pray that You give us this hunger and thirst daily! As we hunger and thirst in the flesh let us forever remember our need to hunger and thirst for Your righteousness. We have NO righteousness of our own, we need Your righteousness as our spiritual sustenance!
There are 289 verse in my Bible search results for the word righteousness. There is so much to learn of Your righteousness. Feed us Lord! Feed us!
We will be judged in righteousness, Your righteousness!
By Your Grace!
In Your Love!
Amen!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Comfort one another with these words
Luk 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
The following excerpt is so pertinent to today-
'Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their
shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea
and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the
future? Where is security? There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly. Rapidly are men
ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the
movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord's
appearing. Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. Few
believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win.
The crisis is stealing gradually upon us. The sun shines in the heavens, passing over its usual round,
and the heavens still declare the glory of God. Men are still eating and drinking, planting and building,
marrying, and giving in marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. Men are jostling one against
another, contending for the highest place. Pleasure lovers are still crowding to theaters, horse races,
gambling hells. The highest excitement prevails, yet probation's hour is fast closing, and every case is
about to be eternally decided. Satan sees that his time is short. He has set all his agencies at work that
men may be deceived, deluded, occupied and entranced, until the day of probation shall be ended, and
the door of mercy be forever shut.
Solemnly there come to us down through the centuries the warning words of our Lord from the Mount
of Olives: "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares." "Watch ye therefore, and
pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to
stand before the Son of man."'
Excerpted from the book Desire of Age by E.G. White.
*******
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mar 13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
1Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
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.
2Ti 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
*******
People don't want to hear doom and gloom. People would rather believe that these natural disasters surrounding us on an ever increasing frequency simply mean the earth is in the throes of some natural change that - yes - could signal mankind's extinction. Why is it so much better for people to believe in natural extinction? Because they do NOT want to admit that they have a Creator, that there is a Supreme Being in control of things. They do NOT want to admit that sin is a reality. These same people are more than willing to admit people do bad things- horrific things- but they refuse to call them sin because sin is the breaking of God's law. People want to believe they control their own destiny when nature, or natural forces do not intervene. To think there is an evil being manipulating them goes against all they believe. People believe religion is an excuse for bad behavior- having someone other than themselves to blame their bad behavior on, it's a cop out so they don't have to take responsibility for their actions. Others think people use religion because they're too foolish to understand they've been brainwashed. There are endless reasons for people who do not want to believe in God and His hand in our lives. Some refuse to believe because they're convinced they don't want to believe in a God who could allow pain and suffering on insane levels. These people are so deluded, so consumed by their own lusts they cannot possibly begin to comprehend the things of God, or even want to.
We could talk until we are blue in the face (as the saying goes) and no truth would get through to those who have hardened their hearts to God.
Probation is running out people!
Yes, we are all on probation and when probation is over everyone will be sealed as God's or marked as the Beast's. There will be NO ONE in the middle of the two. You will either be God's or Satan's. You might want to think you'll be your own- but sorry- that isn't an option. There is good and evil and you will have chosen one or the other before probation closes. By default if you don't accept Jesus as your Savior- asking forgiveness for your sins- you will NOT be His- the defaulted belong to Satan. So go on say you won't choose one or the other, your arrogance, your pride, your selfishness will choose for you.
Probation automatically runs out for everyone upon their death. After death they have no more conscious awareness- the dead know nothing.
Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Upon death it is decided if you are God's or Satan's and you will lay in the grave, you will remain unconscious in death's sleep until Christ returns and then you will either be raised and given immortality or you will be condemn to eternal death.
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Probation ends at death and it will end for the living when Jesus stands up in the heavenly sanctuary and His work there is finished.
Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
The reward is with Christ when He comes- not decided after He's come again.
The unjust will be unjust still.
The filthy will be filthy still.
The righteous will be righteous still.
The holy will be holy still.
When our Savior finishes His work in Heaven - and make NO mistake He WILL finish - those who are alive will be either His or Satan's - it will have been decided for eternity. We don't know the exact time when probation is over- we do know that after it is over there will be ' a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that time' . A time of trouble- we don't know how long this time of trouble will be but we know it will be horrible! Ever heard of the seven last plagues? They're REAL. They may be steeped in symbolism but they are real, very real.
After that time of trouble is over… God's people will be delivered everyone that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Christ will come!
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Comfort one another with these words!
The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout! Praise God!
Please Lord open our eyes, our hearts, our minds, our souls to YOU and all TRUTH in You! We want to be Yours now and forever! We know that You will come for us, we don't know the exact day, but we know You will! So much of Your word has been prophetic and history has proven it true time and time again- nothing will stop all of it from coming to pass- nothing!
By Your mercy and grace forgive us! We are so unworthy. By Your righteousness may we be Yours now and forever!
Amen.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
The following excerpt is so pertinent to today-
'Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their
shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea
and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the
future? Where is security? There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly. Rapidly are men
ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the
movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord's
appearing. Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. Few
believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win.
The crisis is stealing gradually upon us. The sun shines in the heavens, passing over its usual round,
and the heavens still declare the glory of God. Men are still eating and drinking, planting and building,
marrying, and giving in marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. Men are jostling one against
another, contending for the highest place. Pleasure lovers are still crowding to theaters, horse races,
gambling hells. The highest excitement prevails, yet probation's hour is fast closing, and every case is
about to be eternally decided. Satan sees that his time is short. He has set all his agencies at work that
men may be deceived, deluded, occupied and entranced, until the day of probation shall be ended, and
the door of mercy be forever shut.
Solemnly there come to us down through the centuries the warning words of our Lord from the Mount
of Olives: "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares." "Watch ye therefore, and
pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to
stand before the Son of man."'
Excerpted from the book Desire of Age by E.G. White.
*******
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mar 13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
1Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
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.
2Ti 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
*******
People don't want to hear doom and gloom. People would rather believe that these natural disasters surrounding us on an ever increasing frequency simply mean the earth is in the throes of some natural change that - yes - could signal mankind's extinction. Why is it so much better for people to believe in natural extinction? Because they do NOT want to admit that they have a Creator, that there is a Supreme Being in control of things. They do NOT want to admit that sin is a reality. These same people are more than willing to admit people do bad things- horrific things- but they refuse to call them sin because sin is the breaking of God's law. People want to believe they control their own destiny when nature, or natural forces do not intervene. To think there is an evil being manipulating them goes against all they believe. People believe religion is an excuse for bad behavior- having someone other than themselves to blame their bad behavior on, it's a cop out so they don't have to take responsibility for their actions. Others think people use religion because they're too foolish to understand they've been brainwashed. There are endless reasons for people who do not want to believe in God and His hand in our lives. Some refuse to believe because they're convinced they don't want to believe in a God who could allow pain and suffering on insane levels. These people are so deluded, so consumed by their own lusts they cannot possibly begin to comprehend the things of God, or even want to.
We could talk until we are blue in the face (as the saying goes) and no truth would get through to those who have hardened their hearts to God.
Probation is running out people!
Yes, we are all on probation and when probation is over everyone will be sealed as God's or marked as the Beast's. There will be NO ONE in the middle of the two. You will either be God's or Satan's. You might want to think you'll be your own- but sorry- that isn't an option. There is good and evil and you will have chosen one or the other before probation closes. By default if you don't accept Jesus as your Savior- asking forgiveness for your sins- you will NOT be His- the defaulted belong to Satan. So go on say you won't choose one or the other, your arrogance, your pride, your selfishness will choose for you.
Probation automatically runs out for everyone upon their death. After death they have no more conscious awareness- the dead know nothing.
Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Upon death it is decided if you are God's or Satan's and you will lay in the grave, you will remain unconscious in death's sleep until Christ returns and then you will either be raised and given immortality or you will be condemn to eternal death.
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Probation ends at death and it will end for the living when Jesus stands up in the heavenly sanctuary and His work there is finished.
Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
The reward is with Christ when He comes- not decided after He's come again.
The unjust will be unjust still.
The filthy will be filthy still.
The righteous will be righteous still.
The holy will be holy still.
When our Savior finishes His work in Heaven - and make NO mistake He WILL finish - those who are alive will be either His or Satan's - it will have been decided for eternity. We don't know the exact time when probation is over- we do know that after it is over there will be ' a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that time' . A time of trouble- we don't know how long this time of trouble will be but we know it will be horrible! Ever heard of the seven last plagues? They're REAL. They may be steeped in symbolism but they are real, very real.
After that time of trouble is over… God's people will be delivered everyone that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Christ will come!
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Comfort one another with these words!
The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout! Praise God!
Please Lord open our eyes, our hearts, our minds, our souls to YOU and all TRUTH in You! We want to be Yours now and forever! We know that You will come for us, we don't know the exact day, but we know You will! So much of Your word has been prophetic and history has proven it true time and time again- nothing will stop all of it from coming to pass- nothing!
By Your mercy and grace forgive us! We are so unworthy. By Your righteousness may we be Yours now and forever!
Amen.
Let us hunger and thirst for our Savior!
Our Savior, our Heavenly Teacher speaks these words, teaching us, expecting us to learn as He teaches--
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Hunger and thirst. Have you ever hungered for something- other than food? What about thirsting after something other than drink? Hunger is a want, but not just a petty want. Hunger is a want that is hard pressed to be denied. Hunger and thirst when denied bring us pain. We've all suffered a bit of hunger and thirst, some of us have suffered a bit more from time to time, and others a great deal of pain has been the result of a constant hunger and thirst that they have to live with. Do many people want to feel great hunger and thirst? No. It's uncomfortable, it's painful.
A normal hunger, a normal thirst- the experience we deal with daily- signals us to eat and drink throughout our day so we can fill ourselves and get rid of the hunger and thirst. No one WANTS to be hungry and thirsty. Some might suffer through hunger to lose weight, or upon dr.s orders while awaiting tests, but the NORMAL person does not want to suffer hunger or thirst. We go to great lengths to make sure we have enough food and drink so we can forestall the worst of any hunger or thirst that might come along. We try to have 3 meals a day along with snacks, and as for drinking, well we do that all day long anytime we feel a touch of thirst. We want to be filled and we want the feeling we get from being comfortably full to last for as long as possible but inevitably that sip of water we took three hours ago isn't going to cut it for much longer, or that piece of toast we had in the morning won't keep us filling full until dinner time 8, 9 hours away. We start to feel hunger, we start to feel thirst and sometimes if we're lucky we'll wait that feeling out and it will abate for a bit, but it doesn't stay gone forever.
Hungering and thirsting creates a desire in us for nourishment.
Hunger and thirst are catalysts- creating the stimulus in us to seek sustenance.
Jesus wants us to have a desire for spiritual nourishment and that spiritual nourishment is … righteousness.
If we hunger and thirst for righteousness we will seek it until we find it and then we'll feed and drink from it until we are sated.
Let's read some verses on righteousness- this spiritual food and drink that Jesus would have us desire.
Pro 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
Pro 13:6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
Pro 21:21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
Hos 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
Zep 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.
Jer 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Jas 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace
1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
Deu 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Christ's righteousness! Righteousness in Christ! We are to hunger and thirst for our Savior! We can't hunger and thirst for OUR righteousness. It doesn't say that at all does it? In fact it's implied that we are seeking something we do not possess, we are seeking something to fill ourselves with, something we don't possess. We need Christ's righteousness. We need to understand that in seeking Christ's righteousness we will be filled because HE IS RIGHTEOUS! He is OUR righteousness!
We have no righteousness--
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
But our Savior is righteous and our hungering and thirsting after salvation in Christ and Christ alone by His grace is our righteousness.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
Let us hunger for our Savior! Let us thirst for our Savior!
It's by Him we are saved and ONLY Him, we cannot save ourselves, we cannot produce our own righteousness.
By HIS GRACE!! BY HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS may we be filled!
In His love!
Amen!
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Hunger and thirst. Have you ever hungered for something- other than food? What about thirsting after something other than drink? Hunger is a want, but not just a petty want. Hunger is a want that is hard pressed to be denied. Hunger and thirst when denied bring us pain. We've all suffered a bit of hunger and thirst, some of us have suffered a bit more from time to time, and others a great deal of pain has been the result of a constant hunger and thirst that they have to live with. Do many people want to feel great hunger and thirst? No. It's uncomfortable, it's painful.
A normal hunger, a normal thirst- the experience we deal with daily- signals us to eat and drink throughout our day so we can fill ourselves and get rid of the hunger and thirst. No one WANTS to be hungry and thirsty. Some might suffer through hunger to lose weight, or upon dr.s orders while awaiting tests, but the NORMAL person does not want to suffer hunger or thirst. We go to great lengths to make sure we have enough food and drink so we can forestall the worst of any hunger or thirst that might come along. We try to have 3 meals a day along with snacks, and as for drinking, well we do that all day long anytime we feel a touch of thirst. We want to be filled and we want the feeling we get from being comfortably full to last for as long as possible but inevitably that sip of water we took three hours ago isn't going to cut it for much longer, or that piece of toast we had in the morning won't keep us filling full until dinner time 8, 9 hours away. We start to feel hunger, we start to feel thirst and sometimes if we're lucky we'll wait that feeling out and it will abate for a bit, but it doesn't stay gone forever.
Hungering and thirsting creates a desire in us for nourishment.
Hunger and thirst are catalysts- creating the stimulus in us to seek sustenance.
Jesus wants us to have a desire for spiritual nourishment and that spiritual nourishment is … righteousness.
If we hunger and thirst for righteousness we will seek it until we find it and then we'll feed and drink from it until we are sated.
Let's read some verses on righteousness- this spiritual food and drink that Jesus would have us desire.
Pro 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
Pro 13:6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
Pro 21:21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
Hos 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
Zep 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.
Jer 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Jas 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace
1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
Deu 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Christ's righteousness! Righteousness in Christ! We are to hunger and thirst for our Savior! We can't hunger and thirst for OUR righteousness. It doesn't say that at all does it? In fact it's implied that we are seeking something we do not possess, we are seeking something to fill ourselves with, something we don't possess. We need Christ's righteousness. We need to understand that in seeking Christ's righteousness we will be filled because HE IS RIGHTEOUS! He is OUR righteousness!
We have no righteousness--
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
But our Savior is righteous and our hungering and thirsting after salvation in Christ and Christ alone by His grace is our righteousness.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
Let us hunger for our Savior! Let us thirst for our Savior!
It's by Him we are saved and ONLY Him, we cannot save ourselves, we cannot produce our own righteousness.
By HIS GRACE!! BY HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS may we be filled!
In His love!
Amen!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Learn meekness
Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
The meek- the humble.
Num 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
Do you picture Moses as being meek? Not if we picture a timid, mousy, afraid-of-his-own-shadow type of man we don't. But when we refer to meekness as being humbleness it's a whole NEW story isn't it? The devil LOVES to twist things around and make them seem different so that he can distort the truth in any way possible. This simple word- meek has come to mean something undesirable. The word humble however doesn’t quite make us envision someone spineless.
Blessed are the meek (the humble).
Let's look at some scriptures some containing the word meek and others the word humble--
Psa 25:9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
Psa 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Psa 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
Zep 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.
Psa 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear
Pro 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Pro 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
Mat 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
*******
Amazing verses! Amazing.
There is a lot said about humbleness, about meekness - meaning humbleness. This last verse- we should be CLOTHED with humility says SO much. Clothed with humility. If we are clothed with something it means what? Let's think about clothing for a moment. We like to dress in things we like, don't we? At least here in America we do and I tend to believe that most people everywhere like to wear clothing they enjoy wearing. Is it always possible to wear things we enjoy wearing? No. Often various things interfere with that privilege- money, position, availability. On the other hand there are some people who become obsessed with clothing, right? Have you heard this saying- 'The clothes make the man.' ? What's that mean exactly? That we impress people with how we are clothed or on the opposite coin we don't impress them. Can people actually turn other people off and disgust them by the clothes they wear? Yes.
Clothing, there really is a lot to consider when we think about clothing. We've most likely all heard this said before… "You reek of guilt!" Or, "You stink of corruption!" Are people really reeking and smelling? Nope. There is no real smell for guilt or corruption, they are figures of speech.
When we read- 'be clothed with humility' is there really a piece of clothing called humility? No. People might argue that different classes of people in different regions around the world wear what is considered clothing of humility- slave robes and the like. But this isn't what we are being told to do.
We are to clothe ourselves with humility. More important than our physical clothes we should be wearing spiritual clothing of humility. Our very natures, our demeanors, our lives must be humble. If we are NOT humble we are proud and pride is something God cannot abide.
For God resisteth the proud...
and giveth grace to the humble.
Do you see?! What does God give to the humbled? GRACE!
Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Reading God's word we are told over and over that meekness- humbleness is of God.
Why?
We are creatures. So many people don't like to admit this because it instantly demands we humble ourselves before our Creator. When we don't humble ourselves before our Creator, when we allowed pride to rise up in us, when we have the audacity to even consider that we are greater than our Creator we are damning ourselves, is there any wonder God resisteth the proud?! We are not anywhere near equal with our God! And… we are not above one another either. We need to be meek because the meek understand their relationship with God and their fellowman, the prideful haven't a clue- they're too busy being self absorbed.
May God help us to be clothed with humility, remembering this…
1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
We must be sober, we must be vigilant; because the DEVIL would destroy us all and all it takes is… pride.
Humble us sweet Lord, humble us! Clothe us with humility so we may have Your grace being humbled by You.
In Your love!
Amen.
The meek- the humble.
Num 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
Do you picture Moses as being meek? Not if we picture a timid, mousy, afraid-of-his-own-shadow type of man we don't. But when we refer to meekness as being humbleness it's a whole NEW story isn't it? The devil LOVES to twist things around and make them seem different so that he can distort the truth in any way possible. This simple word- meek has come to mean something undesirable. The word humble however doesn’t quite make us envision someone spineless.
Blessed are the meek (the humble).
Let's look at some scriptures some containing the word meek and others the word humble--
Psa 25:9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
Psa 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Psa 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
Zep 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.
Psa 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear
Pro 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Pro 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
Mat 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
*******
Amazing verses! Amazing.
There is a lot said about humbleness, about meekness - meaning humbleness. This last verse- we should be CLOTHED with humility says SO much. Clothed with humility. If we are clothed with something it means what? Let's think about clothing for a moment. We like to dress in things we like, don't we? At least here in America we do and I tend to believe that most people everywhere like to wear clothing they enjoy wearing. Is it always possible to wear things we enjoy wearing? No. Often various things interfere with that privilege- money, position, availability. On the other hand there are some people who become obsessed with clothing, right? Have you heard this saying- 'The clothes make the man.' ? What's that mean exactly? That we impress people with how we are clothed or on the opposite coin we don't impress them. Can people actually turn other people off and disgust them by the clothes they wear? Yes.
Clothing, there really is a lot to consider when we think about clothing. We've most likely all heard this said before… "You reek of guilt!" Or, "You stink of corruption!" Are people really reeking and smelling? Nope. There is no real smell for guilt or corruption, they are figures of speech.
When we read- 'be clothed with humility' is there really a piece of clothing called humility? No. People might argue that different classes of people in different regions around the world wear what is considered clothing of humility- slave robes and the like. But this isn't what we are being told to do.
We are to clothe ourselves with humility. More important than our physical clothes we should be wearing spiritual clothing of humility. Our very natures, our demeanors, our lives must be humble. If we are NOT humble we are proud and pride is something God cannot abide.
For God resisteth the proud...
and giveth grace to the humble.
Do you see?! What does God give to the humbled? GRACE!
Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Reading God's word we are told over and over that meekness- humbleness is of God.
Why?
We are creatures. So many people don't like to admit this because it instantly demands we humble ourselves before our Creator. When we don't humble ourselves before our Creator, when we allowed pride to rise up in us, when we have the audacity to even consider that we are greater than our Creator we are damning ourselves, is there any wonder God resisteth the proud?! We are not anywhere near equal with our God! And… we are not above one another either. We need to be meek because the meek understand their relationship with God and their fellowman, the prideful haven't a clue- they're too busy being self absorbed.
May God help us to be clothed with humility, remembering this…
1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
We must be sober, we must be vigilant; because the DEVIL would destroy us all and all it takes is… pride.
Humble us sweet Lord, humble us! Clothe us with humility so we may have Your grace being humbled by You.
In Your love!
Amen.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Our comfort is Christ!
Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying…
Jesus is the teacher, we are the students. Shall we attend His class? It's our choice. We are not forced to go to the school of our Savior. There is no mandatory attendance, no truant officer ready to seek you out for not showing up, no government ready to take action against you for not being in school. There are no parents harping at us to go to this school, no husband or wives wanting us to go to this school in order to become more financially successful, no employer telling us it is a mandatory to go to the school of Jesus or we lose our job. Not ONE single person can force a person to go to this school, not one. Some might argue that sure people force others to go to church all the time- especially parents forcing children. But the school of our Savior isn't necessary found in a church. Shocked? Maybe you are, maybe you aren't, maybe you believe me and maybe you don't. There are A LOT of churches void of our Savior's teachings. Oh there is a FORM of worship, there is a FORM of teaching, there are MANY many traditions of men taught as being from God, but in so many churches God does not exist, not our ONE TRUE GOD. And know this ...our Savior Jesus Christ does not teach in those churches as much as people want to believe He does. I'm not saying the Holy Spirit can't touch the hearts and minds of people in these churches, calling them out of them or calling on them to learn at the feet of Jesus on their own- but the heart of those churches is corrupt and deceptive, Satan acting as an angel of light, Satan stepping in as a counterfeit teacher fooling hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands, and yes, millions. You might not want to believe me I've already said that, but most people do not want to hear the truth not the REAL truth, they want to hear the embellished truth covered in a thick, slick coating of gel that will make it go down oh so easy into their minds and hearts, their consciences soothed of guilt, of true heart conversion. That thick gel coating the truth is made of the devil's lies. Remember no counterfeit that is worth anything is easily recognizable. The counterfeits are HARD and near impossible to detect and only the grace of God will protect us from being deceived.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Let's sit at the feet of Jesus upon that mountain and learn as He teaches us… let us attend His school with an eagerness we've never felt for any education we've sought before. These are our lessons on eternal life, wondrous lessons.
Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Again, like yesterday when the previous verse was studied- saying 'blessed are the poor'- we do not consider those that mourn very blessed. We write books on how to mourn and then get on with life because mourning is only a good thing for so long. That we are given a reason for mourning is never good- right? Someone or something usually has died, or is in the process of dying. Yes, we often mourn the living who are dying before they're gone because we know they're going to be leaving us soon. We mourn the pain they are suffering, we mourn that their life is nearing its end. We mourn too because our own mortality is revealed every time another one of our loved ones dies.
I'm not going to say mourning isn't something we need to get over in time- but here we come face to face with these holy words-
Blessed are they that mourn.
What did Jesus mean by this? It is similar to 'blessed are the poor'. Our comfort needs to come from Christ, just as our richness comes from Him. We need to mourn because we live in a sin-filled world degraded to such an extent that evil is called good. We need to mourn that this earth and the people God intended us to be are so far from what He'd created us to be. We need to mourn because we are such sinful beings. Like Paul we want to do good but do evil…
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
We need to mourn our weakness and know that as we try and understand our mourning that the comfort from that mourning is to come to us only through Jesus.
Those who mourn are in need of a comforter. We have to realize that we NEED to mourn. This isn't a question- Jesus didn't say- Blessed are they that mourn, right? He didn't say- Bless are the few that mourn. Jesus said in very plain language- 'Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.'
Spiritual mourning. This is understanding that without our Savior we have NO reason to be happy. This is understanding that without our Savior we can never find true comfort, never. This is understanding that as we go through life and we mourn so many various aspects of that life- that comfort IS found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We might not be healed of our illnesses and mourn the fact we are ill, but we HAVE to live for the hope that we can have spiritual comfort in our Savior. We can be spiritually comforted! We have to be spiritually comforted in our Lord and Savior and NOT seek physical, earthly, temporal, flesh comfort.
This is a lesson we must learn and bring it into our hearts and into our everyday lives because every day we will face reasons to mourn. We can have spiritual comfort in the knowledge of our Savior, in the knowledge of salvation through Him. Our source of comfort is our Savior! Our comfort is Christ! We will be comforted in Him.
Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Amen!
Jesus is the teacher, we are the students. Shall we attend His class? It's our choice. We are not forced to go to the school of our Savior. There is no mandatory attendance, no truant officer ready to seek you out for not showing up, no government ready to take action against you for not being in school. There are no parents harping at us to go to this school, no husband or wives wanting us to go to this school in order to become more financially successful, no employer telling us it is a mandatory to go to the school of Jesus or we lose our job. Not ONE single person can force a person to go to this school, not one. Some might argue that sure people force others to go to church all the time- especially parents forcing children. But the school of our Savior isn't necessary found in a church. Shocked? Maybe you are, maybe you aren't, maybe you believe me and maybe you don't. There are A LOT of churches void of our Savior's teachings. Oh there is a FORM of worship, there is a FORM of teaching, there are MANY many traditions of men taught as being from God, but in so many churches God does not exist, not our ONE TRUE GOD. And know this ...our Savior Jesus Christ does not teach in those churches as much as people want to believe He does. I'm not saying the Holy Spirit can't touch the hearts and minds of people in these churches, calling them out of them or calling on them to learn at the feet of Jesus on their own- but the heart of those churches is corrupt and deceptive, Satan acting as an angel of light, Satan stepping in as a counterfeit teacher fooling hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands, and yes, millions. You might not want to believe me I've already said that, but most people do not want to hear the truth not the REAL truth, they want to hear the embellished truth covered in a thick, slick coating of gel that will make it go down oh so easy into their minds and hearts, their consciences soothed of guilt, of true heart conversion. That thick gel coating the truth is made of the devil's lies. Remember no counterfeit that is worth anything is easily recognizable. The counterfeits are HARD and near impossible to detect and only the grace of God will protect us from being deceived.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Let's sit at the feet of Jesus upon that mountain and learn as He teaches us… let us attend His school with an eagerness we've never felt for any education we've sought before. These are our lessons on eternal life, wondrous lessons.
Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Again, like yesterday when the previous verse was studied- saying 'blessed are the poor'- we do not consider those that mourn very blessed. We write books on how to mourn and then get on with life because mourning is only a good thing for so long. That we are given a reason for mourning is never good- right? Someone or something usually has died, or is in the process of dying. Yes, we often mourn the living who are dying before they're gone because we know they're going to be leaving us soon. We mourn the pain they are suffering, we mourn that their life is nearing its end. We mourn too because our own mortality is revealed every time another one of our loved ones dies.
I'm not going to say mourning isn't something we need to get over in time- but here we come face to face with these holy words-
Blessed are they that mourn.
What did Jesus mean by this? It is similar to 'blessed are the poor'. Our comfort needs to come from Christ, just as our richness comes from Him. We need to mourn because we live in a sin-filled world degraded to such an extent that evil is called good. We need to mourn that this earth and the people God intended us to be are so far from what He'd created us to be. We need to mourn because we are such sinful beings. Like Paul we want to do good but do evil…
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
We need to mourn our weakness and know that as we try and understand our mourning that the comfort from that mourning is to come to us only through Jesus.
Those who mourn are in need of a comforter. We have to realize that we NEED to mourn. This isn't a question- Jesus didn't say- Blessed are they that mourn, right? He didn't say- Bless are the few that mourn. Jesus said in very plain language- 'Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.'
Spiritual mourning. This is understanding that without our Savior we have NO reason to be happy. This is understanding that without our Savior we can never find true comfort, never. This is understanding that as we go through life and we mourn so many various aspects of that life- that comfort IS found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We might not be healed of our illnesses and mourn the fact we are ill, but we HAVE to live for the hope that we can have spiritual comfort in our Savior. We can be spiritually comforted! We have to be spiritually comforted in our Lord and Savior and NOT seek physical, earthly, temporal, flesh comfort.
This is a lesson we must learn and bring it into our hearts and into our everyday lives because every day we will face reasons to mourn. We can have spiritual comfort in the knowledge of our Savior, in the knowledge of salvation through Him. Our source of comfort is our Savior! Our comfort is Christ! We will be comforted in Him.
Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Amen!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Our richness is in Christ
Mat 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus went up into a mountain when He saw a lot of people, He wanted them to be able to hear Him and be comfortable there in the mountain. He found the best spot - most likely a place where the majority of people would be able to see and hear Him in the best possibly way. He settled Himself there on the mountain and then the people came to Him.
Jesus opened His mouth and… TAUGHT them saying…
Blessed are the poor in spirit-for theirs in the kingdom of heaven.
Poor- needy in spirit.
Why would anyone poor be blessed? It seems contradictory doesn't it? If you are poor you have a need and you are barely meeting that need rather than being secure in that need. We are much more inclined to believe that someone is blessed if they are wealthy in something. If you are wealthy in spirit you are blessed- to our way of thinking.
The wealthy find it much harder to realize they have a need- a need they cannot provide for. The wealthy use their money to fulfill their needs and get to a place they start to believe that money can buy anything they want and/or need and in a lot of ways they're right- but not in all ways. That old cliché 'money can't buy happiness', is true to a degree, but ask most people and they'd tell you that money can buy a lot of happiness. When we believe that we don't have a need for something we certainly won't seek for that something. If I believe I don't have a need for a cow I'm not going to go out looking for a cow, I'm not even going to think about needing a cow, having a cow in my life would be the farthest thing from my mind. It's hard for us to think about, and seek something we don't want or need. If you are poor in spirit- YOU REALIZE YOUR NEED. You realize that the need of your spirit is outside of yourself. You cannot provide that need, you are POOR in spirit, needing Christ to fill that need. Without Christ in your life you do not have the Spirit, cannot have the Spirit. Any spirit you have will not be of God if you do not have the Spirit our Savior has to give to us.
Blessed are those who realize they are in need of a Savior, blessed are those who understand without Jesus they cannot be filled with the spirit, and blessed are they who understand that they are ONLY rich in spirit as long as they have a constant relationship with their Savior.
Blessed are the poor in spirit because they know they are lost without Christ. The kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit because Christ is the heart of that kingdom and they know, they understand, they believe.
May we ALL be poor in spirit, knowing our richness is in Christ alone!
Taught by Christ. We have to learn this, it is our duty to learn from our Savior. This IS a lesson He is teaching us… have we learned it? Has this knowledge imparted to us by Jesus really been learned by us? He is our TEACHER.
Our Savior, our Teacher.
By His grace!
Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus went up into a mountain when He saw a lot of people, He wanted them to be able to hear Him and be comfortable there in the mountain. He found the best spot - most likely a place where the majority of people would be able to see and hear Him in the best possibly way. He settled Himself there on the mountain and then the people came to Him.
Jesus opened His mouth and… TAUGHT them saying…
Blessed are the poor in spirit-for theirs in the kingdom of heaven.
Poor- needy in spirit.
Why would anyone poor be blessed? It seems contradictory doesn't it? If you are poor you have a need and you are barely meeting that need rather than being secure in that need. We are much more inclined to believe that someone is blessed if they are wealthy in something. If you are wealthy in spirit you are blessed- to our way of thinking.
The wealthy find it much harder to realize they have a need- a need they cannot provide for. The wealthy use their money to fulfill their needs and get to a place they start to believe that money can buy anything they want and/or need and in a lot of ways they're right- but not in all ways. That old cliché 'money can't buy happiness', is true to a degree, but ask most people and they'd tell you that money can buy a lot of happiness. When we believe that we don't have a need for something we certainly won't seek for that something. If I believe I don't have a need for a cow I'm not going to go out looking for a cow, I'm not even going to think about needing a cow, having a cow in my life would be the farthest thing from my mind. It's hard for us to think about, and seek something we don't want or need. If you are poor in spirit- YOU REALIZE YOUR NEED. You realize that the need of your spirit is outside of yourself. You cannot provide that need, you are POOR in spirit, needing Christ to fill that need. Without Christ in your life you do not have the Spirit, cannot have the Spirit. Any spirit you have will not be of God if you do not have the Spirit our Savior has to give to us.
Blessed are those who realize they are in need of a Savior, blessed are those who understand without Jesus they cannot be filled with the spirit, and blessed are they who understand that they are ONLY rich in spirit as long as they have a constant relationship with their Savior.
Blessed are the poor in spirit because they know they are lost without Christ. The kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit because Christ is the heart of that kingdom and they know, they understand, they believe.
May we ALL be poor in spirit, knowing our richness is in Christ alone!
Taught by Christ. We have to learn this, it is our duty to learn from our Savior. This IS a lesson He is teaching us… have we learned it? Has this knowledge imparted to us by Jesus really been learned by us? He is our TEACHER.
Our Savior, our Teacher.
By His grace!
Monday, March 7, 2011
He taught them
Mar 2:1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
Mar 2:2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
He preached the word unto them.
The word.
Do you suppose the majority were there to hear Jesus speak or to be healed by Him? Do you imagine those who had no illness, no possession by unclean spirits, were just as interested in listening to Jesus speak? Jesus wasn't known as just *The Healer*, Jesus had a message to give, Jesus was first and foremost a teacher- a preacher- with more God-given authority to teach the Scriptures than all the scribes in existence. The way Jesus taught was captivating to His listeners because He taught them differently than others. In imagining this we can only think of the best teacher we've ever had and then think of how it would be if another teacher came along that was a hundred times better.
People make jokes of enlightenment. If you say you've been enlightened you'll get a *knowing* glance from people, perhaps a smirk and a chuckle, people will either outright mock your enlightenment or play along, very few would ask to be enlightened along with you because few believe in enlightenment they equate it with going a bit off your rocker. Of course it all depends on how you've been enlightened- if you've been enlightened to the joys of cooking, heh, people love that. If you've been enlightened to the joy of the mundane that's fine- we all have our passions, right? But if you've been spiritually enlightened then things are just a bit wrong with you. However, if a group of people are enlightened, sometimes that's called mass hypnosis of some sort. Jesus wasn't beyond being called a deceiver, a devil, there were many who were outraged at His ability to *fool* people, to *control* people, to *deceive* people. And we get a glimpse of this sort of belief when we hear of cult leaders and we are the scoffers. Of course we're scoffing with justifiable reason because we know that Jesus alone is our *leader* and no man can take His place. But there were many during Jesus' ministry that scoffed at Him, scoffed at the newly enlightened.
For a long time though Jesus would continue to bring enlightenment to people, lots and lots of people. These people would be so changed by Jesus- not just those healed but those enlightened spiritually and they tell others and if the others scoffed they quickly changed their minds if they went to listen to Him for themselves. This was a MIRACULOUS time! Yet for all that it was a miraculous time - the scoffers existed and would continue to exist growing stronger in their opposition the stronger Jesus became. They saw Him as a threat refusing to all themselves to be enlightened or in their minds- deceived.
Jesus preached and crowds and crowds of people wanted to hear His every word.
Here is yet another instance of His miraculous healing...
Mar 2:3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
Mar 2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
Mar 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
Jesus saw their faith- their belief in Him- and Jesus said… 'Thy sins be forgiven thee.'
What powerful words! Words probably seldom uttered outside of a sacrificial ceremony, as GOD giving forgiveness when people ask for it and offer a sacrifice, when an atonement is made for their sins. No man EVER dared tell another that their *sins* were forgiven them. People could offer forgiveness and tell another that they forgive them for something, some harm committed against them personally, but a person cannot forgive the sins of another that have nothing to do with them personally. I can forgive someone for hurting me, but I can't forgive anything else, any other sin they may have committed in their lives. For me to tell another 'Thy sins be forgiven thee.' would be ludicrous. I have no power to forgive sins another has committed. I can't give you forgiveness for stealing something from a store, I can't forgive you for cursing at your mother, I can't forgive you for coveting your neighbor's house. I can be understanding - one sinning human to another but only God can forgive you- absolve you of your guilt, of my guilt.
To hear this man, albeit a wonderful amazing man- a preacher, a miracle worker, a prophet say those words- 'Thy sins be forgiven thee.'- had to be shocking to those who were not enlightened spiritually by our Savior.
Mar 2:6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
Mar 2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
Unenlightened these scribes could not understand that the man working miracles right in front of them had power from God to perform these miracles. They'd read about prophets, they'd read about miracles being performed in the past by God's holy men, but they couldn't let themselves believe that Jesus was from God, that Jesus was the Messiah, that Jesus was God's Son on earth.
Mar 2:8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
Jesus knew their hearts, their thoughts, He didn't have to hear them aloud. Jesus knew right away that they were shocked by His words. He was revealing more of Himself, revealing more of the new covenant and they would either accept it or deny it.
Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
Mar 2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
The power from God gave Jesus the ability to heal. The power from God would heal people of their illnesses- freeing them from the bondage of sickness. Jesus was to free them from the power of sin as well, forgiving them their sins so He could heal them. When He healed them physically He was healing them spiritually. Free from the oppression of sickness, from the weight of sin. Later on we read Him tell one He'd healed- 'Go and sin no more'. Freed from sin, but still a sinner needing the forgiveness of a Savior daily. We need our Savior, we cannot live without our Savior, He died for us because we could not save ourselves.
Mar 2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
Mar 2:11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
Mar 2:12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
They were ALL amazed!
They glorified God!
They'd never seen anything like it before!
Miracles, forgiveness- and what a miracle forgiveness is! Praise God!
Mar 2:13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.
He taught them.
Praise God!
Mar 2:2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
He preached the word unto them.
The word.
Do you suppose the majority were there to hear Jesus speak or to be healed by Him? Do you imagine those who had no illness, no possession by unclean spirits, were just as interested in listening to Jesus speak? Jesus wasn't known as just *The Healer*, Jesus had a message to give, Jesus was first and foremost a teacher- a preacher- with more God-given authority to teach the Scriptures than all the scribes in existence. The way Jesus taught was captivating to His listeners because He taught them differently than others. In imagining this we can only think of the best teacher we've ever had and then think of how it would be if another teacher came along that was a hundred times better.
People make jokes of enlightenment. If you say you've been enlightened you'll get a *knowing* glance from people, perhaps a smirk and a chuckle, people will either outright mock your enlightenment or play along, very few would ask to be enlightened along with you because few believe in enlightenment they equate it with going a bit off your rocker. Of course it all depends on how you've been enlightened- if you've been enlightened to the joys of cooking, heh, people love that. If you've been enlightened to the joy of the mundane that's fine- we all have our passions, right? But if you've been spiritually enlightened then things are just a bit wrong with you. However, if a group of people are enlightened, sometimes that's called mass hypnosis of some sort. Jesus wasn't beyond being called a deceiver, a devil, there were many who were outraged at His ability to *fool* people, to *control* people, to *deceive* people. And we get a glimpse of this sort of belief when we hear of cult leaders and we are the scoffers. Of course we're scoffing with justifiable reason because we know that Jesus alone is our *leader* and no man can take His place. But there were many during Jesus' ministry that scoffed at Him, scoffed at the newly enlightened.
For a long time though Jesus would continue to bring enlightenment to people, lots and lots of people. These people would be so changed by Jesus- not just those healed but those enlightened spiritually and they tell others and if the others scoffed they quickly changed their minds if they went to listen to Him for themselves. This was a MIRACULOUS time! Yet for all that it was a miraculous time - the scoffers existed and would continue to exist growing stronger in their opposition the stronger Jesus became. They saw Him as a threat refusing to all themselves to be enlightened or in their minds- deceived.
Jesus preached and crowds and crowds of people wanted to hear His every word.
Here is yet another instance of His miraculous healing...
Mar 2:3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
Mar 2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
Mar 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
Jesus saw their faith- their belief in Him- and Jesus said… 'Thy sins be forgiven thee.'
What powerful words! Words probably seldom uttered outside of a sacrificial ceremony, as GOD giving forgiveness when people ask for it and offer a sacrifice, when an atonement is made for their sins. No man EVER dared tell another that their *sins* were forgiven them. People could offer forgiveness and tell another that they forgive them for something, some harm committed against them personally, but a person cannot forgive the sins of another that have nothing to do with them personally. I can forgive someone for hurting me, but I can't forgive anything else, any other sin they may have committed in their lives. For me to tell another 'Thy sins be forgiven thee.' would be ludicrous. I have no power to forgive sins another has committed. I can't give you forgiveness for stealing something from a store, I can't forgive you for cursing at your mother, I can't forgive you for coveting your neighbor's house. I can be understanding - one sinning human to another but only God can forgive you- absolve you of your guilt, of my guilt.
To hear this man, albeit a wonderful amazing man- a preacher, a miracle worker, a prophet say those words- 'Thy sins be forgiven thee.'- had to be shocking to those who were not enlightened spiritually by our Savior.
Mar 2:6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
Mar 2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
Unenlightened these scribes could not understand that the man working miracles right in front of them had power from God to perform these miracles. They'd read about prophets, they'd read about miracles being performed in the past by God's holy men, but they couldn't let themselves believe that Jesus was from God, that Jesus was the Messiah, that Jesus was God's Son on earth.
Mar 2:8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
Jesus knew their hearts, their thoughts, He didn't have to hear them aloud. Jesus knew right away that they were shocked by His words. He was revealing more of Himself, revealing more of the new covenant and they would either accept it or deny it.
Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
Mar 2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
The power from God gave Jesus the ability to heal. The power from God would heal people of their illnesses- freeing them from the bondage of sickness. Jesus was to free them from the power of sin as well, forgiving them their sins so He could heal them. When He healed them physically He was healing them spiritually. Free from the oppression of sickness, from the weight of sin. Later on we read Him tell one He'd healed- 'Go and sin no more'. Freed from sin, but still a sinner needing the forgiveness of a Savior daily. We need our Savior, we cannot live without our Savior, He died for us because we could not save ourselves.
Mar 2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
Mar 2:11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
Mar 2:12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
They were ALL amazed!
They glorified God!
They'd never seen anything like it before!
Miracles, forgiveness- and what a miracle forgiveness is! Praise God!
Mar 2:13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.
He taught them.
Praise God!
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