1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations
We are KEPT by the power of God.
We are kept by the power of God though FAITH.
That faith will be unto our SALVATION.
Salvation that will be revealed in the LAST TIME.
Wherein in we greatly REJOICE.
Though we rejoice in this miracle promised to us we also for a SEASON, if NEEDED, we are in HEAVINESS.
The heaviness is caused by MANIFOLD TEMPTATIONS.
This heaviness is awful. Have you experienced? Do you know what is being talked about here? Our lives on earth will be filled with temptations. Temptations must be faced and fought.
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
STRIVING against sin.
RESISTED unto blood.
We cannot escape the horrors of this world we live in. We cannot escape the flesh desires that exist in us. We cannot escape Satan's attacks. There is NO insulated bubble we can enter and live in that will keep us from the life of heaviness we are called to live.
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ
The TRIAL of our faith!
It is a trial because holding fast to our faith unto salvation is necessary. Satan will strive to rip our faith from us, he will stop at NOTHING to take any and all faith we possess away from any who dare to have it.
This trial that we endure, this life of one trial after another is MORE precious than gold.
We are only ever found to praise and honor and glory when our trial is over and our Savior appears to call us to be with Him. This is a trial that is ongoing until either we die or Jesus returns. There are NO time outs, there are NO exceptions, we live in faith and if we live in faith we live in the heaviness of trials- trying of our faith.
Our Savior will return and our faith will be rewarded.
1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Praise GOD!
In our FAITH we rejoice with JOY unspeakable knowing that our belief in a Savior we've never seen will be realized! Our Savior full of glory! The SALVATION of our souls!
PRAISE GOD! GLORY BE TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER!
May we hold fast through all the horrors of heaviness as Satan works endlessly attempting to rip our faith away from us. Through the power of God we are KEPT through faith! All in Him, all through HIM.
Amen.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The Stone- Jesus
Mat 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
The Lord is the stone that the builders rejected. The pharisees, the rulers of His day rejected Him. His OWN people rejected Him. The people God chose to be His- the Israelites- abandoned God over and over again throughout their history. They went after idols many times and God's wrath fell upon them time and time again for their transgressions. Finally, God's OWN Son came and they rejected Him as well. He was of God, a God born of flesh and they called Him of the Devil!
Jesus told them they would reject Him and they did!
The Stone- Jesus.
Whoever falls on the Stone will be broken.
Whoever has the Stone fall on them will be ground to powder.
It's true. We come to Jesus and our selfishness, our self love, our flesh and its sin perverted desires will be broken. This breaking process is hard, it's painful in many ways- physically, mentally, emotionally. We will be chastised over and over again until we are close to despair. We will feel the refiners fire upon us as we are striped of our flesh and born in spirit, growing in spirit and it is very much like being broken. So much better it is for us to be broken than to be ground to powder- to nothingness.
There is NO other option for us. There is NO third option. No fourth, fifth, sixth options either. There are ONLY two options for us. To fall on the Stone or have the Stone fall upon us.
By the grace and mercy of God may we FALL upon the Stone and be broken, completely broken!
All through HIS amazing and wonderful LOVE!
Amen.
Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
The Lord is the stone that the builders rejected. The pharisees, the rulers of His day rejected Him. His OWN people rejected Him. The people God chose to be His- the Israelites- abandoned God over and over again throughout their history. They went after idols many times and God's wrath fell upon them time and time again for their transgressions. Finally, God's OWN Son came and they rejected Him as well. He was of God, a God born of flesh and they called Him of the Devil!
Jesus told them they would reject Him and they did!
The Stone- Jesus.
Whoever falls on the Stone will be broken.
Whoever has the Stone fall on them will be ground to powder.
It's true. We come to Jesus and our selfishness, our self love, our flesh and its sin perverted desires will be broken. This breaking process is hard, it's painful in many ways- physically, mentally, emotionally. We will be chastised over and over again until we are close to despair. We will feel the refiners fire upon us as we are striped of our flesh and born in spirit, growing in spirit and it is very much like being broken. So much better it is for us to be broken than to be ground to powder- to nothingness.
There is NO other option for us. There is NO third option. No fourth, fifth, sixth options either. There are ONLY two options for us. To fall on the Stone or have the Stone fall upon us.
By the grace and mercy of God may we FALL upon the Stone and be broken, completely broken!
All through HIS amazing and wonderful LOVE!
Amen.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The last shall be first, and the first last
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
The last to arrive were the first to receive their pay. The first to arrive were the last to receive their pay. That they both received the exact same pay for different amounts of time worked is solely up to their employer. No one should begrudge the good done by someone just because THEY do not receive what they might consider their due, their fair share. We truly need to count our blessings the smallest blessing as well as the largest ones. We've become so jade by our society and the desire for MORE that we forget to focus on what we do possess. Jesus told us to place our treasures in heaven, our desire should be in heaven as well, yes? And if our treasures, our desires are in heaven then we aren't caught up in the FAIR SHARES we believe we deserve down here on earth- right?
Is it fair that the last to come to Jesus- perhaps those we consider hard-core sinners, those who murder, rape, abuse children, abuse elderly, animal abusers, the worst of the worst- when those people at the very last moment before probation closes accept Jesus as their Savior and repent of their sins, truly repent and are saved before those who have been Jesus' for a long, long time? YES, it is fair because fairness is found in the truth and the acceptance of that truth. The truth is, fairness is something that doesn't matter-Salvation matters. What we call fairness is truly fantasy, a fantasy built upon a perfect society but that society isn't perfect because so many do not want the only perfection that exists and that is Jesus. They want to create their OWN idea of perfection. The perfect life being one with all they ever want they can have, and that all includes all the foods, all the parties, all the nice things, all the things that will only ever contribute to their happiness. Clothes, wealth, entertainment all these things that are treasures HERE on earth. We want treasures here on earth and this we call fairness. We are getting our desires- our flesh desires. Some might say that it's not wrong to want to live without the fear of hunger, the fear of homelessness, the fear of sickness, the fear of no transportation, and they'd be right. It's not wrong to want to live without those fears and so many people do live without them even when they have nothing at all. It seems impossible but it's true. There is a very small select group of people who do fully trust in God for all their needs and when bad things happen they still bless God, they still thank God, they still believe that somehow all things will work out. Putting our faith in God, putting our treasures in heaven, if we would ONLY live this way rather than how we do maybe, just maybe we wouldn't feel the covetousness, the selfishness, the unfairness, the envying that we fall victim too.
There is so much we need to study, to learn, to comprehend and only our Savior can help us do that, only the Holy Spirit can guide us, enlighten us.
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Yes, many are called…. but few are chosen.
By the grace and mercy of God may we be chosen
Please Lord, help us we need Your help so desperately, we need Your righteousness as our own unrighteousness is made so much more clear to us. We are so far from being what you'd have us be Lord and it's ONLY by You we have any hope at all whatsoever!
Please Lord, please help us to realize that we are NOT guaranteed fairness as such as we believe we should be. We are guaranteed YOUR TRUTH and that TRUTH is YOUR LOVE and that is ALL we need…YOU.
Bless us Lord, please we beg You, bless us.
Amen.
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
The last to arrive were the first to receive their pay. The first to arrive were the last to receive their pay. That they both received the exact same pay for different amounts of time worked is solely up to their employer. No one should begrudge the good done by someone just because THEY do not receive what they might consider their due, their fair share. We truly need to count our blessings the smallest blessing as well as the largest ones. We've become so jade by our society and the desire for MORE that we forget to focus on what we do possess. Jesus told us to place our treasures in heaven, our desire should be in heaven as well, yes? And if our treasures, our desires are in heaven then we aren't caught up in the FAIR SHARES we believe we deserve down here on earth- right?
Is it fair that the last to come to Jesus- perhaps those we consider hard-core sinners, those who murder, rape, abuse children, abuse elderly, animal abusers, the worst of the worst- when those people at the very last moment before probation closes accept Jesus as their Savior and repent of their sins, truly repent and are saved before those who have been Jesus' for a long, long time? YES, it is fair because fairness is found in the truth and the acceptance of that truth. The truth is, fairness is something that doesn't matter-Salvation matters. What we call fairness is truly fantasy, a fantasy built upon a perfect society but that society isn't perfect because so many do not want the only perfection that exists and that is Jesus. They want to create their OWN idea of perfection. The perfect life being one with all they ever want they can have, and that all includes all the foods, all the parties, all the nice things, all the things that will only ever contribute to their happiness. Clothes, wealth, entertainment all these things that are treasures HERE on earth. We want treasures here on earth and this we call fairness. We are getting our desires- our flesh desires. Some might say that it's not wrong to want to live without the fear of hunger, the fear of homelessness, the fear of sickness, the fear of no transportation, and they'd be right. It's not wrong to want to live without those fears and so many people do live without them even when they have nothing at all. It seems impossible but it's true. There is a very small select group of people who do fully trust in God for all their needs and when bad things happen they still bless God, they still thank God, they still believe that somehow all things will work out. Putting our faith in God, putting our treasures in heaven, if we would ONLY live this way rather than how we do maybe, just maybe we wouldn't feel the covetousness, the selfishness, the unfairness, the envying that we fall victim too.
There is so much we need to study, to learn, to comprehend and only our Savior can help us do that, only the Holy Spirit can guide us, enlighten us.
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Yes, many are called…. but few are chosen.
By the grace and mercy of God may we be chosen
Please Lord, help us we need Your help so desperately, we need Your righteousness as our own unrighteousness is made so much more clear to us. We are so far from being what you'd have us be Lord and it's ONLY by You we have any hope at all whatsoever!
Please Lord, please help us to realize that we are NOT guaranteed fairness as such as we believe we should be. We are guaranteed YOUR TRUTH and that TRUTH is YOUR LOVE and that is ALL we need…YOU.
Bless us Lord, please we beg You, bless us.
Amen.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Is thine eye evil....
Mat 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
Mat 20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Mat 20:3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
Mat 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Mat 20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
Mat 20:6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Mat 20:7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
Mat 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Mat 20:9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mat 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mat 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mat 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Mat 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mat 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
When reading this passage I couldn't help but apply it to our common idea of fairness. Our idea that we've tried to make it so that everyone has equality in all things and yet at the same time we promote ingenuity and the ability to get ahead. If we are promoting getting ahead we aren't promoting equality. Socialism - based on the idea that we all deserve equal shares in life with no one able to get ahead of another- we frown on that, right? We love the idea of capitalism- America was founded on this idea in many, many ways and a lot of people would say we've abused it until we've caused our own downfall. The rich have gotten way richer while the poor have become way poorer and we say this is okay because the rich have worked for their riches- or family has worked for family to be rich. We say the poor can always boost themselves up out of being poor and become rich- they just have to work for it. Remember- the American dream? Bring us your tired…hungry…you know the rest or the gist of it. We grow up believing we are entitled- even if we don't always work for it. We grow up believing life should be fair. This parable of Jesus' is telling us that we shouldn't have that illusion and if we do our 'eyes are evil'.
Life isn't fair. Those who have lots also have the right to distribute their wealth as they choose, yes? If they follow Jesus they'll do a lot to help the needy but that doesn't necessarily mean that they have to distribute their wealth equally to every single person they meet, right? Sometimes a need is greater than we realize for one and they need more than another. Fairness isn't Godliness, not in the sense that we've come to learn it.
All too often one person has to work hard to barely make ends meet, while another seems to have a nice easy job and they make more money than they know what to do with- and we call that unfair. Some people are born into wealthy families while others are born into poor families- and we call that unfair. We need to get rid of that sort of idea of fairness because it's not good- in fact it is evil. It rears up inside of us as a breeding ground for envy, for coveting, for selfishness and those are evil traits- not godly at all.
More on this tomorrow… too tired to think.
By the grace of our Lord and Savior may we learn HIS goodness, and not have an eye of evil.
In HIS love!
Amen.
Mat 20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Mat 20:3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
Mat 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Mat 20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
Mat 20:6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Mat 20:7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
Mat 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Mat 20:9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mat 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mat 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mat 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Mat 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mat 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
When reading this passage I couldn't help but apply it to our common idea of fairness. Our idea that we've tried to make it so that everyone has equality in all things and yet at the same time we promote ingenuity and the ability to get ahead. If we are promoting getting ahead we aren't promoting equality. Socialism - based on the idea that we all deserve equal shares in life with no one able to get ahead of another- we frown on that, right? We love the idea of capitalism- America was founded on this idea in many, many ways and a lot of people would say we've abused it until we've caused our own downfall. The rich have gotten way richer while the poor have become way poorer and we say this is okay because the rich have worked for their riches- or family has worked for family to be rich. We say the poor can always boost themselves up out of being poor and become rich- they just have to work for it. Remember- the American dream? Bring us your tired…hungry…you know the rest or the gist of it. We grow up believing we are entitled- even if we don't always work for it. We grow up believing life should be fair. This parable of Jesus' is telling us that we shouldn't have that illusion and if we do our 'eyes are evil'.
Life isn't fair. Those who have lots also have the right to distribute their wealth as they choose, yes? If they follow Jesus they'll do a lot to help the needy but that doesn't necessarily mean that they have to distribute their wealth equally to every single person they meet, right? Sometimes a need is greater than we realize for one and they need more than another. Fairness isn't Godliness, not in the sense that we've come to learn it.
All too often one person has to work hard to barely make ends meet, while another seems to have a nice easy job and they make more money than they know what to do with- and we call that unfair. Some people are born into wealthy families while others are born into poor families- and we call that unfair. We need to get rid of that sort of idea of fairness because it's not good- in fact it is evil. It rears up inside of us as a breeding ground for envy, for coveting, for selfishness and those are evil traits- not godly at all.
More on this tomorrow… too tired to think.
By the grace of our Lord and Savior may we learn HIS goodness, and not have an eye of evil.
In HIS love!
Amen.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Kept by the POWER of God
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Kept by the power of God.
Through faith.
Unto salvation.
Ready to be revealed.
In the last time.
We are ONLY kept by the power of God.
We have to believe this- and THIS is our faith.
Our Salvation by faith.
That salvation fully realized in the last time.
A promise can be believed, and a promise can be kept, and a promise can be realized and fulfilled. The promise we must believe is that we DO have salvation as our reward, salvation a gift given to us, a promise made to us by our Savior. We must believe in that promise, we must believe in the eventual fulfillment of that promise.
That there are TWO deaths seems so strange to people but the Bible tells us there is a FIRST and a SECOND death.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
There is first resurrection- to be resurrected mustn't you first be dead?
The first resurrection.
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.
This speaks so plainly doesn't it? People are in their graves. People are NOT in heaven and being resurrected from the dead from heaven. IF people are in heaven already there is NO need of any other resurrection, right? It would make NO sense to have a first resurrection, a resurrection of life, if there is already life.
We are promised a resurrection from the dead - those who die in Christ will be called to the resurrection of life. They will be raised from the graves, resurrected to LIFE.
Those who are alive when our Savior returns and raises those that are His to life, do NOT taste even of the first death.
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.
*
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
*
There is an inheritance waiting for us in heaven, but we MUST be kept by the power of God - through faith, to receive salvation. If we die before our Savior returns we will be raised from the dead when He returns- this is a promise. If we are alive when our Savior returns we will be raised from the earth still living to receive salvation.
We have to believe we are kept by GOD'S power, not ours, but HIS POWER. We MUST BELIEVE this is the faith we must have, all by the grace of God.
All in His love!
Amen.
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Kept by the power of God.
Through faith.
Unto salvation.
Ready to be revealed.
In the last time.
We are ONLY kept by the power of God.
We have to believe this- and THIS is our faith.
Our Salvation by faith.
That salvation fully realized in the last time.
A promise can be believed, and a promise can be kept, and a promise can be realized and fulfilled. The promise we must believe is that we DO have salvation as our reward, salvation a gift given to us, a promise made to us by our Savior. We must believe in that promise, we must believe in the eventual fulfillment of that promise.
That there are TWO deaths seems so strange to people but the Bible tells us there is a FIRST and a SECOND death.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
There is first resurrection- to be resurrected mustn't you first be dead?
The first resurrection.
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.
This speaks so plainly doesn't it? People are in their graves. People are NOT in heaven and being resurrected from the dead from heaven. IF people are in heaven already there is NO need of any other resurrection, right? It would make NO sense to have a first resurrection, a resurrection of life, if there is already life.
We are promised a resurrection from the dead - those who die in Christ will be called to the resurrection of life. They will be raised from the graves, resurrected to LIFE.
Those who are alive when our Savior returns and raises those that are His to life, do NOT taste even of the first death.
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.
*
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
*
There is an inheritance waiting for us in heaven, but we MUST be kept by the power of God - through faith, to receive salvation. If we die before our Savior returns we will be raised from the dead when He returns- this is a promise. If we are alive when our Savior returns we will be raised from the earth still living to receive salvation.
We have to believe we are kept by GOD'S power, not ours, but HIS POWER. We MUST BELIEVE this is the faith we must have, all by the grace of God.
All in His love!
Amen.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
If any do err...
Jas 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Erring from the truth.
We find the truth in Jesus.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If any of us err from the truth we find in our Savior and another person brings us back to Jesus- to the truth then they will hide a multitude of sins. The ONLY way that is possible is because the ONE who reveals the truth to the erring one is living in the truth of our Lord's grace and forgiveness.
We can't go about thinking that we are saved- hiding our own sins when WE bring another to the knowledge of Jesus. We are only EVER saved by Jesus' forgiveness, by Jesus' spilled blood covering our sins. We can understand that our Savior is what matters most in life, truly what matters more than anything. Our Savior matters more than the favor of ANY man! We cannot deny Jesus to keep face with those around us and have hope in Salvation. We must live Jesus- and in living Jesus we - by His grace will be able to share His love. We CANNOT preach Jesus and despise those around us- the worst of sinners does NOT need our shunning, but our LOVE! You can convert no one to the truth by showing hatred. You can convert no one to Jesus' love and salvation by hating and despising them. We have to SEE everyone as Jesus sees them. Not as one to be despised but one to be forgiven. Even the pharisees that sought to kill Jesus more than once were loved.
Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
And those who nailed Him to the cross- they were LOVED.
Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
When we reveal this love to others and those erring from the truth return to the truth, we truly do hide a multitude of sins because we are immersed in that amazing love that brings us forgiveness.
The truth.
Jesus.
The truth.
Salvation only found in Jesus.
The truth.
The kingdom of heaven come down to us in Jesus.
The truth.
Our Savior's amazing love towards us, His unending love!
The truth.
Our King, Jesus!
The truth.
Our Advocate Jesus.
The truth.
Love of God.
The truth.
Love of our fellow man.
The truth.
The Truth, the Way, the Life.
The truth.
Jesus.
Amen.
Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Erring from the truth.
We find the truth in Jesus.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If any of us err from the truth we find in our Savior and another person brings us back to Jesus- to the truth then they will hide a multitude of sins. The ONLY way that is possible is because the ONE who reveals the truth to the erring one is living in the truth of our Lord's grace and forgiveness.
We can't go about thinking that we are saved- hiding our own sins when WE bring another to the knowledge of Jesus. We are only EVER saved by Jesus' forgiveness, by Jesus' spilled blood covering our sins. We can understand that our Savior is what matters most in life, truly what matters more than anything. Our Savior matters more than the favor of ANY man! We cannot deny Jesus to keep face with those around us and have hope in Salvation. We must live Jesus- and in living Jesus we - by His grace will be able to share His love. We CANNOT preach Jesus and despise those around us- the worst of sinners does NOT need our shunning, but our LOVE! You can convert no one to the truth by showing hatred. You can convert no one to Jesus' love and salvation by hating and despising them. We have to SEE everyone as Jesus sees them. Not as one to be despised but one to be forgiven. Even the pharisees that sought to kill Jesus more than once were loved.
Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
And those who nailed Him to the cross- they were LOVED.
Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
When we reveal this love to others and those erring from the truth return to the truth, we truly do hide a multitude of sins because we are immersed in that amazing love that brings us forgiveness.
The truth.
Jesus.
The truth.
Salvation only found in Jesus.
The truth.
The kingdom of heaven come down to us in Jesus.
The truth.
Our Savior's amazing love towards us, His unending love!
The truth.
Our King, Jesus!
The truth.
Our Advocate Jesus.
The truth.
Love of God.
The truth.
Love of our fellow man.
The truth.
The Truth, the Way, the Life.
The truth.
Jesus.
Amen.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Earnest Prayers Answered! PRAISE GOD!
Jas 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
Jas 5:18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Prayer.
Praying earnestly.
Today an earnest prayer of mine was fully realized in the birth of my great niece, Lyla Rose Myers!
ALL GLORY, HONOR, and PRAISE UNTO GOD! This was HIS miracle! This was by HIS grace! Through HIS love!
Back in May 2011 my niece found out she was pregnant, her seventh or sixth pregnancy, all the others having failed through miscarriage. She was resigned to losing this baby too- feeling all the same familiar, horrible pangs of a miscarriage wracking her body. She went to the hospital emergency room and I was asked to go be with her. When I got there I could see the heartache written all over her face, she was devastated already but trying to steel herself for the inevitable outcome of the hospital visit. Doing my best to comfort her, it was only when her mother and husband arrived a short while later that she gave into the tears and heartache full force. With my heartbreaking for her I PRAYED EARNESTLY for a miracle to our LIVING GOD! To a God who hears, to a God who sees, to a God who knows, to a God who LOVES us, and OUR MOST AMAZING WONDERFUL GOD answered that prayer, a prayer that MANY were praying the day. Our LORD answered our prayer! Our living God blessed the womb of my niece and the baby had a heartbeat. In spite of having all the signs of a miscarriage my niece miraculously carried a living child. After nine months- that beautiful miracle baby was born today! PRAISE GOD! PRAISE OUR LIVING, LOVING, WONDERFUL GOD! Our God who answers earnest prayers as ONLY HE CAN!
Do all earnest prayers get answered? Yes. Maybe not the way we always desire because the earnest prayer includes first and foremost God's will to be done, not ours. We can't see the big picture, we just can't, but God can! God sees the end from the beginning and He knows. This miracle blessing of this successful pregnancy is proof. Yes, a thousand prayers might go unanswered in the manner we'd like but all it takes is one prayer to be answered as we earnestly beseech our most HOLY GOD, and we can truly comprehend that our LIVES are in the hands of a living, loving, amazing, and wonderful God.
Yes, our heartaches might out weigh our joys by a million to one, but we need to have faith that HE, our GOD, knows better than we do what sort of refining fires we need to pass through to be His, wholly His!
Thank You GOD! Thank You for this most wonderful of miracles! Please Lord, please continue to bless little Lyla Rose and her parents and keep them IN YOU, in YOUR LOVE!
ALL PRAISE to GOD!
ALL GLORY to GOD!
ALL THANKSGIVING to GOD LORD OF THE SABBATH, OUR CREATOR, OUR SAVIOR, OUR KING!
Amen!
Jas 5:18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Prayer.
Praying earnestly.
Today an earnest prayer of mine was fully realized in the birth of my great niece, Lyla Rose Myers!
ALL GLORY, HONOR, and PRAISE UNTO GOD! This was HIS miracle! This was by HIS grace! Through HIS love!
Back in May 2011 my niece found out she was pregnant, her seventh or sixth pregnancy, all the others having failed through miscarriage. She was resigned to losing this baby too- feeling all the same familiar, horrible pangs of a miscarriage wracking her body. She went to the hospital emergency room and I was asked to go be with her. When I got there I could see the heartache written all over her face, she was devastated already but trying to steel herself for the inevitable outcome of the hospital visit. Doing my best to comfort her, it was only when her mother and husband arrived a short while later that she gave into the tears and heartache full force. With my heartbreaking for her I PRAYED EARNESTLY for a miracle to our LIVING GOD! To a God who hears, to a God who sees, to a God who knows, to a God who LOVES us, and OUR MOST AMAZING WONDERFUL GOD answered that prayer, a prayer that MANY were praying the day. Our LORD answered our prayer! Our living God blessed the womb of my niece and the baby had a heartbeat. In spite of having all the signs of a miscarriage my niece miraculously carried a living child. After nine months- that beautiful miracle baby was born today! PRAISE GOD! PRAISE OUR LIVING, LOVING, WONDERFUL GOD! Our God who answers earnest prayers as ONLY HE CAN!
Do all earnest prayers get answered? Yes. Maybe not the way we always desire because the earnest prayer includes first and foremost God's will to be done, not ours. We can't see the big picture, we just can't, but God can! God sees the end from the beginning and He knows. This miracle blessing of this successful pregnancy is proof. Yes, a thousand prayers might go unanswered in the manner we'd like but all it takes is one prayer to be answered as we earnestly beseech our most HOLY GOD, and we can truly comprehend that our LIVES are in the hands of a living, loving, amazing, and wonderful God.
Yes, our heartaches might out weigh our joys by a million to one, but we need to have faith that HE, our GOD, knows better than we do what sort of refining fires we need to pass through to be His, wholly His!
Thank You GOD! Thank You for this most wonderful of miracles! Please Lord, please continue to bless little Lyla Rose and her parents and keep them IN YOU, in YOUR LOVE!
ALL PRAISE to GOD!
ALL GLORY to GOD!
ALL THANKSGIVING to GOD LORD OF THE SABBATH, OUR CREATOR, OUR SAVIOR, OUR KING!
Amen!
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