1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear
The Father
WITHOUT respect of persons
Judges according to every man's WORK
Pass the time of our sojourning here in FEAR
What do we imagine this means? Seriously, what? God doesn't hold one man to a higher level than another in the grand scheme of things. Each man has a certain accountability to God to choose Him over Satan, to choose good over evil. We make our choices and we must live by those choices. The Father in heaven does NOT prejudge us because we are born into a sinful nature. Our Father in heaven judges us according to the actions of our lives- our choices- all that we are and that is our work- our way of living the life He's given to us. We have to realize we are JUDGED. We can't be stupid and keep our heads buried deep in the sand thinking we are our own masters and have no one to answer to. We have to answer to our heavenly Father. Every single human being has to answer to the Father. You might not believe it, but you'll have to answer for your unbelief. Is it any wonder we are to pass our time here on earth in fear? The fear of failing to be judged worthy, the fear of failing to be judged upon the righteousness of Christ. If we are judged according to our own righteousness we will be judged wholly unworthy. We need to fear, we need to understand that the fear can work to instill in us desire, the need to seek the righteousness of Christ, to seek the faith we need. When we don't fear we have no reason at all to comprehend our need of God.
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers
We cannot save ourselves with bribery. We cannot save ourselves using our material, earthly wealth. We have to realize that there is NOT a single thing we do that saves us- other than choosing to believe- a choice to be saved, we can only make that single choice and allow God to save us. We must allow the sacrifice of our Savior to live in us, to live for us.
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently
The PRECIOUS BLOOD of CHRIST.
As a LAMB without BLEMISH without SPOT.
FORORDAINED BEFORE the FOUNDATION of the WORLD.
MANIFEST in these LAST TIMES for US.
BY JESUS WE BELIEVE in GOD.
God RAISED Jesus from the dead.
God gave Jesus GLORY so WE may have FAITH and HOPE in GOD!
We PURIFY ourselves when we OBEY the TRUTH through the HOLY SPIRIT- to UNFEIGNED LOVE REAL REAL LOVE of each other! When we LOVE each other with a PURE HEART FERVENTLY!
Read that again… UNFEIGNED LOVE for each other! Loving each other with a PURE HEART FERVENTLY!
How many of us do this?????
Seriously, how many? Do you, do I? Do we?
Do we love others FERVENTLY?
Oh, for the love of our Savior may we LOVE others fervently! Please God help us to do this at a time when the love of many is waxing so very, very cold.
Please Lord, please.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Hope to the end
1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Hope to the end for the grace brought to us from a revealed Christ. We are cautioned to do more than hope aren't we? Gird up the loins of our minds- be sober. Some might scoff and say that's easy, I don't drink but that's not what is being said here. You don't have to be drunk on alcohol to have your mind corrupt and far from being sober. You can be drunk on selfishness so that it consumes you. You can be drunk on anger. You can be drunk on any emotion. The abnormal excesses of our fleshy desires make us drunk so that we are no where near being sober in our actions and all we do- understanding the seriousness of our lives and the eternity at stake. In ALL we do we have to put God first in our thoughts, don't we? Shouldn't we? Girding up the loins of our mind. When you gird your loins you are protecting them.
'Synonyms
3. brace, steel, fortify, strengthen.
Pasted from '
We have to protect our minds, fortify, strengthen our minds and in doing so we are protecting our THOUGHTS- the same thoughts that produce our actions. Yes, we have to HOPE for the grace of our Savior but we also need to protect our minds but not letting ourselves fall prey to excess. I say it that way because a lot of our desires are not wrong unless they are done in excess. I'm NOT saying ALL our desires by no means because desires can become perverse under the guidance of Satan, but our basic un-perverted desires are normal and yes-God given when they are NOT allowed excess in our lives- consuming us and becoming idols to us. We need to protect our minds by being sober in ALL things.
1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Lev 19:2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
Called to be holy.
Called to be Godly.
This isn't the call for a person to become a pastor, a priest, a minister- but this call is to all who would have the hope of Salvation in Jesus Christ.
How many people believe that only those called to a profession in the field of religion are expected to live godly, to live holy lives? They see a collar on a priest, a minister, or even just learn the title of a man as a pastor and automatically they are held to a higher standard than the common man. The truth is we ALL need to be held to the higher standard- God's standard. What else separates us from those who are not God's? If we blend in with the world is it because they are seemingly God's, or is it more likely the fact we are compromising and seem more like the ungodly? These are questions we NEED to ask ourselves. No, I'm not saying we need to make spectacles of ourselves in an outright effort to appear to be God's, but our lives in general should be sober lives- not given to the worldly excesses all around us. We should live lives of self-denial, shouldn't we?
Mar 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mar 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Jesus in not walking the earth today asking people to follow Him. There is NO man alive on earth today that we are to follow like that, not ONE. There is NO religious organization we are to give up all we possess and follow. Yet we ARE to --
'... gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ'
We ARE to--
'...be ye holy in all manner of conversation
We ARE to--
'...Be ye holy; for I am holy.'
We ARE to--
'... be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.'
We ARE to--
'... through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.'
Knowing this--
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
By the grace of God may we gird up the loins of our minds and HOPE, 'hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ', all through Him, all through the Holy Spirit, all through our Heavenly Father.
Help us, Lord, help us, save us from ourselves, from our self-destructive ways. Please Lord, help us to gird up the loins of our minds and be sober, to be holy as You would have us be holy.
All through YOUR righteousness- Savior! All through YOUR love!
Amen.
Hope to the end for the grace brought to us from a revealed Christ. We are cautioned to do more than hope aren't we? Gird up the loins of our minds- be sober. Some might scoff and say that's easy, I don't drink but that's not what is being said here. You don't have to be drunk on alcohol to have your mind corrupt and far from being sober. You can be drunk on selfishness so that it consumes you. You can be drunk on anger. You can be drunk on any emotion. The abnormal excesses of our fleshy desires make us drunk so that we are no where near being sober in our actions and all we do- understanding the seriousness of our lives and the eternity at stake. In ALL we do we have to put God first in our thoughts, don't we? Shouldn't we? Girding up the loins of our mind. When you gird your loins you are protecting them.
'Synonyms
3. brace, steel, fortify, strengthen.
Pasted from
We have to protect our minds, fortify, strengthen our minds and in doing so we are protecting our THOUGHTS- the same thoughts that produce our actions. Yes, we have to HOPE for the grace of our Savior but we also need to protect our minds but not letting ourselves fall prey to excess. I say it that way because a lot of our desires are not wrong unless they are done in excess. I'm NOT saying ALL our desires by no means because desires can become perverse under the guidance of Satan, but our basic un-perverted desires are normal and yes-God given when they are NOT allowed excess in our lives- consuming us and becoming idols to us. We need to protect our minds by being sober in ALL things.
1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Lev 19:2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
Called to be holy.
Called to be Godly.
This isn't the call for a person to become a pastor, a priest, a minister- but this call is to all who would have the hope of Salvation in Jesus Christ.
How many people believe that only those called to a profession in the field of religion are expected to live godly, to live holy lives? They see a collar on a priest, a minister, or even just learn the title of a man as a pastor and automatically they are held to a higher standard than the common man. The truth is we ALL need to be held to the higher standard- God's standard. What else separates us from those who are not God's? If we blend in with the world is it because they are seemingly God's, or is it more likely the fact we are compromising and seem more like the ungodly? These are questions we NEED to ask ourselves. No, I'm not saying we need to make spectacles of ourselves in an outright effort to appear to be God's, but our lives in general should be sober lives- not given to the worldly excesses all around us. We should live lives of self-denial, shouldn't we?
Mar 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mar 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Jesus in not walking the earth today asking people to follow Him. There is NO man alive on earth today that we are to follow like that, not ONE. There is NO religious organization we are to give up all we possess and follow. Yet we ARE to --
'... gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ'
We ARE to--
'...be ye holy in all manner of conversation
We ARE to--
'...Be ye holy; for I am holy.'
We ARE to--
'... be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.'
We ARE to--
'... through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.'
Knowing this--
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
By the grace of God may we gird up the loins of our minds and HOPE, 'hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ', all through Him, all through the Holy Spirit, all through our Heavenly Father.
Help us, Lord, help us, save us from ourselves, from our self-destructive ways. Please Lord, help us to gird up the loins of our minds and be sober, to be holy as You would have us be holy.
All through YOUR righteousness- Savior! All through YOUR love!
Amen.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Unto whom it was revealed
1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Just as the prophet of old inquired and searched diligently for the coming of their Messsiah, we are searching diligently for the second coming of our Messiah, aren't we? We are searching the Scriptures hoping, praying, seeking, longing for understanding so that we are NOT taken unaware as so many in the day of Christ's ministry upon earth. How many who claimed to be looking and longing for the coming Messiah, how many who dedicated their entire lives to the service of God- rejected the Messiah when He appeared? More than we probably realize.
Jesus did NOT find His twelve Apostles among the Jewish religious hierarchy, among the Levites, the appointed priests serving God. Jesus found His twelve Apostles among the 'common' Jewish men. Jesus did NOT find His Apostles among the learned men, the rich men of His day. Jesus found His Apostles among the average, working man, the poor men. What should this tell us? Seriously, what should this message to us be?
We have to realize that Jesus' messages are wholly true and not fables- parables, yes, fables, no.
Jesus spoke of the poor, the unlearned, the broken hearted, the broken in spirit, the meek, the lowly, the poor, the down trodden and He spoke of them as being those who could truly comprehend Him and His message of grace and mercy.
The Holy Ghost sent down from heaven will reveal to us all we need to know. We have to have faith, we have to believe, we have to trust in our Savior righteousness, His loving righteousness, His forgiveness, His mercy, His grace.
We today are longing for Christ's return, for our Savior's second appearing. We are given lots of prophecies for the end time and we truly are living in the end times.
When did the 'end times' begin? Some say they haven't begun at all but are only going to be a few short years before Christ returns, that we can't look at any of the prophecies for fulfillment before then.
Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
This is a major book of prophecy predicting Jesus' death, and time from Babylon right up till Christ's second coming. This book tells us that the time of the end would START when the book was unsealed and knowledge was increased.
NO ONE who knows the history of the world thus far can deny that mankind's knowledge took astounding and very astonishing leaps in the mid 1800's. I'm talking we were going from candles to gas light, from no electrically applications in daily life to its quick understanding so that mankind no longer lived in a world void of electricity run products.
'While it had been the early 19th century that had seen rapid progress in electrical science, the late 19th century would see the greatest progress in electrical engineering. Through such people as Nikola Tesla, Galileo Ferraris, Oliver Heaviside, Thomas Edison, Ottó Bláthy, Ányos Jedlik, Sir Charles Parsons, Joseph Swan, George Westinghouse, Ernst Werner von Siemens, Alexander Graham Bell and Lord Kelvin, electricity was turned from a scientific curiosity into an essential tool for modern life, becoming a driving force for the Second Industrial Revolution.[15]'
Pasted from
The advances made after this were incredible and to think for THOUSANDS of years man lived in a such a primitive way. Why did men gain such sudden ability to comprehend the very things they'd been living with for so long. Why did their understanding suddenly ignite where before it had been shrouded in darkness? This was by God's design.
At a time when mankind's knowledge would be increased the time of the end would begin. Many would run to and fro. Running to and fro certainly increased with knowledge increasing- cars, planes- we can't run to and fro faster can we? A plane can get up to speeds we'd find unimaginable on the ground. Truly the prophetic words have come to pass- we can't honestly look at our history and deny this, we just can't. So, by God's own word the time of the end began over 200 years ago and some would have us believe that it is impossible for the 'end times' to be going on for so long. How is it impossible? 200 years in the grand scheme of thousands of years isn't that long at all. And remember this…
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
And this…
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Just as God revealed all that was needed unto those truly seeking Him and His love, God will do the same now as we live in the end times.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into
The gospel- which things the ANGELS desire to look into.
Amazing words.
Salvation through Christ a subject the angels desire to comprehend, so amazing. The plan of Salvation found in Christ is such a mystery, so incredibly fascinating, so beyond anything else ever known to them- the angels want to understand it all. They long to understand this mystery that we have been given, this wonderful mystery, this gift of God.
By the grace and mercy of our Savior may we accept His gift of life eternal in Him.
Please Lord help us to be as those seeking, truly seeking understanding. Help us to be watchers, praying always, looking unto that perfect day coming.
All in YOUR LOVE!
Amen.
1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Just as the prophet of old inquired and searched diligently for the coming of their Messsiah, we are searching diligently for the second coming of our Messiah, aren't we? We are searching the Scriptures hoping, praying, seeking, longing for understanding so that we are NOT taken unaware as so many in the day of Christ's ministry upon earth. How many who claimed to be looking and longing for the coming Messiah, how many who dedicated their entire lives to the service of God- rejected the Messiah when He appeared? More than we probably realize.
Jesus did NOT find His twelve Apostles among the Jewish religious hierarchy, among the Levites, the appointed priests serving God. Jesus found His twelve Apostles among the 'common' Jewish men. Jesus did NOT find His Apostles among the learned men, the rich men of His day. Jesus found His Apostles among the average, working man, the poor men. What should this tell us? Seriously, what should this message to us be?
We have to realize that Jesus' messages are wholly true and not fables- parables, yes, fables, no.
Jesus spoke of the poor, the unlearned, the broken hearted, the broken in spirit, the meek, the lowly, the poor, the down trodden and He spoke of them as being those who could truly comprehend Him and His message of grace and mercy.
The Holy Ghost sent down from heaven will reveal to us all we need to know. We have to have faith, we have to believe, we have to trust in our Savior righteousness, His loving righteousness, His forgiveness, His mercy, His grace.
We today are longing for Christ's return, for our Savior's second appearing. We are given lots of prophecies for the end time and we truly are living in the end times.
When did the 'end times' begin? Some say they haven't begun at all but are only going to be a few short years before Christ returns, that we can't look at any of the prophecies for fulfillment before then.
Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
This is a major book of prophecy predicting Jesus' death, and time from Babylon right up till Christ's second coming. This book tells us that the time of the end would START when the book was unsealed and knowledge was increased.
NO ONE who knows the history of the world thus far can deny that mankind's knowledge took astounding and very astonishing leaps in the mid 1800's. I'm talking we were going from candles to gas light, from no electrically applications in daily life to its quick understanding so that mankind no longer lived in a world void of electricity run products.
'While it had been the early 19th century that had seen rapid progress in electrical science, the late 19th century would see the greatest progress in electrical engineering. Through such people as Nikola Tesla, Galileo Ferraris, Oliver Heaviside, Thomas Edison, Ottó Bláthy, Ányos Jedlik, Sir Charles Parsons, Joseph Swan, George Westinghouse, Ernst Werner von Siemens, Alexander Graham Bell and Lord Kelvin, electricity was turned from a scientific curiosity into an essential tool for modern life, becoming a driving force for the Second Industrial Revolution.[15]'
Pasted from
The advances made after this were incredible and to think for THOUSANDS of years man lived in a such a primitive way. Why did men gain such sudden ability to comprehend the very things they'd been living with for so long. Why did their understanding suddenly ignite where before it had been shrouded in darkness? This was by God's design.
At a time when mankind's knowledge would be increased the time of the end would begin. Many would run to and fro. Running to and fro certainly increased with knowledge increasing- cars, planes- we can't run to and fro faster can we? A plane can get up to speeds we'd find unimaginable on the ground. Truly the prophetic words have come to pass- we can't honestly look at our history and deny this, we just can't. So, by God's own word the time of the end began over 200 years ago and some would have us believe that it is impossible for the 'end times' to be going on for so long. How is it impossible? 200 years in the grand scheme of thousands of years isn't that long at all. And remember this…
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
And this…
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Just as God revealed all that was needed unto those truly seeking Him and His love, God will do the same now as we live in the end times.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into
The gospel- which things the ANGELS desire to look into.
Amazing words.
Salvation through Christ a subject the angels desire to comprehend, so amazing. The plan of Salvation found in Christ is such a mystery, so incredibly fascinating, so beyond anything else ever known to them- the angels want to understand it all. They long to understand this mystery that we have been given, this wonderful mystery, this gift of God.
By the grace and mercy of our Savior may we accept His gift of life eternal in Him.
Please Lord help us to be as those seeking, truly seeking understanding. Help us to be watchers, praying always, looking unto that perfect day coming.
All in YOUR LOVE!
Amen.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
In heaviness through manifold temptations
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.
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)