'We shall not all sleep...' Death's long sleep.

Mortal bodies.

The Spirit.

The SPIRIT of him (GOD) raised Jesus from the dead this is a fact. This SAME Spirit must dwell IN US.  God who raised up Christ from the dead will ALSO bring our MORTAL bodes to life by HIS Spirit in Us.

We will NOT be raised from the dead should we die before our Savior returns to gather us to Him, unless we have the Holy Spirit in us- this is truth!

Rom 8:11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

The living in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, will NOT keep those who have died in Christ from rising from their graves.

Christ will descend from heaven with a SHOUT.

The voice of the archangel will sound.

The trump of God will be heard.

Then the DEAD in Christ will rise! 

1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

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.

(Again I must make mention of the fact that there is NO need for the dead in Christ to rise from their graves if they are ALREADY with Christ upon their death, right? Logic must dictate that waking those from death's sleep at the return of Christ when the archangel sounds and a trump of God is heard, means they are NOT already awake and with Christ. So, WHY do so many believe death is just slipping into spirit form and going to live with God in heaven? We need to ask this question and ask it seriously not just tossing it all aside as if it doesn't matter, it does matter.  Satan is going to impersonate Christ, Satan is going to have his evil angels appear as angels of light and he's going to do all that to DECEIVE people. Satan having evil angels impersonate our dead loved ones to lull us into a false man-made doctrine is done for one reason only- to deceive us so that he can claim us as his followers- the followers of deception. If you think you will not be accountable for such things, you are wrong.

Act 17:27  That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

Act 17:28  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Act 17:29  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

Act 17:30  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Act 17:31  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

At times of ignorance God winked at- BUT now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.  We have no excuse for ignorance now, none.

Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places

Ask yourself this question please…  WHY is it such a big deal that Jesus was raised from the dead if we already believe upon our deaths we go to heaven- that we are raised in spirit form?  According to our beliefs of living upon death, Jesus was merely going to heaven upon His death, right?  But He didn't, did He?  He lay in the grave and then He was raised from the dead- body and all. We believe this fact readily without asking ourselves questions about our beliefs.  So, Jesus did NOT go into spirit form upon death and immediately go to heaven, yet we believe that's what happens when we die. Many people will instantly say that our loved ones are in a BETTER PLACE now, that our loved ones are IN HEAVEN with all our other loved ones having a family reunion, that our loved ones are now in JESUS' arms. These are the words of comfort people give to one another all the time, yet they go on believing that Jesus didn't go to heaven upon His death.  If we agree that Biblically Jesus stayed in the grave until the third day then we also have to agree that He was NOT in heaven that day. In fact Jesus, Himself says that He shouldn't be touched because He hadn't ascended to His Father yet. Jesus admitted He hadn't gone to heaven yet. People love to say that Jesus promised the thief on the cross next to Him that He'd see him in heaven that day- but in truth Jesus was telling that thief that DAY, that he would see Him in heaven eventually. Jesus admitted He wasn’t in heaven that day! He hadn't gone to His Father that day upon dying. So why can't we realize these truths? Why does it offend us so easily to think that our loved ones are SLEEPING death's long sleep?  They aren't in pain any longer, they aren't suffering, they know absolutely nothing that is going on in our lives- all our pain and suffering, all our heartaches. They aren't subjected to the horrors of what is taking place upon earth at all. They are sleeping the long sleep from which they will be awakened from if they are Christ's, and they are awakened when Christ returns for them at the last trump sounding. Why must we fabricate the fantasy of our loved ones comforting us from their heavenly perches? We do it to appease ourselves. We lie to ourselves to comfort ourselves by believing that our loved ones know we loved them and all the arguing and chaos of life is over, their true feelings are now known and this brings comfort to people. They don't like the idea that their loved one is simply sleeping and thinking no more at all whatsoever, their breath of life returned to God so their bodies no longer function. They don't like the idea of them sleeping and not knowing how sorry those still living are for all the hard times between them. They don't like the idea of their dead loved ones having no consciousness at all. To me it is a marvelous, wondrous thing, this death sleep. Truly NO MORE suffering on any level for anyone. No witnessing of my heartaches and pains while they are in heaven unable to weep or feel pain of any sort any longer. Their emotionless - except for happiness - existence is intrinsically wrong on many levels if they are watching a loved one suffer it is just incredibly wrong, we have to know this on some level right?

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 is truth.

1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

This is truth.

May we find comfort in the TRUTH and not in lies no matter how much they please our senses.

May God's Spirit live in US. May the Holy Spirit live in US. May Christ live in US and we in Him! May our hope be solely in the SAVIOR, our LORD, JESUS CHRIST now and forever!

Amen.

Not pleasing people, but pleasing God.

Rom 14:18  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

ACCEPTABLE to God.

Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Rom 14:18  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Righteousness, peace, and joy in the HOLY SPIRIT- in these we SERVE Christ and we are acceptable to GOD.

We want to be approved unto God, don't we? We want to be acceptable to God and we KNOW we are NOT ever going to be acceptable or approved to God of our own accord. We are approved unto God through the WORD of God, we are acceptable to God through the HOLY SPIRIT.  How can we ignore these truths and expect to truly be God's? How? Jesus Christ is the living Word. His Word. His entire reason for becoming the begotten Son of God and  the entire reason He EMPTIED Himself and took on our flesh was to SAVE US! He did not take on flesh to teach us how to save ourselves, to teach us how to behave, to give us a secret formula we can follow and be saved. He came to SAVE us, to save ALL who comprehend their need of a Savior. In comprehending this need we know that being SAVED in Jesus Christ truly is the treasure we need to seek first and all things after that.  We need to find Christ FIRST in our lives, not tucked away in a neat compartment labeled 'religion'.

Gal 1:10  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

IF we seek to please men over God are we serving God? If we seek to please God, we will serve men as we should, in love.  Obviously this apostle of Jesus Christ's comprehended that men will desire pleasing that doesn't include God. People want to be pleased, they want to hear things that will make them pleased, not upset. People want to hear things that go with their point of view on things. People want things to please their ears not bring discord to their thoughts. If we do NOT speak pleasing things to people they will STOP listening to us, and we need to choose whether or not we keep speaking things that don't please them and lose their interest, or change to please them.  Shouldn't we rather standalone and seek God first? Isn't it better to be alone than to have a following of one or a million? Others want us to fit in their mold of expectation, but at what cost do we agree to settle into that mold?

1Th 2:4  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

We are put in TRUST with the truth- the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, do we ignore this trust?
ALLOWED of GOD to have this gospel trust we cannot convolute it to please people. We cannot twist the gospel to please ourselves and others, we must speak it plaining as Jesus spoke the gospel.  God ALONE will try our hearts! By Him, through Him may our hearts be acceptable!

Mat 13:52  Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

Instructed unto the kingdom of heaven.  This is the gospel! The kingdom of heaven is our Savior, is salvation through our Savior. And truly the message of the gospel, the kingdom of heaven can be found in the old and new and it is TREASURE!

2Co 6:3  Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
2Co 6:4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses

We will NEED much patience. We will ENDURE afflictions, in necessities, and in distresses. In so many things we will endure the assault of Satan and we are the ministers of God and as such we HAVE to know the end of our faith and look to that!

1Ti 4:12  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
1Ti 4:13  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1Ti 4:14  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
1Ti 4:15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

MEDITATE upon charity, spirit, faith, purity. Reading, exhorting upon DOCTRINE.  We have to TAKE HEED to OURSELVES and to the DOCTRINE - continuing in the WORD OF GOD- SAVING ourselves and those who hear us.  If we continue in the Word of God we are continuing in TRUTH. We are continuing in the FAITH of our Savior, we are living the truth of the gospel found in our SAVIOR!

1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought

The wisdom of this world is NOT God's wisdom! Satan has perverted this world so much it's no wonder people who choose not to believe are led astray so fully by the lies perpetrated by the evil fallen angel.  Satan has set in motion so many evils and man call these evil- wisdom!   God's wisdom alone is truth, is perfect! The things of this world are not the truth and can never give salvation to a single person!

2Co 4:2  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

RENOUNCING the HIDDEN THINGS of DISHONESTY.
NOT WALKING IN CRAFTINESS.
NOT HANDLING THE WORD OF GOD DECEITFULLY!
We must walk in TRUTH for all to see- man and God!  It's HIS TRUTH!

By HIS GRACE MAY WE WALK IN HIS TRUTH!

We are given instructions so many instructions and for people to believe that God does not give instructions, they are blinded to truth!

Please LORD, we want to SEE! We don't want to be blinded! PLEASE let us buy of You gold tried in fire, eyesalve and white raiment! PLEASE LORD we need faith, we need the Holy Spirit, we need Your righteousness!

Please!

The Powerful Word of God

Heb_4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

2Ti_2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We must RIGHTLY divide the WORD of truth.

The WORD of GOD is quick and powerful, and sharper than ANY two-edged sword.

We must rightly divide that which is QUICK, that which is POWERFUL, that which is SHARPER than any two-edge sword.

We must rightly divide the LIVING word of God.

A word so POWERFUL it's beyond our imagining.

A word whose power is exceedingly sharp, piercingly, cuttingly sharp able to slice both ways.

This living word of God can slice to the dividing of our SOUL AND SPIRIT, our JOINTS AND MARROW, and this living word can discern the THOUGHTS and INTENTS of our HEARTS!

THIS POWERFUL WORD of GOD is what we MUST STUDY if we are to show ourselves APPROVED unto God!

We must study as WORKMEN for GOD who do NOT need to be ASHAMED- we must RIGHTLY DIVIDE this POWERFUL WORD of GOD the WORD of TRUTH.

Rom 14:18  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Gal 1:10  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

1Th 2:4  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

Mat 13:52  Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

2Co 6:3  Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

2Co 6:4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses

1Ti 4:12  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1Ti 4:13  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

1Ti 4:14  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

1Ti 4:15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought

2Co 4:2  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

More study on this tomorrow by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ  now and forever!

Please, Lord, please may we begin to comprehend Your truths for us. Please Lord, teach us to study, teach us to be approved unto You, help us to do YOUR will in all things! Please!

Counted as sheep for the slaughter.

Psa 44:20  If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;

Psa 44:21  Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Psa 44:22  Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

Psa 44:23  Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.

Psa 44:24  Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?

Psa 44:25  For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.

Psa 44:26  Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.

*******

Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.

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.

God KNOWS US.  We hide nothing from God.

For God's sake we submit to death, is that death to self or death in a literal sense, or death in both ways?  Being counted as a sheep for the slaughter means what?

Biblically in the times of the sacrificial laws - sheep were counted for slaughter in that way. They were also counted for slaughter to feed people. Sheep counted for slaughter- meant to die.  If we as followers of Christ, if we as followers of God the Father are killed all day long - counted as sheep for the slaughter we are sacrifices for others. In Psalms we have a cry for the Lord to awake and not cast off His people, to not hide His face to their affliction and oppression. In Psalms we have God's people bowing to the dust, bellies clinging to the earth and a plea for help, for redemption.  In Romans we are told that we are more than conquerors through Christ, even if we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.  We are then told that neither DEATH(slaughter), nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present not thing to come, nor height, not depth nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

In both of these situations we are truly told our position- sheep for the slaughter- and where our help can be found.  Does this mean we won't be sacrificed, no not at all, but if we are called to sacrifice our hope is in our God and in our Savior Jesus Christ.

We are called to suffer and how can we not suffer in this world ruled by sin, by evil?  Our only hope in the suffering is KNOWING the end results of ALL the suffering no matter what shape it takes in our lives and that is SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST!

All by HIS AMAZING, WONDROUS GRACE and MERCY, HIS LOVE now and forever.

Amen!

Be simple concerning evil.

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 

Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 

Rom 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 

Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen

How can we read something like the above and not comprehend that many are going to be deceived? The doctrines we learn through the Lord Jesus Christ, through the word of God in all His truth do we dare deny its these doctrines? People will try and have tried to cause divisions in the truth, they've caused offences contrary to the truth and we cannot ignore this. We need to avoid being taken in by those who would dare to subvert God's truths. When people seek to serve themselves, to pretend to serve the Lord but are in truth only doing so in order to be self-serving, to seek self-glory, these care truly only for themselves and they may have many good words to speak and speeches so fair you can't help but be attracted to them and what do they do? They DECEIVE the simple. They deceive those who want to hear easy things and refuse to hear the hard truths.

We truly do need to be wise to what is good and SIMPLE concerning evil.

We cannot study evil, we cannot seek evil, we truly cannot court evil and evil ways it is much too dangerous! We need to be as simple as possible when it comes to anything evil. By God's grace may we be super simple concerning evil!

Satan is bruised by the God of peace! Satan has lost the battle between good and evil! Satan will not succeed, can't succeed, our Savior has won! Right now we live in a world with Satan as its ruler, but it will not always be that way. Our hope is in the salvation from all evil that our Savior has promised us. We have HOPE in Christ that what He has promised He will perform.

Php_1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ

By His amazing wonderful grace! In Jesus Christ our Lord's name always! Amen!

Love in Sincerity.

Eph 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Too many people believe that all people regardless of their beliefs will be with Jesus upon death. Our hearts are known to God- the good and the bad in them. I do believe that our God knows us and in knowing us loves us and in knowing us, He knows when there is no love in us. Sadly there are those without the love of God. Sadly there are heartless people. Tragically there are those who want nothing to do with love- God's real love.

There is a false love, a false religion, a false Christ, a false belief and these many falsehoods are disguised as truths.

Love, true love, love of God, love from God is our only truth. 

Trusting in Him beyond our own imaginings, our own faulty surmising this is truth. Faith, believing when we have no empirical reason to believe. Knowing there is One we do answer to for our lives. Knowing there is One who beyond all our comprehension truly only wants us in His love, this is faith.

'Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.'

In sincerity.

There are many who love our Lord Jesus Christ in something that is far from sincerity.

Please, Lord Jesus, help us to love you only in sincerity, we need Your grace so desperately! We don't always comprehend the ways of our own lives, Your ways are so much greater than ours. Please, help us to have the faith we need to be only Yours and no other's!

All in Your love, Your name, all in You our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ Only Begotten Son of God the Father now and forever!

Amen.

Watching for Jesus

Psa 130:1  A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

Psa 130:2  Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

Psa 130:3  If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

Psa 130:4  But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

Psa 130:5  I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

Psa 130:6  My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning

Crying unto the Lord, pleading for the Lord to hear our voice. Asking the LORD to  make His ear attentive to our cries, our desperate desires. We know if the LORD marked our sins we could NEVER stand, never. There is by the grace of our Lord, FORGIVENESS for all our sins! Forgiveness of the like we can but imagine. Fearing our God, knowing He and He only forgives us as we need we truly must wait for the LORD, our soul must wait and HOPE in the word of God. Our soul must wait for the LORD more than a watchman waiting for the morning to break. 

We know what it is like to wait for day break. We know what it is like to wait desperately for something, all of us do, don't we?  Do we wait with that same desperation, that same eagerness for our Savior? With what longing do we wait for the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ?

Maybe we merely talk about His return, or think about it from time to time. Maybe it's simply a topic that comes up when we attend Bible meetings. Perhaps we only think on it when things go badly in our lives. How often should we be thinking about Christ's return? All the time.  With every prayer we pray.

How often should we pray?

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

Praying always.

Luk_2:37  And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

Prayers- night and day.

Act_2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

In prayers.

2Ti_1:3  I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day

So how often are we to truly think about our Savior's return? Every time we pray-- for in each prayer we are to say-  "Thy kingdom come."  And for our Savior's kingdom to come He must return. For things to be on earth as they are in heaven, He must return.

Our Savior Jesus Christ will return, we must wait for Him, watch for Him, long for His return for only when He returns will we finally be taken home with Him to His heavenly kingdom!

Please, Lord, please…come LORD JESUS, come!