Emotion

Before we delve further into the book-  'The Spiritual Man' and what Watchman Nee has to say about emotions and the believers and the function of emotions read this-

Heb_4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

We need to remember that our Savior had FEELINGS like we have FEELINGS. Our Savior experienced EMOTIONS like we experience EMOTIONS. Our Savior was never consumed by his emotions, his feelings, he never let them rule over him.  Truly if we read the following about emotion and disagree I can't comprehend why. 

Go ahead and read the excerpt and by the grace of God we will study it tomorrow. All through the love of our Savior, our Lord, Jesus Christ now and forever!

*******

'The Believer and Emotion

Although A Christian may have experienced deliverance from sin, he shall continue to be soulish— that is, powerless to overcome his natural life—if he fails to experience additionally the deep work of the cross wrought by the Holy Spirit.

A limited description of the life and work of soulish Christians has been given earlier. Careful study of the soulish reveals that the conduct and action of such ones stem principally from their emotion.

While the soul possesses three primary functions most soulish or carnal Christians belong to the emotional category. Their whole life appears to revolve largely around the impulses of emotion.

In human affairs it seems to occupy a greater area than mind and will: it apparently plays a bigger role in daily life than do the other parts of the soul. Hence nearly all the practices of the soulish originate with emotion.

The Function of Emotion

Our emotion emits joy, happiness, cheerfulness , excitement, elation, stimulation, despondency, sorrow, grief, melancholy, misery, moaning, dejection, confusion, anxiety, zeal, coldness, affection, aspiration, covetousness, compassion, kindness, preference, interest, expectation, pride, fear, remorse, hate, et al. The mind is the organ of our thinking and reasoning and the will, of our choices and decisions. Aside from our thought and intent and their related works, all other operations issue from emotion.

Our thousand and one diverse feelings manifest its function. Feeling comprises such a vast area of our existence that most carnal Christians belong to the emotional type. Man’s sensational life is most comprehensive, hence highly complicated; to help believers understand it, we can gather all its various expressions into the three groups of (1) affection, (2) desire, and (3) feeling.

These groups cover the three aspects of the function of emotion. Should a saint overcome all three, he is well on the way to entering upon a pure spiritual path. To be sure, man’s emotion is nothing but the manifold feelings he naturally has. He may be loving or hateful, joyful or sorrowful, excited or dejected, interested or uninterested, yet all are but the ways he feels. Should we take the trouble to observe ourselves we will easily perceive how changeful are our feelings.

 Few matters in the world are as changeable as emotion.

We can be one way one minute and feel quite opposite the next.

Emotion changes as feeling changes, and how rapidly the latter can change. He therefore who lives by emotion lives without principle. The emotion of man often displays a reactionary motion: a time of activity in one direction will sometimes produce an opposite reaction. For example, unspeakable sorrow usually follows upon hilarious joy, great depression after high excitement, deep withdrawal after burning fervor. Even  in the matter of love, it may commence as such but due to some emotional alteration it may end up with a hatred whose intensity far exceeds the earlier love'

Excerpt - The Spiritual Man - by Watchman Nee

Distracted Hearts

Mat_6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Mat_19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Where is your treasure? I've asked this before in other studies, but it bears asking again- constantly. Most people know their net worth- they know how much money they have, how much property they possess, what their assets are and they can tell you all about it. People generally know the things they possess and could list them. Here in the United States we are required to file income tax and that right there allows us yearly to know what we are worth in monetary terms.  If we know what treasures we possess here on earth, we know whether or not we've committed them all to heaven for God's use, or if we've selfishly left God out of that part of our life altogether choosing to keep our financial business and religious business separate.  If we keep them separate though- doesn't that mean our financial treasures/assets are all kept here on earth and not in heaven? We aren't to lay treasures up here on earth but we do so all the time, forgetting they can be stripped from us at any moment. 

Are we truly laying our treasures up in heaven?

*Excerpt-

'In both his walk and work, heavenly attraction should always be greater than earthly gravitation.

The child of God should learn to live for the Lord’s service, but even more so for the Lord’s receiving him.

 May our spirit be uplifted daily, looking for the return of the Lord. May the things of this world so lose their power over us that we do not in the slightest wish to be “worldly”; nay, we even delight in not remaining “in the world.”

May our spirit daily ascend… May we so seek the things above that not even the best work on earth can distract our hearts. May we henceforth pray in spirit and with understanding, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22.20) '  The Spiritual Man- By Watchman Nee

Things Above.

Special prayer.

Jesus had a special prayer- remember the following?

Luk 22:44  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 

Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him

*

 'Such prayer usually leads us to seek “the things that are above” (Col. 3.2), and this is one of the requisites for preservation.' The Spiritual Man- by Watchman Nee

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

During His special prayer Jesus' mind was on the most heavenly of things- His own death and the salvation it would bring to all humans.  When we pray to our Heavenly Father instantly our mind is on the truth of our Heavenly Father's existence.  The EXISTENCE of heaven, the EXISTENCE of our place in heaven.

If our AFFECTIONS are on things in heaven, we cannot lose our heavenly treasures.  If our AFFECTIONS are on earth we risk losing them.   Does this mean we cannot love others? No, not at all. We are supposed to love without end, love unconditionally, love deeply as our Savior loves. His heart breaks for those lost to Him-  He said this-

Luk_23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

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! 

We will love others, and our affection for them will be fierce but if we believe in our Savior and salvation then we know that the salvation of others is the most important of all the loving we could do.  Our affection for others must be based on their salvation through Jesus Christ.  Our affection for others must be one of the things that are above. Ultimately we long for our loved ones to know salvation as we know salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord and one day we will all be in our heavenly home.

More on this tomorrow by the grace, by the mercy of our LORD and SAVIOR now and forever!

Amen!

We Can't Understand.

'Nonetheless, under guidance of this kind the believer learns that the purpose of God for him is an alteration in his course. Previously everything was going forward; henceforth it is to ascend. It does not signify there is no more work; what it does mean is that that work can be concluded at any time. God continually has employed such circumstances as persecution, opposition, plunder, etc., to cause saints to comprehend that He wishes them to have the spirit of rapture rather than to make progress in the work on earth. '  Excerpt - The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee

Php 3:2  BEWARE of dogs, BEWARE of evil workers, BEWARE of the concision. 

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have NO CONFIDENCE in the flesh. 

Php 3:4  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 

Php 3:5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 

Php 3:6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 

Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 

Paul tells us plainly that having confidence in the things of the flesh is NOT gain for Christ. He gladly would count ALL the flesh attributes people would have him believe were important a LOSS. Give all prideful flesh things up knowing those things are NOT things of Christ. Paul had EVERYTHING a man could ever want! He was a pillar in his community! And yet in the eyes of Christ all that had to be given up. Paul had to be stripped of the prideful things of the flesh all of them.

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 

Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 

Php 3:16  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 

Php 3:17  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 

Php 3:18  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 

Php 3:19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 

Enemies of the cross of Christ-

Those whose God is their BELLY.

Those whose glory is in their SHAME.

Those who MIND EARTHLY THINGS.

Php 3:20  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 

Php 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. 

Is your conversation in HEAVEN?

Is your conversation where you look for YOUR SAVIOR- the LORD JESUS CHRIST?

It is all well and good for us to labor here on earth in the way we believe God has planned for us, having faith that as we live our lives we are doing God's will, but when things change drastically for us and not always in a very good way- perhaps we are being nudged down a different path. Perhaps it is a preparation for the future. Maybe we've been tossed into a burning vat of molten lava to refine our otherwise un-refine-able attributes. The pain so intense we barely imagine being able to survive it, our sanity rocked so much we live in fear of it slipping away completely, these things are refining fires of the fiercest magnitude. And we are allowed to endure so much in order to get us to look upwards away from ourselves and towards Jesus Christ our Lord, our SAVIOR.  We are being transformed here and now, and transformation isn't always easy.

 Pro_3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

We simply cannot understand.

We hate that, but we cannot understand.

Admitting that we can't understand has us admitting to the truth of living by FAITH.

Rom_1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

May we live through faith by the grace and mercy of our LORD and SAVIOR, now and FOREVER!

Amen.

Jesus did not sugar-coat Christianity.

Are you risen with Christ? Are you seeking those things which are above where Christ sits on the right hand of God? Are your affections on things above not on things on earth?

I need to ask myself these questions, and do so daily if not more often- especially lately. Where are my affections? When my heart is overwhelmed with sadness for things on earth isn't that where my heart is? I ask myself- doesn't God want my heart filled with love for others, and I know He does.  Maybe I need to believe He wants my heart filled with others for their ETERNAL lives, not just because they exist. What do I mean? Jesus loves us all, yet we know not all will be saved, this is a fact.

Mat_7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

That is Jesus speaking - telling people to depart from Him because they are workers of iniquity. There will be many who are NOT Jesus' when He returns all because they choose iniquity over His Love. Could it be that all the while they are believing they are doing God's will they are in truth doing their own will?

Getting back to what I was saying earlier, Jesus' entire ministry after His baptism was spent preaching the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. Everything He did, every miracle He performed was done to bring people closer to the kingdom of heaven and for no other reason. The eternal life of people is what concerned Jesus most. He did not say that He came to rid the world of heartache and pain right then and there. In fact He said stuff like this--

Joh_16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

And this--

Mar_14:7  For ye have the poor with you always…

And His Apostle said this--

2Co 11:23  … I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 

2Co 11:24  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 

2Co 11:25  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 

2Co 11:26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 

2Co 11:27  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 

2Co 11:28  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 

2Co 11:29  Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 

2Co 11:30  If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 

2Co 11:31  The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

And Jesus said this--

Joh 17:9  I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 

Joh 17:10  And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 

Joh 17:11  And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 

Joh 17:12  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 

Joh 17:13  And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 

Joh 17:14  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 

Joh 17:15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 

Joh 17:16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 

Joh 17:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 

Joh 17:19  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 

Joh 17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 

And this--

Mat 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 

Mat 10:17  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 

Mat 10:18  And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 

Mat 10:19  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 

Mat 10:20  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 

Mat 10:21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 

Mat 10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. 

Mat 10:24  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 

Jesus comprehended that NOT all would belong to Him by their own choosing, by their own will.  Jesus knew there would be A LOT of pain and heartache in this world, A LOT. He didn't sugar-coat Christianity. What He did was give us the HOPE and PEACE found only in HIM, a hope and peace we could find NO WHERE else!  We know this world will give us heartache after heartache in ways we probably can't even fully imagine. Yet if we are RISEN with CHRIST we need to SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE. We aren't seeking those things which are above when we aren't seeking the hope of eternal life for all we ever come in contact with.  Jesus wants our affections heavenward. And Jesus comprehended how hard that would be. He told a rich young ruler that he was very close to eternal life- but he had one thing left to do- give up all his worldly possessions.  The ruler went away SAD, why? Because he wasn't willing to give up the things of this world. Anyone who holds fast to the things of this earth and not Christ will go away sad.

Satan would use our affection for things of this earth to turn our hearts away from Christ. Christ will use any attempt on Satan's part to turn our hearts from Him to strengthen us in Him if we choose HIM and HIS will over our own will. 

May God keep our minds and hearts on HIM and on Christ and the things above not the things below! All through Jesus Christ our LORD and His sacrifice, may we be saved in Him, through Him, by Him and be His for eternity!

Col 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 

Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 

Col 3:5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 

Col 3:6  For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 

Col 3:7  In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 

Col 3:8  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 

Col 3:9  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 

Col 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 

Col 3:11  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 

Col 3:12  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 

Col 3:13  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 

Col 3:14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 

Col 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 

Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 

Col 3:17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. 

Are you a citizen of heaven?

Heaven is NOT temporary to eternity, heaven is eternity. So very few things are not TEMPORARY to eternity in this life. It is all too easy to attach ourselves to things temporary to eternity and Satan will exploit this in us at any given opportunity trying to crush our hope, our faith in our most loving, merciful, grace giving Savior.


A sojourner is a person who resides temporarily in a place. (Dict. Def.)


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


Heb 11:16  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 


Mat_6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal


Heavenward.


Excerpt- 'When a believer’s spirit is united to the Lord’s and they become one spirit, he commences to live in the world as a sojourner, experiencing the life of a heavenly citizen. '


Do we live like we are citizens of heaven?


You wouldn't expect someone in what we call 'an executive' position to act like a spoiled child, throwing tantrums, pouting, etc.  I know, some of you are saying the so-called executives often act like that and get away with it because of their position and you may be right. However, any executive of a business etc that acted that way all the time in meetings with others, at dinner parties, and such would find it very hard to keep their position (assuming they aren't the boss and have their own money to work with.) What about your average every day workers in malls, restaurants, grocery stores, doctor offices, etc, if you had to deal with a waiter that pouted and threw a fit when you placed your order would you expect that person to keep their job very long? No.  The point I'm so badly trying to make here is that we have expectations from people, and that's people in general and people in their work professions. If you told me you were a member of the clergy and then proceeded to haul off and hit me, clearly I would not believe you were a true member of a profession that isn't supposed to be of a violent nature.  As a citizen of heaven a person is supposed to be very clearly fighting in the spiritual warfare and as such, they may sin but they will be asking for forgiveness for that sin. If they sin against others they will go to them and ask forgiveness. If someone finds out you're a Christ follower and says- 'Wow, I never would have guessed.' You clearly have some rethinking to do about your actions in the presence of that person.


Are you merely a sojourner here on earth, a pilgrim who is searching for the heavenly home that awaits you, or are you planted firmly here on earth with all you truly love of earth?


How REAL is our heavenly home to us?


What treasures do you have in your heavenly home?


What valuables- things you care about and are of the greatest worth in the eyes of our Lord, do you have stored in your heavenly house?


Do you live in the RAPTURED SPIRIT?


Definition of rapture
1. 1:  an expression or manifestation of ecstasy or passion
2. 2a :  a state or experience of being carried away by overwhelming emotionb :  a mystical experience in which the spirit is exalted to a knowledge of divine things


From <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rapture>



Truly, if I handed you the keys to a million dollar house and told you that house was yours free and clear you'd most likely be ecstatic. You'd be overwhelmed by emotion. The feeling you'd have could probably be classified as rapturous. You have this expensive, brand new, amazing new home just the thought of such a thing has us imagining our reaction and it wouldn't be mundane. 


When we have the Holy Spirit, when our spirit is one with the Holy Spirit, one with our Savior, one with God the Father and the REALITY of our promised new heavenly home worth more than any earthly treasure no matter that amount- trillion, zillion whatever, is made real to us how can there be anything other than SPIRITUAL rapture? A Spiritual state of being that is truly otherworldly in experience.


A Spirit Rapture REALITY- set in FACT and not caught up in a soul-self emotional upheaval. Is this a real thing? Truly a real - reality?


'Living the life of a heavenly citizen.' 


We are heavenly citizens if we are Christ's, no wonder He told us to put our treasures there.


No wonder we are to 'think on these things' - Php_4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.


Heaven is true.
Heaven as our home to be is honest.
Heaven by description is lovely and of very good report.


Joh_14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh_14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.


A place prepared for us.  Just being told this glorious truth by our Savior should have our thoughts heavenward.

I need God's gift.

Is this excerpt true-

' Not all who accept the truth of the Second Coming possess this spirit of rapture. Men may believe in the Lord’s return, preach His Second Coming, and pray for His return and yet not have this spirit. Even mature ones do not necessarily possess it. The spirit of rapture is the gift of God. '

Remember this?

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

We've talked about this before, but I don't think we can talk about it enough really, seriously. I DON'T want to be among those who say those words! I DON'T want to be told to depart from my Savior!

I don't do many wonderful works, I don't cast out devils, I don't prophesize, at best I struggle to be Christ's.  Any Christian who isn't actively fighting the spiritual war should question their spirituality, right? We have examples in the Bible, examples of those who are persecuted over and over for their faith. We might not be in the same situation but that doesn't mean Satan isn't using his wiles on us in many other ways.  This---

Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

Mat 24:38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 

Mat 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

We eat, we drink, we are merry, and we are given in marriage…. We are for the most part kept from the severe persecution a lot of Christians today face in other countries. We live a bubble wrapped life and truly FEW will be saved from that bubble wrap existence, most will perish in when our Savior returns just as most perished in the flood.

I don't want to perish! I don't want to be among those rejected.

I need the gift of the Spirit through Jesus Christ my Lord!

More study on this tomorrow! All by His grace and mercy!

Forgive me.