Help us look for the eternal.

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 

2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

Eternal things.

Looking at things which are NOT seen.

Joh_17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

We do not SEE our Savior.

We must believe through the WORD given to the Bible writers by the Holy Spirit.

Eternal things.

It's so hard to focus on eternal things living in a material world. However, even those who live in places stripped of most material comforts we place high value upon, can concentrate on things seen and not things unseen.

How do we concentrate on what we can't see? Seriously. It's so much easier to focus on things we can see, touch, experience. Yet, we have to look for things NOT seen. We have to LOOK for the ETERNAL.

Please Lord, help us look for the eternal!

  

Focus Off the Chaos.

We've been studying a bit about acknowledging our greatest adversary, not only acknowledging him but recognizing his devices, comprehending his fierce drive to see us fail as Christ followers.

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

The serpent beguiled Eve. The serpent is -

Rev_12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

The Devil….Satan…the Serpent.

As the Devil beguiled Eve we too are in danger of having our minds corrupted, and corrupted from the SIMPLICITY that is in Christ.

2Co 1:12  For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

Rom 12:8  …he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity…

Simplicity - sometimes we complicate things up so much so we forget the simplest of truths. Satan was able to deceive Eve with his subtle ways.  Satan doesn't always use forthright evil to deceive, he is so incredibly subtle that he sneak in and seduces minds and hearts from the simple truth of salvation.

Satan brings up our lives and all the complications involved in them. He eats away at our resolve to have faith. He takes our knowledge of our heavenly home and grinds it down so much that our minds are corrupted by our life here and now. We stop living for Jesus and live for ourselves. We stop living for our heavenly home and live for our earthly homes. We have so many trials, so many tribulations one right after the other and they wear us down because we live for now. The simplicity that is in Christ is salvation and salvation is not found here in our life but with Christ in heaven. We are NOT going to find peace here and now in our tumultuous lives, NOT unless we take our focus off the chaos.

Please, Lord, help us not be corrupted by Satan by losing the simplicity found in You!  All through You, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever! 

Lion.

A lion is roaring loudly- what do you think?  Seriously, you are living in an area that lions roam free and aren't caged. You hear a lion roaring, what do you think? First you'll wonder how close it is to you. You certainly wouldn't want it to be close would you? The closer the lion the more danger you are in. Keeping your distance from the lion is your best course of action. Some might say a roaring lion isn't one that is hunting you because lions will be quiet as they hunt their prey. However, having a lion roaring once it's trapped its prey isn't unusual either. A wounded, trapped prey isn't going anywhere at all.

Where am I going with all this? How vigilant would you be if you were around lions and knew the lions were hunting after you? Certainly you wouldn't be lax. You wouldn't go outside sunning yourself without a care in the world. You would take precautions to protect yourself, to keep yourself from being attacked, from being killed. 

So why aren’t we vigilant against our greatest adversary who is most certainly around us? Why aren't we resisting our adversary? The devil is REAL. The devil desires to devour us. Unlike an actual lion ripping into our flesh, the devil rips into our spirit and he uses any and all things he can to do so. His weapons aren't teeth, they are the sins we are so easily beset by. His claws are made up of our temptations and not just temptations to sin in blatant ways but even the temptation to give in to despair.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 

1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Resist in the FAITH.

Remember the other day-  2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 

Not being ignorant of Satan's devices, resisting the Devil… why are we told these things if they aren't truth?

We must resist in the FAITH.

More on this tomorrow by the GRACE and WILL of our SAVIOR, our LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Now and forever!

Not ignorant of Satan's devices.

2Co 2:9  For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 

2Co 2:10  To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 

2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 

Not ignorant of Satan's devices.

We can't afford to be ignorant of Satan and His devices, we really can't. He surrounds us, he invades us, he taunts us, he tortures us, he uses us. If we don't believe he is in our lives then we are deceiving ourselves. He was in Jesus' life. Jesus was constantly rebuking Satan and Satan's demons from people trapped by him. Jesus had a one on one with Satan in the wilderness and defeated him by using the Word of God. We have to be able to say that we are NOT ignorant of Satan's devices.

May Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior keep us safe in His love, forgiving us our many sins, protecting us from the evil of Satan who would sift us all as wheat! 

*******

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 

2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

1Ch 21:1  And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. 

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 

Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren

Joh 13:2  And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him

1Co 7:5  Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. 

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. 

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 

1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 

He made the heaven, the earth and the sea.

Worship HIM that made heaven, earth, sea, and fountains of waters.

Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 

Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 

Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Heaven, Earth, Sea.

Psa 146:6  Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever

Amo_9:6  It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.

Act_4:24  And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is

Act_14:15  And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein

Rev_5:13  And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Rev_10:6  And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer

Rev_21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea

Heaven, Earth, Sea.

The God of all. Truly the God of all.

Do we fear God, do we give the glory to God we need to give Him? How is our reverence towards God?

Encyclopedias - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Reverence

REVERENCE

rev'-er-ens:

In the Old Testament, "reverence" occurs as the translation of two Hebrew words, yare' and shachah. The root idea of the former is "fear." It is used to express the attitude toward God Himself, as in Psalms 89:7 the King James Version; or toward His sanctuary, as in Leviticus 19:30; 26:2. So the group of ideas there would be "fear," "awe," "reverence." The root idea of the second is "falling down," as prostration of the body. It is used to express the bearing toward another who is considered superior, as in 2 Samuel 9:6 the King James Version; 1 Kings 1:31 the King James Version; Esther 3:2,5. The group of ideas here, therefore, is "honor," "obeisance," "reverence."

In the New Testament "reverence" occurs as the translation of three Greek words, aidos, phobeomai, and entrepomai. In the first, the idea is "modesty" (Hebrews 12:28; compare 1 Timothy 2:9). In the second, "fear" (Ephesians 5:33 the King James Version), though here it is used to set forth the attitude of proper subjection on the part of a wife toward her husband (compare 1 Peter 3:2,5). In the third, the idea is that of the "self-valuation of inferiority," and so sets forth an attitude toward another of doing him honor (Matthew 21:37; Mark 12:6; Luke 20:13; Hebrews 12:9).

From <http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/reverence/>

 H

Words.

Words we speak reveal our heart- the passion, the love, the truth within us. Yet, how often do we regret the things we say even as we boast it is hurtful, hateful TRUTH we speak. Like somehow the horrors we induce with our mouths are justified by the truth of the words spoken. Can we justify our using truth to hurt someone intentionally? The more we spread around the bitterness of what is true causing heart hurt, the more we cling to it being truth just so we have the right to speak, to justify ourselves.

Our tongues truly are evil members of our bodies, and they are connected to the brain that obviously controls them and that brain allows the tongue to speak not only truth but lies as well. So often we use our communication to HURT others. We write words now more than ever through texting and instant messaging and such and those word may not be spoken but in truth they are being heard as being spoken. When I write something it is as if I've spoken. No sound has come from my mouth, my tongue was NOT engaged in any speaking activity yet I have spoken in my written word.

How awesome would it be if we never spoke to hurt anyone- with truth or lies. How incredible it would be if we never wrote a single thing to induce emotional, mental pain upon another.

We offend in word so much, perhaps vows of silence aren't such a bad thing as long as they include the written unheard word as well.

Go a whole day without speaking, without communication- most people can't for many, many reason and most of those are legitimate reasons beyond a mere inconvenience. You really can't have children and not communicate with them in some form, right? Oh, you could, but you shouldn't- children wouldn't comprehend, young children wouldn't understand what was going on if you stopped communicating with them.  But just think about not communicating with others that we interact with on a daily basis, can we hurt with our silence?  It's possible.

Speaking before we think is commonplace. Measuring the words we say is rare. We are wounded by words and we want to wound in return.  Such awful wars are fought strictly with words. I believe more words are responsible for fighting than actual physical assault. So many battles are fought with our words, sometimes we wage daily skirmishes with our mouths, with our fingers typing, tapping out vicious barbs that cut each other to pieces. If we could but bear witness to the injuries our words cause what exactly would we see. Bloody shredded flesh stripped from bones by such awful words. We cause the wounds and we receive wounds in the battle of our words. When was the last time you received a severe verbal slashing? How many people walk around bloodied on a daily basis, their wounds never given a chance to fully heal because they live under such abusive conditions? How many of us sport deep, gaping, organ exposing wounds from a single sentence meant to gut us? The power of words are invisible but often the fallout from them is not. You see the pained expressions, you witness the tear stained cheeks, and you know words caused that grief. We know about bullying with words and how it even leads to real death because some would rather no longer exist than continue on with the constantly torture words have inflicted upon them.

Words we read never meant to torture us can do so as well, and in turn sometimes as we are tortured by words we like to return the favor and use words to torture others.

I don't know a single person who isn't guilty of word wounding, even the so-called unintended word wounding where you speak something someone isn't supposed to hear but they do anyway. Just because you didn't mean for someone to hear your cutting words, doesn't make them any less destructive.

May God help us as we comprehend the power of our words spoken and written. Please, Lord, keep the door to our lips and keep us from using the written word to hurt others in any way. May we be YOURS, wholly Yours! Thank you for Your mercy, Your grace, Your amazing Love! All in You!

Jas 3:1  My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 

Jas 3:2  For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 

Jas 3:3  Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 

Jas 3:4  Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 

Jas 3:5  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 

Jas 3:6  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 

Jas 3:7  For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 

Jas 3:8  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 

Jas 3:9  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 

Jas 3:10  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 

Jas 3:11  Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 

Jas 3:12  Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. 

1Pe_3:10  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile

Psa 34:12  What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? 

Psa 34:13  Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 

Psa 34:14  Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. 

Psa 34:15  The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 

Psa 34:16  The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 

Jas 1:26  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 

1Pe 2:1  Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings

1Pe 2:22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth

Joh 1:47  Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 

Rev 14:5  And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. 

Good to All Mankind.

There is a whole lot of rendering evil for evil today isn't there?

Seriously, rendering evil for evil has become acceptable on so many levels. We feel justified getting retribution when we are wronged. We go to great lengths to give evil for the evil we receive. We don't believe we should ever have to just sit back and take any abuse in any form whatsoever. We cry out as loud as we can on social media outlets about the injustices flooding our world. We let people know how angry we are about the unfair practices in our world. We hold our opinions so high we can't imagine changing that opinion, adopting another's opinion because ours is just so incredibly right. Evil for evil. You hurt me then I hurt you. You hurt those we love, we hurt you. You hurt society, we hurt you. You hurt the earth, we hurt you. I'm not talking about hurting in a strictly physical fashion, we can hurt others in many ways. Holding on tight to the injustice surrounding us we spend countless time bemoaning the injustice.

We are to follow that which is good … to ALL men. No discriminating, no separating men into categories of deserving and undeserving of our good will towards them. As soon as we start choosing WHO deserves our compassion, WHO deserves our respect, WHO deserves our good will we are putting up a wall of self-righteousness, a wall that will separate and divide in a way God never intended. Having good will towards all does not mean compromising a personal faith, it means in all things you are revealing the love of God and not the love of self and all its ideas of right and wrong.  You can love someone and despise the things they do.  God loves us but despises the sins we choose to commit.  God's love will not even end towards unrepentant sinners because His compassion is to blot them out of existence- NOT cause them to suffer endlessly proves He truly wants good for ALL mankind.

1Th 5:15  See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 

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

Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 

Mat 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 

Rom 12:17  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 

Rom 12:18  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 

Rom 12:19  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 

Rom 12:20  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 

Rom 12:21  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. 

1Pe 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 

1Pe 2:22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 

1Pe 2:23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 

1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 

1Pe 2:25  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 

1Pe 3:8  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 

1Pe 3:9  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 

By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior may He live in us, creating a clean heart within us and renewing a right spirit within so that we may truly allow Him to do His will through us- not rendering evil for evil, but good to all men.