Jesus Used Prophecy.

Joh 14:28  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 

Joh 14:29  And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 

Joh 14:30  Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 

Joh 14:31  But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. 

Jesus said-  'And now I have told you BEFORE it come to pass, that, WHEN it is come to pass, you might believe.'

Prophecy. Predicting the future with 100 percent accuracy. Just imagine, or lacking the ability to imagine on your own, think about numerous movies with prophets in them. They may be called by different names- psychics come to mind, most likely because recently there was a show on television I liked to watch and now it's taken a turn in an odd direction I don' t like. It's a show depicting New York City police men/woman and the premise is a family of police men/women or involved in the law in some capacity. There are three generations of police related family members and of course there is crime solving, police enforcing, laws giving etc. So why have they suddenly introduced a woman with the ability to see the future, to find people in trouble supernaturally, a woman that has visions and so on? I haven't a clue, but I don't like it, and do you want to know why I don't like it? Because the Bible forbids us from involving ourselves in psychic, astrology, soothsaying, witch craft and so on. The Bible forbids it NOT because it isn't real and can't be exploited, it is real and can be used but it is used of Satan.  If any of the above mentioned things are being used by Christ followers and you are reading this… I ask you to read your Bibles.  Can we have Biblical prophets, yes, but they are not of the world involved in the worldly aspect of prophecy.  Here- read this from the word of God-

Act 16:16  And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying

A servant girl was possessed with a divining spirit and the girl's masters used her because she possessed this so called gift of divining, of soothsaying- being able to predict the future. The girl's ability to do this- to predict the futures of people was accurate enough that people paid a lot of money to meet with her and get their futures told. People treated the girl's ability as a talent, and something good. We do the same thing today, don't we? There are psychic shops in my city advertising their services. A lot of people must support them because they haven't gone anywhere in the last twenty years or so. These people may have the ability, just like this girl did, but it's not of God.  God has this to say about soothsayers and the like…

Mic 5:12  And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers: 

Mic 5:13  Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands. 

Isa 8:19  And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? 

Isa 8:20  To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. 

Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 

Rev 22:15  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 

1Sa_15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 

Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 

Gal 5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

Act 8:9  But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 

Act 8:10  To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 

Act 8:11  And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 

Act 8:12  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 

Act 8:13  Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 

Act 8:14  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 

Act 8:15  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 

Act 8:16  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 

Act 8:17  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 

Act 8:18  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 

Act 8:19  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 

Act 8:20  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 

Act 8:21  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 

Act 8:22  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 

Act 8:23  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 

Act 8:24  Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. 

Wherever there is a good thing, Satan will do his best to counterfeit it with a similar thing that is corrupted by his evil. Yes, prophecy from God is a good thing. No, prophecy from Satan is not a good thing.

Jesus prophesized of His own death, among many other things. Jesus told us that He was telling us the future so when it happened we would believe.

May God protect us from ALL who are led by evil to predict the future to seduce us to believe in them and their ways. May we always and forever only take to God's word any predictions and only believe in truth. Let us NOT be deceived by any prophecy not of God, but so close to God that we are tempted to believe. Keep us from EVIL, please, God, keep us from all evil.

Help us to trust only in our SAVIOR'S TRUTH. May the Spirit of Truth live in us, protecting us.

All through Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Savior, now and forever!!!!!!!

Spiritual Peace, Not Worldly.

Joh 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

Joh 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 

Joh 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 

If…

If…

And one more time, if…

Such a tiny word with such big meaning. If implies an action based on a choice. The dictionary definition goes something like this- 'A conjunction used to indicate the circumstances that would have to exist in order for an event to happen.' (Encarta Dictionary)  The circumstance here that exists is LOVING Jesus, and the event to happen KEEPING His commandments. If we love, we keep. Jesus isn't mincing words here, He's not saying if we love Him we can choose to keep a couple of His commandments. He's stating plainly IF we claim to love Him, if we think even for a moment that we love Him, then we will CHOOSE to keep His commandments. So what happens when we don't keep His commandments? Is that proof of our not really loving Him? Or is it proof of our precarious position in the war against sin? The choice is to love, and out of love to keep the commandments. The awfulness that caused us to ever need to be saved prevents us from doing this perfectly, and yet, we must ever strive to keep and when we fail to, we have to seek forgiveness which means recognition of our wrong, and the saving grace that comes from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

IF we love Jesus, we will keep His commandments and when we keep His commandments HE will pray to the Father to give us a Comforter who will live with us forever. The Spirit of truth. This Spirit of truth, our Comforter cannot be known by the world, but only those who love Jesus. We will know because He will live with us, and in us.

Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 

Joh 14:19  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 

Joh 14:21  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 

Again, emphasized, if we keep the commandments of Jesus (summed up in loving God and loving others), we love Him. If we love Jesus, we are loved by the Father, and Jesus will manifest Himself to us. We will be given the Spirit of truth, the Comforter.

Joh 14:22  Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 

Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 

Spirit living. We choose to keep the words of Jesus revealing our choice to love Him, and He will spiritually fill us with Himself, with God the Father, with the Holy Spirit.

Joh 14:24  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 

Joh 14:25  These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 

Joh 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

Peace, Jesus' peace- NOT the peace the world can offer, but Jesus' peace is given to us, He leaves us with His peace and He tells us not to let our heart be troubled or afraid.

Is it any wonder we are told NOT to let our heart be trouble or afraid? The world we live in, the world anyone has lived in the past, this world ruled by the prince of darkness is a very fearful, troubling place to live. And the world does offer peace in many different ways, peace from the troubles of life. What do you do to get peace in your life? The constant unwinding at the end of the day, brought about by the constant winding during the day. The constant looking towards weekends where the hope of peace from weekday life is supposed to exist. The striving for vacation time each year so an entire week or so can be spent in the peace of not living a life of work strife. There are many ways people seek the peace of the world- through drink, food, flesh pleasures, entertainment all things to take our minds off the troubles and just forget about them for a while.

Jesus' peace isn't the peace of the worldly. Jesus' peace is found in the knowledge that loving Him and living for Him will EVENTFULLY result in an eternal peace, an everlasting peace. We find His peace now in faith of future forever peace. We lay claim to that hope, and the hope gives us a tiny taste of the peace to come. 

All around us will be chaos, we aren't taken out of the chaotic, sin filled, sin ruled world- but we are to be kept by the Father from the evil that would keep us from loving our God.

Our lives may be filled with a constant barrage of circumstances that encourage our fearful and troubled heart. One after another circumstances that bring us to our knees in tears, clawing our hearts to pieces so we can barely stand to exist, will assail us. We may wonder at our extreme worldly misfortune with things happening that we've done nothing to provoke. We can't comprehend how the awful things of life can occur to us who are striving to love God and love others. You've often heard it said that it's proof of God not loving or caring for us when we live with horrendous misfortunes throughout our lives. When tragedies occur some will use them to claim no loving God could exist who lets this happen, and yet others will say, these happen because sin is ruling the world, and people have turned their backs on God.

The rain falls on the just and the unjust the Bible tells us.

Trouble falls on the just and the unjust.

The peace of God, the peace only God can give to us climbs out over all the strife in life no matter how, what, where, when it exists and tells us it is ALL temporary, there is hope in a future beyond this current world's sin ruled state.

Joh 14:28  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 

Joh 14:29  And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 

Joh 14:30  Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 

Joh 14:31  But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. 

May we LOVE Jesus, may we keep His commandments, may we receive the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, may the Father God, Jesus, and the Comforter live in us keeping us in the spiritual peace only given by them. Please, Lord, we would love You and all that means! Live in us, let the Spirit of Truth guide all we do and fill us with YOUR peace, not the peace of the world.

Please.

Thank you!!!!!!!

All glory, praise, and honor unto You now and forever!!!!!!!

Rejoice Always- In the Lord.

Php 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 

Php 4:5  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 

Who doesn't want to rejoice? Seriously. Who doesn't like rejoicing? Rejoicing is by definition- being happy and making others happy. There is a commonly known song with the lyrics-  'Don't worry, be happy.'  We long for happiness and we enjoy it's arrival and mourn its departure which can happen in a split second. Being unhappy is very commonplace. There aren't too many people today who aren't familiar with depression, unhappiness, with joylessness. You can be content without being happy, yes? Very few people are happy all the time, and we often suspect those who seem to be happy all the time as being on drugs, or if not drugs then faking that happiness. Sometimes when we let ourselves believe a person can be happy by nature, and it's a true state of their being- we get envious wondering why we can't live in such a state.  We do worry, we aren't happy. Yet there isn't a commonly known song with a catchy tune telling us to … 'worry, be unhappy'.  Why isn't there such a song, because the goal in life isn't to be unhappy and filled with worry.  The IDEAL is to be happy and free of worry.

I do have to add though- there are some people who do enjoy- who are literally happy- being unhappy, though how are we to determine such a thing- those very people would be shocked to think we think that of them, shocked and hurt by us. We can't rightly accuse them of that and if we do, we risk offending them. Anyway, does it matter if they are that way - happy being unhappy? Happy being in a state of chaos? Happy in constant worry?  We are told to be that way aren't we?  I suppose the difference in being happy WHEN chaos happens, when worries come our way, is that we don't manufacture chaos and worries to be happy- we are happy in spite of those things appearing in our lives. Of course, maybe it's all a delusion we are under, and those people truly are just living a life of unhappiness through circumstances not of their own creation. 

Bottom line- no matter who we are, no matter what our situation, if we are followers of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior we are to--

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 

Worry about NOTHING. We are NOT to worry, not to get ourselves in a state of upset about anything.  How is that possible? It certainly isn't possible in my experience. I'm a known worrier, and my husband would tell you most of my worry is needless, senseless and incomprehensible to him. My husband is known as NOT being a worrier. I'd love to report that his not worrying was a result of his belief of God and his praying and supplication, but it's not.

So why is it I worry and He doesn't?  I'm going to go with genetics and upbringing to some degree, and hold true to that because we are all created and raised with differences that make us who we are. That non-worrying comes at a price for my husband, because it goes hand in hand with a lack of empathy, a lack of emotion. No, he is NOT emotionless, not by a long shot, but he is wired differently than a lot of people when it comes to emotions. I'm not going into details, but suffice it to say whether a person is overly emotional or under emotional both have their flaws and we truly do need moderation in all things of our lives through Christ Jesus.

I need to worry less and trust more. I need to put my joy in heavenly things, not earthly. I need to live for eternity not for the temporary. And I need to live for Christ in all I do. I need to thank him always and pray always.

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Truly I need the PEACE of God which PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, keeping my mind and heart through Christ Jesus.

And I need to remember always that it will PASS UNDERSTANDING. I can't seek to understand that peace, I just need to know it exists! I need to know that if my faith is put wholly in Jesus then I am offered that God sent peace.

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Don't worry.

In EVERYTHING.

Prayer.

Supplication.

Thanksgiving.

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. 

Php 4:9  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 

WHATEVER IS-

True.

Honest.

Just.

Pure.

Lovely.

Good Report.

Virtue.

Praise.

THINK ON THESE THINGS.

We are NOT to think on-

Lies.

Dishonesty.

Injustice.

Impure.

Ugly.

Bad Report.

Unvirtuous.

Unpraiseworthy.

When I say my thoughts are bad what springs to mind? That I'm not thinking of good things, right? I'm dwelling on things that I shouldn't be. Worrying is dwelling on things that aren't good. Is it any wonder we are to think on GOOD things?

Maybe we have to practice thinking good every time we find ourselves caught up in the bad thinking, in worrying.

By the grace and mercy of God may this be possible all through Him.

May we rejoice always.

Perfect Equals Complete.

We are to be perfect.  You heard me. Now, what definition of perfection are we talking about? Completeness.

You read that correctly. Completeness. We don't often think of being perfect as being complete, but rather being without flaws in many ways. When we are complete in Christ, or seek completeness in Christ we are striving for the perfection spoken of here in Philippians.

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. 

Here Paul is talking about pressing towards the mark…the goal, and why was he pressing towards the mark, because he wanted the prize. What prize was Paul seeking? The prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The prize of being of God in Christ Jesus! The glorious, wondrous, prize of all that it means to be called of God in Christ Jesus. And Paul goes on to say as many as be PERFECT…   and he was not talking about perfect looks, perfect without any flaws whatsoever, he was saying as many as be complete think this way- think of pressing towards the mark, think of attaining the prize and if we are thinking any other way, about any other prize GOD WILL REVEAL IT TO US.

God will reveal to us when we are no longer fixing our eyes on the prize but dwelling upon other things that will leave us far from being complete in Him. As long as we do NOT grieve the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will convict us upon every point when we are not on that narrow path. Every single detour we make that keeps us from the completeness we would have in Christ Jesus will be laden with signs. You know what I mean. Think of it this way. When there is road work being done around my neighborhood and I'm out for a drive intent on driving down a familiar road but I come to a sign that says detour, I turn off the familiar road and go down a less familiar one. On that road I will look for other detour signs because once you take a detour you want directions to lead you back to the familiar route you know will get you to your destination. When we are intent on following our Savior, seeking to find the completeness that can ONLY be found in Him, we need to keep HIM in our minds always. When our minds turn inward towards selfish, self-serving, self-focused pursuits we have taken one of a million detours Satan has put on our path to distract us. Satan would have us believe that the detour is the better route, the safest route because the route we are on is a treacherous one. Satan lies.  Satan will never guide us back to Christ Jesus, never.  The Holy Spirit will reveal to us that the detours we go on are in fact leading us in the wrong direction (WRONG WAY SIGNS) and THEN He will guide us towards the route God would have us take as we daily live pressing on towards that mark.

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. 

God will reveal to us if we are not His- IF we are truly seeking to be complete in Him and then He will lead us the right way.

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. 

We have examples of how we are to live. We have examples of what our lives should be like. We have to follow those examples. We have to study the lives of those who have gone before us. God has not left us clueless. Often it might seem that way. The thought that when the Apostles and disciples as well as the earliest of Christ followers taught by them were upon the earth their lives were so much simpler, is something that can put a huge speed bump in a Christ follower's walk today.  The technology, the modern ways of life, everything is so much different than way back a couple thousand years ago. Our temptations are so much harder to resist- Paul didn't have the temptation of ungodly entertainment- or did he? He did, but NOT in the many forms we have it in. Bottom line- the path to destruction has existed from the moment sin entered the world. Our examples from two thousand years ago gave us the basic guide by ultimately summing the matter up for us in telling us that God needs to be FIRST in our lives, and loving others with the compassion of God needs to be NEXT.  So that leaves us with the forever realization no matter how many years pass- that anything else will lead us away from Christ Jesus, not towards Him.  Simple, really, no matter the new forms of old temptations.

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.) 

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.

Today the enemies of the cross of Christ are all those whose God is their belly. They are RULED by their base passions.  We are all inclined to indulge our appetite in order to live, but when our appetite becomes what we live for it is abused. So if your God is your belly- you are living for your belly- for yourself. If you glory in living for yourself you are glorying in the things of earth, not of heaven. 

We need to have our CONVERSATIONS heaven focused, our Savior- the Lord Jesus Christ resides in heaven as our Advocate. It is our Lord who will change our vileness so we are like Him. We cannot change ourselves, but we must seek forever the One who can change us.

May we press on towards the mark always heeding the Holy Spirit should we tend to detour off the mark. May we find completeness in the only place we truly can, Christ Jesus. May we live our lives for God and as a result of living for Him, live for others. May we live focused heavenward where our Savior resides, knowing all the vileness that makes us up now will be changed by Him into something glorious as He is glorious- our completeness in Him.

All through the love, grace, and mercy of our Lord and Savior. May His will be done in us always as it is heaven. May He be our righteousness, our hope, our glory. All honor and praise, all thanksgiving unto HIM, now and forever!!!!!!!

Amen.

Put Off the Old, Put On the New - Actively Christ Followers.

This tiny blurb from yesterday-

'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. 

IF we are risen with Christ we have to SEEK things from above where Christ is with God.  We are not left to wonder at what things are above, what things we are to seek FROM above, we are told…'

I want to back track just a little bit to this part… 'If ye then be risen with Christ'

To be risen with Christ can mean only one thing, we had to die with Christ.

To die with Christ doesn't mean that our spiritual (old man) death is one of peace and calm, a mere metaphor, an idea of death with no substance at all. The death we experience is one of crucifixion. The painful, agonizing way to die that is not quick or easy in any fashion. We are told the following-

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

Crucified with Christ.

Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

Gal 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 

Rom 6:2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 

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.

One thing is perfectly clear- our crucifixion with Christ is a real death to the OLD spiritual man in us, not some figure of speech. If we believe we remain the same spiritually and live our lives as if being crucified with Christ and His living in us through faith means no changes in our lives at all, business as usual- then we are DECEIVED.

The Christ follower's walk will be one of SELF denial. If you're looking for a life of ease, you won't find it here. And before you jump all over me saying it easy in Christ, it's peaceful, it's amazing… I say you're delusional, or just haven't truly had to die to your selfish tendencies. Then again, I could be wrong. Perhaps you are naturally unselfish, I see (figuratively hear and/or read about) unselfish people by the droves in various online groups I belong to. Maybe my struggle is so intense because I am intensely selfish.  All I have to speak from is my experience, I can’t rightly use yours, or anyone else's.

James also counted it all JOY when he went through hardships.

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 

Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 

Joy. I've experience things I'd considered joyful and battling my spiritual demons in the form of many and varied temptations has yet to feel joyful. Usually I'm immersed in self-loathing as temptations come hurling at me left and right and my selfishness is revealed to me over and over again. My committing of the very things we are told not to do- my murmurings, my backbiting, my unthankfulness…I could go on, all of these temptations I war with fill me with despair - or at least they open wide the door to despair and urge me to walk inside.  Is it any wonder James tells us to count it joy? If we give in to the despair urged upon us due to our manifold temptations and subsequent committing of unseemly acts we are told not to commit, then Satan has captured a hold of us blocking out the light of truth in the Savior. No, that light isn't that we should accept our many (in my case) failings to behave in the way we are told to, it is the hope offered to us through the forgiveness of our Savior and the knowledge He has begun a good work in us and He will see that good work through to the end.

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

Yes, we are crucified with Christ, we put on a new man, we walk in a newness of life after our crucifixion with Christ, and are told all about how we should walk, what sort of life we should seek. We are to expect hardships, be ready to die daily, as we pick up our cross every day. We will endure manifold temptations, we will be well armored for the daily war.  We will know that even after our crucifixion with Christ, we do still live for it is an old self, spiritual crucifixion. Yet, it WON'T be us living but CHRIST living in us. And how does Christ live in us- '…by faith in the Son of God who loves me (us) and gave Himself for me (us).

Only with Christ in me -  Php_2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.  -  can I have HOPE.

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. 

I am to-- mortify myself, all the evil tendencies within me I am to kill, not encourage, not to excuse, not to accept.

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. 

I am to put away all these awful things that want to live in me, these very real urgings towards sinful, self-serving acts. These things will fight for the mastery over me, but I am told not to let them. And in not letting them I have to be aware they are not welcomed parts of myself I should coddle and overlook. These naturally sinful parts of my life are NOT to be said to be okay. My warring is with these, and the fight is against them, may I ever loath the things I am told to put off, the things I am told to mortify in myself- never accepting them simply because they rear their ugly heads daily tempting me, taunting me, ridiculing my desire to have Christ live in me.

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

A new person! I put on a new person after I put off the old person. I put off that old person when I make and continue to make the choice to be crucified with Christ, and live still but not me living- Christ living in me! When I take up my daily cross and all that means- I am choosing to live by faith through the love of my Savior who gave Himself for me- so I could live.

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. 

Christ is all and in all.

I must PUT on- actively seeking, actively putting on mercy, kindness, humbleness, meekness, long, forbearance, forgiveness… love.

And in doing so I must LET the peace of God rule in my heart, being thankful.

I can't sit back and accept my sinful self- I must THROUGH CHRIST, EVER THROUGH CHRIST- be active in pursuing all the Christ qualities I am told to pursue.  Should I notice my lack of kindness, I need to seek forgiveness and be kind- not simply accept I am unkind and will always be unkind. Left to my own devices it would be that way, but I'm not left to my own devices if Christ is living in me, and I want Christ to live in me- He's my hope!

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. 

The word of Christ must DWELL IN ME RICHLY!

As a result of the word of Christ dwelling in me richly in all wisdom- I have to teach and admonish in songs, in words, in deeds- knowing the GRACE in my heart is from the LORD and all my actions should be done in love to the Lord.

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. 

Thank you God. Thank you Father, thank you Lord, Thank you Holy Spirit, now and always…thank you!  May all I do be done in the name of Lord Jesus.

Heavenward Affections.

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. 

SEEK.

What does that word mean to you?

I'll tell you what it means in the dictionary-

1: to resort to : go to

2a: to go in search of : look for

b: to try to discover

3: to ask for : REQUEST seeks advice

4: to try to acquire or gain : aim at seek fame

5: to make an attempt : TRY —used with to and an infinitive governments … seek to keep the bulk of their people contented— D. M. Potter

intransitive verb

1: to make a search or inquiry

2a: to be sought

b: to be lacking in critical judgment … they were sadly to seek— The Times Literary Supplement (London)

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

The word seek is a verb-

Verbs are words that show an action (sing), occurrence (develop), or state of being (exist).

From <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verb#note-1>

When we are told to SEEK- we are told to be ACTIVE.

If I told you to seek a donut. You'd go find a donut. If I told you to seek inner peace, you'd take steps to calm yourself. If I told you to seek anything at all it's because I want you to FIND what I'm telling you to seek. 

The old classic kid game- Hide and Seek.  Where is the fun if there is hiding without being looked for? If no one were to seek for you and you are hiding there is no game, just you hiding without being found.

Perhaps I'm stating the very obvious to everyone, I most likely am, but the point I think I'm trying to make is we have to be active in the change from old life to new life in Christ.

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. 

IF we are risen with Christ we have to SEEK things from above where Christ is with God.  We are not left to wonder at what things are above, what things we are to seek FROM above, we are told…

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

Where are our affections to be set?  You know, where are the things you are to like? Where is your heart to be focused?  All too often we focus all our affection right here on earth and on earthly things. We try to surround ourselves with the things we like, don't we? We look forward to the things all around us- tangible things. Our heart falls in love with other people, with animals, with ideas, with various hobbies and past times.  Yet, we are told to set our affection on things above, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH.

We are TOLD! But do we listen?

More on this tomorrow by the Grace and Will of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!

Don't Excuse Yourself From Knowing the Evil You Indulge In.

How incredibly easy it is to make no effort to change. How wonderful to believe no effort has to be enacted. How simply glorious to twist the word of the Lord so that we believe we do not have to be other than we are. (Extreme sarcasm intended) Satan would have us despair of ever being different from our evil selves, and barring that- Satan would have us believe we do not have to be different. With either belief Satan captures us and lures us down that broad road painted by the best illusionist artist in existence. The broad road all covered in deceiving art to look like the very narrow road we are admonished to walk.

Accept Christ and you are changed…

Changed for a few minutes, a few hours, a few days, maybe a few months, and possibly a couple of years or how about not at all?  Or changed for a lifetime- over a lifetime.

How many would be Christ followers lack the comprehension that the change made in us is one that begins with acceptance of Christ and from there on in it is a constant change ever in motion, never completed until our Savior returns?

The change being made in us is being wrought in a very hostile environment dead set against keeping us from that real heart change Christ alone can make in us. The hostile world we live in will do all in its power to keep us living in malice. We will be provided with ample excuses for our malicious behaviors. We will be given every right to be filled with malice. We will be told, and tell ourselves, that it is our nature and therefore impossible to keep from being evil. We will be convinced that our intentions supersede our actions and because we didn't mean to be vile somehow it's okay. The power of self-deception will be built up in us until it's all but impossible to tell ourselves any truth. I'd call all that hostile to being the new man we are told to be. I'd call it extremely hostile to accepting the daily task of cross carrying, of Spirit living, of using intentional effort to cease evil and force good in ourselves.

What?!  Force good?!  If it's forced can it be from God?  YES. We are doing the forcing, not God!

It takes little to no effort at all to be evil, it comes so naturally just rolling right off our tongues from our naturally sin-filled minds. How many people have to force themselves to be evil? And by evil, I'm NOT just talking about the 'high crimes' of humanity. I'm talking tiny evils too. You know, that little bitty evil in one quick thought indulging in the prideful act of selfishness- self-pity, self-adoration, self-loathing (make no mistake self-loathing can so quickly turn into self-pity we hardly notice it happening). Tiny evils that love to play dress up in good clothes wearing disguises so they are accepted as good. Sometimes the smallest evils in existence wear the most deceptive cloaks.

Forcing ourselves to be evil isn't too big of an issue. It's the forcing ourselves to be good that causes us trouble.

Making ourselves strip off the disguises we put on, to lay bare all the evils within us, this is the lifetime changing, this is the long game we are called to play- the race we begin and keep running until we can run right into our Savior's arms.

Wake up! Put on your Spiritual armor provided by the Holy Spirit daily and determined to choose to live for Christ and to take these words and so many more and put them in our hearts where they belong.

Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 

Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 

PUT away all evil, pray to recognize any evil that needs to be put away.  Whenever we are NOT kind to someone even in the tiniest way, or the largest way and we think they deserve our unkindness justly so- KNOW it is evil within us to be unkind- seek forgiveness!  Whenever our heart is no longer tender but hardened in anyway, again by things we tell ourselves should keep us from being tenderhearted, KNOW it is evil not to be tenderhearted, DON'T EXCUSE yourself from KNOWING the evil you indulge in. To excuse ourselves is to cover it up and offer it a breeding ground for future evil. Whenever we do NOT forgive someone for ANYTHING - we aren't told to set boundaries on our forgiveness- KNOW it is evil in us to keep from forgiving.

God…FOR Christ's sake… FORGIVES us- and we know, we truly know we in no way DESERVE forgiveness-  yet it is offered to us unconditionally upon our acceptance of it.

Please, Lord, we would be Yours!  We believe, help our unbelief! We want You so badly in our lives, to be yours now and forever!