A Day Without Toil.

 We are told by GOD to REMEMBER and to KEEP the SABBATH HOLY.

Exo 20:8  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 

We are told by GOD SIX DAYS WE WOULD LABOR. 

We are told SIX DAYS WE WOULD DO ALL OUR WORK.

Exo 20:9  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work

We are told by GOD the SEVENTH DAY IS THE SABBATH OF THE LORD THY GOD.

We are told by God we SHALT NOT do ANY work. Not just us- but our family. Not just our families- but our servants. Not just our families and servants but our animals. Not just our families, our servants, our animals but any strangers among us.

Exo 20:10  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gate

We are told by GOD that in SIX DAYS the LORD MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH, THE SEA AND ALL THAT IN THEM IS.

We are told by GOD, HE RESTED THE SEVENTH DAY.

We are told by GOD, HE BLESSED THE SABBATH DAY.

We are told by GOD, HE HALLOWED THE SABBATH DAY.

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. 

We are told by GOD to REMEMBER. Each and every single seventh day of the week, from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, we are to REMEMBER. 

REMEMBER God cries out from HIS word! Remember! There written in stone by HIS finger- REMEMBER.

He didn't tell us to remember any other commandment of the ten, JUST that fourth commandment. When we REST and KEEP the DAY HOLY- we are automatically keeping EVERY other commandment without fail. If you were to break a single one of the other Ten Commandments on the Sabbath you would break the Sabbath commandment too. You cannot keep the Sabbath holy if you break any commandment, you just can't. 

We were never supposed to forget any of the royal law, the Ten Commandments were written in stone by God's finger and then later etched out of stone by Moses. These law were placed in an ark to be known as - the Ark of the Covenant. That covenant was between GOD and man. Jesus did NOT do away with the Commandments He wrote. Yes, I said He wrote. 

1Co 10:1  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 

1Co 10:2  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 

1Co 10:3  And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 

1Co 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 

Christ was there in the wilderness with the children of Israel. God - the SPIRITUAL ROCK followed them.

Why would our Lord and Savior follow the children of Israel in the desert wilderness for forty years if He were not in complete and utter agreement with the royal law? He didn't come to change the royal law, but rather the ceremonial law, which His own death prefigured. The royal law was not to be touched- not a single dot of an i or a cross of a t. 

Mat 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 

Mat 5:18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 

Mat 5:19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 

Until HEAVEN and EARTH pass away… not a single bit of the royal law would pass- NOT until ALL be fulfilled.  Is heaven still in existence? Yes. Is earth still in existence? Yes. Jesus came and KEPT (FULFILLED) the law and we too must keep the law He kept, and we will have to until heaven and earth are gone. Don't you get it? God is love and those who love God will keep His commandments. Why do people insist Christ did away with the Ten Commandments, and those who say He didn't do away with them often insist that He changed them? Why? He said PLAINLY for all to read that wasn't going to happen- not a single dot on an I would be changed! They insist He changed the Sabbath simply because He rose on the First day of the week, but He did not change it! He gave us the example He wanted us to keep which would point to His death and resurrection and it wasn't changing the day that was made Holy and Blessed at creation, and given to His people in the Royal Law. Man did that, man changed the day of worship, NOT GOD. Man has made God's word null and void with their traditions. Jesus said this would happen. Jesus warned us. Yet, so many just do NOT care at all whatsoever! But Jesus told us…

Joh_14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Jesus summed up the royal law- loving God and loving our fellow man. Right there in the royal law the first four commandments are completely about loving God and the last six are all about loving our fellow man.

You can't say not a single cross of a t would be changed in the law and then go and change it as you please, you just can't!

God made the Sabbath holy and told us to keep it that way. He even told us how we should keep it that way- by doing NO labor, by earning not a single cent through that labor. He didn't tell us to stop helping and loving each other on that day. He didn't tell us to lay in bed all that day. He didn't tell us to make the Sabbath impossible to keep Holy then tell people to do so. We keep it holy by doing no work on that day. 

A book I'm reading- not of my faith (Christian) but from a Jewish author has a lot to say about the Sabbath. I don't agree at all with him that WE make the Sabbath holy- God did that. I do agree that we must keep the holiness God made the Sabbath and in doing so, God alone allows us to be holy through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 

1Pe_1:16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

I am finding the book to hold a lot of insight though and so I will keep reading it and pray for the protection of the Holy Spirit to keep me safe in Him as I do so. May I take whatever truth I can from this work and be protected from believing any lies, misconceptions, misunderstandings and so on. 

THE SABBATH  By Abraham Joshua Heschel

'He who wants to enter the holiness of the day must first lay down the profanity of clattering commerce, of being yoked to toil.'

I'm going to remark upon this because I find it fascinating. 

The Holy Sabbath which is on the seventh day of the week is just that- holy and if we want to KEEP the Sabbath holy we have to do NO work as mentioned earlier. Abraham Heschel hit the nail on the head-  if we want to keep the Sabbath holy- to enter into the holiness of this day, we have to set aside anything that has to do with our weekly laboring for income, AND the fact that we are attached to the toil we do all week long. Toil, so much encompasses that word. We have to be willing to SET aside all that we can that would keep us from the unique holiness of this seventh day, something no other day of the week has. We have to love others on the Sabbath, and realize that the yoke isn't the Sabbath putting us in bondage, but the yoke is the work and self-serving we toil away at all the time. 

Enough for now, as God leads  will be writing more on all of this later.

All though the love of the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior now and forever!

Amen!!!!!!!

Time Palace.

 

Holy Spirit-

 Reviewing the study on the Holy Spirit - Another Comforter. 

(WWN) A Biblical Scholar's Work (Not mine)

ANOTHER COMFORTER  

(Part One)

The designation of the Spirit of truth as "Another Comforter" reveals as no other name could, His relationship with Deity, and His work and ministry in the Plan of Redemption. 

But much study must precede the significance of this name since this designation was NOT given the Holy Spirit till one of the last books of the New Testament was written.

In reviewing the Seminar studies presented on the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit at the Adventist Laymen's Annual Fellowship, the reader needs to clearly understand the preparation behind the presentation. We adopted the approach of William Miller as he began his study of the Bible. Sylvester Bliss in his Memoirs of William Miller quotes Miller's own explanation of how he began his investigation of the Scriptures. Miller stated:

'I determined to LAY ASIDE ALL MY PRESUPPOSITIONS, to thoroughly compare Scripture with Scripture, and to pursue its study in a regular and methodical manner. I commenced with Genesis, and read verse by verse, proceeding no faster than the meaning of the several passages should be so unfolded as to leave me free from embarrassment respecting any mysticisms or contradictions. Whenever I found anything obscure, my practice was to compare it with all collateral passages; and, by the help of Cruden, I examined all the texts of Scripture in which were found any of the prominent words contained in any obscure portion. Then, by letting every word have its proper bearing on the subject of the text, if my view of it harmonized with every collateral passage in the Bible, it ceased to be a difficulty. In this way I pursued the study of the Bible, in my first perusal of it, for about two years, and was fully satisfied that it is its own interpreter. (p. 69)'

((This is truly how we need to study God's word, with such amazing sincerity and a desire to know truth.))

After having read every text in the New Testament where the word, "spirit" or "Holy Spirit" is found, we determined that "spirit" is applied to different beings and forces at work in the world, and within man.

Angels are designated as "ministering spirits." (Heb. 1:14)

Demons are noted as "unclean spirits." (Rev. 16:13-14)

A deep human emotion is based in what is termed, "spirit." (Mark 8:12)

The perception of one's presence, though the person is not present, is noted as being present in "spirit." (I Cor. 5:4)

This study was approached with one VITAL presupposition: 

- The "form of God" in which Jesus existed prior to Bethlehem was SPIRIT for God is Spirit. (John 4:24) This SPIRIT exceeds that of angels for they are only "ministering spirits." (Heb. 1:14) This SPIRIT is immortal, eternal, and indestructible.

((I want to interject (obviously)- Jesus EXISTED not as flesh and blood prior to Bethlehem, but in Spirit form. Do you think everyone comprehends this truth? Let's do a tiny study on it right now-

Joh 17:5  And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.  ((Jesus in spirit form was with God before the world existed))

Col 1:12 -17 'Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear SON:  In whom we have redemption through HIS blood, even the forgiveness of sins:  

WHO is the image of the invisible God, 

the firstborn of every creature:  

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: 

all things were created by him, and for him:  

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist'

Yes, we CAN presuppose that Jesus existed in SPIRIT form before He took on flesh and dwelt among us down here on earth. The Spirit that was, is and always will be is IMMORTAL, ETERNAL and INDESTRUCTIBLE. It's an indisputable fact. If this is a new concept to you then you may need to stop here and do some more study, or continue on and go back later to study and clarify it in your heart with the Holy Spirit's guidance.))

In noting each reference in the New Testament which referred to the Holy Spirit, we arranged the books of the New Testament in the chronological order in which they were written. [This review will not necessarily follow that format] This was done for two reasons: 1) The revelation which God gives is progressive; and 2) God in giving revelation limits Himself and the fullness of that revelation to the perceptive capacity of the human instrument who is willing to be the medium of revelation.

We asked ourselves why so little is known of the "nature" of the Holy Spirit?

Then we asked ourselves why so little was perceived as to whom Jesus was until after the coming of the Holy Spirit? 

The answer to the second question helped us to perceive the answer to the first. Jesus came not to do His own will, but the will of God. (John 6:38) He came to glorify the Father. (John 17:4) He did not even come in His own name. (John 5:43) His was a life of selfless projection of the Father's glory - grace and truth. (John 1:14) Likewise the ministry of the Holy Spirit - He would not speak of Himself. He would glorify Jesus and the work which Jesus accomplished. (John 16:13-14)

((Jesus came to glorify the Father- the Holy Spirit came to glorify Jesus- please open your Bible and read the above passages.))

For one to better understand the problem faced in the study of the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, one needs to realize the two extreme views held within the Adventist community.  ((Yes, this is an Adventist perspective and if you are at odds with Adventist Beliefs and such, you don't have to go further, though I'd like it if you did.))

The mainline Adventist follows and usually without question - the Trinitarian Statement of Beliefs voted at Dallas, Texas, in 1980. It reads - "There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons." (Church Manual p. 32, 1981 edition) The first part of this statement is a direct quote from the Constitution of the World Council of Churches and reflects Papal doctrine. 

The other position is the confused Gotha Statement which is the basis of the Reformed Movements which formed in Europe following World War I. This statement reads:

'We believe that the Holy Spirit is the representative of Christ upon the earth. (John 14:16) Without Him it is impossible to comprehend and live according to the will of God. Also, it is impossible to rightly interpret the divine Word without the aid of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 1 Cor. 2:11). He is a power from the Father and the Son, and is active also through human beings (2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Pet. 1:11). (Principles of Faith, p. 3, Emphasis supplied)'

The very first New Testament reference written in regard to the Holy Spirit clearly declares the Holy Spirit as distinct from a "power," per se. It reads:

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit. (I Thess. 1:5)

This same distinction is also seen in I Cor. 2:4.

[We shall use the word "Spirit" in place of "Ghost" in all quotes from the Bible.]

1Co 2:4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power

(( SPIRIT and POWER -- two distinct things, two separate things))

Many references in the New Testament which mention the Holy Spirit speak of His work in making effective for the believer the salvation provided alone in Jesus Christ. Examples of this can be found in II Thess. 2:13; I Cor. 6:11 and Titus 3:5. 

2Th 2:13  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth

1Co 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God

Tit 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost

Further the Holy Spirit is set forth as a Teacher who searches the deep things of God. (I Cor. 2:10, 13) 

1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 

1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual

He bestows "gifts" as "He wills." (I Cor. 12:4, 11) 

1Co 12:4  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 

1Co 12:11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 

He is the builder of the Church. (Eph. 2:22)

Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. 

 He speaks. (I Tim. 4:1)

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils

 He can be grieved. (Eph. 4:30) 

Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

He can be insulted. (Heb. 10:29) 

Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 

He can be lied to. (Acts 5:3) 

Act 5:3  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 

All of these statements in regard to the Holy Spirit indicate not a power, nor a mere influence, but rather a Person.

The fourth book written of the New Testament canon (Chronologically) closes with a three-fold benediction - "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all." (II Cor. 13:14) Language cannot be clearer that the Holy Spirit is as much a Person as are either God or the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet in this same letter, Paul emphatically declares - "The Lord is that Spirit." (II Cor. 3:17)

((GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS, 

LOVE OF GOD, 

COMMUNION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

- 3 SEPARATE GODS)) 

In this third chapter, Paul is contrasting the ministration of the letter under Moses, and the ministration of the Spirit under Christ. While declaring that the Lord is that Spirit, Paul differentiates between Lords in verse 18. Note it carefully using the margin which gives the literal Greek rendering. 

It thus reads-

'But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord [Jesus] , are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Lord the Spirit. (3:18)

The close identification between "the Lord Jesus Christ" and "the Lord the Spirit" is seen elsewhere in the New Testament. Paul declares that Isaac was born "after the Spirit." (Gal. 4:29)

Gal 4:29  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 

Yet in noting the Old Testament account, the "Lord" who appeared to Abraham in the plains of Mamre said - "I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son." (Gen. 18:10) It was repeated a second time by the same "Lord." (18:14) 

In Hebrews, it reads - "The Holy Spirit saith" (3:7) - "the Holy Spirit...said before." ((Heb 3:7  Wherefore (as the Holy Spirit saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Heb 3:8  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:)) (10:15) ((Heb 10:15  Whereof the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, ))- yet both quotes are from the Old Testament. 

Gabriel told Daniel that the only One who held with him in "the scripture of truth" was "Michael your prince." (10:21)  ((Go here if you'd like an in-depth study on Michael being another name of Christ… https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/book/e/85/t/who-is-michael-the-archangel-)) 

This is further illuminated in the Epistles of Peter. There we are told that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (II Peter 1:21)

2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

But in his first letter, Peter indicates that these holy men - prophets - "searched diligently...what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify." (I Peter 1:10-11) 

1Pe 1:11  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 

Thus the New Testament closely identifies the Holy Spirit - the Lord the Spirit - with Michael the "Lord" of the Old Testament.

Dan_10:13  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

Dan_10:21  But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

Dan_12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Jud_1:9  Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Rev_12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels

To be continued…. 

Why Do We Always Want Easy?

 This is really strange because I started this study - at the study part. You know I had a title, a little introduction, a bit of study and then a comment on the bit of study and some more study. THEN I wrote something that I'm actually going to take and place right after this new introduction- just because I feel led to do so. I know a lot of you don't believe as I do, and I'd never ever try to force any of my beliefs on you, never, but please take a moment right now to say a little prayer - Acknowledge God so He will direct your path. I know I pray that prayer daily!

(The following was written after a bit of studying as mentioned above-)

((Please, if your head is spinning a bit with all this information, take a deep breath and say a little prayer and review it. Keep reviewing it- this is a STUDY. 

Do you remember having to study when you were in school? It wasn’t always easy. Do you ever remember having a question on a test or homework paper where you had access to the book to find your answers but you had to read to find that answer, you had to study to find that answer- it wasn't just given to you. Sometimes even when you read an answer it didn't quite click and you had to go to a teacher for a deeper explanation. Then there were times when the teacher didn't want to 'give' you an answer but wanted you to think about it for a while and have you try to really figure it out yourself.  If all that happens with secular knowledge, how much more should we apply it to studying God's word? Do we give up because we get confused? Do we call it all nonsense because we don't want to spend actual time - real time- hours even if necessary, or days, weeks, months, dare I say, years, figuring things out. We live in a world where we want easy answers. We want our answers to be just a click away. We want those answer to be soothing to our ears and easily understandable in our brains so we don't have to think about them too hard. We want to agree with something readily- not struggle a bit as we search for the real answer behind any preconceived beliefs. The EASY way is often the wrong way, yet so many insist on still taking that easy way. For some reason people believe they can take the easy way and for them it won't lead down the path of destruction. They think they'll go down the easy way and only at the last moment they'll make that jump to the hard way that is narrow. They are sure in their minds they'll find that narrow path before it's too late and be able to make the switch. Or tragically, Satan deceives many to make them think they are already on the narrow way, simply because they've erected the sign post "Narrow Way" in their minds but it's pointed the wrong way. Satan deceives us so easily because we like things to be easy. Why do we love easy all the time? Why? When something is hard and causes us consternation as we strive to make sense of it, we grow frustrated, sometimes very, very quickly. Isn't eternal life worth any struggle we may have? God tells us to search the scriptures… SEARCH them! And to STUDY! Search and study! Daily search! Daily study! Paul praises those in Berea because they searched the scriptures DAILY- and they didn't have google, or a Bible on their phone with easy access to every word in Scripture, all sorts of commentaries, dictionaries, access to original Greek and Hebrew. They didn't have access at their fingertips to so much that we do and yet they STUDIED daily! They didn't have it easy! They were not on that easy road at all. The Holy Spirit was guiding them just as the Holy Spirit will guide us, if we are WILLING to walk the narrow way and not expect easy milk to fill our baby bellies so we don't have to bother with the hard meat even though we have adult teeth to chew with. I'm NOT asking you to take this man's word for things, this Biblical scholar's deep study into the meaning of Greek/Hebrew and so on. I'm asking you to SEARCH for yourself, rightly divide the Word of God yourself! Don't believe me! Think I'm crazy and easily led astray if you want to. Scoff at my beliefs as being ludicrous and totally wrong, but do so because you've searched for yourself to find truth. Don't just rely on things you've been taught over the years to believe are true. Don't take other people's studies and claim them as yours because it's easy to do so. I'm not asking you to learn fluid Greek, Hebrew, Latin and so on, but you don't have to be fluent to seek out the basics for yourself- not in our day and age, not at all. There will be NO excuse for not knowing truth, none! Many people are going to point fingers at their preachers and teachers and say they were the ones who led them astray. Just like Adam and Eve pointed the finger at the serpent. Unlike Adam and Eve, you and I have no one to truly blame but ourselves - we know that Satan would keep us from knowing truth. We can't point at others and say they led us astray - we know we have to know truth for ourselves! God help us all!  We'll pick up this study tomorrow, there is so much to digest - but first we have to put the spiritual food into our mouths, chew it slowly and thoroughly, swallow and let it digest- right? So go over the beginning of this study several times if you need to. Go to your google searches and seek out the FACTS, open the Word of God and SEARCH the Scriptures for in them you think you have ETERNAL LIFE-they TESTIFY of JESUS!  May He bless us! May the Holy Spirit guide us! May the Father's will be done!

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

Joh 5:39  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me

Act 17:11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 

*******

(Start of original study before the second introduction.) 

The Holy Spirit.  

What exactly do we know about the Holy Spirit?  Let's go to the Word of God. Did you know that the Word of God was inspired by God, and that prophets could only prophesize as they were led by the Holy Spirit? The very words we read were in fact a part of the Holy Spirit.

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 

2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 

Jesus told us through the INSPIRED word, men writing led by God-

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 (Paraclete), 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. 

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

The Father God, Jesus God prayed to Him, that the Father would GIVE us another (one other than Jesus Himself) Comforter. This other one that would come to comfort us as Jesus came to do in person, in the flesh, would be the SPIRIT of truth. This Spirit of truth could NOT be received by the world. The worldly just would NOT see HIM and would not know HIM, but WE would know HIM for HE would DWELL WITH US, and HE would be IN US. Jesus would NOT leave us without comfort. 

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter (Paraclete), which is the Holy Spirit, 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. 

The Holy Comforter is the HOLY SPIRIT- and God the Father would send the HOLY SPIRIT to us in the name of JESUS.  The Holy Spirit would TEACH us all things, and bring all thing to our remembrance- whatsoever JESUS has said. Jesus would be leaving His PEACE with us, giving His PEACE to us and it will NOT be as the world gives peace.  

Joh 15:26  But when the Comforter (Paraclete) is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 

Joh 15:27  And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. 

The HOLY SPIRIT will testify of JESUS.

Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter (Paraclete) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

IF Jesus never died, if He never rose from the dead and the left to live in Heaven the Holy Spirit would NOT come to us. Jesus would send HIM to us. The Father would give the Holy Spirit, Jesus would send the Holy Spirit. 

Thayer's Bible Dictionary has this to say- 

Par·a·clete

/ˈperəˌklēt/

noun

1. (in Christian theology) the Holy Spirit as advocate or counselor (John 14:16, 26).

paraklētos

par-ak'-lay-tos

An intercessor, consoler: - advocate, comforter.

Total KJV Occurrences: 5

comforter, 4

Joh_14:16, Joh_15:26 (2), Joh_16:7

advocate, 1

1Jn_2:1

Thayer Definition:

1) summoned, called to one’s side, especially called to one’s aid

1a) one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate

1b) one who pleads another’s cause with one, an intercessor

1b1) of Christ in his exaltation at God’s right hand, pleading with God the Father for the pardon of our sins

1c) in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant

1c1) of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom

Part of Speech: noun masculine

paraklētos

5x: one called or sent for to assist another; an advocate, one who pleads the cause of another, 1Jn_2:1; genr. one present to render various beneficial service, and thus the Paraclete, whose influence and operation were to compensate for the departure of Christ himself, Joh_14:16; Joh_14:26; Joh_15:26; Joh_16:7.

Now, let's study this in greater depth. If you've had enough milk children and want to grow in knowledge into adulthood- here is some meat of the Word of God. A lot of food for thought. I will most likely be pausing and interjecting my own comments in the following study and as I do I will put them in double parenthesis' this way it won't interfere should there be other parenthesis. 

 

(WWN) A Biblical Scholar's Work- 

ANOTHER COMFORTER  

(Part One)

The designation of the Spirit of truth as "Another Comforter" reveals as no other name could, His relationship with Deity, and His work and ministry in the Plan of Redemption. But much study must precede the significance of this name since this designation was not given the Holy Spirit till one of the last books of the New Testament was written.

In reviewing the Seminar studies presented on the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit at the Adventist Laymen's Annual Fellowship, the reader needs to clearly understand the preparation behind the presentation. We adopted the approach of William Miller as he began his study of the Bible. Sylvester Bliss in his Memoirs of William Miller quotes Miller's own explanation of how he began his investigation of the Scriptures. Miller stated:

'I determined to lay aide all my prepossessions {presuppositions}, to thoroughly compare Scripture with Scripture, and to pursue its study in a regular and methodical manner. I commenced with Genesis, and read verse by verse, proceeding no faster than the meaning of the several passages should be so unfolded as to leave me free from embarrassment respecting any mysticisms or contradictions. Whenever I found anything obscure, my practice was to compare it with all collateral passages; and, by the help of Cruden, I examined all the texts of Scripture in which were found any of the prominent words contained in any obscure portion. Then, by letting every word have its proper bearing on the subject of the text, if my view of it harmonized with every collateral passage in the Bible, it ceased to be a difficulty. In this way I pursued the study of the Bible, in my first perusal of it, for about two years, and was fully satisfied that it is its own interpreter. (p. 69)'

After having read every text in the New Testament where the word, "spirit" or "Holy Spirit" is found, we determined that "spirit" is applied to different beings and forces at work in the world, and within man.

Angels are designated as "ministering spirits." (Heb. 1:14)

Demons are noted as "unclean spirits." (Rev. 16:13-14)

A deep human emotion is based in what is termed, "spirit." (Mark 8:12)

The perception of one's presence, though the person is not present, is noted as being present in "spirit." (I Cor. 5:4)

This study was approached with one vital presupposition: - The "form of God" in which Jesus existed prior to Bethlehem was SPIRIT for God is Spirit. (John 4:24) This SPIRIT exceeds that of angels for they are only "ministering spirits." (Heb. 1:14) This SPIRIT is immortal, eternal, and indestructible.

((I want to interject (obviously)- Jesus EXISTED not as flesh and blood prior to Bethlehem, but in Spirit form. Do you think everyone comprehends this truth? 

Joh 17:5  And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 

Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 

Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 

Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 

Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 

Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 

Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist

Yes, we can presuppose that Jesus existed in SPIRIT form before He took on flesh and dwelt among us down here on earth. The Spirit that was, is and always will be is IMMORTAL, ETERNAL and INDESTRUCTIBLE. It's an indisputable fact. If this is a new concept to you then you may need to stop here and do some more study, or continue on and go back later to study and clarify it in your heart with the Holy Spirit's guidance.))

In noting each reference in the New Testament which referred to the Holy Spirit, we arranged the books of the New Testament in the chronological order in which they were written. [This review will not necessarily follow that format] This was done for two reasons: 1) The revelation which God gives is progressive; and 2) God in giving revelation limits Himself and the fullness of that revelation to the perceptive capacity of the human instrument who is willing to be the medium of revelation.

We asked ourselves why so little is known of the "nature" of the Holy Spirit? Then we asked ourselves why so little was perceived as to whom Jesus was until after the coming of the Holy Spirit? The answer to the second question helped us to perceive the answer to the first. Jesus came not to do His own will, but the will of God. (John 6:38) He came to glorify the Father. (John 17:4) He did not even come in His own name. (John 5:43) His was a life of selfless projection of the Father's glory - grace and truth. (John 1:14) Likewise the ministry of the Holy Spirit - He would not speak of Himself. He would glorify Jesus and the work which Jesus accomplished. (John 16:13-14)

((Jesus came to glorify the Father- the Holy Spirit came to glorify Jesus- please open your Bible and read the above passage.))

For one to better understand the problem faced in the study of the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, one needs to realize the two extreme views held within the Adventist community. 

The mainline Adventist follows and usually without question - the Trinitarian Statement of Beliefs voted at Dallas, Texas, in 1980. It reads - "There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons." (Church Manual p. 32, 1981 edition) The first part of this statement is a direct quote from the Constitution of the World Council of Churches and reflects Papal doctrine. 

The other position is the confused Gotha Statement which is the basis of the Reformed Movements which formed in Europe following World War I. This statement reads:

'We believe that the Holy Spirit is the representative of Christ upon the earth. (John 14:16) Without Him it is impossible to comprehend and live according to the will of God. Also, it is impossible to rightly interpret the divine Word without the aid of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 1 Cor. 2:11). He is a power from the Father and the Son, and is active also through human beings (2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Pet. 1:11). (Principles of Faith, p. 3, Emphasis supplied)'

The very first New Testament reference written in regard to the Holy Spirit clearly declares the Holy Spirit as distinct from a "power," per se. It reads:

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit. (I Thess. 1:5)

This same distinction is also seen in I Cor. 2:4.

[We shall use the word "Spirit" in place of "Ghost" in all quotes from the Bible.]

Many references in the New Testament which mention the Holy Spirit speak of His work in making effective for the believer the salvation provided alone in Jesus Christ. Examples of this can be found in II Thess. 2:13; I Cor. 6:11 and Titus 3:5. Further the Holy Spirit is set forth as a Teacher who searches the deep things of God. (I Cor. 2:10, 13) He bestows "gifts" as "He wills." (I Cor. 12:4, 11) He is the builder of the Church. (Eph. 2:22) He speaks. (I Tim. 4:1) He can be grieved. (Eph. 4:30) He can be insulted. (Heb. 10:29) He can be lied to. (Acts 5:3) All of these statements in regard to the Holy Spirit indicate not a power, nor a mere influence, but rather a Person.

((If you're wondering what is truly wrong with each of those stated extreme views and want more detail - again - stop and take up a thorough study of them, or wait and do it after you finish this study. You will be led to all truth should you truly want truth and not traditions handed down to you by men.))

The fourth book written of the New Testament canon (Chronologically) closes with a three-fold benediction - "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all." (II Cor. 13:14) Language cannot be clearer that the Holy Spirit is as much a Person as are either God or the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet in this same letter, Paul emphatically declares - "The Lord is that Spirit." (II Cor. 3:17)

((GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS, LOVE OF GOD, COMMUNION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT- 3 SEPARATE GODS)) 

In this third chapter, Paul is contrasting the ministration of the letter under Moses, and the ministration of the Spirit under Christ. While declaring that the Lord is that Spirit, Paul differentiates between Lords in verse 18. Note it carefully using the margin which gives the literal Greek rendering. 

It thus reads-

'But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord [Jesus] , are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Lord the Spirit. (3:18)

The close identification between "the Lord Jesus Christ" and "the Lord the Spirit" is seen elsewhere in the New Testament. Paul declares that Isaac was born "after the Spirit." (Gal. 4:29)

Yet in noting the Old Testament account, the "Lord" who appeared to Abraham in the plains of Mamre said - "I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son." (Gen. 18:10) It was repeated a second time by the same "Lord." (18:14) 

In Hebrews, it reads - "The Holy Spirit saith" (3:7) - "the Holy Spirit...said before." ((Heb 3:7  Wherefore (as the Holy Spirit saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Heb 3:8  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:)) (10:15) ((Heb 10:15  Whereof the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, ))- yet both quotes are from the Old Testament. 

Gabriel told Daniel that the only One who held with him in "the scripture of truth" was "Michael your prince." (10:21) 

This is further illuminated in the Epistles of Peter. There we are told that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (II Peter 1:21)

But in his first letter, Peter indicates that these holy men - prophets - "searched diligently...what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify." (I Peter 1:10-11) 

Thus the New Testament closely identifies the Holy Spirit - the Lord the Spirit - with Michael the "Lord" of the Old Testament.

To be continued…

Echoes of Guilt.

 I wrote this a few days ago, after a particularly harder day than usual.

Worry for the living verses grieving for the dead. 

I never realized the extent of these polar opposites. I never knew they were a battle to fight, a war to be won, lost, stalemated? Can there be a stalemate in war? You very rarely hear of such a thing.

My life before Jerry died had become a complete state of anxiousness underneath my normal living. I say underneath because for all intents and purposes my life has been lived on a level of realized anxiety since I was ten years old. The levels have fluctuated in a cognizant manner since that age. I'm sure they existed before then, but after ten I knew the monster of anxiety existed in a form of being attacked and rendered incapacitated in one manner or another by said monster. Up until the first panic attack from anxiety (which was an all-out assault on my ability to perform my normal ten year old's life routine) I existed in a world free of the monster. From ten years old onwards I was left with a residual scarring from that first attack that has never, and will never (until my Savior returns) leave me. I'm scarred for life (as most of us are in one way or another).

Some of you might be jumping up and down in your seats with your hand raised high wanting to call my attention to the fact I believe in a Savior (as mentioned moments ago) and isn't 'said Savior' supposed to give me freedom right now from all worry, all anxiety? Doesn't the life manual given to me by Him tell me not to worry, to leave all my cares with Him? Yes, yes it does and it has a lot of wonderful life lessons to teach me that are very real. And I do leave my cares with Him, that is why I still exist today. However I cannot crawl out of my scarred flesh into the new flesh I know I'll have one day- new flesh given to me by my Savior when He returns for me. Until then I am the person I am, and I surrender this person I am to my Savior constantly to be kept by Him for eternity. I live with this balm of hope covering my scars, but I still live in the war zone of life and I'm still being attacked daily by the unseen. And the attacker loves nothing better than to keep my life fraught with situations to obsessively fear. My Defender prevents that obsession from incapacitating me completely and utterly. My Defender is a very real, live, working force in my life so put your hands down- things would be a millions times worse if I weren't trusting in my Savior.

Tell me if you must that I should not worry, I agree with you, I should not, but agreeing with you about that isn't the same thing as be able to stop something that is part of the fabric of your being. 

Back to the why of writing this deluge of self-introspection. 

When Jerry was alive- in the beginning of our relationship and for the longest time I didn't have any significant worry about him beyond the normal concerns we all have for someone we love. I basked in his love and devotion as all newly in love couples do for several years (oh yeah we had ups and downs in those years but the bask of devotion never left). That love matured and transformed even as our lives in general did the same. Then the heart attack happened in September 2001, just a week or so before the date most Americans yearly recall (in fact we just did a few days ago) the tragedy of September 11th 2001. 

Our lives were forever altered by that heart attack. That bask of his love and devotion was suddenly something that could in a very real way be taken from me in a moment. You don't have a major almost life-ending heart attack without it altering your life in various ways. The anxiety over Jerry's health as a newly birth monster inside me - began that day and like all baby monsters they have no choice but to grow up.

This baby monster stayed very small, as it grew very slowly having growth spurts with various back, neck, wrist, pacemaker surgeries Jerry underwent over the next nine years. Then the monster hit puberty and grew very large in 2010 when cancer grew inside Jerry's right lung and altered our lives completely. It wouldn't have been so bad if surgery alone was a factor but along with the cancer removal there came an almost life ending bacterial infection that invaded Jerry's body. The medicine to combat the horrific infection permanently disabled Jerry's ability to ever walk normally again by severely and permanently damaging his vestibular nerve keeping him from ever being able to balance his body on his own two feet- again. From then on it was a cane, crutches and eventually a wheelchair while his body slowly deteriorated over the next twelve years undergoing more surgeries of the heart bypass, back, neck, wrist, arm, gallbladder, and so on, kind.  During the next twelve years that pubescent anxiety monster in me continued to grow as Jerry's health continued to deteriorate.  On year 11 of those 12, things took a major turn for the extreme worst- that was May 2021 and the last back surgery that stripped Jerry of His ability to stand upright even with assistance props (crutches, walkers) for more than a few seconds.  

The anxiety monster in my life lived underneath the surface for the most part where it existed relentlessly. There were outside evidences of it breaking through off and on over the next year as it grew and grew and grew, you know these anxiety monsters can rival the size of …well… there is little to compare them too in all honesty. I think of a tapeworm actually. I know, EW! But I've had the unfortunate opportunity to see on a television medical drama where a doctor extracts a tapeworm from someone and I thought they'd never stop pulling that awful, gross thing out (I really didn't watch it all I had to look away it was just too gross for me).  How something that long could live inside a small body just baffled me and yet anxiety is like that --something so huge inside, constantly growing while we go about our normal day to day lives with the occasional ache and pain from its unseen presence. 

Again, why am I babbling on so? Because as I stated in my very first sentence way back up there- 'Worry for the living verses grieving for the dead'.  

I feel such shame inside over the death - not of Jerry - but of that Jerry labeled anxiety monster which lived inside me for so incredibly long. With Jerry's dying that huge indescribably monstrous anxiety over his health, over not being able to do anything at all to really help him get better, over watching him suffer so horrifically day after day with the groans of pain and eyes filled with agony unspoken- that part of me which feared  and worried about all that was going on combined with the tragedy of helplessness to alter anything at all- was forever silenced. Jerry was no longer here, I no longer had to be anxious for him, or over him in any way.

When a monster inside you dies the relief is overwhelming, but combine that relief with the HORROR of the grief monster that takes its place and you live a life of intense confusion, as the battle inside ensues. The ghost of that monster anxiety versus the newly created instantly born huge grief creature has created a war zone within me. How dare I feel anything remotely like relief in any way whatsoever!!! Grief screams this at me over and over and over.  And while the death of the anxiety monster within is but an echo, like the phoenix rising from ashes analogy, death has spawned a new creature struggling to grow, to replace the Jerry anxiety monster with the widow monster and all its many little (not so little) anxiety babies.

Still, that echo of guilt over the relief of the death of the anxiety monster that lived while Jerry lived taunts me whenever it can, uncaring that new anxiety babies have been born. Echoes of guilt.. 

And life goes on with the echoes ringing all around. Caregiver's guilt- it's a real thing. Though I'm sure there are many names for the guilts we feel- warranted or not. And like telling the anxiety scarred person not to feel anxious at all, you can tell me not to feel this shame, this guilt, that Jerry wouldn't want me to feel this way- I know that's true, but it remains underneath the surface. Your well-meaning, loving, kind words are always appreciated and loved, never shunned or unwanted, never. Just love me in the place I am, with the monsters that plague me, pray for my continued love of God always.

Would I embrace that anxiety monster that lived when Jerry lived, and welcome that monster back if it meant Jerry was still living? YES! However, that's only extreme selfishness on my part, because Jerry's suffering lived with him and I find solace in knowing he's in no more pain at all whatsoever.  

I'll continue to live with all my anxieties underneath the surface of my life, I know that's how so many of us humans live because of the sin-filled world we live in now. I will cling to my Savior constantly grabbing hold of Him - a life preserver tossed to me sometimes hourly as the murky, storm tossed waters exists all around me. Jesus is my life, Jesus is my hope, Jesus is my all in all, and it will be HIS LOVE that casts out all fear, all anxiety. The Christian armor we are given to wear in this spiritual battle we fight is there for a reason- it's not to transport us out of the war zone but to protect us from being mortally wounded while we are within it. 

1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 

No fear in God - He is perfect love, complete love.

God casts out fear.

Fear has torment.

The fearful - the untrusting, the unhopeful, those lost to fear without hope, those who only exist in fear and nothing more, cannot be made complete in God because God gives us the hope of life beyond all fear. God is the monster slayer of anxiety and fear- and fear cannot overwhelm beyond all hope those who choose to love God. We will one day be made complete in God, in love, we hope, we press on towards the mark, the high calling, we fight the good fight of faith, we grab hold and never let go of the hope we have in Christ. In the midst of storm He can walk on water and He calls to us to walk with Him- we might not be able to walk on the water with Him for long, but we will forever be trying over and over again, and one day we will only ever walk on water with Him, the storm will be over. All monsters slain- anxiety, grief and all the other monsters of our lives gone forever.

'Lord, I believe! Help thou my unbelief!'  This is my prayer always!  All through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, now and forever! Amen!!!!!!!

Play Acting or Truly A Christ Follower?

 Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart.

Lean NOT to your own understanding.

In ALL your ways acknowledge Him.

And He SHALL direct thy path. (Proverbs 3:5,6)

Not my words but precious words from God written down by a very imperfect man who was close to God. Don't get me wrong when I write the word imperfect, I'm not condoning imperfection. God doesn't condone imperfection. God recognizes it, but never excuses it as being inconsequential. Seriously. You may be flippant about sin in your own life, but God never is, never. Do you ever wonder why you have to die on a daily basis? You don't get a single day off from the death you must die every single day. Sounds awful doesn't it? Like a horror Groundhog's Day movie (which I'm sure probably exists in more than one movie out there somewhere- I'm not going to look that's for sure.) 

You know when I talk about a daily dying that I'm not talking about a physical death at all. I am however, talking about a REAL death. Because if it isn't real then what is the point of it at all? If we're only playing make believe Christianity and donning fake costumes, using fake props, reading scripted lines, then you do realize the ending of the ongoing fairy tale will be a very dark one and not the light, happy, eternally joyful one you think you're going to get. The ending will be as fake as all the other fake parts that came before it were. You're reading me right, I'm putting the truth on display and ripping off all blinders right this very moment. You can either keep reading or stop right now if you don't want your spiritual flesh to be on fire with the antiseptic I'm going to use on it. 

Are you an actor playing at Christianity? Are you?! What role have you taken on as an actor? Have you envisioned yourself to be the pious churchgoer, or maybe the demure deaconess, or you could be the rebellious on again, off again Christian. I don't know your role, only you know. Would you like me to stop telling you that you are in a role at all, that you're not acting? Or are you playing the part of the highly offended, very indignant, self-righteous Christian in this moment? Cuts deep doesn't it? Or rather, that antiseptic is burning into your open wounds now isn't it? Either way, cutting, wounding cleaning, I don't care, I just want you to realize that Christianity has become so often a role we tack on to our life achievements, flouting it about as needed in conversations- showing off our diploma in the graduating class of Christianity - Master's degree of course - we would settle for no less on our life's resume. This Master's degree however is in the Dramatic Arts, because it's merely a role you play as needed. Your audience plays along with you and even gets involved showing off their own acting skills. Everybody has their roles to play and they go on stage in a moment's notice, literally sometimes a single second is all they need to start their acting. You could say each and every person who play acts Christianity is an immersive actor, living their role as the show of their life goes on.  They don't have to wait for any auditions, why would they? Their life is the role they are playing and the parts in that life are many. One part, that part of being a Christian can be, and often is brought out on stage as needed. Some people climb on the stage of Church, others on the stage of prayer meeting, while still others set up benefits and charities, and some write blogs, they do this all while acting the part of a good Christian person. More often than not the starring role as preacher, pastor, priest and so on is that of an amazing Christian actor. None with that title, that office, are guaranteed to be genuine Christians, their role is just a little bit larger than your average every day Christian actor's.

Stop. You want me to stop don't you? You don't like me saying that Christianity today has become so many people, the majority in fact- just play acting at being a Christian. You truly believe you are a sincere Christian with a heart surrendered to God, a life saved by the death of your eternal Savior, Jesus Christ.  

Do you die daily? I mean really. Remember, I mentioned the dying part when I first started this? Do you really die daily? What's it mean to die daily, do you know? What do you think you know about dying daily? It's something that Jesus talked about. 

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. 

Luk 9:24  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 

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

Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

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

LET HIM DENY HIMSELF and…  TAKE UP HIS CROSS…  DAILY.

What cross are you bearing today? What cross have you knelt down and wrapped your arms around just so you could hoist it up off the ground and pull it up onto your shoulder to carry? What cross are you walking through life with, slowly, step by step, with the weight of it hard pressed against you causing your arms, shoulders, back, hips, legs, and feet to ache? Where is the cross you are laying upon the ground and placing yourself upon? Where are those huge nails and the heavy hammer resting, as you wait for them to be picked up and driven deep into your flesh? Tell me, WHERE is all this in your life?!

About now you're ready to quote other verses of the Bible to me- such as "My yoke is easy, my burden is light." You want me to toss out all that nonsense about crosses because Jesus already died upon the cross for you so you don't have to die upon any cross. What about this..

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ….

The truth is, you don't have a physical wooden cross to carry, there are no huge metal nails to be plunged into your hands and feet- you know this and I know this- it's not the wooden cross we are to pick up daily to follow Jesus.  We have to live- CHRIST. 

WE DO NOT LIVE CHRIST WITHOUT DENYING THE SELF IN US THAT HIDES THE CHRIST IN US FROM OTHERS.

Christ has to be a REAL part of our lives. Our recognition of Christ must be foremost in our lives, not an afterthought. Denying self. 

Mar 8:34  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, 

Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

Mar 8:35  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. 

Mar 8:36  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 

Mar 8:37  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 

Mar 8:38  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. 

Jesus called out to the PEOPLE along WITH his disciples…  

Whosoever would be a follower of Christ, would have to-

1. Deny himself

2. Take up his cross.

3. Follow Jesus.

Saving ourselves before being willing to die for Christ, we lose ourselves.

Being will to lose our lives for Christ, we save ourselves.

It is possible to gain everything in the world- and lose yourself- if you do not have Christ, and all you gained in the world means nothing in the grave, and nothing in eternity.

If you have gained Christ and not the world-  it is very visible, very well known, very obvious, highly apparent in your life. You are KNOWN to be a Christ follower and NOT because you are telling people you ARE a Christian, but because YOU are living your life as a Christian. You are not a follower of the WORLD, you are a follower of CHRIST. You are not a follower of SELF, you are a follower of Christ.

Is your life one of SELF-DENIAL?

Is your life one of carrying the Cross of Christ's sacrifice for mankind's salvation?

Is your life one of following Jesus… really following Him?

Is your life ready to be sacrificed for Him?

Are you willing to preach Christ even if it costs you your life?

Are you willing to tell others of Christ even if it costs you your worldly pride, your high standing in society, ridicule among your peers, your jobs, careers, family?

Are you willing to endure the shaming of the world, the world's laughter, the world's spite, the world's anger, the world's loathing…all to be able to live and tell of Christ your Savior and the Salvation He offers?

Honestly, for to be anything other than honest would be very wrong. 

Honestly, we are living so much in conformity to the world that we believe those who are known Jesus freaks, known religious weirdos, known to be in various religious organizations by strange clothes, odd rituals, unusual ways of life- are all STRANGE and we aren't going to follow Jesus to those extremist ways. We are going to keep our feet on the ground in the NORMAL world because do to otherwise would mean being considered among those weirdos we just spoke of and we don't want to get too carried away in our not being OF the world.  

We tell ourselves that Jesus would not expect us to be oddballs to others, He'd want us to fit in with the world. We tell ourselves lies. It's scary to think of not being of the world, especially for those of us who are of the world so much we have convinced ourselves it the being of the world part that keeps us grounded in life- Jesus is just a pastime with the hope of being fulltime one day in eternity. It really does NOT work that way. In ALL we do He has to be a part of that, because in eternity He is all in all, always! He won't give us salvation and pat us on the back and tell us to go on now, go play in the world, only now do whatever you've been doing to please yourself on earth for eternity. 

Honestly, again there's nothing else here, I am just like you  a struggling Christ follower, praying, praying, praying that I can give up self, that I can give up the world, that I can give up anything that would stand between me and my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I don't want to be a person play acting a Christian!  I want my life to belong to Christ in truth! If I were treating Christ like I would treat a huge worldly treasure known to be buried in my back yard just waiting for me to dig it up, I would be relentless in my digging and searching until it was found!  So why aren't my hands dirty with digging? Why aren't my fingernails worn down and cracked? Why aren't my shoulders and back, my arms and legs aching from the time spent digging?  Why is my life one of self-serving pleasure pastimes that I have deemed harmless simply because it is the way of the world nowadays? I have A LOT of questions for myself. A lot of soul searching. A lot of self-introspection over whether or not my Christ following is just me playing pretend Christian in a world of pretend Christians, or am I really denying self and taking up my cross and following Christ? At this moment I'm going to simply holdfast to Christ as my Savior and trust Him to lead me…   If my world is a pretend world, may God forgive me and bring me into the real world, as a real Christ follower- trusting in HIM for my salvation completely, living for Him as He would have me live! I will not give into any Satanic despair that tries to threaten my love of God! My hope is in God always! May your hope be in God too. If you suspect you are a pretend Christian, that you're play acting at being a Christ follower… just ASK for forgiveness, trust you ARE forgiven, and seek God in all you do. Hang on to Christ and His promises … hang on no matter what until our Lord and Savior returns!

I long to trust in the Lord with all my heart

I long to lean NOT unto my own understanding

In all my ways I pray to follow Christ

In all my ways I hope He directs my path

Like the imperfect Solomon, the wisest of the wise yet still so imperfect, who wrote the passage from Proverbs at the top of this rambling- I, not the wisest BY very far, am imperfect as I seek to trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean NOT to my own understanding. I long to follow Christ as HE would have me follow Him, I want Him to direct my paths- all of them! I don't want to be of the world, I want to be of Him!

Please, Lord, please, all through the grace and mercy, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, my Savior, now and forever! Please, save me, save all who are searching for you with all their hearts and not leaning to their own understanding! Please. In the name of our Lord!  THANK YOU most gracious LORD, all honor and glory to You always, without end! Amen!

I Must.