Through All of Life's Agonies- We Can Still Belong to Christ.

1Ti 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 

Paul was a man who actively hunted down Christ followers. Paul stood there holding the garments of murderers as they stoned Stephen to death. Now stop for a moment and picture it, really picture it and put yourself or those you love in the same situation as Stephen.

You profess your love for your Savior and a wild mob grab you up and are determined to do you nothing but harm. You give aloud your profession of faith and the first stone is hurled at you slamming into your body hard igniting it with instant pain. Before you can recover even a moment another rock and another, and another. Stoning is brutal. Most likely stoning doesn’t result in an instant kill unless the one being stoned is lucky. Rock after rock pelleting you, big ones, small ones, sharp, flat, painful rocks whipped at you until you die.

Paul stood there watching this happen and he was pleased! He was so pleased by this Christ follower being murdered that He ASKED to go round up more Christ followers.

Act 8:1  And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 

Act 8:2  And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 

Act 8:3  As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 

Act 9:1  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 

Act 9:2  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 

Paul wreaked HAVOC on Christ followers. Paul was adamant in his pursuit of destroying ALL Christ followers. He wanted to round them up far and wide. Paul BREATHED out threatenings and slaughter against all Christ followers.

Paul was LIVING to hunt down Christians! Imagine it, he HATED those Christ loved! So what did Christ do?

Christ KNEW that inside Paul was a heart desiring TRUTH and only TRUTH. Finally confronted with the TRUTH, the real truth not the traditions of man, He relented to that truth and gave up ALL that hatred! When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus he was a changed man and it wasn't a forced change, it wasn't a coerced changed, it wasn't a change he was looking for- perhaps anything but. The thing is, PAUL WANTED TRUTH and he wanted to FOLLOW GOD with his whole heart! He was following Him in the wrong way, but when he was given the new light, he walked in that light!

Paul is a pattern for us. Christ suffered LONG with Paul's actions, and He suffers long with our actions as well. Christ will forgive the worst of sinners, Christ will be with us as we struggle once we are His and the evil of the world wars against us. We will have awful days, great hardships, sickness, pain, agonies… but we can have Christ through it all!

More tomorrow by the GRACE and WILL of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST NOW and FOREVER!!!!!!! All in HIS LOVE!!!!!!!

Paul- A Pattern for Us.

1Ti 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 

Paul- a pattern for us.

Is it any wonder a verse I consistently return to in my studying is this--

Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 

Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 

Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 

Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

How many of us can relate to these verses? How many of us can relate to Paul whom Jesus Christ gave mercy, that He showed forth ALL longsuffering as a PATTERN for us if we believe in our Savior?

We can relate and we SHOULD be able to relate to Paul because we need to study his life in the shadow of our Savior's life so we may learn from him. He had such a special relationship with our Lord, its beginning alone so incredibly noteworthy.   He wasn't a disciple of our Savior when He lived. We don't even know if he saw Jesus whil Jesus walked the earth. Paul comes on the scene AFTER the death of Jesus. As I think about it, I can't imagine that he didn't even see Jesus because of how notorious Jesus was to the Pharisees. Remember this--

Jesus chastising a Pharisee- Mat_23:26  Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Luk 18:10  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 

Luk 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 

Luk 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 

Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 

Luk 18:14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

Mat_5:20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

And now read this--

Act 23:6  But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 

Php 3:1  Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin.

A Hebrew of the Hebrews as touching the law- a Pharisee.

Concerning Zeal.

Persecuting the church.

Touching the righteousness in the law.

Blameless.

Paul-- was a very STAUNCH Pharisee - he had to know OF Jesus before He was crucified, yet he did NOT walk with Jesus. He HATED Jesus. He HATED the man- the great pretender, the fraud, the thorn in the side of the Pharisees and all Jews. The hate Paul had for Jesus extended toward any followers of Jesus. When Jesus was crucified and His memory did NOT die with Him, Paul was furious! The zeal of Paul was unchallenged, he wanted all those followers of Jesus taken care of as well. 

How does this relate to us today?

How many of us have in our past a hatred of the things of God? How many of us have thumbed our noses at Jesus and all He stands for only to later repent of such actions, whole heartedly repent of our sins. How many of us have held traditions of men over the truth of Christ? How many of us were very zealous in the truth we once held but knew we had to give up a cherished life because it wasn't Christ's truth? How many have had great truth revealed that countered all we believed in?

We have Paul as our example, our pattern in so many ways. Paul was a man who wanted only the truth and when he was given truth he walked in that truth, but that didn't mean his life was one of ease.

More on this tomorrow, all by the GRACE, the WILL of our Savior, our Lord, Jesus Christ and His love!

Our Foundation- Christ Crucified.

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

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Take heed--

1Co 3:10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

Our FOUNDATION is JESUS CHRIST. We should have NO OTHER foundation. We need to build upon the FOUNDATION of Jesus Christ- taking heed to the doctrine HE gave, continuing in HIS doctrine! When we get caught up in the doctrines of people and lose sight of Christ's doctrine we've slipped off the Foundation and anything we build that isn't on that Firm Foundation means nothing! No one can be saved when they build their lives around a false foundation.  Imagine a house being built upon a foundation and its built just a little bit off kilter on that foundation. Is the house safe? No. Being off the foundation the risk of complete destruction is great. Yet there are many people who build upon false foundations. They build upon a crooked foundation, a false foundation, a foundation not Christ. They try to build their houses uncentered upon the foundation yet think it's enough because they are near the foundation. People do NOT continue in the doctrine of Christ and they still believe they are Christ's.

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ

Men will deceive! And how a man deceives others is by giving them a lot of truth, but not all the truth and what we need is ALL the truth!

In love we speak TRUTH.

In the love of our Savior Jesus Christ!

We are told these things so we will HEED them, not to ignore them!  We have to comprehend that there are a lot of winds of doctrine floating about, there is a lot of sleight of hand, cunning craftiness and deception! If we ignore this very real truth, then we are most likely going to be caught up in the deception.  SEEK only TRUTH!

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

Salvation- the REASON our Savior sacrificed Himself for us! Let's learn of the truth in Christ's doctrine, the truth that leads to salvation for us and those that may hear us by the will and grace of God.

Strong Delusions.

Strong delusion.

God allows and even sends strong delusions to those who do not receive the love of the truth so they can be saved.

People get all up in arms about the thought that God does this, but let me ask you something, if you refuse God's love shouldn't He let that be so? If you don't believe in His truth then allowing people to have what they want- deception, delusion instead of truth is only giving them what they want.

GOD WILL NOT FORCE YOU TO LOVE HIM!

You choose and in choosing you have to be prepared for the consequences of your choice. You can't reject God and then be offended that He gives you a strong delusion. You wouldn't have had that strong delusion given to you if you accepted God and His truth. Thinking God is awful for doing that to you is absolutely lunatic. You aren't loving Him, have no desire to know Him, you don't want to hear the truth yet secretly you think God should be trying to coddle you and woo you to Him somehow, that He should try harder to change your mind? No. God offers truth and we either choose to accept that truth or reject it and once we reject it we aren't guaranteed a million and one more chances.  God knows our hearts and He know when a heart has rejected Him beyond ever changing. Once a heart has rejected Him permanently then allowing them to believe in the delusions they so desperately want to believe is not hurting them, they've already condemned themselves.

Yes, this messes with people's minds when they hold up God as all loving, all forgiving. He is loving and forgiving, but it is an ASK and you'll receive, a SEEK and you will find, it's not a I'll forgive you all things even your not accepting me or loving me or believing in me and the truth of salvation. We CAN reject salvation and God knows this! The real truth is, there will not be a single unsaved person that loved God in His truth, NOT ONE! There will not be one person who cries out to Jesus that they did wonderful works in His name and belong to Him, that truly ever belonged to Him IN HIS TRUTH. They had a deceptive, delusional relationship with Christ and nothing more.

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 

2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 

2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 

2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

Psa 81:11  But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. 

Psa 81:12  So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. 

Psa 81:13  Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! 

Psa 109:17  As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. 

Isa 29:13  Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men

Joh 12:39  Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 

Joh 12:40  He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 

Joh 12:41  These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. 

Joh 12:42  Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 

Joh 12:43  For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 

Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 

Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 

Rom 1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 

Rom 1:24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 

Rom 1:25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 

Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient

Isa 6:9  And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 

Isa 6:10  Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. 

Isa 66:4  I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. 

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

Strong delusions are allowed and even given by God. Please, Father God, please we pray that we are not among those who are not loving You in all Your truth! We don't want to have strong delusions! We long to be YOURS wholly YOURS- all through the sacrifice of Your beloved only begotten Son, Jesus Chris our Lord now and forever!!!!!!!

Transformed.

Have you conformed to this world?

con·form

 1.a. To be or act in accord with a set of standards, expectations, or specifications

b. To act, often unquestioningly, in accordance with traditional customs or prevailing standards

from <https://www.thefreedictionary.com/conformed>

Do you act in accord with the WORLD'S standards, expectations, specifications, traditions, customs? 

Another dictionary worded it this way- to act in accordance or harmony, comply, conform to the rules.

We are told not to conform to this world, but this doesn't mean we are to take up arms and become law breakers. We are to conform to our God and His ways, which are NOT in any way calling us to hurt anyone in any way whatsoever.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

In order for us not to be conformed to this world's acceptable behaviors we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

We can have daily renewing through our Lord and Savior, through prayers and study. We can have weekly renewing through a day of rest on the Sabbath- the seventh day God personally set aside for us to worship Him on.  Our minds need a constant renewing in order to keep us transformed and not conformed to this world.

The world has trapped so many people in its awful deceptions. If anyone has read a Pilgrim's Progress by Bunyan you would find he brings to life in a very allegorical manner how the world enslaves so many people in so many ways.  C.S. Lewis also has a lot of very good reading about this world and it's corrupted views. We overlook so much, when we bear the name Christian we have a duty to truly be Christ's. However if we live a life conformed to this world and it's many practices what does that reveal? We hush and shush it all away, making excuses for our conformity. We tell ourselves GOD knows my heart and understands, but what we don't tell ourselves is God is an exacting God, an all-consuming fire and the God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament. While no longer encouraging any who follow Him to rise up physically against non-believers, pagans, blasphemers etc, that doesn't mean the God who called His chosen to war against so many unbelievers has changed. What changed was His manner of doing things. The war is still on, but it's a war waged on a spiritual battlefield not a physical battlefield. God did NOT change His standards, His morals, His ten commandments.

Can we take Jesus with us in all we do every day? Can Jesus sit beside us, join us on our daily walk or are there parts of it He might choose to skip over?

We've conformed to the world if we can't take Jesus with us everywhere, every moment of our day.

God, please help us NOT to be conformed to this world!!!!!!! Please, save us from our terribly selves!

All through the Love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!!!! Now and forever!

Spirit Manifestations.

The manifestation of the Spirit.

The manifestation of something is what?

The definition is-

'…an event, action, or object that clearly shows or embodies something, especially a theory or an abstract idea.'

From <https://www.google.com/search?q=manifestation+definition&oq=manifestation+definition&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.4917j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8>

The manifestation of the Spirit will CLEARLY show in all who are His, all who have been given the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

These manifestations are given to us, as we talked about yesterday, to profit the LORD'S work through us.

We can never use the manifestations of the Spirit in us for evil, never. The Spirit would cease to be manifested in us if we do evil. The manifestation of the Spirit in us can only ever be used for the good of our Lord's work.

Are you concerned the Holy Spirit isn't working in you then you need to examine your life for any unrepentant sin, any cherished sin. So many of our cherished sins have turned into sins we don't recognize as sins any longer. We've cherished these sins into acceptance. Once we've worn down and reshaped sins into acceptability we allow them to live on in us and Satan will let us believe we are still being used by God. However, if we are NOT manifesting the Spirit in us then we really need to tear apart our lives bit by bit laying it open bear before God's revealing light of truth.  If we can't find any willful sin in ourselves we need to pray that God bless us with the Spirit so He may use us through the manifestation only the Spirit can give.

1Co 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 

1Co 12:8  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 

1Co 12:9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 

1Co 12:10  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 

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

Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning spirits, foreign language, interpreting foreign language- all can be manifestations of the Spirit.

We can be blessed with one of these manifestations or several as the Lord needs to us to have to profit Him. We will never be given a single one of the Spirit manifestations to use selfishly. So while we may believe it would be wonderful to have any of those gifts, that isn't something we can even minutely gloat about even to ourselves. The wonder of these gifts is our Savior's gospel being heard, the message of salvation being given as He desires. Humbly we need to live, by the grace of God we need to exist.

Please, Lord, we know and we submit to You. Please, Lord, forgive us, cleanse us, use us for Your will, Your purpose.

All in YOUR love!

Holy Spirit Gifts.

The Spirit will give us spiritual gifts to profit with.  What is this profit? Is it for the recipients profit, or another's?

 Clearly, anyone who knows Christ as their Savior would know the answer to that question. Christ lived and died to serve others. We are entreated to live with Christ in us, living as He lived- serving others. The Holy Spirit will gift us with His gifts SEVERALLY as He wills.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not like tangible gifts that are given, held, and even kept for as long as the person desires to keep them. The gifts of the Spirit are given as NEEDED.

We need not despair that we won't have the faith we need from the Holy Spirit, we will have that faith as it is needed. We will have wisdom, knowledge and all that are necessary for us to be USED BY GOD.

We need to be used by God and He will use us if we are receptive to the Holy Spirit, truly desiring to be used by God in any way HE reveals to us.

You may never need to speak in a foreign language. You may never need to interpret a foreign language, you might not need to have a gift of healing, or work a single miracle, you may only ever be given faith as you needed it, or wisdom that you need. God will give us WHAT we need, WHEN we need it and there is no reason to give us any gift of the Spirit otherwise.  His gifts will not be squandered, His gifts are not given to us to be useless. The power of the Holy Spirit is so incredible that it is not something to even speak of frivolously.

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

1Co 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 

1Co 12:8  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 

1Co 12:9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 

1Co 12:10  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 

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