Luke {22:31} And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired [to have] you, that he may sift [you] as wheat: {22:32} But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Satan desires to have us all.
Satan wants us all desperately. You think I'm kidding? You think that little ol' you isn't worth his trouble? That he only wants those with power and such? You're wrong. He wants each one of us and he'll stop at nothing to get us. Each person kept from God is another bonus for Satan. He wants to mock God. He wants to be able to glory in all those he can take with him to the eternity of non-existence. He knows that his time is short and he does go about as a roaring lion.
1 Peter {5:8} Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
Satan wants to sift us all as wheat. He wants to give us trial after trial, after trial without end and whether you believe it or not it's true. More true than you probably can imagine.
Jesus prays for us, that our faith won't fail. Because it's when our faith fails that Satan has won.
Faith - the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews {11:1} Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The substance of hope in things we cannot see. Jesus prays for us that our faith will not fail, that we continue to hope in something invisible, something beyond all the pain and heartache we live through in this world ruled by Satan, and don't think for one moment it's not ruled by him because it is-- for now.
Eph. {6:10} Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. {6:11} Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. {6:12} For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places.]
The wiles of the devil- not flesh and blood but principalities, powers, ruler of the darkness of THIS world, spiritual wickedness in high places.
2 Corinthians {4:4} In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
The god of THIS WORLD hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.
Satan is the go of this world.
John {14:30} Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
The Prince of this world has nothing in Jesus, nothing.
We have to cling to the hope that Jesus gives as Jesus prays that our faith will not fail.
Please Jesus, Satan is sifting us so much trying to destroy our faith in you. Help us Lord, pray for us now and always. Lord please. By your grace, have mercy on us. The sifting is so painful.
Amen.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Guest Blog by Matthew - God & Entertainment
Psalm 100: MAKE a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is god: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
I'm going to be honest with you, I don't think I have that much insight or intelligence in this kind of matter. I'm no more qualified to write up a bill than I am to write for my mom's blog. Though perhaps comparing her blog to the government is a bad idea. She asked me to write something for today and said to find a passage and write what it made me feel so I spent a small amount of time flipping through the pages of my Bible. The more I looked the more I thought that I shouldn't be doing it but I can at least try.
Psalm 100 stood out to me because of a news story about a boy being unable to graduate if he attends his girlfriend's high school prom. Because Rock music, dancing, holding hands, and kissing were against their policy. The paslm above makes no specific mention of what music the Lord likes. It just tells us to come before him singing. I won't debate what songs were played at that school prom and whether they would or would not please God but I know of plenty of Christian Rock bands that sing songs to God so an outright hatred of any kind of music seems irrational to me because any kind of music can be used for the Lord. The content of each song should probably be evaluated to decide whether it would or would not be acceptable in God's eyes but the very genre itself seems up to the individual. Indeed, why would God influence musicians to make that kind of music for him if he didn't want it?
2 Samuel 6:14-23
14And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
19And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
20Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
21And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
22And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
23Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
I apologize for the length of this one and for the format, I retrieved it off of Bible.com without knowing exactly where to look for it myself. This passage also comes to mind when thinking about what God does and does not want from us. David himself danced in honor of God. We should also praise god in any manner possible. Not just in uncomfortable routine ways that become chores. We can praise God by dancing and singing and he wants that. But then again who am I to say what he wants? Who's to say I'm right? I don't feel very confident or competent and I can't wrap my mind around what I'm trying to say.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that we shouldn't jump the gun and decide for God what is right and wrong when it comes to entertainment. And that goes for myself as well. I shouldn't try to tell you what is acceptable. The best advice I can give is to read his word and go from there.
May the Lord help us all find out what is right and wrong and help us walk along the right path.
Amen.
I'm going to be honest with you, I don't think I have that much insight or intelligence in this kind of matter. I'm no more qualified to write up a bill than I am to write for my mom's blog. Though perhaps comparing her blog to the government is a bad idea. She asked me to write something for today and said to find a passage and write what it made me feel so I spent a small amount of time flipping through the pages of my Bible. The more I looked the more I thought that I shouldn't be doing it but I can at least try.
Psalm 100 stood out to me because of a news story about a boy being unable to graduate if he attends his girlfriend's high school prom. Because Rock music, dancing, holding hands, and kissing were against their policy. The paslm above makes no specific mention of what music the Lord likes. It just tells us to come before him singing. I won't debate what songs were played at that school prom and whether they would or would not please God but I know of plenty of Christian Rock bands that sing songs to God so an outright hatred of any kind of music seems irrational to me because any kind of music can be used for the Lord. The content of each song should probably be evaluated to decide whether it would or would not be acceptable in God's eyes but the very genre itself seems up to the individual. Indeed, why would God influence musicians to make that kind of music for him if he didn't want it?
2 Samuel 6:14-23
14And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
19And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
20Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
21And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
22And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
23Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
I apologize for the length of this one and for the format, I retrieved it off of Bible.com without knowing exactly where to look for it myself. This passage also comes to mind when thinking about what God does and does not want from us. David himself danced in honor of God. We should also praise god in any manner possible. Not just in uncomfortable routine ways that become chores. We can praise God by dancing and singing and he wants that. But then again who am I to say what he wants? Who's to say I'm right? I don't feel very confident or competent and I can't wrap my mind around what I'm trying to say.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that we shouldn't jump the gun and decide for God what is right and wrong when it comes to entertainment. And that goes for myself as well. I shouldn't try to tell you what is acceptable. The best advice I can give is to read his word and go from there.
May the Lord help us all find out what is right and wrong and help us walk along the right path.
Amen.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it
Mark {3:35} For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
The will of God.
Acts {13:36} For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: {13:37} But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption
By the will of God, David served his own generation. We live by the will of God and we can choose to do the will of God. David died and saw corruption, but Jesus was raised from the dead and saw no corruption. God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus had fulfilled the will of His father and suffered unto death, but when all was said and done, God raised Him to life.
God's will.
1 Thess.
{5:12} And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you
{5:13} And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
{5:14} Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. {5:15} See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
{5:16} Rejoice evermore.
{5:17} Pray without ceasing.
{5:18} In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
{5:19} Quench not the Spirit.
{5:20} Despise not prophesyings.
{5:21} Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
{5:22} Abstain from all appearance of evil.
{5:23} And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
{5:24} Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Rejoice, pray, give thanks.
We say if only we knew the will of God we'd do it and yet we are told the will of God in his word and we still don't follow it. Reading that entire section again what actions are pointed out?
1 Thess.
{5:12} And we beseech you, brethren, to
*know*
them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you
{5:13} And to *esteem*
them very highly in love for their work’s sake.
And *be*
at peace among yourselves.
{5:14} Now we exhort you, brethren,
*warn*
them that are unruly,
*comfort*
the feebleminded,
*support*
the weak,
*be*
patient toward all men. {
5:15} *See*
that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever
*follow*
that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
{5:16} *Rejoice*
evermore.
{5:17} *Pray*
without ceasing.
{5:18} In every thing *give*
thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
{5:19} *Quench not*
the Spirit.
{5:20} *Despise not*
prophesyings.
{5:21} *Prove all*
things;
*hold fast*
that which is good.
{5:22} *Abstain*
from all appearance of evil.
{5:23} And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
{5:24} Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
*******
Know, esteem, be, warn, comfort, support, be, see, follow, rejoice, pray, give, quench not, despise not, prove all, hold fast, abstain.
There is a lot we should be doing that is the will of God, it's called living our lives in harmony with all we're told. It's not easy when we live in a world where our natural instinct is to do our own will and no other. If it suits us we'll do all those things above, but let us have a bad day where all we care about is our own feelings and who cares about proving all, despising not, abstaining from the appearance of evil? We get so caught up in our own will and when we do that which isn't God's will but our own we need to ask for forgiveness. Ultimately God's will, will be done through right to eternity whether we are following God's will in Christ Jesus or not. We choose to follow God's will, and we choose not to.
May the Lord Jesus our Savior guide us and help us through the power of the Holy Spirit now and forever, by His grace, by His mercy.
Amen.
The will of God.
Acts {13:36} For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: {13:37} But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption
By the will of God, David served his own generation. We live by the will of God and we can choose to do the will of God. David died and saw corruption, but Jesus was raised from the dead and saw no corruption. God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus had fulfilled the will of His father and suffered unto death, but when all was said and done, God raised Him to life.
God's will.
1 Thess.
{5:12} And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you
{5:13} And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
{5:14} Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. {5:15} See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
{5:16} Rejoice evermore.
{5:17} Pray without ceasing.
{5:18} In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
{5:19} Quench not the Spirit.
{5:20} Despise not prophesyings.
{5:21} Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
{5:22} Abstain from all appearance of evil.
{5:23} And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
{5:24} Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Rejoice, pray, give thanks.
We say if only we knew the will of God we'd do it and yet we are told the will of God in his word and we still don't follow it. Reading that entire section again what actions are pointed out?
1 Thess.
{5:12} And we beseech you, brethren, to
*know*
them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you
{5:13} And to *esteem*
them very highly in love for their work’s sake.
And *be*
at peace among yourselves.
{5:14} Now we exhort you, brethren,
*warn*
them that are unruly,
*comfort*
the feebleminded,
*support*
the weak,
*be*
patient toward all men. {
5:15} *See*
that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever
*follow*
that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
{5:16} *Rejoice*
evermore.
{5:17} *Pray*
without ceasing.
{5:18} In every thing *give*
thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
{5:19} *Quench not*
the Spirit.
{5:20} *Despise not*
prophesyings.
{5:21} *Prove all*
things;
*hold fast*
that which is good.
{5:22} *Abstain*
from all appearance of evil.
{5:23} And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
{5:24} Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
*******
Know, esteem, be, warn, comfort, support, be, see, follow, rejoice, pray, give, quench not, despise not, prove all, hold fast, abstain.
There is a lot we should be doing that is the will of God, it's called living our lives in harmony with all we're told. It's not easy when we live in a world where our natural instinct is to do our own will and no other. If it suits us we'll do all those things above, but let us have a bad day where all we care about is our own feelings and who cares about proving all, despising not, abstaining from the appearance of evil? We get so caught up in our own will and when we do that which isn't God's will but our own we need to ask for forgiveness. Ultimately God's will, will be done through right to eternity whether we are following God's will in Christ Jesus or not. We choose to follow God's will, and we choose not to.
May the Lord Jesus our Savior guide us and help us through the power of the Holy Spirit now and forever, by His grace, by His mercy.
Amen.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Goodness doesn't save them at all
1 Peter.
{4:1} Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin
{4:2} That he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
{4:3} For the time past of [our] life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries
{4:4} Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with [them] to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of [you: ]
*******
Arm ourselves like Christ, with the same mind as Christ. Suffer in the flesh and cease from sin. We should no longer live the rest of our lives in the flesh to lust but to the will of God.
It's so hard to tell people not to live life catering to their pleasures when that's what we grow up being told we should do. We do a lot of things in life geared toward our happiness. We tell our kids that they can indulge their self-pleasure, in fact we go to great lengths to see that they stay happy and are content as possible. Kids today have televisions, dvd players, mp3 players, cell phones, access to computers and the internet, video games, computer games, we make sure kids are given these 'toys' and tell them that if they want more 'toys' they have to work for them. We train our children to be adults that will grow up to work so they can continue their self-seeking pleasures.
Is it wrong to want to please ourselves? Is it wrong to desire happiness and things that contribute to our happiness?
What's wrong is turning all our thoughts inward to ourselves because when we are so caught up in ourselves there is no room for anyone else. The will of God doesn't come into play when all we care about is our own will.
Walking in the laciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings and abominable idolatries... this is most of our lives. Seriously. We don't call it such, but it is. It's all about self-pleasure in lust, in drink, in partying, eating, following our addictions whether they're as seemingly innocuous as watching tv shows regularly- something we wouldn't want to miss. We pay homage to our pleasure addictions even when we don't call them such. When our lives are centered on ourselves and things which bring self satisfaction, they are not centered on God. This is our life. This is most of our lives. This is what we do and when we stop doing these things and seek to follow God what do you think will happen? If you're not running with the crowd you're running against the crowd and when you run against the crowd often the crowd turns on you and begins to speak against you and separate themselves from you.
1 Peter
{4:5} Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
{4:6} For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
{4:7} But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
*******
When we are dead in our sins who judges us?
2 Timothy
{4:1} I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord
Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his
appearing and his kingdom
Jesus judges us all.
We are all sinners and we are all dead in our sinning unless we accept the live of Jesus as our own and cling to Him for our salvation from our sins.
The living God in the spirit shall judge us all. We have to remember this and be sober and watch unto prayer. If we are of the attitude it doesn't matter what we do, that what will be will be, then we are lost. We know that we will be judged for better or worse and the judgment isn't based on whether you're *good or bad* it's based on your love of Christ, your willingness to live for God's will and not your own. Judgment for all, there is no escaping it and those who live their lives in harmony with God, seeking to follow His will and not their own will prevail. Giving up of self and giving to God. And this is why so many people who seemingly are good will not be judged righteous- their goodness doesn't save them at all- it's their love of God that saves through the love of His Son's and the willingness of His son to die for us through that love.
By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior, God's will be done now and forever.
Amen.
{4:1} Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin
{4:2} That he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
{4:3} For the time past of [our] life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries
{4:4} Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with [them] to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of [you: ]
*******
Arm ourselves like Christ, with the same mind as Christ. Suffer in the flesh and cease from sin. We should no longer live the rest of our lives in the flesh to lust but to the will of God.
It's so hard to tell people not to live life catering to their pleasures when that's what we grow up being told we should do. We do a lot of things in life geared toward our happiness. We tell our kids that they can indulge their self-pleasure, in fact we go to great lengths to see that they stay happy and are content as possible. Kids today have televisions, dvd players, mp3 players, cell phones, access to computers and the internet, video games, computer games, we make sure kids are given these 'toys' and tell them that if they want more 'toys' they have to work for them. We train our children to be adults that will grow up to work so they can continue their self-seeking pleasures.
Is it wrong to want to please ourselves? Is it wrong to desire happiness and things that contribute to our happiness?
What's wrong is turning all our thoughts inward to ourselves because when we are so caught up in ourselves there is no room for anyone else. The will of God doesn't come into play when all we care about is our own will.
Walking in the laciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings and abominable idolatries... this is most of our lives. Seriously. We don't call it such, but it is. It's all about self-pleasure in lust, in drink, in partying, eating, following our addictions whether they're as seemingly innocuous as watching tv shows regularly- something we wouldn't want to miss. We pay homage to our pleasure addictions even when we don't call them such. When our lives are centered on ourselves and things which bring self satisfaction, they are not centered on God. This is our life. This is most of our lives. This is what we do and when we stop doing these things and seek to follow God what do you think will happen? If you're not running with the crowd you're running against the crowd and when you run against the crowd often the crowd turns on you and begins to speak against you and separate themselves from you.
1 Peter
{4:5} Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
{4:6} For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
{4:7} But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
*******
When we are dead in our sins who judges us?
2 Timothy
{4:1} I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord
Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his
appearing and his kingdom
Jesus judges us all.
We are all sinners and we are all dead in our sinning unless we accept the live of Jesus as our own and cling to Him for our salvation from our sins.
The living God in the spirit shall judge us all. We have to remember this and be sober and watch unto prayer. If we are of the attitude it doesn't matter what we do, that what will be will be, then we are lost. We know that we will be judged for better or worse and the judgment isn't based on whether you're *good or bad* it's based on your love of Christ, your willingness to live for God's will and not your own. Judgment for all, there is no escaping it and those who live their lives in harmony with God, seeking to follow His will and not their own will prevail. Giving up of self and giving to God. And this is why so many people who seemingly are good will not be judged righteous- their goodness doesn't save them at all- it's their love of God that saves through the love of His Son's and the willingness of His son to die for us through that love.
By the mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior, God's will be done now and forever.
Amen.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Arm ourselves likewise with the same mind
1 Pet.
{3:18} For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit
{3:19} By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison
1 Pet. {3:20} Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
{3:21} The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a
good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
{3:22} Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right
hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made
subject unto him.
Angels
Authorities
Powers
All these being made subject unto Jesus Christ.
{4:1} Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the
flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he
that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin
Christ suffered for us.
Christ took on humanity and submitted to all the temptations just like we are and He sinned not.
He willingly suffered.
Willingly!
We have to willingly suffer for Christ not that it will save us because only Christ's mercy can save us, but because we are called to live as He lived. Christ suffered in the flesh. What causes suffering?
DICT.
suffer (sùf´er) verb
suffered, suffering, suffers verb, intransitive
1. To feel pain or distress; sustain loss, injury, harm, or punishment.
2. To tolerate or endure evil, injury, pain, or death.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
So what causes pain, distress, loss, injury, harm, punishment, enduring evil, suffering to death?
You have to feel and feel acutely in order to suffer deeply. If you care much, you suffer much. Christ cared for us more than anyone possibly could. Care enough to take on humanity, to submit Himself to becoming flesh, bound by its limitations. And yes, you may scoff and say He had no limitations, but when he took on humanity He gave Himself limitations that would enable Him to be able to say the He was ...
Heb. {2:18} For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted,
he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Heb. {4:15} For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;
but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without
sin.
You cannot truly be tempted by anything unless you have the ability to fall to that temptation. It is no temptation at all to be offered chocolate when you have no interest in chocolate, and yet if you crave it beyond that which is normal and healthy for you and you are tempted with chocolate it becomes a source of temptation, of desire, something you have to resist and suffer if not physically then emotionally, mentally, to keep from giving into that temptation. Yes, you might argue that it's harder once you've tasted the creamy sweet richness of chocolate to resist it, but once you know that something isn't good and you feel the pull of temptation- even untested once it can be very strong. Sex for example. You may feel an intense desire for that physical pleasure even if you've never had sex. Temptations aren't unique to those who taste that which is tempting them. Desires can be very real, very hard to resist. Temptations can cause us to suffer greatly in ways that other might not understand suffering. Just because I'm tempted in one way doesn't mean you're tempted the same. My temptations are just as real and hard to resist as anothers, they are in that sense unique to us without being the same.
Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are, but without sinning.
You might think that impossible. You might say he never had heroin or the foods we have today and yet in principle He suffered temptation just as we suffer it, unique to Him as our temptations are to each of us only He suffered sinless. It is because He was able to resist temptations that He was able to save us who are born into sin through Adam.
1 Peter. {4:1} Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the
flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he
that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin
Suffering.
Arm ourselves likewise with the same mind.
We can't don armor and fight this battle of sin, this battle between good and evil, the battle in which we are each being fought for. We have to arm ourselves with the same mind as Christ. The same willingness to trust in God for everything in our lives. The same willingness that if we are called to suffer in the flesh, we embrace the suffering and we don't let Satan twist it into God's punishing us. We cling to Christ our Righteousness and we meld our mind to His and whatever our lots in life we holdfast...we suffer if we must knowing that our suffering cannot compare to the suffering of the most innocent of all, our Savior.
By the Lord's grace and mercy may we arm ourselves with the same mind as Christ- willingly suffering anything we need to suffer, and in anyway we need to suffer it so that we may cling to Him fully by His grace in love.
Amen
{3:18} For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit
{3:19} By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison
1 Pet. {3:20} Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
{3:21} The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a
good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
{3:22} Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right
hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made
subject unto him.
Angels
Authorities
Powers
All these being made subject unto Jesus Christ.
{4:1} Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the
flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he
that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin
Christ suffered for us.
Christ took on humanity and submitted to all the temptations just like we are and He sinned not.
He willingly suffered.
Willingly!
We have to willingly suffer for Christ not that it will save us because only Christ's mercy can save us, but because we are called to live as He lived. Christ suffered in the flesh. What causes suffering?
DICT.
suffer (sùf´er) verb
suffered, suffering, suffers verb, intransitive
1. To feel pain or distress; sustain loss, injury, harm, or punishment.
2. To tolerate or endure evil, injury, pain, or death.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
So what causes pain, distress, loss, injury, harm, punishment, enduring evil, suffering to death?
You have to feel and feel acutely in order to suffer deeply. If you care much, you suffer much. Christ cared for us more than anyone possibly could. Care enough to take on humanity, to submit Himself to becoming flesh, bound by its limitations. And yes, you may scoff and say He had no limitations, but when he took on humanity He gave Himself limitations that would enable Him to be able to say the He was ...
Heb. {2:18} For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted,
he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Heb. {4:15} For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;
but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without
sin.
You cannot truly be tempted by anything unless you have the ability to fall to that temptation. It is no temptation at all to be offered chocolate when you have no interest in chocolate, and yet if you crave it beyond that which is normal and healthy for you and you are tempted with chocolate it becomes a source of temptation, of desire, something you have to resist and suffer if not physically then emotionally, mentally, to keep from giving into that temptation. Yes, you might argue that it's harder once you've tasted the creamy sweet richness of chocolate to resist it, but once you know that something isn't good and you feel the pull of temptation- even untested once it can be very strong. Sex for example. You may feel an intense desire for that physical pleasure even if you've never had sex. Temptations aren't unique to those who taste that which is tempting them. Desires can be very real, very hard to resist. Temptations can cause us to suffer greatly in ways that other might not understand suffering. Just because I'm tempted in one way doesn't mean you're tempted the same. My temptations are just as real and hard to resist as anothers, they are in that sense unique to us without being the same.
Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are, but without sinning.
You might think that impossible. You might say he never had heroin or the foods we have today and yet in principle He suffered temptation just as we suffer it, unique to Him as our temptations are to each of us only He suffered sinless. It is because He was able to resist temptations that He was able to save us who are born into sin through Adam.
1 Peter. {4:1} Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the
flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he
that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin
Suffering.
Arm ourselves likewise with the same mind.
We can't don armor and fight this battle of sin, this battle between good and evil, the battle in which we are each being fought for. We have to arm ourselves with the same mind as Christ. The same willingness to trust in God for everything in our lives. The same willingness that if we are called to suffer in the flesh, we embrace the suffering and we don't let Satan twist it into God's punishing us. We cling to Christ our Righteousness and we meld our mind to His and whatever our lots in life we holdfast...we suffer if we must knowing that our suffering cannot compare to the suffering of the most innocent of all, our Savior.
By the Lord's grace and mercy may we arm ourselves with the same mind as Christ- willingly suffering anything we need to suffer, and in anyway we need to suffer it so that we may cling to Him fully by His grace in love.
Amen
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Eight souls were saved by water.
1 Pet. {3:18} For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit
{3:19} By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison
Our fate should be no better than that of Christ's. If we think we shouldn't suffer at all in our life, or suffer for our faith what are we saying? We're too good to suffer? We need some special dispensation so that we're exempt from suffering in our lives? We are good and faithful followers so we deserve no suffering at all. Those who understand that suffering is to be expected of those who choose to have hope in God are better off than those who wail and flail about when trouble comes to them. The 'why me' is popular? Why me, why am I to walk this hard road? Why should I suffer? What did I ever do to deserve to suffer?
We ask the whys and wherefores and all the while we know our Savior, the Son of God took on flesh and suffered tortures undeserved for us. He was just and He suffered for the unjust, we should do no less, we who are unjust suffer as well we should, and deserve.
Christ suffered and He was quickened by the Spirit and He went on and preached to the spirits in prison. So aptly put isn't it? We're born into sin...born with our spirits in prison. Christ alone can set the spirit within us free from prison, free to unite with His own. We can no more escape from this prison than a prisoner from the most secure prison in existence. Only Jesus can free us. We might think we are free but that's a mere illusion. We are, each of us, caught up in a prison- a prison few will ever escape from because we don't believe we are jailed and in need of a rescuer. We play at wanting freedom and yet we keep ourselves hidden from the One who would rescue us. True freedom is something we need to actively seek, to actively desire.
1 Pet. {3:20} Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
Eight souls were saved from their spiritual prison in the days of Noah...eight.
{3:21} The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a
good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
Baptism saves us. Baptism by water and Spirit...but it's not the dirt and sin washed from us, it's not the filth of the flesh that is put away that cleanses us and saves us- it's the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Being able to accept Christ so fully, to have faith in him to the point our conscience towards God is good.
God alone is worthy. God alone is our saving Grace. Christ's righteousness not ours in our filthy imprisoned bodies, bodies we try to wash clean never realizing all our trying is for naught. We must rest in the arms of the Cleanser, we must seek the freedom from our prison by the only One who can rescue us. Salvation isn't ours to give ourselves, it is Jesus' to give to us and we must let Him give it to us believing He and He alone saves.
By His grace and mercy now and forever.
Amen.
{3:19} By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison
Our fate should be no better than that of Christ's. If we think we shouldn't suffer at all in our life, or suffer for our faith what are we saying? We're too good to suffer? We need some special dispensation so that we're exempt from suffering in our lives? We are good and faithful followers so we deserve no suffering at all. Those who understand that suffering is to be expected of those who choose to have hope in God are better off than those who wail and flail about when trouble comes to them. The 'why me' is popular? Why me, why am I to walk this hard road? Why should I suffer? What did I ever do to deserve to suffer?
We ask the whys and wherefores and all the while we know our Savior, the Son of God took on flesh and suffered tortures undeserved for us. He was just and He suffered for the unjust, we should do no less, we who are unjust suffer as well we should, and deserve.
Christ suffered and He was quickened by the Spirit and He went on and preached to the spirits in prison. So aptly put isn't it? We're born into sin...born with our spirits in prison. Christ alone can set the spirit within us free from prison, free to unite with His own. We can no more escape from this prison than a prisoner from the most secure prison in existence. Only Jesus can free us. We might think we are free but that's a mere illusion. We are, each of us, caught up in a prison- a prison few will ever escape from because we don't believe we are jailed and in need of a rescuer. We play at wanting freedom and yet we keep ourselves hidden from the One who would rescue us. True freedom is something we need to actively seek, to actively desire.
1 Pet. {3:20} Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
Eight souls were saved from their spiritual prison in the days of Noah...eight.
{3:21} The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a
good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
Baptism saves us. Baptism by water and Spirit...but it's not the dirt and sin washed from us, it's not the filth of the flesh that is put away that cleanses us and saves us- it's the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Being able to accept Christ so fully, to have faith in him to the point our conscience towards God is good.
God alone is worthy. God alone is our saving Grace. Christ's righteousness not ours in our filthy imprisoned bodies, bodies we try to wash clean never realizing all our trying is for naught. We must rest in the arms of the Cleanser, we must seek the freedom from our prison by the only One who can rescue us. Salvation isn't ours to give ourselves, it is Jesus' to give to us and we must let Him give it to us believing He and He alone saves.
By His grace and mercy now and forever.
Amen.
Monday, May 11, 2009
That ye suffer for well doing
1 Peter {3:13} And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? {3:14} But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; {3:15} But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear
{3:16} Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
They speak evil of you as of evildoers.
Here we have people following Christ, believing in Christ, witnessing for Christ refusing to give into the local conventions that would give them a smooth, easy life, being persecuted as evil doers.
We know what evil people do, don't we? We know those that purposefully hurt others in any way are evil, right? If you were to give a definition of an evil person what would it be? Would it include someone who follows the principle of Jesus? Seriously? Would it? It's impossible for someone who has the love of Jesus in their heart, someone who has given their life to Jesus fully and is walking in the light of His love to be truly evil. Yet it's true...you will be considered an evil doer. You won't be an evil doer but you will be accused of being so, accused falsely.
1 Peter
{3:17} For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Better to suffer for the will of God, for well doing, than for evil doing.
We need to remember this because people who are content to believe we won't suffer for our faith will be caught off guard. We need to be ready to give an answer to every man for the hope in us. An answer. We need to know why we have the hope. We have to be fully grounded in that hope.
May God Help us all to learn fully what the hope in us is so we may tell others. When we are suffering and being called evil we need to be ready.
By the grace of our Lord and Savior, now and forever.
Amen.
{3:16} Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
They speak evil of you as of evildoers.
Here we have people following Christ, believing in Christ, witnessing for Christ refusing to give into the local conventions that would give them a smooth, easy life, being persecuted as evil doers.
We know what evil people do, don't we? We know those that purposefully hurt others in any way are evil, right? If you were to give a definition of an evil person what would it be? Would it include someone who follows the principle of Jesus? Seriously? Would it? It's impossible for someone who has the love of Jesus in their heart, someone who has given their life to Jesus fully and is walking in the light of His love to be truly evil. Yet it's true...you will be considered an evil doer. You won't be an evil doer but you will be accused of being so, accused falsely.
1 Peter
{3:17} For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Better to suffer for the will of God, for well doing, than for evil doing.
We need to remember this because people who are content to believe we won't suffer for our faith will be caught off guard. We need to be ready to give an answer to every man for the hope in us. An answer. We need to know why we have the hope. We have to be fully grounded in that hope.
May God Help us all to learn fully what the hope in us is so we may tell others. When we are suffering and being called evil we need to be ready.
By the grace of our Lord and Savior, now and forever.
Amen.
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